The Nation June 27 2011

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

25 dead, 12 injured as Boko Haram strikes in Borno NEWS PAGE 2

•Three bombs go off in beer gardens

31 , ENOR OMS F S W ER GO X SI TH LA XCO O E P3

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VOL. 6, NO. 1803 MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

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13 ex-ministers lucky as Jonathan drops 24 THE ‘LUCKY’ 13

•Aganga

•Adoke

•Rufai

•Orubebe

•Alison-Madueke

•Sulaiman

•Mohammed

•Usman

•Nwogu

•Maku

•Olubolade

•Chukwu

Josephine Anenih, Kayode, Njeze, Nwike, Olasunkanmi under consideration Ajumogobia may succeed Ogwu as Permanent Representative to the UN

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HE President may have dropped 24 of his 42 former ministers, it was learnt.

Besides, 16 technocrats may join the cabinet.

But the battle for nomination continued at the weekend, with Soutsouth leader Chief Edwin Clark and Riv-

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Abuja

ers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi struggling for the Southsouth ticket.

The immediate past Minister of Foreign Affairs, Odein Ajumogobia, may not make the cabinet list, following

plans by the President to appoint him as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), it was learnt.

If Ajumogobia scales over the security hurdle, he may succeed the nation’s outgoing Permanent Representative, Prof. Joy Ogwu, whose ten-

ure will expire in the next few months.

According to sources, the President has foreclosed the return of 24 former ministers.

But 12 former ministers have been screened. The likelihood of their making the cabinet is put at about 90 per cent by a Presidency source.

Six others are still awaiting the President’s decision. They are said to be “under consideration”.

The “lucky” 13 ex-ministers are: Mrs. Diezani AllisonMadueke (Petroleum Resources); Senator Bala Continued on page 2

•Sada

States can pay N18,000, says ex-RMAFC boss

S •Tukur

TATES can pay the N18,000 minimum wage without the removal of fuel subsidy, a former chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Alhaji Hamman Tukur, said yesterday.

The RMAFC is the statutory organisation responsible for adjusting the revenue formula and distribution of national resources from the Federation Account among the

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

three tiers of government. The body fixes the salaries of public officers.

Tukur, the immediate past chair of the body, disagreed with governors who have told President Goodluck Jonathan to remove subsidy on petrol to free more cash for sharing from the federation account for them to pay the N18,000 minimum wage.

Tukur spoke yesterday in Kaduna

at the sixth Mahmud Urwatu Armiya’u Foundation Annual Lecture and Presentation of Awards organised by the Kaduna branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).

He said there was enough cash for the government to pay the minimum wage without necessarily passing the pain to the ordinary Nigerian through the removal of fuel subsidy.

The former RMAFC boss said as an insider in the revenue allocation and

distribution, he was aware that enough money comes into the Federation Account and does not see why the governors should be pressing for the removal of fuel subsidy.

Hamman said: “The governors will stay in Abuja and say they don’t have money. The money they get from the Federation Account alone is enough to pay workers. It is unfortunate that the Continued on page 2

•POLITICS P17 •SPORTS P23 •CITYBEATS P25 •JOBS P43 •LABOUR P49

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

NEWS 13 ex-ministers lucky as Jonathan drops 24 Continued from page 1

•From left: Mr. John Vasikiran, Managing Director, Conoil Plc, Brig.-Gen. Emmanuel Ikwue (rtd), Chairman, National Coordination Committee, Zonal Shareholders Association and Dr. Ebi Omatshola, representative of chairman of Conoil Plc Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr., at the 41st Annual General Meeting of Conoil Plc held in Ibadan ... at the weekend.

Mohammed (FCT); Prof Ruqayyat Rufai (Education); Yusuf Suleiman (Transport); Dr. Shamsudeen Usman (National Planning); Mohammed Musa Sada (Mines and Steel); Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN); Elder Godsday Orubebe (Niger Delta Affairs); Olusegun Aganga (Finance); Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu (Health); Emeka Nwogu (Labour); Labaran Maku (Information) and Navy Capt.

Caleb Olubolade (Ekiti).

The six others awaiting the President’s decision are: Adetokunbo Kayode(SAN); Mrs Fidelia Njeze; Mrs. Josephine Anenih; Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi; Mr. Kenneth Gbagi; Mr. Nelson Nwike.

Some of the technocrats on the

final list are the Managing Director of the World Bank, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Mrs. Omobola Olubusola Johnson; Tonye Cole, an architect; Mike Omolememen also an architect; Prof. Ita Okon Bassey-Ewa; Dr. Jonah Madugu; Dr. Mohammed Pate; Alhaji Bolaji Abdullahi; . Alhaji Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar; Prof. Barth Nnaji and Dr. Yerima Lawan Ngama.

A Presidency source, who pleaded not to be named because of what he called the sensitive nature of the matter, said: “From the list to be submitted to the National Assembly this week, you will discover that at least more than 30 of the nominees are technocrats.

I think that is a fair deal.

“That has shown you the extent of the commitment of the President to executing his

25 dead, 12 injured in Borno bombings

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HREE bombs exploded yesterday night in Maiduguri killing 25 people in another attack by the Islamic fundamentalist group Boko Haram.

Twelve people were wounded in the attack at Dala Ward at about 8p.m.

Spokesman of Police in the state Mr Lawal Abdullahi, and Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) confirmed the explosions He said two men riding on a back of motorcycles threw bombs at beer gardens, which are popular nightspots for locals.

Police blamed the attack on a group known locally as Boko Haram, which recently carried out an attack on the nation’s police headquarters.

Boko Haram, whose name in the local Hausa language means “Western education is sacrilege,” has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks in north-east Nigeria.

Most attacks have occurred in the Boko Haram stronghold of Maiduguri, which is about 540 miles from Abuja.

Northeast Borno state, where the Sunday blast happened, is one of a dozen states that have embraced Islamic Shariah law. However, outdoor beer gardens hidden from public view remain popular.

From Abiodun Joseph,

Maiduguri, after performing Friday Juma’at prayer.

There was a December 31, In January 2010, the group 2010, bomb blast in Abuja where struck in Maiduguri me- many died, finger was pointed tropolis. In September of that in the direction of Boko Haram. year, Boko Haram Islamists The sect’s terrorist activities freed over 700 inmates from during the last election were a prison in Bauchi State and equally disturbing. On March torched the prison.

29, police “thwarted a plot to

By December 2010, the bomb an ANPP election rally” Boko Haram extremists had in Maiduguri, and on April 1, visibly graduated to the use the day before the original date of deadly bombs in slated for Nigeria’s legislative Maiduguri, as they were elections, suspected members of blamed for a market bomb- the sect attacked a police station ing, following which 92 of its in Bauchi. On April 9, a polling members were arrested by centre in Maiduguri was the police. bombed and on April 15, the An ANPP chiefMaiduguri oftain was killed SEE ALSO PAGE 7 fice of the Indebarely four hours pendent Naafter some unknown assas- tional Electoral Commission, sins shot and wounded one INEC, was also bombed, and sergeant Isa Omale and a cor- several people shot in separate poral of the Nigerian Security incidents that same day. and Civil Defence Corps both On April 20, Boko Haram attached to the Speaker, killed a Muslim cleric and amBorno State House of Assem- bushed several police officers in bly, Goni Ali Modu.

Maiduguri; two days later, the One of the most dastardly group freed 14 prisoners during terrorist acts of the Boko a jailbreak in Yola, Adamawa Haram group came on Janu- State. All these by a group creary 28, 2011, when a guber- ated by the late Ustaz Yusuf. natorial candidate of the All A number of high profile killNigeria People’s Party, ings in the state, suspected to ANPP, Alhaji Modu Fannami have been carried out by the sect Gubio, was assassinated members, but which people along with Alhaji Goni Sher- thought had political undertone, iff and four police officers. were those of former state chairGubio was executed at his man of the All Nigeria Peoples family residence in Party (ANPP) Borno State chapMaiduguri

ter, who was until his death, the National Vice- Chairman, North-East of the party, Alhaji Awagana Ali Ngala.

He was shot dead by unknown gunmen in his residence in Maiduguri last October 6.

Shortly after his burial, the remains of a brother of Governor Ali Sheriff, Alhaji Goni Sheriff Ngala, the former Chairman of Ngala Local Government, who was also killed at the same place along side other six persons by the assailants were also committed to mother earth on that fateful Saturday.

Also killed were senior police officers, prison warders including the army who were executed during exchange of gun battle with the sect members.

Not a few officers of some of the security agencies had been victims of several bomb blasts that rocked the state almost on weekly basis.

Scores of innocent people were also shot and killed by stray–bullets in some of the encounters between the sect members and the security agencies, a.k.a Operation Flush II in the streets of Maiduguri. Another deadly incident took place last Sunday when members of the sect and the Operation Flush II engaged themselves in Abbaganaram ward of the metropolis.

An attack took place on Tuesday, June 7, when 10

•Ringim

people including members of the Islamic sect were killed in twin bomb blasts that occurred in Maiduguri.

The bombs were believed to have been set off by the members of the sect at a Catholic Cathedral in the heart of Maiduguri. The church, St Patrick’s Catholic Church, was attacked twice by the sect within five days.

It was a lucky escape for Governor Kashim Shettima as the incident occurred minutes after he passed the area.

Police sources told our reporter that the bombers stormed the church gate in a Honda car at 2.30 p.m. apparently to blow off the church but they were unlucky as one of the bombs exploded killing the three occupants and two passers-by.

transformation agenda.

“So, we have ministers who will do less of politicking.

The nation should look forward to a rapid development within the first 100 days of the inauguration of these ministers.”

Responding to a question, the source said: “The President of the Senate will receive the list this week. It could also be Monday (today). As the President is going to Equatorial Guinea for AU Summit, the list will head for the Senate.

“It is now left for the Senate to work out modalities on how to screen the nominees.”

On the fate of some ex-ministers, who have been screened but not yet on the list, the source said: “The Presidency is thinking increasing the list of ministers to 44 or 46 or stick to 42 as it is.

“What we have at present is 42, but the 1999 Constitution says the President must choose at least a minister in each of the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT. “The Constitution has never been specific on the limit of the number of ministers the President could appoint.”

The source confirmed that there are intrigue over the choice of the Southsouth representative in the cabinet.

The source said: “While the godfather of the President, Chief Clark is insisting on a slot for his godson, Chief Kenneth Gbagi, the Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, wants the state to fill the Southsouth slot, having delivered the highest number of votes to Jonathan during the April general elections.

“Amaechi has recommended his Chief of Staff, Nelson Nwike, for the slot.”

On the fate of Ajumogobia, whose performance was rated high in the last cabinet, the source said: “He is likely to be the next Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN. The present envoy, Prof. Joy Ogwu, will soon complete her tenure.

“Others have recommended the post of a Special Adviser on Foreign Affairs for Ajumogobia, but the UN job appears to be the ultimate for him.

“I think he will soon undergo security and diplomatic formalities.”

States can pay N18,000 without subsidy removal, says ex-RMAFC boss Continued from page 1

burden is being passed on to the ordinary man.

“There is enough resources in the country for all. The problem is that the Federal and state laws clash. The federal law cannot impose on the state what to do with the money they get from the federation account.

“Also, the state cannot impose on the Local Governments what to do with their money. The laws are there and the fact remains that the governors can pay the new wage.

“If the Commissioner for Finance and Attorney General of Kaduna state were here, I would have proved to them that there is enough money for the government to pay the minimum wage”, he said.

Tukur lashed out at the Federal Government for wasting over N2 trillion on the power sector without tan-

gible results. He challenged Nigerian engineers to find means of solving the sector’s problems in the interest of the nation’s industrial and economic development.

He accused the Obasanjo administration of spending over N1.5 trillion on power between the 2000 and 2007 without any positive result because the power issue was politicised.

In Tukur’s view, the power sector to achieve positive result was partly because politicians had taken over the responsibilities of technocrats in the sector, adding that unless the NSE takes firm control over how the sector should be operated, regulated, framed, guided and implemented, the “country will remain in our present dilemma”.

He wondered how the industrial and economic sectors would grow with only about 40 per cent enjoying epileptic power supply. He urged

the engineers to “wake up and give Nigerians the reliable power they need and deserve”.

Describing the power sector as the engine room of the industrial and economic takeoff of any nation, Tukur said it was unacceptable that such a huge sum of money was spent on the sector and yet, Nigerians are groping in darkness.

“All previous administrations in Nigeria have appreciated the important role electricity plays in the industrialisation and economic development of the country. Power sector spending has overshot the N2trillion mark since 2000 without a corresponding impact in electricity generation, transmission and distribution in the country “The Obasanjo administration expended nearly N1.5trillion in his aspiration to increase the level of power generation to 10,000 mega-

watts before leaving office in 2007. But he left office with power generation standing at about 4,000 megawatts. The Yar’Adua administration, despite the slow start, used up to N750 billion under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) which it inherited from Obasanjo.

“As it turns out, power generation capacity over the decades has never come to set targets, despite injection of over N2trillion into the sector. All concerned Nigerians have been asking, why, with no answer up to present day.”

Urging engineers to lead the battle for a solution, Tukur said: “The NSE is known to be a body set up by law to be responsible for coordinating the professional activities of all engineers in the country. It is also a body that should not only defend the engineering profession in much the same way the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)

defends the legal profession in both the private and public sectors.

“The engineers that belong to this society are indeed Nigerians, trained with public funds in the hope that they will in turn defend the interest of their profession as it involves their country and its people at all times.

“The question then arises, what have you done to solve the lingering problem of reliable electricity in the country? The Nigerian engineer seems to have allowed the political class to dominate and dictate how the power sector should be operated generally, ignoring the technical competence and the professional input of the trained engineers.

“The NSE is not known to have so far intervened to call these politicians to order as being done by NBA and elsewhere in the world and use their training to get reliable and dependable electricity

for people in the country.

“Professionally trained Nigerians on whom enormous public funds have been expended have the tendency in current practices in our country to surrender the governance of our country and its economic fortunes to politicians.

“The politicians, particularly the legislators in our country, once sworn-in today, by the next day automatically become experts and specialists and hence take control of everything and everybody practising dictatorship in democracy.

“Under these circumstances, Nigerian professionals particularly those regulating technical practices, such as NSE must really wake up to properly insist on guiding politicians on the correct technical rules in order to get the country out of its present dilemma, particularly the power sector.”

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

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

NEWS

‘Over 30 Tiv men, women, children were killed...’

One of the Tivs sacked from their homes and farmlands by itinerant Fulani herdsmen in Nasarawa State relives the ordeal of his kinsmen at the refugee camps in neighbouring Benue State, UJA EMMANUEL reports

• Some of the displaced Tivs at the refugee camp...at the weekend

I

T all began like a child’s play.

The settlement they felt would be a transit camp is gradually becoming their home. The residents of the various camps at Daudu, Ortese, Yagba Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) Primary School and Agan Toll Gate House, have become refugees from the Tiv-Fulani crisis in Benue State.

The government is finding it difficult to manage the more than 20,000 people in the five camps. And from their frail looks, it is obvious that they lack enough food, water, clothing materials and medical care.

Some of them confided in this reporter that since their arrival at the emergency camps established by the administration of Governor Gabriel Suswam, life has not been smooth.

Those accommodated at the LGEA Primary School sleep on bare floor in the classrooms.

Pupils of the school have been sent on forced holiday by Guma Local Government Area Chairman, Ade Ishorbo, who has also provided food items for the victims of the FulaniTiv communal strife.

The refugees told The Nation they left their villages in Nasssarwa State with nothing, all in a bid to escape being killed by itinerant Fulani herdsmen, who invaded their homes with sophisticated weapons, killing and maiming many harmless Tiv in the various settlements.

But how did they become refu-

gees in their own country? Their spokesman, Isaac Ornguga, a Higher National Diploma (HND) graduate, alleged that the crisis has a

political undertone and debunked the claim that it was a Tiv-Funani herdsmen affair. He said the two ethnic groups have always been living together.

According to Ornguga, who is taking refuge at the Daudu Primary School camp, the crisis degenerated into a full scale attack against the Tiv penultimate Friday. He said the Fulani herdsmen had been provoking the Tivs, who are predominantly farmers.

He said: “They have been coming with a large number of cows to eat whatever we cultivate, including yams, rice and maize. But whenever we challenge them (the Fulani) they will bring out their sophisticated weapons, like G.3, AK 17, and open fire on us.

“This has continued unabated for almost a month. We approached a chief in the area, Ibrahim Aboshi, who told us to remain calm. However, few days before the last bloody clash, an Arago man warned us to leave, saying the Fulani herdsmen had hired mercenaries from Chad and Niger to attack our farmland and kill us.

“So, we sent our children and wives away to Benue State for safe-

PHOTO: UJA EMMANUEL

‘Two of the soldiers deployed to protect a Catholic Secondary School in Udei were ambushed and killed by the invaders’ ty. ‘’Then last week Friday, some two Tiv boys were in the farm in the morning when the Fulanis brought in their cows to destroy the farmland. When the boys queried the herdsmen, their hired mercenaries came out from hiding in the bush and opened fire. Two boys were killed.

“Our village head, Zaki Ashowo Kire, who heard the gun shots, rushed to the scene to find out what the matter was. He was shot dead.

From there, the mercenaries moved from one Tiv settlement to another, burning houses, destroying farms and killing whoever they saw’’.

Ornguga went on: “They burnt all the Tiv houses and crossed over to Benue State through Guma Local Government Area at Udei. Two of the soldiers deployed to protect a Catholic Secondary School in Udei were ambushed and killed by the invaders.

“Over 30 Tiv men, women and children were killed. Some of the victims had some vital parts of their bodies such as eyes, private parts and hearts removed. Since they attacked us in Nassarwa, we have been left to our fate. The government from Lafia has not asked after our welfare. It is the Benue government that has been responsible for our feeding.”

Explaining while he read political meanings to the attacks, Ornguga alleged that the belief was that the Tivs contributed to the ouster of former Governor Akwe Doma.

According to him, the manner of the attacks showed that they were well- planned as the mercenaries had hidden in the area for quite some time. ‘’And since the attacks began, no policeman or government official from Nassarawa has come to protect us’’.

Rev Father Chris Utov, who brought bread and water for the victims told The Nation that most of them are his parishioners who fled from the invaders.

He said Governor Gabriel Suswam has paid a condolence visit to the Chief of Army Staff (CAS) over the killing of the two soldiers. He has also set up commissions of inquiry over the matter. One is to look into the cause of the crisis; the other will handle the problems of the refugees.

ACN urges Jonathan to fix roads

By Nneka Nwaneri

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to fix the nation’s bad roads.

In a statement in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the call is necessitated by the worsening state of the roads, which has led to rising accidents, deaths, injuries, armed robberies and loss of precious man-hours.

It said the master plan will show that the Jonathan administration will not go the way of its predecessors, all of which merely paid a lip service to road rehabilitation, and will be a signal to the incoming Works Minister that what is needed is action, not tears.

ACN listed some of the worse-hit highways as the Benin-Ore highway, Lagos-Ibadan expressway, EnuguOnitsha road, Enugu-Port Harcourt road, Enugu-Abakaliki road and Enugu-Markudi road, AbakalikiAfikpo road, Owerri-Port Harcourt road, Aba-Akwa Ibom road, Umuahia-Ekot Ekpene and Lokoja-Abuja road.

As a first step, the party called on President Jonathan to embark on an inspection tour of some of the roads, as a symbolic gesture that he understands and shares the pains of his compatriots, who daily ply these roads, and that his administration is indeed poised to act.

It said while all the roads listed and more are important, special attention should be paid to the BeninOre road and the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, in view of their economic importance to all Nigerians.

On the Benin-Ore road, ACN said the administration must show that it can go beyond what a newspaper has described as ‘comic relief’ provided by a former Works Minister, who broke down in tears after inspecting the road, and promised that the Federal Government will act, only to end up doing nothing while the suffering on the road even intensified.

On the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the party lamented that the road that was once a showpiece has become the most visible example of the worsening infrastructural decay in the country resulting from years of bad and irresponsible governance. ‘’The 120-kilometre Lagos-Ibadan expressway as well as the Benin-Ore road are Nigeria’s most vital roads, considering they are the main links between the country’s economic nerve centre and the rest of the country. Yet they have been left to rot away.”

Mark seeks radical budgeting From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

Fashola sends names of 37 nominees to Assembly

A

LIST of 37 nominees has been sent to the Lagos State House of Assembly by Governor Babatunde Fashola for screening and approval as commissioners and special advisers.

Six women are among the nominees. Four former commissioners made the list, which also includes the Managing Director of the Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency (LASAA), Mr Tunji Bello.

Bello was the Commissioner for the Environment between 2003 and 2007.

The list also has four former special advisers who served under the Fashola administration between 2007 and May 29.

The women nominees are: Mrs Adebule Oluranti, Mrs Adesina Yewande, Mrs Disu Aderinola, Oguntuase Florence, Mrs Oladunjoye Olayinka and Mrs Oworu Senakpon.

By Bunmi Ogunmodede

Former Budget and Economic Planning Commissioner Benjamin Akabueze, his counterparts in the Health and Science & Technology Ministries, Dr Jide Idris and Dr Obafemi Hamzat, as well as Prince Adesegun Oniru, formerly of the Housing Ministry, are being renominated for fresh appointments.

The former advisers are: Oyinlomo Danmole, Jimoh Ajao, Ade Ipaye, Ganiyu Johnson and Kayode Opeifa. The fresh nominees include: Adetokunbo Abiru, Wale Ahmed, Olutoyin Ayinde, Dolapo Badru, Oladiran Folami and Ayo Gbeleyi.

Ahmed was spokesman for the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) until he joined the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), shortly before the general elections.

Others are: Oladisun Holloway,

Babatunde Hunpe, Aderemi Ibirogba, Bosun Jeje, Gbolahan Lawal, Adebiyi Mabadeje, Cornelius Ojelabi, Seye Oladejo, Fatai Olukoga, Enitan Oshodi, Lateef Raji, Adebayo Salvador, Abimbola Sodipo and Taofik Tijani.

According to the memo attached to the list of 37 names sent to Speaker Adeyemi Ikofonji for consideration as members of the State Executive Council, 21 are commissionernominees. The remaining 16 are to be special advisers.

Some names published in some newspapers yesterday as nominees are not in the list forwarded by the governor.

A source said many of them are being considered for other appointments.

The governor urged the lawmakers to expeditiously screen the nominees, who he said would assist him in steering the ship of governance.

•Fashola

According to him, he arrived at the names after consideraing contending interests in the Centre of Excellence.

WITH the seventh Senate resuming plenary session tomorrow, Senate President David Mark has promised to collaborate with the executive in order to transform the country .

Mark, in a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary Paul Mumeh, also advocated a radical budgeting system that is implementable instead of the annual excuses of fail appropriation Acts.

He said: “We need to be transformational in the depth and content of work, legislative representation and oversight functions. Our legislative agenda is enormous”.

“Our budgeting system needs a radical change. There is a need for collaboration between the executive arm of government and the National Assembly to ensure that Nigerians get a budget that can be effectively implemented”.

To achieve the goals, he spoke on the the need for passion, patriotism, diligence, team spirit and hard work on the part of Senators.

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

NEWS Ogun to create 10,000 jobs OGUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has reiterated his administration’s commitment to create 10,000 jobs.

The governor spoke at the Imeko Afon Local Government Area.

Amosun said his administration has identified and concluded arrangements to maximise hitherto neglected economic indices, which are expected to create 10,000 jobs in 100 days.

He said in fulfilment of his electioneering campaign promises; employment generation remains a cardinal point in his agenda towards delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.

Ondo workers call off strike

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HE deadlock over the agitation for the implementation of the new minimum wage between Organised Labour and Ondo State Government ended yesterday as the workers agreed to the payment of N14,000.

The Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) agreed to the payment of N14,000 beginning from July 1.

The workers also initiated an agreement that the implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage will not start, until an upward review of the revenue allocation formula acceptable to the state is released by the Federal Government.

JNC Chairman Solomon Adelegan signed the agree-

•Agree on N14,000 From Damisi Ojo, Akure

ment on behalf of Labour while the Head of Service, Ajose Kudehinbu signed for the government.

Adelegan, who read the agreement, said the workers were suspending the industrial action, following an understanding between the two sides that the state finances cannot accommodate the new minimum wage for now.

He said: “That after going through the facts and figures presented by the state, it was clear to the parties that the government cannot afford to pay the new national mini-

mum wage of N18,000 for now.

“That pending a new revenue allocation formula acceptable to the state, Labour agreed with the proposal by the government to introduce salary relativity under which government will pay for now, a minimum salary of N14,000 per month to workers under the aegis of the JNC in the public service.

“Based on the agreement that the state will start the implementation of the salary relativity, the strike embarked upon by workers in Ondo State public service is hereby suspended and our

workers are also directed to report at their duty posts immediately.”

Deputy Governor Ali Olanusi, who led the government delegation to the negotiation, praised the workers for their maturity, understanding.

Also, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Ranti Akerele, who was on the state delegation team, said the state wished that it could give more to Labour because “nothing is too much to give to the workers and they truly deserved it.

“They too know that the present administration is known by the electorate as a worker-friendly government which had taken workers welfare as a priority since it came on board.

Airport gets six million passengers

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

THE Regional Manager of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos and Southwest, Edward Olarerin, said there has been an increase in passenger and cargo movements at the airport in the last two years.

The airport is the premier gateway into Nigeria with over 30 foreign airlines and cargo flights daily.

Olarerin, who spoke to reporters yesterday in Lagos, said over five million passengers were processed in 2009 and over six million last year, representing 11.41 per cent increase in passenger movement.

He said aircraft movement rose from 86,552 in 2009 to 96,599 last year, representing 11.60 per cent increase.

Cargo volume in 2009 was over 176 million kilogram; it increased to 200 kilogram last year, representing an increase of over 16 per cent.

The manager said four conveyor belts would be installed to commence operations before the end of the year.

He said: “We will continue to build on what we have started as government, what we have witnessed this morning was an evidence of sound relationship between us.

“Workers were agitating for their legitimate right, yet they showed indescribable understanding of the situation on ground, we are very proud of them for that.”

NDLEA warns against cannabis

HURIWA berates governors A GROUP, Human Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria( HURIWA), has warned governors against the removal of the fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

The group criticised the Federal Government’s decision to increase electricity tariff from July 1.

In a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko and National Media Affairs Officer Ms. Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA said it was insensitive of the governors to seek to blackmail the Federal Government to remove the subsidy.

The group faulted the governors’ claim that it is the removal of the subsidy that could enable them to comply with the newly passed minimum wage law by the National Assembly.

HURIWA said it is only in Nigeria that political office holders will hold the citizenry to ransom and make claims as a pre condition for complying with a subsisting law.

•Dr. Mimiko

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

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•ALL FOR THE BIRTHDAY BOY: Pastor Chris Okotie and wife Stephanie (centre) and others at his 53 rd birthday anniversary PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI at the Household of God Church Auditorium, Oregun, Lagos…yesterday.

Four Auxiliary aides held over Oyo drivers crisis

F

OUR aides of the wanted factional leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Oyo State, Mukaila Lamidi (aka Auxiliary), were arrested by the police on Friday, the Commissioner of Police, Adisa Bolanta, said yesterday.

Bolanta, who did not name the suspects, said they were arrested at the Iwo Road interchange when their boss, Auxiliary, narrowly escaped through the crowd. He spoke

•Police ‘closing in on Auxiliary, Tokyo’ From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

with our reporter on telephone.

The police boss said Auxiliary was sighted among a crowd of people at the interchange around 1pm but that he escaped after policemen closed in on him.

According to Bolanta, the wanted union leader got lost in the crowd.

He said the four people arrested were being interrogated and would help the command to track down the union leaders.

The police boss said Auxiliary and another factional leader, Lateef Akinsola a.k.a.

Tokyo, would soon be arrested.

Bolanta said his command was working to ensure the two men are brought to book

over the mayhem perpetrated last month during which many innocent citizens were killed.

Auxiliary and Tokyo were declared wanted following their refusal to honour an invitation by the command over the crisis.

Bolanta has come under attacks over the crisis which led to the killing of a 500-Level medical student of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and 30 others on June 5.

How Mohammed has led PDP, by aide

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CTING National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed has repositioned the party, his media aide, Emeka Nwankpa, said yesterday.

Nwankpa, who spoke in Lagos, said since January 18 when he assumed office, Mohammed has instilled discipline and steamlined the finances of the PDP. The aide said the acting chairman led the presidential campaigns by example.

“The party has now been repositioned by the Bello

By Wale Adepoju

leadership in such a way that it can take the commanding heights in its quest for good governance ,” Nwankpa said.

He said developments have vindicated the leadership Mohammed offered, adding that “the chairman has not relented in surmounting the various challenges he met.”

His words: “The internal discipline that has returned to the party and the excellent deliverables, such as the conduct of successful primaries

for potential candidates for the party, are some of the results of his dynamic leadership.”

Nwankpa said Mohammed met a party that was severely fractured and threatened by internal and external strife.

The aide said the party was in desperate need of a formidable and purposeful leadership; which Mohammed has offered.

He said the acting chair drew up a campaign programme to win the elections and coordinated seamlessly

over 1,000 pro-Jonathan/Sambo groups in Nigeria and in the diaspora.

“The Bello leadership rolled out a code of conduct for its members. He led by example.

“He also made sure that the presidential campaigns, which he led across the country, were all based on issues and devoid of acrimony, rancour and name-calling.

“No violence was recorded; this invariably has become a template for other political parties,” he said.

HE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ekiti State has alerted the publc to an increase in farming , trading and consumption of cannabis in the state.

He spoke at the inauguration of the state chapter of Youths Saving Lifestyle, a non-government organisation against drug abuse.

The State Commander, Bamidele Akingbade, said parents, guardians and the government should institute appropriate measures to curtail prevalence of the malaise.

He said five cases of mentally ill persons were normally reported at the University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, weekly, of which three are drug-related.

“Wherever cannabis is planted, it takes another 10 years to grow another plant there, so we appeal to our people, especially those in charge of land to discourage giving out their land to people to grow Indian hemp,” Akingbade, said.

100 communities want local govt From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

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VER 100 villages in Ondo East Local Government of Ondo State are agitating for the creation of a new local government to allow the people to feel the impact of government.

The proposed council, which is to be named Ondo Southeast local government, comprises Ondo kingdom citizenry from wards two, five and 10 presently in Ondo East local government.

Speaking at the stakeholders’ meeting held at All Saint Grammar School, Oka in Ondo West local government at the weekend, the Chairman Central Working Committee, Bayo Olafusi, said the population of the villages is about 200,000.

Olafusi said the villages have facilities for a new local government.

“The land scale of the 100 villages was about 512km, over 24 public and private primary schools are located in the villages and six private and public secondary schools are also sited in the communities.”

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

5

NEWS NAFDAC debunks killer water claim

By Wale Adepoju

THE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged Nigerians to disregard text messages alleging that killer-water had been imported into the country.

In a press statement NAFDAC said the text message was false and mischievous because there was no Dew water imported into the country.

It said further that the importation of packaged water has been banned by the Federal Government, adding that it is on the Import Prohibition List The agency said its attention had been drawn to the alarming text message that Dew Water allegedly killed 180 people in one of the East African countries where it was imported from.

Police officer’s son arrested for robbery

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POLICE officer’s son and another suspect who allegedly

robbed a member of the Under 23 national soccer team, Harmony Ekandem, have been arrested by the police in Lagos.

Ekandem was robbed of $10,500 in his hotel room in FASTAC after he returned from Tanzania where he rep-

By Jude Isiguzo

resent ed the country.

The incident occurred at Devine Kitchen Lodge, 71 Road, by 23 Road at FESTAC Town, in Amowo-Odofin.

It was gathered that Ekandem had left the hotel for training with an instruction that nobody should enter his room.

However, when he left,

the suspects, Frank Oriabure and Promise Okosodo, a receptionist and a waiter in the hotel broke into Ekandem’s room and stole the money.

The suspects allegedly abandoned their duty post and escaped to their home State Edo with the money.

According to a police source, the matter was reported at the FESTAC Police station, which launched a man-

hunt for the suspects.

It was learnt that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr Usman Ndababo deployed some of his officers to Edo State in search of the suspects.

They were arrested at the weekend in their village at Ubiaja Local Government Area in Edo State and are being detained at FESTAC Police Station.

Ministerial nominees: Ogun PDP raises alarm

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Traditional rulers to get role From Jide Orintunsin Minna

House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal has assured traditional rulers of a constitutional role.

He said the lower chamber of the National Assembly would support a Bill to give constitutional role to traditional rulers.

Tambuwal spoke over the weekend at the annual lecture to mark this year’s Nupe Day at the Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai.

Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, who delivered a paper “Democracy and the Development of Nupe land” said: “The Nupes will normally absorb other people from other cultures without any trace of discrimination such that whoever finds a place in Nupe land makes it a permanent home.”

Doctors urge Jonathan to sign Health Bill

By Wale Adepoju

THE National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to sign the National Health Bill.

The body said signing the bill would ensure progress for the health sector.

President of NARD, Dr Olanrewaju Ekunjimi, spoke at the Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) of the association at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos.

The theme is: Influencing National Policy for better healthcare delivery: the role of the resident doctor.

Ekunjimi said effective policy formulation and implementation is critical to good governance.

“Poor health indices and diseases espeFcially in prevalent and epidemic sizes are indication that people are living under unfavourable circumstances fuelled by poor governance,” he said.

During interrogation, it was discovered that one of the suspects, Oriabure is the son of a Deputy Superintendent of Police serving in Anambra State.

Of the N150, 000 he got from the money, N7,000 was recovered from Promise; N110,000 was recovered from Oriabure who got N270,000.

•Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and United Kingdom Secretary of State for International Development Mr. Andrew Mitchell, during a meeting in Lagos... at the weekend

Abuja bomb: Army chief explains presence of soldiers on Abuja roads

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HE Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Onyeabo Ihejirika

has said the deployment of soldiers to strategic points in Abuja was part of the Army’s responsibility of securing the city and its inhabitants.

The COAS spoke over the weekend at the pulling out parade for Lt. Gen. Obiakor, former Miliatary Adviser to the United Nations (UN) Sec-

From Dele Anofi, Abuja

retary General, Ban Ki-Moon.

He said: “There is no problem, but what you should expect is that we have to do that to ensure the protection of lives and property of the people”.

Gen. Ihejirika said the deployment would not end soon.

“You are going to be seeing that from time to time”

he said.

Ihejirika, who eulogised Gen. Obiakor for his exemplary service to Nigeria and humanity, noted that the retired officer was an epitome of hard work and diligence.

“As GOC 2 Division, I have the privilege to work under him and his attitude to work was worthy of emulation.

“He was able to rise to the peak of his career by working at the highest level of

peacekeeping support operation,” he said.

Gen Obiakor urged the Nigerian Army to adhere to its constitutional responsibilities.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Owoye Azazi (rtd), former Minister of Education, Prof. ABC Nwosu, former COAS, Maj. Gen. Alwali Kazir and several prominent Nigerians attended the colourful parade.

US praises Fed Govt for fighting human traffickers

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HE United States of America (USA) has commended the Federal Government for wagging war against human traffickers.

Speaking over the weekend in Abuja while presenting the annual report on Trafficking in Persons, the first secretary political affairs, US embassy Jeffery Salaiz called on the agency to reposition in order to achieve more strides in the fight.

Salaiz said: “The theme of this year’s report, Decade of Delivery calls on all governments, including the United States, to deliver on their obligations under the Palermo Protocol over the next ten years.

“A critical sub-theme of this report is ‘Moving Beyond Tier 1-Advancing the Global Fight Against Mod-

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

ern Slavery’. The 2011 report calls on all governments to raise the bar on what qualifies as success in combating TIP. Executive Secretary of NAPTIP Simon Egede said the agency is repositioning

to achieve more strides, adding that a stakeholder’s workshop is being planned in the Southeast zone to develop a framework for action to combat the incidences of baby factories in the zone.

He said: “NAPTIP will not shirk from its responsibility now, tomorrow or in the nearest future. As the agen-

cy saddled with protection of the weak and vulnerable, our work is critical to the future of our beloved country and we will not fail the expectations of Nigerians.”

He said despite the Tier 1 status, there are still challenges as children are still stigmatised as witches and wizards in some states.

HEAD of the constitution of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the elders and leaders of the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun East Senatorial Zone have raised the alarm over the alleged infiltration of the Presidency by “some questionable characters”.

They advised President Goodluck Jonathan to guide against some of his aides being used to influence him into appointing those it described as “strangers who are unknown to the good people of Ogun State” into the cabinet.

In a statement yesterday by the Patron, Ogun East Senatorial District, Alhaji Adegoke Agboola, the elders and leaders said the two people being touted as the ministerial nominees from Ogun State are unknown to the vast majority of the people.

The statement reads: “For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to place on record the fact that the two names – Gbenga Ashiru and Akinwunmi Adesina – are strangers who are unknown to the vast majority of party men and women, and indeed the good people of Ogun State.”

The party leaders said it would be unfair for Jonathan to appoint people without consulting the leaders of the party, such as ex-President Obasanjo, who is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP. They said although the party lost the state to the opposition, it was Obasanjo who led the people, in conjunction with Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello’s Iyaniwura Foundation and Omoilu Foundation, to deliver the state to Jonathan.

They urged the President to consult widely and ensure that the ministerial nominees are acceptable to the generality of the people rather than nominating those who are indifferent or those who worked against the interest of the party.

Towry-Coker hosts book signing

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ORMER Lagos State Commissioner for Housing Dr. Lanre Towry-Coker’s book on the dynamics of housing delivery will be presented to the public on Thursday.

Entitled “Housing Policy and the Dynamics of Housing Delivery in Nigeria: Lagos State as Case Study,” and published by Makeway Publishing Limited, the 300-page book will be presented at the Jazz Hole, 168, Awolowo

Road, Ikoyi at a book signing event.

Described as “a thriller”

by Prof. J.O Odumosu of the Department of Geography, Lagos State University, (LASU), Ojo, Housing Policy and the Dynamics of Housing Delivery in Nigeria, delved on the one hand into a thorough examination of diverse housing issues such as the problem of inadequate quality housing, the evolution of slums and

squatter settlements, the problem of land and funding as well as urban poverty. The book also examined educational factors as well as the specific demographic characteristics of Lagos urban residents as they affect housing in the state.

The book also presented a re-examination of the contribution, in quantitative terms, of the National Housing Programmes and policies to housing delivery in Lagos.

•Towry-Coker

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

6

NEWS US envoy praises Fayemi on good governance From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

THE United States Ambassador to Nigeria Mr Terence McCulley’s has said Ekiti is one of the few states where governance was being used as a vehicle for transformation.

According statement at the weekend in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, said the US Ambassador spoke during a meeting with Governor Kayode Fayemi in Abuja.

The US envoy said America would partner the government on development because of the Fayemi administration’s enviable record in open and good governance.

Mcculley noted that Ekiti State could be the laboratory for change because of the changes it was putting in place, adding that its health and educational sectors could benefit from technical support and exchange programmes with their counterparts in the US to assist the state in technical support and capacity

‘CPC members calling for GNU are PDP agents’ T HE Congress of Progressive Change (CPC) National Chairman, Prince Tony Momoh, has said those calling for the party to join President Goodluck Jonathan’s Government of National Unity (GNU) as “agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)”.

Momoh was reacting to the statement of CPC governorship candidate in Abia State, Chief Ako Atuloma, that members that rejected the President’s offer to serve in his government did not represent the party.

Atuloma said: “It is the decisions of an oligarchic group in the party, which had been trading on the electoral value of former Head of State and Presidential Candidate of CPC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to enrich themselves since 2003 till date. But I am glad to inform Nigerians that the political atrocities of these people have been exposed in view of what transpired dur-

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

ing past elections “It is a glaring truth that the current leadership of the CPC is made up of selfish individuals who claim to pursue the corporate interest of the party but are really driven by their personnal ambition for power and money, which they plan to achieve at all cost even at the risk of destroying their party and Nigeria.

“I make bold to say without any iota of selfish interest that everybody, except this oligarchic group and their beneficiaries, is ready to welcome this patriotic spirit of President Goodluck Jonathan for an-all inclusive government that will enhance growth and national development. This decision is particularly prompted by the reali-

zation that we in CPC can only make impact or effect changes in the nation if we are part of the government. Nobody makes correction from outside. You have to be part of a system to make meaningful impacts.”

Momoh told The Nation that the PDP had allegedly paid Atuloma and the others calling for CPC members to join the GNU. He said if such members joined the Jonathan national government train, the CPC would be weakened as an effective opposition party.

CPC, he said, would emulate former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who has rescued the Southwest from the PDP. Momoh vowed that CPC would not allow PDP to destroy the nation’s democracy, urging the party to stop induc-

ing CPC members to join GNU. He said: “Can’t you see that PDP is paying the bills? This GNU, is it by force? People should praise us for taking the step (the late Chief Obafemi) Awolowo took. The Action Group (AG) stood its ground because Awolowo decided never to join the GNU. “The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) pushed its head into the GNU and the party was diminished. I told someone that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is such a sophisticated politician that he will never go into GNU. It is Tinubu who saved the Southwest through the Action for Democracy (AD) when (former President Olusegun) Obasanjo played out Olusegun Osoba and other governors who trusted him.

Only Tinubu did not fall for it.

That is why you have the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) picking up from Lagos and conquering the Southwest.”

Scholarship requirement unfair’

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

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HE Ekiti State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has said the seven Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials allegely involved in a post-election misconduct did not work for its members.

Its Chairman, Chief Jide Awe, told reporters on phone that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was being partisan over the matter.

Awe said it was mischievous for the PDP to have fingered his members in the alleged criminal arrangement, adding that only the police report on the issue could convince the public on what actually transpired.

He added that the public would definitely be interested in knowing the masterminds of the attempted heist, advising that the police, which had taken charge of the issue, was on top of developments and would expose the perpetrators.

Awe urged the Police to expose those behind the speculation.

Lagos adopts new methods against malaria

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

THE National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS) has frowned at a requirement set by the government for students seeking scholarship awards.

The students said the government had set 3.5 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) for prospective scholarship beneficiaries before it changed it to 4.0 CGPA. A statement by its National President, Comrade Victor Oguntoyinbo, said the new requirement was introduced after the forms had been sold to students.

He added that the development was intolerable to students who depend on the money from government to augment the money being spent on them by their parents.

The statement reads in part, “The action of the state government is unacceptable to us; it is an action that will not be allowed to stay. Government suddenly changed requirement over the night when the students have been compelled to sit for aptitude test.

ACN denies complicity in poll ‘fraud’

By Olamilekan Andu

L

•From left: Helon Habila, multiple prize-winning novelist; Reginald Ihejiahi, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc; and Okey Ndibe, renowned journalist and author presenting Dreams at Dawn, an anthology of short stories from the bank’s international creative writing workshop series in Lagos...at the weekend.

Robbers kill expectant mother in Ekiti ESIDENTS of Ago Aduloju and Aso Ayegunle, two communities in Ado Local Government of Ekiti State, have pleaded with the government to erect a Police post at the spot where suspected robbers have repeatedly killed some residents and dispossessed them of valuables.

This followed the killing of an expectant mother.

As a temporary security measure, about 50 members of the two communities have cut down the forest they believed hoodlums had been hiding in to unleash terror on the residents.

The communities, located between Ado-Ekiti and Ijan-Ekiti, now live in fear.

The identity of the expect-

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•Community seeks security From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

ant mother could not be immediately ascertained, but she was said to be resident at Ilepeju Ijan.

She was reportedly killed yesterday by the bandits suspected to be nomadic herdsmen.

The suspected robbers, who were armed with locally made guns, pistols and cutlasses, operated at a sharp bend around Ago Aduloju, a farmstead about 13 kilometres from Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, and six kilometers from Ijan Ekiti.

It was gathered that the robbers were dispossessing

their victims of valuables when the expectant woman and the motorcycle operator sighted them from the distance.

As the motorcyclist attempted to detour, one of the robbers shot at them, killing the expectant woman instantly.

The motorcyclist escaped to report the incident.

Chief Joshua Akinsaye, the Baale of Ago Aduloju, represented by his son, Tope Akinsaye, said the robbers had been operating in the areas for about six months and killed five persons.

He urged the government to strengthen security in the

communities.

Akinsaye said: “I want to plead with the government to assist us. These two communities have witnessed horror in the last six months.

People will desert their farmsteads and flee to town if it continues like this.

“We came together to clear this area so that the robbers would not be able to hide here any more. But it will be better if the state government cancome and clear the entire area with grader so that this entire area will be free.”

Pa Solomon Owolabi, an elder from Aso Ayegunle, urged the government to complement the Police and communities’ efforts to curb the menace of armed robbery.

AGOS State Government has adopted a multi-dimensional approach against malaria spread, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Femi Olugbile has said.

Olugbile spoke at the weekend at a Malaria Education/Quiz competition for schools at this year’s World Malaria Day. He said the Malaria Control Research Technical and Advisory Committee (LASMATAC), comprising members from institutions, has been inaugurated.

The committee, he said, has the responsibilities of identifying strategies for tackling malaria using research as the tools for its control; developing guidelines and protocols for funding of the research proposals; harnessing the possibilities of collaborating with major stakeholders; and determining the priority action for malaria control.

Aregbesola will soon name commissioners, says lawmaker

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SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola will soon form his executive council, a member of the House of Representatives from the state, Lasun Yusuf, said yesterday.

Yusuf said the executive council would have been formed but for the problems the sacked Peoples Demo-

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

cratic Party (PDP) government was giving the governor since the restoration of his mandate by the Appeal Court, Ibadan, on November 26, last year.

The lawmaker, representing Osogbo Federal Constit-

uency, said Aregbesola had returned from a short rest abroad, following the pressure on his health during the years of struggle to restore his stolen mandate.

Addressing reporters in Osogbo, the state capital, Yusuf noted that the same PDP members that had been the stumbling block for the gov-

ernor were “crying more than the bereaved over the delay in forming the executive council by the governor”.

He said: “Since he was sworn in, we were only in government but not in power, until after the last election. With an Assembly with a skew majority of 19 to sev-

en in favour of the PDP and more so with millions of corruptly acquired naira being dangled before the House members to do the evil bidding of a selfish few, we need to tread softly.

“The horse trading and arm-twisting that preceded the government’s decision to put in place caretaker committees for the 30 local

governments and an area office in Modakeke is still fresh in our memory. PDP honourable members insisted on having four out of the seven members in each council but had to be begged before accepting two. This emboldened them to demand for 50:50 representations in the cabinet the governor may want to constitute.”

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

NEWS

Kaduna gives N179m scholarship

Boko Haram kills two, injures four in Borno

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

K

ADUNA State Governor Patrick Yakowa has approved N179.9 million for the payment of scholarship award to about 15,159 students in institutions of higher learning across the country.

In a statement in Kaduna yesterday, the Senior Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Publicity, Reuben Buhari said Yakowa had directed the immediate release of the funds to the Ministry of Education.

The statement said the governor urged beneficiaries of the scholarship to study harder to justify government’s investment in the Education sector.

He advised the students to shun acts capable of derailing their academic pursuits and be good ambassadors of the state in their schools.

The governor urged parents and guardians to monitor the performance of their children and wards to ensure that they do not indulge in criminal activities.

The statement restated the government’s commitment to boosting the Education sector through increased funding and provision of modern infrastructure.

•Job creation will end rebellion, says Shettima BOUT seven suspected Boko Haram gunmen on Saturday night shot and killed two people. They injured four others in two separate attacks at Gomari Bus Stop and Bama road, Gidan Dambe of Maduguri Metropolitan Council of Borno State.

The suspects rode on a motorcycle with their Kalashnikov rifles hidden under their flowing gowns.

They fired several shots at people playing cards under a tree near the bus stop.

Confirming the killings, Borno State Police Commissioner Mohammed Jinjiri Abubakar told reporters on the telephone: “Our Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Gomari sent in a distress call on the attacks on the Bus Stop at 5pm, that about seven Boko Haram suspects opened fire

A

Abiodun Joseph,

Maiduguri and Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

at the people playing cards under a tree, them killing one person at the spot, injuring four others.”

He said though there were no arrests, the information provided by residents of the area, will assist the police in fishing out the assailants that had been targeting policemen, soldiers, traditional and religious leaders in the state.

An eyewitness at Gomari ward who does not want his name in print said: “The suspects fired several shots at 14 people playing cards under a tree killing Waturfa Ngadda, a 45-years-old nurse with Molai General Hospital, on the spot. While the other people fled into houses and shops near the area, while one of them

raised the alarm.”

