The Nation March 8, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

News Car abandoned as woman banker is abducted in Lagos P16 Sport Arsenal boss Wenger renews Odemwingie interest P24 Business House probes CBN’s donations to Boko Haram, others P12 www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

VOL. 7, NO. 2058 THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

N150.00

Dangote, Adenuga make Forbes rich list

T

•Alhaji Dangote

•Dr. Adenuga

WO Nigerian business giants – Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Dr. Mike Adenuga – are among the world’s richest, according to the 2012 Rich List published by Forbes yesterday.

Dangote, 54, with vast interests in manufacturing, is

ranked number 76 with a net worth of $11.2b.

Globacom boss Adenuga is ranked number 248 with a net worth of $4.3b.

This year, a record 1,226 billionaires made the list, with a combined net worth of $4.6 trillion, also a record.

It is up from $4.5 trillion in

2011.

Innovation, strong consumer brands and a rebounding United States stock market helped produce 128 newcomers to this year’s list and brought 17 former members back into the billionaire ranks.

Falling stock markets, par-

ticularly in China and Russia, were mainly responsible for knocking out 117 individuals.

In addition, 12 members from the 2011 list passed away, including buyout titan Theodore Forstmann Continued on page 2

Nigeria to hit adamant South Africa harder Nigeria deports 42 more as South Africa sends back five

By Yusuf Alli and Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

S

OUTH Africa should apologise today for the illegal deportation of 125 Nigerian passengers last Friday at the Oliver Thambo International Airport in Johannesburg or face tougher measures, officials said last night.

Nigeria has given five conditions to be met

by South Africa to end the impasse sparked by the incident.

They are: •unconditional apology to Nigeria over the deportation of 125 Nigerian travellers; •compensation for all the victims of the cruelty; •disciplinary action against all the officials involved in the incident; •a review of the Yellow Fever Vaccination Card policy; and •a commitment that such a diplomatic slip will not reoccur A Ministry of Foreign Affairs source, who pleaded not to be named, said: “We are awaiting the response of South Africa to our demands by Thursday (today).

“Just wait till Thursday and SEE you will be proud to be a Nifrom the steps we are ALSO gerian going to take.”

PAGES The row continued last 4&5 night, with Nigeria deporting 42 more South Africans, who flew into Lagos aboard a South Africa Airways flight 060.

South Africa retaliated by turning back five Nigerians, also last night. Two of the Nigerians flew Arik Air . The others were on South African Airways.

The Nation learnt that the African Union may have intervened in the diplomatic row Continued on page 2

•A science teacher, Mr Mukaila Kolawole, demonstrating a process at the World Bank Step B Project of the University of Ibadan(UI) at a seminar on Girls go for Sciences in Ibadan ... yesterday PHOTO: NAN

‘Why Boko Haram attacks churches’ D ETAINED Boko Haram leaders - Abu Qaqa and Kabiru Sokoto – have told State Security Service (SSS) detectives why the sect attacks churches and schools.

Qaqa, who is the spokesman of the sect, was arrested in February after he had disguised

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

variously with many names, such as Mohammed Shuaibu, Mohammed Bello, Abu Tiamiya, and Abdulrahman Abdullahi.

Kabiru Sokoto, who had earlier escaped from police custody, was re-arrested on February 10 in Mutum Biyu Village around

Wukari-Jalingo.

The two Boko Haram leaders, according to sources, explained the sect’s mission and why churches and schools are being targeted.

It was also learnt that they opened up on why the traditional rulers in the North could not stop the sect.

Sokoto and Qaqa allegedly admitted plans by the sect to restrict the powers of the Sultan to only political leadership instead of being the spiritual leader of Muslims.

A source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: “We have had another fresh Continued on page 2

•CITYBEATS P16 •SPORTS P23 •EDUCATION P25 •POLITICS P43 •N/HEALTH P48 Continued on page 2

Continued on page 2

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

NEWS Why we acted, by South Africa Continued from page 1

•Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and the Chairman of National Refineries Task Force, Dr. Idika Kalu Idika, during the inauguration of the Task Force at the NNPC Towers ... on Tuesday.

Dangote, Adenuga make Forbes rich list Continued from page 1

and Apple’s Steve Jobs, whose widow, Laurene Powell Jobs, takes his spot on the 2012 list.

Overall, 460 billionaires got richer, 441 got poorer and 180 held steady. This year’s billionaires come from 58 countries. The United States remains home to more billionaires than any other nation, with 425, a gain of 12.

But only three of the 10 richest, hail from the United States, one fewer than last year. Mainland China and Russia have 95 and 96, respectively, on the list, down from 115 and 101 last year.

The BRIC nations, which were such a force of wealth creation a year ago, have 26 fewer 10-figure fortunes,

with only Brazil adding to its bounty.

Carlos Slim Helú of Mexico tops the ranks for the third consecutive year, but the gap between him and Bill Gates tightened. Slim’s fortune, at $69 billion, is down $5 billion from a year ago. He was one of seven in the top 20, including Warren Buffett and Larry Ellison, whose fortunes slipped.

Gates, whose foundation helped wipe out polio in India, was $5 billion richer, at $61 billion, thanks to the rising value of Microsoft (MSFT) shares. French businessman Bernard Arnault, remains in the number four spot this year.

Amancio Ortega, the man behind fashion chain Zara,

moved into the top five for the first time. Lakshmi Mittal of India, who runs the world’s largest steel company, ArcelorMittal (MT), was the year’s biggest loser.

His fortune plummeted by $10.4 billion, knocking him out of the top 10 for the first time since 2004.Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg is worth $17.5 billion, up $4 billion from a year ago.

Zuckerberg is in line to move up in next year’s rankings, as Facebook is poised to go public this spring. Notable newcomers with stellar brands include Kevin Plank, founder of performance apparel maker Under Armour (UA), and Sara Blakely, with her Spanx line of shapewear.

between the two countries.

Some leaders are said to be pleading with President Goodluck Jonathan to overlook the excesses of South African President Jacob Zuma.

Another source said: “I think the AU has stepped into the crisis, in view of the strategic roles of Nigeria in Africa. The AU is worried because Nigeria is the largest contributor to peace-keeping operations in Africa.

“Some countries are pleading with President Jonathan not to give President Zuma a chance to divide the Union.

“They have also reminded Nigeria of its sacrifice to make South Africa and other Frontline States become independent nations.

“Consultations have been on with pressure on Nigeria to play a big brother role.”

There is reprieve for South Africans entering Nigeria aboard Arik Air. They are not affected by the deportation.

Only South Africans coming into the country through the South African Airways (SAA) are being deported.

“In line with our new reci-

procity policy, we also decided to limit the deportation to only South Africans coming into Nigeria through SAA. “Any South African who arrives in Nigeria aboard Arik Air will not be deported.”

Responding to a question, the source said: “We will not stop the deportation until we reach the 125 limit deported last Friday by Immigration officials in South Africa. It is an eye for an eye.

“Already, intelligence reports have indicated that most South Africans, who came to Nigeria with Business Visas, are in paid employment. We have proof of falsified records.

“Those in this category will soon be deported too.”

But a spokesman for South Africa’s home affairs department Ronnie Mamoepa, said the decision to deport the Nigerians stemmed purely from concerns about health.

“It’s not an immigration issue, it’s a health matter ...

Nobody without a yellow fever certificate is allowed into the country and that’s what

this is.” He was quoted by Reuters.

At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, airlines and immigration officials were busy screening passengers bound ‘for South Africa, with a view to ensuring that they possess relevant valid documents to ensure they are not denied entry at the Oliver Tambo Airport in Johannesburg.

Some of the passengers intervened explained that it was right for the Federal Government to have retaliated on account of what they describe as the unruly attitude of South African officials both at the High Commission offices in Nigeria and at the airport in Johannesburg.

One passenger who identified himself as Gregory Wendi, explained that he has lived in South Africa for some years, amid maltreatment by the authorities.

The Port Health unit attached to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, was busy with passengers regularising their Yellow Card.

Tambuwal laments loss of $10bn from gas

H

OUSE Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal yesterday lamented the loss of $10 billion revenue from gas sub-sector following poor infrastructure.

Tambuwal, who spoke while receiving Mr Babs Omotowa, the Managing Director of Nigeria Liquefied and Natural Gas (NLNG), said there is need for Nigerians at various ex-

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

alted positions to contribute meaningfully to human capital development in the country.

The Speaker noted that non-development of the human capacity in the country will eventually translate to denying the country more share of the world market in the gas sub-sector.

His words: “I learnt that if we don’t do something quickly, this will further shrink to less than five per cent in the next few years.

This is bad news. Because at that time, the US which is still mainly a net importer would have concluded current plans and become a major exporter, thus denying us even more share of the world market.“

Why Boko Haram attacks churches, schools, by detainees Continued from page 1

interaction with Abu Qaqa and Kabiru Sokoto on the actual mission of the sect.

“They gave useful information, which can help the intelligence community to understand the psyche of the sect members.”

The source quoted the two leaders as saying: “We had a grand plan to Islamise Nigeria, starting with the North.

We felt that a lot of Muslims were not practising the religion faithfully as they should.

“Part of the plan was to reduce the powers of the Sultan to traditional rulership functions only while all religious authority would be vested with our leader (to be based in Yobe).

“We believed there were so many things wrong with the present arrangement of combining tradition with religion and on one man.

“The plans to attack churches and schools were not a reaction to any provocation. The plans had been there. You know why the churches had to go. Those schools, for instance, were not teaching the children, according to ways of our faith.

“These were part of our initial plans of allowing only Islamic schools and wiping away the so-called secular schools. Though a lot of us who had gone to school saw this approach as too rigid since we could use the medium to propagate the faith faster, but we were few and equally scared of being la-

Fed Govt adopts white paper on Boko Haram committee

G

OVERNMENT yesterday approved a White Paper on the report of the Presidential Committee on security challenges in the Northeast.

But it declined to make public the document until after it has been gazetted by the Ministry of Justice.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) reviewed the report of the Abba Moro Committee, which was set up to review the report of the Ambassador Usman Gaji Galtimari-led Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the Northeast. It was submitted on September 26, last year. The committee was mandated to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the security challenges.