He said that the target of the gunmen was a police sergeant living in the area, but when they could not idenfy him, they opened fire on the people playing cards, adding that; “when members of the Joint Military/Police Taskforce (JMPT) reached the scene,they conveyed four people that sustained injuries to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) for treatment.

While the body of the slain nurse was deposited at UMTH by 7.45pm, asecurity personnel in his private car at the Gidan Dambe Bama road, was also shot dead by suspected Boko Haram gunmen.

Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima yesterday said job creation and not military action would check

rebellion in the country.

He promised to provide at least 100,000 jobs for the residents.

Shettima spoke in Abuja when he visited the Managing Director of Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Mr. Sina Agboluaje.

He urged the Federal Government to create more jobs and eradicate illiteracy.

He said: “So far, leaders have not given the Nigerian people what they need in terms of provision of basic amenities, Nigerians do not need outsiders to help get things right.

“The plan to revive the Banki Export Free Zone is very good, but at the same time, the re-establishment of new one at Gamboru which is a border to Cameroun and Chad is vital to the state as well.

Senator to Fed Govt: invest in security From Isah Idris, Katsina

CONGRESS for Progressive Change (CPC) senator, representing Katsina Central Senatorial District, Senator Ahmed Sani Stores yesterday urged the Federal Government to invest more on security to avert further security lapses.

Speaking with The Nation in Katsina, the Katsina State capital, Stores noted that the bomb blasts in parts of the country were disasters in which innocent people were killed and property destroyed, adding that they would discourage Nigerians and foreign investments.

He urged the government to fish out the perpetrators and make them face justice.

Store urged the government to investigate the causes of the blasts and dialogue with the leadership of Boka Haram religious sect and give them amnesty as it did in the Niger Delta region.

The lawmaker praised the process that led to the emergence of House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, assuring that the Senate would be focused on national development.

He promised to ensure a timely consideration of bills that would bring better life for Nigerians, especially in the areas of power supply, qualitative education, infrastructural development and the fight against corruption.

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•Governor Ahmed flanked by Dr Saraki (left) and Senator Saraki...yesterday.

Sarakis resolve political differences

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ANY days of political conflict ended yesterday in the Saraki family. Former Governor Bukola Saraki reconciled with his estranged father, Dr Olusola Saraki, in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

A prayer was held in Ilorin for the reunited family.

The Sarakis fell apart when the former governor refused to endorse his sister, Gbemisola, for governorhip in the April election.

This prompted his father to form the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) with Gbemisola as its gover-

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

norship candidate.

But Gbemisola lost to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Abdulfatah Ahmed.

Dr Saraki said his son initiated the reconciliation, adding that he succumbed to his pressure so that “peace and unity can reign supreme in the state”.

He said: “I urge the new governor to be broadminded and work with everybody.

Secondly, here in Kwara, anybody, who is in position

of authority, needs to consult before taking any action.

Bukola in the first six years was consulting. I cannot run their government for them.

I can only make suggestions.

“I want the new governor to be conscious by carrying everybody along so that there will not be any crack. It is the crack that happened in the past that brought other parties to the state. They feel that this is a virgin land for them to explore. That is why we have resolved to settle our differences to repel all enemies that may want to come to Kwara.”

At a different fora, the former governor and his successor dedicated their successes at the polls to the elder Saraki, describing him as their political leader.

Saraki said: “I want to categorically confirm to you that the family is back to one.”

The Chief Imam of Maraba Central Mosque, Ilorin, Sheikh Shuaib Abdulsalam, led the prayer, urging parties to forgiveness.

Ahmed, Bukola and the elder Saraki attended the event with PDP and ACPN top members.

‘Soldiers’ offence unconnected with Boko Haram’

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HE General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Armored Division, Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Jos, Plateau State, Maj.-Gen. Sunday Idoko yesterday said the offence of the seven soldiers who were recently courtmartialed had nothing to do with the Boko Haram religious sect.

A statement in Jos by Lt Ishaku Gaji Takwa, on behalf of the command’s Assistant Director, said: “The GOC’s action, as regards the

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

setting up of the general court-martial, was erroneously reported because the alleged offence of the suspected soldiers has nothing to do with Boko Harram.”

“Our attention has been drawn to reports in the media, which indicated that the general court-martial was inaugurated to try seven soldiers for their roles in the escape of suspects of from their military custody in 21 Brigade and 33 Brigade.

“The report wrongly quoted the GOC 3 Armored Division to have said that the action to court-martial became necessary in view of the fact that the preliminary investigation carried out by the Police clearly indicted the accused soldiers.

“It was also reported that the GOC did not give date for the commencement of trial.

“Contrary to the report, we would like to state unequivocally that the GOC did not state in his remark during the inauguration that the indicted officers and sol-

diers aided the escape of over 100 suspects of Boko Haram members’ sect from Bauchi and Maiduguri prisons last year.

“The general court-martial was convened to try officers and soldiers of the division, who were indicted in military/Police investigation and not by the Nigeria Police investigation.

“The GOC equally directed the immediate commencement of the general court-martial and urged it to uphold the tenets of fairness, justice, and impartiality...”

Yobe tribunal rejects plea to admit evidence From Duku Joel, Damaturu

THE Yobe State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Damaturu, the state capital, yesterday rejected the pleas by the first and second respondents to reject the evidence brought before it.

Lead counsel to Alhaji Hassan Elbadewi and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), K.K Eleja, had objected to the presentation of Form EC8A from Azbak ward, arguing that the document was a not an original paper from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Hinging his argument on Section 94 (4) the Evidence Act of 1990, Eleja averred that the document could only be kept with INEC. Ruling, tribunal chairman Justice Pat Onajite Kujubola orderd that the document be admitted and marked Exhibit PA, adding that the submission of the respondent counsel was misleading and could not be relied upon.

She said the document was admitted on the basis of relevance, adding: “It is seen from Paragraph 4 of the petition itself that the document is a document to be relied upon. Notice was also given to INEC to produce the document on the hearing date.”

Justice Kujubola disagreed with the third respondent that the document was at variance with the original in their custody.

The court on June 14 threw out an application by the respondent to strike out the petition on the grounds that it did not meet the requirement of the law.

Suntai warns commissioners From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

TARABA State Governor Danbaba Suntai has warned commissioners, advisors and special assistants against indolence and lip service.

He said hard working officials would enjoy promotions, adding that erring ones would be sacked.

The governor spoke at the weekend in Jalingo, the state capital, at a “familiarisation meeting” with new appointees.

He said: “Laziness and lip services will not be condoned in my administration.”

Suntai said he would listen to his “disciples” and cooperated with them for speedy development of the state.

He promised to provide the tools for effective service delivery, saying: “The task of moving Taraba State forward is paramount, but a collective responsibility.”

The governor said his top priorities for the second term include provision of portable water, education, construction of roads, street lights, healthcare delivery, poverty alleviation and security.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

8

NEWS Sylva advises Ijaw

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AYELSA State Governor Timipre Sylva has urged the Ijaw people to use the production possibilities around them to improve their stake in Nigeria.

Sylva spoke at the weekend in Newark, New Jersey, United States, in his address at the 2011 Boro Day Summit and 14th Annual Service and Devotion Award Ceremony, organised by the Ijaw National Alliance of the Americas (INAA).

President Goodluck Jonathan was represented by Braiye Ekiye. Also present were King Alfred Diete-Spiff and Dr. Atuboyedia Obianime.

The two-day event, with the theme, “A New Era, a New Perspective,” was held

in memory of Maj Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro.

Sylva said: “Today, we live in a new era different from that in which Boro lived. We grapple with different challenges.

The tools of yesterday are not good enough to fix the problems of today.

“So I daresay that armed struggle will not take us to the Promised Land! The ‘war’ we have to wage now is how to ensure quality education, improved healthcare and better life for all Ijaw people.”

The governor said for the Ijaw to be relevant and competitive in the country and the world, they must improve themselves by acquiring the capacities that would enable them make optimal use of their environment.

Exam postponed in Delta From Shola O’Neil, Warri

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HE Primary School Leaving Certificate Examination in Delta State has been postponed indefinitely.

This isdue to the protracted strike by primary and secondary school teachers.

Last Saturday’s postponement was the second in two weeks as a result of theNigeria Union of Teachers’ (NUT) strike.

It was billed to hold on June 18, before it was postponed to last Saturday.

Our reporter, who monitored the exercise in Warri and other towns, reported that pupils, who turned out for the exercise, went home disappointed.

A pupil, Segun Fasan, said the last postponement was more disturbing for him “because we don’t know when we are going to write the examination now.

“We cannot continue to read without knowing the time of the examination.”

The union embarked on the strike to protest alleged nonpayment of the N17,000 harmonised salary of primary school teachers.

Rivers gets road decongestion task force

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HE Rivers State Government has set up a joint civilian and military task force to decongest roads in Port Harcourt and its environs.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi said this yesterday at the sixth Synod of the New Generation Faith Anglican Church, Diobu, Port Harcourt West Archdeaconry.

Amaechi said the task force would remove cars wrongly parked and fine their owners.

Churches, whose mem-

bers park on the road, would pay the state, since they have not provided parking spaces for their members.

The governor said the taskforce would begin work after the Sports Festival and would be paid 10 per cent of the fines paid on impounded cars .

He said the Creek Road market traders and the Mile III market traders have converted the road and Bishop Okoye Street to markets.

Amaechi warned that the traders to either go into the market or vacate the roads.

PUBLIC NOTICE / HEARING NOTICE In The High Court of Justice Ogun state of Nigeria In The Ota Judicial Division Holden at Ota. [Court Three] Suit NO HCT/77/2010 BETWEEN Mrs Oluwakemi Olusola Isah ............Petitioner AND Mr. Yakubu Muhammed Isah .................. Respondent.

NOTICE OF TRIAL Notice is hereby given that this suit has been set down for hearing at High Court No 3 at Ota on 21st July, 2011.

Sign: K. A. Alagbe Principal Registrar.

For Service on Mr. Yakubu Muhammed Isah. For further inquiry please call J. T. Ogunniyi Esq, Petitioner’s Solicitor.

J. T. OGUNNIYI & CO, 105, Lagos -Abeokuta Motor Road, Ifo, Ogun State.

08023414567 or 07039764643.

•Edo State Governor’s mother Madam Aishetu Oshiomhole receiving a certificate from the Ogirrua of Irrua, William Momodu II, after being bestowed with the title of Uwa-Afe of Esanland at 40th coronation anniversary celebration of the royal father at Irrua ...at the weekend

Oshiomhole: states bound to implement minimum wage

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DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday said states are bound to implement the new wage structure as it has been passed into law.

The governor spoke at the National Executive Council meeting of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in Benin, the capital.

He said the state would pay the new wage.

“We will certainly implement the minimum wage.

“In the next few weeks, we would have finished negotiating with the unions, not on

‘The law is not always convenient, but we must obey it, whether convenient or not’ whether to implement the minimum wage or not, because it will definitely be implemented, but to know how to implement it for those already above the minimum wage.”

According to him, the federal, state and local gov-

ernments have no discretion on the issue of minimum wage.

“Government must be seen to respect the rule of law.

“The law is not always convenient, but we must obey it, whether convenient or not.”

Oshiomhole commended NAWOJ for organising the NEC meeting in Edo State, saying the conference came at an interesting time after the elections.

His words: “The international community and election observers are unanimous that there is an im-

provement from past elections in the country.

“This is a remarkable progress to build on and the role of the media cannot be underestimated. Credible elections are important, but not enough to have democracy that work for the people.”

NAWOJ Chairperson in the state Ms Ijeoma Umeh hailed the governor for his development efforts.

She said the meeting with the theme, “Gender Mainstreaming: Requisite for attaining national development” was dedicated to the late Mrs. Clara Oshiomhole.

Rivers REC pleads with security agents for daughter’s rescue S

EVEN days after unknown gunmen invaded Abundant Life Ministry, Eket, Akwa Ibom State and abducted the daughter of the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Utibeabasi Ikotiwak, her father is pleading with security agents to rescue her.

The gunmen, in an attempt to kidnap the REC, who is from Akwa Ibom State, abducted the daughter.

Utibeabasi is 11 and a Junior Secondary School 1 pupil at the Imperial Secondary School, Eket.

Shortly after her abduction,

•Kidnappers: N100m is what we want From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

the kidnappers contacted the family and demanded N100 million.

Her father had pleaded with the gunmen, saying he couldn’t raise the money being a civil servant.

Speaking with The Nation yesterday, Ikoiwak appealed to security agencies to double their efforts in ensuring the release of his daughter .

Ikoiwak said as at Friday, Utibeabasi’s kidnappers are still demanding N100 million, but they had stopped contacting the family.

His words: “As at Friday’s night, the kidnappers are still insisting that if the N100million ransom is not paid, they will continue to hold Utibeabasi.

“For some days now, they have not been contacting the

family.

“We don’t even know what is going on. I just hope that my daughter is safe.

“I am begging the kidnappers in Jesus name to release my daughter because her mother has not been eating since last Sunday.

“Her abduction is telling on the family members.”

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command said it had launched a manhunt for Utibeabasi’s abductors.

But the Commissioner of Police, Felix Uyanna, and police spokesman, Onyeka Orji, could not be reached for comments.

Akwa Ibom Assembly extends councils’ tenure

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HE Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly at the weekend announced the extension of the tenure of the local government chairmen.

The councils were inaugurated on June 27, 2008, for a three-year term, which expired yesterday.

The Speaker, Sam Ikon, said the Assembly extended the tenure of the chairmen by three months following the inability of the State Inde-

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

pendent Electoral Commission to organise local government election.

Ikon advised the chairmen to use the three months to affect the lives of the citizenry, saying the House would monitor their activities during the period.

His words: “I have promised that we would run an open administration.

“The House has taken steps to extend the tenure of the local government administration by three months because there cannot be a vacuum at the councils.

“The House will not hesitate to use the full weight of the law to deal with any council that wants to foment trouble.”

Ikon said local government election would hold before the expiration of the extension.

He said in case of no elec-

tion, the Assembly would be forced to form caretaker committees since the local government administration law could not accommodate elected officers to go beyond three months after the expiration of their term.

Also, the Vice-Chairman, House Committee on Information, Onofiok Luke, said the House acted on the side of the law establishing the local government administration.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

NEWS

Nigerian Railway rolls out northern inter-city train services T HE Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has commenced long distance inter-city train service between Minna and Kaduna, heralding the rollout of inter-city train services in the North.

The first northern intercity passenger train departed Minna on Monday, June 20, at 7a.m and arrived Kaduna at 12.15p.m with a mix of passengers and goods.

The Minna – Kaduna intercity Train Service is the first in the series of inter-city train services being rolled

out by the Corporation to integrate utilisation of locomotives for both mass transit and inter-city train services. Additional inter-city services are to be rolled out in July as follows: Minna – Kaduna - Kano – Nguru, Kafanchan – Kaduna – Minna, Jos, - Kuru – Kafanchan and Minna – Kaduna – Kafanchan.

On completion of further track rehabilitation work,

the northern inter-city train service will be linked to the Northeast, Eastern, Western and Southern regions. Currently, the NRC is running mass transit train services in six cities of Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Maiduguri, Jos and Ilorin. It Larfage cement from Ewekoro to Lagos Following the outcome of the final inspection of Lagos to Jebba rail line project this week, the Contractor, CCECC, will be handing the line over to NRC by the end of June. This will enable the Lagos – Ibadan inter-city train service to be extended to Ilorin, and movement of Larfarge cement from Ewekoro to Jebba.

Costain West Africa Ltd

A

recently engaged the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) as a sub-contractor to assist in completing the track on Jebba to Minna and construction of Akere Bridge to ensure speedy completion of the Jebba – Kano rail line.

Arrangements are on-going to commence Lagos – Kano Express passenger and freight services on completion of the bridge.

As a prelude to the resumption of inter-city train services, a workshop was held in Kaduna for NRC operational staff to develop cost efficient train service patterns and routing of trains with emphasis on inter-city connections.

Orji swears in transition chairmen From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

•Orji

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OVERNOR Theodore Orji of Abia State has sworn in transition chairmen in the 17 local government areas.

Orji urged them to shun corruption and solicited their support in the transforma-

Youth group hails President

YOUTH group in Osun State, under the aegis of Youth for Better Tomorrow (YBT), has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for considering former Minister of Youth Development Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi for reappointment.

Spokesman of the group Comrade Bamidele Seyi Abiola told reporters in Osogbo

that it became necessary to commend the president considering his determination to select and appoint quality people as ministers to facilitate rapid development and fulfil his promises to Nigerian.

Describing the reappointment of Akinlabi as a worthy decision, Bamidele described Jonathan as a leader with listening ears. He hailed Presi-

dent for yielding to the calls of the youths for the formation of a team of competent technocrats, such as Akinlabi.

Bamidele also noted that the antecedent of Akinlabi, who worked with the President during the last administration is enough to convince an average person that the Youth Minister deserves another opportunity to do more.

tion of the state.

Orji said: “You should help to improve your councils in a democratic manner. You must carry the people along in your effort to develop the councils.”

He urged them to help restore the confidence of the people in government through the provision of democracy dividends.

“The era of indolence and dishonesty in service is over.

My administration will remove any of you that work against the wishes of the people.

“You should complete one project in your areas before leaving office in the next three months. We intend to use them to celebrate our 100 days in office,” he said.

He said they were appointed to oversee the affairs of the local governments and urged them to facilitate the development of their councils.

“You are the eyes of government at that level. Ensure that government fulfils its promises it made to the people.”

Orji said they were chosen after an intergrity exercise to test their honesty, diligence, dedication, delivery of services and loyalty. He added that the same criteria would be used to monitor their activities in office.

“This position will help you write your names in gold. Therefore,you cannot afford to disappoint yourselves, families and government that has given you the opportunity to serve,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the council chairmen, the Chairman of Arochukwu Local Government, Sampson Oji, thanked the governor for giving them the opportunity to serve.

Refuse trucks inaugurated

By Augustine Avwode

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OVERNOR Theodore Orji of Abia State has inaugurated nine refuse collection and disposal trucks bought by the State Environmental Protection Agency.

According to the governor, three of the trucks would be stationed in Umuahia, the state capital; one in Ohafia and six in Aba. Orji’s Special Adviser on Media James Okpara said the inauguration of the trucks was the fulfilment of the governor’s promises to Abians.

“The governor, in fulfilment of his promise to improve the health and environmental condition of Abia State, has inaugurated nine refuse collection and disposal trucks. Also, in fulfilment of one of his electioneering promises, the Abia State Government has concluded arrangements to return missionary and private schools to their owners,”he said.

Okpara added that the government is now awaiting the beneficiaries of the scheme to come and take possession of the returned schools.

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

My sense is that it will take a little while to reduce government spending.

In the next few months we will probably see spending remain at the levels we have seen in the recent past which means the monetary pressures will continue for the next three to four months.

- Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

Central bankers agree on bank capital surcharge plan

NSE in tie-up talks with London Exchange

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LOBAL banking regu lators have agreed on a proposal to slap an extra capital charge on the world’s biggest banks to make them safer by 2019.

The Group of Governors and Heads of Supervision (GHOS), according to Reuters News, said after a meeting in Basel last Saturday the proposal would be put out to public consultation next month.

“The additional loss absorbency requirements are to be met with progressive common equity tier one capital requirement ranging from one per cent to 2.5 per cent, depending on a bank’s systemic importance,”the group said in a statement.

An additional 1 per cent surcharge would also be imposed if a bank becomes significantly bigger.

The plans, which need approval from world leaders (G20) in November, would be phased in between January 1, 2016 and end of 2018.

The capital surcharge will come on top of the new seen per cent minimum core capital all banks across the world will have to hold under new Basel III rules being phased in from 2013.

It appears the central bankers have opted for a smaller surcharge than foreseen but, in return, the surcharge will have to be in the form of top quality capital, such as retained earnings or common equity.

Banks were hoping they could use hybrid debt such as contingent capital to pad out the surcharge band.

The proposal, which was due to be finalised by last November but faced opposition from banks and some countries, will apply initially to so-called globally systemically important banks (G-SIBs).

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

MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

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

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

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• From left: Guillaume DeWael, Vice President, France/Benelux/Africa, MoneyGram International; Pam Patsley, Chairman/ CEO, MoneyGram International; Stella Okojie, Retail Payments and Remittances, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc; Nigel Lee, Executive Vice President, EMEAAP and Dominque Stulens, Vice President, Marketing Africa and Europe, on the award of Network Expansion to UBA Plc by MoneyGram International in Johannesburg, South Africa.

‘Fuel subsidy costs N2.6tr in T five years’ HE Federal Govern ment has spent N2.6 tril lion on subsidy of premium motor spirit, PMS (Petrol) in five years - between 2006 and end of first quarter of this year.

A source from the petroleum industry told our correspondent in confidence: “Government has so far spent N2.6 trillion on fuel subsidy between 2006 and the first quarter of this year.”

The source noted that the amount that might be spent on petrol subsidy this year would be record-breaking as what was spent in the first quarter alone is tremendous.

Giving a breakdown of the subsidy expenditure, the industry source said that the government spent N261.1 billion in 2006 while in 2007, it spent N278.8 billion.

In 2008, the government spent a staggering N630.5 billion, which is the highest since the inception of subsidy payment and also spent in 2009, N421.5 billion.

From Emeka Ugwuanyi Asst. Editor

He said that in 2010, the sum of N621.5 billion was spent, which is also very huge while N297 billion has so far been spent between Jnaury and end of March this year.

He said the policy of subsidy is counter-productive and anti-development as other sectors of the economy are starved of funds.

This assertion was also corroborated by the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who had also advised the Federal Government to remove fuel subsidy as it doesn’t benefit the masses in any positive way.

Sanusi, who spoke during a stakeholders’forum organised by House of Rep-

resentatives Ad Hoc Committee, which conducted investigation into the local and foreign loans obtained by the Federal and state gov’ernments, said there was no moral basis for continued subsidy as the country borrows billions of naira annually to pay subsidy debts that benefit those he described as “a cabal” in the oil sector.

“Why should we be paying a N570 billion subsidy that small elite are enjoying at the expense of the Nigerian people? The money is going to a cabal. These are the same people who borrow from the banks and do not pay. They are the ones rigging elections and are aiding corruption. We have to cut them off,” Sanusi had said.

The governors also had demanded the removal of fuel subsidy to enable them to

implement the prescribed minimum wage by the government The Federal Government routinely imports petrol as the refineries couldn’t refine enough of the product owing to age and under-capacity production. The imported fuel is sold at regulated price of N65 while the actual market price is higher. For instance, petrol is currently subsidised by N83.72 per litre as the market price is N148.72 and to enable the marketers to import and sell at the regulated price, government shoulders the extra cost through subsidy payment.

However, the government has made frantic efforts to stop subsidy payment, but each time, the coalition of labour and civil society group wage against the government, claiming that is the only thing the common man benefits from the government and the country as an oil producing country.

IPMAN denies getting 10,000MT of kerosine

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HE Independent Petro leum Marketers of Ni geria (IPMAN) has said its members are yet to receive the 10,000metric tonnes of Dual Purpose Kerosine (DPK) the Pipelines Products Marketing Company (PPMC) claimed to have released to the marketers.

But the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), said the corporation had allocated 30,000 metric tonnes of kerosine to IPMAN and had already supplied them 10,000 metric tonnes.

He assured that NNPC would supply the balance.

IPMAN’s Special Adviser on Media, Alhaji Danladi Pasali, however, told jour-

• We’ve supplied, insists NNPC From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

nalists in Abuja that the 10, 000 metric tonnes of kerosine will even be grossly inadequate for the association to distribute when it is eventually delivered.

He said: “How can you say you have given us the product and stay in Abuja and share it. If someone just picks somebody from the street and give him a product and nobody monitors that person, how do we know? We have said that PPMC is our headache.

“Whereas the sales manual of the PPMC says IPMAN and Major Oil Marketers of Nigeria (MOMAN) must be in-

volved in the distribution, IPMAN does not even know the volume the company is claiming to have released because we are not involved.”

Pasali said for PPMC to supply its members adequately, the company must release 66,000metric tonnes of kerosine to IPMAN. “Considering our number, over seven million outlets, and over 76 per cent of the retail outlets in this country belong to our members. The 10,000 metric tonnes are for about 430 trucks. We are not trying to behave like Oliver Twist, but they do know that 10,000 metric tonnes are inadequate for a place like Lagos alone.

“In order to fast-track the process, if at least 66,000metric tonnes is given to IPMAN, where each zone will get about these 10,000 metric tonnes, it will go a long way to help. It will, in short, serve the market for three days,” he said.

The association, which allegedly noted that the PPMC must have diverted the product, called on the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Engr. Austen Oniwon and PPMC to “remove the bad heads in the industry, who are sabotaging some of the good jobs they executing.”

Pasali, however, urged NNPC to hold the PPMC responsible if the product is diverted.

HE Nigerian Stock Ex change (NSE) has dis cussed a possible tie-up with the London Stock Exchange (LSE), the head of Nigeria’s capital markets regulator, Arunma Oteh, has said.

The NSE is looking to demutualise and would consider selling a stake to a foreign partner. It has already struck a deal with New York’s Nasdaq, which is upgrading NSE’s trading platform.

Oteh said: “One of the considerations in selecting Nasdaq was that it could be a strategic partner. The NSE is exploring what potential partners could offer. It has spoken to the London Stock Exchange and Johannesburg is interested.”

Ms Oteh was tasked with cleaning up the NSE and taking over the Exchange last year. Since the nadir of February 2009, when corporate corruption contributed to the country’s crash, the value of companies on the Exchange has increased from $32.5billion to more than $70billion.

Any tie-up with Nigeria would be another signal of the LSE’s overseas growth plans.

It is trying to merge with TMX, the parent of Canada’s two biggest exchanges, but is facing a challenge from the Maple consortium – 13 Canadian banks and pension funds – that is presenting itself as protecting national interest.

‘NASSI never called for scrapping of NAPEP’ From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

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HE National Associa tion for Small Scale In dustrialists has denied calling for the scrapping of National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP).

It stated that both organisations are in partnership to move the nation forward, while providing conducive environment for business to thrive.

The President of NASSI, Chief Chukwu Nwachukwu, disclosed this during the association’s regular meeting in Abuja, stating that NASSI officials are set to meet to develop a framework in discharging the mandate of both organisations.

He said: “In this new partnership with NAPEP and other agencies, NASSI is determined to employ at least five million people. This job can be created through several ways, such as the apparatus that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) uses.

They are all products of NASSI. “All the association needs to do is to collect 20 per cent from every contract awarded, meaning 20 per cent will come back to NASSI purse.

We will appeal to the government to provide seed capital for citizens.

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

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

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

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

09.10 11.00 11.10 16.20

08.40 08.40 14.55 15.10 17.40

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

08.50 09.45 09.40 14.00 15.45 19.55

LAGOS – OWERRI 07.20 14.00 16.30

08.30 15.10 17.40

LAGOS – UYO 10.35

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LAGOS – MAIDUGURI 11.15 13.15 15.50 18.00

LAGOS – ILORIN 1. Overland 07.15 2. Arik (M/T/TH/F) 17.30

Checks on some of the companies show that they do not have viable IT professionals and department to effectively handle the responsibility.

Assistant Director, Corporate Affairs, NAICOM, Mr Lucky Fiakpa, said the commission is fully committed to the project, adding that as soon as it is completed, insurance companies will be mandated to harmonise their system with it.

He said companies that have poor information and technology platforms are on their own as they would be left aside to ensure effective coordination of the industry’s affairs.

Head, Compliance Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Mr Giwa Sechap, had accused insurers of having poor reporting system,

adding that insurers are a weak link in the financial services sector.

He noted that insurers have poor customers’identification system and that their reports are often incomplete.

The ‘Project e-regulation’ when fully operational will allow seamless inter-connectivity between the Commission and the Insurance Sector thereby ensuring “real-time-direct data capture” and timely solvency monitoring.

The industry’s proposed electronic insurance certificate has also been hindered due to poor submission of data to the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA). The initiative was billed to commence in March, but could not because many companies were unable to submit their customers’data.

12.15 12.45

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

1. IRS 2. Arik

By Chuks Udo Okonta

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HE poor state of Information and Technology (IT) platforms of insurance companies may delay the $1.5million World Bank support e-regulation that is being installed by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), The Nation has learnt.

NAICOM said the ‘Project eregulation’was informed by the need to align with international best practice, adding that the initiative will ensure the migration from current manual supervision to IT-driven supervision.

Investigation by The Nation revealed that most insurance companies do not have the information and technology infrastructure to effectively harmonise their operations to ensure seamless reporting to NAICOM.

08.30 09.10 11.50 12.45 13.40 15.20 16.30 16.40

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

1. Arik 2. Arik 3. Arik

Poor IT infrastructure threatens NAICOM’s e-regulation project

08.00 18.00

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

• From left: Executive Director, Corporate International, Investment and Treasury, Mr Philip Ikeazor, Union Bank; Group Managing Director, Mrs Funke Osibodu and Executive Director, Commercial Banking (North) and Public Sector, Alhaji Ibrahim Kwargana, during Union Bank’s interactive session with financial editors at Muson PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

Court approves sale of Finbank

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is now free to proceed with the sale of Finbank Nigeria Plc to First City Monument Bank (FCMB), a Federal High Court in Lagos said last Friday.

Former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Finbank Plc, Mr Okey Nwosu and a former Executive Director of Finbank, Dayo Famoroti had filed the suit to challenge the legality of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by their former bank and FCMB without recourse to them as shareholders of the bank.

Listed as defendants were Finbank, Suzanne Iroche (Managing Director), Adam Nuru, Omoruyi Iyamu Theo Osanakpo, Iheanyichukwu Anyadiegwu, Agnes Ebubedike, E.O Ofobi, Ernest Oji, Aliyu Gafar, Opeyemi Oye, Lamba Zannah, Usman Umaru, FCMB and CBN. But Justice Okechukwu Okeke, in a ruling, held that the suit was statute barred as it was filed outside the mandatory three months provided for the challenge of actions

By Eric Ikilae

by public officers or public institutions under the Public Officers Protection Act. The judge, who upheld the argument by the CBN and other defendants in their notices of preliminary objection, also held that the suit amounted to an abuse of court process as there was already a similar suit by some shareholders of the bank.

Justice Okeke held that since the plaintiffs have applied to be joined in the case numbered FHC/L/CS/ 1264/2009 filed by other shareholders of the bank and now at the Appeal Court, it amounted to an abuse of court’s process for them to institute a separate case.

The court concluded that the suit was statute barred because it also contested the plaintiffs’removal from offices via a letter date August 14, 2009 by the CBN and its governor.

The plaintiffs, in the petition, which was brought pursuant to Rule 4 (A) (I) of the Companies Proceed-

ings Rules, 1992 and Sections 310 and 311 of the Companies and Allied matters Act, 2004, claimed that they were shocked to discover through newspaper publications that Finbank and FCMB had already signed MoU for business combinations under the active supervision of the CBN without recourse to them as shareholders of Finbank.

They had added that when they made further enquiry, they discovered that it had already been agreed under the said purported MoU that the entire capital of Finbank would be cancelled, and that the bank would be dissolved without winding up.

Similar judgments have been secured in recent time on Intercontinental Bank and BankPHB. Given this development, the coast is now clear for the recapitalisation process to progress to its logical conclusion.

It is hoped that the shareholders of the rescued banks would allow the process to progress as there would be no need for liquidation once the entire process is concluded on schedule.

Analysts doubt Naira rally forecast on new rules

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ISING inflation and government spending in Nigeria will limit a naira rally forecast by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) after it relaxed investor restrictions, according to Citigroup Inc., Renaissance Capital and Exotix Ltd. Nigeria’s may stabilise around N150 per dollar by the end of the year, the companies estimate.

Lamido Sanusi, the Governor of the

CBN, said last Friday that the naira may appreciate to 145 per dollar this year as it lifts a requirement for foreign investors to hold localcurrency investments in government securities for at least a year starting July 1. “Positive interest rates” will contribute to the gain, he said.

The naira snapped three days of declines, strengthening one per cent to N155.2 per dollar on the interbank market by 12:50 p.m. in Lagos,

according to data compiled by Bloomberg, heading for its first weekly gain in three.

“There are still underlying fundamental problems, for example high inflation and government spending,” Leon Myburgh, a Johannesburg-based strategist at Citigroup, said in an e-mailed reply to questions last Friday. “This move is certainly positive, but we may not be that optimistic.

50 local entrepreneurs get N69m loans in Kano From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

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WO non-governmental organisations - LAPAN and O p p o r t u n i t i e s Industrialisation Centre International (OIC) - have empowered about 50 local entrepreneurs with credit facilities worth N69 million.

The empowerment programme is part of the National Economic Reconstruction Fund initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The beneficiaries, who were mostly women, received their cheques at a ceremony jointly organised by the two Non-Governmental Organisations in Kano over the weekend.

According to statistics made available to reporters, LAPAN contributed N56 million, while OICI provided the balance to the CBN-backed National Economic Reconstruction Fund.

The breakdown of the beneficiaries indicates that no fewer than 24 entrepreneurs got a cheque of N3million each, while no fewer than 23 OICI beneficiaries got an average of half a million Naira each.

Eighty per cent of the beneficiaries of the credit facility are women, while the facility attracts eight percent interest rate.

The Chairman of the National Economic Reconstruction Fund, Alhaji Muhammadu Gimba, urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the facility, as the loan is repayable on an agreed term over a given period of time.

Gimba expressed confidence that with the fund, the entrepreneurs are in a better position to re-activate and expand the scope of their businesses.

Plateau rakes in N10.8b internal revenue in four years

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HE Plateau Board of Internal Revenue generated N10.8 bil lion as internally generated revenue in the first four years of Gov. Jonah Jang’s administration, an official has said.

The Chairman of the board, Dr Rauta Jat, who gave a breakdown of the figures, said that N1.235 billion was realised between June and December 2007 while N2.643 billion was realised in 2008.

He also said the government realised N2.993 billion in 2009 and N3.205 billion in 2010.

Jat, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Sunday, said the current average monthly revenue profile of the state was N300 million, with N803 million generated between January and March.

The chairman attributed the feat to hard work, honesty and dedication of the staff, who she said had made the state proud.

“One of our greatest achievements is our ability to improve our revenue generation from N153 million per month in 2007 to N300 million per month in 2011.

“It shows an improvement of up to 50 per cent; this is encouraging,’’ Jat said.

She said the board’s efforts were boosted by the purchase of 15 new vehicles for its operations and the automation of its revenue/tax payment system.

According to her, an autonomy law obtained by the board alongside vigorous public enlightenment campaign and advertisements on tax matters through the media greatly assisted it.

Jat said the board was, however, faced with some challenges ranging from insecurity to lack of an environment for tax drives given the incessant crises experienced in the state during the period.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

13

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

14

ISSUES How soon will the capital market get a lifeline? This is the question stakeholders have pondered for long. After the global meltdown, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) is yet to recover from its financial crisis. TONIA OSUNDOLIRE x-rays the solutions being proffered by stakeholders.

The capital market’s long night Genesis of the inevitable financial meltdown

T

HE global meltdown reverberated across the world, pulling down many big companies hitherto thought to be immune to any crisis. It is a crisis that will be remembered for long because of its damage to the global economy. Worldwide, many institutions are yet to recover from one of the greatest shakes in the past 100 years.

Nigeria is still battling with the effects of the economic crunch. The banking sector was hit by the meltdown; so also was the capital market. As a key player in the market, the banks’ fate redounded on other stocks. It’s been three years since the meltdown, but its effects have not melted despite the palliative measures so far introduced.

The banking sector of the NSE before the 2008 financial meltdown represented 65 per cent of the whole market and it was linked with the global financial system because of its comparative low exposure to it. Many of the banks with off-shore credit lines were affected by the cancellation or reduction of such lines by their foreign counterparts deeply entangled in the crisis.

Some banks were involved in joint venture financing with their foreign counterparts with projects in the oil, telecoms, gas, transportation, power and aviation also affected.

The bearish run in the capital market, which, started before the global financial crisis became obvious and was worsened by it. The current crisis in the capital market is traceable largely to the banks aggressive activities in the market.

The banking consolidation reduced to 21 out of the 24 banks listed on the Stock Exchange. The race for higher capitalisation led to unprecedented Initial Public Offers (IPOs) and a consequential boost to the market capitalisation of the Exchange. Banks subsequently became the dominant factor at the Exchange.

Besides the banks, there were other factors which escalated the capital market’s meltdown: • Unprecedented trading activity in the banking stocks fuelling the greed and connivance of some banks and stockbrokers to exploit higher returns through market making.

• Influx of foreign hedge and Diaspora funds lured by the prospect for huge returns.

• Portfolio realignment from Secondary Market to Primary Market to further exploit greater returns.

• Portfolio shift from the CBN pronouncement of the uniform year end for banks.

• Market correction as a result of earlier price gains not commensurate with the economic and financial fundamentals of the companies whose stocks are traded in.

• Misconceptions about margin facilities offered by banks to capital market operators fuelled by conflicting and reckless regulatory pronouncements.

•Stock Exchange building

Erosion of investors’ confidence The fore-mentioned factors were responsible for the bearish run in the capital market. The situation, was of concern not only to regulators but investors and policy makers.

It was evident that investor confidence was at its lowest, especially as the market so far has failed to respond to the rescue plans being implemented. Such plans include: • 50 per cent reduction in Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) four per cent to two per cent.

• 25 per cent reduction in Liquidity Ratio (LR) 40 per cent to 30 per cent.

•Allowing repurchase transactions against bank’s eligible securities for 90 days, 180 days

and 365 days.

• Injection of N150 billion by the CBN to maintain liquidity in the system.

• 500 basis points reduction in Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) – (10.25 per cent-9.75 per cent) • 50 per cent cut in capital market transaction fees.

• Pegging maximum downward limit of one per cent and upward limit of five per cent of daily stock price at the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

• Introduction of market makers to create activities in the stock market.

• Suspension of new listing to give a boost to the existing listed securities.

• Delisting of 19 moribund companies.

• One per cent downward limit on prices (circuit breaker was reversed to the original five per cent rule on 28/10/08).

• Downward review of fees by 50 per cent.

• Market operators reduced transaction fee by various percentages.

Activity in the equity market, which was upbeat in the first quarter of 2008, has been on the downtrend since, with most performance indicators on consistent declines.

Other costs of the downturn in the capital market included: • General loss of confidence in the •Continued on page 15

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

15

ISSUES

The capital market’s long night •Continued from page 14

economy encouraging capital flight.

• Huge losses by investors in the region of two-third and above of their initial investment.

• Un-saleable stocks as a result of lack of interest by investors, loss of collateral value of the stocks and general credit crunch partly due to over exposure of banks to the market.

Banks are estimated to be exposed to the capital market in excess of N1 trillion.

• Loss of value of Pension Assets casting doubts on the ability of PFAs to fulfill their obligations to retirees in form of pension and gratuities.

• Inability of stock-broking firms to meet their financial obligations to their clients and bankers. This has worsened the problem of general repayment defaults in the banking system.

• Loss of confidence in the regulatory bodies such as the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), CBN and Nigerian Deposit Insurance under whose watch the market was thrown into unprecedented turmoil.

Suggested solutions Effective corporate governance From the regulators point of view, reforming the capital market was the first point of call where enforcing good corporate governance was the major consideration. The SEC going the way of its other sister regulator in the banking sector took steps to correct some abnormalities in the capital market.

According to Ndanusa, the institution and promotion of good corporate governance practice cannot be over-emphasised. Given the level of development of the capital market, it is an appropriate time to enforce good practice. “We must not shy away from enforcement and implementing sanctions where the need arises.

The challenge here is how to ensure that both the stock exchange and other regulators who are saddled with enforcement responsibility are themselves well governed and accountable. With good governance, insider abuse and poor market discipline is mitigated,” he said.

Regulatory effectiveness The regulatory framework that is in place for the monitoring of market activities seems sufficient. However, the framework alone without effective supervision and enforcement will render a market prone to manipulation and lack of transparency. As the market grows, especially in terms of the nature and variety of players as well as in transactions size and activity, regulatory vigilance must grow. “The bigger the market gets, the more real the scope for efficiency but at the same time, the greater the tendency for sharp practices and downside market risk. Regulatory strength must, therefore, be continually reviewed and beefed up to match growth. Failure to do that will undermine the attractiveness of the capital market and dampen its return prospects,” Ndanusa said.

Capital adequacy While the capital market is a veritable source of capital for big and small companies, the access to capital must not be abused. Capital comes at a cost which would undermine the company itself and ultimately, adversely affect investors as well as the larger capital market. Accountability is required to ensure that companies only raise what they require and can effectively utilise.

Market discipline One of the greatest benefits offered by the capital market is market discipline. Market discipline is believed to be capable of bringing out the best from not just quoted companies but also other participants in the market.

Companies should be encouraged to come into the market and all operators to play strictly by the rules. The discipline of corporate governance, forces of demand and supply, market valuation of stocks and companies, the requirements and encouragement of free information flow and regulatory provisions for protecting investors all add to our ability to deliver superior returns to shareholders. Full disclosure requirements must be continually pursued in furtherance of the de-

•Ms Arunma-Oteh

mands of market discipline.

Insider abuse There are also claims that some registrars are being used as instruments of price manipulation by their parent companies. As subsidiaries to their parent companies and maintaining their registers, the registrars have easily succumbed to parent company directive towards perpetration of price manipulation and insider abuses. These usually happen through delays in the verification of share certificates presented for transfer purposes by stockbrokers on behalf of their clients, as well as the late release of certificates after the conclusion of public offers. Also, bonus share certificates are deliberately delayed for most investors while some get theirs in time and take advantage of the market price.

Financial sector surveillance There is the need to expand the perimeter of financial sector surveillance to mitigate systemic risks posed by unregulated or less regulated segments of the financial sector.

Present consideration Despite concerted efforts, the market has yet to return to profitability. Some stakeholders blame the disunity among the stakeholders as the major cause of the market being unable to return to stable positive trend. For instance, an operator said it will be wise for the three regulators to come to the table for a serious discussion on the larger picture of the economy.

A source close to the top management of the SEC, NSE and CBN said there could be light after the tunnel with the recent development in the capital market as the new management at the NSE is driven by integrity and transparency. This they have referred to as their watchword. Although the source said for everything good there is always a disagreement which it is believed will yield a positive result at the end of the day.

The regulators are said to have had series of

•Bajomo

meetings which have been concluded on some occasion on confrontational truth that must be told. The source revealed that one of those truth is that the CBN has been accused of making pronouncements that have not been deliberated on by the three to reach a reasonable conclusion and reduce the adverse effect it could have directly on the capital market.

“The issue of the increase in MPR is not the main problem the market is faced with but rather you can imagine someone making a pronouncement on the banks which presently represents about 35 per cent of the market capitalisation. Imagine what the pronouncements in the last two weeks have done to the market. If the banks fail the NSE will crumble.

There is a systemic run on the affected banks now where customers use the cheque of the affected banks to pay in other banks, and this indirectly withdraws fund from those banks without physically going to those banks,” the source explained.

However, commenting on the way forward, the Executive Director, IT and Market Operations of the exchange, Mr Ade Bajomo said the Federal Government should come to the aid of the capital market in two ways. One is by releasing fund to the stock brokering community to be able to do their function properly at the market. The second avenue is to give companies tax incentives by allowing them not to pay tax for a number of years as quoted companies on the exchange. “If the brokers have enough money to trade they will perform their functions effortlessly and also, if a company knows it will be given tax exemption for some years as a listed company it will be interested in coming to the market and this will create more liquidity in the market,” he said.

Buttressing what Bajomo said, the Chairman of the Association of Stock brokering Houses of Nigeria, Alhaji Rasheed Yussuf, said the government has to correct the system, buoy the liquidity of the stock brokering community. He explained that when the brokers were doing their work properly, the banks were lending them money but due to the margin loan saga, the banks are no longer doing that.

“If the Federal Government gives the fund to the brokerage community, they are not doing

‘The discipline of corporate governance, forces of demand and supply, market valuation of stocks and companies, the requirements and encouragement of free information flow and regulatory provisions for protecting investors all add to our ability to deliver superior returns to shareholders’

it for the brokers but rather to help the system. If the market is not fairly stable and functional, it will be very hard to return to profitability,” he said.

Furthermore, he said the reforms are fine but the market has to be functioning and stable before one makes rules and enforces it to get results. “You have to put the brokers back to be functional,” he said.

He added that the stability in the market was more corrected when they had fund to operate in the market. “Rather than have the market reflect the daily sell mandate by clients, brokers usually absorb their request and warehouse it by paying the clients and will later release such stocks not necessarily under pressure into the market,” he said.

Last month, while reacting to issues in the market, the President of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Mr Mike Itegboje, urged the Federal Government to create a window for the market to return to profitability.

In his response to The Nation, he said brokers are not against reform but that all stakeholders are to be blamed for whatever had happened in the past to the capital market rather than pointing accusing fingers at the operators.

Itegboje said the Federal Government should create liquidity for the capital market through an open window of N200 billion.

He explained that the government needs to bring liquidity back to the market just like the United States (US) government did which was what helped the market.

Analysing the use of the fund, he said the money will be used to bail out the capital market and will be accessed by investors and managed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He said for investors to access the money, they will be made to make available certain documents through their brokers that will be vetted by the CBN for anyone to be qualified for the fund.

Also, he said the fund will be available at a minimal interest to market makers who can buy out foreign investors when the need arises to checkmate a possible reoccurrence of the last financial meltdown.

Itegboje urged the Federal Government to consider giving the market a bailout through a window just as it was done in other sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, entertainment and aviation. This, he said, will definitely bring liquidity to the market.

Citing examples, he said the capital market will give back more than the other sectors the President has created windows for including aviation, agriculture, entertainment and manufacturers. “If we don’t have liquidity, the market will continue the way it is,” he said.

With the stock market settling to a low single digit return by the end of first half, it is high time all stakeholders come together to chart and implement a collective agenda for a stable and steady market recovery.

16

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

17

MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Senator John Akpanudoedehe is the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate in Akwa-Ibom State. He speaks with Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU on why he is contesting the victory of Governor Godswill Akpabio at the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Uyo, the state capital

‘Why I’m challenging Akpabio at tribunal’ W

HAT is your assess ment of the political situation in your home state today?

We are in a wrong hand. The man in the saddle has capacity for lying. He is good at deceiving the public. I don’t want to be abusive.

Why am I that harsh? The reason is that he is giving the picture of a performer and he is not doing what he is preaching. Take free education, for example. The federal government, in its own statistics, gave Rivers State some kudos.

They scored Adamawa State second. Akwa Ibom did not come third. On infrastructure development, the Federal Government gave credit to Anambra. Akwa Ibom did not come second. He is saying that he is developing the state to blindfold people.

How about security in the state?

The Nigeria Police and other security watch agencies have scored Akwa Ibom to be unsafe. during the elections he recruited thugs to maim and kill peoples. They had a plan to smoke out ACN. That means that they should provoke us. They painted us as violent people. We went to Ibiona local government. One of the commissioners came out with guns to stop us from entering that local government. It took the traditional ruler of the place to give his traditional injunction for us to campaign. We were not provoked. We reported the matter to SSS. Nobody was arrested. the only group they could arrest was ACN. We went to 15 local governments. Having failed to stop us from the third local government, we were ambushed.

They used money against us. Almost about 10 vehicles were burnt down. We got the police permit to go to Ikot-Ekpeme. The first place we applied for to use was denied us. The second venue they denied us. We got a primary school after 2 p.m. We left Uyo around 2.45 p.m.

We were confronted, stoned at.

They used machetes. It took the intervention of the DPO of that area to move us away. That was around 6pm. It took the police army, mobile police another one and half hours to take us to a boundary between Ibibio and Anan, his own ethnic area. I did not know what happened at Uyo. But I was amazed that those places were attacked. The idea was to smoke us out. Since we refused to be smoked out, they had to create mayhem to create the intention that we were violent and to get the favour of the President. What is he using the military for? Is he using the military to stop kidnapping? Is he using military to stop criminal activities? He was keeping them because he needed military for elections. My wife is from Ikot-Ekpene.

She went to consult her people.

The same thing they did to me they did to my wife.

What is the implication of all these?

We have a situation where people are becoming untouchable.

Blood does not mean anything.

The law now exists to protect a

‘Of course, I won.

That is why people are not celebrating in Akwa Ibom State.

They know I am their governor. You can parade yourself as governor, but you need legitimacy and perception. Legitimacy is voluntary.