Minister of Interior Moro, who spoke to reporters alongside Minister of Information Labaran Maku at the end of the FEC meeting yesterday, said the government accepted most of the recommendations contained in the

belled traitors to face the ultimate consequence. We wanted to reform the schools to conform to our practice.

“On the traditional institution, any ruler that would have obstructed our plans would have regretted his action.”

Boko Haram has set more than a dozen schools on fire, Human Rights Watch said yesterday. Since the beginning of this year, suspected Boko Haram members have attacked, damaged, and, in a few cases, destroyed at least 12 schools in and around Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, temporarily

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

Galtimari report. He added that the solutions suggested would be applied to other trouble spots.

Going by the adoption yesterday, the Federal Government may have settled for dialogue with Boko Haram, given that it is part of the recommendations of the committee.

Minister of Information Maku said: “In the immediate, I think it is only proper to let you know that government accepted most of the recommendations of the committee that are intended essentially to bring about peace and address some of the issues raised by the members of the sect that have been perpetrating violence in parts of Nigeria.

Government, in consideration of the white paper, also realises that some of the issues raised cut across Nigeria and so the measures that will be applied in these areas of the Northeast zone will certainly also apply to other parts of the country.

leaving several thousand children without access to education.

“Boko Haram’s attacks on schools represent a new and reprehensible development since the group began its campaign of violence in 2009,” said Zama CoursenNeff, deputy children’s rights director at Human Rights Watch. “Children and educational institutions should be left alone, full stop.”

Around February 20, the first three schools – Kulagumma Primary School, Abbaganaram School, and Budum Primary School – were set on fire. Between Feb-

“For instance, on the issue of indigeneship and settlership, the recommendation of the committee is that government should emulate the situation in Sokoto State where there is no discrimination in terms of education and employment. And so these are issues that affect the lives of Nigerians. Issues and recommendation of creation of employment opportunities were raised and government has accepted to encourage state governments and local governments to collaborate with the Federal Government. It is our hope that by the time these issues are documented and presented. They will address the very basic issues that create agitation in Nigeria that we would have peace, then, economic and political development can take place.”

The Galtimari panel recommended dialogue with Boko Haram.

The executive summary of the report to government urged the Federal Government to consider dialogue once the sect renounces violence.

ruary 26 and 29, at least four schools were burned, and on March 1, five schools were set ablaze in what appeared to be a coordinated attack, including Sunshine Stars Secondary School and Success Secondary School, which had an enrollment of 700. As a result of the attacks, news reports state that at least 5,000 students are staying home from school.

A purported spokesman for Boko Haram, Abul Qaqa, has claimed the group’s responsibility for the attacks on schools and threatened further violence. In emails and phone calls to local and foreign journalists, he asserted

the attacks were in response to attacks against Quranic schools and the arrest of local clerics by members of the security forces. Nigerian officials have long accused some Islamic teachers in this area of using their Quranic schools as recruitment and training grounds for new Boko Haram members.

On February 26, Qaqa claimed that the February 20 attacks were in retaliation for raids by the state security forces on Islamic schools in Maiduguri and “indiscriminate arrests of students of Quranic schools by security agents.” On March 5, local and

foreign correspondents reported receiving a message from Qaqa that claimed responsibility for all the recent attacks on schools, including an attempt to burn a school that morning. The March 5 attack was reportedly thwarted by the Nigerian military, resulting in the deaths of three Boko Haram members. Qaqa was reported in the local media to have said, “Certainly, if Quranic education will not be allowed to continue, then secular and Western education will not continue also.”

All of the attacks have occurred either at night or in the early morning hours. On February 26, Qaqa was quoted as saying, “We are attacking the public schools at night because we don’t want to kill innocent pupils.”

Attacks on schools by armed groups not only put children and teachers’ lives at risk, but they may also deprive children of an education, Human Rights Watch said. Schools may close and children drop out entirely. Even when classes resume after an attack, the quality of education may suffer when students and teachers are afraid and learning materials are damaged. Threats of attacks may also force neighboring schools to close or parents to keep their children at home.

Nigeria is a party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, both of which guarantee children the right to education.

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

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

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NEWS NIGERIA-SOUTH AFRICA ROW

‘We must let South Africa know we C

HIEFTAIN of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Audu Ogbeh, Lagos Catholic Archdiocese spokesman Monsignor Gabriel Osu and Prof.

Pat Utomi have expressed sadness at the treatment meted out to Nigerians by South Africa.

Ogbeh told The Nation on telephone yesterday that for too long, Nigerians have suffered unjust indignity in foreign lands just because they are Nigerians and time has come for Nigeria to put a stop to it.

“For a long time Nigerians have always been maligned and maltreated wherever they go and on what ground one can’t really tell.

“Now in the case of South Africa, we must let every South African know what Nigeria went through in trying to defend them against apartheid. It is the same thing that we did in Angola and Namibia”, he said.

Ogbeh argued that though it would be best for the two countries to cooperate and work together for the progress of the continent, adding that if South Africa continues the way it has been doing, then Nigeria should reciprocate in similar fashion.

He recalled that the Federal government of Nigeria provided shelter and everything for Thambo Mbeki, a former president of South Africa in Lagos during the apartheid days.

He said: “Thambo Mbeki used to live in Obanlende during the apartheid years. He was fed and cared for by the Nigerian government.

“Now they treat use as the scum of the earth. Nigeria had always played the big brother and so nothing would be better for Africa and the world than for the two countries to cooperate and work together in overall African interest.

But if South Africa continues the way it is doing, then reciprocity is the ultimate answer. And we must adopt that to every country on this earth, which makes the mistake of maltreating Nigerians just because

Airport deportations cause diplomatic strain between Nigeria and South Africa

A

SERIES of airport deportations by South African and Nigerian authorities has sparked a growing diplomatic row between the two African nations.

Last week, South Africa deported 125 Nigerians arriving to Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport on an Arik Air Ltd. flight from Nigeria. Health authorities there said those passengers carried fraudulent yellow fever cards, Nigeria’s government has said.

Since those deportations, authorities at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Nigeria have deported at least 84 South Africans over similar claims about their vaccination cards, two government officials who requested anonymity said yesterday. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they weren’t authorised to speak about the issue.

Yellow fever vaccination cards, though required throughout much of Africa, often serve as a means for officials to extort bribes from travelers who forget their cards. In Nigeria, health authorities often target foreigners coming in for work at foreign oil firms in the nation’s cruderich southern delta. Yellow fever cards also remain easy to purchase, with hawkers selling properly stamped cards outside of Lagos’ inBy Augustine Avwode

they are Nigerians.

“We have turned our cheeks so many times that we have broken our jaws times without number. And so I am proud of the stand of the Fed-

•Ashiru

•Monyela

ternational airport for the equivalent of $5.

Nigeria Foreign Minister Olugbenga Ashiru, speaking at the National Assembly on Tuesday, said the deportations represented something more than a vaccination concern. Ashiru said it represented the ongoing “xenophobia” faced by Nigerian immigrants living in South Africa who face rampaging police who arrest them without cause.

In South Africa, many there blame Nigerian immigrants for contributing to the nation’s high crime rate.

“When you deport two Nigerians from your country on flimsy excuses, there will be appropriate reaction. It will not be retaliation but you will

know that we are reciprocating one way or the other,” Ashiru said.

“South African immigration authorities or officials do not have a monopoly of deporting travelers.”

Clayson Monyela, a spokesman for South Africa’s Foreign Ministry, said his country planned to issue a statement yesterday.

Visa requirements remain strict between the two countries. Diplomatically, the two nations also hold differing views, including Nigeria supporting Libya’s rebels during the nation’s recent civil war. Nigeria also joined international forces calling for the ouster of Ivory Coast’s Laurent Gbagbo in 2010, while South Africa largely remained quiet.

eral Government and I want to pray that from now on there shouldn’t be any looking back.”

He lamented that both Angola and Namibia also treated Nigeria with much disdain after all Nigeria

did to help them gain independence.

Osu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN): “And for them to be so hostile to our people is very sad.

Many Nigerians in South Africa to-

• President Jacob Zuma

day have no good report about the relationship of the people with them, and carrying that hostility to a different level beats my imagination.

“Enough of this nonsense; it is high time our own government called a spade a spade,” Osu said.

The Catholic spokesman urged the Federal Government to take up the matter and let its voice be heard more clearly on international issues.

He said Nigeria and South Africa are leading African countries who must do whatever it takes to create harmony on the continent.

He urged South African to emulate Nigeria’s accommodating vir-

A day at the South African Embassy Despite the diplomatic row between Nigeria and South Africa, it was business as usual at the South High Commission in Lagos on Tuesday, reports Joke Kujenya

T

HE weather was good but the atmosphere around the embassy was tense. Applicants discussed in hushed tones the deportation of Nigerians from South Africa, the country whose visa they were queuing up for.

“My friends persuaded me into joining the mad rush for business in South Africa. It wasn’t something I easily drifted into. Then, my wife joined my team of ‘persuaders’ and here I am to collect visa to visit South Africa for the first time in my life.

All this started since last year,” said one of the applicants.

Scores of other visa hopefuls on a long queue at the South African Embassy at 24, Molade Okoya-Thomas Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria, on Tuesday, also had stories to tell about why they were seeking to leave the country.

The reporter was also on the queue to get the feel. Then, the man asked me: “have you taken your documents to the VFS Visa Application Centre at 25, Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos?”

“Not yet,” I replied. “Well, you have to,” he added, “You can only come here after you have dropped your documents with them and your visa fee and service charge already paid at the bank and then, the agency

has to clear you for appointment.”

There were both women and men on the queue. Some kept to themselves, out of apprehension that they could be denied visa due to the ongoing face-off between the Nigerian and the South African authorities.

A Lagos lawyer, who would not give his name, recounts his experience: “I have been travelling to South Africa for good reasons for God knows how long. Yet, getting a Visa has never been a pleasant experience for me. Here they act as if each time you apply, you remain a stranger. Let me tell you about the snags of strict immigration policies meted out to applicants by the South African Embassy. Well, you could say all the embassies are guilty of this. The worst is that these security officials are fellow Nigerians.

“Here, human dignity means nothing to them. They have shown us time and again their deliberate attempt to violate immigration laws in relation to human rights. They even boast that it is within the jurisdiction of their rights as their nation’s consular to impose rules that are in sharp contrast to fulfilling the services promised to the citizens of their host nation.

“For instance, I got here since 8.30am. The South African embassy

• File photograph of Nigerians waiting in front of the South African High Commission in Lagos.

was supposed to have opened by 9am. By that time the crowd of applicants had converged at the entrance. The next thing you see in their arrogance is that, the door, on countless occasions that I have come here, will not be opened until 10.00am. Then you now see the two policemen with their rifles-in-hand ordering everyone to move further away from the door of the entrance.

The applicants, some who did not sleep well in their houses for the

night, start pushing to be the first to get in. “ Another applicant named Femi said: “This is my first time here. I normally use a guy we also call ‘Femi’. Well, you could call him a tout, but he has contacts at embassies. And no one can tell me any rubbish about not using these boys. He gets my visas, yellow fever cards and all that I need. I am here today because the boy is sick at home. He actually gave me another person to

work with and the person asked me to come in person today. So, if I have been getting my visas, and I already have two yellow fever cards since I have been travelling, they cannot tell me that it is only Nigerians working with this cartel. That’s not possible.”

As this reporter took her leave, many were still waiting patiently, and with apprehension, to see if mother luck will smile on them.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

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NEWS NIGERIA-SOUTH AFRICA ROW

defended them’ ‘ We have turned our cheeks so many times that we have broken our jaws times without number. And so I am proud of the stand of the Federal Government and I want to pray that from now on there shouldn’t be any looking back

• Ogbeh

tue in order to earn the respect and support of other African countries.

Utomi urged the World Health Organisation to undertake a global review of the controversial yellow fever vaccination, to prevent current discrepancy in its implementation.

Speaking with NAN, Utomi urged the world health body to review the yellow fever card issue.

Utomi said “The deportation row does not speak well of the work done by the African Union” and advised South Africa and Nigeria to follow global norms.

“This issue is a general wake up call for Africa. Though sovereignty

• From Left: Wife Of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan, wife Of Senate Presedint, Mrs Helen Mark And Mrs Laraba Zegi at the flag-off of the ‘Thank You Tour and Peace Advocacy Campaign’ in Abuja ...yesterday PHOTO: NAN

‘

allows for countries to do as they choose, there must be a meeting point. “`Even at the height of the Cold War, contacts were established for talks,’’ Utomi said.

He said that Nigerian and South African leadership had an obligation to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, saying that the continuing row would be detrimental to the interest of both countries and Africa in general.

Utomi wondered why yellow fever vaccination was a problem for South Africa, if it was not required from Nigerians traveling to countries such as Britain and the U.S.

•Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike (right), South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria Jong-hyun Choi and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Prof. Nicholas Damachi during the ambassador’s visit to the minister ...on Tuesday

Diplomatic tiff nothing new

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NIGERIA and South Africa are locked in a diplomatic row after Africa’s economic giant threw out 125 visitors from the West African country last week.

South African immigration officials accused the Nigerians of having “improper documentation of yellow fever cards.” And on Tuesday Nigeria reiterated by denying entry to 28 South Africans on the same grounds.

“We are also deporting them back to South Africa. The Presidency has been notified of this action,” a Nigerian immigration official told reporters on Tuesday.

“We will no longer overlook certain procedures, which we have condoned in the spirit of African brotherhood.”

South Africa’s immigration department had insisted that it did not accept the certificates for yellow fever vaccination from the Nigerians because the signatures on them were irregular. Nigeria lodged a formal protest with Pretoria over the matter.

The West African country’s diplomats in South Africa also expressed dissatisfaction over the treatment of Nigerians in that country. They demanded that those deported be refunded the travel costs.

But whilst observes have already begun predicting a fall out between Africa’s two largest economies, reports of alleged illtreatment of Nigerians in South Africa is not new.

Nigerian nationals are often depicted as criminals in high profile South Africa movies and have reportedly become targets of immigration and police scrutiny.

And at one time former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo was also forced to investigate the alleged abuse during a visit to South Africa.

High-profile victims of South African antagonism toward Nigerian visitors include Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, who later received an official apology.

Former Aviation minister, Kema Chikwe, was detained by immigration officials in 2001 who insisted that she must be vaccinated against yellow fever and quarantined.

Questions over the vanishing hospitality once shown by South Africa towards Nigerians in apparent appreciation for supporting the anti-apartheid movement abound in the aftermath of the controversy. But South Africans allege that Nigerian organised crime groups; mostly involved in illegal drug trafficking has grown over the years.

During the apartheid era in South Africa, the Nigerian government issued more than 300 passports to South Africans seeking to travel abroad as part of its support for the struggle.

•A cross section of winners posing with Glo Ambassadors Christian Doherty, Ali Nuhu and Desmond Elliot at the cheque presentation ceremony to new winners in the Glo N1 Billion SIM registration promo held in Abuja

•Director-General, National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Gen. Nnamdi Okere-Afia, presenting a souvenir to Abia State Governor Theodore Orji when he visited him in Umuahia...yesterday

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

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NEWS Mark in 25 minutes tooth extraction

Senate urges judiciary to sit up

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

SENATE President David Mark yesterday underwent a 25-minute tooth extraction at the National Hospital, Abuja.

Mark, who arrived at the hospital at 10.am, according to a statement by his media aide Paul Mumeh, was ushered into the theatre by Consultant Maxillo - Facial Surgeon, Dr. Bayo Aluko – Olokun.

The statement reads in part: “He was in the National Hospital for tooth extraction.

“The President of the Senate left after 25 minutes having been certified medically by the team of doctors.

Commenting on the treatment, Dr. Aluko – Olokun said “Mark was in good stead.

“Personal Physician to the Senate President, Dr. David Ukoha said he was satisfied with the treatment.”

NIMET boss cautions pilots

By Kelvin Osa- Okunbor

AIRLINE operators have been cautioned against what meteorologists called thunder storm between May/June and October.

Managing Director of Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Dr. Anthony Anoforum gave the warning in a statement yesterday.

He said the thunder storms which will begin this month will climax in June with another occurring in October in Lagos, adding that Abuja will also experience it.

Anoforum said: “Our airlines should be cautious during this raining period, they need to be very careful because this is the time associated with thunder storms.

This is the time that very dangerous clouds that come up and make flight dangerous”.

CJN writes Chief Judge From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

WORRIED about the numerous high-profile corruption cases, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Dahiru Musdapher has written the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta.

His Media Adviser, Muhammad Adamu made this known in a statement yesterday in Abuja.

According to the statement, the CJN, while receiving a team led by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Miscellaneous Offences Commission (ICPC) Acting Chairman, Ekpo Nta, in his chambers, reassured the commission that speedy trial especially of corruption cases, shall continue to be the high point of the judiciary reform initiatives.

This, he said informed his directive/request, on assumption of office, to the various heads of courts and to relevant prosecutorial agencies for an inventory of all such pending cases before them and a brief on the different reasons they have not been concluded.

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

T

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola flanked by his deputy Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori and his Chief of Staff Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, during a Biometric Data Registration Exercise for Identity Cards by Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme Cadet at the Governors Office, Osogbo…yesterday

ACN to President: you got it wrong on one-man show parties

T

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (AC N) yesterday pooh-poohed the President’s comment, describing other parties as running one-man shows.

The party asked President Goodluck Jonathan to “take a long, hard look at himself in the mirror if he truly wants to see the face of a leader who is fast turning his party into a one-man show.

“Saying the PDP is the only truly democratic party and that other parties are one-man shows is a cruel irony, coming shortly after this same President brushed aside the constitution of his party and singlehandedly installed the Governor of his state,’’ the ACN said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai

By Sunday Omoniyi

Mohammed, in Lagos.

“We see the comments attributed to the President, which we have waited for him to deny to no avail, as one of the many gaffes which have come to define the Jonathan Presidency, rather than a statement to be taken seriously,’’ the party said.

ACN advised the President to always show deep introspection in his public comments, because he is not just presiding over any country, but one with the largest concentration of black people on earth, which bestows a lot of responsibility on him.

“If the President is not accusing Lagosians and their teenage children of consum-

ing most of the ‘subsidised’ fuel in the country, he is lending his weight to anti-democratic tendencies by tacitly supporting the stoning of Governors who fail to perform in office.

These divisive and antidemocratic tendencies are not the attributes of a leader who wants to be great,’’ the party stressed.

It said the comments attributed to President Jonathan, in which he disparaged other political parties, may have been tolerable if made by the chairman of his party or any other PDP official, rather than the President who is the father of the nation.

The party went on: “The President must learn to rise above certain issues and do

•Mohammed

things that will enhance the respect the citizenry have for his office, rather than rushing to exhibit soap-box mentality when the occasion does not call for it.

“As for which party is democratic and which one is not, or which administration has unleashed unspeakable hardship and calamity on the citizens we leave that judgement to Nigerians, instead of a highly-partisan and easily excitable President,’’ ACN said

HE Senate yesterday advised members of the judiciary to take their job more seriously to justify the support being given to them by the legislature.

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu gave the piece of advice during a debate on a Bill titled: “A Bill for an Act to amend the Federal High Court Act to make provision for increase in the number of Judges of the Federal High Court from 70 to 100 and for other related matters 2012.”

The Bill which received overwhelming support from lawmakers was read for the second time.

Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary said: “ The time we have spent in discussing this Bill underscores the importance we attach to the judiciary and the support we have always given them both in budgetary matters and otherwise.

“I think the judiciary should be able to live above board at all times.

“So we have restated our commitment to support the judiciary both in budgetary terms and legislative terms to ensure that they perform optimally.

“So we expect that they too will take their job seriously and be able to justify this support we are giving them and the confidence of Nigerians in the institution of our judiciary.”

Although the Bill was sponsored by Ekweremadu, the lead debate was led by Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba on the ground that the day’s sitting was presided over by Ekweremadu.

PDP chair: Presidency, governors near consensus on candidate •Saraki reaches out to governors

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HERE were signs yesterday that the Presidency and governors are nearing consensus on National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

A former chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Dr. Bukola Saraki, is pleading with governors to respect President Goodluck Jonathan’s wish on the choice of chairman.