You cannot force it. If you remove that acceptability, there is no government’ •Akpabio

dictator in office. We have a governor that does not tolerate opponents. he does not even understand what it means to be a governor.

When you supported the governor in 2007, did you ever envisage this type of sour relationship?

Sociologically, you cannot subject any human behaviour into a laboratory test. We saw a handsome man, not a paranoid. Would you accept a governor telling you that his opponents want to over run him? What happens to the security money? They even entered a nolli prosecute for an alleged kidnapper to remove him from custody and he was later made a special assistant to one of the commissioners. He is using that as a strategy to intimidate opponents. People are becoming enlightened. That is why they moved to ACN. If you go to Uyo, the governor will claim that all the roads were done by him. He would say that he built a five star hotel, airport, 1,000 roads. If you check the statistics, it is not true.

In the state, unemployment has gone up to 75 per cent. There is no law that regulates behaviour and checks corruption in the state.

There is no due process. no clear policy. No executive council meeting is held. it is a one man show. It is a government of family members.

If you compare this administration with that of Obong Attah, what would be your assessment?

It is incomparable. Is it in the area of peace? Is it in the area of security? Is it in the area of harmony?

Is it in the area of strategic planning and development? You cannot compare.

Why are you challenging the victory of the governor?

Of course, I won. That is why people are not celebrating in Akwa Ibom State. They know I am their governor. You can parade yourself as governor, but you need legitimacy and perception. Legiti-

•Akpanudoedehe

macy is voluntary. You cannot force it. If you remove that acceptability, there is no government.

Generally, foreign and domestic observers adjudged the elections to be free and fair. Why do you think that your state is an exception?

If we look at it from the point of view of my state, it was not a free and fair election. We have a process of knowing whether it is free and fair. That is why we are the tribunal. We are following Nigerian law. Our prayer is that the judges would remember that they have children and do justice. I am afraid to cite the case of Abacha’s son looking for justice, when actually, there was no justice during his father’s administration. Journalists should also remember the blood of their colleagues who died for democracy and re[ort activities well. Not every body can afford the high sum they spend for media advertisement today. The governor is using public money to advertise the mayhem he has perpetuated and ascribing bit to ACN. He is misleading the public.

When you count the cost of electioneering and now, the cost of litigation, don’t you think that democracy is hard to secure?

In the West, an average woman knows her right. A Yoruba knows that power is not served ala cart.

One must come out. That is why Awolowo is being mentioned today. I am on that path. Today, an average person in Akwa Ibom is becoming more conscious. People love me because I am giving back to society part of what it gave to me. At a tender age, I was elected local government chairman. I was elected senator twice. I have been a minister. God has been kind to me. Like Bill Gates, you need to use your resources for the people.

You need to fight for the right of others. We must work toward collective prosperity, not individual

prosperity. If you don’t create that society, you will die and your children would not be able to operate in the environment.

How has the adjustment been in the process of transiting from an operator within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to ACN, which is an opposition party?

I was detained falsely over accusation of murder. I wrote to the former Speaker of House of Representatives and Senate. They did not investigate it. I am their former colleague. The difference between ACN and PDP, in my view, is that there is affection and understanding in ACN and they stand by you when you have problem, whether you are weak, powerful or strong.

The relationship there is very cordial. Its principle and ideology are clear to everybody. Some people said whenever i win, I would still move to PDP. I said no. That will be a sin. Somebody abandoned you and somebody picked you up.

That means that you are ungrateful. ACN people are very straight forward people and i like that character.

Some people felt that your incarceration distracted you during the election and affected your performance at the poll. What is your view?

That on its own was a campaign.

When I came out of prison, the entire state came to welcome me. It took me four hours to move from prison to my house; a distance of three kilometers. The next day was the National Assembly elections.

We won almost seven federal seats.

They wrote the results. We won without money. At the presidential election, Akwa Ibom gave ACN more votes that what the presidential candidate got from his home state. it was out of conviction and belief.

What is the level of confidence you have in the judiciary?

I have confidence in God of Justice. God will talk to judges to do the right thing. We are praying for

them. If you do good ton a weak man, it can change the destiny of your family. The weak is used to confirm the strong. ACN in Akwa Ibom is stronger than ACN in Oyo State. ACN in Akwa Ibom is stronger than CPC in Nasarawa State. When Asiwaju came to Uyo, he was shocked by the crowd of devoted members and followers.

They were shouting his name. He rolled down his screen and they were hailing him. That was the day he believed that ACN is strong in the state. Before, people were saying that Akpabio had the power of incumbency. Akpabio was only popular on the pages of newspapers. Akpabio was telling everyone that I had an agreement with Asiwaju to sell Akwa Ibom State to a Yoruba man. But he brought his wife’s birthday party to Yorubaland. His lawyers are Yoruba. His friends are Yoruba.

When you see a confused man he is inconsistent.

How safe are you in Akwa Ibom State?

Of course, I am not safe. When I go to Akwa Ibom State, I move with a lot of security people. My people secure me. My security is in the hand of God. When I am in town, people don’t sleep because I am the only person they have.

What is the assurance that you will not defect to PDP when the coast is clear?

I will be unfair to my children.

What do I really want? PDP abandoned me. They took the ward executive from me. They did not give me a fair chance of competing.

They did not know my value.

Then, I had the opportunity to build a party. I cannot go back to PDP. I am not a dog. Dogs eat their vomits. I am a man of character.

Ask from senators between 1999 and 2007. I have won elections.

All my life, I have not been violent. I have never committed crime before. I passed through screening when it was difficult to pass through. The problem is with my rivals. Who among them had the opportunity when I was elected chairman of Uyo Municipal? I became senator. I opened door for all of them. I was locally bred to become a senator. People following me are not mediocre. They are knowledgeable. They are misusing public money for cheap publicity.

What is the future of your party in Akwa Ibom?

In a free and fair elections, no party can beat ACN in Akwa Ibom.

What aspect of the electoral process need reformation?

Jega and INEC did well by capturing 10 finger prints. But when military and mobile police come out to rig for some people, they are destroying the electoral process and the Army. Those who rigged election were released by the police and soldiers. We are in a war situation in Akwa Ibom. In the next election, military people, the Army should not come out. The INEC staff that collaborated in rigging should be prosecuted.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

18

POLITICS OLITICS P

‘Why Taraba governor enjoys smooth sail’ After surviving the turbulence of the April general elections in Taraba State, Governor Danbaba Suntai, has appointed commissioners. In his first interview with journalists, the state’s new Information Commissioner, Hon. Emmanuel Bello, a veteran journalist, dissected the task ahead of the administration. SUNDAY OGUNDUGBA was at the session. Excerpts:

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O you feel Governor Danbaba Suntai made the right choices for his cabinet?

Yes, his choice was based on what each one of us will bring to the table as we strive to build Taraba together.

Governor Suntai loves Taraba and has continued to place the state above his own desire. He is probably the only governor in Nigeria who does not make Abuja his home.

He is always flying back to after every engagement there as his demonstration of his love for Taraba people. So when he picked his team, service to Taraba was paramount in his mind and he carried out the posting knowing that he would achieve results for the people. In those days, people got appointed based on some primordial reasons like who you know and what not. But the current governor is a practical man. His selection was squarely based on scientific postulations. Of course, the names came in from the stakeholders, but it was the governor who took the final decision based on the competence of each one of us. Already, our people believe that this team will deliver. He told us to eschew sudden wealth. He practically preached to us, telling us that if we don’t put the people first in all our dealings, he would be forced to reconsider our appointment.

There are complaints that the governor is rewarding only those who worked for him without considering the opposition…

No, the governor is getting faithful people in place. He gave the parable of the talent as contained in the Holy Writs. He said that he would do the same thing that is reward every one according to his or her work. He is not speaking only of people’s work as politicians, but also their contribution at work. You were given a job to do; did you do it well?

Are you ripe for elevation? Will you do it with all your heart? That is the sort of thing he is working on. And I believe it makes perfect sense to reward people who have worked for a cause and who standout in their fields. This is how to encourage excellence.

Be realistic; how much do you think your team can really accomplish?

The governor had already achieved much in his first term. If you knew Jalingo, the state capital was, compared it to what we have now, you will better appreciate what I’m saying. Jalingo used to be a one-road town. It was just horrible. Today, Jalingo is fast catching up with the rest of the country as a befitting capital, with street lights all over the place. We now have many roads crises-crossing the city. He did all that in three years of effective governance. Elsewhere in the state, the governor also started opening up roads.

Look at the Mararaba-kurmi road; for years, the people from that part had nothing but tears and woes on the road. Immediately he came in, Suntai opened that road. Talk about education; he was the governor who gave the state its first university. The federal government also gave us

• Bello

‘The governorship election was one of the most transparent elections I have ever seen in my life.

There were many factors at play but in the end, what helped the people to make up their minds for Suntai was his performance. The people were particularly impressed with his effort at providing peace and security.

Taraba state has been spared all the troubles associated with security in the Northeast’ another university. We were almost in tears when we remembered when we used to travel very far for university education. Now our sons and daughters can stay back home and get good certificates. It was Suntai who revolutionised the civil service in Taraba by improving on workers’ welfare.

When he came, some permanent secretaries didn’t even have a means of transport. He gave them befitting offices with better cars.

That was in the past. What can you people do now?

The point is that if Suntai achieved all that in a matter of two to three years with all the troubles of his first tenure, you can imagine the good we will do to Taraba people in the next four years. Already, his first action in office is to approve the construction of the Garba Shede road. Once that road is fixed, it will link up over fourteen local government areas with the state capital and even Adamawa State. That is the sort of visionary leadership he is giving the state. He is also thinking of lifting tourism, culture and other sectors. So, our people can expect more roads, more rural electrifi-

cation projects and all the other indices of development. The election left many surprised because there was an ongoing strike action at the time. But it has been called off after the election. We have now put that behind us now. Truth is that there are about 16,500 workers in Taraba.

Now that is not the entire population and we have close to three million people. When the leadership of the workers started making spurious demands of a salary raise, the governor said look we are already paying one of the best salaries in the country. Besides, we don’t ever default in paying. The governor also paid off huge backlog of pension arrears owed by the previous administration.

But your opponents are at the tribunal alleging that the elections were rigged…

That is their charge and they have to prove it. The governorship election was one of the most transparent elections I have ever seen in my life. There were many factors at play but in the end, what helped the people to make up their minds for Suntai was his performance. The people were particularly impressed with his effort at providing peace and security. Taraba state has been spared all the troubles associated with security in the North East. Our governor is an expert of sort in this area and the people like his mannerism - his gentle approach to all issues, his seriousness and forthrightness. They see him as a man they could trust. His opponents were too loud and brash and inadvertently gave the impression that they could not be trusted. But Suntai is a God-fearing man. And everyone knows this in the state.

‘PDP can’t lead Nigeria out of the woods’

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IKE most concerned Nigerians, Comrade Linus Okoroji, former Director of Security and Logistics of Pro-National Conference Organisation (PRONACO) and now a leader of June 12 Coalition, is not happy with what is happening in the country.

He could not hide his feelings when he was asked about how he was feeling about the scandal in the sixth National Assembly under the former speaker. His reply: “It portrays the attitude of Nigerians to public office.

It shows that those holding elective positions have no plan for the people. They are rudderless, foolish and also ignorant of history. What do they want to do with such money? It explains their gluttony at the expense of Nigerians who are suffering without food on their tables. That was my quarrel with the Nigeria Labour Congress when they accepted to dance to the tune of monetisation of the economy. It is a very dangerous concept. It means you can give him money and allow him to go hell. Instead of providing him with good health and other social services, you are giving him money. In essence, he should provide health for himself and other social needs. So, monetisation of the system has eroded our sense of commitment to public welfare and engendered the culture of money.

This attitude has permeated the minds of Nigerian leaders whose sense of kleptomania ranks highest in the world. Nigerian leaders are very foolish. Generally, Nigeria is a country of foolish and gullible men.”

But when reminded that the government believed that monetisation was to bring relief because people could simply pay for what they wanted, he said: “It has not really helped Nigeria. Unfortunately the concept of monetisation was the idea of IMF and World Bank. The IMF ideas came up at a time when Nigeria was poor and needed to meet its international monetary challenges. The IMF dictated to Nigeria how it would overcome these challenges and gave their conditionalities which included privatisation, devaluation of the Naira, which of course eroded the dignity of man. That also included liberalising imports, retrenchment of workers and all sorts of things. Thirty years after the rejection of these con-

• Okoroji

By Musa Odoshimokhe

ditions, the government of today have rebranded them reforms. It is really unfortunate that Nigerian people who agitated against these conditions have been persuaded to accept them because of their gullibility.”

With palpable regrets, he lamented the missing link between Abiola’s mandate which he joined others to actualise and the reality in the country, saying: “M.K.O Abiola was a great man. That he was the only Nigerian at that time that could walk into the America’s White House and the British House of Lords showed he was the only one that could equate the leaders of the world. That is why when he explained his mission to banish poverty from Nigerian, he was wholly embraced from different parts of the country. The prices of essential commodity came down naturally because Abiola had already embarked on mass productions of essential goods. But today, prices of things have gone up. Government appears confused because the solution it proffers seems not to be working. Abiola’s election was a consensus of Nigerians. It was a great hope that was dashed and those who took over the leadership after that annulment have failed. They are opportunists, looting the treasury with impunity. It’s really unfortunate because there is no reason for poverty in this country.”

•From right: Gov. Theodore Orji, Abia State with the Speaker, Abia State JHouse of Assembly Rt. Hon. Ude Okochukwu during a courtesy visit by the old and new members of the House in Umuahia.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

Foreigners want more • Multinationals seek more control of Nigerian firms

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UST merely by the cases of reported increases in stakes by foreign investors in local firms, it would perhaps be tempting to conclude that the much needed foreign investor-confidence may be returning albeit slowly to the Nigerian economy. Undeniable is the fact that the list of blue chip companies in which foreign investors have upped their stakes have continued to grow. Most notable ones are Cadbury Nigeria Plc, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc and First Aluminium Nigeria Plc. In Cadbury, the parent company, Cadbury-Schweppes progressively increased its stake from 46.3 percent in 2005 to 50.02 percent. It took the percentage of its holdings to 74.99 at the conclusion of the company's Rights Issue in 2009. PZ Cussons UK also increased its stake in the local subsidiary from 38.6 percent in 2005 to the current 62.65 percent. Alucon Holdings SA first increased its stakes in First Aluminium from 51 percent in 2005 to 64 percent in

‘We need to encourage new start-ups to take advantage of the vast opportunities in the Nigerian market. What we must guard against are schemes designed to promote capital flight and hence dissipate our scarce foreign exchange earnings all in the guise of some dubious foreign investment’

2008; current its stake stands at 75 percent.

In the same vein, Coca-Cola Hellenic with 66.21 percent stake in Nigeria Bottling Company is reported as seeking to buy out dissenting Nigerian shareholders with the carrot of N45 billion investments as sweetener. All of these would seem to suggest that the good times are back.

Not quite. It isn't in all cases that multinationals have increased their stakes. One notable exception is Longman - the publishing outfit, whose foreign partners - Pearson, have divested their holdings in the local firm citing what it calls the "constraints" of being majority shareholder as against its preferred outright ownership of the company".

Announcing their divestment, the foreign partner had stated that they were more comfortable with "complete visibility and control" - noting that the existing shareholding structure precluded it from pushing through its far-reaching restructuring programme after it acquired majority share in the company few years ago.

With due respects to the individual circumstances necessitating each of the buyouts, what is clear is an emerging picture of an increasingly difficult cohabitation between the foreign shareholders and their local counterparts. To start with, there can no questions about whether the transactions are legal as the acquisitions are within the ambits of the law; moreover, there is nothing also to suggest that the transactions are

anything less than ethical or transparent.

However, there are grounds to worry about the development.

First is the suggestion that the local investor isn't quite at par with its foreign counterparts on corporate governance issues and the rigid demands of global best practices. Here, the anxieties of the foreign investors are only to be understood in the context of their quest to make those companies live to their global reputations. We recall here in particular, the circumstances in which Cadbury Schweppes re-acquired majority stakes in the local food and beverages conglomerate after the local managers ran it into a financial hole.

Would the acquisitions translate into expanded opportunities, capacity enhancement and better management of the entities? This more than anything, should be of great interest to the regulatory authorities as indeed every Nigerian. The country obviously needs all the help it can get to stimulate wealth creation and entrepreneurship, and importantly, to help set benchmarks in global corporate best practices. In concrete terms, what we need is to boost the capacity of our manufacturing companies to create more jobs for the vast army of the unemployed. We need to encourage new start-ups to take advantage of the vast opportunities in the Nigerian market. What we must guard against are schemes designed to promote capital flight and hence dissipate our scarce foreign exchange earnings all in the guise of some dubious foreign investment.

No to outlaw soldiers • Those who killed and maimed in Badagry must be treated as the felons they are N May 24, a cumulative nine souls, one from the Army and eight from the Police (the eight including three officers), were killed by uniformed felons in Badagry, Lagos State.

But instead of decisive action to forestall any future uniformed madness, both Hafiz Ringim, inspector-general of Police (IGP) and Lt-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, chief of Army staff (COAS) comically toasted each other, at a grotesque meeting at Police Headquarters, Abuja. One announced a "historic" visit by any COAS to Police Headquarters. The other claimed President Goodluck Jonathan was lucky to have his guest as Army chief - all in the fond hope that the mindless violence and the perished souls would vanish from public consciousness.

Well, they have not. Almost one month to the date of the Badagry mayhem on June 23, the misbegotten offspring of Air Vice-Marshall (AVM) Nura Imam's "mad dogs" almost ran berserk again at Obanikoro, on Lagos Mainland. AVM Imam, it was, who propounded the "mad dogs" theory, when in the heady days of military rule, some Nigerian Air Force men assaulted the late Basorun MKO Abiola.

What brought the ire of these condemnable "mad dogs"? It was the conceit that donning the uniform exempted soldiers from civil laws. To underscore the mass lawlessness of personnel in uniform, the Obanikoro fracas, according to a report in The Nation, involved a female soldier and a male lance corporal, who both illegally drove in the dedicated Bus Rapid Transit

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(BRT) lane. When the police officers in the taskforce enforcing compliance accosted them, they started a brawl.

The female soldier, driving a car marked SD 754 KJA, attempted to drive through, only for her car tyres to be spiked.

The male soldier, driving a car marked KE 507 EKY, after daring the police to tow his vehicle and failed, head-butted one of the policemen and when his tantrums were failing, slumped and feigned to have fainted, only for him to jerk awake minutes later and virtually run!

A few days earlier, at nearby Jibowu, on Ikorodu Road in Lagos, a reported Army General, whose driver was zooming in the same BRT lane, had to order back a pack of "mad dogs" from the nearby Abalti Barracks, come to save their law-breaking colleague from arrest.

The general reportedly identified himself and ordered the pack back to their barracks. But could he not have simply told his driver to keep to traffic rules? But it could have been worse! At Matori, near Oshodi, army personnel routinely drive against traffic, simply because they thought it beneath their unruly and brutal majesties to make a u-turn at Oshodi before entering the nearby army facility.

Now, what has the Nigerian Army become? From an army of occupation in the colonial times, to a brutal occupying forcein-government and now a murderous public nuisance at the return of democracy?

Lt-Gen. Ihejirika and Brig-Gen. Raphael Isah, the Army spokesperson, had better put on their thinking caps. There is no way this polity would tolerate much longer

a bunch of outlaws in army uniform.

And the Police? It has grown little beyond the trigger-happy gang of IGP Sunday Adewusi's "Kill-and-Go" Mobile squad of the Second Republic. Neither has it thrown off its self-doubt, which prompted, post-haste, the termination of the promising career of Alozie Ogugbuaja, simply because he told the ruling military authorities back then some bitter truth, in his famous pepper-soup theory.

But whenever both COAS Iherijika and IGP Ringim are done with clowning, they must realise the blood of Messrs Salihu Samuel, Samson Okedusi and Taofeek Afolabi, the Badagry trio killed in cold blood by murderous soldiers, cry for justice. We will resist the matter being swept under the carpet. Besides, bringing all those involved to justice - and being clearly seen to have done so - is the only panacea to felons-in-uniform unleashing periodic mayhem on the polity.

‘Whenever both COAS Iherijika and IGP Ringim are done with clowning, they must realise the blood of Messrs Salihu Samuel, Samson Okedusi and Taofeek Afolabi, the Badagry trio killed in cold blood by murderous soldiers, cry for justice. We will resist the matter being swept under the carpet’

Budget Cutters v. the Law

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HE last three years have been the hardest for state budgets since the depression, and virtually every state has cut services. Most often, it is the poor, the young, and the elderly who are most hurt, as 34 states cut K-12 education, 31 health care, and 29 elderly and disabled services.

More than 30 states also have raised taxes to some degree, but some have simply gone too far and violated longstanding commitments to their citizens. When that happens, usually because of ideologically driven lawmakers, the only protection that many citizens have is the courts. In state after state, the courts have been forced to step in and stop the most ravaging budget-slashers.

As Michael Cooper of The Times recently reported, courts have sharply rebuked several states for breaking the law in cutting back vital services and improperly using new revenue sources. Governors and legislators can rage about judicial activism and unwarranted intervention, but in many cases the voiceless, including schoolchildren, prisoners and the poor, have no other protection.

In California earlier this month, a federal court ordered the state to increase its payments to foster parents, two-and-a-half years after the state was found to have violated the federal Child Welfare Act. The Legislature included an extra $10.7 million in the budget for the higher rates, which it had not otherwise been willing to pay. A few weeks before that, the United States Supreme Court said California could no longer crowd prisoners into dangerous conditions, a situation long ignored by the state.

The New Jersey Supreme Court last month upbraided Gov. Chris Christie for cutting the schools budget so sharply that he violated a court order requiring a proper education in poor districts. It ordered another $500 million in school spending. Governor Christie’s sputtering that the court trespassed on his responsibility would be more persuasive if he had made any attempt to meet his obligations, instead of cutting taxes and then pleading poverty.

The North Carolina courts are examining whether state cutbacks there violate court orders, and similar lawsuits have been filed in Kansas. In the words of John Robb, a lawyer for several Kansas school districts: “Just because the checkbook is empty doesn’t mean that the constitutional standard is swept away.”

These court actions are a warning to Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York, who has proposed to cut $1.2 billion of the school money necessary to fulfill the 2006 court order that children be provided a sound basic education. When lawmakers ignore their fundamental responsibilities, it’s good to know there is a judge who will step in.

A version of this editorial appeared in print on June 23, 2011, on page A26 of the New York edition with the headline: Budget Cutters v. the Law: In many states, courts have stepped in to preserve vital programs for the vulnerable.

– New York Times

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

IR: May I use your esteemed medium to cry out over a situation that is affecting the generality of poor Nigerians who are supposed to enjoy the fruits of their belief in, and support for the democracy we have all embraced.

Like many businessmen across the country, I have been dealing in fish of all sorts and never in the history of my dealings have I experienced what is now happening in the nation’s business environment.

When on January last year, the prices of fish jumped from the affordable to the unbearable, many thought it would soon revert to what would be affordable for all Nigerians who deserve the products at cheap costs. But happenings in recent times have proved everyone wrong, hence the current deafening outcry all over the place.

In January last year, Herrings (Sawa), used to sell at N2,600 be-

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EDITOR’S MAIL BAG SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 800 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.net

Mr. President, arrest the rising cost of fish fore it jumped to N5,200 a pack.

Mackerel, known as Kote in local parlance rose from N5,000 a pack to N9,000, while Titus which used to sell for N6,200 rose to N11, 000 a pack. Same unsavoury story goes for Stockfish and other kinds for fish.

What we have found intriguing is the likely cause of the hike in the prices of the products which are being imported into the country for common man’s consumption from countries like China and Norway . Information reaching us re-

veals that increased import duties might have caused the unpalatable situation. Many implicated the hike in cost of diesel. What is actually happening?

Besides the fact that the people can no longer afford it in view of the prevailing economic problems in the country, we the sellers are under intense pressure. We now have to pay more to buy and store the products with the high cost of diesel in the land, while the buyers are not just there.

This is a big problem which the

present government must look into before it is late. It will be deemed unfortunate of Nigerians can no longer afford to buy and do business with fish as we are now experiencing. Therefore, on behalf of my colleagues, I appeal to President Goodluck Jonathan to do something fast about it before many are forced out of the business.

• Mr. Francis Okuori, Chief Executive, Franco & Sons Foods Nigeria Limited, Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State.

Stop south-west marginalisation

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IR: The recent political brouhaha over the new speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal invariably indicated that the south west region is distantly marginalized. Many thought that Hon. Mulikat Adeola from Oyo state of the PDP would have been the new speaker, if all the Yoruba politicians were in one accord irrespective of their various political party affiliations in the House.

But the PDP zoning arrangement was thwarted by the ultimate

power of the people.

Although the south west politicians contributed immensely to developing the political structure of the country over the years through the wisdom of Obafemi Awolowo and others, but, very little regard was accorded it by the north. The Yoruba massively voted for Jonathan during the last election.

It is appalling that the PDP zoning formula is only working on the pages of Nigerian newspaper while real politics is at the beck and call

of the opportunists who felt power should be captured at all cost. It serves as a big lesson to conservative Yoruba leaders who betrayed themselves in recent times.

The problem at hand should be carefully treated to avoid another tsunami/conflagration in the country. The south west must not be treated with disdain rather, the leaders should think of how to fix things in this government.

Jonathan meant well for Nigerians but some political elements want to destroy the unity of the country

and feel that the government does not have anything to offer the region. The zoning arrangement will make plunge Nigeria be into war the way it is being pursued.

The civil war of 1967 has taught the country a great lesson, so, there should be no more political fisticuffs. As the leadership of Jonathan progresses, some changes would be made in time to come, so the Yoruba must be vigilant.

• Godday Odidi is a public commentator and lives in Ajegunle, Apapa, Lagos

Prophetic revelations to Nigerians

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IR :Nigerian politicians and leaders of people need to turn away from their wicked ways and evils that they are committing, so as not to incur the wrath of God. The foolishness of the nation’s rulers will attract divine punishment. Do not tell lies under oath: Do not trust in deceitful words. Do not make promises and break them and worship god. They should turn a new leaf to avoid God’s punishment.

The leaders and followers should go back to the words of the Bible, so that, God will refill His glory on all of us, with a divine comfort. Also the preachers of the words of God should speak and preach the true messages of God to the church and the nation and open the ears of the people to the Biblical ways of life.

Nigerians need to be serious with their spiritual life, as righteousness, fasting and prayers are the only means to live successfully in life.

And need to rededicate ourselves to the service of God and humanity and that the difficult situations facing the country demanded a lot of sacrifice from the collective efforts of both the leaders and the led.

God bless Nigeria (Amen) • Rev / Prophet Oladipupo Funmilade The Presiding Head, The Way of Reconciliation Evangelistic Ministries (TWOREM) Int’l, Nigeria .

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

EDITORIAL/OPINION

Remove fuel subsidy, provoke people’s wrath

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NWITTINGLY, the nation’s governors might just be setting traps to topple on-going democratic governance through people’s revolution. To assume that things are already so well emplaced that the masses could be taken for granted is an illusory fallacy.

The decision of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) to call on the president to remove the so-called subsidy on petroleum products as parts of measures that would afford their payment of the N18,000 minimum wage was without consideration of the reality on ground. Read the mood of the people today: they are hungry and angry, frustrated and feeling cheated by the recurring exposures of billions of common wealth naira being reportedly squandered and stolen, leaving a richly endowed land to continue wallowing in miserable penury.

That the elected governors could come up with the kind of absurd recommendation that would further impoverish the people is unthinkable. Did they ever calculate the very low percentage of Nigerian workers that would benefit from government-paid minimum wage compared to the populace that are bound to share the pain of further economic burden? Did they realise that all Nigerians, except the very few in power who would not use their own money to buy petroleum products would suffer the consequences of higher costs?

Removal of oil subsidy at this point will increase the price of petroleum products and rubbish the essence of increasing the minimum wage. It’ll also spell doom for the economy. The logic is simple. Those who do not have vehicles must at one point or the other take public transport. And since government has no means of regulating transport fares across the nation, commercial transporters would only increase their fares beyond the hike in fuel prices. In other words, the extra burden would be passed on to commuters. Again, among the commuters are traders. Any new addition to their expenditure would simply be added to the cost of their products. Buyers of peppers, tomatoes, yam and other basic items would eventually bear the charge. Yet, not all would benefit from the minimum wage. Even the beneficiaries must have lost the benefits, or more, to induced inflation since they too would be victims of inflation. The summary is that the loss is on the people.

The anger of the masses would be further ignited whenever they remember that their governors never advised cut

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OUGH times they say, never last, but tough people do. At last, the imbroglio over the ownership status of LAUTECH is finally coming to an end. With the sun set on the political life of the intransigence governor – Alao Akala, the age-long brothers – Oyo and Osun can now resume their hitherto warm brotherly relationship over the management of the 21 year old LAUTECH. When Governor Alao Akala first stated publicly around April 2010, his intention to take over LAUTECH, many well meaning Nigerians from all walks of life advised him not to cause disaffection between the two states, but he rebuffed them all.

Members of staff and students of the institution also advised that, if disengagement of Oyo state from LAUTECH is a must, it should be done over a period of 4 – 5 years, so that career of the staff and students would not be badly affected. But probably due to his low educational status, his blind ambition to be the sole super lord over LAUTECH, a parochial interest to satisfy his home town – Ogbomoso or a combination of all these, all entreaties fell on deaf ears. He instructed his self appointed vice chancellor to remove all Osun indigenes from the post of Registrars, Deans, HODs and other management positions. He also removed all professors and academics that hail from Osun and other states from the newly constituted governing council as well as the appointment and promotion board of LAUTECH. Even the objection to the composition of the new A & P board by the national ASUU could not change the mind of the “Almighty” Alao-Akala. This writer was privileged to be among the ASUU executive that went to his office at Agodi to convince him to respect ASUU 2009 agreement. The way and manner he was boasting about his power over LAUTECH left no one in doubt that he is indeed a man of very low intelligence.

Now that the new governor has taken over the governance of Oyo State, I have the following pieces of advice for him that will be of immense benefit to the resolution of the needless crisis caused by his over ambitious predecessor.

Firstly, the illegal College of Health Sciences erected at Ogbomoso should be converted imme-

in the fantabulous millions being earned as maintenance allowances by each of the federal legislators. They would feel further short-changed by the numerous white elephant projects, unabated corruption, jumbo pay for political office holders and appointees that are adding little or no value to the lives of the people.

Analysts would enlighten the society that the huge sums being spent on governance are far beyond whatever is being calculated as government subsidy. Or if those in power claim to be serving the interest of the people who voted them into power, why can’t they sacrifice by cutting down their enormous operating cost, huge security votes that are never accounted for and right-sizing their administrative costs. No patriotic citizen is pleased with the apparent financial leakages from virtually all government angles.

The bane of development in Nigeria is wasteful spending and corruption. To say the truth, most Nigerians are seeing inhumanity and impiety in the governors’ request for the removal of the subsidy. It is as if they no longer reside in Nigeria. To the organised labour movement, it is “undemocratic, unacceptable and condemnable.” The N680 billion allegedly being spent on fuel subsidy is nothing compared to N1.3 trillion spent on few political office holders as ‘remuneration.’

Nigeria Labour Congress Vice President Issa Aremu who tagged the governors’ request as “policy of dictatorship” that characterised the military rule said the move is an attempt to arm twist the president to taking an unpopular decision that could lead to nationwide breakdown of civility. To him, the resultant crisis might just aggravate to the magnitude of the political tsunami that rocked Tunisia and Egypt barely few months back. No wise leader with sense of history would wave this threat aside.

It is already being argued by those familiar with the law of the land that the removal of the subsidy and its accompanying hardship would amount to a violation of Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 federal constitution which says the security and welfare of all Nigerians shall be the primary purpose of government. Yes, it is agreed that some states might not have the capacity to pay the N18,000 minimum wage, yet there are many other creative ways of generating funds internally for impactful governance.

The only positive aspect of the governors’ demand is the need to review the revenue allocation formula, which is lopsided in favour of the Federal Government. What is in operation at the moment is that the Federal Government takes 52 per cent, the 36 states share

Way out of LAUTECH impasse

By Adelani Tijani

diately to part of the main campus, but to be shared by various faculties and departments that have no enough offices and lecture theatres.

Also, lecturers and students of the College of Health Sciences that have been forced to relocate to Ogbomoso since January 2011 should be directed to go back to their college at Osogbo. After all, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria as well as the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria have respectively dissociated themselves from training of medical and nursing students outside Osogbo – the accredited centre. These two professional bodies have tactically withdrawn the accreditation granted LAUTECH since February, 2011. That is why from January to date, LAUTECH has been teaching theory only to their medical and nursing students since the management of the institution prevented the use of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital at Osogbo for practical, and the illegal trap erected at Ogbomoso has no single equipment talk less of accreditation. Up till now, no meaningful examination could be done in the College of Health Sciences, Ogbomoso.

Secondly, the structure meant to be the Teaching Hospital at Ogbomoso should be thoroughly inspected before being used for anything whatsoever.

It is really a death trap as it is a common knowledge that many of the buildings allegedly collapsed under construction killing some of the construction workers. Everybody knows that there was no sense in pulling down the old structure of the State Hospital solidly built since 1960s. The old structure was well built with a very good architectural design. A first time visitor to the new structure could not fail to notice the sordid job done. Sky-scrappers were built, packed up like sardine fish in a can, giving no room for adequate ventilation whatsoever. Even if LAUTECH breaks up as envisioned

26.72 per cent and the 774 local governments take 20.60 per cent.

The Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola Committee raised by the governors has recommended a review of the revenue allocation as follows: Federal Government (35 per cent), States (42 per cent) and local governments (23 per cent). The report has been approved by the Governors Forum. For the sake of grassroot development and national stability, President Goodluck Jonathan should give this recommendation priority attention rather than removing the supposed subsidy that is capable of sparking fire.

While campaigning, the politicians promised better life for all.

Nothing must stop them from honouring all their electoral vows so as not to allow frustrated Nigerians take law into their hands as was witnessed in Tunisia and Egypt. Afterall, Mr. President himself told the electorates during his campaign that refineries in Nigeria are now working. But if so, the question then must be why are we still importing fuel into the country at the level that it is?

People are smelling corruption around fuel importation and the so-called subsidy. The challenge is that the Federal Government should do the right thing by stopping importation through building more functional refineries and properly maintaining existing ones. The long-drawn liberalisation of refineries too must materialise. Let their be more private investments in that aspect of the industry, the nation will begin to export refined products and stall smuggling of what they consider as cheap fuel to neighbouring West African states. Furthermore, building more refineries would create more employment opportunities for the swarming unemployed youths.

Even with all these, the more significant issue that is bringing forth confusion in the nation’s administration is the fact that Nigeria is a federal entity in name only. We must begin to question why the Federal Government still insists on dabbling into matters better handled by the states. What the country has been referring to as federalism is more of a unitary system of government. This was one of the damaging legacies of military interregnum.

It remains wrong for the Federal Government to unilaterally fix a minimum wage for the 36 states. Such action negates creativity and productivity. Each state has its own peculiar challenges. For instance, what N18,000 would accomplish in my Ekiti State is different from what it would do in oil-rich Rivers State. Yet, the incomes of both states are not the same.

It’s also wrong of the Federal Government to be unilaterally operating the Excess Crude Account, taking the VAT it never worked for and selling national properties and institutions without giving the proceeds to the state governments.

And this is a central government that hardly benefits the masses in the interior. The power sector it is handling is in tatters; the federal roads are in ruins; federal educational institutions are daily degenerating. So what is the huge federal allocation being used for? We can now see why those in power don’t steal in millions anymore; they now go for the billions.

This would reduce if the revenue allocation formula is reviewed to enable the states and local governments take on additional responsibilities. Let’s heighten the debate on the imperative of fiscal federalism without over-burdening the masses with hike in fuel prices. The torture of kerosene scarcity and exorbitant diesel cost must not be heightened if desired peace is to reign.

by Chief. Alao Akala, no professional who knows his job could accredit such an overcrowded structure to serve as a teaching hospital. After the structure has been reconstructed adequately, it could then be used as halls of residence for LAUTECH students. After all, LAUTECH is a non-residential campus at the moment.

Lastly, members of staff that were illegally removed should be reinstated to their duty posts and these include the Registrar, Deans and HODs. Sir, please show no interest in dividing LAUTECH now or in future; it is a joint heritage left behind by our forefathers. It could be likened to Oodua Group of Companies left behind by Chief Obafemi Awolowo for the Yoruba nation.

This writer was privileged to be a partaker in fund raising for the establishment of LAUTECH (the then Oyo State University of TechnologyOSUTECH) in the 1990. As a student of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-ife then, l was the National President of Federation of Iwo, Ayedire and Olaoluwa Students’ Association (FIAOSA) and he led the union in fund raising activities towards the establishment of LAUTECH. The old Oyo State government said that the town that could raise highest fund would be that site for the university.

Hence, FIAOSA joined their fathers in raising fund in a bid to secure OSUTECH site in Iwo land.

Though, we lost the opportunity in Iwo land then, we were all happy that the university came into existence. For anybody to now stand up to claim the institution for any of the two states is, to say the least, unwise.

• Adelani Tijani (FWACN) lectures at the college of health sciences, LAUTECH, Osogbo.

‘Please show no interest in dividing LAUTECH now or in future; it is a joint heritage left behind by our forefathers. It could be likened to Oodua Group of Companies left behind by Chief Obafemi Awolowo for the Yoruba nation’

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

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a ‘comprehensive review of the cost of the machinery of government’. They not unnaturally wanted to know how much was left in the kitty before proceeding. And remember they are operating in or operated in sensibly run societies.

The admirable Dr. Kayode Fayemi must not be deterred. He cannot come back in 3 years time and say ‘I was hamstrung’, no one is going to believe him and no one frankly should. The time to lay it all bare is now.

Luckily for the good, long suffering people of Ekiti state, Fayemi is prepared to walk the talk. Sensibly, he has already sent a bill to the House of Assembly to domesticate the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. This means that he understands that only strong institutional mechanisms can prevent a subsequent reoccurrence after he has finished his tenure of office. We implore all the other states to emulate his worthy example.

What is coming out of Ekiti and other states such as Osun, Oyo, Ogun and so forth is a clear indication of the rot that that has to be cleaned out. If the dragon of corruption and the poverty that accompanies it is to be staved, then there is no alternative than to follow the route taken by Fayemi. For emphasis: There is no alternative (TINA).

EDITORIAL/OPINION

N the aftermath of the 2011 elections, a debilitation confronted those who had just taken over from defeated or retiring (constitutionally term barred) chief executives and administrations. The dilemma has been what to do about the mass of red ink in the bottom line of the public finances. To do nothing will imply acquiescence in what is actually a no holds barred pilfering of the commonwealth. It also carries a future political problem. Two or three years down the road, the new incumbent cannot now say ‘well, we might inherit an empty treasury’.

This will sound to any sensible person as a well worked out excuse for administrative ineptitude.

The time to outline the parlous, in some instances, bizarre state of the exchequer is at the onset of a new administration. Whether it is tagged a probe, audit or stocktaking, there must be an open rendition of the exact state of the public finances. Ideally, there ought to have been an institutional mechanism whereby statutorily, a new administration has all the facts at its disposal. However, this is Nigeria where due process and the very concept of internal controls are observed in the breach. For this reason, those who are taking stock of what is actually left in the often threadbare cupboard are to be commended.

In Ekiti state for example, Governor kayode Fayemi came in after a three and a half year bruising battle to claim a mandate many felt he had been unjustly deprived of.

Not unnaturally for him to have every reason to ponder over the state of the exchequer he will be inheriting. In view of the often reckless attitude to public finance prevalent in most of Nigeria’s federating units he had valid grounds to be weary, indeed, apprehensive. Now what is not just his own intuition but what has actually become the conventional wisdom has now been confirmed. He has sensibly published the names of contract defaulters. This is the right thing to do and a critical evidence should the matter go to court after issuing a White Paper. A White Paper has indeed been issued. The Government of Ekiti state’s “White paper on the report of the Contracts/Consultancy Review Committee on Contracts/Consultancy awarded from May 29, 2007 – October 15,

Fayemi and the aegean stable in Ekiti

By Ayo Badmus 2010” is a seminal classic.

Here, in 70 fascinating pages, we have enunciated a practical elucidation of the ‘Nigerian paradox’. The paradox mentioned often alluded to is the unnatural situation where the populace gets poorer as the state earns more. Want to know why elections were fought in Ekiti and elsewhere in a do or die mode? Look no further than the Ekiti state governments White Paper. Here you will behold a living document on the political economy of corruption – Nigerian style.

It is a riveting read. Road contracts in Ekiti state are being carried out at three and a half times more than the costing used by the federal government. Let us use the dualisation of the Ado-Iworoko-Ifaki road as an example.

According to the White Paper the road was awarded at a contract sum of N6,378,892,543.46 and was later reviewed upward by N1,092,850,802.00 to N7,471,743,345.46 only. The level of job execution arrived at by the verification Committee and the Ministry of Works officials was 30% or N2,241,523,003.63. The sum of N300,000,000.00 is now being certified as due for reimbursement by the state ministry of works which was awaiting further certification of the federal government officials.

The litany of woes just gets worse as one goes through the White Paper. Starting out as a riveting bed time read, the White Paper ends up as a nightmare. Not surprisingly the White Paper came to the eminently sensible conclusion that the helmsman of the ancient regime “…presided over one of the most corrupt and fraudulent contact administrations in the history of Ekiti state. His administration infracted on due process leading to unpardonable and alarming waste of scarce resources. The administration embarked on contract bazaar by awarding a total of 2,731 contracts within a space of three years with-

out fiscal discipline and proper consideration for the quantum of money available to government”.

The issue of fiscal discipline is at the heart of the mindless maladministration exhibited in Ekiti state. The White Paper correctly observes that: “The contracts were approved for execution all within the same period instead of properly phasing them out for good funding and management.” Surely, this should have been obvious even to a secondary school student in SS2! In addition, (it gets curiouser and curiouser as the fictional Alice was wont to observe in Wonderland); “Over 90% of the contracts were either badly executed or abandoned while very few are at various stages of completion. Not up to five projects were commissioned throughout the tenure of the immediate past administration”. This must represent a record befitting of an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records!

This is a litany of the political economy of corruption on a mindboggling level. Governor Fayemi will be derelict in his duties if he does not go ahead and repossess public money so recklessly thrown down the drain.

Indeed he has a moral obligation to do so.

For example as the White Paper pointed out given one instance, “The entire scam that went by the name Cassava Revolution is a charade and a total waste of government money. The total amount involved i.e.

N62,444,600.00 should be recovered from all officials (political and career) that played principal roles in the unprecedented display of executive recklessness.”

Governor Fayemi should not just recover; he must demand and insist on restitution.

The self serving claptrap about witch-hunting is not going to fool anyone. Bill Clinton, Tony Blair and lately David Cameron all started their administrations by carrying out

• Ayo Badmus, a social analyst and political observer wrote in from Lagos.

‘The issue of fiscal discipline is at the heart of the mindless maladministration exhibited in Ekiti state. The White Paper correctly observes that: “The contracts were approved for execution all within the same period instead of properly phasing them out for good funding and management’

VIEW FROM THE FOREIGN PRESS

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N April, the Nigerian people did something truly historic, conducting arguably the most credible and transparent elections in the country’s history as an independent nation. The April elections were by no means perfect, and we all hope that the lessons learned this year will help shape plans for the next election cycle in 2015. The United States is ready to work again with the Nigerian government, with civil society, and with Professor Jega and INEC to improve upon the successes of April 2011.

Good elections are important, but democracy is much more than the casting of ballots. For Nigeria, now comes the hard part: the serious, day-to-day business of governing.

Speaking at the African Union earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton put it this way, “Good governance requires free, fair, and transparent elections, a free media, independent judiciaries, and the protection of

‘Even as we celebrate the singular success of the 2011 elections, the U.S. hopes that the Nigerian Government will honor the judgment of the voters by constructing strong and transparent institutions that deliver essential services to the nation, and by setting a standard by which all federal, state, and local government entities hold themselves publicly accountable’

Now comes the hard part…

By Ambassador Terence P. McCulley minorities. And democracy must also deliver results for people by providing economic opportunity, jobs, and a rising standard of living.”

Good governance is the cornerstone for Nigeria’s continuing political and economic development. The elections confirmed that Nigeria’s citizens both understand this central truth and yearn for a government committed to democratic principles and the rule of law, run by public servants of tested integrity. For this reason the U.S. Government has applauded President Jonathan’s declaration to “wage war on bad governance.” The U.S. will continue to expand its support for strong, transparent institutions dedicated to improving the lives of all Nigerians.

The Nigerian Government faces complex challenges in the post-election environment. Security, electricity, good roads, education and reliable health care top most people’s lists of immediate concerns.

On the plus side, the country is blessed with abundant human and natural resources. Income from oil and gas exports, wisely invested, can provide the capital for any project the Government chooses to undertake. The U.S. will continue to offer development assistance and technical advice where needed.

Whenever Nigeria decides to take broad, effective action to fully develop its democratic institutions, empower its justice systems, and create a welcoming economic environment, the foundation can be set for massive economic growth in both the public and the private sectors. Nigeria could inspire billions of dollars of Foreign Direct Investment simply by insuring that business contracts are sacrosanct,

investment regulations are predictable, and electricity is reliable. Both foreign and Nigerian investors, large and small, will benefit.

And as Nigeria looks to grow and diversify its economy, it is important to remember that Nigerian farmers once fed much of West Africa. The U.S. stands ready to help Nigeria regain its status as an agricultural exporter. When Nigeria begins again to export food and commodities to its West African neighbors, to Europe, and through AGOA, the African Growth and Opportunity Act, to the U.S., the personal incomes of the 70 percent of Nigerians dependent on agriculture will increase markedly. Women and the poor will play a more prominent role in this market-driven economy. Nigeria will expand its regional and global trade relationships and create an improved environment for international commerce. Regional security will also improve as agricultural exports help secure the region’s food supply.

Public and private sector economic development is crucial, but cannot succeed if Nigeria’s population is weakened by poor health and disease. An estimated 4 million Nigerians live with and suffer from HIV/AIDS - and the number is growing, not shrinking. Already with the second-largest number of HIV-infected people in the world, Nigeria with its large population and high birthrate could well move up on a list it wouldn’t want to top.

The U.S. Government invests close to $600 million every year in Nigeria’s health sector and has begun to shift its focus from treating the ill to increasing the capacity of Nigeria’s own health systems to assume this basic responsibility.

The new U.S. Global Health Initiative recognizes that stronger health care delivery systems, focused on basic maternal, child, and newborn health and on prevention, can reduce the deadly consequences of HIV/AIDS, and also help fight other diseases, including malaria and tuberculosis. A coordinated partnership among Nigeria’s federal, state, and local government entities is needed: the Nigerian Government has already committed to funding half of what is needed to treat HIV/AIDS patients by 2015. This will allow the U.S. to shift its resources from treatment to prevention and capacity building. A healthier Nigeria is a natural result of good governance and an essential element of the U.S. - Nigeria partnership.

Even as we celebrate the singular success of the 2011 elections, the U.S. hopes that the Nigerian Government will honor the judgment of the voters by constructing strong and transparent institutions that deliver essential services to the nation, and by setting a standard by which all federal, state, and local government entities hold themselves publicly accountable.

Back in April, the Nigerian people were the ultimate arbiters of the credibility of their election, and now, only the Nigerian people can determine the future of a democratic Nigeria. Only the Nigerian people can judge whether government is meeting their expectations. But for both the Nigerian Government and for the Nigerian people, the time is now to capitalize on the democratic momentum unleashed in April. President Goodluck Jonathan rightly stated in his inaugural address, “We fought for decolonization. We will now fight for democratization.”

In this fight, you have the full support, friendship, and partnership of the United States of America and its people.

• Ambassador Terence P. McCulley is US ambassador to Nigeria

2011 FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

We can overcome Germany hurdle —Eucharia Pg. 24

Nation Monday, June 27, 2011

FREE COPY

PAGE 23

•Onome Ebi of Nigeria looks dejected after loosing the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 Group A match between Nigeria and France at Rhein-Neckar-Arena on June 26, 2011 in Sinsheim, Germany

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

France defeats Nigeria in opener

MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

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NATION SPORT Messi wants Aguero at Barcelona

JUVENTUS are set to meet Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero's representatives to discuss a transfer next week, as confirmed by Giuseppe Marotta, but Spanish and Italian reports suggest Barcelona are keen to land him.