The choice of National Secretary seems not to be as knotty as chairman. The party is said to have conceded the choice to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He is to pick the candidate for the office.

President Jonathan and the governors have narrowed the list five candidates – after intense consultations.

The 11 aspirants for the national chairman are: former Governor of the defunct Gongola State Bamanga Muhammed Tukur; National Publicity Secretary Prof. Rufai Alkali; former Commerce Minister Idris Waziri(Taraba); former Agriculture Minister Shettima Mustapha; National Secretary Musa Babayo; former Agriculture Minister Adamu Bello and former National Chairman of the defunct Grassroots Democratic Movement, (GDM) Gambo

Senators move to strengthen hold on party

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EOPLE Democratic Party (PDP) Senators yesterday initiated move to strengthen their hold on the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, who addressed reporters after over two-hour closed-door meeting in Abuja, said their focus was not to checkmate the influence of their governors.

Ndoma-Egba noted that the meeting was informed by the need to increase their representation at the NEC. He said the issue of poor representation of National Assembly members at the council came up at the last meeting without resolution.

He said the position of the lawmakers is that every state should have at least one Senator and one House of Representatives member in the NEC. He said: “The matter came up in the last National Executive Committee meeting and we could not resolve it.

“The President set up a smaller committee, discussions are still on-going and we are hoping that we meet again on 14 of this month.

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Abuja

Lawan (Borno).

Also in the race are former Governor Adamu Mu’azu of Bauchi State and a former Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Abba Aji. The five top contenders are: Tukur(Adamawa), Alkali (Gombe), Waziri (Taraba), Lawan (Borno) and Musa Ba-

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

“I want to believe that by that time, we would have reached an understanding amongst ourselves and the deadlock will be removed.

“We believe that every state has at least one Senator and one House of Representatives member in the NEC.” The Senate leader said that they are, as a result of their position on the composition of the NEC, seeking amendment in the PDP constitution.

He said that the proposed amendment in constitution remains a proposal until it is rectified at the national convention.

“So, all of these discussions are to enable us effect amendment to increase the representation of the National Assembly in the NEC,” he said.

He denied that the lawmakers are quarelling with governors over the issue.

He said: “We do not see ourselves as National Assembly against the governors.

“We see ourselves as all members of the same party. We want to ensure that every stakeholder, every segment of the PDP feels it is represented in the party’s respective organs.”

bayo.

A source said: “I think the outlook so far has shown that the Presidency and the governors may adopt one of the five leading aspirants as the next national chairman.

“They are near consensus on a candidate who may be unveiled before the convention date on March 24. With this development, the next chairman may also be coronated in the usual tradition of family affair of the party. I do not

envisage an elective convention as such.

“What is being done now is to probe the antecedents of these five aspirants, look into their moral pedigree and weigh their integrity.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “The influential ones in the Presidency, some governors and close political associates of the President favour Bamanga Tukur as the anointed candidate.

“But I can assure you that

the final choice may be one of the five aspirants, although it is safe to say that it is Bamanga Tukur versus others.”

It was gathered that Senator Saraki’s intervention was at the prompting of a former Chairman of the BOT, Chief Tony Anenih, who is backing Tukur.

Saraki is said to have met with Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) and Babangida Aliyu (Niger).

The source said: “When the Presidency and the governors maintained a parallel position on consensus, Anenih suggested at a meeting that Saraki could broker a deal.

“Saraki took up the challenge and reached out to the governors and maintained that it is not all the time that the President and the governors will be having issues.

“Although some Southsouth governors raised concerns about the President’s preference for the outgoing National Organising Secretary as the next Deputy National Chairman, it was agreed that the issue is better tackled by the zone.

“On why Adamawa could not occupy the National Chairman and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, it was resolved that since the present holder will retire in 2013, the post will go to another zone after his retirement.”

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

NEWS Oshiomhole thanks ACN Women for payment of form

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•Oshiomhole, with party supporters...yesterday

Boko Haram has left thousands of pupils without schools, says Human Rights Watch

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HE insurgent group Boko Haram has left thousands of pupils without schools since it started destroying schools in the North, Human Rights Watch said yesterday.

The group, in a statement, said since the beginning of 2012, suspected Boko Haram members have destroyed at least 12 schools in and around Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.

The group’s Deputy Head, Children Rights Directorate, Zama Coursen-Neff, said: “Boko Haram’s attacks on schools represent a new and reprehensible development since the group began its campaign of violence in 2009. Children and educational institutions should be left alone, full stop.

“Around February 20, the first

By Olukorede Yishau

three schools – Kulagumma Primary School, Abbaganaram School, and Budum Primary School – were set on fire. Between February 26 and 29, at least four schools were burned, and on March 1, five schools were set ablaze in what appeared to be a coordinated attack, including Sunshine Stars Secondary Schooland Success Secondary School, which had an enrollment of 700. As a result of the attacks, news reports state that at least 5,000 students are staying home from school.

“All of the attacks have occurred either at night or in the early morning hours. On February 26, Qaqa was quoted as saying, ‘We are attacking the public schools

at night because we don’t want to kill innocent pupils.’

“Attacks on schools by armed groups not only put children and teachers’ lives at risk, but they may also deprive children of an education, Human Rights Watch said. Schools may close and children drop out entirely. Even when classes resume after an attack, the quality of education may suffer when students and teachers are afraid and learning materials are damaged. Threats of attacks may also force neighboring schools to close or parents to keep their children at home.

“Nigeria is a party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, both of which guarantee children the right to education.

“Human Rights Watch is concerned

by reports that the Nigerian security forces have used excessive force, including the burning of villages, arbitrary arrests, and other abuses during some of these raids, and urges the state and national governments to ensure that all law enforcement operations are conducted in full accordance with international human rights standards.”

The group’s Senior West Africa researcher, Corinne Dufka , said: “Nigeria’s security forces have been under immense pressure to address the rising tide of attacks by Boko Haram. Besides taking measures to prevent violence, though, the authorities need to make every effort to keep the police and military from committing abuses and making matters worse.”

Militants kill Ghanaian professor in Port Harcourt

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GHANAIAN Professor of Botany at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State has been killed by suspected Niger Delta militants in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Prof. Peter Akomeah was killed along with a younger colleague while on a field study for the oil giant, Shell last Thursday.

The professor, a consulting environmentalist at the university, was on an assignment for the

Consultancy Directorate of the university.

He and his nine-member team were said to have just concluded their assignment at a small community in Port Harcourt and were waiting in a boat for one of their members to join them so that they could go back to their hotel rooms when a boat filled with suspected militants sped past them .

The four-member military escort atatched to the team consid-

ered them a threat and fired at the suspected militants, who returned fire.

The suspected militants reportedly started shooting at the escort soldiers, who allegedly fled when they ran out of bullets.

The professor and his younger colleague were killed during the attack.

Akomeah joined the university in 1983. He hailed from KonongoOdumasi in Asante Akyem in the Ashanti region of Ghana.

He recently visited his hometown

and left for Nigeria three weeks ago.

The 58-year old professor is survived by his wife, seven children and two grand children.

One of his sons, Augustine, told graphic.com.gh that his death is a tragic loss.

He pleaded with the Ghana High Commission in Nigeria to ensure that appropriate legal action is taken against his father’s killers.

“No amount of compensation can atone for our loss,” Augustine said.

‘11 million Nigerian children are malnourished’

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F the 60 million children that have stunted growth globally due to malnutrition, Nigeria accounts for 11 million, a new global report has stated.

The report, ‘A life free from hunger: Tackling Child Malnutrition’, issued by Save the Children, yesterday in Abuja predicted that if adequate measures are not taken, there would be additional 2.4 million stunted children by 2020.

The report noted that with the recent withdrawal of fuel subsidy by the government, prices of foodstuff have increased and experts fear that this would further make it difficult for many of the poorest children in the country to access basic staple foods, thereby worsening the malnutrition crisis.

It stated that despite being one of the largest oil producers in the world, nearly one out of five Nigerian children are malnourished.

Country Director of Save the Children, Susan Grant, at a news conference, said as part of efforts to

From Augustine Ehikioya and Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

address the menace, it is providing nutritional items to six million children in the North.

She said the initiative was in partnership with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and Action Against Hunger to combat hunger in the region through the programme, Working to Improve Nutrition in Northern Nigeria (WINN).

The benefitting states are: Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Jigawa and Yobe state. The programme, which commenced in September 2011, will end August 2017.

She urged the Federal Government to scale up nutrition interventions.

“Malnutrition is a global crisis. It is the underlying cause of more than 2.6 million child deaths every year. Malnutrition has been the silent crisis for too long. It is time world leaders invest in tackling child malnutri-

tion and ensure that all children have a life free from hunger.

“Last month, Nigeria held its first ever nutrition summit in Abuja to develop a roadmap to tackle child malnutrition. ,” Grant noted.

The Head, Health and child survival, Save The Children, Dr. Binyam Gebru advocated for the inauguration of the National Nutrition Council ignored since five years after it was approved by the federal executive council.

The Senior Programme Adviser, Government and Advocacy of the group, Dr. David Olayemi ,said in Nigeria, 70 per cent of all children did not meet the three criteria for a minimum acceptable diet.

He regretted that the country has so far failed to address the nutrition crisis for the poorest country. He advised the Federal Government to learn from the success stories of countries lsuch as Brazil, Bangladesh and Ghana.

The group’s Newborn and Child Health Adviser, Dr. Abimbola Williams called on women to embark on

•Health Minsiter Oyebuchi Chukwu exclusive breast feeding of their baby for the first six months of age.

She added that the feeding process should be continuous along with the appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age in order to achieve good child nutrition.

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has thanked the women of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for paying N4.7million for the ACN governorship nomination form.

Oshiomhole said he was taken aback when he was informed that the women had paid for the form while he was trying to make withdrawals at the bank in Abuja.

He spoke yesterday while addressing ACN supporters at the Benin Airport when he returned from Abuja.

The governor, who displayed copy of the nomination form, said the forthcoming election was about issues and personality.

He said: “The Edo ACN chairman said the women raised money and paid for the form.

“I want to thank them for being such wonderful women, wonderful mothers, wives and God bless you all.

“We have collected the nomination form. I want you to join me to salute the women of ACN. The elections will be based on score card and personality. It will be based on who I am and what I represent. Our opponents will tell us who they are and what they represent.”

“We will remain steadfast whether or not they like it, it is one man one vote. When the godfather was on his feet, we dismantled his rigging machine. Now that he is on oxygen mask, he cannot do anything.”

He urged them to dismissed fears that the elections will be rigged.

The women leaders said they paid for the form because they could not find anybody who can match Oshiomhole during the election.

Mrs. Modina Emovon, Mrs. Mabel Adams, Mrs. Evelyn Omokhodion, Mrs. Elisabeth Ibizube and Mrs. Esther Amadasun said it was a way of showing appreciation for a governor they love.

They said: “There is nothing wrong in buying the form. It is a way of appreciation. Oshiomhole is a sellable material. He has no opponent. Edo people should join hands to work with him.”

Ex-presidential aide denies assault From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

A FORMER presidential aide and member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh, has denied assaulting a member of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Martins Okonta.

In a statement released by his lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, Ojuogboh said he would neevr stoop so low.

The statement reads: “Dr. Cairo Ojougboh is a Medical Practitioner, a politician, a businessman, a title holder, and a prominent citizen of Nigeria who has served his state and Nigeria in different capacities among which are member of the House of Representatives and Presidential Liaison Officer to the Senate and a lover of peace.

“This libellous publication was published and given prime place, and quoting a Member of Delta State House of Assembly, spuriously claiming that Dr. Cairo Ojougboh assaulted and battered him.

“This is a grievous, false, wicked, mischievous and calculated attempt at damaging the image, goodwill and reputation of our client in both his professional and political career as our client is a renowned and well respected Medical Practitioner who apart from taking an oath of office to preserve the dignity of life and persons also personally appreciates the dignity of human life has denied any complicity in the allegation.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

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NEWS

Why I am running,

by Akeredolu

Ogun suspends headteacher over HE war against the illegal fees collection of ille-

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•Ex- NBA chair joins Ondo governorship race

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MMEDIATE past President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu has announced his interest in the governorship of Ondo State.

The senior advocate served the notice yesterday to take a shot at the Alagbaka Government House on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), at a public declaration at his Aketi Campaign Network (ACN office), Oyemekun Road, Akure, the state capital.

He decried the various challenges caused by under development in the state, stressing that the citizenry have continued to suffer and live below standards.

Akeredolu told reporters

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From Damisi Ojo, Akure

the time has come to reverse the drift and take the state back to the path of excellence.

He said: “I want to state without equivocation that I was not driven to run for the governorship of the state by egotism. I also can make bold that I am not driven by the need to make money. I have practised law all my adult life and I thank God for his mercies.

“I have only heeded the clarion call for service by my people to lead the efforts of the state towards rapid economic development; we need to have men and women of impeccable degree to serve at all levels.

“I have decided to seize the gauntlet and join hands with progressive elements to break the shackles of oppression and poverty that have dogged our people.”

Akeredolu identified the ACN as the only political party, which has provided the alternative platform for the citizenry.

His words: “The Southwest is determined to free itself from the directionless and thieving government. Our people in the state are poised to join their kith and kin in other states in the region for the emancipation of the downtrodden masses.”

The aspirant described the Governor Olusegun Mimkoled administration as the

•Akeredolu

most wasteful government ever to rule the state According to him, “within the last three years, Mimiko has earmarked billions of naira for the anniversary celebration of his coming to power in the state.

“The amount spent in celebrating his ascension to power could have provided cottage industries in each of the 18 local government areas of the state,” Akeredolu said.

gal fees and levies in public primary and secondary schools in the state has claimed its first casualty with the suspension of the head teacher of United Primary School, Efire, Ogun Waterside, Mrs, C.W. Akinbuwa.

A statement issued in Abeokuta yesterday and signed by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Segun Odubela, said Mrs Akinbuwa was suspended indefinitely for collecting unauthorised levy and sending pupils out of school.

The commissioner said the government’s action will serve as a deterrent to others, warning that “any principal that collects illegal levy or sends pupils out of school henceforth, will be summarily dealt with”.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun had in his inaugural ad-

Four dead in Lagos NURTW clash

OUR people were killed yesterady in a renewed battle for supremacy by members of the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

The battle was for the control of Lawanson Park, in Surulere, Lagos Mainland.

Yesterday’s clash was despite the suspension slammed on the state wing of the union by the drivers’ national body.

Over 20 others were said to have sustained serious injures

•20 injured, 50 vehicles damaged

By Jude Isiguzo

while more than 50 vehicles were destroyed.

It was learnt that the warring members armed themselves with sophisticated weapons including guns, broken bottles, cutlasses and charms.

The drivers, believed to be supporters of incumbent chairman, Rafiu Akanni Olohunwa and his rival, Mu-

siliu Oluomo, shot sporadically at innocent passers by.

Police officers who were around the scene fled due to the superior firepower of the drivers.

The shooting was said to have lasted for more than three hours, forcing many motorists to abandon their vehicles in the middle of Itire Road and scampered for safety.

Adjoining streets like Olufemi, Aborishade, Ebun and Ogunlana Drive were deserted by pedestrians and motorists.

It took the detachment of anti riot policemen from the state command to restore sanity.

The feuding unionists allegedly hid their weapons in kiosks operated by lotto operators around a filling station in the area.

Policemen were stationed to forestall further clashes.

dress on May 29, last year declared free education in both primary and secondary schools throughout the state.

He also abolished all illegal fees and levies in the schools and declared that any reported violation of his order would attract appropriate sanction.

In fulfillment of his promise to allocate at least 20 per cent of the state budget to education, the governor in this years of Appropriation N41 billion, representing 22 per cent to education.

Amosun recently flagged off the presentation of free textbooks to pupils with assurance that school bags will also be provided to them.

The governor had insisted that education should not be treated as purely profitmaking venture, noting that it is a social service which in the end serves the public good.

Govt asks monarch to conduct referendum over deity From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

•Amosun

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OLLOWING a directive by the Ogun State Government, the Iwopin monarch, in Ogun Water Side Local Government Area, Oba Julius Adekoya, is to conduct a “referendum” to enable the people decide whether they would henceforth worship the community’s deity called “Ibeju” or not.

Oba Adekoya was mandated yesterday to conduct the referendum within a month.

The state said the measure if adopted, would help resolve the lingering crisis in the community over an alleged profaning of the culture and tradition of Iwopin.

Some chiefs had accused the Oba of profaning the custom and tradition of their ancestors by stopping the worship of Ibeju, one of the 16 deities in his domain.

But at a peace meeting brokered by the government between the monarch and his chiefs yesterday at the OkeMosan Governor’s Office, Abeokuta, the Commissioner Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Muyiwa Oladipo, said the people deserve the right and freedom and therefore should be allowed to decide what is suitable for them.

According to him, lack of trust, impatience as well as intolerance on part of both the Oba and residents aggravated the dispute.

He urged all to refrain from acts that could further erode the fragile peace of the community.

Aregbesola’s wife pleads for women

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•Author of “Do It Yourself (DIY) an “ACT Skill Accquisition Monograph Series” Olufemi Omolaja Akinsanya (right), welcoming Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Musiliu Smith, to the presentation of his book at Eko FM, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos. . With PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI them is Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoya...yesterday

Group berates Ladoja’s ‘unstable political activism’

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N Ibadan-based group – the Asiwaju Leadership Forum – has faulted what he called the sudden return of former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The group’s state coordinator, Rahaman Olalekan, in a statement yesterday, described Ladoja as a confused man, by his decision to return to the PDP. According to Olalekan, the Oyo state people had earlier been alerted about the unstable political behavior of the former governor.

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

He noted Ladoja betrayed many of his followers and benefactors, including Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli, Adebayo Shittu, Basiru LamidiApapa and Alhaji Yunus Akintunde.

He recalled how the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu rallied the much-needed support for Ladoja when his late godfather, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu and his estranged godson and deputy, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala sacked him from

office.

“But when he was reinstated after 11-months in the wilderness, he went back to the umbrella that could not accommodate and protect him against the enemies,” Olalekan said.

The group alleged the alliances between the PDP and the Accord Party in the state has exposed Ladoja as a man of contradictions, low integrity and too desperate for power and relevance.”

It described as a wishful thinking of the PDP and Accord Party that their alliance could dislodge the ACN gov-

ernment in the Pace-Setter State.

“The peace-loving people of Oyo State are solidly behind Senator Abiola Ajimobi who has been redefining leadership in the state,” the statement said.

It implored the electorate to give the necessary support and prayers to the Ajimobi government.

The statement reads: “We are not surprised by the return of the former governor of Oyo State, Sen. Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja to the Peoples Democratic Party, as we have alerted the good people of our dear state about his unstable political activism.

IFE of the Osun State Governor Ahaja Sherifat Aregbesola, has advocated for an enabling environment for rural women to excel in their various trades.

She urged all the three tiers of government to assist the rural women, who according to her are predominantly farmers.

In a statement signed by her spokesperson, Mrs. Toyin Adeoye, in commemoration of this year International Women Day, Alhaja Aregbesola stressed the need to economically empower the

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

womenfolk.

According to her, women, especially those living in the rural areas, do not only live as wives and mothers, but providers of food nourish the nation’s workforce.

She urged decision makers across the country to provide social amenities for women, particularly those dwelling in the rural areas, saying their contribution to family welfare could be enhanced through basic facilities in their communities.

Akinjide gives children N2m

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ORE succour came the way of the families of the 22 deceased traders who lost their lives along Aba road as the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FTC), Oloye Jumoke Akinjide donated N2 million to their children.

The minister, who also promised scholarship awards for the children of the deceased paid a condolence visit to the Bola Ige In-

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

ternational Market, Ibadan where she commiserated with the traders on the death of their colleagues in a fatal road accident.

Twenty-two traders from the New Gbagi Market (also known as the Bola Ige International Market) and the Alesinloye Market died in an accident on their way from Aba where they had gone to buy textile materials.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

NEWS ‘How officials withdrew N24b from Police Pension Fund’ From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

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HE Senate Joint Committee investigating the management of pension funds heard yesterday how officials of the Pension Office manipulated documents to withdraw N24 billion from the Budget Office for the payment of police pensioners.