Il Corriere dello Sport and Tuttosport both report Spanish sources claim Lionel Messi is trying to convince his side, and Argentina team-mate Aguero, 23, to come together.

The Ballon d'Or holder is said to be eager to join forces with his compatriot and form a sesational partnership at Camp Nou next season.

Atletico have already added pressure on the forward to decide what he wants to do within the next two weeks as they are keen on planning for next season and they want to know whether they can count on him.

Despite the reports of a possible late surge by Barcelona, who are still keen on closing a deal for Udinese's Alexis Sanchez - also wanted by Manchester City, Juventus seem in pole for Aguero.

Giuseppe Marotta already confirmed he is "a player liked" by the Italian giants and will be meeting the player's representatives next week.

Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi is also a target for Juventus, but Aguero would

appear to be a priority. To land him though, they would need at least •45 million so they can meet Atleti's buyout clause and start concrete talks with the Spanish side.

Aguero is tied to the Vicente Calderon club until 2014.?

•Messi

Marseille deem Adebayor too expensive MANCHESTER City striker Emmanuel Adebayor will not be joining Marseille this summer due to his astronomical wage demands, according to La Provence.

The Togolese international looks set to depart Eastlands this summer on a permanent basis, with Roberto Mancini deeming the former Arsenal man surplus to requirements.

However, Adebayor will not be joining Marseille for the beginning of next season despite his representatives holding preliminary talks with the club.

The 27-year-old is believed to earn 160,000 euros a week at the Premier League club and is unwilling to take a significant wage drop.

Adebayor spent the second half of last season on loan at Real Madrid yet the La Liga giants chose to let the player return to the Citizens, declining to exercise their option to purchase the striker for 15m euros.

Zenit St Petersburg and Juventus have also been linked with moves for Adebayor, although the player himself ruled out a move to the Russian champions earlier this week.

He previously played under Marseille coach Didier Deschamps during his spell at Monaco between 2003 and 2006.

•Adebayor

AHEAD OF 2012 LONDON OLYMPICS

2011 WOMEN'S W/CUP

Ndanusa backs Nigeria We can overcome Team Nigeria for success Germany hurdle—Eucharia P

•Rues Oparanozie’s miss From Ejiro Femi-Babafemi in Germany

the daunting task of trying to take something from Thursday’s meeting with Germany to keep alive their hopes of progressing.

Meanwhile, Falcons’ player, Perpetual Nwokocha has expressed disappointment at the loss. She said: "I' m very dissapointed,I think its football, we had the chance but we

couldn't finish. Although the fans cheered us up more so not just us but France too. I was not nervous as I have

played in this kind of situation."

Nwokocha is however optimistic against Germany as she said: "We will try hard to fight hard to win our next game as we play Germany on Thursday."

LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS

Chukwumerije off to Azerbaijan for qualification spot

Hiddink 'was Chelsea's first choice' GUUS Hiddink was Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's first choice to succeed Carlo Ancelotti at Stamford Bridge, according to Hiddink's agent Cees van Nieuwenhuizen.

Last week, Chelsea took decisive action over the manager's job, appointing former Porto boss Andre Villas-Boas after

S

UPER Falcons’ Coach, Eucharia Uche is still upbeat on the team's chances in their second game against Germany on Thursday despite losing by a lone goal in their first Group Match against France on Sunday. Uche was of the opinion that every team is still beatable just as she rued the chances missed by Desiree Oparanozie who had the best opening of the first half but was unable to convert with only Sapowicz to beat.

She said: "It is so unfortunate that France has to run away with one goal.

That is football. it is never over in football until it is over. You never can tell it is a game of football. we have to work hard and prepare for the other game. Though Germany is a good side, but I still believe that any team in this competition is still, beatable. It is a pity that Oparanozie could not convert the chances she got into a goal."

The result extends Nigeria’s winless streak to eight matches dating back to 1999. The Super Falcons now face

meeting the 33-year-old's £13.3 million release clause.

But Van Nieuwenhuizen claims that Hiddink was approached first, with only his insistence on honouring his contract as Turkey manager preventing him from returning to Chelsea, where he won the FA Cup during a caretaker spell at the club in 2009.

"Every now and then they talk, they [Hiddink and Abramovich] see each other, and Guus would say: 'I have a contract so it's no use considering a position for me at Chelsea.' I think Abramovich has respected that position," said Van Nieuwenhuizen in the Observer.

"When he signed with Turkey he realised he would be in this position in principle through at least to the European Championship, so he's a professional.

"Massimo Moratti [Internazionale's president] also mentioned last week that he wanted Guus Hiddink. And Guus has already been connected in the past a couple of times, related to big clubs, not only Chelsea."

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ETERMINED to clinch a spot at the London 2012 Olympics, Beijing 2008 Olympics bronze medallist, Nigeria’s Chika Chukwumerije, yesterday departed his base in the United Kingdom for the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF)organised Qualifiers holding in Baku, Azerbaijan with the intention of picking a slot at the global championship.

The world’s number 61 ranked Algiers 2007 All Africa Games gold medalist left his based in Manchester, United Kingdom (UK) aboard a Lufthansa Airline to Baku enroute Frankfurt.

NationSport learnt that Chukwumerije who will be competing in the men’s +80kg category with 27 other athletes had prepared well for the competition and that he is optimistic that he will make it to London the world's biggest sports fiesta.

He said: “Most of my opponents have a good reputation and have obtained great results over the past years, but while I admire their credentials off the ring, I will do no such thing in the ring.

In there, I really do not care one bit about their history. All I will be concerned about is trying to get my job done, no

Arsenal's Song punished over Cameroon row with Eto'o ARSENAL midfielder Alex Song has been fined by the Cameroon football federation over a row with striker Samuel Eto'o.

Eto'o was cleared of indiscipline by Fecafoot while Tottenham's Benoit Assou-Ekotto was reprimanded.

The charges all related to the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Senegal on 4 June and the training camp before the match.

Song had refused shake hands with Eto'o when the pair met before the game.

They had fallen out during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the match against Senegal marked Song's return to the squad.

Song has been fined approximately US$2,000, severely reprimanded and ordered to carry out three days' training with young players within the next year.

Eto'o was accused of missing a training session and showing indiscipline to coach Javier Clemente when the player disputed a substitution during the game.

He has been cleared of the charges.

Assou-Ekotto, who did not attend the hearing, has been given a warning after failing to respond to a call-up from Clemente.

The Indomitable Lions are struggling in their campaign to reach the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon next year.

They currently lie third in their

group, with five points from four games so far.

They are five points behind leaders Senegal and two behind DR Congo.

By Innocent Amomoh matter how rough it might get out there.

If I thought I did not have a chance, I would have just chilled and waited for the African regional qualification event in which one is ‘meant’ to have a ‘better’ chance. However, I think I have as much chance as every other athlete coming to the event.”

Aside his semi-final conqueror at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Greek Alexandros Nikolaidis, who is two-time Olympics silver medalist and the current European champion, Chukwumerije will also contend with other top fighters in the world.

Chukwumerije will take to the ring on Sunday July 3, four days after the kickoff of the event at the Sarhadchi Olympic Centre in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Other Nigerian athletes listed for the qualifiers are Temidayo Jegede, who will compete in the men’s -80kg, and Ijeoma Obi, who will jostle for place in the women’s -67kg.

24 spots will be decided each through the Baku tourney for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Aside the Baku qualifiers, other Nigerian athletes have opportunity to make it London 2012 when 16 slots will be decided through the African tournament to be held from January 11 to 12, 2012, in Port Said, Egypt.

However, four spots will be decided through the tripartite consultation among the IOC, the ANOC and the WTF, which are known as “wild cards,” while the host country, Great Britain, will secure four spots automatically.

FFF plans walk for Falcons Tuesday

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HE Female Football Foundation (FFF) has concluded plans to stage a one-day walk for the Super Falcons currently taking part in the FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany.

The walk, meant to create awareness over the plight of female football in the country takes off at Planet One bus stop, Maryland by 9.30 am. The Maryland team will join the second team of the walkers at Ikeja bus stop which will both join the third batch of walkers at the Renaisance Hotel, Agidingbi before terminating at the Lagos State governors office, Alausa.

According to the founder of the Foundation, Mrs. Barong Tony-Uranta, the walk is the second stage of the foundation desire to create awareness over the plight of female footballers in the country, saying, "we want to improve the lot of female footballers in the country, especially those playing in the national teams."

"Female players have not gotten the sort of encouragement they deserve despite dominating African football. A team that has won six of the seven African Women's Nations Cups deserves more than what it is presently getting in term of allowances among others. The female players have never be given national award nor given houses like their male counterpart. These

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are some of the issues we want to bring to the front burner. We want Nigerians to know that their heroines have not be well treated and that something must be done in this regard," she said.

Some eminent Nigerians, according to her will be part of the walk naming Ambassador Segun Olusola, Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Merga Party, pat Utomi, Jimi Agabaje, Amata Agatha, Fola Adeola, Ireti Doylce and former board member of the Nigeria Football Association, Princess Bola Jegede.

Don’t cheat, Fashola warns Team Lagos

Seventeen Libyan footballers join opposition movement IN a blow to the Gaddafi regime, seventeen Libyan footballers have joined the north African country’s opposition movement. According to the BBC, the defectors include top goalkeeper Juma Gtat, three other unnamed members of the national team, and Al Ahly Tripoli coach Adel bin Issa.

"I am telling Colonel Gaddafi to leave us alone and allow us to create a free Libya. In fact I wish he would leave this life altogether,” said Gtat, speaking from the town of Jadu in the

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole on Saturday rewarded the Under-23 team

NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL

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rebel-held Nafusa Mountains.

Meanwhile, bin Issa, the Al Ahly Tripoli tactician, echoed the sentiment, adding that his move to the Western Mountains was a symbolic one that he hoped would further weaken the Gaddafi regime and “send a message that Libya should be unified and free.”

The defections are significant in that they are a propaganda setback for Colonel Gaddafi and indicate that his iron grip on all aspects of life in Libya, including football, is loosening.

tarnish the image of the country during their stay in Surrey or at the Olympics.

"I’m excited with the facilities and the serene atmosphere. Nigerian athletes will have the best and I know that they will give their best to the nation. I am particularly happy with facilities that will determine the fitness level of the athletes, and dictate those who have injuries and the facilities for drug tests", the NOC President said.

Earlier, Denise Saliagopoulos, the cabinet member for community services, Tourism and the 2012 Games Surrey County Council said that they were delighted to be having Nigerians use their facilities to prepare for the Olympics. She said that Surrey was the most ideal place for Nigerian athletes to realise their Olympic dreams because we remain the best in terms of sports facilities with excellent staff, coaches and an appreciative people who would make your athletes to be at home.

Other members of the Nigerian delegation for the signing ceremony include, Hon Tunde Popoola(Secretary-General NOC), Alhaji Alhassan Yakmut(Deptuy Director NSC), Dr(Mrs Toyin Aluko, Assistant Secretary of Paralympics, Chika Chukwumerije - Taekwondo.

Chukwumerije who represented the athletes described the place as where dreams are realised.

Oshiomhole splashes N15m on Dream Team E

•Eucharia

OVERNOR Babatunde Raji Fashola has warned athletes representing Lagos State at the Garden Games 2011 National Sports Festival not to engage in any activity that could bring the image of the state in disrepute.

Speaking while sending forth Team Lagos to the Sports festival which will begin in Port Harcourt this week, Governor Fashola said that though he wants the athletes to put up a winning attitude at the sports fiesta, they should not be despirate for victory.

According to Fashola, who was speaking at colourful send-forth ceremony put together by the state’s Sports Council at the Mobolaji Bank Anthony Sports Centre, Rowe Park, Yaba on Saturday, “I don't want you to be desperate when you get to the Sports Festival, because desperation can lead athletes to cut corner, use drugs and cheat which will bring same to the state. Go there and compete with the desire to win gold in a free and fair contest.”

The Governor emphasised the philosophy of his administration to discover budding talents at the grassroots, which according to him, will make the athletes to be good at whatever they do in the future.

Fashola recalled what the likes of table tennis star, Bose Kaffo, Yomi Peter, Dan

RESIDENT of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engineer Sani Ndanusa has raised hopes of Nigeria’s fine outing at the London 2012 Olympics saying Nigeria is ready to compete with other Nations.

Overwhelmed by the state of the art facilities that includes World class coaches who would team up with Nigerian coaches, health and medical support team that Team Nigeria would train with at the University of Surrey and Guildford, Ndanusa declared that Nigeria was ready to confront the World. "In the past Olympics, we’ve been participating. But come 2012, we’ll compete with other Nations", the former Sports Minister and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, NSC, said. He was speaking at the contract-signing ceremony for the use of the Surrey facilities for Team Nigeria at the Olympics and the Paralympic Games. Ndanusa extolled the authorities for having one of the best modern facilities and promised that Team Nigeria would stun the World at the Olympics. He said that his optimism for a fine outing for Nigeria was based on the excellent relationships between the NOC and the National Sports Commission and the drive not to compromise with the welfare of the Nigerian athletes.

He, however, warned athletes to desist from anything that would

By Innocent Amomoh Ajibode had done for the state in the past. He called on the athletes to be proud ambassadors of Lagos in Port Harcourt.

“Let us demonstrate that we are truly from the Centre of Excellency,” the Governor Charged the athletes.

A convoy of buses from LAGBUS will convey 384 athletes and 131 officials to Port Harcourt today. Lagos is expected to participate in 23 out of the 25 events in the two weeks sports festival, which opening ceremony will hold on 3 July at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt.

with N15-million for their hardfought victory over Ghana. The team came from behind to claim a deserving 3-1 victory over Ghana with the governor in attendance and he was quick to show his appreciation.

“On behalf of the people of Edo State, I want to say thank you to you all for making us proud. You have always won on this soil and today you have shown Nigerians that you are a great team. I want to urge you to continue this way and as a token of our appreciation for the good job done today, we the people of Edo State give the team a token of fifteen million naira," Oshiomole said.

At half-time, with the young Nigerians a goal down, the governor charged the players to draw inspiration from two legends of Nigerian football.

“You know you have never lost on this ground, you will not lose today.

Don’t mind that you are one goal down, go out there and draw inspiration from Kanu, Okocha, and others that are here to cheer you. We believe in you and know that you can do it. When you do it in return I will also say thank you,” Oshiomhole said during his visit to the locker room at half time.

The Dream Team V have so far played four matches in Benin, scored 17 goals and conceded two. In total, they have played combined total of seven games in Olympic and All Africa Games qualifiers, and lost just one, scoring 22 goals and conceding five.

The team will now move to Lagos to begin preparations for the return leg game against Ghana.

Other Sports...Other Sports...Other Sports...Other Sports...Other Sports...Other Sports...

Klitschko fears 'collapse' of Bolt won't relax his reputation with Gay out of

WLADIMIR Klitschko knows that his run of 13 consecutive heavyweight wins will count for nothing if he is defeated by David Haye in Hamburg on July 2.

After suffering knockout defeats to Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster in 2003 and 2004, Klitschko has repaired his shattered reputation with a string of commanding triumphs under the tutelage of master trainer Manny Steward.

But the WBO and IBF king, a warm bookmakers' favourite for next week's unification clash, knows his reputation will take a hammering if he shows any fragility against Haye.

"You work your ass off to get to the top.

It takes a lot of time. The way up is very long. The way down is one step," Klitschko told the Observer. "All the years of work, and the respect collapses in one second. It's like that in life, not just in boxing."

Klitschko believes he has already landed a crucial early blow by winning the mental battle with Haye, who has refused to shake his opponent's hand and unleashed a torrent of vicious insults.

"David Haye was talking all the time about me, playing mental games," Klitschko said.

"I'm not playing games. He got really upset in Germany [at a media launch]. I was just telling him what to do for the press and he didn't like it. 'Dude, I'm just helping you,' I said.

•Klitschko

Worlds

USAIN Bolt will not ease off in his world championships preparations because American rival Tyson Gay is out of the competition, the Jamaican said on Saturday. "I will not relax at all, as I know and expect strong challenges from even my own teammates in Jamaica and the Caribbean," triple world champion Bolt said in a statement issued by his publicist.

Bolt extended his sympathy to world 100 metres silver medallist Gay, who scratched from the US trials because of hip problems, but said his schedule and build-up for the August 27-September 4 meeting in Daegu, South Korea, would not change. The 24-year-old will defend both his 100 and 200m titles from the 2009 world championships in Berlin, where he smashed his own world records from the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

With a bye to both events at Daegu as title-holder, Bolt sat out of the Jamaican trials over the weekend where former 100m record holder Asafa Powell won the event. Bolt said he would return to competition on July 8 with a 200m in Paris.

NATION SPORT Eto'o linked with Man City move

MANCHESTER City are the latest club to be linked with Inter striker Samuel Eto'o - just days after speculation suggested he was in talks with Paris Saint-Germain.

The 30-year-old has been linked with an exit from the world champions, despite denials from president Massimo Moratti who recently claimed he would stay.

And after reports claimed the forward was heading for France to follow former coach Leonardo, who is set to take on a directorial role at PSG, Il Corriere dello Sport believes that City are also keen.

The big-spending Eastlands club look set to lose out to Barcelona in the race for Udinese's Alexis Sanchez, and the Premier League side want to offer coach Roberto Mancini consolation with the arrival of Eto'o.

A •25 million bid is being mooted for the hitman, who recently admitted he was contemplating a move to the Premier League.

However, the Italian club appear reluctant to lose one of their best players, while new coach Gian Piero Gasperini has not been given sufficient time to plan his squad for

•Eto'o

next season following his arrival earlier this week.

Eto'o has a contract at San Siro until 2014, but his current side may offer him improved terms in order to stave off interest from the English club.

Villas-Boas must win over players, says Wilkins

RAY Wilkins says Andre Villas-Boas' biggest challenge as Chelsea manager will be to win over some of the highprofile names in the Stamford Bridge dressing room.

The 33-year-old Portuguese was appointed as Carlo Ancelotti's successor earlier this week, having left Porto following a trophy-laden season that included Europa League glory.

Villas-Boas previously worked for the Blues when Jose Mourinho was in charge, but Wilkins, who was Ancelotti's assistant until he was sacked last November, feels the new man will still need to prove himself to established stars such as John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba.

Wilkins told BBC Five Live: "He is a young man who has done exceptionally well but it is a massive test coming in at Chelsea as they have big players and big personalities in there as well.

"Has he worked with players of the experience, quality and personality of some of the guys there at Stamford Bridge?

"It will be interesting to see how he handles it. If he can, and I believe he is a decent guy, I don't see him having

a problem."

Former England midfielder Wilkins thinks previous experience of working under Mourinho will give Villas-Boas a base to build from in his own tenure as manager.

"His training drills will be organised, he has worked with Mourinho and the players were well into the Mourinho philosophy and he will know what the players require," he said.

"The bigger challenge will be when the games start and whether he can respond to the tactical situations he finds himself in.

"He knows what it's about from within the club and he will run the footballing side. It's a wonderful league because no two games are the same and I'm sure he'll enjoy that."

Wilkins also expressed his surprise that Guus Hiddink, who enjoyed a successful spell as Blues boss towards the end of the 2008-09 season, now appears unlikely to take up a director of football role at the club after initially being strongly linked with the managerial vacancy.

Tevez named in Argentina's Copa America squad ARGENTINA coach Sergio Batista has included Carlos Tevez as one of seven attackers in his 23-man squad for the Copa America after months of speculation about his future in the national side.

Tevez joins the likes of Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero in a squad full of superstars that will look to capitalise on Argentina's home advantage and win the tournament for the first time since 1993.

Batista had named a 26-man preliminary squad and faced with the task of cutting three players, he dropped three Argentina-based players in Boca Juniors defender Luciano Monzon, Lanus midfielder Diego Valeri and Estudiantes de La Plata's Enzo Perez.

As expected, Mariano Andujar is one of three goalkeepers after Getafe's Oscar Ustari sustained a knee injury while Anderlecht midfielder Lucas Biglia, whom Esteban Cambiasso has anointed as his successor, is included despite picking up a shoulder problem at the end of last season.

The tournament gets underway on July 1 with Argentina taking on Bolivia.

They will also face Colombia and Costa Rica in Group A. Final Copa America squad: Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ), Juan Pablo Carrizo (River Plate), Mariano Andujar (Catania).

Defenders: Gabriel Milito (Barcelona), Ezequiel Garay (Real Madrid), Nicolas Burdisso (Roma),

Javier Zanetti (Inter), Nicolas Pareja and Marcos Rojo (Spartak Moscow), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City).

Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Lucas Biglia (Anderlecht), Ever Banega (Valencia), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter), Javier Pastore (Palermo), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid).

Attackers: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Angel Di Maria, Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Diego Milito (Inter).

•Tevez

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

CITYBEATS THE NATION

E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

25

•Ajeromi Central 1 School building. Inset: Governor Sylva

The school Timipre Sylva attended •Head teacher urges governor to remember its alma mater

A

SEA of people living in crowded homes. Flooded streets and thick darkness – electricity is usually eratic – and traders bumping into pedestrians. The sprawling Lagos suburb fondly called AJ city by its army of residents.

Ajegunle, to many, is the home of the poor. But what it lacks in material wealth it has made up for in human terms, its people. It has produced world class stars in football, music, movies and politics. A political star from the Ajegunle slum is Governor Timipre Sylva, Bayelsa State, who passed out of the Ajeromi Central 1 Primary School in 1976.

The school is at number 2, Achakeo Street, Araromi, by New Road Bus stop, Olodi-Apapa.

Sylva started his primary education at Paul’s Anglican Primary School, Okpoma, Bayelsa State before he came to Lagos. Described as brilThe school liant, hard working and will be better active in sports, he joined the school in Primary 6 positioned in 1976. to produce Anagha Timipreye, more as was then called, and was described as one governors of the best and brightin future est students the school

By Jude Isiguzo

has ever produced.

Sylva was well known in Ajegunle in those days because of his friendly nature and ability to mix with his fellow pupils and teachers without difficulty.

The school established in 1954, is now a shadow of itself. What was left of the dilapidated structure, which used to house the governor’s class, was demolished in 2009, the same year that he sent emissaries from Government House, Yenagoa, to collect his First School Leaving certificate.

It was learnt that those the governor sent to pick his certificate made a video clip of the school and took it to him.

Ajeromi Central Primary School had two blocks of 12 class rooms with 12 teachers and a head teacher when it was founded.

It also had an administrative block which the head teacher’s office and a store.

According to the head teacher, Mr Gabriel Olusola Igbayilola, the founder of the school was Bishop Ekang, and it was formerly known as Ekang Primary School.

However, what is left of the school is a dilapidated bungalow now over grown with grass, and an abandoned one-storey classroom block.

In the beginning, the head teacher had a conducive office, equipped with a toilet, good furniture and other items. The class

Seme Customs Command generates N438m revenue The Seme Border Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated N437.5 million revenue in May, its Area Comptroller Alhaji Sahabi Sadiq, has said.

He said the revenue came from taxes, duty, Value Added Tax (VAT) and fines imposed on some imported goods. Sadiq said the command recorded 40 seizures during the period under review.

The duty paid for the seized good was N33.3 million.

The items seized included textiles, vehicles, beverages, wines, leather materials and juice drinks.

NAN recalls that the command recorded a total of N1.4 billion revenue in the first quarter of 2011.

•The school signboard

teachers had a furnished staff room and well equipped library.

Today, the reverse is the case. The abandoned building is the only legacy the school is left with. Apart from the pupils’ chairs and benches which the teachers share with them, the school is empty.

The head teacher’s office is only so in name as it has no furniture, windows, doors; toilet and ceilings. There is also no

staff room for teachers. Teaching in the school which used to be fun is gradually becoming a nightmare.

Igbayilola, who resumed at the school on May 5, 2007, said the situation is so bad he had to move the certificate of the governor and others to the office of the Education Secretary (ES) for safe keeping.

“When we discovered that the certificate was that of the governor, we had to move

•SEE PAGE 26

Ikeja PHCN installs 10,000 prepaid meters in four months

Ensure maximum security for Youth Corps members’

The Ikeja Distribution Zone of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), has installed over 10, 000 prepaid meters in the last four months.

Its Chief Executive Officer, Mr Christian Akamnonu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the zone had made it mandatory to install an average of 3,000 pre-paid meters monthly.

Akamnonu said the zone would increase the distribution of pre-paid meters from 3,000 to 4, 000 monthly from next month as it has overcome the challenges of installation.

“We have installed over 10,000 pre-paid meters to various categories of customers under Ikeja zone.

THE National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has called on the security agencies to be proactive in the protection of lives and property.

The national coordinator of the NAPTAN, Babs Animashaun, was reacting to the kidnap of five members of the National Youth Service Corps. Bayelsa and their release 12 days in Rivers State.

“I want to appeal to heads of governments of every state across the country to take issue after of security more seriously if we intend to move forward. I feel we are not doing enough to protect these young Nigerians who are out to fulfil the aims and objectives of the NYSC,” he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

26

CITY BEATS The school Timipre Sylva attended •Continued from page 25

it to the office of the ES so that people who knew that he finished from our school will not come and steal it. We did that on the advice of Chief Bolarinwa Patrick Apata, who was then the ES,” he said.

He said when those the governor sent for his certificate came the first time, he asked for a letter of authority from him but they could not provide any and he had to send them back.

The head teacher said: “The day they came with the letter in March 2009, we were at the office of the ES having a meeting. They came there and the certificate was presented to them. The governor’s representatives also met with the teachers and the pupils and promised that the governor will assist in turning the school around and we believed them.”

He said since then, they have not heard from the governor, urging Sylva to come and rescue his alma mater.

“We lack many things. You can see our abandoned project; no window, no asbestos, no chairs, no tables, no toilets, no water, no fans, nothing to write home about. Teachers do not have anything to make the job interesting. It is a thing of honour to have a governor who

AISSON holds counter-terrorism conference THE Association of Industrial Security and Safety Practitioners of Nigeria, (AISSON) will hold a security conference in Lagos on Thursday on counter-terrorism.

The conference with the theme: “Combating terrorism in Nigeria,” will chaired by the former Inspector-General of Police Alhaji Musiliu Smith.

According to a statement by the National President of AISSON, Dr. Ona Ekhomu, the special guest is the United States Consul General in Nigeria, Joseph Stafford.

The National Security Adviser, Gen. Owoye Azazi is expected to speak on “Creating synergy among national security agencies in the fight against terror in Nigeria.”

Director-General, Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) will speak on “New approaches in the regional fight against money laundering and terrorism financing, While Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs Prof. Bola Akinterinwa will handle “Fostering international cooperation in the war on terror.”

Other notable speakers include a retired director, State Security Service, Mike Ejiofor, who will address the topic: “Utilisation of intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination in the fight against terrorism.”

Ekhomu will speak on “RiskBased Approach to Combating Terrorism in Nigeria.”

1. Fire and Safety Services Control Room Phone Nos: 01-7944929; 080-33235892; 080-33235890; 08023321770; 080-56374036.

p a s s e d We are through this pleading school and we are pleading that he that he comes comes to our to our rescue. rescue He needs to help us restore the school to its past glory. He should not abandon his alma-mater to its fate,” Igbayilola said.

He added: “All we are asking is that the governor come and build us a storey building which will house the teachers’ staff room and the head teachers office as well as a well-equipped computer room where the students can learn how to operate a computer in this modern age. Most pupils in the school have not seen or touched a computer, they only read about it. The governor should help them achieve their dream of using it in school.”

Igbayilola said if Sylva assists the school to get a well-furnished office, equipped with the stateof-the-art facilities, borehole and toilets, it will be better positioned to produce more governors in future.

•Pupil of the school during morning assembly

He was a brilliant student, says food seller

M

RS MARIA Oni, popularly known as Mama no begi begi, was the food seller when Governor Timipre Sylva attended Ajeromi Central 1 Primary School.

The 75-year-old woman is still in the school doing what she knows how to do best. She has joined those begging the governor to come to the school’s aid.

Mama no begi begi was the nick

‘

When Timipre Sylva joined the school he was so young. He was just like a comedian. He used to play football very well. He was also a member of the drama club

’

By Jude Isiguzo

name given to her by Sylva and his classmates because she does not sell on credit.

“In those days, they will say mama no go sell for you if you no hold your money. No begi! begi! go buy your own,” Mama Oni told CityBeats.

Incidentally, mama’s daughter, Sidikatu was in the same class with the governor in Primary 6A. She is now a nurse and lives with her husband and children at Sango-Ota, Ogun State.

Speaking on the governor’s stay in the school, she said: “When Timipre Sylva joined the school he was so young. He was just like a comedian. My first daughter was in the same class with him. He used to play football very well. He was also a member of the Drama Club “Baba Wasu was the head teacher then and Mr Omu was in charge of the drama group. Baba Wasu is from Badagry while Omu is from Ilaje. Both of them are retired

• Mama no begi begi

now. When they were in Primary Six the students had a very cordial relationship, they were always seen together and they were always playing together, may be because that was their last year in the school. They exhibited so much love,” she said.

On what she wants the governor to do as for the school, she said: “I want him to make this school the best in Ajegunle. This was where he started from; it should not remain the same now that he is a

• Mr Igbayilola

governor.

“The prayer of all of us food sellers in this school is that all those who finished from here in good health would be successful. They must also come back here and help improve the school. Timi, this is your school, please come back and appreciate your alma mater. We have been expecting him since the time he sent some people here to come and pick his First School Leaving Certificate. We know he will come one day.”

Lagos State best teacher gets brand new car

M

R Ibikunle Olusegun Ibitoye, a teacher at State Senior High School, Badagry, has emerged the best teacher in Lagos State. He got a KIA Rio for being faithful to his job since 1991 when he joined the school.

Teachers, students and government officials were moved by his life’s story. He is a widower with three children, and has represented the state in several national and international competitions.

He represented Nigeria at INTEL/ISEF science fair in Texas, United State of America in 1997; designed science projects for Lagos State and the country; developed Intercontinental game an adaptation from Atomic adventure.

2. Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Lagos Zonal Command Phone No: 080-77690200; 01-7742771 Sector Commander Phone No: 080-776909201; 01-2881304 FRSC Emergency No: 070-022553772

By Seun Olalude

The game took first worldwide in United Nation Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Barcelona, Spain.

The science result of his pupils in chemistry has always been superlative between 1993 and 2010.

Ibitoye urged teachers to keep doing good works.

“Keep doing good works, someone is somewhere watching and you will be rewarded. I never knew people were watching me; I was just doing my job. I have been able to contribute I am my quota to the education system very of this country.” proud of The immediate you past Deputy Gover-

nor of Lagos State, Princess Adebisi Sarah Sosan praised teachers for the support she received while in office.

She said: “I am very proud of you all; without you as a support; it would not have been a success, thank you education family.”

In the same vein, she urged teachers to put in their best.

“My firmness in office was not for popularity but to do what I have been called for. Teachers make sure you put in your best because these pupils will continue to remember whatever you are privilege to do for them. If not for my teachers I wouldn’t be here today. My dear colleague, let us continue to do our best, teachers rewards are now here on earth not

EMERGENCY LINES STATE AGENCIES

3. LASTMA Emergency Numbers: 080-75005411; 080-60152462 080-23111742; 080-29728371 080-23909364; 080-77551000 01-7904983

4. KAI Brigade Phone Nos: 080-23036632; 0805-5284914 Head office Phone Nos: 01-4703325; 01-7743026 5. Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Phone Nos: 070-55350249; 070-35068242 080-79279349; 080-63299264 070-55462708; 080-65154338

until we get to heaven.”

Mrs Sosan assures the education sector her support. Mrs Sosan praised Pastor Sam Adeyemi, the founder Day Star Church, Ogba for his contribution to the growth of education in the state.

Founder of Day Star Church, Ogba, Pastor Sam Adeyemi, urged government to take education as ultimate.

His words: “Let us focus on the ultimate goal which is getting better the education system of our country. The state of education has become what cannot be talked about compared to other ministries. I believe we are building the next generation today. It takes courage and determination to invest in these young without looking back.”

767 or email: rapidresponsesquad@yahoo.com 6. Health Services – LASAMBUS Ambulance Services Phone Nos: 01-4979844; 01-4979866; 01-4979899; 01-4979888; 01-2637853-4; 080-33057916; 080-33051918-9; 080-29000003-5.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

27

CITY BEATS FROM THE GRASSROOTS

Macleans cleans up Ajeromi Ifelodun local govt

T

HE campaign for environmental protection and development has received a boost with the cleaning up of Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government, Lagos by the Macleans Division of GlaxoSmithkline (GSK) Plc. Macleans partnered with Passion House, a non-governmental organisation, and the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), to clean major zones of the local government,.

GSK Human Resources Director Mr Michael Sobowale, said the company in partnership with Passion House, was there to restate their commitment to environmental fortification and assure consumers of quality product that is able to strengthen their teeth.

“It is also to play out our mission of improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer,” he said.

He explained that Macleans has shown great commitment to promoting, protecting and educating Nigerians on the need to take good care of their oral cavity by supporting various initiatives over the years.

“Macleans collaborated with the Lagos State Ministry of Health on programs aimed at improving oral hygiene in schools.

“We also supported communities this year through our Community for Dental Health Education Scheme with the help of final year Dental students in Universities. We assisted Dental Association during the World Oral Health Day,” he said.

He restated the company’s commitment to keeping the communities healthy and clean.

The Senior Brand Manager of

‘

It is also to play out our mission of improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer

’

•From 3rd left: Head, Waste and Sanitation Management, Ifelodun LCDA, Mr. Richard Tella; Senior Brand Manager, Macleans, Mr Emeka Uchenna; Human Resources Director, GSK, Mr. Michael Sobowale, and others during the exercise.

By Toba Agboola and Akinola Fabunmi

AJEROMI IFELODUN GSK, Emeka Uchenna, said Macleans has takien it as part of its responsibility to support the communities in ensuring a healthy and hygienic environment.

He said the company will intensify efforts to educate the public on the need for a healthier envi-

ronment.

“Our partnership with Passion House is borne out of the fact that the agency is also known for helping people keep healthy by having good oral hygiene. We are jointly committed to giving back to the community, by educating the people on the importance of clean and healthy environment which is what we are all out to achieve by cleaning the streets of Ifelodun LCDA as we have done in other parts of the state. There

will also be a workshop on environmental cleanliness to further drive the message.”

He promised that the company will sustain and extend the project to other parts of the state to enhance government’s effort in maintaining a cleaner environment.

The Head, Waste and Sanitation Management, Ifelodun LCDA, Mr. Richard Tella, said cleaning the environment should be a joint effort of government, corporate

bodies and individuals.

“I am excited about this team up to clean Ifelodun LCDA and the contributions of Macleans. If every organisation or brand sees the need to give back to society as Maclean has done, we will not only have a better place but a healthier nation.”

He commended Macleans for the long-standing quality of the product and the promotion of oral hygiene. Tella also called on other corporate organisations to emulate the CSR spirit of Macleans.

The wife of the LCDA Chairman, Alhaja Kudirat Adigun, commended Passion House and Macleans for supporting the state government’s efforts to tidy up the environment and educate the people on the importance of having a good attitude towards waste management and disposal.

Top management team of GSK, students from various schools as well as the members of the public participated in the exercise.

GSK, makers of Macleans toothpaste, is one of the leading research-based pharmaceutical and health care companies.

Fashola advises residents on proper waste disposal ALAUSA

•Fashola

G

OVERNOR Babatunde Fashola has advised Lagos residents to dispose their wastes only at authorised places.

Fashola gave the advice at the Olusosun dumpsite while inaugurating 100 waste compactor trucks.

The purchase of the trucks was facilitated by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) for private operators under the

T

HE Ejigbo Local Council Development Area authority has embarked on the rehabilitation of a 475km road in Jakande Estate.

Speaking during inspection of work on Double Star Road recently, Chairman of the council, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, said

‘

Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme.

According to him, indiscriminate dumping of refuse is becoming rampant, saying it is undermining government‘s efforts at maintaining a cleaner environment and posing great risks to people‘s health.

The governor particularly warned against the dumping of refuse in canals, saying such unhealthy practice was responsible for the blockage of most canals and had greatly contributed to flooding in some areas.

Fashola also advised residents against indulging in all forms of land pollution and defecating in unauthorised places, including water bodies and lagoons.

“Pollution of the environment has a great effect on the quality of our lives,” he said.

Emphasising the need for a clean environment, Fashola said more of

the illnesses being managed and treated in hospitals could have been prevented if people paid close attention to their environment.

“The core of our health care delivery system is preventive health care and preventive health care starts from the maintenance of a clean environment rather than the curative capacity that exists in our hospitals,” he said.

He added that people could handle 60 per cent to 70 per cent of their health plan by taking preventive measures, such as ensuring a safe environment rather than relying on the hospitals which only handle 25 to 35 per cent of our health in curative capacity.

‘

He said the government would increase the tempo of enforcement of environment laws and regulations to ensure that residents comply strictly and further safeguard the environment and promote the health of the people.

The governor said that the acquisition of compactors through private sector financing was a further demonstration of government’s commitment to improving waste management and empowering the people.

He commended LAWMA and operators of the waste trucks for their impact in improving the environment over the years, saying their partnership had redefined waste

The core of our health care delivery system is preventive health care and preventive health care starts from the maintenance of a clean environment

’ Ejigbo council moves to rehabilitate road EJIGBO

the inability of the local government to provide N59million required for the total reconstruction of the dual carriage road necessitated palliative measure on the road.

Bamigbetan said: “It is important to make it that the nature of

It is important to make it that the nature of work on this road is palliative, in the sense that we are going to clear the drainages on both sides, cart away refuses generated from the drains and lastly grade one of the two lanes

’

work on this road is palliative, in the sense that we are going to clear the drainages on both sides, cart away refuse generated from the drains and lastly grade one of the two lanes, to allow free flow of traffic.”

He added that his administration is in contact with LAGBUS on providing transport facility for residents of the area, who experience difficulty in getting to their houses after close of work.

On what was responsible for the deplorable condition of the road, Bamigbetan said the drainages on both sides of the road were converted to refuse

sites by residents, saying the ugly development led to the stagnation of water on the road as there was no drainage channel for water to pass.

Bamigbetan appealed to residents of the area to allow the palliative measure offered by the council to stand the test of time by ensuring they render communal services through regular clearing of their drainages.

The chairman, while appealing to residents to make payment of their levies and rates a top priority, assured that his administration would continue to seek ways of making life meaningful for the residents.

management system in the state.

Fashola added the government would continue to tap into the opportunities that existed in waste management, especially in the areas of recycling, job creation and energy generation.

“We will continue to tap into the opportunities that lie in waste management; to us more waste means more money and more jobs.

We will continue to build waste infrastructure and support our waste managers in order to improve our economy,`` he said.

Speaking earlier, Dr Titi Anibaba, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Environment, said the 100 trucks were given to deserving operators, adding that the acquisition of the trucks would boost the state capacity to handle waste effectively.

She urged the beneficiaries to ensure that the trucks were wellutilised and maintained to further help in achieving a cleaner environment for all Lagosians.

The president of Jakande Estate Residents Association, Adedotun Oriowo, who was with Bamigbetan during the inspection, praised the chairman for coming to the rescue of residents of the estate as regards the rehabilitation work on the Double Star Road.

Oriowo said: “This is not the first time Bamigbetan is attending to our problems in the estate.

His administration made Jakande Gate Road motorable, built a new health centre for us, rehabilitated the existing one and also provide financial assistance to fire disaster victims within the estate.”

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

28

CITY BEATS FROM THE COURT

Court dissolves marriage over battering A

GRADE A Customary Court in Mushin, Lagos, has dissolved a 14-year-old marriage because of constant battering of the wife by her husband.

The President of the court, Dr Abayomi Ipaye, said the court dissolved the marriage because it has irretrievably broken down.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the estranged wife, Saidat Akande, on March 7, filed a suit, seeking the dissolution

My wife is a flirt, says divorce-seeking man

• The street light

Street lights for Ikoyi street HE Lagos State Government has provided street lights for Awolowo Road, Ikoyi.

The project is aimed at ensuring that highways are well illuminated in a se-

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‘

The State Government is aimed at ensuring that highways are well illuminated in a secured and safe environment

By Akinola Fabunmi

cured and safe environment for motorists as well as to curtail criminal activities.

The introduction of Light Emitting Diode (LED), a new lighting technology installed on Awolowo Road appears more modern than those on Allen Avenue, Ikeja and some other parts of the state.

Lagos State opted for LEDs because of the security cameras or CCTV’s which it is planning to install. LED lights illuminate brightly enough to enhance camera image capture, including faces and car number plates.

Experts disclosed that it

conserves energy as each unit requires only 79 watts to function thereby, reducing pollution, especially as the old lights need 250 watts to function, even at less capacity.

Findings also revealed that it has the advantage of minimal lumen depreciation with an environmental advantage in that they contain no mercury, last longer and produce less waste.

The electronic industry has used LEDs for several decades, and in more recent years, the LED technology has progressed to the point where it is viable for general lighting applications.

’ Lagos Assembly canvasses 24-hr

operation at Apapa, Tin Can ports

L

AGOS State House of Assembly has called on the Federal Government to introduce 24 hours service delivery and provide adequate infrastructure and equipment at Apapa and Tin Can Ports to ease congestion.

The lawmakers made the call at plenary, a joint motion moved by Hons. Rotimi Olowo (Somolu 1); Majority Leader Ajibayo Adeyeye (Kosofe 11); Mufutau Egberongbe (Apapa 1) and Wahab Alawiye-King (Lagos Island 11).

The House urged the Federal Government to direct its

Stories by Oziegbe Okoeki

agencies, such as the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Customs Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Nigeria Police to, as a matter of urgency, commence a 24hour service at the ports and also provide adequate infrastructure and equipment to ease congestion.

The lawmakers also called on “Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to urgently rehabilitate OshodiApapa Expressway and other major federal roads

around the sea ports.

“And the state government to liaise with the concerned Local Government(s) around the sea ports to channel part of the proceeds of the Wharf Landing Fees to carry out palliative measures on the aforementioned roads, pending the rehabilitation by the Federal Government.”

Moving the motion on behalf of his colleagues, Olowo said the efforts of the Federal government to decongest the sea ports by ensuring timely offloading of cargo from ships have not yielded the desired result.

Govt urged to sanitise Kuramo beach

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EMBERS of the Lagos State House of Assembly has urged the Executive to ensure that undesirable elements do not seize at Kuramo Beach, Lekki.

The House, therefore, called on the state Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development to work in conjunction with the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development and security agencies to sanitise the beach and others.

The House also called on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to assist in enlightening youth to desist from perpetrating illisit acts and the “immediate implementation” of the Child’s Rights Law, 2007.

The appalling condition of teenagers at the beach was raised on the floor of the House by Bisi Yusuf representing Alimosho 1 constituency.

of the marriage, citing battering.

But the husband, Olusola Akande, pleaded with the court not to sever the relationship.

Ipaye directed Akande to pay his former wife N15,000 monthly upkeep allowance for the three children of the marriage, pending the Family Court’s decision on the matter.

He, however, referred the custody of the children between six and 12 years to the Family Court for adjudication.

Ipaye reprimanded Akande for delaying the judgment by failing to attend court sessions on the excuse that he was attending an interview for a job.

Sadiat had earlier told the court that she packed out of her matrimonial home since August, 2010 following ceaseless battering.

According to him, the large presence of teenagers taking refuge at the beach occasioned by maltreatment by their parents has exposed them to social vices that include, among others, smoking, ingestion of hard drugs and prostitution “which have informed the urgent need to arrest the situation as soon as possible,” Yusuf said.

“It is worrisome that Kuramo Beach which used to be a tourist attraction has now become a safe haven for criminals, miscreants and hoodlums, thereby portraying the image of the beach and the state in a bad light”, Yusuf stressed.

Commending the lawmaker for bringing up the matter, his colleagues

It is worrisome

stressed on the need to make the beach children friendly.

Rotimi Olowo (Shomolu 1), while decrying what is going on at the beach, stressed the need to rehabilitate the kids by involving the ministry in charge of social welfare, and that parents should be educated to stop maltreating their children.

Wahab Alawiye-King said lakefronts and waterfronts across the world are revenue earners for governments, adding that it was unfortunate that those in the state were being wasted and used for sinister purposes.

The Majority Leader, Ajibayo Adeyeye, flayed the contractor in charge of the beach for only being interested in collecting money without caring about the state of the facility or what it is being used for; “and doing nothing about controlling or maintaining the place.”

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36-YEAR-OLD trader, Mr Ismail Odupelu, has asked a Grade “A” Customary Court in Mushin, Lagos, to dissolve his marriage to Tawakalitu, alleging unfaithfulness.

“My wife packed out of the matrimonial home in 2001 to live with another man but the families intervened and we continued with our relationship.

“She also packed out of the matrimonial home in March 2009 to Iseyin, Oyo State, without my consent; she is a flirt with questionable character,” Odupelu said.

Odupelu asked the court to dissolve the marriage and pleaded for the custody of the first two children of the marriage, aged eight and 10 years.

The News Agency of Nigeria

(NAN) reports that the petitioner, however, denied the paternity of Tawakalitu’s nine-month-old baby, based on the result of a DNA test, which was produced in court.

Odupelu said the first two children were placed in a boarding school as advised by the Family Court, saying that he still wanted the custody of the two children.

Tawakalitu, 36, however, prayed the court not to grant her husband’s prayer to dissolve the marriage, saying that she still loved him.

“I still want us to continue with our marriage because of the upkeep of the children and I believe that Odupelu is the father of the last child of the marriage.

“Although I and my hus-

band went for the DNA test, I am not satisfied with the result which was sealed when we collected it,” Tawakalitu said.

She told the court that she was now a Christian.

“I noticed that devil is working and God will counter it.

“I don’t want my children to suffer and I don’t want to dissolve my marriage because there is nowhere I want to go and I don’t want my children to suffer,” Tawakalitu said.

The Court President, Dr Abayomi Ipaye, ordered the petitioner to pay his wife’s one-year rent and N10,000 monthly upkeep of the children and adjourned the case till July 12 for judgment.

Mechanic docked for allegedly injuring expectant woman

A

50-YEAR-OLD mechanic has been charged before a Surulere Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly pushing a pregnant woman and causing her to have a miscarriage.

The accused, Saidi Adeaga, is facing trial on a one-count charge of assault before Senior Magistrate Aderemi Gbajumo. He, however, pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Idowu Onime, told the court that the offence was committed

on June 16 at 6 Nurudeen St., Orile-Iganmu.

He said the accused, a cotenant with the pregnant woman, Mrs Funmilayo Awoyemi, had engaged her in an argument.

According to the prosecutor, Mrs Awoyemi wanted to use the common clothes line to spread her washed dresses but the accused warned her not to as he was about to use the space.

“The accused during the argument, pushed Mrs Awoyemi to the ground,

which resulted in her miscarriage,” Onime said.

He informed the court that Mrs Awoyemi was not in court because she was still receiving treatment at a hospital.

The prosecutor said the alleged offence contravened Section 355 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.

The Senior Magistrate granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned till July 19 for further hearing.

Two arraigned for allegedly chopping off landlord’s finger

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WO businessmen, Chijioke Williams, 30, and Abuchi Agunta, 24, have been arraigned for allegedly chopping off their landlord’s finger with a sharp object.

They are facing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and assault occasioning harm.

The prosecutor, Insp. Julius Oyakhilome, said the

accused who are tenants of Mr Timothy Olawoyin on March 18 at Westwood Estate, Ajah, allegedly attacked him with dangerous weapons during a disagreement.

He said the accused allegedly attacked an unsuspecting Olawoyin at midnight, knocked him unconscious and chopped off one of his right hand fingers.

Oyakhilome said the

offence contravened sections 355 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2003.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail in the sum of N200,000 each, with two sureties in like sum.

The Magistrate, Mrs F.O Aigbokhaevbo, adjourned the case till July 4 for further hearing.

Undergraduate charged with alleged stabbing, stealing

A

27-YEAR-OLD undergraduate, Kunle Faniyi, has been arraigned for allegedly stabbing a man with a broken bottle and stealing his two handsets.

Faniyi is standing trial before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court on a two-count charge of stealing and assault.

The accused was alleged to have conspired with others now at large, to commit the offence on June 13 at No. 87

Freeman Street, Lagos Island.

The prosecutor, Inspector Gabriel Agoe said the accused and others at large, in an effort to dispossess Ogunbiyi Olugbenga of his two handsets, stabbed him several times with broken bottles.

He gave the model of the two handsets valued at N120,000 as LG-GX500 and LG-GX200.

He said Olugbenga who sustained serious injuries as a result of the attack was still

recuperating in an undisclosed hospital.

Agoe said the offence contravened sections 390(a) 403 (b) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2003.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The Magistrate, Mr J.A. Adegun, adjourned the case till July 12 for further hearing.

CALL

ACTION

PHILANTHROPY

‘Violence backers should be arrested’

How to preserve the environment

Rotary donates incubators

Ondo

31

Lagos

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HE battle to halt the advance of the Sahara Desert has resumed in earnest in the North, with Kano leadingthecharge.

But the administration of Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso is taking a different approach.

Studentsarenowbeinggroomedto understand the dangers posed by the encroaching desert and join in the effort to halt it. How? By plantingtrees.

Deputy-Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje dutifully led the tree planting campaign by lowering the roots of a young tree intotheground.

That was not all. A tree planting competition among students has also begun in the state, and Ganduje was only too happy to presentprizestowinners.

The Kwankwaso administration believes that such a campaign will succeedbetterwiththeyoungafter they have internalised its imperatives.

Desert encroachment is a huge challenge to northern states, especially Yobe, Zamfara, Bauchi, Kebbi, Kano, Katsina, Gombe, Borno, Sokoto, Adamawa and Jigawa.

It overruns farmlands and homesteads, and poses such

Deputy Governor Ganduje plants a tree

Lagos

33

Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

MONDAY JUNE 27, 2011 ESPITE came the way of seven communities in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State after an oil spill ravaged their farmlandsandaquaticlife.

The Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission(EDSOGPADEC)has giventhemreliefmaterials.

Thecommunitiesaffectedarethe coastal towns of Abiala 1, Abiala 2, Ajoki, Ologbo, Ajamugha and Kolokolo.

A burst pipeline belonging to the Nigeria National Petroluem

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Page 29

Oil spill victims get relief From Osagie Otabor, Benin

Corporation (NNPC) damaged farmsandwatersintheareas.

Presenting the relief materials to the affected communities, Chairman of EDSOGPADEC, Mr Vincent Uwadiae, said the action became necessary because of the suffering the people of the communities sincethespill.

His words: “The fishes and farm produce have all perished and that

the situation was even made worse because the people could not get water that was drinkable or immediately resume their farm work.

“We have contacted NNPC and we are happy that they have fixed the burst pipe. But we have informed them of the need to cushiontheeffectsofthespillsothat ourpeoplecanliveanormallife.We are aware that the spill may not be able to clear for some time but we

must try all we could to ensure that ourpeoplearemadecomfortable”.

“The materials are not only for your representatives but for the entire communities. We will make arrangement for you to transport them to your communities and we will want you to videotape the distribution. EDSOGPADEC will beaccessibletoyou.Wewilltakethe commissiontoyourareas.”

Responding on behalf of the communities, Mr. Charles Geoffrey

commended the commission for their kind gesture, saying, “We have seen the items for the suffering masses of the communities. It is the first time we are seeing that the commission is sensitive to the plight ofthepeople”.

He expressed the appreciation of the people of the communities and assured that the relief materials wouldbereceivedbythepeople.

The materials which included bags of rice, packs of bottled water, sachet water, bags of beans, cartons of sardine tins, tomatoes and groundnutoil.

Kano grooms students against desert encroachment From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

environmental problems that put aboutabillionpeopleintheworldat risk,accordingto meteorologists.

The direct consequence of desertification is reduced biodiversity and diminished productive capacity, particularly in agriculture.

In Nigeria, it is considered one of the most challenging problems

Schools in tree-planting competition Event excites dignitaries confronting the country, particularlythenorthernpart.

Available statistics show that 350,000hectaresofarablelandinthe region has been wasted by the encroaching desert, which is said to be advancing southward by 600

metreseveryyear.

Tens of thousands of farmers and their families have been forced to move out of their which has been renderedbarrenbythedesert.

In commemoration of this year’s United Nations’ Desertification

Students at the event where prizes were given to winners in a tree-planting competition

Day, political leaders, traditional rulers, captains of industry, environmental campaigners and community leaders assembled in Kanotocomparenotesonwhatmust be done to arrest desertification and minimise its effects on the environment.

Continued on Page 30

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

30

CAC leadership craves better society

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O justify their faith and be part of efforts to move Nigeria forward, Christians must eschew selfishness and work together in pursuit of a peaceful and better society.

The above was the submission of some leaders of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Worldwide during an interactive session with reporters at Ikeja, Lagos. It was about forging unity in the Christian community and the world at large.

In attendance at OPIC Plaza, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way venue of the parley were Pastor Gideon Okegwemeh, General Secretary; Pastor Caston Segun Fasuyi and John Ayo Olabisi (Council members, Ayo Babalola University).

Pastor Ade Olawode, the body’s Director of Publicity was also there.

In turn, they decried the incessant friction in the body of Christ, even as they expressed their heartfelt interest in the unity of the church as an ingredient of a better society.

The forum offered an opportunity to ask the clerics questions concerning the perceived division in the church.

Pastor Okegwemeh spoke the mind of his colleagues: “As far as we are concerned, there is no problem in the church. We are just here to interact on how to move mankind forward. It is painful to see a section of the media spread unfounded propa•Continued from Page 29 At the occasion, prizes were presented to seven schools that participated in the tree-planting competition organised by FADE, the non-governmental organisation established by anti-desertification activists, Chief Newton Jibunoh forty years ago, in his quest to draw global attention to the encroaching Sahara Desert.

Speaking at the event, Ganduje lamented that several hectares of farmlands have been left barren, a phenomenon, he noted, is capable of undermining the agricultural and industrial development of not only Kano State but the entire northern region.

He said: “The alarming rate of deforestation afflicting our nation today is as a result of the intense pressure that our forest resources come to bear on account of our population’s demand for energy on fire-

By Dada Aladelokun

ganda which, however, we do not take seriously. But I would want the media to be dispassionate and God-fearing in its reports.”

He, however, added: “In 1990, there started a re-organisation in the CAC Worldwide, during which a number of pastors were disciplined for various offences.

Pastor N.E Udofia, then General Secretary and one of the Trustees of the church was dismissed from service. In 1992, he went to the High Court, Akure with a host of others to seek redress, but the case remained pending until his death two years ago.”

The late Udofia, he recalled, had set up a parallel government – Supreme Council – to tackle the authentic CAC under the General Executive Council of which the late Pastor J. B. Orogun was President. The presidency baton, he said, had since successively passed on until the turn of the current President, Pastor Elijah H.L Olusheye.

The bone of contention, according to Pastor Okegwemeh, was the church’s Certificate of Registration which had been renewed four times since the church’s incorporation in 1943, owing to statutory internal leadership changes.

Flaunting appropriate letters from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Pastor Okegwemeh explained: “This is the letter from the Commission rec-

•From left: Pastors Olawode, Okegwemeh, Fasuyi and Olabisi

ognizing the church’s seven Trustee Certificate of Incorporation of December 7, 1995 as the only authentic one. There is no cause for any friction because on March 1, 2011, the Federal High Court, Ikeja ended the legal tussle over the matter by affirming that the 1995 certificate is the only one known to the law. It is true that the other group has gone on appeal, but again, the same Judge refused its motion of stay of execution, maintaining that the March 1. 2011 verdict subsists.

This is why we maintain that there is no problem on ground.”

While Pastor Olawode also expressed his profound displeasure over what he described as ‘lies-in-

fested and ungodly media propaganda against naked truth,’ on the matter, Pastor Fasuyi maintained that the church remained whole and thriving, saying: “I don’t believe that there is any crisis in the church any more. Now we have continued to plant branches, seminaries and schools all over the world as our fortunes continue to blossom with members’ unflinching trust in the church’s leadership. Those people see as dissidents are infinitesimal in number and I can say that we are at peace with everyone because as followers of Christ, we must strife for untainted holiness and peaceful co-existence.”

Students battle desert wood which is around 95% of the domestic cooking energy needs.”

Kwankwaso has directed that 2m trees be planted between now and next year.

Traditional rulers and community leaders in the northern part of the country as well as environmental campaigners like Chief Newton Jibunoh, who has made three successful trips across the Sahara Desert from Nigeria to Europe by road, are advocating for a more feasible biodiversity action plan and a workable reforestation programme, which they advised should be aided with the establishment of shelter belts and windbreakers in affected areas.

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, who was represented by his

son, the District Head of Fagge, Alhaji Mahmud Ado Bayero, expressed the support of the Kano Emirate Council for the battle against desertification.

“The fight against desertification is for all of us. It is a threat to our food security aspirations and our general economic well-being,” the royal father pointed out.

For elder statesman and one-time Nigeria’s Representative to the United Nations, and Danmasanin Kano, Dr. Yusuf Maitama Sule, the rampaging onslaught of desertification presents a heartbreaking situation for Nigeria. He stated that the war against desert encroachment may be lost if the youth, especially school children are not engaged to champion the anti-

•Ganduje presenting prizes to winning school in the Fade Tree Planting competition

desertification crusade. “Today, we are kick-starting a tree-planting revolution, and the youth particularly school children, should be in the vanguard of championing antidesertification campaigns. You are the leaders of tomorrow, so join in the fight against desertification in the interest of your future. I urge you to make the future; don’t mar it.”

According to the United Nations Convention on Desertification, the greatest impact of desert encroachment the world over is felt in Africa, with over 250 million people on the continent, said to be directly affected by the environmental problem while an estimated one billion of the world’s population are at risk. The environmental threat posed by desertification has become so frightening that captains of industry in the country no longer feel at ease in the comfort of their offices. Some of the corporate organisations have extended their operations beyond the scope of sheer business and profit maximisation, and are now lending supporting hand to the fight against desertification.

The representative of International Energy Insurance (IEI),

But what has the church been doing to reconcile with the aggrieved group? This, Pastor Okegwemeh explained: “We have done a lot in line with the dictates of Christ. Interestingly, the process of our reconciliatory effort had almost yielded fruits until the issue of retirement age of 75 came up; they were not in agreement with it. However, we shall continue to do more to ensure peace and unity in the body. I must also say that we have held over 34 meetings with our sister bodies affiliated to CAC. We won’t relent until that aim for oneness is achieved. All we need is unity in order to be part of effort to rebuild our nation.”

The alarming rate of deforestation afflicting our nation today is as a result of the intense pressure that our forest resources come to bear on ccount of our opulation’s demand for energy on firewood which is around 95% of the domestic cooking energy needs Mrs. Roselyn Ekeng stated that her organization has entered into partnership with FADE Africa towards creating a greener, fresher and pollution-free environment. “IEI is a living proof that success is not counted in age, but by the number of solid corporate achievements in a given time. IEI has successfully planted an eco-capital to be enjoyed by generations to come. As Nigeria’s first energy-sector focused company, we became inspired to drive the momentum of creating a better environment.”

THE NATION

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MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

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OR three weeks, people from different walks of life tried to encourage Nigerians to develop a friendlier attitude towards the environment.

On the first day they walked round parts of Lagos State. There were several events on other days, but with people like Dr. Newton Jibunoh, the environmental crusader, involved, it was clear that treeplanting would be a good part of the outing. Indeed, it was.

Since the turn of the last century, experts have cried out against incessant environmental pollution that has continually affected the earth’s surface and depleted the ozone layer, giving rise to global warming with all the problems associated with

How to preserve the environment

By Mimi Deke

it and threatening the very existence of mankind.

A UN report on Environmental Issues has shown that environmental pollution is responsible for as much as a quarter of the total diseases in the world and even more than one-third of such diseases are among children. These diseases are so deadly that they kill the victim within minutes of contracting them because of their potency in destroying the immune

A UN report on Environmental Issues has shown that environmental pollution is responsible for as much as a quarter of the total diseases in the world and even more than one-third of such diseases are among children

system. Diseases like diarrhea, malaria, cholera and other communicable diseases top this list of deadly killers.

Over time, there has been increasing awareness for a healthier and greener environment. All over the world, people are encouraged to cultivate eco-friendly habits like tree planting, recycling, and use of fossil fuel, among others. From our elementary biology, we know that plants and trees are very important to the existence of living things because they are a key element of the cycle of life. People who live in an environment where there are a lot of trees breathe in crisp and unadulterated air because trees give up oxygen and take in carbon-dioxide as well as act as a natural remedy for desertification, erosion among other things.

All over the world, the impact of global warming is being felt. From the melting of glaciers in the Polar Regions, the rising sea level, extreme climate changes, earthquakes, active volcanic activities to the rise in global ocean temperature etc.

In 1972, the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment was organized to galvanize people and further cre-

ate awareness of the environment, encouraging people from all walks of life to join in preserving the planet. At the end of the conference, the body declared June 5 as World Environment Day, a day to be celebrated annually throughout the world.

Each year, the celebration would highlight in its theme, one important environmental issue and highlight ways of tackling the issue.

Global warming seems to impact Africa much more than even the industrialized countries of the world like the United States of America, Britain, Japan, China, Germany, France, Russia etc. According to the study by British scientist, Hadley Centre, Africa suffers more of the global warming effect than the continents of Europe and America and this is because industrial pollution which emits the carbon dioxide that exacerbates the greenhouse effect, also offers some localized protection against climate warming and because Africa is not as industrialised as the aforementioned continents, it does not produce the pollutants as aerosol particles that can help to shield against the sun.

•Continued on Page 40

Cleric calls for arrest of violence backers

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HE Bishop of Saint John’s Anglican Church Oyin Akoko, Rt. Rev. Gabriel Akinbiyi has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to fish out and prosecute those behind the violence that erupted after the April General elections.

The Bishop spoke at the at the ninth synod of the Akoko Anglican Diocese which took place in Oyin Akoko, Ondo State.

Prominent Akoko indigenes were in attendance. Notable among them was the former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero.

Akinbiyi who lauded the conduct of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said Mr. President would do the nation a lot of good if those behind the electoral violence are brought to book.

Speaking on the theme, “Standing on the promises of God”, th e Anglican Bishop also called on the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to the spate of violence. Bombing and kidnapping that have become a trend in the nation’s landscape.

Specifically, he described the bombing at the police headquarters as a threat to national security.

He said the President will be ungrateful to Nigerians if he fails to prosecute those behind the post election violence. The election was the first which the votes of the people counted. So, those behind the attack should not be allowed to go scot free”.

He also lamented the neglect of the road network in the northern Senatorial district of the state, most especially Akoko division.

He noted that virtually all the roads in Akoko axis have become death traps for motorists, adding that the deplorable condition of the road was aiding activities of robbers who capitalize on the situation to rob unsuspecting travelers.

The cleric noted that despite the fact that some Akoko indigenes hold key positions in the present administration, nothing meaningful has been done by government to repair the bad spots on the roads.

He said: “The poor condition of the roads has increased the number of crimes in our communities, most of our roads have been exposed to crimes and the police officers have turned the pot holes to station where they collect N20 from driver and harassed them “Okada” riders.

“With the number of Akoko sons and daughters in government at the federal, state and local government levels, it is highly embarrassingly and disgraceful

•Rt. Rev Gabriel Akinbiyi, flanked by dignitaries at the synod

Akinbiyi who lauded the conduct of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said Mr. President would do the nation a lot of good if those behind the electoral violence are brought to book From Damisi Ojo, Akure

that Akoko roads are as they are today.

“From Ikare to Akungba is bad, Ikare to Epinmi through Ugbe and Simerin is a death trap, Ikare to Akunmu through Arigidi, Imo, Erusu, Ikaramu are deadly.

So, nowhere is safe in Akoko axis”.

He used the occasion to call on numerous sons and daughters of Akoko to work harmoniously for the development of the area, urging stakeholders in the community to bury their differences and work for the progress of the communities.

His words, “I want urge all indigenes of

Akoko to come together without party affiliation to bring meaningful development to their communities. We should work collectively to ensure that we bring the best in terms of development to our areas.”

In his speech, the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, said his administration had transformed the state to a better place to live for its citizenry in the last two years in office.

He noted that his administration could not afford to fail in its duties of meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the people. He noted that his government welcomes constructive criticisms from the

public and not blatant lies calculated to pull down his administration.

Represented by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Ranti Akerele, the governor explained that for a government to be successful, it must work in tandem with hope and aspirations of the people of the state.

He added that the Church and the State have mutual relationship in the fulfillment of the Promises of God on the people, saying “While the church plays its part in praying down the power of God, Ondo State Government is physically manifesting the reality of the essence of standing on the promises of God, by delivering on promises made to the people “As a government, we have kept faith with the people in the last two years by delivering on these promises of God. The hope of the people has been rekindled through the selfless services deliberately put in place.

“We have crises-crossed the length and breadth of Ondo State; the people by themselves indentified and choose projects close to their heart from 80 Quick-Win high-impact projects in the first one year across 80 communities by the turn of the second year”.

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Edo seeks pact with Canada

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•Oshiomhole

DO State government has solicited the support of the Canadian government in the development of infrastructure, especially in vocational education in the state.

The appeal was made in Benin City by the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole when the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency, Chris Cooter paid a courtesy visit to the Government House.

He said the state government has made some progress in the development of infrastructure, in the areas of education, healthcare delivery,road construction and rehabilitation but noted that there are still challenges.

According to him, even though the

‘Pay attention to security’ HE Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, Mr Cassidy Ikegbidi, has called on the Federal Government to pay attention to security. This is sequel to recent bomb explosions in the country.

Ikegbidi, who spoke at a Governance and Security Press Conference in Ahoada East, also said that “the business of security is a responsibility of all Nigerians, irrespective of gender, religion, age or class.”

To make everyone be alive to his responsibility, the council chief also called for a constitutional amendment that would guarantee devolution of powers in the spirit of true federalism.

Ikegbidi, who has just been sworn in for his second term in office, also said that the review of the constitution has become imperative to foster true federalism and consolidate democracy and good governance in the country.

Ikegbidi condemned the way and manner children are being abused and therefore appealed to parents to show deep interest in the upbringing of their children. He said: “child abuse does not stop at sexual abuse and harassment; but that parents who neglect their children due to career or religious engagements or deny them their fundamental rights, as enlisted in the United Nations Charter on the Rights of Children, also abuse such children.”

He added that his administration has

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Rivers From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

developed programmes to take children off the streets and prepare them for a better future.

Vehicle owners warned

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HE Lagos State Police Command has warned owners of vehicles parked at the following locations to remove them immediately or forfeit same through auction. They are: Motor Traffic Division 1.Nissan car – DL413 LND 2.Fiat bus – XC 399 YAB 3.LT bus – XA 830 MMA 4.Renault bus – XH 93 KTU 5.Mercedez Faka bus – SB 573 JJJ Olosan Police station 1.Peugeot car 2.Ford Transit bus Gowon Estate Division One scrap Toyota Camry accidented– CW 964 EKY One scrap Volkswagen Bettle – BE 277 KJA One scrap Volkswagen Vanagon bus – XF259JJJ

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Edo government has established a uniform standard in the construction of schools, there are still some schools yet to be renovated in the rural communities.

“We also have few challenges in the provision of potable water to communities, erosion control and even security despite the fact that it is the responsibility of the Federal Government.

But we have been able to make some progress in these areas,” he added.

The governor informed the Canadian High Commissioner about the collaboration existing between the Canadian government and Edo State with the running of Benin Technical School in the state and he solicited the support of the Canadian government to re-equip the institution.

Comrade Oshiomhole expressed regret that one of the challenges of the Nigerian education system is the lack of skill acquisition, noting that the revamping of the technical college will help provide training for middle level manpower and make the youths to be self-employed.

Earlier, the Canadian High Commissioner, His Excellency, Chris Cooter praised the governor for the construction work going on in the state.

While assuring of Canada’s support in developing the relationship with the state, Chris Cooter said he is looking forward to the beginning of an important relationship with the state.

• From left: President, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria(ANAN), Hajia Maryam Ibrahim; President, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Mr Segun Ajanlekoko, and immediate past President of APBN, Mr Muhammed Faworaja, during the meeting of the bodies in Lagos.

PHOTO: NAN

Expert canvasses varsity curriculum review HE Director of Leadmode Resource Centre, Dr Fakunle Odifa, has urged the Federal Government to plan the university curriculum according to the need of the economy.

Odifa, a former don at the University of Leicester, whose centre represents some leading United

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Council chief urges hard work

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HE Caretaker Chairman of Oye Local Government Area in Ekiti State,Mr Adewale Adekoya, has charged his team and workers in his council to be “first among all”.

Adekoya, at his maiden meeting with the workers, said the local government cannot afford to play the second fiddle since it is not lacking in motivation.

“The governor of the state is from this local government, the Secretary to the State Government and the Head of Service are from this local government” he recounted while soliciting for maximum cooperation from the workers.

He promised to curb lateness and absenteeism during his tenure and would not condone indiscipline or godfatherism in any

Ekiti form.

Replying to workers’ demands, the council chief pledged exemplary leadership ,saying he would show concern when necessary without allowing sentiments or prejudice to becloud his sense of judgement In reassuring his audience that he had what it takes to perform in office, he cited the Biblical Moses who doubted his own ability whereas the rod he was holding was all he needed.

“I am not lacking in knowledge, in experience or in endowed drive,” he assured, asking all workers to be ready for hardwork.

Mr Adekoya (right) swearing in members of his team at the council secretariat

•From left: Vicar, St. Paul’s Anglican Church Ojoku, Revd. Henry Adelegan; Archbioshop of Lagos, Most Revd. Ephraim. Ademowo and Archdeacon, Kirikiri Archdeaconry, Venerable Levi Opara, during foundation laying of St. Paul’s building held in Olodi Apapa, Lagos

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Long-distance rail service in the north

HE Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said it has commenced longdistance inter-city train service between Minna and Kaduna, heralding the re-introduction of inter-city train services in the northern part of the country.

Such service was popular in the glorious days of rail transportation in the country until the sector suffered neglect and rail infrastructure became dilapidated.

Announcing the Minna – Kaduna intercity service, NRC’s Assistant Director, Public Relations, Mr. David Ndakotsu, said the project is the first in the series of intercity services being introduced by the corporation.

“The first northern inter-city passenger train departed Minna on June 20 at 7.00a.m and arrived Kaduna at 12.15p.m with a mix of passengers and goods,” he said.

He said four more routes would be launched next month. They include Minna – Kaduna - Kano – Nguru; Kafanchan – Kaduna – Minna; Jos - Kuru – Kafanchan and Minna – Kaduna – Kafanchan.

Ndakotsu disclosed that there was plan to link the northern inter-city service with other parts of the country as the rehabilitation of rail tracks progresses.

He said the scheduled completion of repair works on the Lagos-Jebba rail line at the end of the month will enable the Lagos – Ibadan inter-city service to be extended to Ilorin, which would allow the movement of Larfarge cement from Ewekoro up to Jebba.

The NRC’s spokesman said more hands have been engaged to ensure prompt

HE Kano State government is to embark on measures to decongest heavy traffic gridlock that has characterised major streets of the ancient city of Kano.

This was revealed when the state governor, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso directed the committee earlier set up by the state government to work out modalities at reducing traffic congestion in Kano City.

Kwankwaso, who gave the directive, while receiving the interim report of the committee, said the desire of the state government is to ensure the free flow of traffic within the metropolis.

This aspiration, he noted, may not be actualised without the diligence of the committee and the support of the public.

He disclosed that plans are underway for the construction, reconstruction and re-habilitation of roads, repairs and provision of street and traffic lights as well as construction of bridges to link

Lagos

By Eric Ikhilae

reconstruction of Akere Bridge close to Jebba, in an effort to ensure speedy completion of the Jebba – Kano rail line.

He said his organisation was also planning to begin Lagos – Kano express passenger and freight services on completion of the bridge. He said the corporation was equally retraining its personnel preparatory to the commencement of services.

•Engr. Adeseyi Sijuwade, MD, NRC

Lagos

By Gbenga Aderanti

Kingdom universities in Nigeria, told Newsextra that if something is not done about the way students acquire degrees just for sake of it,it could be disastrous for the country.

“Education should be planned within the context of the economy so that it will be relevant to development. We are not talking about a nation where people get degrees, just for the sake of getting degrees, students must obtain their degrees for the sake of developing the economy,” he said.

Odifa wondered why in the last 20 years, there had been mad rush for degrees but has led the country to nowhere. “After graduating from universities, half of the degrees are worthless .You have to retrain them for the employer in order to fit into the economy.”

The former university don stressed the need to re-orientate the people where emphasis would be on relevant education; relevant to self, society, groups and individuals.

He said education should be tailored toward creating path and targets. “If this country wishes to produce the next African car, the education should be tailored to how many engineers are needed, how many chemists would be required and how many electricians would be needed, so that in the

next five years, people would have developed the path.

He wondered why the country is still importing rice when there are universities of agriculture almost everywhere in the country. “We have universities of agric. Yet we spend lots of money importing rice. There must be something wrong with all of us. If there is nothing wrong with all of us, why are we doing the same thing every time and nobody said wait a minute, it is not working”.

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Briefly

Israeli community visits orphanage A delegation of the Israeli Community resident in Abuja recently visited the Anawim Orphanage Home (Poorest of the Poor) in Gwagwalada and donated items such as food stuffs, clothing, toiletries, medicines and baby toys to the inmates.

The Israeli Deputy Head of Mission to Nigeria, Mr. George Deek, who led the delegation, explained that members of the Israeli community in Abuja decided to put their resources together and give something back to the society where they live.

According to him, the idea of showing love to the less privileged members of the society was initiated by one of the Israelis, which the Embassy immediately embraced and supported as a worthy cause.

Mr. Deek commended the Missionary Sisters for the Poorest of the Poor, MSSPP, managers of the Home for rehabilitating the destitute who according to them are picked up from the streets.

Kano From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

isolated communities across the state.

The governor urged road users to adhere strictly to traffic rules and regulations, as the task of sanitising the state traffic system is the collective responsibility of all residents of Kano He stressed the need for attitudinal change on the part of the people by avoiding reckless driving that could result in fatal accidents.

According to him, “even the so-called developed countries attained their high level

•Kwankwaso of organisation and orderliness because the citizenry behave in responsible manners and are law abiding.

Muslim group harps on national security

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ORRIED by the recent spate of violence and kidnapping in some parts of the country, with high toll on lives and property, the Muslim Ummah of the South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), the umbrella body for the entire Muslims in this region, wishes to express grave concern on the national security and suggest as follows: •That the worrisome wanton destruction of innocent lives and property through bomb blasts, communal, political or religious violence as well as kidnapping in various parts of Nigeria is fast outgrowing mere condemnation.

• That such dangerous trend which portends a gloomy future for the growth and unity of Nigeria, needs to be addressed pungently with lasting solution.

• That the real causes of such destructive tendencies be brought under greater focus than their effects, as emphasis on the latter in the recent past has yielded no results.

• That the spreading tragedy engendered by this new development in our country requires new strategy to handle just as our national security system needs fundamental reformation.

• That the national security of a country like

Nigeria must not be dependent on the use of Police force alone as other elements of security such as food, education, jobs for the youth and housing for all should be addressed by the combined efforts of the federal and state governments.

• That corruption, especially at official levels, be squarely tackled by the government.

The increasing tendency to materialism in the country must be curbed. Afterall, the wealth of Nigeria is not meant for only a few Nigerians who have access to it.

• That the root causes of acts of violence by the various groups be investigated dispassionately.

Where necessary, unconditional amnesty should be granted to the various militant groups involved in violence as done in the case of the South-South militants sometime ago if only to ventilate a conducive atmosphere for peace and harmony in the country.

• That having lost so many lives to these violent acts, there is need to take an urgent step towards achieving some or all of the above suggested solutions with necessary involvement of all stake holders.

Rotary donates incubators

T • Odifa

KADCCIMA laments trade imbalance RESIDENT of Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA), Alhaji Yahaya Umar,has lamented the trade imbalance between Nigeria and China which he puts at 3 billion dollars in favour of China.

Umar said at a news conference after their trade mission to China, Thailand and India

Govt to tackle traffic congestion

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

that the volume of trade between Nigeria and the world’s second largest economy stood at 3 billion dollars.

He noted that the trade visit to the Asian countries which he described as successful was in search of partners and new investment opportunities in China, Thailand and India, adding that a trade deficit exist in the relationship, but in favour of China.

While refusing to mention the actual deficit, he said: “it is difficult for any country to trade with China today and not have a deficit to the Chinese. On the overall, every month, global trade with China is about $1billion in favour of China. Every country that trades with China must have a trade deficit.

“But if Nigeria develops its infrastructure and create the enabling investment environment, we can be in position to challenge China in this direction. For now, most of what China buys from us is oil and raw materials. But we buy all kinds of finished products and services from China”.

HE Rotary Club of Apakun, Isolo, Lagos has donated children incubators worth N2.5million to the Isolo General Hospital.

Speaking at the handing over of the equipment, the President of the Club, Chief Modupe Fafowora-Oseghale, who incidentally is the Executive Chairperson of the Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), said that the project was part of the vision of her administration.

“The project is part of the promises made during my inauguration as president of the club. I want to thank Promasidor Nigeria Limited for supporting and for standing up for humanity. We chose to focus on how to curb the high infant mortality rate in Nigeria and this gesture is our contribution as an organisation toward advancing the cause of children as future leaders. “ In his opening speech at the event, the District Governor of Rotary Club, District 9110,

Lagos

By Kunle Akinrinade

Rotarian Deinde Shoga, praised members of the club for laudable project.

He said:”I want to congratulate Rotary Club of Apakun for this wonderful gesture which will go a long in reducing the maternal mortality rate in Nigeria; and I also want to thank Promasidor Nigeria Ltd for supporting the project.”

In the words of the Chief Medical Director of the hospital,Dr.E.O Ogunlana, “This gesture is indeed commendable and timely because we have had to contend with incessant repair of some our equipment in recent times not knowing that Rotary Club was already thinking of assisting us.”

The club equally unveiled a newly rehabilitated mini recreation centre at the 7/ 8 junction in Ajao Estate, to the admiration of residents.

Church holds vigil

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HE Christ Miracle Church Mission will hold its monthly vigil on June 30 at the church auditorium, 2 Iyaisuna Crescent, Off Ishola Bello Street, Akiode, Ojodu-Berger between from 10.00pm.

Speaking on the programme, the host, Prophet Peter Abiola Adebisi said the vigil will prepare everyone that attends for allround success in July.

Rev. E.O. Falade is expected at the event, just as Demola Suzi, CMCM Youth Choir and CMCM Glorious Choir will entertain with gospel songs.

•From left: Dr. Olaide Ogunsulire, Rotarian Shoga, Chief Fafowora-Oseghale and Dr. Ogunlana on the occasion

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HAIRMAN of the National Association of Colleges of Education Technologists of Nigeria (NACETN), Comrade Olusegun Agun has said Vision 20:2020, the Federal Government’s target for technological advancement, will be a mirage unless technologists in the nation’s colleges of education are placed in their right position.

He noted that science and technology is the bedrock of development in any nation, stressing that relegating it to the background undermines the country’s advancement.

Agun said this at the maiden congress of the association held at Adeyemi College of Educa-

No technology, no Vision 20:2020 From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

tion Ondo area of Ondo State.

“As we are all trying to ensure we are among the first 20 industrial nations in the world by the year 2020, colleges of education have a vital role to play in achieving this national goal,” he said. “It is the duty of the colleges of education to produce cutting edge students who could by their innovation and imagination ensure the

industrialisation of the economy”.

Agun also challenged the colleges of education to produce graduates that will meet the society’s needs for capable employees and employers of labour.

His words: “What will we achieve by turning out science graduates that cannot use or manipulate simple laboratory apparatus? The problem we have as a nation is that we don’t assess our policies to know whether we achieve set

NEITI mobilises civil society to monitor governance The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has started mobilising civil society groups in Nigeria to monitor transparency in the three tiers of government in Nigeria as well as in the communities.

At the opening of a two-day workshop for the groups in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, NEITI chairman, Prof. Asisi Asobie said it is important for civil society to be sensitised on the need to use data generated by the organisation to monitor transparency in all sectors of the society, particularly in government.

He said the success of NEITI’s initiative

MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

will be felt more when its data is used to hold office holders to account both in the public and private sector.

Asobie stressed that civil society groups also form part of the fulcrum of NEITI operations as they serve as a means of reaching different kinds of people in the society as well as participating in deciding strategies best for the organisation’s work in different parts of the country.

The former National Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) explained that civil society groups are also important

to the operations of the NEITI in that they form the third leg of the triangle on which NEITI’s operations rest.

“The EITI process is simple enough,” he said. “Its basic framework is free and unstinted disclosure of taxes, royalties, etc, paid by extractive industries companies to public coffers in resource-rich countries coupled with an honest acknowledgement in complete disclosure by government of such countries of what was actually received from the companies on behalf of the people. A reconciler is then engaged to verify and certify

goals or not. That is why we keep on revolving in a circle.

“We must support the government in achieving the Vision 20:2020 by training students on how to use and maintain science equipment to achieve technological growth.

He urged the government to create the right environment for colleges of education technologists.

The NACETN chairman also appealed to government to review upward the salary scale of college teachers as that of their counterparts in the universities and polytechnics has.

“We are appealing to the government through NCCE to extend this gesture to the technologists in the colleges of education in order to salvage science education in Nigeria,” he said.

He commended the Provost, Prof. Adeyemi Idowu of the institution following his contribution to the welfare of technologists of the college.

“He met only three technologists on the ground when he assumed duty as the provost of the college, but today all departments in need of technologists in this college have at least one or four,” Agun said.

Campaigner launches youth project From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

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•Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, UNIBADAN, Prof Elija Bamigboye (left) and the guest speaker, Dr Mudasiru Atoba, at the PHOTO: NAN annual meeting and scientific conference on Diet and Disorders of the Alimentary System in Ibadan

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ESIDENTS of Amuwo-Odofin Jakande Estate stormed the Power Holding Company of Nigeria PHCN headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos to protest power outage in their area.

The residents comprising mostly old men and women demanded regular supply of electricity, usage of pre-paid metres and stoppage of issuance of outrageous bills

by PHCN. The residents, drawn from zones A, B and C in the estate, also alleged that PHCN diverts power supply meant for them to some influential individuals, industrial estates and PHCN officials within the Amuwo-Odofin vicinity.

They sang solidarity songs and displayed placards, some of which read: “We are

UNITED States of America-based youth development campaigner, Jennifer Lee has launched a youth development project in Nigeria.

The Nigerian project is named the Youth for Nations Forum.

Lee, who is a Nigerian-American, told reporters in Ibadan that the state of many Nigerian youths is pitiful. She said there is need to help them to identify and explore their potentials for national growth and personal fulfillment. She said she also plans to raise a generation of go-getters and mobilize world achievers to mentor Nigerians youths.

Lee, a Christian preacher, disclosed that she has mounted several successful youth development campaigns in the US, the Bahamas and South Africa.

She regretted that many Nigerian youths waste away because of their inability to discover their potentials.

Over 50 per cent of young Nigerians, she said, take to crime and other social vices because of lack of good parental care.

Though a Christian preacher, Lee said religion would not be a criterion for selecting beneficiaries, adding that the forum will help the youths to mix with their contemporaries in other countries and explore mutual benefits.

The forum will focus on education, health and social services, home and shelter, rehabilitation of abused youths, and establishments of recreation centres all over Nigeria.

Community protests blackout

By Adegunle Olugbamila

tired of spending on generators,” “Enough of blackout in Amuwo-Odofin”; “No more estimation of electricity bills’; “PHCN, give us light, we need it,” among others.

The residents’ spokesperson Mr Ogunsakin Thaddeus Yemi, who spoke to our reporter, lamented the nearly perpetual blackout which the affected zones have been thrown into close to five years.

He said: “PHCN is fond of giving us outrageous bills even when we don’t have

regular supply of electricity. Sometimes, we only have electricity for 30 minutes in a single day. We’ve also been telling them to give us pre-paid metres like they gave our counterparts in Festac Town, so that we can pay for whatever we used but they have been dodging that too.”

Elder Yemi said the affected zones had in the past made several attempts at individual and group levels, noting that countless letters of grievances had also been sent to the PHCH, to no avail.

He continued: “Most times, we pay between N600-N1000 on bills per apartment.

Most times, we pay between N600 and N1000 on bills per apartment.

They (PHCN) have taken some people’s metres away. Some paid (for metres) but have not yet been given, only for the PHCN to place them on estimation billing

They (PHCN) have taken some people’s metres away. Some paid (for metres) but have not yet been given, only for the PHCN to place them on estimation billing; and you know your billing is always higher when you are under estimation.”

Another female resident who simply identified herself as Mrs Omowunmi said women in the zones have been facing the worst experience.

According to her, they often find it difficult to preserve some of the food items they store inside freezers while those among them whose means of livelihood substantially depend on regular power supply, have had to resort to the use of generators purchasing fuel at cut throat prizes.

Reacting to the residents’ allegations, a staff of the PHCN who did not wish to be mentioned pleaded for more time from the protesters so that PHCH could look into their grievances.

“Our CEO is not around, otherwise he would have attended to them (protesters).

But we have heard their pleas and received their letter of grievances. Our CEO is a kind and listening man and I believe he would look into their problem and acts on it when he gets back,” he assured.

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MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

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People in Ondo State believe in fairness, equity and justice, the same principle which Governor Mimiko pursued vigorously to ensure that the late Adebayo Adefarati and Dr. Olusegun Agagu did not spend more than one term in office

Ondo in tussle for 2013 governorship

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LTHOUGH the next election for the governorship election in Ondo State is still a good two years away, intense pressure has begun for which zone will produce the governor in 2013.

A group, Ondo North Youth Forum for Social justice (ONYFFSJ) said it is the turn of the North District to produce the next governor. Another group, Ondo State Movement for Development (OSMD) said Governor Olusegun Mimiko is the right man for the office.

ONYFFSJ said the governorship seat in the state has been running on a zoning system between the three senatorial districts, a development which it said has been embraced by all stakeholders.

In a communiqué issued in Akure after its emergency meeting, the forum criti•Continued from Page 31

With constant growing awareness, more people have become involved in this quest for a safer and cleaner environment.

Individuals, corporations, professionals, movie stars, athletes, religious bodies have added their time and energy to make a positive change in our world. In Hollywood for instance, the list of A-class Stars who are going green is increasing by the moment. Some of them have foundations geared towards combating global warming. Stars like Leonado DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Angelina Joli, Matt Damon, George Clooney and a whole lot more have joined the call for a healthier and greener world.

As earlier mentioned, corporate organisations are not left out of this awareness and drive to go green. All over the world,

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

cised the clamour for Mimiko’s second term. The communiqué signed by the group’s coordinator, Ola Olusegun, said the campaign is alien to the political tradition of the state.

The communiqué reads in part “People in Ondo state believe in fairness, equity and justice, the same principle which Governor Mimiko pursued vigorously to ensure that the late Adebayo Adefarati and Dr. Olusegun Agagu did not spend more than one term in office”.

But, another group, Ondo State Movement for Development (OSMD) at a public lecture under the platform of Iroko 2013 in Akure, insisted that Governor Mimiko should return to power in 2013.

The group, according to sources, is working in tandem with Ondo State youths who are said to be rooting for Mimiko’s return in 2013.

The group said the youths are very comfortable with the governor because of his achievements in the state in the past two years.

At the occasion, the state commissioner for information, Mr Ranti Akerele said good governance culminating in the accelerated development of the state could not have been achieved without carrying youths along.

He praised the Mimiko administration for its commitment to the total transformation of the state through unprecedented developmental programmes. The commissioner said there is need for continuity in the state.

•Mimiko

How to preserve the environment multinationals have joined the rest of the world to positively impact their environment, contributing their own quota to a pollution free world and participating actively in the UN’s World Environment Day programmes. In Africa, for instance, the MTN Group, a telecommunications company, set aside 21 days within which it will impact its immediate communities via various humanitarian and social activities through its annual staff volunteerism programme tagged 21 Days of Y’ello Care, a programme which it runs simultaneously in all 21 countries where it operates in Africa and the Middle East.

In line with the theme for the 2011 celebration of the World Environment Day,

the Group adopted the theme “Making a positive difference in our environment” for this year’s celebration.

In a world inhabited by approximately 6.6 billion people, trees are fast disappearing and giving way to more shelter, access roads, desertification, dryness and much more. Tree planting has been identified as one of the myriad ways by which this growing concern can be addressed.

Trees provide shade and protection from the harsh sun. They purify the air by giving off oxygen while they take in carbon-dioxide. Trees help with desert encroachment and erosion. They beautify the environment and have both communal and economic benefits. Recycling aware-

•Mrs. Funke Amobi, GM, Organisation & Talent Management, Mrs. Toyin Utomakili, Head, Tree Planting Programme, Lagos State Ministry of Environment, Dr. Newton Jibunoh, Founder, Fade Foundation, watering a newly planted tree, and Mrs. Funmi Omogbenigun, GM, Corporate Communications, MTN, at the flag-off of the annual MTN 21 Days of Y’ello Care, a staff volunteerism scheme in Lagos

ness has also grown within communities, schools, market places and the different sectors of the economy and everyone is constantly encouraged to use more ecofriendly products.

The benefits of trees cannot be over-emphasised and to commemorate the World Environment Day, MTN Nigeria kicked off the celebration with the Y’ello Earth Walk, an activity that aimed to create awareness for preservation of the environment. The Walk was joined by people from various walks of life with same interest, chief among them being Dr. Newton Jibunoh, a renowned soil engineer, a consistent environmental crusader and Founder of Fight Agianst Desert Encroachment, (FADE Africa). For 21 days, FADE Africa partnered with staff of the telecommunications giant to plant thousands tree saplings for both fruits and shade in communities across the country.

Recycling will also form a major part of this year’s celebration as the team will move from schools to orphanage homes, markets and garages, teaching them the social and economic benefits of recycling and craft. They will also participate in the cleaning of blocked drainages, gutters and roads. According to Mr. Ekong Udoabang, the Project Manager of 21 Days of Y’ello Care, ‘it is not enough to tell people about global warming and environmental degradation, it is more impactful go a step further by showing what eco-friendly habits like tree planting and recycling can do for our environment’.

•Deke is a Lagos-based journalist

Trees provide shade and protection from the harsh sun. They purify the air by giving off oxygen while they take in carbon-dioxide.

Trees help with desert encroachment and erosion. They beautify the environment and have both communal and economic benefits

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

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CRIME Pastor dupes police constable

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HE police last Wednesday in Lagos charged a suspected fake pastor before a Somolu Magistrates’ Court for allegedly duping a police constable.

The accused, Sunday Ajayi, 33, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy to steal and stealing to which he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Insp.

Adegoke Akinlebi said Ajayi and others, now at large, conspired and duped a Police Constable, Peter Baba, on June 6, about 12 pm at Kusa Street, Bariga, Lagos.

He said the accused in pretence obtained N70, 000 from Baba to engage in financial breakthrough prayers for him.

The offence, according to Akinlebi, contravened sections 514 and 419 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.

The Senior Magistrate, Mrs Bola Osunsanmi, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The case has been adjourned till July 20 for trial.

MTN worker charged with theft DRIVER with MTN, Maxwell Jacks, has been arraigned by the police for allegedly stealing the company’s vehicle worth N4 million.

Jack, 40, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing before a Somolu Magistrates’ Court.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Insp.

A. Adegoke, told the

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court that the accused stole a Toyota Hilux van belonging to his employer.

According to Adegoke, “Jack went out with the vehicle and he was instructed to park it in the office premises at the end of the day.

“Instead, the accused took the vehicle home and came the next day to say it was stolen.”

He said the accused and others at large committed the offence on May 30 at No. 19,

Akinrile Street, off Bayulaiye Street, Somolu, Lagos.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 390 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.

Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the case till August 3 for trial.

A

By Jude Isiguzo

the sun, the rain and even during harmatan.

They are being controlled by so many elements and what they expect from a man or woman driving in an air-conditioned vehicle is respect and not insults.”

According to him, when a policeman stops anybody, that person should obey his orders and comply with whatever he says.

He noted that the moment people conduct themselves well before policemen on the road,

‘

These policemen stand under the sun, the rain and even during harmatan. They are being controlled by so many elements

’

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have been charged before a Yaba Magistrate Court with attempted murder and theft.

The suspects, Joseph Odusanya 52; Bolaji Suleiman,41; Akeem Hammed,44, are facing a seven-count charge of conspiracy, attempted murder, causing grievous harm, assault and stealing.

They , however , pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution alleged the control of their parks.

• • • • • • • • • • •

Be cautious when entering private vehicles that operate as taxis Avoid spending the night with free women In crowded bus stops, hold tight to your bags and pockets in order not to be robbed by pick pockets Do not leave your children with strangers, especially in religious places of worship.

Always secure your residence by locking up the place.

Do not allow a stranger to embrace you in the public as such person may be out to pick your wallet Mind how you leave your car with strangers as some may be robbers.

Be observant inside and outside bank premises in order not to be trailed by robbers.

Provide adequate security for cash in transit, including the use of police escort, also stop keeping money or valuables inside your car.

Help the police to help you. Let us join hands to rid our society of crime. It is our collective responsibility.

Report suspicious movement within your vicinity to the Police, never confront crimi nals as your life is very important, call the police on the following numbers: Police Control Room 1 emergency/distress call telephone numbers 07055350249, 07035068242, RRS Control 2 Alausa 08065154338, 07055462708, Control Room 3 SHQ: 08079279349, 08063299264 and 767 Toll free line.

MISSING PERSONS

1.

One Nneoma Grace Ogba ‘f’ aged 14yrs old about 3ft tall, fair complexion, speaks English and Igbo language fluently. If seen, contact one Chima Obuma ‘m’ of No. 8, Abimbola Odunsi Street, Ifako Ijaiye Lagos or Ikeja Police Station.

2.

One Folake Godonu ‘f’ aged 27yrs old about 6ft tall dark in complexion, speaks Yoruba and Egun Languages fluently. If seen contact one Joseph Godwin ‘m’ of Ikoga Zebbe Badagry Lagos or Badagry Police Station.

3.

One Benjamin Onuikpu ‘m’ aged 30yrs about 4.8ft tall fair complexion, speaks English and Hausa Languages fluently. If seen contact one Monisola Adetola ‘f’ of Block 94 Flat, 1 Jakande Estate Isolo or Festac Police Station.

4.

One Feyisara Oyindamola Shittu ‘f’ aged 32yrs old about 5ft tall, dark in complexion, speaks English and Yoruba Language fluently. If seen contact one Mr. Shittu Kamoru ‘m’ of No. 6/ 8, Rufai Street, Onipanu Shomolu Lagos or Onipanu, Police Station.

One Blessing Ojumo ‘f’ aged 21yrs old about 4ft tall dark in complexion speaks Awori Egun Languages fluently. If seen contact one Hajia Muse Ariyo ‘m’ of No. 10, Okoya Ilomas Close Surulere Lagos or Surulere Police Station.

One James nkama ‘m’ aged 29yrs old about 5ft tall light in complexion speaks English and Igbo Language fluently. If seen contact oen Mrs. Udok Eze Onelaka ‘f’ of No. 17A Broad Street or Ebute Ero Police Station.

One Olalekan Alawode ‘m’ aged 41yrs old about 5ft tall dark in complexion speaks Yoruba and English Language fluently. If seen contact one Taiwo Alawode ‘m’ of No. 28 Mourning Star Street, Ejigbo, Lagos Police Station.

5.

6.

7.

The police prosecuting officer, Chinalu Uwadire ,told the court that the accused persons and others still at large had between 2010 and January 2011 at Ejigbo,a Lagos suburb,attacked Taiwo Adedokun and Muibi Rahaman with cutlasses and sticks.

Uwadire said they also attacked two other persons- John Oyekanmi and Abdullahi Ganiyu- at the association’s office in Elere-Agege and OrileIganmu during the period.

He also told the court that

1.

One Toyota highlander Jeep with Reg. No. ET 250 SMK Colour Navy Blue with Chassis No. JTEDP21A340001497 and Engine No. 3MZ0037370. If seen contact any nearest Police Station or Itire Police Station.

2.

One Toyota Corolla S/car with Reg. No. LN 471 EKY Colour Ash with Chassis No. JTDBR32E530012917. If seen contact any nearest Police Station.

3.

One Toyota Camry S/Car with Reg. No. AR 700 KUJ with Chassis No. 4T15KIZESPU1803 and Engine No. 551818765. If seen contact any nearest Police Station.

4.

One Toyota Camry and Reg. No. RZ 435 AAA Colour Grey with chassis No. J4T1BG22K8WU267091 and Engine No. 556469891. If seen contact any nearest Police Station.