The Committee was told that only N3.5 billion was required for the payment but officials used fake documents to withdraw N24 billion.

The Chairman, Pension Review Taskforce Team, Mr. Maina Abdulrasheed, who made the revelation told the Senator Aloysius Etok-headed Committee that the team recovered N21 billion of the amount lodged in an old generation bank.

Abdulrasheed noted that his team discovered two major accounts in Lagos where pension fund for the police was lodged.

He said that one of the accounts had N21 billion while another had N24 billion.

He told the committee that the police pension fund was under the jurisdiction of the taskforce.

Abdulrasheed said on discovering that various sums of money ranging from N200 million to N300 million were being withdrawn on daily basis from the police pension’s account, he applied to the Accountant-General of the Federation for the transfer of the accounts.

After listening to the submission, the committee directed the team leader to make available all relevant documents relating to the transactions including bank statements, cheque books and other documents that would assist the committee in writting its report.

Abia to return schools to missionaries in August

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BIA State Governor Theodore Orji yesterday said his administration would return schools to the missionaries in August.

Orji said missionaries interested in getting their schools back must be ready to manage the schools effectively.

The governor spoke in Umuahia, the state capital, while receiving the Anglican Archbishop of Aba Ecclesiastical Province and

From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

Bishop of Umuahia, Rev. Ikechi Nwosu, and other bishops in the area.

He said the return of schools to the missionaries would instil morals in children and improve the standard of education.

Orji said: “My desire is to leave this state better than I met it through infrastructural and human development that will sustain time.”

•Ogun State Governor’s wife Mrs Olufunso Amosun flanked by Chairperson, Ijebu-East Local Government, Mrs. Iyabo Bakare (left) and Deputy Governor’s wife Mrs. Olufunmilayo Adesegun at the inaugural meeting of the spouses of government officials in Abeokuta…yesterday

Obi flags off work at Nanka erosion site

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NAMBRA State Governor Peter Obi yesterday flagged off work at the Nanka erosion site, which has stretched to Agulu and Oko. Speaking at the ceremony, Obi said the project is a collaboration between the federal and state governments to check erosion.

He said this phase of the work involves stopping the erosion from escalating, while the next phase, which would involve the World Bank, would focus on recovering the land affected by the erosion.

Obi said he has resolved to solve the erosion problem and would supervise the work.

He urged the contractor, Rhino Construction Company, to do a good job and inform him of its challenges.

Managing Director of Rhino Construction Company Mr. Trevor

Jewitt assured the governor that the project will be executed according to specifications.

Commissioner for the Environment Mike Egbebike said the project would cost N 1.5 billion.

The traditional ruler of Oko, Igwe Prof. Laz Ekwueme, thanked the governor for his concern for the people’s welfare.

The governor later inspected work on the UmuonyiukaUmuogene Road at Ufuma and the Ajalli-AkpuAguluezechukwu-Ogboji Road.

He hailed the progress of work on the roads, which were initially awarded to Brecco Construction Company and reawarded to Niger Cats Construction Company.

The Project Director of the company, Mr. Ali Shami, said asphalting would start next week.

NAFDAC begins trial of baker over obstruction of officials

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HE National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) yesterday began the trial of a baker, Mr. Afolabi Nurudeen before the Federal High

Court in Osogbo, Osun State for allegedly obstructing officials of the agency from performing their duties.

According to the charge sheet, Afolabi committed an offence under Section 25(1) of the NAFDAC Act, Cap 1, Law of the Federation 2004 and punishable under Section 25 (1) of same Act. The enforcement Department of NAFDAC is prosecuting the case against Afolabi During the trial, counsel to NAFDAC, Dr. Benson Enikuomehin told the court that on March 15, 2010, at Isale Agbara Street, Osogbo, the accused attacked NAFDAC officials when they wanted to

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seal off his bakery for baking his bread with the prohibited potassium bromate.

He called two witnesses which include the investigating police officer, (IPO), James Daudu - from Force Criminal Investigation Department, (FCID), and Mrs. Yedunni Adenuga, an Assistant Director with the agency who testified against Afolabi.

The accused lawyer, Aliu Adesina cross-examined the two witnesses. In the processes of cross-examination, Adesina said he needed to retrieve certain evidence from the Magistrate Court where the police earlier arraigned Afolabi over assault.

Adesina applied for adjournment to enable him retrieve the evidence from the magistrate court.

But Enikuomehin noted that such move will halt the proceeding.

He opposed it and urged the court to continue the trial. This led to serious argument between the two counsels.

In his ruling, Justice Babs Kuewumi dismissed the application of the counsel to the accused for lacking merit.

The trial continued and the two witnesses were crossexamined by Adesina. After the cross examination, Justice Babs Kuewumi adjourned the case till April 4.

Ban on checkpoints stays, says IGP

HERE is no going back on the ban on police check points and road blocks on the highways across the nation, Acting Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar said yesterday.

Abubakar warned that in the event of any crime, Commissioners of Police (CPs) would be held accountable.

He said the removal of check points should not be an excuse for any negligence.

The Inspector-General spoke at the decoration of

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

two Assistant InspectorsGeneral (AIGs) and a Deputy Commissioner (DCP) with their ranks at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The officers are Dan’azumi Job Doma and Muktari Ibrahim (AIGs) and Wilson Inyealagu (DCP).

Abubakar urged the officers to brace up to the challenges thrust on them by their new positions, adding that the new leadership of the police force must work

hard to restore their lost glory through effective policing.

He promised a result-oriented police force where officers and men must put in their uttermost best at all times.

On behalf of the new officers, DCP Wilson Inyealagu expressed gratitude to the police authorities and the Federal Government.

“We are aware of the task ahead in our new portfolios.

We must try our best to give the best to our nation” the officer added.

FEC directs MDAs to compile list of PPP projects

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O attract private participation in the country’s infrastructure development, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to list projects that could be considered under the Public Private Partnership (PPP).

Minister of Information and Communication Labaran Maku, spoke at the end of the weekly council meeting.

He noted that the directive

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

followed a presentation made to the Council by the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) on how best to present projects for sponsorship under the PPP arrangement, a practice which FEC noted has become globally accepted other governments.

According to Maku, the criteria to make for easy acceptance by investors include, bankability and transparent procedures -

must be commercially viable and with not underhand practices and publicly advertised.

The projects must also have long term management agreements with specific tenures.

This is against the background that Nigeria has a lot of areas in which investors are waiting on the federal government to evolve a proper framework and process like through the ICRC so that could begin investing in the company, her added.

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Henceforth, no MDA is allowed to go to the National Assembly and seek a fresh budgetary estimate outside the one that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) would have carefully sat down to plan and send to the National Assembly.

- Labaran Maku, Minister of Information

Naira firms on NNPC dollar sales to banks

MTN to spend $1.4b in Nigeria

By Adline Atili

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HE naira firmed against the United States dollar on the interbank market yesterday, supported by large dollar sales by Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and expectations of additional dollar inflows in the coming days, traders said.

The naira, according to Reuters news, closed at N157.50 to the dollar on the interbank, firmer than the N157.80 to the dollar it closed at on Tuesday.

Traders said NNPC sold around $350 million to some lenders, which provided support for the local currency, while expectations of additional sales of $350 million by the energy firm before the end of the week boosted outlook for the naira at the interbank.

‘New legal framework for water out soon’ From Franca Ochigbo and Frances Ajewole

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NEW legal frame work that will help the government in repositioning the water resources sector will soon be out, the Federal Government said yesterday.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, disclosed this in Abuja during a meeting with stakeholders. He said the meeting is to discuss outstanding constitutional issues affecting the sector.

“The move is in line with the recommendation of the justice Modibbo Alfa Belgore committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan.

“The committee was mandated by Jonathan to deliberate on the recent constitutional conference with regards to issues of governance, institutions and policies of federal government.”

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$123.6/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,800/troy ounce Rubber -¢159.21pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE -N6.503 trillion JSE -Z5.112trillion NYSE -$10.84 trillion LSE -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -10.3% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending-22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -14.7% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $33.01b FOREX CFA 0.2958 EUR 206.9 £ 245 $ 156.4 ¥ 1.9179 SDR 241 RIYAL 40.472

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• From left: Senior Brand Manager, Star, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr Sampson Oloche; musician, KC; Marketing Manager, Larger, NB. Plc, Mr Tony Agenmonmen; and Brand Manager, Star, Mr Obabiyi Fagede, during the Star Quest auditioning in Lagos.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

‘Reps subsidy probe report ready in two weeks’ T HE much-awaited report of the subsidy probe will be ready in two weeks, Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee, Farouk Lawan, told reporters yesterday in Abuja.

“The pressure from the public was enormous but Nigerians should not stampede the committee into making hasty and incomprehensive report. The report would be completed and submitted in two weeks.

“Let us realise that this exercise requires that we provide answers to a lot of raised questions and in dealing with a sensitive matter like this, then it is important that it is done effectively and efficiently.

“We want to present a credible report that would hopefully answer all the issues raised, one that will satisfy

From: Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

Nigerians.

“There were lots of malpractices, shady practices in the way some of these transactions were made,” he said.

About 140 companies were invited by the probe panel, majority made presentations and relevant documents were obtained from all the companies including those that did not appear, chairman of the committee said.

Lawan also said the breakthrough of the committee was aided with the involvement of intelligence unit of Lloyd of London.

He said Nigerians should expect a credible report that would provide answers to

vexed questions agitating the minds of Nigerians.

He said: “We have addressed some of the issues. We have a rough idea of daily consumption of PMS, as well as that of kerosene. We have a rough idea of what should be the subsidy for 2012.

“We also have an idea of what ordinarily should have been paid as subsidy in 2011, but there are other issues like we are trying to track, from the importers whether what they claimed to have been imported were actually correct.

“We contacted Lloyd’s intelligence in London. We have data from them indicating that mother and daughter vessels purportedly used in bringing in products into this country

to determine whether those orders actually reached the shores of Nigeria or diverted or round tripped.

“We are also tracing the money, which was collected through the Form M and letters of credit to determine if importers collected subsidy or foreign exchange and how they utilised the forex.

“It is a wide range of issues and, ultimately, we want to present a report that will not allow the indicted to escape, but will not also indict the innocent. There are lots of repetitions involved in this matter and we don’t want to end up indicting those that were doing honest business, just like we have no intention to allow the dishonest ones to be protected.