RECOVERED VEHICLES

• Ozoana

the issue of harassment, intimidation and accidental discharge will be a thing of the past.

The ex-policeman, who expressed sadness over the recent bombing of the Force headquarters in Abuja and the killing of three senior officers in Badagry by suspected soldiers, urged members of the public to support security agents in their job to ensure that lives and properties are secured.

Tricyclists face murder, theft charges HREE commercial tricyclist operators

F THE COURTS SROM ECURITY TIPS

STOLEN VEHICLES

How to reduce accidental discharge, by lawyer LAWYER and retired police officer, Mr Bartholomew Ozoana, has urged residents to exercise restraint on how the way and manner they deal with policemen on the road.

This, he said would reduce incidents of discharges.

He explained that though he was not holding brief for policemen, he noted that when they are on the road they are being controlled by many elements.

Ozoana said: “These policemen stand under

CITY BEATS

the accused stole three handsets valued at N 39,000, a wristwatch also valued at N10, 000, properties of the complainants.

Uwadire said the offences contravened Sections 320,355,390 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.

Magistrate Demi Ajayi granted the accused persons bail conditioned upon the payment of N500, 000 each and the guarantee of two sureties each in like sum.

She adjourned the case till July 11 for further hearing.

The Lagos State Police Command recovered a total number of 28 vehicles from 18th - 23rd May, 2011 suspected to have been stolen from different location in Lagos and the vehicles can be located at the station mentioned against each of the recovered vehicles as follows:S/NO

NAMES OF VEHICLE

REG. NO

COLOUR

LOCATION

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

OPEL OMEGA TOYOTA COROLLA HONDA ACCORD TOYOTA SIENNA TOYOTA COROLLA TOYOTA CAMRY TOYOTA COROLLA FAN PICK UP TOYOTA COROLLA HONDA ACCORD TOYOTA 4 RUNNER HONDA ACCORD TOYOTA COROLLA HONDA ACCORD NISSAN PATHFINDER NISSAN QUEST NISSAN QUEST TOYOTA 4 RUNNER JEEP NISSAN PRIMERA TOYOTA 4 RUNNER JEEP NISSAN PATHFINDER V/W VANAGON BUS V/W VANAGON BUS PEUGOT 307 S/CAR HONDA ACCORD B/BOY TOYOTA HIACE BUS TOYOTA CAMRY HONDA ACCORD

DC 470 MUS BW 624 AKL EY 442 APP TU 730 KJA BZ 638 KSF PP 856 RBC EE 809 KJA DG 491 GGE ET 398 APP SM 974 KJA EP 61 KRD SD 242 KJA DY 489 AAA DN 623 LSD FW 449 LSR DE 934 RBC NW 137 AAA CS 239 MUS JF 80 KJA 473 APP DE 686 KTU XC 691 LSD XZ 184 MUS DR 921 ABJ FY 993 EKY XU 119 APP DA 244 APP BF 734 GWD

WHITE M/GREY WHITE ASH BLACK BLACK GREY GREY BLACK BLACK GOLD GREY ASH BLACK BLACK GOLD L/BLUE BLACK ASH GREY GOLD LSCC LSCC BLUE ASH WHITE BLACK ASH

AGO-OKOTA ALADE ALAPERE OJOKORO AGUDA V/ISLAND OJO LAYENI SHOMOLU RRS HQTR AREA ‘D’ ILASAMAJA DENTON IJESHA LAYENI GOWON ESTATE SABO IKORODU OKO OBA STD IKEJA ALAKUKO MOSAFEJO OWUTU OWUTU ALADE AREA ‘A’ APAPA BARIGA

Members of the public who have claims to the recovered vehicles should check at the police station mentioned against each recovered vehicles with original documents.

Claimants should endeavour to check the engine numbers as the original registration numbers may have been tampered with.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

38

CITY BEATS Reduce wildlife T hazard, airport managers urged

THE managers of African airports have been advised to always conduct wild life hazard Assessement (WHA) to reduce the threats posed by wild life within the airport environment.

A lecturer at the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, United States, Russ De Fusco, gave the advice while addressing participants at the ongoing workshop on wildlife management in Lagos on Tuesday.

He said the US regulations required each certificate holder to take immediate action to alleviate wildlife hazards whenever they were detected and ensure that a WHA was conducted whenever there were multiple wild life strikes, as substantial damage from wildlife strikes affect the structural strength and performance of airports.

Estate agents in plea bargain with EFCC TWO estate agents, Bayo Lawal and Femi Johnson, accused of defrauding 200 prospective tenants of over N49million, have entered into a plea bargain with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The accused who are facing trial before Justice Habeeb Abiru of the Ikeja High Court on a 119 – count charge of conspiracy and fraud, has granted EFCC the right to auction their properties and used the proceeds to pay their victims.

In the charge sheet, EFCC alleged that the accused defrauded the intending tenants between 2005 and 2008, under the pretext of securing accommodation from them.

Lawal’s counsel A.D. Lasisi, told the court that his 46-yearold client had entered into a plea bargain with EFCC. “The EFCC has the power of Attorney to auction or sell some of my client’s properties to interested buyers and use the proceed to restitute with the EFCC.

Oto-Awori to build botanical garden THE Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area ( LCDA) of Lagos State says it has concluded plans to build a botanical garden in Ijanikin.

The LCDA Chairman, Bolaji Robert ,disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos during an event to mark the World Environmental Day. He said the project was part of efforts to boost tourism and also preserve the environment and nature.

"The council is commited to the ideals of a good environment.

“We will build a botanical garden as our contribution to tourism and a beautiful environment," Robert said.

“He stressed the need for a sustainable tree planting campaign by the government and the private sector to preserver the environment.”

Robert appealed to the state government to construct a bridge to link communities in the LCDA with Egan in Alimosho Council Area.

HEY were standing in groups. Some dressed in red T-shirts, others in black.

They waited patiently in the premises of the Island Maternity, Lagos, the hospital where Governor Babatunde Fashola was born, to begin a walk.

The walk is aimed at sensitising Lagosians and, indeed, Nigerians on the importance of voluntary blood donation.

It is the World Blood Donor Day Celebration in Lagos. This year’s theme is More blood donated, more lives saved.

The announcer called the attention of all participants to come together to listen to why they were gathered for the occasion. A walk that would take them through Tinubu Square, Nnamdi Azikwe Street, Idumagbo, to terminate at Adeniji Adele was about to begin.

Beaming, the Permanent Secretary, Health Commission, Lagos State, Dr Funmilayo Olatunji also dressed in a red T-shirt, explained the significance of the Day to the crowd. She said: “The more blood donated, the more lives saved. You can’t transfuse humans with animal blood so people need to understand the importance of voluntary blood donation.”

According to her, the walk is a clarion call to save humanity and as such must be done.

Olatunji called for voluntary blood donation in the state and the country at large, adding that nobody would lose anything for donating a pint of blood; rather they would be helping to save someone who might need blood to live.

“People have donated blood before so nothing bad can happen to donors,” she said.

Lending a voice to the importance of voluntary blood donation was the Acting Executive Secretary Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee, Dr Olusola Oyekan, who said donating blood does not involve eating any special diet but, “the donor must have eaten before donating.”

T

Donate blood to save lives, Lagosians told

By Wale Adepoju

She said: “We may also give refreshment to replace what the body has lost, but in a way the body has a way of compensating. The bone marrow where blood in produced can manufacture six times more than the normal rate body needs.

A pint is just about 500mils (like a bottle of Coca-cola). The fluid can replace itself, the body cells can do

‘

likewise.”

Mrs Oyekan said the fluid can be replaced within 48 hours which is through the body physiological mechanism. But we encourage people to take a lot of fluid. The red cells too can replace themselves within two weeks. Even before the two weeks the ones you have are enough for the body.

She said donors are screened to ensure that they are suitable to donate, adding that blood is taken

We don’t encourage people to take money for blood because it is a gift of life. You may have enough blood while others who eat don’t have much blood. So we must see some sense of giving freely

Monarch wins 23-year-old case at Supreme Court

HE Supreme Court has dismissed a 23-year-old suit filed against the Oniba of Iba, Oba Yishau Goriola Oseni, by Chief Imam Busari Idowu Dauda and Mr Idowu Oniyide on behalf of Elete Chieftaincy Family.

In its verdict, the apex court held that the monarch was right in appointing some district heads in his domain.

The Oniba recalled that the suit was filed against him, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Rashidi Rufai, Alhaji Aliyu Saliu and Mr. Olu Aina.

The action, he said, began in the High Court of Lagos State in the Ikeja Judicial Division where both parties filed amended statements of claim and defence. Elete Chieftaincy Family’s claim against Oba Oseni and others was that only its member is entitled to create or confer chieftaincy titles on all or any of the villages within the Elete division, thereby declaring that the purported approval of Oba Oseni’s recommendation of Rufai, Saliu and

‘

•Cross section of participants during the walk.

In referring to the judgment of a Lagos High Court that the Supreme Court reproduce the judgment in part, it is interesting to note that whereas the plaintiffs were unable to produce as witnesses

’

By Oziegbe Okoeki

Aina as Baale of Olemba Hausa, Balogun of Elemba Hausa and Baale of Ilemba Awori, by the Chieftaincy Committee of Badagry Local Government at its meeting of May 5, 1987, was irregular, unconstitutional, null and void.

“Perpetual injunction restraining the Attorney-General of Lagos State and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and their agents from acting upon the recommendations of Oba Oseni was also sought as well as an order restraining the AG from installing the recommended persons for any chieftaincy position,” Oseni said.

At the trial of the case at the Lagos High Court, the plaintiffs called nine witnesses, while the defendants called four with a number of exhibits.

In his judgment of January 12, 1990, the High Court Judge, Justice M. O. Onalaja, declared that the Elete chieftaincy family was entitled to create and confer chieftaincy titles on all or any of the villages within the Elete division.

“He also declared that the purported approval of Oba Yishau Goriola Oseni’s recommendation of Rufai, Saliu and Aina for chieftaincy position was null and void and also restrained the Government of Lagos State from installing them.”

However, the defendants, Oba Oseni and others were not satisfied with the judgment. They proceeded to the Court of Appeal and on July 8, 1999, the appeal court set aside the judgment of the High Court and dismissed the Elete

’

Chieftaincy Family claim and they in turn went to the Supreme Court.

After the two parties filed and exchanged their briefs and argument through their counsels; the Supreme Court on May 20, 2011 in a unanimous decision dismissed the appeal of the Elete Chieftaincy Family.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Francis Falode Tabai said, “I hold that the appellants, that is the Elete Chieftaincy Family’s authority to create chieftaincies and confer same on deserving persons is of necessity tied to their ownership of the two villages, they cannot be granted the relief claimed. The result is that each of the first, second and fourth issues is resolved against them. It is also my view that resolution of these three issues against the appellants disposed off the appeal.

“In referring to the judgment of a Lagos High Court that the Supreme Court reproduce the judgment in part, it is interesting to note that whereas the plaintiffs were unable to produce as witnesses, people who acknowledge them as landlord in respect of any part of these villages, at any rate, the defendants produced two witnesses who testified that they were tenants of Oniba family. This

only from donors that are fit.

“We don’t encourage people to take money for blood because it is a gift of life. You may have enough blood while others who eat don’t have much blood. So, we must see some sense of giving freely. In many countries of the world, even in our National Blood Policy it is stated that you can give blood for money. Those who collect money before giving blood are out of the way,” she said.

Mrs Oyekan said those who ask for money before giving their blood may not be living right or may be having risky behaviour.

“We are trying to encourage social responsibility. If you are going to give blood you have a duty to make sure your blood is saved. You need to live a life that is free of infection, but if you use money you will be enticing people.”

•Oba Oseni

shows that the defendants are in possession of the land in dispute,” Tabai said.

A cost of N50, 000 was awarded in favour of Oba Oseni, Rufai, Saliu and Aina. Other Justices of the Supreme Court who sat in the case were Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, Aloma Mariam Muktar, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammed and Bode RhodesVivour.

Meanwhile, Oba Oseni and the three others, who have been installed, have called on the people who purchased their land in the past to regulate and document them.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

39

CITY BEATS

Stakeholders appraise ethical issues in IVF service

S

TAKEHOLDERS in the practice of In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) — gynaecologists, psychiatrists, Christian and Moslem clerics, Laymen, couples who have benefitted from IVF and the media on June 15, in Lagos, appraised ethical issues in IVF treatment and concluded that the practice is ethical provided the couples are fully informed about the processes involved in the treatment and can make decisions accordingly.

At a “Think Tank” session organised by The Bridge Clinic, participants offered divergent views on various questions raised on the ethics of IVF treatment and reached a consensus on the need to ensure transparency in administering the treatment on people who require it.

Those in attendance at the session also agreed that IVF treatment is ethical for procreation for couples who anxiously desire children of their own but couldn’t have through natural means.

In his presentation entitled Ethical Considerations in IVF, the Bridge Clinic’s Managing Director, Dr. Richardson Ajayi, said the award of the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2010 to Robert Edwards, the British scientist who pioneered IVF, affirmed IVF as the hallmark of treatment for infertility.

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

Ajayi noted that there are over four million children born worldwide through IVF treatment, while the expansion in the application of IVF is evidenced in Nigeria with reports of birth of over 1,000 children through IVF by some clinics.

He noted that cultural beliefs that marriage is incomplete unless a couple has children of their own compelled many to take desperate steps in seeking various means of conception which have left them facing the burden of infertility and, worse still, exploitation.

According to him: “The evolution of IVF worldwide has been chequered by controversies which in some way introduced doubts on the effectiveness of IVF, but the presence of a regulatory framework has always helped to restore public confidence in the treatment.

“There is no such regulatory framework in Nigeria to control the expansion of IVF technology.

The objective of this think-tank session is to initiate a discussion on the ethical issues in IVF so that in the absence of regulation, couples that require IVF treatment will become aware of these important issues.” Dr. Ajayi said while setting the ground for discussion.

Rotary takes career talks to schools

S

CORES of Senior Secondary one (SS1) students of three public schools, all on Lagos island, last Wednesday benefited from the large heart of the Rotary Club International district 9110.

Each got a gift of an Oxford Advanced Learners English dictionary, to boost their capacity in the language after an educative career talk which many of the students described as “richly enlightening.”

The schools partnered with by the club includes; Methodist Boys High School, V.I, Lagos; Wahab Folawiyo Senior High School, Ikoyi; and Dolphin High School, Sura, all on the Island.

Leading other members and principal officers of the Rotary Club of Lagos Central, The President, Rotarian Taofeek Lawal, said the gesture is in furtherance of the club’s cardinal programme of improving the literacy and educational standard of communities.

Lawal said the club had embarked on the career talk to develop the student’s confidence and begin to chart a career path through which they would contribute meaningfully to the society.

Lawal added that to complement the exercise, the club has decided to give to each student dictionary to further boost their competence in English language.

He said: “Our determination to help reduce the incidences of mass failure in English language which is one of the two compulsory subjects upon which the future aspirations of these students lies, informed our decision to give to each of them a dictionary.

“It is our hope that as these students read their dictionary, they would become more familiar with difficult words and how to use them and this would gradually help to boost their confidence in tackling the subject.”

Lawal, therefore, advised all students not to dump the dictionary on the shelf or their boses, but make friends with it and use it daily, if they hope to enhance their competence and increase their chances in passing the subject in their examination.

Earlier, while taking the students of Methodist Boys High School, VI, through the career options avail-

By Yinka Aderibigbe

able, Rotarian Oye Oyeniyi, urged the students to be studious, and make friends with their books now that they have the opportunity to read, so as not to resort to regret in the future.

Oyeniyi said: “You must be serious with your studies. That is the first basic thing you should do as a student. Be serious with your life, be hard working and remember always that you can be whatever you want to be.”

Also speaking to the students, a former president of the club Rotarian Ben Onuorah, a lawyer, said the students must make friends with English Language and Mathematics, if they ever hope to climb higher on the academic ladder.

He told the students: “Any one of you who wants to pursue a career in law should be ready to work very hard. Law has no place for laggards and dropouts. You must be good communicators and must be prepared for a lifetime of constant reading.”

• From left: Prof Ikimalo, Dr Ajayi and Dr Iketubosin at the event.

Wrigley’s Orbit Sugarfree gets endorsement

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RIGLEY, a global leader in confectionery, has bagged an endorsement for Orbit Sugarfree Chewing Gum by the Nigerian Dental Association. The company participated in the annual general meeting of the body.

The meeting, a two-day conference at the Golden Hall, Chelsea Hotel, Abuja, on June 9 and 10, saw the gathering of top dental practitioners from all over the nation.

Making history as the first annual general meeting to hold in the North, it was themed, Changing The Image Of Dentistry.

Discussions focused on the rebranding of the negative perception of dentistry in Nigeria. These perceptions were said to have led to retarded growth, poor service delivery and underutilisation of the dentistry profession.

Dr Olufemi Orebanjo, National President of the Nigerian Dental Association said “Orbit Sugarfree Chewing Gum is a major contributor in developing and sustaining oral health. This endorsement comes after a scientific research carried out showed impressive results alongside the trials we conducted which brought about the same result. Wrigley’s participation in this AGM shows that they are indeed part of the

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

‘

Wrigley’s participation in this AGM shows that they are indeed part of the force working towards achieving the quest of a change in Dentistry in our country

’

force working towards achieving the quest of a change in Dentistry in our country.”

Wrigley also sponsored the attendance of dental students from University of Ibadan; Obafemi Awolowo University and University of Benin.

The gathering of seasoned professionals showcased a series of lecturers providing detailed information on the image of dentistry, Repositioning dentistry in Nigeria, among others.

Ismael Bello, Brands Manager, Orbit and PK, stated: “We are proud to be a part sponsor of this Annual General Meeting and this

marks the beginning of our relationship with the Dental Association. Through this relationship, Wrigley will be contributing her quota to the development of the Dental Profession, while also educating our esteemed consumers on the benefits inherent in the chewing of the Orbit Sugarfree Chewing Gum.” Orbit Sugarfree Chewing Gum is a global brand, enjoyed by millions of people around the world.

The smooth, refreshing flavour of the Orbit Sugarfree Chewing Gum leaves your mouth clean and healthy.

Scientific research has shown that the physical action of chewing Orbit sugar-free gum for 20 minutes after eating stimulates saliva flow, which helps to prevent cavities by reducing plaque acids and strengthening teeth.

Wrigley is a recognised leader in confections with a wide range of product offerings including gum, mints, hard and chewy candies, lollipops, and chocolate. The company has operations in more than 40 countries and distributes its world-famous brands in more than 180 countries. Wrigley is headquartered in Chicago, Ill., and operates as a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated, a private, familyowned company founded in 1911.

Lawmakers urge completion of Lagos-Badagry Expressway

L

AGOS State House of Assembly last week at plenary called on the Governor, Babatunde Fashola, to ensure the speedy completion of the ongoing 10-lane Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

The House also called on the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the Traffic Division of the Nigeria Police, Badagry Division and other relevant agencies to urgently resolve the traffic crisis on the expressway.

This was sequel to a joint motion

by Hon.Muyibat Rufai-Adeyemi (Ojo 1) and Majority Leader Hon. Ajibayo Adeyeye (Kosofe 11) lamenting the untold hardship experienced by commuters and motorists daily on the road due to the project.

Noting the efforts of the state government aimed at expanding the expressway, an international route, into a 10-lane carriage way, Mrs Rufai-Adeyemi explained that the project will boost economic development.

She noted the persistent traffic-

By Oziegbe Okoeki

jam experienced by commuters and motorists on the highway, particularly, at Volks/Barracks, Iyana-Iba and Okoko bus stops, thereby resulting in untold hardship, loss of valuable time, lives and properties and dwindling economic activities.

She expressed worry at the rate at which miscreants and armed robbers are taking advantage of the situation along the axis to dispossess commuters, drivers and residents of their personal belongings.

Other members who contributed to the motion explained that there are other challenges contributing to the traffic crisis on the road.

According to Sultan AdenijiAdele, “the road leads to my constituency and I can tell you that the problem on that road is not because of the ongoing project, but the military guys are the ones causing most of the problems. Most of the time, they drive against traffic on the road with the belief that no one can stop them,” he said.

The Deputy Speaker, Taiwo

‘

LASTMA officials were also trained on traffic safety so that they could learn new techniques in traffic management, adding that during the long vacation, some school children would be trained in the same area

Kolawole, on his part, said: “Most of the problems on that road are human. At Iba Bus Stop, those traders are not making use of the model market, but they instead come to the main road to display and sell

’

their wares.

“Even many of the bus drivers don’t make use of the parks and also the LASTMA officials are also becoming another threat, because they now collect money like common traffic wardens,” said Kolawole.

40

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

SLIDING TACKLE

“It’s unfortunate that they (Ghana) scored but nothing stops us from scoring over there,”

Monday, June 27, 2011

42

Dream Team V coach, Ausgustine Eguavoen issuing a warning to Ghana Meteors that the second leg of AAG qualifier in Accra, will be tough.

set for La Liga debut Nigeria Under-23 coach Ighalo N issues Ghana warning

N

IGERIA’S U-23 coach Augustine Eguavoen has warned Ghana that they will score in Accra when the two teams clash in the second-leg of the All African Games qualifier.

The Dream Team fought back from a goal down to defeat the Black Meteors 3-1 in Benin City on Saturday in the first leg of the final qualifier for the competition to be held in Maputo.

Ghana’s only goal scored in the game give the Black Meteors a glimmer of hope in the second leg. The Ghanaians only need a 2-0 win to qualify. Eguavoen is keen to see his boys exploit their first leg advantage.

“It’s unfortunate that they (Ghana) scored but nothing stops us from scoring over there,” Eguavoen said.

Ghana fielded a strong team with six players already members of the country’s top team. The two sides will clash in the second leg in Accra in two weeks’ time.

IGERIAN Olympic international Odion Ighalo is most likely to stay put at Granada and make his Spanish La Liga debut in the coming season.

Ighalo is on loan from Italian club Udinese but the striker’s agent, Atta Aneke, told MTNFootball.com that almost everything points to the former Julius Berger star staying on at Granada.

“The Pozzo family own both clubs and there is a 70/30 percent chance he will remain in Spain,” disclosed Aneke.

“We are meeting Gino Pozzo

on Tuesday to take a final decision on this.

“The main issues are about the player getting more playing time and an improved contract as he could now be playing in the La Liga.”

Ighalo, 22, scored the goal that catapulted Granada to the Spanish top flight after a 35year absence on the back of a play-off draw with Elche.

The striker was scouted out from Nigeria for Norwegian club Lyn Oslo, where he spent 10 months before he joined Udinese on a five-year contract in July 2008.

NOC pledges more refresher courses for coaches

N

IGERIA Olympic Committee (NOC) president, Sani Ndanusa has promised to extend coaching courses to all sport sectors.

Ndanusa who was represented at the closing ceremony of the Boxing seminar held at the ObafemiAwolowo stadium

by Augustine Odijie, Logistic and Technical Officer of NOC said the course came at the right time as Nigeria gets set for the 10th All Africa Games scheduled for Maputo, Mozambique.

The former Minister for Sports was appreciative of the benevolence of the IOC and Olympic Solidarity for sustenance of the Technical programme of that nature.

Adding “NOC will continue to exploit all available opportunities presented to us by the IOC for the benefits of our Coaches, as Olympic Solidarity Coaching courses are one of the programme of the International Olympic Committee.

“The objectives of the programme is to update the coaches on latest techniques in the respective sports, as Hockey and Cycling coaches had earlier

•Augustine Eguavoen

By Innocent Amomoh benefited from the scheme, now it is the turn of boxing”, Ndanusa noted.

Nino Fracasso, a Professor from Italy conducted the one week refreshers course for the boxing coaches who came from all part of the federation.

Aluko looks to legal future

M

ENTION the words 'footballer' and 'lawyer' in the same sentence and the immediate thought is that a well-paid Premier League star has found himself in trouble again. It doesn't take long talking to Eniola Aluko to realise this is no ordinary player.

Born in Nigeria, her family left for Birmingham when she was just one. Two decades later, Aluko spread her wings to begin a fulltime career in the United States. Still she was not satisfied, which is why she began studies that have already led to legal qualifications and a desire to work in her own sports law practice when the playing days are over.

"You need to think ahead.

A lot of male players forget that. It is very important to try and focus on what you will do when the game has finished because you are playing for a very short

period of time. Law is a passion of mine. I have wanted to be a lawyer since I was 12. It is tough trying to qualify because there are so many different exams. But it is something I love to do.

And because I want to focus on the sports industry, legal practice is quite fun. I feel as though I can carve a niche for myself. People think 'wow, a footballer who is also a lawyer', it really does bring a lot of focus and attention," said the 24-year-old.

Aluko could never be accused of not knowing her own mind. Four years ago in China, she was furious at the lack of proper financial funding in place to reward England's World Cup stars and vented her frustrations loudly.

Aluko now plays down that row, although it is clear improvements have been made that should allow for a no-excuses England World Cup campaign, which begins against Mexico.

W I M B L E D O N O P E N ...W I M B L E D O N O P E N ...W I M B L E D O N O P E N ...W I M B L E D O N O P E N ...W I M B L E D O N O P E N ...

Nadal wary of 'complete' Del Potro Venus a real contender — Serena Murray expecting rough ride THE giant Argentine, who stands an imposing 1.98 metres tall, climbed to fourth in the world rankings after his US Open triumph in 2009 before a wrist injury that required surgery forced him to miss almost all of last year.

But the 22-year-old has worked his way back to form and fitness and has an allround game with the potential to derail Nadal's bid for an 11th Grand Slam title.

"I think he has a good serve and very good shots from the baseline, I think he's a complete player," Nadal, who is chasing a third Wimbledon crown, told reporters after easing past Luxembourg's Gilles Muller on Saturday.

"It is always is a big challenge to play against him. He's a very tough opponent and one of the best players of the world.

"His ranking is much better than what the ranking says today. His level is much better than what the ranking says today.

•Nadal

SERENA Williams would not bet against herself winning the Wimbledon title for the third time in a row, and she would not bet against another allWilliams final either.

Serena and Venus both came into the Championships extremely short of matches after injury and illness, with Serena having been out of action for almost a year, and the first two rounds were tricky for both.

Venus was taken all the way to 8-6 in the third before seeing off 40-year-old Kimiko DateKrumm in the second round while Serena dropped sets to both Aravane Rezai and Simona Halep.

The third round showed both in ominous form, though, with Venus thrashing Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 6-0 6-2 and Serena making light work

of a potentially dangerous opponent in Maria Kirilenko to win 6-3 6-2.

The seventh seed is the one all the other players will be most wary of, but she thinks Venus deserves to be considered a real title contender once again.

•Serena

ANDY Murray is not looking too far ahead at Wimbledon and is expecting a 'very tough' fourth round match on Monday.

The world number four has been in good form, making it to the second week at SW19 and the last 16, but is not even thinking about becoming the first British man to win the event for 75 years even though there is massive expectation.

Murray was given a workout

by Ivan Ljubicic on Friday night, eventually winning 6-4 4-6 6-1 7-6, but he is preparing for a tougher test against Richard Gasquet on Monday.

The 24-year-old, who will be involved in the first match on Centre Court, has twice been forced to come from two sets down in Grand Slams to beat the Frenchman, including at the All England Club in 2008, and he is expecting another rough

ride.

Murray told BBC Five Live's Sportsweek programme: "It gets harder with every single round. I have a very tough match against Gasquet, a guy who I have had a couple of close matches against in the past so I expect a really tough one.

•Murray

Dolphins’ players win coach’s N250,000 largesse

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THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

43

A global approach to book keeping

• Prototype of the IFRS Academy

Will International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) billed to take off next year curb fraud and related malpractices in companies? This is the big question as Nigeria gets set for IFRS’ implementation, with the building of an Academy to train auditors and financial managers.

AKINOLA AJIBADE reports.

• STORY ON PAGE 44

44

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

JOBS

A global approach to book keeping A

UDITORS, accountants and others in the financial realm are bracing for a major development in their area of specialisation. From next year, the International Financial Reporting Standards(IFRS) will be adopted in the preparation of audit and other book keeping reports.

The world is gripped by the IFRS frenzy. Banks, insurance firms, blue chip companies and public institutions have also mandated their financial managers to be ready for the coming of IFRS. Meaning that financial statements must be prepared in line with IFRS’ dictate.

Is the world ready for IFRS? It seems it is. In Nigeria, the ground is being prepared for its coming with the building of a N2 billion IFRS Academy in Lagos.

The Academy is an initiative of the National Accounting Standards Board(NSAB), a body set up to provide accounting standards for the almost 200 companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

The institution will train auditors and other financial regulators on the implementation of IFRS. Also, it will help in transferring knowledge to other African countries that want to implement IFRS. IFRS is a globally acceptable means of preparing financial statements.

In the past, auditors among other professionals that prepare financial statements for companies have been facing a serious challenge.

Cases abound of many auditors struggling to perform their jobs.

Issues such as lack of coordination, dearth of skills, and financial errors have been their burdens.

These factors negatively impacted on their performance.

Similarly, many firms suffered financial discrepancies. They lost huge funds to frauds, resulting in the shutting down of the operations of some firms. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accused many companies of committing infractions. The Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) indicted banks that violated corporate governance laws. A case in point was the sacking of the managing directors of some banks.

It is not different in developed countries. Many big corporations

are still battling to reedem their image in Europe, and the United States. An example is Enron International Company. The US energy giant lost billions of dollars to fraud few years ago.

It was liquidated, following failed attempts to revive it. Also, there are cases where listed companies have experienced infractions abroad. The issue have affected businesses across the world, and also resulted in the loss of confidence in financial operators.

Speaking at the launch of IFRS Academy in Lagos, CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi said the academy would help in upgrading the skills of auditors. Sanusi said the academy would provide auditors with more knowledge, adding that it will faciliate the process of migrating to international financial reporting standards.

He said the academy would develop and nurture expertise needed for the adoption of IFRS. He said auditors’ roles are sensitive and crucial, adding that the academy will help them in producing flawless financial statements for their employers.

According to him, the IFRS Academy would help in training and developing people in the area of implementing accounting standards.

“IFRS Academy is a welcome development, and deserves the support of all stakeholders in the nation’s economy”. He said the academy would facilitate the implementation of IFRS. “I wish to say that the Central Bank of Nigeria has taken corporate measures to ensure that banks move expeditiously towards meeting 2012 deadline for the convergence with

• Sanusi

IFRS. We insist that banks must comply with accounting principles, standards and framework as enumerated in IFRS codes,” he said.

He said the need to build capacity for the implementation of IFRS cannot be over-emphasised, in view of its importance to the operators in the financial market. He said migrating to IFRS would not be difficult, if efficient workforce is in place.

Also, the Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms Arunma Oteh, said preparers of accounting statements must be well informed, dedicated and competent before they can achieve success.

Ms Oteh, represented at the event by the Acting Head of SEC’s Lagos office, Mrs. Uche Molokwu, said the academy would help in training auditors and accountants in the art of preparing flawless financial statements for their employers.

She said the commission has been building structures that would allow Nigerians understand the importance of IFRS, and what the country stands to gain after adopting it.

Oteh said the quoted companies have been advised to prepare their

• NSE, DG, Onyeama

financial statements, in line with the provisions of IFRS. The Director-General, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr Fola Daniel, is mobilising the support of the operators on the issue of adopting IFRS. Daniel said capacity building is crucial to the adopting of the universally acceptable methods of preparing financial statements.

He said the agency has organised workshops and seminars to sensitise the operators on the issue, adding that efforts are underway to ensure that operators meet the January 2012 deadline set for the implementation of IFRS in the country.

He said creating awareness is vital to the implementation of IFRS. Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Accounting Standards Board, Mr Jim Osayande Obazee, said auditors must acquaint themselves with the modern trend of preparing financial statements. Obazee said the academy would bridge the skills-gap inherent in the financial services industry, adding high level of competence is required before IFRS can

‘With the academy in place, more facilities would be made available to people that are preparing financial statements. Now, those who prepare financial statements have facilities to fall back upon when they are doing their jobs’

be successfully implemented.

He said: “With the academy in place, more facilities would be made available to people that are preparing financial statements.

Now, preparers of financial statements have facilities to fall back upon when they are doing their jobs”.

Obazee said various courses have been lined up for accounting professionals, adding that there are various modules to choose from.

He said the duration of the course ranged from two weeks to twelve weeks, stressing that there is a professional IFRS certification for the participants.

Obazee said experts from various financial sectors would be invited as resource persons, adding that the benefits that would be derived from the academy are numerous.

He added that IFRS academy would be a model for Africa, adding that it would go a long way in assisting many countries that want to adopt IFRS. Obazee urged Nigerians to see the academy as a step forward in the quest for international financial reporting standards.

The academy is a training centre for individuals and countries for international financial reporting standards. Also, it will harness potentials for the growth of the financial market, and the economy in particular.

But the questions are: Will the auditors, among other experts make the best use of the academy? Will the nation’s financial market operators avail themselves of the opportunities inherent in the acdemy, and grow the economy?

CAREER MANAGEMENT • Continued from last week

Know yourself YOU will make the interview process easier for the employer if you volunteer relevant information about yourself. Think about how you want to present your strengths, experiences, education, work style, skills, and goals. Be prepared to supplement all your answers with examples that support the statements you make.

It is also a good idea to review your résumé with a critical eye and identify areas that an employer might see as limitations or want further information. Think about how you can answer difficult questions accurately and positively, while keeping each answer brief.

Be honest An interview gives the employer

Making a success of job interview

By Olu Oyeniran

a chance to get to know you. While you do want to market yourself to the employer, answer each question with an honest response.

Be positive Never say anything negative about past experiences, employers, or courses and professors. Always think of something positive about an experience and talk about that. You should also be enthusiastic. If you are genuinely interested in the job, let the interviewer know that.

Show your interest One of the best ways to show you are interested in a job is to demon-

strate that you have researched the organisation prior to the interview.

You can also show interest by asking questions about the job, the organisation, and its services and products. The best way to impress an employer is to ask questions that build upon your interview discussion. This shows you are interested and paying close attention to the interviewer.

It is a good idea to prepare a few questions in advance, but an insightful comment based on your conversation can make an even stronger statement. At the end of an interview, it is appropriate for you to ask when you may expect to hear from the employer.

Save discussion of salary

for later Find out as much as you can before the interview about the salary levels for the position you are seeking. Do not bring up the issue of salary during the first interview. If the interviewer asks about your salary expectations, give only a general answer, such as that your expectations seem to be within, or close to their range.

After-interview notes After the interview, take time to write down the names and titles (check spelling) of all your interviewers, your impressions, remaining questions, and any information that may influence your decision to accept a position with

the organisation. If you are interviewing regularly, this will help you keep employers and circumstances clearly differentiated.

Always follow up You should write a thank you note within 48 hours after an interview, even if the interview (or the interviewer) was not productive and/or you are not interested in the position. It is important to say thank you for the time the interviewer spent with you. This letter should be brief. (Refer to the section on writing thank you letters.)

Olu Oyeniran is the Lead Consultant, EkiniConsult & Assoiciates.

Website: www.jobsearchhow.com E-mail: oluoyeniran@yahoo.com Tel 08083843230 (SMS Only).

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

45

THE CEO

Food security has become a global issue, so also are attempts to address it. In this interview, Dr. Utiang Ugbe, Country Director, Research Into Use (RIU), Nigeria, sponsored by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), speaks on food crisis and the way forward.

DANIEL ESSIET writes.

Excerpts: • Ugbe

‘Nigeria can withstand food crises’ W

HAT is the experience of donors and other development assistance partners in acquiring data on agriculture in West Africa?

In best practice, you conduct a country assessment of your target sector before making decisions on the fundamentals of your intervention.

These initial steps involve data gathering, analysis and reporting. Record-keeping, tracking and retrieval systems in West Africa countries are not as efficient as desired.

This is why some donors actually focus on capacity development in management information systems (MIS) or the development and management of organisational databases in public sector agencies.

As a development practitioner, you expect challenges if you’re conducting a sectorstudy or a country assessment, but professionals would find practical and effective ways of approximating reality in designing what to do.

Some achievements have been recorded in crop and animal production. Which of these would you consider most significant?

Agricultural knowledge necessarily involves and includes science and technology.

Nigeria has about 18 national agricultural

research institutes (NARIs).

In terms of the number and diversity of crop and animal science mandates and agroecological zones, Nigeria has, perhaps, the most robust and expansive national agricultural research system (NARS) in sub-Saharan Africa.

The question of which crop or animal subsector is most important, in my view, is subjective. For a country with a massive and diverse population like Nigeria, it makes sense to see all crop and livestock sub-sectors as equally important.

For example, some millions of Nigerians eat pork and pork-derived foods, so you may say that piggery is an important agricultural value chain or sub-sector. But just as many other Nigerians don’t eat pork or pork-derived products.

There is a higher demand for cassava-derived foods in some parts of country than in others. The important thing is that NARS is robust and inclusive. Diversity of food types and sources can serve as insurance against shocks such as crop failure in some years.

A recent report points out that Kenya is experiencing a stronger food security shock because of its over-reliance on rice, an internationally-traded commodity which is cur-

rently impacted by the soaring global food prices.

Nigeria would be less vulnerable to such a shock because many people in rural communities have alternatives in foods derived from cassava, yam, cocoyam, beans, native rice and many other locally-produced ethnic foods.

I’m not downplaying the serious need for a national food emergency response plan, and I believe that’s part of the mandate of the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA).

Development donors or programmes make unjust demands on rural farmers in developing countries. What are the appropriate steps to maximising the benefits of aid to that segment?

To me, it is inconceivable that a donor or aid programme would set out to cause an increase in the hardship of rural farmers in Africa. Perhaps you’re alluding to the debate on the moral or economic merits of promoting export-driven cash crop production.

It should be the responsibility of nation states to set their agricultural priorities, and identify the sectors and scale where development assistance is needed.

If you’re a nation state and you don’t do your part in setting your agricultural pri-

orities and pursuing the appropriate development options for your citizens and managing the inflow of aid, you should hold nobody accountable for that. Sometimes, it looks like development aid is in a game in which, head or tail, you lose. You’re guilty if you don’t respond, and guilty if anything goes wrong where you respond.

Do you think increase in aid will help the agricultural sector improve its ability to produce better crops and livestock to meet national food security needs and international competition?

Well, my view is that the responsibility for attaining national food security and internationally competitive agricultural economy is that of the Federal Government.

In 2003, African leaders met in Maputo, Mozambique and signed a binding commitment that each nation state shall allocate at least 10 per cent of its annual national budget to agriculture.

But data showed that Nigeria has since continued to allocate less than two per cent yearly, except in 2008 and 2009 when the allocations hit over four per cent and over five per cent respectively.

• Continued on page 46

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

46

THE CEO • Continued from page 45

The 2010 allocation is under four per cent.

Even some relatively less endowed African countries, including Burkina Faso, have already met the 10 per cent target.

I want to see an overarching, time-framed national policy on agriculture for Nigeria, instead of just programmes upon programmes, which might be good in themselves. But you need a single coherent national policy from which programmes emanate.

One of the challenges of African farmers is insufficient water supply. Have you, through your programmes, been able to show the way, with small-scale irrigation?

The level of agricultural innovation and development in a country, is a product of macroeconomic infrastructure, research, science and technology, and human capital.

Of course, water availability is part of these.

We know how scarce good drinking water is in Nigeria. In the context of smallholder farming, where the average farm size is 0.5 hectares, what you’re referring to as smallscale irrigation systems might be uneconomical to the farmer. What might be appropriate for such as context is an irrigation system that has water retail capability to many adjoining farm plots.

The Rimi administration achieved a major break-through in this type of system in Kano State during the 80s, but it is not clear what happens after that government left office.

DFID-RIU programme in Nigeria has not been involved in agricultural irrigation, but we work with farmers, some of who have developed creative collective action strategies to irrigate their farms. Again, these are self-help, market-based micro-entrepreneurial arrangements, but they indicate the willingness and ability of smallholder farmers to pay for irrigation services.

Which do you consider easier: to implement research findings in large-scale crop production or in smaller, diversified farms?

How should the traditional methods of putting research findings into operations be changed?

Putting agricultural research into use in market-led context simply involves having a research system that is demand driven.

Doing blue sky research that is not put into use in the agricultural system is an outdated practice. Demand-driven agricultural research represents a paradigm shift because it recognises and respects the ideas and preferences of the would-be research consumer, irrespective of whether the farmer’s scale of operation is large or small. The main difference between the old system, which some refer to as the pipe-line approach, and the new approach that you’ve alluding to, is this: the linear approach places the researcher at one end of the pipeline and the farmer at the other end, with an extension agent in the middle.

The new approach involves multi-stakeholder networks or innovation platforms which require a change in the traditional extension services. Innovation platforms are like business clubs or chambers of commerce, with free entry and free exit, for economic actors in a given crop or commodity value chain. Each actor is in the platform for their own economic interest, but in pursuing that interest, it is necessary to invest time and some resources in addressing the issues that impede the development of the value chain, knowing that if the whole gets better, the respective units will be the better for it.

Until recently, many research institutes, managing various aspects of agriculture, often carry out their assignments in isolation of each other. How has your organisation developed a more integrated way of managing these researches?

The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), which was established by law and came into being in 2007, is the federal agency mandated to regulate, supervise and coordinate agricultural research in Nigeria.

ARCN is the national host agency for the DFID-RIU in Nigeria, and provides the office space for the country programme. To me, they’re doing a fantastic job in repositioning agricultural research in the country, but you must go and talk to the head of that agency yourself, as I’m not competent to address any question about their mandate.

The RIU programme was conceived and funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFIDUK) as an off-shoot to 10-year DFID-funded Renewable Natural Resources Research Strategy (RNRRS) of which many developing countries were beneficiaries.

Nigeria did not fully benefit from the RNRRS investment because the country was under sanctions for part of the 10 years. But

‘Nigeria can withstand food crises’

• Ugbe

‘Innovation platforms are like business clubs or chambers of commerce, with free entry and free exit, for economic actors in a given crop or commodity value chain. Each actor is in the platform for their own economic interest, but in pursuing that interest, it is necessary to invest time and some resources in addressing the issues that impede the development of the value chain’

• Ugbe the basic idea of the RIU programme was to enable each country to put the RNRRS outputs into use, hence the name Research Into Use. Fortunately, Nigeria has many agricultural research institutes and a major international agricultural research institute which have been generating research outputs on

cassava, cowpea, soybean, maize, yam, aquaculture etc, and there is a big need for these to be put into use on a large scale across the country. The objective of putting agricultural research into use is to improve rural livelihoods and local economic development. Perhaps I should say poverty allevia-

tion, since that is the mantra in Nigeria.

You could say that some national agricultural research institutes, such as the National Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) and the Nigerian Institute of Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFR) have interacted more frequently under the RIU-Nigeria programme that they did before. And they’re working together to ensure that Nigeria becomes self-reliant in the production of affordable and high-quality fish feed using locally developed materials in fish meal production.

How has your programme enhanced national food production and the prosperity of the population?

RIU-Nigeria programme works in cassava, cowpea, soybean and aquaculture subsectors. In each of these, the programme works to increase farm productivity, improve post-harvest storage and value addition, and bring about supportive policies and institutions for these subsectors in particular, and for agriculture in general. For each of these subsectors, RIU programme orchestrated the emergence of what we call an innovation platform, which I described earlier as a sort of business club of free entry and free exit, a multi-stakeholder network of self-interested entities. Typically, the platform members are corporate parties such as farmers/agro-marketers associations, cooperative societies, agro-allied companies, and research institutions, ADPs, and banks.

You emphasised the importance of communications between scientists and stakeholders in food production. How do you envision that should be carried out?

The innovation platforms are essentially business clubs where market information in shared, and sometimes the members can invite a resource organisation to provide specific information. For example, when the N200 billion PPP fund was announced in 2009/2010, the platform members invited one the participating banks to come and enlighten the members on the modalities of the fund and how interested parties can access the fund. The bank was very happy to provide this service free of charge because it saw a potential target market in the vast network of stakeholders represented at the platform. This is one of the ways by which to improve communication and build trust among stakeholders in the agriculture sector.

What are your findings on the use of genetically modified crops in Nigeria?

Please, don’t get me into a controversy.

There are strong views on both sides of the debate on GM crops. It seems to me that genetic selection and modification in crop and animal production has always been there, and has produced innumerable benefits to humanity. We hear of drought-resistant varieties, early-maturing varieties, disease-resistant varieties, all of which came through some type of genetic research. However, there is a need to proceed gradually and act responsibly, with understanding based on good science, at a pace that human health and the environment can adjust to the changes. These are my personal views. To answer your question specifically, DFID-RIU does not conduct research on GM crops. If farmers or a country demands for specific GM crops, and a supplier is available to meet the demand. I think that’s ok.

Would you say you have created micro and small enterprises through your activities?

Farmers, post-harvest marketers and processors, and technology fabricators in all the sectors that RIU-Nigeria works are characteristically micro and small-scale entrepreneurs, so the one-work answer to your question is yes. A lot of microenterprises have been spurned by the programme across the country. In Kaduna and Kano states, you now have young boys who can help rural farmers to bale their cowpea or soybean or groundnut fodder for a fee. The fodder is then transported to livestock farmers who buy these for their animals.

What are your plans for Nigeria in the next three years?

The RIU-Nigeria programme has been implemented for nearly three years now, but the current phase will end this month. I cannot talk about post-June now until the RIU programme head-office in the UK has officially communicated the post-June plans to the ARCN. Only then would I know what to say in response to your question. But, in my view, the foundation has been completed for the innovation platforms to grow and sustain themselves. One can imagine some sort of private sector development (PSD) activity in one of the four subsectors that we have been working in. And that would be great!

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

47

CAPITAL MARKET Market Capitalisation (%) (0.82)

Year To Date (YTD)

3.07

3.02

3.56

Month To Date (MTD)

0.38

0.36

0.83

Week To Date(WTD) Values

(0.99) All-Share Index

(0.90) braIndex®

(1.03)

8.05

25,185.27

16.36

Market Cap(trillion Naira)

As of closing on June 23, 2011

All-Share Index(%) (0.80)

Average Average (1.09)

Source: NSE & bra Limited Table 2: Stock Market Summary Statistics for the week ending June 23, 2011 Period Market Capitalization (Trillion) 16/06/2011 8.13 17/06/2011 8.09 20/06/2011 8.03 21/06/2011 7.95 22/06/2011 8.01 23/06/2011 8.05 Source: NSE & Bra Limited

All-Share Index (Base Points) 25,428.35 25,309.17 25,119.41 25,889.74 25,062.69 25,185.27

braIndex® (Base Points) 16.53 16.45 16.34 16.01 16.33 16.36

Table 3: Statistics on Weekly Sectoral Contribution Sectors Banking Conglomerates Building Materials Mortgage Insurance Source: bra Limited

% of Total Trading Net Worth 25.19% 2.83% 1.06% 0.16% 0.70%

Trading Net Worth(in Naira Millions ) 2,587.14 294.43 4,749.84 17.60 72.70

Figure 1a: The All Share Index and braIndex® Performance at a Glance Stock Market Indi cators

29000

22

28000

20

27000 18

26000 25000

16

24000

14

23000 All Share Index

braIndex

12

22000 21000

20/6/2011

27/5/2011

6/5/2011

11/4/2011

21/3/2011

28/2/2011

4/2/2011

06/01/2011

13/12/2010

22/11/2010

28/10/2010

07/10/2010

15/09/2010

23/08/2010

02/08/2010

12/07/2010

10

Source: BRA Computation Market Capitalization 9500000000000 9000000000000 8500000000000 8000000000000 7500000000000 7000000000000 6500000000000 6000000000000 5500000000000 5000000000000

21/6/2011

26/5/2011

3/5/2011

4/4/2011

10/3/2011

14/2/2011

18/01/2011

15/12/2010

22/11/2010

26/10/2010

30/09/2010

03/09/2010

11/08/2010

19/07/2010

25/06/2010

02/06/2010

10/05/2010

13/04/2010

17/03/2010

19/02/2010

27/01/2010

04/01/2010

4500000000000

Source: BRA Computation

Liquidity and Net Value of Asset of Selected Companies in the Industry 700,000,000

Insurance 0.9%

of Nigeria Plc, followed by the Diamond Bank Plc. The company closed the week at N0.66 billion in 1,884 deals.

Among the most active companies in the Building Materials sub-sector were Ashaka Plc, WAPCO Plc, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc, and Nigerian Wire Plc. In the Insurance industry, apart from NEM Insurance Co. (Nig) Plc, Guinea Insurance Plc and Continental ReInsurance Plc which claimed the very active companies in the sector in terms of trading. Aiico Insurance Plc and Standard Alliance Insurance Plc also contributed immensely to the total trading volume of the sector last week. The overall

sector worth stood at N72.70 million.

The Conglomerates industry was also active in terms of the market value. Transnational Corporation Plc, PZ Cussons Plc, UAC of Nigeria Plc, Unilever Nigeria Plc, and A.G. Leventis Plc were some of the most active stocks in the sub-sector.

Last week, shareholders of Dangote Flour Plc, ETI Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Plc and Ashaka Cement Plc saw the value of their investments earning profit by almost one percent while investors in Guinness Nigeria Plc, Oando Plc, Morison Plc and BOC Gas Plc made less than five per cent loss daily.

400,000,000 300,000,000 200,000,000 100,000,000

Points to note: The weekly stock market analysis reports the current position of the outlook of the stock of the companies listed on the Exchange and the aggregate market. The NSE closed the 25th trading week on a bearish note.

The movement supports our statement last week as we suggested strides towards a bearish stand. The expected improvement may, however, be small in the coming week.

Historical analysis of trading volume shows that in the new week, the Banking, Insurance and Conglomerates stocks are likely to continue to be the toast of investors.

UNITY BANK

0

INTERCOTINENTAL BANK

Conglomerates 3.7%

Networth

500,000,000

DIAMOND BANK

Banking 25.2% Building Materials 59.9%

Volume

600,000,000

Food, Beverages and Tobacco 7.8%

FIRST BANK

Mortgage 2.5%

GTBANK

Networth Distribution of major Sectors Driving the Capital Market

Liquidity & Net Value of Asset

Stock Market Sectoral Performance Investors in the shares of First Bank of Nigeria Plc exchanged 54.26 million units in 1884 deals worth N 0.66 billion.

The average number of deals remained well over 376 deals per day during the week.

Diamond Bank Plc was second with 50.02 million shares worth N0.26 billion.

In the Building Materials sub-sector, Ashaka Plc led with 189.77 million shares worth N4.55 billion. The sectoral volume amounted to almost 194.67 million units and constituted over 119.89 per cent of the sector’s trading volume.

Companies Appraisal The most active company in the Banking sub-sector was First Bank

Change(%) Average Weekly Depth

22/06/2010

O

VERALL activities at the exchange last week decreased by 0.99 per cent. This is a signal of the continuous bearish note experienced a fortnight ago.

The worth of activities last week stood at N 10.24 billion with the volume of transaction of 0.97 billion shares as against the trading activities of 1.34 billion shares worth N 6.83 billion a fortnight ago.

The total amount invested last week on shares increased by 49.92 per cent compare to our observation in the penultimate week.

To support this, the market capitalisation dropped to N8.05 trillion last week from N 8.13 trillion a fortnight ago.

The All Share Index also declined to 25,185.27 from 25,428.35, representing a 0.99 per cent decrease on weekly assessment. Apparently, the braIndex® also fell by 1.03 per cent.

Banking stocks led the pack at the Exchange last week with 0.42 billion units’worth N2.58 billion in 9,526 deals. Investors in the industry had exchanged 0.48 billion units valued at N3.57 billion in 10,586 deals a fortnight ago.

The banking sector, controlled 43.29 per cent of the total activities at the Exchange last week, suffered a drop in value compared with 35.82 percent the penultimate week, the value of money spent on banking stocks in per cent stood at 25.19 per cent.

Surprisingly, the Building Materials sector make the list of the first five sectors at the Exchange while the Insurance sector occupied the second runner up with 110.15 million units worth N 72.70 million in 956 deals.

On average evaluation, the Insurance sub-sector accounted for approximately 11.34 per cent of the total activity and 0.68 per cent of the total funds invested at the Exchange during the week under review.

Shares of First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Diamond Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc were the toast of investors as they were actively traded in terms of volume and total investment.

In terms of transactional volume, the Conglomerates sub-sector’s performance represented an improvement of about 0.83 per cent last week. The total weekly value of stocks in this sub-sector stood at N 294.43 million.

All the three market indicators fell last week showing that overall activities in terms of volume and fund invested may decrease noticeably. The returns of both benchmarks were less than two index point and attributable to the recent policy shift within the Exchange corridor.

On a year-to-date basis, both benchmarks - the NSE All-Share Index and the braIndex® - showed gains of 1.09 per cent and 1.15 per cent.

Table 1: A 5-Day Moving Average Data of the Market Indices

01/06/2010

Activities deepen by 0.99%

Banking Sub-Sector

Disclaimer This report has been prepared for information purposes only and for private use. Whilst reasonable care had been taken in its production, bra Limited does not guarantee the correctness of its contents nor does the company accept liability for any loss arising from a reliance on its contents. Kindly note that our suggested recommendations and other tactical actions are based on bra Limited best estimates which are guided by generally available information and our Proprietary Tools. This is not an invitation or a solicitation to deal in any stocks and we do not guarantee the future outcome of such recommendation.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

48

CAPITAL MARKET

O

N weekly comparison, investors spent less on bond in the bond market, as capitalisation decreased by 0.56 per cent.

The volume of market transaction fell showing a drop in response as against the market performance a fortnight ago.

Albeit, the stock market on the other hand ended activities on bearish stand last week, to replicate what was observed a fortnight ago.

Market capitalisation closed with N 1.76 trillion to end last week transaction as against N 1.77 trillion observed in the penultimate week.

The index direction shows that the market performance and bond prices show complete turnaround from the previous weeks’ impressions.The negative signal is observed last week looking at the overall market review.

In relative terms, the market depreciated as the prices of most long term instruments dropped trivially. For instance, the FGN bond Index began the week at 1,462.80 and closed at 1,458.09 points, falling by 471 basis points as against a rise of 1,052 basis points a fortnight ago. It ended the week at 1,458.09 points.

Average index stayed at 1,456.69 points, compared with 1,453.66 points the previous week. There was, therefore, a trivial increase on the average evaluation by 303 basis points.

The 30-day, 60-day and 90-day indices dropped by nine bps, 24 bps and 28 bps to 11.21 per cent, 12.01 per cent and 12.33 per cent.

Among the 15 traded bonds, 12 had their prices increasing in the weekly movement while two remained unchanged.

Other categories witnessed stumbled prices.

The top price gainer was the 20year bond, 12.49 per cent FGN Nov 2028, which appreciated by 90 basis points to close at 113.00. However, the three-year bond, 10.50 per cent FGN May 2012 which slightly dropped by 61 basis points to end the week at 97.16.

Figure 1 illustrates the six-month change in the bra FGN bond Index.

The bra FGN bond index is a market value weighted index and is designed to measure the performance of the Nigerian investment-grade fixed income market.

Although the index remained flat during most of January and February as seen, it recorded a sharp drop in March as investor outlook turned negative in the bond market in anticipation of elections.

The FGN index fell 108 points in March losing roughly seven per cent of its value. We observe the stabilisation of the declining trend in April and a gradual recovery in May. The index increased by 1.1 per cent in May recovering some of its losses since mid March.

Last week, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sold foreign exchange worth $400 million to authorised dealers at the Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) window as against $400 million a fortnight ago. The dealers had demanded $467.68 million before the auction while the actual amount offered stood at $400 million.

Investors in treasury bills also parted with N120.33 billion on three financial instruments maturing between three and 12 months. The bonds comprised the N29.6 billion (91-day), N40.6 billion (182-day) and N50.0 billion (364-day) tenors at the stop rates of 8.62 per cent, 9.39 per cent and 10.99 per cent.

The public subscriptions were N58.017 billion, N74.017 billion and N178.773 billion for the 91-day, 182day and 364-day coupons.

The over-the-counter bond market notched up by 2.59 per cent last week, yielding N160.43 billion with a turnover of 197.8 million units in 1,301 deals. The amount compared

Capitalisation hitches by 0.56% Table 4: Key Statistics of Market’s Stock Performance as of June 23, 2011 S/N

Company Name

Share Price Gain (‘N)

% of Shares’ Gain by Investors

TOP FIVE GAINERS BY PRICE 01

Dangote Flour Plc

16.38

0.78%

02

ETI Plc

14.50

0.50%

03

First Bank of Nigeria Plc

12.99

0.43%

04

Ashaka Cement Plc

24.00

0.40%

05

NAHCO Plc

7.67

0.36%

TOP FIVE LOSERS BY PRICE 01

Guinness Nigeria Plc

240.00

-5.00%

02

Oando Plc

48.95

-1.05%

03

Morison Plc

9.52

-0.50%

04

BOC Gas Plc

7.45

-0.39%

05

CCNN Plc

9.45

-0.30%

Source: NSE and bra Limited Indicator Turnover Value Deals FGN Bond Index Market Capitalisation Index Weekly Returns (%) Index Year-to-Date Returns (%) 1-Month Returns (%) 3-Month Returns (%) 12-Month Returns (%)

CurrentWeek 197.8 million N160.43 billion 1,301 1,458.09 N1.76 trillion 1.75 5.21 0.66 5.28 18.49

PreviousWeek 192.8 million N157.84 billion 1,296 1,462.80 N1.77 trillion 1.77 5.20 0.64 5.24 18.40

% Change 2.59 1.64 (0.32) 0.85 (1.12) 0.19 3.12 0.76 0.48

Source: BRA Figure 1: FGN Bond Index FGN Bond Index 1560

1540

1520

1500

1480

1460

1440

1420

1400

15/10/2010 21/10/2010 1/11/2010 5/11/2010 11/11/2010 19/11/2010 25/11/2010 1/12/2010 7/12/2010 16/12/2010 22/12/2010 4/1/2011 10/01/211 14/01/2011 20/01/2011 26/01/2011 1/2/2011 7/2/2011 11/2/2011 17/02/2011 23/02/2011 1/3/2011 7/3/2011 11/3/2011 17/03/2011 23/03/2011 29/03/2011 4/4/2011 8/4/2011 14/4/2011 20/4/2011 29/4/2011 6/5/2011 12/5/2011 18/5/2011 24/5/2011 31/5/2011 6/6/2011 10/6/2011 16/6/2011 22/6/2011

Bond and Money Market Review

Index_Value

Source: FMDA Primary Market Auction

Figure 2: Nigerian T-bill Primary Market Auctions

Source: Financial Markets Dealers Association

favourably with the N157.84 billion invested on 192.8 million units in 1,296 deals a fortnight ago.

The activity was boosted by the 20-year bond, due in July 2030 with 10.0 per cent coupon rate.

It traded 41.95 million units valued at N31.30 billion in 316 deals. This was followed by the three-year bond, 5.5 per cent FGN Feb 2013 which traded 33.55 million units valued at N30.04 billion in 281 deals.

Sixteen of the available 34 FGN bonds were traded during the week, compared with 12 the previous week.

In May there was no issuance of new NTBs in the primary market yet there were two issues of OMO bills in the fourth week of the month with subscription rates well above the amount offered. The true yield on the four-month NTB was 9.37 per cent and on the six-month one was 9.84 per cent.

In the mean time, the Federal Government issued two FGN bonds in May both with N35 billion face values.

The yield on these three and five year maturity new issues were 11.04 per cent and 12.05 per cent. These rates suggest an increase in investor

demand for the FGN debt since in April the three-year FGN bonds yielded slightly higher at 12.14 per cent and the five-year ones had a yield of 13.19 per cent.

Figure 23 shows the volume of the NTB and FGN Auctions in the Primary Market.

We observe an increase in the the short-end of the Nigerian Interbank Treasury Bills True Fixing Yield (NITTY) curve in May compared to April and the beginning of the year.

The yield on the 30-day T-bill increased to 6.83 per cent up more than 100 bp compared to 5.25 per cent in April but relatively less than the

record yield of 8.03 per cent in March.

The yield on the one-year T-bill stood at 10.52 per cent down from 11.74 per cent a month earlier. This is substantially higher than the yields seen at the end of February when the one-year NITT Yield stood at 8.98 per cent. Figure 3 shows the NITT Yield curves for the last three months.

The increase in the short-end of the yield curve as well as the drop in the long-end suggests investors’ appetite for holding short-term debt has moderated while six-month and oneyear bills have become more attractive.

We believe this is a sign of improving political risk conditions in Nigeria.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

49

LABOUR

Minimum wage: Labour threatens U governors over fuel subsidy

SSANU protests registrar’s harassment NIVERSITY workers under the aegis of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) are angry over alleged maltreatment of one of its members.

The workers, according to their union President, Comrade Promise Adewusi, are particularly miffed because the Deputy Registrar of ATBU, Amdee Iheme, and his wife were beaten by soldiers in Bauchi.

The SSANU President condemned the brutality, saying the Army must be reminded: “Nigeria in 2011 is no longer under jackboot rule.”

He said SSANU will not accept a situation where this case is buried under the usual “It is under investigation.”

Adewusi called on the Army authorities to bring the perpetrators of the “savagery” to justice, and be made to imbibe the tenets of civility. Failure to do this, Adewusi said will incur SSANU’s wrath.

He said the union will be forced to protest the injustice if the Army authorities ignore its call for justice.

“It is such unchecked brutality and injustice that is festering the ambers of insecurity in our country. Therefore, justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done to discourage pushing Nigeria back to the dark days of state of nature where might is right and life becomes brutish and short.

“In this instant case, the government proves it has the capacity to protect the civil rights of Nigerians,” said Adewusi.

• Workers banner during a protest.

T

HE controversial implementation of the new National Minimum Wage is now taking a new dimension as the organised labour is up in arms against governors for allegedly making fuel subsidy removal a condition for implementing the new National Minimum Wage of N18,000.

The country’s two labour centres – Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have vowed to make the country ungovernable should government remove oil subsidy.

Reacting to the condition, President-General of the Trade Union

Stories by Dupe OlaoyeOsinkolu Congress, Comrade Peter Esele, said the governors are inviting chaos and anarchy. He said giving a condition or tying the implementation of the minimum wage to the removal of fuel subsidy shows that the governors do not respect the laws of the land.

“What they (governors) want to create is chaos and anarchy.When you pass a law, are you giving a condition for its implementation.

We have passed the stage of negotiation, if they had said that during the negotiation, it would have

been in order because we could negotiate. But now, the National Minimum Wage Act has to be respected.

“The National Minimum Wage is a law. They have to respect the law by implementing it, otherwise they would be seen as not respecting the law. We will do anything to ensure the implementation of the National Minimum Wage, even if it means making the country ungovernable.”

The NLC also reacted through its Deputy President, Comrade Promise Adewusi. He said fuel subsidy removal is not acceptable to the NLC. He said the National

minimum wage is a subject of collective bargaining, which stands on its own and not on any condition.

Adewusi added that the congress has nothing against the governors’ call for increase in revenue allocation formula.

He, however, described the call as laziness and lack of creativity to generate their own funds.

“We don’t begrudge them for asking for upward review of revenue allocation formula. It is an act of laziness and lack of creativity,” he added.

He said the fuel subsidy removal is a wrong suggestion which Labour will never agree to.

Firm invests N32b to create jobs in Cross River

A

N India firm, Wilmar International Ltd, is set to invest N32 billion in oil palm production in Cross River State.

The investment is to generate employment in the state.

The state also looks forward to a promised loan of $30 million from the Indian government for a power station.

Special Adviser to Cross River Governor Dr Gerald Adah made this known in Calabar, the state capital. He said the company had opened an office in the state and was recruiting workers for the venture.

According to him, the company has started clearing the land for the enterprise and has opened nego-

tiations with would-be host communities.

He said the state government would provide 50,000 hectares that would serve as the oil palm plantation.

Adah said the company would make an initial investment of $200 million.

He said: “So far, we have found close to 20,000 hectares. We have gone far in negotiating with the privatisation council for two out of the four oil palm estates.

“There is such possibility that we might pick two out of the four oil palm estates in Cross River.

“We are looking at developing that business beyond oil palm because they have the capacity to set

up a fertiliser plant, flour and rice production company.

Adah noted that the oil palm enterprise would generate revenue for the state government as well as help develop local communities.

“This means wealth will be created directly for the benefit of the communities. So, anybody who is in the oil palm business already has market because they will also establish mills,”he said.

He expressed optimism that the oil palm venture would generate employment for over 20,000 people in the state.

The special adviser further said that the “Government of India is giving Nigeria $100 million facilities under a bilateral agreement be-

tween India and Nigeria for a power station.

He said Cross River is one of the three states selected to benefit from this loan, adding that Kaduna State was getting $40 million, Enugu $30 million and Cross River - $30 million.

“We will pursue approval at the National Assembly vigorously.

The terms of the loan have been negotiated.

“We are awaiting the transmission of the terms of the offer by the Indian government to Nigeria. The loan will be activated after that.”

Adah said the power plant project, when completed, would give impetus to the economic development of Cross River.

Council recruits 500 youths for sanitation

T

HE Batagarawa Local Government in Katsina State has recruited 500 unemployed youths for its environmental sanitation.

The youths will be engaged in refuse collection and disposal as well as other activities relating to environmental protection.

The Acting Chairman of the

council, Alhaji Lawal Dalhatu, at the weekend said the recruitment was in line with the state government’s directive that the youths be engaged as casual labourers for environmental protection work on N5,000 monthly stipend.

He said the recruitment, which began two weeks ago, cut across all the wards and polling units

in the area.

Dalhatu said 35 per cent of the recruits were drawn from B a t a g a r a w a town, headquarters of the local government area, while 65 per cent were from the 143 polling units.

He said the government had allocated three new refuse collec-

tion vans to the council, which had also spent N600,000 on the purchase of working tools to be used by the youths for refuse disposal and drainage clearing.

He promised that the three water tankers provided by the government would be used in supplying water to villages faced with water scarcity.

Kwara appeals to college workers to embrace dialogue HE Kwara State Government has appealed to workers of the state-owned College of Education and College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies to embrace dialogue in the interest of peace and harmony.

The Head of Service, Alhaji Dabarako Mohammed, made the appeal in Ilorin the Kwara State capital while speaking on government’s efforts to ressolve the ongoing strike embarked upon by workers in the institutions.

He said: “Sometime in February this year, a letter was sent to my office by the Association of Board of Tertiary Institutions through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology on the implementation of CONTISS, CONTEDISS, COMPASS and so on.

“The association gave conditions, which government could not meet.

“However, when members of the association came to me on May 1, I asked them if they have also implemented the conditions set by government, but their answer was negative.

“Government did everything possible to stop the strike during a parley with their provosts in Ilorin when I was told that their staff had already embarked on an indefinite strike.’’

Mohammed said that the state government took immediate action to increase subventions due to the institutions “as a matter of urgency and I have got approval to increase their subvention, which I have passed on to them.”

The head of service, who disclosed that the present administration had increased the institution’s subventions by 50 per cent, added that it was the responsibility of various boards of the institutions to increase salaries.

“It is not my responsibility to increase their salaries. It is now left for their boards to do that.”

T

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

50

LABOUR UN expert hails pact on domestic workers

T

HE United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, Ms Gulnara Shahinian, has welcomed the adoption by International Labour Organisation (ILO) of a convention aimed at protecting domestic workers worldwide.

Shahinian said at the weekend in New York that majority of the domestic workers were women and girls.

Ms Shahinian, in a statement, said: “Paid domestic work, where the workers’ rights are respected and protected, provides a valuable contribution to society”.

She noted that, “the new convention recognises the rights of domestic workers and contributes significantly to combating domestic servitude”.

“As with many other forms of slavery, domestic servitude occurs in the shadows of many informal economies. This is the first time that the protection of rights is being extended to work that has been regarded as informal,” she stated.

She said the speedy ratification of the convention would restore dignity to the many men, women and children doing such work, and to the work they performed.

Ms Shahinian, who serves in an unpaid and independent capacity, reports to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) defines domestic servitude or slavery as a situation where a vulnerable individual is forced, by physical or moral coercion, to work without any real financial reward, is deprived of his or her liberty, and is in circumstances contrary to human dignity.

The OHCHR also said that children were particularly vulnerable to domestic servitude, especially if they lived with their employers or migrated on their own to find domestic work.

“The majority of these children are girls,” it added.

Will Nigeria ratify ILO convention on domestic workers?

Stories by Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

D

OMESTIC workers are among the most vulnerable in the world, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The 100th session of the ILO conference, on June 16, achieved the adoption of the Decent Work for Domestic Workers Convention No. 189, and its accompanying recommendation.

The convention listed out a set of basic protections for domestic workers under law, in countries that ratify.

Governments around the world must now be pressured to ratify and implement the provisions. Attention will be on the countries in the Gulf, where an underclass of migrant domestic workers exists. But also countries such as the United States have labour law protections which exclude domestic workers of the “informal economy”. This must now change.”

Some countries have already prepared to enact a law on welfare of domestic workers, even before the ILO adopts the Convention 189. Nigeria is, however, yet to join the league of such countries, as the former Labour Minister, Emeka Wogu, said he had no information on such policy. Now that the Convention 189 is now in existence, the question is, Will Nigeria ratify it?

ILO noted that domestic work is one of the main locations for slavery and child labour, as well until now very low levels of inspection and regulation, non-payment and low payment of wages, and violence, with the work often carried out by migrants, and women. This convention symbolically recognises domestic workers as regular workers, entitled to all the rights

enjoyed in other sectors. Domestic workers should be emboldened by this global recognition, into organising collectively across the sector.

On how Nigeria will implement such legislation should it come into existence, the employers body – the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) said Nigeria should not ratify such a convention.

The Director-General of NECA, Mr Olusegun Oshinowo, said Nigeria does not have the capacity to ensure compliance with such policy.

“We don’t have the capacity to ensure compliance with such policy. Also, it is not in tune with our socio-cultural and socioeconomic context. The reasonable thing for the Minister of Labour is not to ratify that kind of convention,” he said Solomon Onaghinon is the SecretaryGeneral of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN). He said making house helps work fixed hours and going on annual leave, if backed by legislation would prove very difficult to implement. However, he said such legislation will be a good one, but its implementation is just not realisable.

Bangladesh has, however, beat other countries to it as its government through the Ministry of Labour drafted the policy, paving the way for formalising domestic labour as a recognised job, with workers enjoying full benefits as enshrined in the country’s labour laws.

The policy, however, controversially allows 12-year-old girls and boys to work for the cabinet, a domestic worker must be appointed with a recruitment letter, his or

• President Goodluck Jonathan

her name should be registered with local council and be given a full-day weekly holiday.

Bangladesh Government worked ahead of the ILO’s adoption of the Convention 189, knowing that it would do so at the just concluded 100th annual meeting.

An official of the Ministry of Labour in the country said: “Apart from ensuring holiday and rest hours, the new policy would focus on training of domestic workers in various areas such as cooking, washing, cleaning, nursing of old people and taking care of babies.

Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS), a local labour rights group, welcomed the government initiative, saying the policy has become “a need of the hour” as there have been increasing human rights violations of domestic labours at home and abroad.

PENGASSAN to begin strike on Thursday

• Protesting workers

T

HE Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has directed its workers in the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) to begin a strike from Thursday over alleged victimisation of workers.

The management of PEF was earlier given a 14-day ultimatum, which expired yesterday. PENGASSAN said it will make good its threat if PEF management does not desist from victimising its members.

It warned PEF Management Board over the continuing victimisation of its Branch Chairman and other executive committee members.

In a letter to the PEF Executive Secretary

(ES) and signed by the association’s General Secretary, Comrade Bayo Olowoshile, PENGASSAN warned: “Management of PEF is given a 14-day ultimatum with effect from the date of our earlier letter of June 15, 2011 to respect the association’s structure, rules, and extant laws on trade unions and labour relations or get prepared to face the consequences of full scale national industrial action in the oil and gas industry.”

The union gave this weekend while reacting to PEF management’s continued invitation of union officials to appear before a panel to try union members over intra-union differences.

The association stated that the PEF management was acting beyond its powers by constituting a panel to intervene in an intra union matter.

The union expressed its displeasure that the PEF management was going ahead with its panel in defiance of its earlier letter to the ES, PEF that the panel should suspend its investigation as its work amounted to a disrespect of the association’s ongoing steps as provided in her constitution to deal with grievance issues and indeed a direct move to undermine the association and her independence.

The union noted that the moves by the ES was a clear indication that she had al-

ready made up her mind to victimise the Branch Chairman, Assistant Secretary and other members of the union as well as exacerbate the intra-union dispute in our PEF Branch because of the Branch’s earlier faceoff with the PEF management on stagnation, which forced the Management to promote over 70 per cent of its staff who had been on one grade for upwards of six years.

The association reiterated that the National Secretariat had already waded into the contrived intra union issues within the Branch Executive Council and members in PEF and the appropriate structure and organs of the association were already engaging all parties.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

51

PERSONAL FINANCE

Email: taofad2000@yahoo.co.uk

Investor’s Worth

Ajulu Uzodike and family of millionaires

D

R Ajulu Uzodike is one of the rare breeds whose successes reverberate in many more successes around his family and beyond.

Through dint of hard work, focus and entrepreneurial zeal, Dr. Uzodike, the Ozi Uzo Nnewi, founded and turned a small family and friendsowned company into the leading engineering technology company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Dr. Uzodike, an engineer and member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, had in 1982 invited his cousin, Engr. Odi Nwosu and founded what is now known as Cutix Plc. Dr. Uzodike had relied extensively on the goodwill and trust he enjoyed within his family and friendship circles and as such, the initial private issue of Cutix was entirely picked up by relatives and friends of the founders.

This initial trust and confidence in the vision of Dr. Uzodike ensured the necessary stability and encouraged the gradual progression needed for a start-up company. And Dr. Uzodike also kept faith with the investors.

Cutix, which manufactures and markets wires and cables, under the hands of Dr. Uzodike blossomed and by 1987, it was pre-qualified and listed on Second-tier Securities Market (SSM) of the NSE . For all its years on the SSM, Cutix was the most active and consistent stock on the SSM, a corporate attitude that also encouraged its related company, Adswitch Plc. With its track

record of performance and laudable changes in corporate governance, Cutix migrated to the main tier or first tier of the NSE. The first tier of NSE contains well-established companies that meet the pre-listing requirements while the SSM, now known as Emerging Markets, contains mostly low-cap companies that the market hopes its platform will engender the impetus for their growth.

Frank and unsparing in his criticism of the operating environment, Dr. Uzodike would however, rather improve his company’s competitive advantages than blame the operating environment for the failures.

This has seen Cutix sustaining its growth trend over the years in spite of the operating challenges.

Besides, Dr. Uzodike has demonstrated great vision and uncommon insights by listing his company and over the years introduced many corporate governance changes including the separation of the office of chairman from that of chief executive, two positions hitherto held by Dr. Uzodike and his eventual retirement as the chief executive. Now as non-executive chairman, Dr. Uzodike is leading efforts to further entrench corporate governance at Cutix by diversifying the board and encouraging participation of independent directors and minority shareholders.

He has successfully transforms the board and management of Cutix from the current regional, family and friends composition to a broader composition that reflects the status

Ask a Broker

NVESTMENT, in its sim plest form, has been de scribed as excess of basic needs and contingencies.

This is because investment generally comes after satisfaction of the basic needs. Saving is the vehicle to investment while investment is the guarantee for future security and improvement of living standard.

From the more definitive broad perspective of goals and objectives, investment is defined as the commitment of funds with expectations of the •Dr Uzodike safety of the funds and inof the company as a first tier crease from positive rate of company, he would have suc- return. ceeded in institutionalising his Positive return on legacy in the Nigerian environinvestment ment where many founders There are two major conwould rather watch their companies die than allowing out- cerns to an investor - the side influences, no matter how safety of the principal and positive return. The concept beneficial.

Besides the historic value, the of positive return is wide and investment value of Dr, differs from one investment Uzodike is notable in the cash perspective to another. But cow he has created. With a di- generally, positive return rect shareholding of 10.24 per means return above inflation cent and total shareholding of rate.

This is also called real rate 13.45 per cent equity stake in Cutix, he is the single largest of return. In other words, in a shareholder in Cutix, with a hyperinflation environment current investment worth of with 25 per cent inflation, a capital growth of 35 per cent about N155 million.

His wife, Mrs. Uzodike is also implies a real growth of 10 worth more than N12 million per cent.

But another environment while two of their sons- Ifeanyi and Uzo, are worth N5 million with single-digit inflation rate and N9 million respectively. of five per cent, a capital Though the market worth of growth of 20 per cent inditheir shares had fallen signifi- cates a real return rate of 15 cantly with the market reces- per cent.

This is the core issue at the sion, the investment value of the Uzodikes may be seen in the heart of investment destinacontext of Cutix’s historic per- tion and capital flight. Howformance. Cutix has consist- ever, with the difference in inently declared cash dividend in vestment objectives, positive the past 22 years and between rate of return to an investor 1992 and 2008, declared bonus means a return rate that falls within the target of the investissues six times. ment.

As such, a 30 per cent return will be an extremely good return for an investment of initial target of 20 per cent and conversely a poor return for an investment of initial target of 40 per cent.

These issues of safety and and the proceeds of such sales return clearly illustrate that revert to the seller. like personal financial planWhile the company and its ning, investment portfolio, professional advisers deter- either individual or institumine the price for a primary tional, mirrors the peculiarioffer, the price at the second- ties of the investor and as such, ary market is determined by does not easily lend itself to the market forces- supply and sweeping generalisation. demand.

Speculative investment The Securities and Exchange Another quick distinction Commission (SEC) oversees primary market issues but that must be made is between where the company or institu- investment, in the real sense tion plans to list the instrument of it and speculation or specuon the Nigerian Stock Ex- lative investment.

The thin line that divides change (NSE) - the marketplace for secondary transactions, the two often-confused terms then NSE must also pre-qualify is the mindset. An investor such issue in line with its list- seeks a good stable rate of return over a long period of ing requirements time and as such is concerned not only about the extent of return but also about the security and longevity of the return.

A speculator, on the other hand, focuses on a rather count. large return within the immeWith a minimum opening diate period. A speculator is and daily balance of N5, 000, more interested in taking adthe customer is entitled to a vantage of the current trend, personalised cheque book and no matter how short it may access to internet, mobile and be, to make quick gain. telephone banking services of Although the two terms are the bank. intertwined and a portfolio The customer also enjoys the may be built on the two conbenefits of the Access Bank cepts, investment and specuVISA debit card as well as pe- lation require different anariodic market intelligence. lytical process, with speculaBeside the opportunity to tion dealing more with techlodge cheques and dividend nical trend and investment rewarrants, the account allows lying more on fundamentals. third party withdrawals withOur advice, however, is that out any charge.

What is the difference between primary and secondary market?

T

HE financial market gen erally consists of the pri mary and secondary market.

Both segments of the market are interrelated and the performance of one segment usually influences to large extent the performance of the other segment.

The primary market, as the name implies, is the entry market for companies and investors.

The primary market is where a company or institution that requires initial or additional capital sells its shares or instrument to the investors.

As such all the capital issues

of a company including Initial Public Offering (IPO), public offer, rights issue and bond issue are done on the primary market.

The funds so raised from the issue or offer go to the company or institution that floated the issue.

The secondary market plays the complementary role of opening a window of opportunity for investors in primary issues to trade on their investments while giving other investors opportunity to buy into the company.

Transactions on the secondary market are usually between the seller and the buyer

Ways and Means

How to earn interest on a ‘current’ account

T

RADITIONALLY, cur rent account is the only vehicle for conversion of paper money such as cheque, dividend warrant, draft etc into actual cash.

The operator of a current account pays the bank for every withdrawal while he also enjoys the convenience of representative transaction or third party withdrawal through issuance of cheque.

Many people avoid current account because of the costs or charges, which are usually fixed and sometime, the ini-

tial deposit required to open such account.

But competition and innovations are breaking the walls in the banking sector. With many innovative hybrid current-and-deposit accounts, a bank customer can avoid the costs of current accounts while enjoying the advantages of current and savings accounts.

Access Advantage, created

by Access Bank Plc, is a savings account that gives the customer the benefits of a current account and even pays interest on the balance in the ac-

Starting your investment portfolio (10) I

By Taofik Salako

the best foot forward for a starter is to build an investment portfolio in the real sense of it and overtime graduate to speculation as his security and stability of living standard improves.

The wisdom in this is that speculation requires higher level of risks and much more funds than investment.

The size of the fund in speculation also determines the degree of loss. In the event of a steep decline leading to panic selling, a small speculator stands to lose more as stockbrokers will usually sell first and then consider the orders of their high networth institutional and individual speculators.

Besides, a good investment portfolio provides cushion against the vagaries of speculation. For instance, an investment house lost more than N80 million on a speculative deal on one of the quoted breweries in the aftermath of the stock market recession that followed the announcement of the banking reforms in 2004.

The company had taken an interest-bearing loan, in the usual practice of speculator, to take advantage of expected rally that usually follows whiff of good return, but then came the whirlwind of the N25 billion capital base, which sent everyone running helter-skelter.

That company, like many others, ended that year in red.

While there exists mouth-watering tales of speculative trades, it is also advisable to consider the flip side and examine whether one’s worth could cover and still sustain in the event of any large exposure, which usually follows failed speculative trade.

With this view, investment as a means of improvement and sustainable living is a systematic process of identifying, appropriating and evaluating assets with relatively low risk and high prospect of gain.

Five Ws and H approach Investment is a dynamic process and a very broad discipline, where each issue can be a theme for a voluminous book. But each element of the investment process can be illustrated using the journalistic news writing model of 5Ws and H. The approach details - Why to buy- investment objective, What to buy- asset choice and allocation, When to buy- timing, Where to buyprimary or secondary, Who to

‘Basically, there are two broad categories of investments- investments in real assets and investments in financial assets. Real assets refer to tangible, material things such as land, buildings, cars, and jewelry among others’

buy through- selection of a stockbroker and How to buyportfolio mix.

The question of why to buy is the primary question that set out investment objectives, which most often directly relate the investor’s personality, who may give individuality to each investment portfolio.

Four goals of investors Investors generally seek four goals: current income, growth in current income, capital appreciation and preservation of capital.

However, personal characteristics including age, sex, family, income level and health among others are major considerations that shape and modify investment objectives and strategies.

The colourations of personal characteristics greatly delineate portfolios in terms of their requirements, time horizons, risk thresholds and cash flows.

Age, for instance, influences the level of risk an investor might want to take.

While a young man can stomach higher level of risk, an old retiree would instinctively avoid high-risk investment and prefer more secured though lower return investment.

Thus the young man can set his eyes on capital appreciation through high-risk investments while the old man finds better assurance in blue chip quoted shares and fixedincome securities. As a man moves from one stage of life to another, his investment needs and objectives also change and the composition of the portfolio also takes cue from these changes from time to time.

These individual’s personal attributes then influence the choice of what types of assets to make up his portfolio.

Categories of investments Basically, there are two broad categories of investments- investments in real assets and investments in financial assets. Real assets refer to tangible, material things such as land, buildings, cars, and jewelry among others.

Financial assets, on the other hand, are pieces of paper representing an indirect claim to real assets, either in form of debt or equity. Examples of financial assets include share certificates, bond certificates, bank draft, banker’s acceptances, insurance policy etc. The differences in the two categories lie mainly in the capital requirement and organisation.

Financial assets are more liquid and thus can be easily converted to meet the needs of the investor within short and identifiable time, through known process and at little cost. For instance, the Nigerian Stock Exchange operates a T+3 trading cycle, which indicates a four-day timeline for an investor to convert his quoted shares to cash. Also, the transaction cost is standardised and applies to all deals.

The absence of this type of ready and active market with an organised system of exchange and the heterogeneous nature of real assets, generally make this class of assets to be less liquid.

52

MOTORING THE NATION

MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

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

0803-4693-984 tajudeen1423@yahoo.co.uk

email:- motoring@thenationonlineng.net

Automobile giant NMI / CFAO Intermotors, a subsidiary of CFAO Nigeria Plc, and the official National Sales Centre (NSC) for Chevrolet products in Nigeria, have unveiled the 2011 Chevrolet Sail. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO reports.

•Chevrolet Sail

New Chevrolet Sail completes passenger - car lineup

T

HE news about the availability of the new Chevrolet Sail in Nigeria is cheering to many customers of the brand. To them, its introduction into the market is a better way of remphasising CFAO Intermotors’(its sole distributors) bold objectives in the automobile industry, which includes taking the leadership position through a combination of aggressive new-model releases backed up by the famous durability of the internationally wellrecognised brands it represents, as well as projecting a strong customer-focused servicing ethos.

“The thinking behind the evolution of the Sail is to put a car in the garage of the average family without drilling a hole in the pocket. With the Chevrolet Sail, we are setting a new standard for the lower-end small car segment while fully living up to the global standards of Chevrolet, one of the world’s leading vehicle brands,” a release from the auto company stated.

Going by its class as an entry level car, the Chevrolet Sail is seen as a great city car, especially with its ability to fit into scarce parking spaces in the city and manoeuvre some difficult roads which enhances its standing in its class.

A sporty-looking steering wheel that provides pinpoint handling and easy control pairs with the sporty and strong chassis to provide comfort and easy handling. Deriving from the ‘drop face’ design of the Chevrolet family, the large front windshield provides the driver maximum visibility.

Add this to seats designed for local adaptability and no-blind-spot rear-view mirror and all one gets is a good thought for comfort and safety.

Exterior & Interior Sporting the characteristic Chevrolet bowtie, the Chevrolet Sail parades a sporty outlook that creates pleasurable drive.

Expectedly, the Sail features Chevrolet’s trademark horizontal split grille with the gold Chevrolet emblem showcased in the middle. Three muscular sidelines provide the car a three-dimensional look. A unique short-in-front, long-in-back suspension brings a sporty edge to the exterior. The streamlined shape of the vehicle adds a dynamic styling element while reducing drag, for lower fuel consumption.

Like all Chevrolet, the interior of the Sail includes the brand’s twin-cockpit design as well as a flexible, modern central control panel equipped with a radio, CD player and MP3 interface.

Designers have added a sporty touch through a double-digital screen and chrome plating. The Chevrolet Sail’s adoption of a central fuel tank, a short front and rear suspension, and arch-shaped doors maximizes interior space for up to five people. There are 24 interior storage compartments for added convenience.

Safety With a safety cage construction that features crumple zones and a fuel tank surrounded by steel frame for added safety, the Chevrolet Sail definitely showcases good passenger protection. When added to dual air bags in front, a retractable steering column, antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, child safety locks and stronger child seat system standards, the Sail can be said to have made room for excellence

•Interior of the car

in passenger and pedestrian protections.

The Powertrain With a power-train of 1.2-litre S-TEC II and 1.4-litre S-TEC III engines for choice, the Chevrolet Sail is touted to being in the best class in fuel efficiency. The 1.2-litre engine is noted to achieve fuel economy under comprehensive road conditions of 5.7 L/100 km and generates power of 53.1 KW/L, enabling the Chevrolet Sail to go from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.9 seconds while the 1.4-litre engine offers power per litre of more than 54.3 kW/L and goes from 0 to

100 km/h in 11.9 seconds, with fuel economy under 5.9 L/100 km.

These engines, according to Chevrolet, incorporate the Variable Geometry Intake System (VGIS), which provides smooth power delivery and torque across all engine speeds.

In order to increase the Sail’s performance, lightweight materials were employed in the engine, transmission and body, consequently increasing the fuel efficiency. The optimised friction coefficient in the transmission and the tyre rolling coefficient are designed to combine to reduce energy loss caused by mechanical operation.

53

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

NEWS

Anyim, Obi, Okorocha hail Offor’s Foundation

S

ECRETARY to the Government of the Federation Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and his Imo State counterpart inability to pay Rochas Okorocha have hailed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Sir Emeka Offor’s concern for the needy.

Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SOEF),in collaboration with Books for Africa (BFA),USA distributed over one million books and educational materials to 30 universities in the country.

Over 100 secondary schools and 100 primary schools were given laptops and desktops worth over N900 million by the Foundation.

The distribution was done according to the six geo-political zones, with each benefiting school fully represented on the occasion at the Oraifite Town Hall in Ekwusigo Local Government of Anambra State at the week-

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

end.

Director- General of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Paul Orhii; former Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Ernest Ndukwe; Primate of the Anglican Communion, Rev. Peter Akinola, among others, attended the event.

Anyim said the distribution of the books would afford the children the opportunity of imbibing a reading culture.

Okorocha said that life is useless without providing for the needy.

He said: “Any rich man, whose wealth does not go round is a poor man and this is the reason why I am here today.”

Obi hailed Offor’s gesture and urged the people to support the less privileged in the society.

EX-minister moves to revive PDP in Imo

I

N a bid to save the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State from imminent collapse, the former Minister of Interior, Capt. Emmanuel Ihenacho has moved to revive the party.

The ex-minister, who fielded questions from reporters shortly after a closed-door meeting with the PDP State Working Committee (SWC), led by Chief Eze Duruihuoma (SAN) in Owerri, promised to provide a rallying point for party faithful.

Ihenacho, while acknowledging that a lot of things worked against the success of the party in the build-up to

From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

the 2011 general elections, urged the exco to be committed to the party.

“It is not over for the party, this temporary setback has served as a great lesson to all of us. We should see the losses as a wake-up call by the party to reposition itself for greater services to the people of Imo State”, he said.

Ihenacho urged the members to remain loyal to the leadership of the party and contribute to the re-building process. He added that the lofty ideas of PDP would be actualised if the re-building exercise is embraced by all.

Okotie anointed ‘Prince of Nigeria’

By Nneka Nwaneri

P

ASTOR Chris Okotie of Household of God Church was yesterday anointed ‘Prince of Nigeria’ by SecretaryGeneral of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos State chapter, Bishop George Amu. This was in celebration of Okotie’s 53rd birthday service at the Household of God Villa, Oregun, Lagos.

Okotie was FRESH party’s presidential candidate in the April election.

Anointing Okotie, Amu said: “I hereby anoint, consecrate and crown you ‘Prince of Nigeria.”

Speaking on the significance of the anointing, he said: “To bring peace. He is someone who is identified with the spirit of peace and prophecy of peace . No more dangerous messages.

He is going to move higher.”

Amu advised the congregation to be steadfast in the Lord.

AIT reporter passes on

A

POLICE Affairs/ D e f e n c e Correspondent with the African Independent Television (AIT), Alagbado, Lagos, Mrs Aisha BrightAikhegbe is dead.

Bright-Aikhegbe died last Monday after a protracted illness at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

She was 39.

Mrs. Bright-Aikhegbe, a native of Agenegbode, in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, is survived by husband, three children, an aged father, brothers and sisters.

A service of songs will be held for her at her residence at No 31B Tommy Williams Street, Idimu/Egbeda Road on Thursday.

Funeral for Enugu MDG’s chief

T

HE death has been announced of Ike Offor, Supervisory Councillor of Millenium Development Goals (MDG) in Uzo-Uwani Local Government of Enugu State. He was one of the victims of last Sunday’s auto crash involving two commercial vehicles on Enugu-Nsukka road.The late Offor was 37. He was a devout Catholic. According to a statement by his brother, Anthony, he will be buried on July 1 in Okasibi-Uvuru, Uzo-uwani local government, after a funeral mass at his family compound. He is survived by his wife, Favour, aged parents, Mrs. Fred Offor,and other relations.

•The Publisher of Leadership Newspapers, Mr. Sam Ndah Isaiah, riding on a horse he got as a gift from the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Sa’ad Abubakar III, shortly after he was turbaned Kakai Nupe during the turbaning ceremony of prominent Nigerians as part of activities marking the third Nupoe Day Annual Festival at the Etsu Nupe’s Palace, Wadata, Bida, Niger State...yesterday

Electricity workers observe nationwide prayers today E

LECTRICITY workers will observe a nationwide prayer for the revival of the electricity sector today.

The general prayer will be held at their various work places.

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) said it would pray God to destroy the force to militating against the stable electricity in Nigeria.

The workers warned against the appointment of Barth Nnaji as Minister of Power and declared tomorrow as a ‘Work To Rule” protest day.

By Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

In a statement signed by NUEE General-Secretary, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the union said those behind the move were already jostling for positions that would put them at a vantage positions for the manifestation of their evil plans.

In its prayer points, NUEE seeks the appointment of a credible Power Minister.

Ajaero lamented the inability to pay 50 per cent

salary increase agreed upon after the negotiation with the Hassan Sumonu Committee that has not been implemented.

In another statement signed by Head of Information and Research, Comrade Reuben Peter Orlu for the General Secretary, the union said: “Sequel to government’s lack of interest in the welfare of members of staff of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and fixation of the

sector challenges, it has become imperative “to express our displeasure on the level of insensitivity being expressed by the Nigerian state.

“Accordingly, Tuesday, June 28, 2011 has been declared a ‘Work To Rule” day to enforce the prayer session already declared in PHCN in order to drive home the issues of government insincere approach to our sector and unwillingness to effect the agreed payment of 50 percent salary increase which is being feared to have been tinkered with.”

54

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

55

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

56

MONEY LINK

CBN pegs dollar sale to BDCs at $250,000 T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has limited banks’ sale of forex to bureaux de change (BDC) to $250,000 per week.

The banking watchdog also mandated that each BDC is allowed to purchase from only one authorised dealer per week.

A statement signed by

Stories by Collins Nweze Senior Correspondent

CBN’s Director, Trade & Exchange, Batari Musa, said the new plan is in line with provisions in the Monetary, Credit, Foreign Trade and Exchange Policy Guidelines for fiscal year 2010/2011.

He explained that before this amendment, banks and other

ADB to partner Ekiti on infrastructure

T

HE African Develop ment Bank (ADB) plans to partner with the Ekiti State Government in the provision of infrastructure.

The ADB's Country Representative in Nigeria, Mr Ousmane Dore, disclosed this at the weekend in Lagos at a meeting between the state Governor Kayode Fayemi and officials of the bank.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, yesterday in Ado-Ekiti quoted Dore as saying that ADB would assist the state government in the development of rural roads with to boost agriculture in the state.

It said the meeting highlighted key potential areas for foreign investments and technical support for the state.

Dore noted that two of ADB's 29 projects in Nigeria were already sited in Ekiti State, and promised that it would also be among the eight states that would benefit from the Capacity Building Fund being proposed by

the bank.

Fayemi had earlier urged the ADB to strive to surpass the World Bank in its development programmes in the state.

In a related development, the Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Per Lindgarde, also said at a meeting with Fayemi in Abuja that some Swedish companies were seeking collaboration with the state government in agriculture and environmental sustainability.

Fayemi had emphasised the state government’s preference for collaboration with big players in the area trade as opposed to aid.

He explained that investments in agriculture and tourism in the state would help to revive the peoples' agrarian life style, boost the economy and create employment opportunities.

Fayemi assured the envoy of the safety of foreign investment in the state, stressing that the state was noted for its peaceful and secure environment.

authorised dealers could sell autonomous funds to BDCs subject to compliance with the Anti-money Laundering Act 2004.

The apex bank had in January issued new rules guiding the sales of foreign currency in the country.

A statement from the bank noted that the funds purchased from it at the auctions must be

•GMD, Finbank, Suzanne Iroche

L

UCKY customers of FinBank will smile home with over N6 million worth of prizes, including a star prize of one Kia Rio Saloon car, in the national draw of FinSplash Savings promo

S

used for eligible transactions only.

The CBN had also on November 3, 2010, in a circular referenced, FPR/DIR/CIR/FXM/ 01/004, cancelled the issuance of class ‘A’ BDCs licences, following its review of the twotier structure of the market.

It had said in a statement signed by its Head, Corporate

FinBank customers to win car, gifts which holds at the Lagoon Restaurant, Victoria Island, on June 29.

Other gifts to be won, according to a statement from the bank, include 15 laptop computers; 10 LCD televisions (32 inches), five generators and other consolation prizes.

The promo, which commenced in December 2010, was designed to reward customers of the bank for their confidence and patronage over the years.

Previously, over 570 prizes were won, including the

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

TAKEHOLDERS have commended the Bu reau of Public Procurement (BPP) for saving N216billion for the country from January 2010 to March 2011 through reduction in the costs of contracts awarded by federal Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The BPP, popularly called “Due process”, is the federal agency responsible for en-

suring that Federal Government contracts are awarded at reasonable costs.