Revenue formula: We can’t be intimidated, say northern governors G OVERNORS of the 19 Northern states said yesterday that they will continue to agitate for a review of the revenue sharing formula to favour them.

They said they would not succumb to intimidation from any quarter on the matter.

Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum (NGF), and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Muazu Aliyu, stated this at a national conference on peace and practice in Jaji, near Kaduna. He said the current formula is stale, adding that it was meant to be reviewed every 10 years.

Aliyu, who said the revenue formula is negatively skewed against states in the north, wondered why states in the Niger Delta are laying claim to oil wells that are located about

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

200 kilometres into the sea.

He said: “If you hear us cry for the improvement of revenue formula, it is because we believe that we are being shortchanged.

“The constitution said the revenue formula should be looked at every 10 years and in some countries, it is five years. It is over 20 years since our revenue formula was looked at and that is why we made that statement. Believe me, since we made that statement, people have decided to misread it because they are looking for things to do, and even in the editorials where people will be

able to understand, we do not attack derivation.

“We have made it abundantly clear that there is the principle of derivation. But till tomorrow, I will continue to talk about the oil wells that are there 200 kilometres in the ocean. It does not belong to any state and there is the Supreme Court judgment to back that up. But we cannot understand why the National Assembly passed it into law. The President of the country at that time, President Obasanjo refused to sign that law and they over rode him”.

Aliyu attributed the misunderstanding of the position of the region on what he described as bad

publicity the region is getting because of its stand on the issue, saying, “every newspaper you pick today, column writers are giving it a wrong interpretation. But believe me, we shall not be intimidated because we know that without equity, there will be no peace, and as a Fellow of the Society for Peace, let me say that we will not succumb to such pressure”.

Aliyu, who expressed concern over the growing insecurity and violence across the country, argued that there is the need to create a peaceful atmosphere, which he believes, will be brought about not only by the absence of violence, but through the presence of equity and justice in the country.

ORTY-FIVE per cent of total MTN Group Capi tal Expenditure (CAPEX) for this year would be spent on its Nigeria operations, Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria, Wale Goodluck, has said.

At an interactive session with reporters yesterday in Lagos, Goodluck said the Group has earmarked $1.4billion for network expansion in Nigeria this year, saying the investment “represented 45 per cent of the total capital expenditure of the entire MTN Group for 2012.

He explained that a significant part of the money would be invested on expanding the Telco’s core and radio networks as well as building a metropolitan fibre network and backhaul technology, adding that the Group was spending an enormous part of its resources in Nigeria because it contributed immensely to the Group’s revenue.

In the MTN Group yearly financial results for the year ended December 31, 2011, released on yesterday, “Group revenue increased by 6.3 per cent to R121.8 million due to sound growth in Nigeria, South Africa and Iran of 4.1 per cent, 7.7 per cent and 20.1 per cent.

“On a constant currency basis, Group revenue increased 9.7 per cent. This is meaningfully higher and more reflective of the Group’s operating performance.

‘Non-oil export GDP rises to 20%‘ From Franca Ochigbo and Frances Ajewole, Abuja

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HE Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, has said the Federal Government plans to increase the contribution of non-oil export to the country’s Gross Domestic Product from the current 4.5 per cent to 20 per cent in the next three years.

He disclosed this during the stakeholders meeting with exporters from nonoil products in Abuja. He said the objective of the meeting was to identify problems militating against the effective implementation of the Export Expansion Grant Scheme and chart the way forward for its effective implementation.

He said: “The Ministry of Trade and Investment was ready to work with exporters to ensure transparency and accountability in the payment of export incentives, adding that the ministry is committed to successfully driving the implementation of the nation’s economic diversification policies and programmes by increasing the contribution of non-oil export to GDP.”

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

BUSINESS NEWS Guidelines for independent power out

House panel to probe CBN’s donations to Boko Haram victims

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HE House of Representatives yesterday mandated its Committee on Banking and Currency to probe the actions of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Malam Lamido Sanusi, especially the legality of his donations to the bomb victims in Kano and Madalla in Niger State.

The committee is to submit its report in four weeks.

The lawmakers cited the donation to the University of Benin and bailing out of six distressed banks that

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

amounted to about N650 billion.

Some lawmakers from Kano State, however, described the intent of the motion, entitled: ‘Misuse of public funds by CBN and the need to urgently establish a pool of fund for provision of relief to victims of natural disaster and some specified crimes’ as divisive and in bad faith.

The decision of the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, to pass the motion and refer it to House Committee on Banking and Currency

after it was adopted by the majority through a voice vote was resisted by Aminu Suleiman (PDP, Kano).

The sponsor of the motion, Uzo Azubuike (PDP, Abia), lameted the decision to spend public funds in disregard to the laws setting up organisation and the constitution.

Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, said there was nowhere in the constitution or the laws establishing the CBN that donation of public funds was assigned to it as its duty.

NEITI seeks power to sanction defaulting oil firms

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HE Nigeria Extractive Indus tries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) cannot sanction oil and gas companies that fail to submit their operations data to the agency for auditing because the current Act establishing it didn’t empower it to do so.

Its Executive Secretary, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this while fielding questions from reporters at a sensitisation workshop organised by the agency in Lagos for oil and gas companies.

• Introduces new audit template

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

Asked why oil companies that don’t comply with NEITI’s statutory directives are not punished, she explained that agency can not sanction such firms because it is currently not empowered to do so.

She stressed the need for the Federal Government to give the agency the power to sanction erring companies.

Ahmed also noted that the agency is working on the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited’s unresolved payment to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

In its last audit report, NEITI said NLNG is supposed to pay $3.3 billion to NNPC being dividends that accrued to the Federal Government from its operations. NNPC in turn, on receipt of the money should remit it to the federation account but NEITI in the report said that transaction was not captured.

Fitch: states will get more cash from oil revenue

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HE partial removal of the fuel subsidy in Nigeria from 2012 will likely result in extra resources of about N150billion for distribution among the Nigerian state governments, foremost rating agency, Fitch said yesterday.

In its latest report, entitled: Nigerian States’ Revenue

Dependence on Oil Rising, Fitch in its calculations said the lower deductions at source will result in an increase for states of about 10 per cent of their oil-related revenues. It noted that despite the higher proceeds, growing staff costs following the phase in of the N18,000 monthly minimum wage,

in tandem with rising energy costs will most likely offset this benefit.

Consequently, Fitch said: “The extra resources are likely to be spent on growing operating costs, unlike the national governments’ share, which is ring-fenced for capital projects such as power and roads.”

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

• Barth Nnaji, Minister of Power

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OLLOWING the liberalisation of power generation and sup ply, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has rolled out guidelines for the sector.

NERC released out two sets of regulations: Independent Electricity Distribution Networks (IEDN) and Embedded Generation.

According to the commission, the regulations provide for independent power distribution by individuals or groups that are not traditional distribution companies (DISCOs).

Embedded generation is when a power plant is built in an area and not

connected to the national grid. The generated capacity is connected to the network.

The Federal Government had retained the exclusive right of electricity power generation and distribution for commercial purposes.

However, NERC licensed some large firms to produce some units for industrial use.

Speaking at the presentation of the two documents in Abuja yesterday, the Chairman of the commission, Dr Sam Amadi, said the firms hold the “potential to revolutionise electricity supply in Nigeria”in the short term.

Section 96 of the 2005 Power Reform Act allows the commission the power to make regulations for independent electricity distribution and embedded generation.

His words: “This is very important apart from the issue of reliability. In some case where we have long distances and difficult terrain, areas far away from transmission network that even when there is supply, there is so much losses.”

Ikeja Electricity explains power interruption

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HE Management of Ikeja Elec tricity Distribution Com pany has explained that the power interruption being experienced by customers at Idimu, Abaranje, parts of Ikotun, Isheri Olofin and Liasu areas of Egbe is as a result of maintenance being carried out by its engineers and technicians on the 11kv panels at the Bolorunpelu 33kv injection

substation.

A statement by the company’s Principal Manager, Public Affairs, Pekun Adeyanju, said the panel replacement, is part of the efforts of the management of the company to enhance the performance of the equipment at the station and regrets the inconveniences the interruption might cause the customer.

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CITYBEATS LASAA MD, others invited over collapsed masts MEMBERS of the Lagos State House of Assembly have summoned the Managing Director of Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency (LASAA), Mr Kayode Noah; Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development Toyin Ayinde and General Manager of Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA) Joe Igbokwe, over the recent rainstorm that led to the collapse of telecommunication masts and bill boards in some parts of the state.

They are to appear before the House on Tuesday.

Hon. Segun Olulade (Epe 2) at the plenary session yesterday, under Matter of Urgent Public Importance, drew the attention to falling masts and bill boards across the state owing to substandard materials.

Olulade recalled that some masts and billboards crashed during the recent rainstorm leading to loss of lives in some parts of the state.

Repair Mile 12 pedestrian bridge

By Oziegbe Okoeki

THE Lagos State House of Assembly has called on the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to urgently repair the dilapidated Mile 12 pedestrian bridge.

Raising the issue under Matter of Urgent Public Importance, Sanai Agunbiade (Ikorodu I), on Tuesday, expressed concern about the level of decay of the bridge, which he said had made it dangerous for users. Displaying the pictures to buttress his point, Agunbiade said; "the rails are not only decayed, the bridge may cave-in at any time, if care is not taken."

Majority Leader, Ajibayo Adeyeye, demanded that the bridge be attended to urgently to avert likely disaster.

Hon. Lola Akande opined that the bridge should not collapse before something is done about it. She said "we should learn to maintain our."

Book presentation THE public presentation of the book - The Journalist's Wife holds today in Lagos.

The book is authored by Mrs Blessing Ohu, wife of slain Guardian reporter Bayo Ohu. According to a statement in Lagos yesterday by the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos state council, Mr Deji Elumoye, the book presentation is organised

by Bayo Ohu Trust Fund in conjunction with Lagos NUJ. Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan is the Chief Presenter.

Other guests expected include Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Director-General of Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, (NTDC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe.