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja on the reported savings as a result of the BPP’s evaluation of contract proposals, an Abuja-based financial analyst, Dr. Hassan M. Abdullahi, commended the Bureau for diligently ensuring that contract sums were evaluated to ensure that the government gets value for money to be

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 24-6-11 SYMBOL PLATINUM NAHCO PZ AFRIBANK JAPAULOIL UBN INTERCONT UNITYBNK OCEANIC TRANSCORP

O/PRICE 0.80 7.67 36.70 1.24 1.05 2.31 1.07 0.88 1.33 0.99

C/PRICE 0.84 8.05 38.50 1.30 1.10 2.42 1.12 0.92 1.39 1.03

CHANGE +0.04 +0.38 +1.80 +0.06 +0.05 +0.11 +0.05 +0.04 +0.06 +0.04

LOSER AS AT 24-6-11 SYMBOL NNFML IKEJAHOTEL SCOA NASCON NIWICABLE MOBIL NIGERINS AIICO GUARANTY STARLNBANK

O/PRICE 29.20 1.40 7.48 5.68 0.56 159.00 0.64 0.82 15.75 1.88

C/PRICE 27.74 1.33 7.11 5.40 0.54 154.00 0.62 0.80 15.50 1.86

tions, noting that more savings could be done in the future.

He advised all federal MDAs to ensure that they play by the rules and comply with guidelines and requirements as stipulated by the Procurement Act. Another financial analyst, Mike Adekeye, also commended the BPP for the feat, saying that the savings can be deployed by the government for developmental projects.

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

spent.

He hailed the initiative of the bureau in conducting comparative analysis of costs of projects in Nigeria with those of other countries to arrive at reasonable prices, bearing in mind the different factors that may affect prices in various countries.

He called on the Federal Government to enhance its support for the BPP to enable it to continue to discharge its func-

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 400m 467.7m 400m 452.3m 500m 499,8m

MANAGED FUNDS

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

stable funds for investment.

Customers, who were able to save and maintain a minimum deposit of N50, 000 for three months since the commencement of the promo, are qualified to participate in the national draw, which will offer the prizes listed above.

The national draw will attract government functionaries such as representatives of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, the Consumers Protection Council (CPC), traditional rulers and the business community.

DATA BANK

Tenor

OBB Rate Call Rate

N250,000 won by 16 customers in each of 16 zonal draws held between February and June this year.

Motivated by the need to encourage its customers and prospects to save, the bank anchored the promo around its most outstanding savings products such as FinSave, Leaders Education Account Plan (LEAP), NairaWise and the generic savings account.

All these are aimed at improving the institution’s savings portfolio, encourage a savings culture and build

Experts laud BPP over N216b savings

FGN BONDS

NIDF NESF

some Nigerian travellers indulge in cross-border transportation of large sums of foreign currencies in cash. "Indeed, returns from the Nigerian Customs Services on foreign currency declaration by travellers show that large amounts, up to $3m, have been taken out of the country by individuals in single trips," the banking watchdog had said.

Affairs, Mr Muhammed Abdullahi, that the latest appraisal of the policy initiative revealed gross abuses of the enhanced official funding of the Class A category of the BDCs and the negation of the expected benefits to the economy.

The CBN also said it had been inundated with complaints from foreign countries that

CHANGE -1.46 -0.07 -0.37 -0.28 -0.02 -5.00 -0.02 -0.02 -0.25 -0.02

Amount Sold ($) 400m 400m 499.8m

Exchange Rate (N) 153.59 153.4 153.45

Date 25-5-11 23-5-11 16-5-11

EXHANGE RATE 30-05-11 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD NGN GBP

147.6000 239.4810

149.7100 244.0123

150.7100 245.6422

-2.11 -2.57

NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

24-06-11 N8.0802tr 25.271.61

Name

January ’11

February ’11

May ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.00%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.3%

NIBOR

7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

23-06-11 N8.0533tr 25,185.27

% Change 0.34% 0.34%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS

DISCOUNT WINDOW

Tenor

NSE CAP Index

Rate (Previous) 04 MAR, 2011 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 24, MAY, 2011 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 117.72 122.45 0.84 1,575.41 97.64 1.00 1.39 1.87 9,941.08 193.00

9.08 1.00 117.25 121.55 0.81 1,567.25 92.88 1.00 1.33 1.80 8,667.53 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 MAR, 2011

Current 07, MAR, 2011

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

57

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 24-06-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 7 27 16 50

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50 8.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 168,000 84,000.00 18,331,000 9,165,500.00 2,129,182 17,028,849.41 20,628,182 26,278,349.41

Quotation(N) 2.76 8.05

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 500 1,315.00 438,419 3,527,318.02 438,919 3,528,633.02

AIR SERVICES Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 32 33

AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 21 21

Quotation(N) 2.29

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 532,607 1,194,550.80 532,607 1,194,550.80

Quotation(N) 7.30 1.30 5.60 3.00 7.35 2.65 13.26 0.55 15.50 9.80 1.12 1.39 0.84 8.00 0.79 1.86 5.86 2.42 0.92 1.00 14.90

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,881,796 20,965,627.87 5,123,846 6,544,312.38 11,663,558 64,281,506.21 444,739 1,349,171.39 7,433,773 54,596,298.92 992,367 2,612,350.30 23,402,211 310,604,333.65 5,050,449 2,776,946.95 15,801,549 247,519,062.53 493,707 4,837,000.00 9,024,830 10,107,809.60 6,874,681 9,555,806.59 6,786,701 5,700,828.84 12,374,156.48 1,545,002 1,121,835 835,578.25 1,085,260 1,996,849.23 5,328,204 31,172,811.07 2,077,831 5,028,351.02 2,612,874 2,403,044.08 1,468,324 1,493,518.28 8,601,648 128,104,476.92 119,815,185 924,859,840.56

Quotation(N) 4.05 240.00 6.28 2.49 90.04

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 987 4,194.75 49,560 11,696,456.31 343,885 2,092,508.80 2,000 4,740.00 483,859 43,564,591.82 880,291 57,362,491.68

BANKING Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC AFRIBANK NIGERIA PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC FINBANK PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC. OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC BANK PHB PLC SKYE BANK PLC. SPRING BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 140 65 111 26 38 45 726 49 478 33 46 41 403 81 37 43 238 60 25 40 266 2,991 BREWERIES

Company Name CHAMPION BREWERIES PLC GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC JOS INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 52 15 1 97 166

BUILDING MATERIALS Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 45 8 30 60 143

Quotation(N) 24.00 9.45 130.00 47.83

NSE reviews trade alert services

T

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has commenced a review of the current trade alert services to ensure that the operation serves the general interest of the market.

A source close to NSE said the Exchange has decided to give room for other companies that are willing to render the service to engage in competitive bid with Adonai Net Nigeria Limited, which initiated and currently runs the trade alert.

The NSE said the review of the existing arrangement was due to the lopsidedness of the monopoly being enjoyed by Adonai Net. NSE said it has no personal interest but was concerned that when a decision or business decision is taken, it should be to the benefit of the majority rather than few.

“The data produced by the Exchange is the product it is selling. It does not make sense for an outsider to be in charge of the data, without considering the shareholders,” the source said.

Also, the source said the Exchange was of the opinion that the investors paying for the service should be given the opportunity to also benefit from the company.

Meanwhile, on the floor of

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 200,260 4,774,728.85 74,337 688,955.18 1,114,696 144,908,484.73 1,384,223 66,153,841.23 2,773,516 216,526,009.99

By Tonia Osundolire

the NSE last Friday, the key indicators continued on the upward with an increase of 0.34 per cent each. Market capitalisation added N27 billion to close at N8.080 trillion, while the All-Share-Index improved by 86.34 points to close at 25,271.61 points.

The sectoral indices were generally bullish as three appreciated while two others reduced in value. The NSE 30 added 5.49 to close at 1,127.21 points followed by NSE Food Beverages and NSE Banking with an increase of 2.86 points and 1.88 points to close at 827.65 and 382.32 points respectively.

The NSE Insurance and Oil/ Gas both closed lower with 0.69 points and 1.76 points at

‘The data produced by the Exchange is the product it is selling. It does not make sense for an outsider to be in charge of the data, without considering the shareholders’

168.61 points and 320.17 points.

The market as a whole traded 241.774 million shares worth N1.478 billion across 5,434 deals. The banking stocks as usual led with a volume of 119.815 million shares worth N924.860 million in 2,991 deals. This was distantly followed by the insurance sector with 73.786 million shares worth N38.586 million.

Others with relatively high volume were Agriculture/ Agro-Allied and Food Beverages with 20.628 million shares worth N26.278 million and 5.319 million shares worth N97.877 million.

On the price movement tables, only 45 stocks recorded price change with 31 appreciating while the remaining 14 reduced in share value.

Bank PHB led the gainers list with an increase of 4.0 kobo to close at N0.84 followed by NAHCO, PZ Cusson, Afribank and Japaul with price gain of N0.38, N1.80, N0.06, N0.05 to close at N8.05, N38.50, N1.30 and N1.10.

On the losers table, Northern Nigerian Flourmills (NNFM) led the list of 14 others with a drop of N1.46 to close at N27.74. Others were Ikeja Hotel, SCOA, NASCON and Niwi cable

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 24-06-11

CHEMICAL & PAINTS Company Name BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC DN MEYER PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 12 2 1 16

Quotation(N) 10.43 30.96 1.45 1.49

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 600 5,946.00 7,999 259,967.50 1,300 1,794.00 500 710.00 10,399 268,417.50

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name COURTVILLE INVESTMENTS PLC RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 6 18 24

Quotation(N) 0.50 2.90

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 190,000 95,000.00 707,800 2,054,239.80 897,800 2,149,239.80

COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT Company Name TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2

Quotation(N) 3.25

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 983 3,037.47 983 3,037.47

CONGLOMERATES Company Name A. G. LEVENTIS (NIGERIA) PLC PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC SCOA NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 51 23 29 27 53 184

Quotation(N) 2.20 38.50 7.11 1.03 39.10 27.30

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 49 102.41 326,250 12,545,432.84 1,805,195 12,834,936.45 2,253,102 2,320,695.06 125,382 4,907,928.06 254,424 6,955,678.35 4,764,402 39,564,773.17

CONSTRUCTION Company Name COSTAIN (WA) PLC JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 16 13 29

Quotation(N) 3.00 56.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 161,118 475,531.64 129,032 7,442,609.32 290,150 7,918,140.96

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 7 7

Quotation(N) 0.54

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 917,045 495,204.30 917,045 495,204.30

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN BOTTLING COMPANY PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC NORTHERN NIGERIA FLOUR MILLS PLC TANTALIZERS PLC UTC NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 9 77 93 42 41 21 16 27 48 6 6 10 396

Quotation(N) 46.00 18.00 16.88 13.00 91.00 4.14 5.40 40.90 401.00 27.74 0.50 0.65

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 22,790 1,031,562.00 1,211,825 21,714,750.74 1,047,186 17,480,050.57 289,396 3,767,150.68 115,459 10,514,319.75 330,170 1,358,564.40 224,233 1,221,458.20 112,987 4,663,596.50 82,213 32,981,177.54 80,320 2,228,076.80 1,700,000 850,000.00 102,417 66,271.98 5,318,996 97,876,979.16

Quotation(N) 1.83 26.94 3.80 9.52 1.70

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 44,000 80,870.00 147,935 3,849,268.70 264,332 983,147.48 100 905.00 12,000 19,440.00 468,367 4,933,631.18

AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC UNIC INSURANCE PLC. UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Sector Totals

66 1 4 4 7 1 1 1 64 25 22 24 652 1 1 2 876

Company Name C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 6 6

No of Deals 23 23

Quotation(N) 1.33

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,408,940 1,878,920.20 1,408,940 1,878,920.20

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 16 17

Quotation(N) 0.50 6.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 6,000 3,120.00 198,235 1,189,985.95 204,235 1,193,105.95

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 6 6

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 650,000 330,760.00 650,000 330,760.00

INSURANCE Company Name

No of Deals

2,555,820.76 27,250.00 74,000.00 811,189.50 696,055.00 500.00 2,800.00 4,500.00 27,103,916.50 1,227,512.00 498,776.77 38,450.00 5,516,500.00 20,009.50 5,500.00 3,361.26 38,586,141.29

Quotation(N) 1.22

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 75,850 91,909.00 75,850 91,909.00

Quotation(N) 1.10

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 4,756,165 5,164,726.32 4,756,165 5,164,726.32

Quotation(N) 0.51 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 14,900 7,599.00 37,000 18,500.00 51,900 26,099.00

MARITIME Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 84 84

Company Name AFROMEDIA PLC DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 7 9

MEDIA

MORTGAGE COMPANIES Company Name UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 7 7

Quotation(N) 0.66

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 234,250 154,015.00 234,250 154,015.00

Quotation(N) 2.52 4.30

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,188,776 3,035,259.96 66,681 273,825.29 1,255,457 3,309,085.25

PACKAGING Company Name NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC NAMPAK NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 57 4 61

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Company Name MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. FORTE OIL PLC MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 6 15 1 9 18 98 6 153

Quotation(N) 72.00 40.00 4.99 21.35 154.00 48.95 195.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 10,796 739,152.36 6,496 246,948.00 21,516 102,201.00 32,405 657,497.45 151,396 23,106,146.60 214,153 10,427,944.42 524 102,554.00 437,286 35,382,443.83

PRINTING & PUBLISHING

HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name IKEJA HOTEL PLC Sector Totals

3,140,117 25,000 148,000 1,612,379 453,500 1,000 5,000 9,000 54,207,833 2,203,780 813,300 76,900 11,033,000 40,019 11,000 6,342 73,786,170

LEASING

HEALTHCARE Company Name No of Deals FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC 7 GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC 27 MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. 21 MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. 1 NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC 1 Sector Totals 57

0.80 1.14 0.50 0.51 1.52 0.50 0.54 0.50 0.50 0.58 0.62 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.53

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N)

Company Name LONGMAN NIGERIA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 6 1 7

Quotation(N) 5.39 5.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 72,000 386,062.00 550 2,772.00 72,550 388,834.00

Quotation(N) 19.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 40,500 736,805.00 40,500 736,805.00

REAL ESTATE Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 13 13

ROAD TRANSPORTATION Company Name ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 11 11

Company Name UNITED NIGERIA TEXTILES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 6 6

Quotation(N) 0.55

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 493,923 261,144.54 493,923 261,144.54

Quotation(N) 0.59

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 28,444 16,462.64 28,444 16,462.64

TEXTILES

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals 36 36

Quotation(N) 14.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 541,600 7,904,396.00 541,600 7,904,396.00

5,434

241,774,112

1,478,384,147.02

58

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

59

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

60

FOREIGN NEWS Afghan girl ‘used in bomb attack’ AN eight-year-old girl has been killed after insurgents used her in a bomb attack on police in southern Afghanistan, the government has said.

The interior ministry said insurgents gave the girl a package and told her to take it to a police vehicle, detonating it as she approached.

No-one else was killed in the explosion, in Uruzgan province.

The incident came a day after an attack on a hospital which killed at least 38 people in the east of the country.

Dozens were injured.

Elderly people, pregnant women and children were said to be among the casualties.

A statement by the ministry described the Uruzgan incident as a “crime and a shameful act”.

The area where the alleged incident happened is very remote, and it was not possible to independently verify the reports.

“The child, pure-hearted and in good faith, took the bag and moved towards the police vehicle,” it said.

“As she got close to the police vehicle, the enemy detonated the bomb by remote control, killing the innocent child.”

The governor of Char Cheno district, where the attack took place, told the BBC the girl was from the nearest village.

UK to boost Nigeria’s health care system

French Socialists begin hunt for Nicolas Sarkozy’s challenger

T

HE French Socialist party will test its reputation for inflated egos and in-fighting tomorrow when it opens its primary race to chose a presidential candidate to challenge Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012.

Recent polls have shown the Socialists would trounce the unpopular Sarkozy if an election was held now. But the French left – which has not won a presidential vote since François Mitterrand in 1988 – is painfully aware of how poll leads can evaporate at the ballot box. Its choice of candidate is crucial if it is to run a personalised campaign attacking Sarkozy as unprincipled, ineffective and power-obsessed.

The left is still reeling from the forced exit from political life of its one-time favourite, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, after he was

charged with the attempted rape of a New York hotel maid last month. If the party is to win the moral fight against Sarkozy, it must now have a candidate whose track record and behaviour is irreproachable. European politics in general have shifted firmly to the right. To buck this trend and get elected, the party needs to field a broadchurch candidate whose appeal reaches centrists and the right.

The selection contest, which begins tomorrow and ends with a vote in October, boils down to two key characters. François Hollande, 56, the current favourite, is a former Socialist party leader and MP in rural central France who drives a moped and styles himself as an “ordinary guy”.

Hollande was once seen as a portly, jovial joker before

going on a crash diet and radically smartening up his look after splitting from his longterm partner, former presidential runner Ségolène Royal. His policy ideas are centre-left. His supporters argue that he is down to earth and the polar opposite of Sarkozy. His detractors say he has never held a ministerial post and lacks international experience.

Hollande declared his fierce ambition to be president last March and has crisscrossed France in old-fashioned campaign meetings that won over the media and saw him ranked the most “presidential” politician in France in the latest poll for Le Monde.

The party’s current leader, Martine Aubry, is expected to enter the race to challenge him. The 60-year-old mayor of Lille and staunchly

T •Sarkozy

leftwing architect of France’s 35-hour week, will run a campaign to be France’s first female president. One ally told the French newspaper Liberation that she would style herself as a kind of “Angela Merkel of the left”: stern, serious and slightly authoritarian.

Her team thinks that in a “macho country like France”, unless she pushed herself as hard and domineering, she would be dismissed as incapable of running the country.

Israel begins dismantling section of barrier

I

SRAEL yesterday began tearing down a section of its contentious West Bank separation barrier near a village that has come to symbolize Palestinian opposition to the enclosure, the military said.

The rerouting marked a major victory for the residents of Bilin and the international groups that have

backed their struggle. But they said it fell short of their demands to remove the structure from the village altogether and vowed to continue with their weekly protests.

The dismantling of the section near the village of Bilin comes four years after Israel’s Supreme Court ordered it torn down, rejecting the military’s argument

that the route was necessary to secure the nearby Modiin Illit settlement.

Col. Saar Tsur, the regional brigade commander, said the military has begun taking apart a two mile (3.2 kilometer)-stretch of the barrier and has replaced it with a 1.6 milelong (2.7 kilometer) wall adjacent to the settlement.

He said the new route would give the military less response time in case of a potential infiltration.

“This is a new threat but we can handle it,” he said,

adding that the work would be done by the end of the week.

Bilin lost half its land to the barrier, and years of weekly protests there have frequently evolved into clashes between activists and Israeli troops.

Israel began building the barrier in late 2002 to keep out Palestinian attackers amid a wave of suicide bombers targeting its cities. It says the structure is needed to keep militants from reaching Israeli population centers.

HE United Kingdom government is committed to improving the health of Nigerian women and children. To this effect, the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) has announced two major new sixyear programmes to build on the UK Government’s existing health portfolio in Nigeria. A programme to prevent malnutrition for six million children in Northern Nigeria, and a family planning programme which will help one million couples each year who wish to delay or space their families.

The two programmes were announced in Abuja Friday by the UK Secretary of State for International Development, Andrew Mitchell According to him a family planning programme will provide couples increased choice and improved access to modern contraceptives. A nutrition programme will provide essential micronutrients, breast-feeding support and treatment for severe malnutrition amongst women and children. These new programmes are part of the UK’s global efforts to stop 10 million children from going hungry and enable 10 million women to use modern family planning, the Secretary said.

‘There is an urgent need for nutrition support and family planning in Nigeria. Nigeria is one of six countries that together account for half of all child deaths from malnutrition worldwide. 10% of all children who die under the age of 5 worldwide are Nigerian. Only 10% of women currently use modern family planning, substantially lower than the average for sub-Saharan Africa.

NEWS Audu sues Kogi govt over alleged libel

F

ORMER Kogi State Governor Abubakar Audu is demanding N1 billion as damages for a publication allegedly sponsored by the state government to tarnish his reputation.

Audu said he was libeled by the advertorial entitled “Evil alert: published in two national dailies where he was called a manipulator and a deceiver.

In the suit filed at an Abuja High Court by his lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), the Plaintiff claimed that as a result of the said publication, on June 15th, 2011, he was woken up by a barrage of telephone calls from friends, relations, political and business associ-

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

ates as well as well wishers within and outside Nigeria, drawing his attention to negative newspaper publications about him.

The defendants are the Attorney General of Kogi State, Richard Olanitan Elesho, African Newspaper of Nigeria PLC, and Western Publishing Company Ltd. Audu said he was adjudged and declared the best performing governor in Nigeria in the year 2002, during a media tour put in place by the Federal Government and headed by Professor Jerry Gana, the then Minister of Information and National Orientation.

The plaintiff claimed that since he challenged the victories of Governor Ibrahim Idris who he contested against in the 2003 and 2007 governorship elections, Idris has made life unbearable for him, hounding him from pillar to post, using the apparatchik of state and Federal law enforcement agencies to terrorise, humiliate, threaten and hunt him down and to denigrate him before right thinking members of the society.

Ozekhome said the publication was unfounded, baseless, untrue and deliberately concocted by the defendants to disparage Audu and lower him in the estimation of reasonable members of the public.

Pro-Jonathan campaign organisation turns NGO

N

EIGHBOUR to Neighbour (N2N), the political organisation on the platform of which President Goodluck Jonathan launched his aspiration to secure the Presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has transformed to a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) that will be devoted to campaigning for the transformation agenda of the administration.

A board of trustees has

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

been constituted for the “Neighbour to Neighbour” comprising of former leaders of the organisation like Princess Stella Douay , King A.J Turner, Mike Omeri, Sully Abu, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi and Jerry Ugokwe, and Rima Shawulu as the Project Director and head of the Management.

A statement yesterday from the N2N secretariat said the political platform has

transformed into an NGO with a new vision to drive a new agenda of transformation.

It listed other Directors as; Tamakare Yekore, (Director of Support Services); Yakubu Dati (Advocacy Management and Communication); Jonathan Asakwe (Community Outreach); Eka Williams (Leadership and Executive Education); Obafemi Olarenwaju (Strategy and Planning); Ojali Ausa (Funding and Partnership).

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

61

FOREIGN

Libyan rebels advance towards capital in clash with Gaddafi

R

EBELS in Libya’s western mountains said Sunday they are advancing and are battling Moammar Gadhafi’s forces in a town southwest of the capital, ramping up pressure against government troops on a second front.

In the capital Tripoli, Gaddafi’s government said the longtime leader is in “high spirits” and remains in dayto-day control of the country. But while government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim insisted that Gaddafi will remain in Libya, he wouldn’t confirm that the leader is still in the capital.

“Gaddafi is here, he is staying. He is leading the country. He will not leave. He will not step down,” Ibrahim said, challenging the rebels

and the NATO-led coalition giving them air support. “If they want to continue the fight, we are ready. We will fight street to street, house to house.”

As he spoke, deafening bursts of automatic rifle fire shot into the air by female soldiers and fresh civilian trainees rang out at a progovernment event in central Tripoli. Moussa told reporters that the government so far has distributed 1.2 million weapons to supporters in the west of the country to defend themselves.

The government’s defiant stance comes as rebels seeking to overthrow Gadhafi’s regime claimed to be making gains on the battle front.

A rebel military spokesman in the Nafusa moun-

tains, Gomaa Ibrahim, said opposition fighters and government troops have been fighting since early Sunday in the outskirts of Bair alGhanam, a town located about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Tripoli.

Guma el-Gamaty, a spokesman for the rebels’ National Transitional council, said Bair al-Ghanam is significant because it is only 19 miles (30 kilometers) south of the city of Zawiya, a key western gateway to the capital.

Opposition fighters seized control of Zawiya in March before government troops crushed rebel forces there to retake the city. Fighting again broke out in the city again earlier this month, briefly cutting access to the

Muslim youths in Senegal set church ablaze

W

ITNESSES say hundreds of Muslim youths burned a church in a neighborhood on the northern part of the capital.

Mama Faye, 24, says she and hundreds of others on Sunday went to a Jehovah’s Witness church on the fringes of their Yoff neighborhood and interrupted a sermon with rioting. She says after churchgoers left they burned the church. She says they also destroyed a nearby bar.

A doctor at a local hospital said at least 37 people were injured in the clashes. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not permitted to speak to press.

Theirno Mbeugne, spokesman for a local imam association, said the head imam had asked the youth to march. He said the imams did not endorse the destruction, “but they do think that the youth had reason.”

•Gaddafi

vital coastal highway that passes through Zawiya, a crucial oil-refinery city. The route links Tripoli with the Tunisian border and is one of Gaddafi’s last main supply lines.

Egypt drops plans for IMF loan amid popular distrust

E

GYPT has dropped plans to seek loans from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, Finance Minister Samir Radwan has said.

The move comes after the planned deficit in the 201112 budget was revised down from 11% to 8.6% of GDP, Mr Radwan told Reuters news agency.

An adviser told AFP news agency the decision had been partly a response to the “pressure of public opinion”.

Many of those who took

part in Egypt’s uprising denounced the role of the IMF. It was seen as bolstering the rule of now-deposed President Hosni Mubarak while imposing harsh economic conditions that benefited the rich more than the poor, says the BBC’s Arab affairs editor Sebastian Usher.

But the uprising led to a haemorrhaging of public finances, he says.

But Mr Radwan turned to the IMF in May, telling the BBC that the situation was “very difficult”, and extra funds were needed to finance

the demands of the people on the heels of the revolution.

He agreed a $3bn (£1.9bn) 12-month stand-by loan facility - an agreement which came on top of loan deals agreed with the World Bank and the African Development Bank.

Despite apparently lenient terms on which the IMF offered the loan, many Egyptians were unhappy, feeling it was a betrayal of the protest movement that had denounced the IMF as a tool of imperialism, our correspondent says.

Mr Radwan now says that following discussions with civic and business groups and the military council, the budget forecast has been revised down from a deficit of 170 billion Egyptian pounds ($28.5bn; £17.8bn) to 134 billion pounds, and loans are thus not needed at this stage.

He said Egypt would cover the greater part of the deficit from “local sources”, as well as packages from Gulf Arab states such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which he said had provided $500m in the past week as a “gift”.

Mauritanian, Malian forces raid al-Qaeda’s camp

M

AURITANIAN and Malian soldiers have raided an alQaeda camp in western Mali, defence sources said.

A Malian security source said there had been “fierce fighting” at the base in the Wagadou forest region on Friday, including the use of heavy weapons.

Wagadou, near Mauritania’s border, is an area where al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) are known to operate.

Earlier this month, Mali and Mauritania agreed to lead a joint operation to tackle the al-Qaeda offshoot.

The attack took place at about 1745 local time (1745 GMT) on Friday and involved air strikes, according to a Mauritanian source cited by AFP news agency.

The source said the “terrorists” had struck back with “heavy weapons”.

Suspected members have been arrested in several Western European countries “The definitive toll on the enemy side will only be known at dawn but it will be heavy. The tents of the camp and three vehicles have been destroyed,” the source said.

“We are in control of the situation and the zone has been secured.”

The Malian source said helicopters from Mali had been used to evacuate the wounded from the area.

Regional governments have been on high alert since the death of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan in May, amid concern that affiliated groups might plot a revenge attack.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has staged attacks and kidnapped Europeans in the region.

It emerged from Islamist groups fighting in Algeria in the 1990s.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

62

SPORT EXTRA

LAFGECA FOOTBALL LEAGUE

NIGERIA/GHANA FALLOUT

What Eguavoen told us in the interval – players H

AVING gone 1-0 down at half time in the first leg of their All African Games Qualifier against Black Meteors of Ghana at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, some players of the Dream Team V have admitted that the pep talk from chief coach of the Nigeria Under-23 team , Austin Eguavoen proved to be the motivation that turned the result in Nigeria’s favour in the second half.

Making this known to

From TUnde Liadi in Benin journalists after the match, a cross section of some of the Dream Team V players gave a true picture of what Eguavoen instructed them to do which eventually culminated in the 3-1 win over the hard-fighting Ghanaians.

The first to speak was AC Milan of Italy midfielder, Nnamdi Oduamadi who disclosed that coach Eguavoen told them to try

African Cup of Nations draw holds Oct 29

T

HE 2012 Africa Cup of Nations draw will be made on October 29 in Equatorial Guinea capital Malabo, the organisers announced on Sunday.

Co-hosts Equatorial Guinea and Gabon are automatic participants in the biennial African football showcase and Botswana and Ivory Coast have filled two of the 14 qualifying places.

The identity of the other 12 teams will be known not later than October 9 when the final elimination matches are scheduled in a six-round competition that began last September.

Egypt, winners of the tournament a record seven times including the last three editions, are unlikely to be involved in the draw as they have failed to win any of four qualifiers and lie bottom of a group headed by South Africa.

Cameroon, four-time winners of the Cup of Nations, are another African football power in danger of missing the showcase as

they trail Senegal and Democratic Republic of Congo in another pool.

Confederation of African Football (CAF) secretary general Hicham El Amrani, other CAF officials and African football stars will make the draw in which the 16 countries are split into four mini-leagues.

Group winners and runners-up advance to the quarter-finals of a tournament that will kick off on January 21 and conclude with the final on February 12 in Gabon capital Libreville.

The 2012 Cup of Nations will be the last staged in an even year with the following edition due just one year later in Libya, a venue likely to be changed because of the conflict between pro- and antiMoamer Kadhafi forces.

CAF said the change was necessary to avoid every second African tournament being staged just six months before a FIFA World Cup.

and hold possession of the ball and not try to defend because he stressed the coach told them that might be counterproductive judging by the strategy the Ghanaians adopted of playing the game in the midfield to curtail incursion into their vital area.

“We know that Ghana is always a good side and that was why we had to play to instructions at half time which led to the turnaround of the game. The coach told us to be holding the ball and keeping possession and creating space and also ensuring that we mark for each other. We adopted the style and it paid off.”

Another player who started the match, Enyimba of Aba’s Eneji Otekpa also admitted that the Ghanaians gave them the battle of their lives but were able to come back into the match after they overcame the initial fear adding that trailing a goal down at some point in the match made them scared a bit but they were urged on by the fans and the half time encouragement from coach Eguavoen.

“It was great the coaches never abused us at half time but instead they encouraged

us that we can do it and that what we have to do was to play for ourselves and try to improve on our first half display and it really paid off.”

Otekpa who was at a time in the Super Eagles under same coach Eguavoen told NationSport exclusively.

In his own reaction, the scorer of the supposed ‘insurance goal’ Edet Emmanuel Ibok admitted that the Ghanaians took over the midfield in the first half but they changed their game plan in the second half after they had studied them at the initial half.

While corroborating the view expressed by his fellow colleagues he stated that the half time pep talk from the coaches of the team was actually what turned the game around and asserted that with two goals cushion they would be going to Ghana with their fixed on completing already started job.

Nosa Igiebor’s brace and the third from Edet Ibok combined to thwart the Ghanaians’ opener through Rabiu Mohammed who caused some stir when he netted deep in to the injury time in the first half.

The second leg holds in Accra in two weeks.

Obanikoro charges youths to be focused •As Kings College clinch trophy

N

I G E R I A N Ambassador to Ghana Musliu Obanikoro at weekend charged youths to be focused so as to achieve their dreams in life and come out successful.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony of the Lagos First Generation Colleges Association (LAFGECA ‘9’)organized football competition tagged “14 Great Alumni” at the St. Gregory’s College Obalende, Obanikoro told the students to keep at what they know how to do best with persistence and determination if they must get to the top.

“The advice I have for them is that they should go all out and give it all to achieve their dreams. It is not easy to be successful in life, so you have to make lots of sacrifices. What we need to tell these young boys and girls now is that when they think big, and they work hard they will achieve success. It doesn’t matter what their background is, once they are focused and ready to do the necessary things, they will achieve it,” At the epic final match

By Innocent Amomoh decided same day, Kings College Lagos emerged winners of the LAFGECA, decided at the St. Gregory’s College pitch, Obalende, defeating Answar-Ur-Islam College, Agege, on penalties 6-4.

To clinch the coveted trophy, King’s College overcame all oppositions to book a final spot against the determined Answar-urIslam lads that held them to over a hundred minutes of action in the keenly contested encounter.

The King’s College players had opened scores, few minutes to the end to the first half, with Answar-ur-Islam equalizing barely one minute later.

Both sides came close to scoring in the second half, as gangrenous inclusions were made into vital areas. They lost begging chances in a match that lasted for over one hundred minutes.

After duration, the teams went straight into penalties, with King’s College converting all the kicks.

Answar-ur-Islam on the other hand lost two of the kicks, thereby giving the opponents the edge.

Kanu: U-23 team inches away from Dream Team I

T

HE skipper of the Dream Team I which won the Olympic Gold in Atlanta Georgia, USA in 1996, Kanu Nwankwo has stated that the Dream Team V under the tutelage of Austin Eguavoen were still inches away from stepping into the shoes of their predecessors and urging them to work harder if they want to really dom that toga.

From Tunde Liadi and Olusoji Olukayode In Benin He opined that the team was still in developmental stage and it won’t be fair on them if they were to be compared with the Dream Team 1 which also took time before a winning team could be fashioned out then, while advising that the team should be allowed to evolve a step after the other if truly the country was sincere

about building that squad that would meet the yearnings of Nigerians and will be able to equal the feat of the 1996 class.

“This is just a start. They will keep on building from today they have started that.

It is step by step and I believe we have the players. Nigeria is blessed with lots of players everywhere in the globe and I don’t think these are the only players we have got.

We still have more players coming to join them and with time they will get there.”

Speaking with journalists after Nigeria’s 3-1 win over Ghana in the initial leg of the All African Games Qualifier, Kanu said that he was pleased with the resilience

of the country’s Under-23 side when they still conjured up victory despite going one goal down at half time.

“We were 1-0 down in the first half but the good team spirit they had in the team kept them going and in the second half they came back into the game and scored three goals.

It means a lot and the most important thing is to get the result and the points which is what we got. We are going into the second leg with 3-1 in our pocket.”

He advised them not to rest on their oars but to keep on fighting harder and believe in themselves that what they did in the second half today (Saturday) should also be the way they will play when they get to Ghana for the second leg

NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL

Oshiomhole predicts Edo HE governor of Edo triumph State Adams

T

Oshiomhole has boasted that the State will emerge as the overall winner of the 18th National Sports Festival and thus edge out current holders, Delta.

Comrade Oshiomhole who was at a time the Nigerian Labour Congress (NPL) President before emerging victorious at the 2007 Gubernatorial Election made this known to journalists during the All African Games Qualifier between Nigeria and Ghana at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin stated that the supposed training tour embarked upon by their closest rivals would not in any way halt their aspiration of overtaking Delta

From Tunde Liadi and Olusoji Olukayode in Benin whom he referred to as ‘younger brother’.

“We are ready and we are the leader. The last time we took the second position but this time we are taking the first position.

We conceded to Delta our younger brother that time but this time our younger brother, Delta will concede to the senior (elder) brother Edo.” The ever lively Governor predicted that the 18th National Sports Festival slated for Port Harcourt, Rivers State would still be a straight fight between Edo and Delta States while others he reckoned would queue up after the leading duo.

THE NATION MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011

63

SPORT EXTRA

AFTERMATH OF NIGERIA LOSS

GARDEN CITY GAMES, 2011

Falcons are predictable --France coach

Festival gets N83m boost from fundraiser

•Team spent 50 hours studying opponents previous matches •Happy to beat African champions

F

RANCE Chief coach, Bruno Bini has shed light on Sunday's victory against Nigeria's Super Falcons in the on-going FIFA Women's World Cup. They beat the Nigeria side by a lone goal to brighetn their chances.

The coach explained that they had carefully studied the match tapes of the African champions for 50 hours that was put together by a monitoring group hired by the French Football Federation to gather match tapes on their opponents. 'We knew they were going to play a 4-4-2 formation judging from all their games.

From what l saw of the team, it would be impossible for them to change their tactics for this championship,' he said.

Another observation were the long balls and short passes.

He, however, gave special credt

From Ejiro Femi-Babafemi, Germany to Stella Mbachu that he likened to ex-France international, Claude Makelele for her dangerous moves.

'That was why after the second half l had to bring in two midfielders to contain Mbachu and it worked. Because it was one of those moves that resulted in the winning goal.

When asked to comment on the weakness of the team, Bini

AHEAD OF GERMANY/NIGERIA CLASH

Eucharia settles for draw F ALCONS Chief coach, Eucharia Uche has not given up on their next group match against World Champions Germany on Thursday but would be satisfied pulling a draw.

Looking disappointed after the outcome of Sunday's match aganst France, Uche said there is

From Ejiro Femi-Babafemi, Germany

no team that cannot be beaten.

She described the loss as unfortunate even though she blamed her strikers for not converting their chances.

'With due respect to Germany they are a very good side but like l have always said about football

NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL

17 year-old boxer vows to break records

A

17-year old pugilist, Mary Efenji has vowed to break records at the forthcoming 17th National Sports Festival to be held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The young female boxer, expected to compete in the 57kg category also assured the Kano State Government of bringing laurels to the state.

Efenji, who is part of the Kano

declined saying it would be a slight on his colleague and Falcons coach, Eucharia Uche.

Yet he described the team as an excellent one that could still go far in the tournament.

Yesterday's match was watched by 25,475 spectators at the Rhine Neckar Stadium in Sinsheim.

Nigeria's next game is against Germany who beat Canada 2-1 in Berlin.

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano State 120 contingent to the sports festival, told The NationSport in Kano Yesterday that she is in high spirit and well prepared for the battle ahead.

She said “as a boxer, this is my fist time to represent a big state like Kano, in the National Sports Festival.

“My desire is to bring honour and glory to the state, in view of the encouragement given to me by my parents and the tremendous motivation given to us by the state government.

Efenji, who is an SS3 student at a secondary school in Kano, said “My main aim is to win and not to fail, because God is my strength and I know He would see me through.

that anything is possible. So anybody thinking that Nigeria could lose its next match does not believe in the philosophy.

She said they would be satisfied with a draw.

The comments of the Falcons coach buttresses the comments of her assistant coach, Thomas Obliers who has already conceeded victory to the World Champions.

Interestingly, Obliers is a German that was contracted by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) ahead of the competition based on his knowledge of the European side.

'We would have to battle Canada and France for the second group ticket,' he told NationSport prior to the opening game.

As it is right now, Nigeria's loss to France who are the UEFA Champions leaves the Falcons on a tight rope.

A second loss would effectively end their campaign.

P

REPARATIONS for the successful hosting of the 17th National Sports Festival (NSF), tagged “Garden City Games 2011” received a boost on Saturday night with the sum of N83 million realized at a fund raising dinner.

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, speaking at the dinner held at the Atlantic hall of the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, called on well meaning Nigerians in both the public and private sectors to partner with the State Government to ensure the success of the festival.

The Governor, represented by his deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru, who is the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and Vice Chairman of the Main Organizing Committee (MOC), said that the capacity of the organizers will be enhanced when there is robust synergy between the government, the private sector and other stakeholders.

He also noted that “nothing will be deemed too small or too big, whether physical cash, logistics of any kind, or any other resources.”

He went ahead and described the sports fiesta as “indeed, the nation’s Jubilee showpiece,” saying it will engender sports as “a lucrative national economic mainstay, while assuring that

From Florence Nkem Israel, Port-Harcourt participants will be “treated to a good taste of entertaining sports, excellent hospitality and engaging stay at the event”.

Speaking also at the dinner, Chairman of the MOC and Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr Patrick Ekeji, represented by the Secretary of the MOC, Alhaji Abba Yola commended the State Government and the LOC for striving to ensure that the facilities for the games were ready, saying all the venues now have electricity, water and other amenities, disclosing also that all participating State contingents have been allotted accommodation at the Games Village.

Corporate bodies which made various donations at the event included lead bankers to the festival, Equatorial Trust Bank Plc (ETB), with the highest donation of N50 million, Skye Bank Plc, N20 million, Integrated Logistics (Intels), N5 million, Rivers State House of Assembly, N3 million, Association of Local Government Chairmen in Nigeria (ALGON), N2.3 million, STEMCO and Zerock, N1 million each, Wilberforce Nigeria Limited, N.5 million and Wooden Nigeria Limited, N100,000, among others.

WHO SAID WHAT

MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

‘Kiriji War I was over the noble quest for self-determination. But Kiriji War II, despite all the emotive claptrap and impassioned firepower, is over a suspect quest.’

OLAKUNLE ABIMBOLA

VOL. 6, NO. 1,801

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

T

HESE are days of solitude for President Goodluck Jonathan. I mean that word in a political sense. When a chief executive is lonely, it is usually not a happy time. Lonely times are dreary, with the chief executive recumbent on the bed, staring into space.

No vocation, or silence, or family retreat, or the company of fertile advisers can mitigate the intensity of this hour. That was what former United States President Theodore Roosevelt designated as “the man in the arena.” He is like a boxer in the ring, the man who is supposed to kick a penalty shot to give his country a clutch victory, or the goal keeper who should save a pivotal win for his team. The decision is not for anybody.

It is a decision for one man. The motif of a lonely Richard Nixon in the White House always haunts his successors. In his dark suit, alone in a twilight hue, Nixon stoops. In his memoirs, a tome of over a thousand pages, Nixon almost exalts on Roosevelt’s musings on the man in the arena.

These days Jonathan has been in quite some lonely hours. Lonely hours over Boko Haram, over minimum wage, over the price of fuel, over the incubus of power outages.

One of the immediate promptings of loneliness arises from the exigency to pick a cabinet. Many of his friends, associates, godfathers, political uncles, matriarchs and fellow trench mates in the struggle to win the presidency are asking him for a payback. Many are called in the political circle. Few of them have to be chosen.

After he won the race, calls have abounded for him to pick competent hands. Many have said Jonathan should fill his cabinet with technocrats. I often laugh at such suggestions.

Politics calls for firm decisions, but firmness is not enough to make you succeed.

Jonathan has gone through a long battle to get to the presidential throne. He enlisted a lot of alliances. There have been groups, persons, associations, et al. Some of them were not solicited, some of them thrust themselves on him, some others were borne out of his out-flung hands to them for help. In the throes of the Yar’Adua illness, we saw him struggle in silence. We knew of the governors and members of the cabinet who rose in his defence. Some played the internecine games of intrigues for him. Some consulted as elders, some prayed for him with clerics.

Some tapped the idols of the tribe, enlisting the support of their kinsmen and women.

Jonathan also dug into the campaigns for president with doggedness. He barnstormed from state to state. He must have leveraged a lot of state resources, but some also contributed their resources, and they all saw them as investments.

Now the battles are over. But they are not over. “During the campaigns, I worried over

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

samo@thenationonlineng.net 08054501081(sms only) •Winner, Informed Commentary 2009 (D.A.M.E) •Columnist of the Year 2009 (NMMA)

Jonathan and the cabinet ‘You have to work with a president but does the technocrat understand the working of government or the thinking of the president? He just does not pick them and expect them to perform. They have to key into his vision and temperament.

Both are important’ •Jonathan

losing elections. Now, I am worried over winning the presidency,” quipped President Barack Obama, when he was receiving his first security briefing as the “first customer” of the CIA. That is recorded in Obama’s Wars, a book written by Bob Woodward, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist of Watergate fame.

Winning an election is sometimes as tough as governing. You always strive to win. In the life of politicians, it is a perpetual challenge. Now Jonathan is in the arena. Who does he pick? Should he go for a technocrat?

The argument for a technocrat is often naïve.

How do you go ahead to the private sector and pick a man who has done well in manufacturing, or in banking, or as a teacher and merely accept that he would perform because he succeeded in his chosen field? It is prob-

RIPPLES Article on Awo: APOLOGISE OR ELSE FACE WHATEVER CONSEQUENCES – Yoruba tells Omatseye

It’s a LIE!...YORUBAS are WELL INFORMED

lematic.

You have to work with a president but does the technocrat understand the working of government or the thinking of the president?

He just does not pick them and expect them to perform. They have to key into his vision and temperament. Both are important.

That also means he should jettison all those who have worked for him and stood by him all these years. These people probably understand him better. They can second guess him, anticipate his moods and body language. If all these people worked for him, how does he jettison them in the name of technocrats?

Maybe, it would have worked if he enlisted the technocrats with him in the dark days of the campaigns, so these people abided with him in the heat on the hustings. Some may

HARDBALL

D

EPENDING on which side of the fence you sit, reports of the prosecution of seven policemen for their alleged involvement in the murder of Mohammed Yusuf, leader of Boko Haram in 2009, could have come as a pleasant surprise or a rude shock.

This is especially so given that reports of the official investigation into the killings, and subsequent disciplinary actions taken against the officers, were largely kept out of media gaze – creating the impression of government inaction.

Since the trials started, there have been reports of rumblings of discontent within the ranks of the Nigeria Police over the travails of colleagues who they argue were fighting a deadly foe under difficult circumstances.

There is a sense of grievance that these men, who probably thought they were doing the nation a favour, are now being hung out to dry by police brass in the face of public criticism.

Others have even suggested that the trial is just a cynical ploy by the Federal Government to score points with Boko Haram who had demanded the prosecutions as one of their truce conditions. Such suspicions are hard to dismiss given the timing of trial which came within days of the airing of the sect’s

say, pick a few technocrats, and a few politicians, as if balancing will heal the sick in the hospitals, restore power, flush out the miscreants and revive education.

It is not that easy. Even among the associates, we are seeing evidence of backstabbing, rumours, intrigues, and stories flying in the media. For instance, the Managing director of the NDDC was reported to have been arrested by EFCC when no such thing happened. The man has jousted with members of the board over procedural issues about movement of bank accounts whereas what they wanted was control. They have not in their minutes discussed at any reasonable length the issue of poverty in the Niger Delta.

They just focus, as the minutes show, on their perks and glories.

Oil minister Diezani Allison-Madueke has had to do a lot of media control as news have made the rounds about alleged misuse of privilege. The facts are still not clear, and it is still believed that some oil majors loath the second coming of the attractive woman from Bayelsa. That will put a burden on the president as she worked hard in the campaigns. But how do you pick a woman whose doings have become so controversial? Some question her competence and her overbearing style. That adds to Jonathan’s loneliness.

Also Stella Oduah has drawn some flak over some of her activities. On the Internet there is a lot of activities implying that the woman from Anambra State should not become minister. They have referred to what they think are questionable deals. Unlike Diezani, she has not yet put up a commensurate rebuttal.

They are claiming that Anambra has more competent and assured candidates.

There is the issue of Barth Nnaji, the brilliant techie who has distinguished himself internationally. My fear is not whether he would do well. He is seasoned and has developed his own power project, and he has worked with Jonathan as special adviser. He has worked a roadmap and he has developed a strong position for lean and efficient power sector. Will Jonathan have the courage to work with this man in spite of the fulminating outpourings from the PHCN workers who are nothing but leeches?

The story of Okonjo-Iweala is a clear case of a technocrat who is known to be competent in the logic of the IMF, not in the wisdom of a developing economy. There is no doubt she will come with the gospel of Naira devaluation with the baggage of inflation and a more impoverished citizenry. She never added special value to the OBJ regime except to force us to pay debts we might have soft-pedalled.

It is not a great time for Jonathan. It is an urgent time. He has to make decisions. That is his job, and it is an urgent one.

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Of scapegoats and just desserts demands.

Some have equally said the men were just obeying “orders.” What they have not disclosed is whose orders? Indeed, rather than doing the nation a favour, the suspicious manner of Yusuf’s killing plays into the hands of conspiracy theorists who claim he was silenced by powerful figures who never wanted him to take the stand for fear of what he would reveal.

A different take points to how the sect always targeted the police. In the process, they killed scores of officers and razed countless police stations. It can therefore be appreciated that in their euphoria over bagging their mortal enemy, some overzealous individuals could have lost their heads and finished off Yusuf.

One of the possible implications of the ongoing trials, it has been argued, is that it could demoralise policemen who are now being called upon to bring the resurgent terrorist group to heel.

Beyond the timing of the prosecution, however, it is difficult to fault the trials. Investigations had clearly established a basis for

going after the cops on charges of extra-judicial murder. Those who complain of scapegoating should ask themselves whether a crime was committed. If they did, they may just be getting their just desserts.

The bitter truth is that even in war, there are rules - as spelt out in the Geneva Convention. That is why today former Serbian political and military figures like Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, as well as Hutu and Tutsi leaders from the Rwandan conflict, are facing war crimes charges at The Hague.

Over the years, the Nigeria Police have come under criticism from local and international rights organisations over rampant extra-judicial executions of suspects in their custody. The criticisms have not stamped out the practice neither have the police authorities shown the will to tackle the problem head-on.

This trial may not buy peace with Boko Haram, but it could force rogue elements within the police to understand that the fact that they bear arms does not give them the right to take life unlawfully.

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