E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

Mushin local govt denies complicity

• Emeka Eze One of the traders attacked, Emeka Eze

• Another victim with a deep cut

• Okoli

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officers of the Ministry of the Environment went to the market to give a report on a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the market's administration, only to be attacked.

He said his vehicle was damaged, adding that attack was perpetrated by the traders, who allegedly wielded dangerous weapons.

Alleging that the council was behind the attack, Okoli told reporters: "On Monday, around 12pm to 1pm, I was on my way to Ladipo Auto Central Executive meeting where we were to deliberate on the forthcoming election.

"I received a call that the Mushin Local Government Chairman and the son of a Commissioner of Police,

USHIN Local Government Area, Lagos, yesterday denied any complicity in Monday's clash at the Aguiyi-Ironsi Auto-spare Parts Market, Ladipo.

Leader of the traders, Mr Jonathan Okoli, had alleged that the Local Government was behind the alleged attack. He claimed that about five

By Joseph Jibueze

persons sustained serious injuries in the clash.

But the council's Information Officer, Olusegun Akinyemi, said it was not true that the council brought thugs to the market.

Akinyemi said the council chairman, Olatunde Adepitan and

Lagos-Badagry road: Govt relocates displaced persons

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HE Lagos state Government has acquired land in Mowo, near Badagry, where it will relocate markets and displaced persons in the second phase of the ongoing 10 lane reconstruction of the Lagos - Badagry Expressway.

Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, stated this yesterday at a stakeholders meeting.

He assured them that the establishment of the Right of Way will be concluded within 21 days.

Hamzat said the forum was convened to discuss issues arising from the reconstruction of the road, while assuring that stakeholders' interest will be taken into consideration in the project implementation.

By Miriam Ndikanwu

The Commissioner said issues of compensation will be handled in accordance with the law. He noted that all owners of property along the route must present necessary titles to qualify.

Hamzat explained that about N1.5billion was paid for compensation to affected property owners during the reconstruction of the first phase, adding that appropriate title was needed to establish true owners of property and avoid duplication of compensation.

He also stressed that Independent Estate Surveyors and Valuers would be engaged to conduct a fair evaluation of the affected properties

and determine the amount due to each. He urged stakeholders to see the project as government's determined effort at ensuring the economic interest of the state by opening access to the West African market. The Commissioner said the construction will also impact on the employment and livelihood of the people.

He assured that the same standard used in the execution of the first phase will be applied in the second phase, adding that facilities and service within the Right- of- Way (ROW) would be relocated to the sides of the carriageway as it was done during the first phase and that 120m Right- of Way would be maintained along the road alignment.

Banker kidnapped

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N Ecobank Plc official has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

Mrs Olujumoke Oyegbola, is Head of Operations of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) branch of the bank, was kidnapped, around Isheri town, towards OPIC Estate, along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

The incident occurred around 9pm on Tuesday. She was on her way back from work.

Sources said nothing was taken from the woman as her abductors were said to have blocked her with their own car and bundled her away.

Her car, a Mitsubishi Montero,

By Jude Isiguzo

Model Sports Utility Van (SUV), was discovered by abandoned on Tinubu Estate Road, Isheri North, Lagos, with nothing taken away from it. The car keys and her other personal belongings were still in the car.

Eye witnesses informed the family that the gang that abducted her, fired some gun shots into the air before dragging the woman out of the car.

Mrs Oyegbola is 5.6" tall and dark in complexion.

A highly placed official of the bank confirmed the incident but said the bank is not in a position

•Jumoke

speak as the family has not officially reported the abduction.

Mrs Oyegbola is the wife of Mr. Lanre Oyegbola, Business Director, Verdant Zeal Marketing Communications Ltd.

Ebute-Meta victims demand compensation

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HE last may not have been heard of the Ebute-Metta mayhem, as victims of the violence have sued for compensation from the state government.

Speaking with CityBeats yesterday, the victims called on the government to compensate them for the losses sustained in the mayhem.

One of them, Isiaka Owoyale, said the violence left him with a debt of N110,000.

Owoyale, a roadside mechanic, whose shop at Market Junction, on Herbert Macaulay, was vandalised by the miscreants said no less than four vehicles including three tricycles belonging to his customers were vandalised by the miscreants.

"The owners of the tricycles in particular have been demanding that I repair their mahines and I just don't know how to come about the money to do that. The total amount of loss I incurred from the incident amounts to N110, 000 and getting that has become a major headache I have been facing since Sunday," Owoyale said.

Another victim, Sherifat Salami, said the innocent victims should not be left alone to bear their loss.

"Compensation will help heal our wounds as it will be a way for the

LAGOS EMERGENCY LINES 1. Fire and Safety Services Control Room Phone Nos: 01-7944929; 080-33235892; 080-33235890; 080-23321770; 080-56374036.

2. Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Lagos Zonal Command Phone No: 080-33706639; 01-7742771 Sector Commander Phone No: 080-34346168; 01-2881304

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 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.

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E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

circumstances.

"As a responsible and responsive government, we made approaches to find an amicable solution to the intractable problems in the market, but anytime we are closer to the solution, the former chairman of Aguiyi-Ironsi market, Mr Jonathan Okoli would fail to sign an agreement even when he was part of initial meetings leading to the resolution of the crisis.

"Rushing to the court to obtain perpetual injunction against the actions of the government has become part of a strategy to hold down progress in that market,” he said.

"Paramo Investment, the owners of structures in the market has a lease agreement with the local government and it is yet to make any appreciable progress since the agreement was sealed.

"How can a group of people hold genuine traders to ransom by openly wielding cutlasses, guns, bottles and other dangerous weapons in the presence of security agencies? We wish to appeal to the necessary security agencies to be alert to their responsibilities.

"We visited the traders to relay the details of the Memorandum of Understanding between the local government, Ministry of the Environment, Paramo Investment and the union, not knowing that their former chairman had mobilised thugs to unleash mayhem on the supporters of other group (sic).

"Even the local government's vehicle was vandalised."

HE Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), has organised an interactive session for top law enforcement agencies, especially officers and men of Nigeria Army, Navy, Air Force and Police.

The event, facilitated by a consultant, Mr Sesan Awonoiki, of Universal Anchor, addressed the disobedience to law and order in the state by security personnel proffering solutions to it.

It was tagged: The development of corporative strategies among law enforcement agencies for effective traffic management in Lagos State.

According to the Senior Special Assistant on Transport Education Dr Temitope Masha, the event was aimed at promoting mutual understanding between the agency and other security formations.

She urged security personnel to carry out their duties without encroaching on the rights of members of the public.

She said the state government should restore order to the roads.

She also urged uniformed men to comport themselves, respect the authorities and avoid unnecessary assault on innocent civilians.

The cardinal principle of any responsible an d responsive government is the safety of lives and property of its citizenry, she added.

A representative of the Commander, 535 Ojo Command, Captain David Musa, reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Army to support and complement the efforts of LASTMA by propagating

left us at the mercy of hoodlums, so what we ask from them is to compensate the victims," she said Mr. Musibau Atanda, a lotto agent, also on Market Street, said he was stripped of the sum of N42,000, two

techno phones, and a wrist watch, at gun point by hoodlums who stormed his shop.

The Bale of Araromi/Oyingbo area, Alhaji Nasirudeen Lawal, lent his weight to calls for compensation for victims of the attack.

"We would want all victims compensated. We do not know who would do it, but all those whose vehicles were destroyed and shops looted must be compensated. I am sure more than 40 cars were damaged. We want everything to be replaced. It is an insult to the community," the chief said An electronics dealer, who identified himself simply as Dauda, said, "The hoodlums came to meet me and insisted that I should give them money. When I refused, they brought out gun and another attacked me with a cutlass. They took the N25,000 with me; damaged my car and goods worth N200, 000."

Narrating his own plight, a young graduate who operates a salon on Freeman Street said, " My glass door was broken, My customer's phones, shoes, jewelry were collected even my apprentice's purse was also collected. All these were done at gun point," Besides compensation, he also demanded for the creation of a police point in the neighbourhood.

An eye witness Michael Ayodabo, said, when some youths suspected to be supporters of a federal legislator clached with some hoodlums in the area.

Ayodabo said the lawmaker's supporters besieged the area to avenge the harassment meted out to him by some hoodlums on Saturday.

in Ladipo traders’ crisis Ajibade Hassan Olajoku, were in the market with a taskforce, Black maria, the police and military men. I had to turn back to control the situation.

"On getting there, I saw traders shouting: 'No, you cannot impose anybody on us. We have our leaders.

You can’t impose anybody against our wish. We have a Constitution.

"Mushin Local Government Chairman started saying something, and the traders were saying 'No, No, If Ajibade or Paramo Development Ventures want something, they should come to a roundtable with the leaders of the market and resolve the issue, not imposing leaders on us.

I recorded what happened with my video camera. Moments after the traders’ resistance, the chairman received a call and entered his vehicle and departed. I was videoing them, to make sure there was no crisis.

"We didn't know that inside the Blackmaria they came with, there were some thugs. We saw people with machetes and axes in their hands coming, hitting people with axes and everything. This was done to defenseless and innocent traders.

"When I saw them, I ran. The traders who tried to protect me, including my taskforce chairman, were attacked. They inflicted a deep matchet cut on the leg of my taskforce chairman. He is now in the hospital.

"The chairman abandoned his car in the market. The traders wanted to destroy it, but I told the traders not to do anything, not to take the law into their hands. I told them the car is a trap, so that they would destroy

it and they have something to hold on to.

"They're looking for me, because they believe if they get me they can take over the market. They alleged that I am a criminal. I was arrested in November last year. They destroyed our taskforce office because they don't want any union. They just want to manage us as their property," Okoli said, urging the state government to intervene.

But Akinyemi, in a statement, denied the allegations. He said: "The Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Hon. Olatunde Adepitan has restated his commitment to maintaining peace in the Aguiyi-Ironsi section of the Ladipo Market.

"According to Adepitan, this is a democratic government where no single individual or a group of people will choose not to obey the law of the land.

"In any society, when one is elected to head an organisation, there must be a time when the tenure would end and another person would be elected under a free, fair and acceptable environment devoid of intimidation and harassment.

"Ladipo Auto Spare Market has over 26 units. Others are doing their businesses without inhibition, because their leadership is prepared to conform to the rules and regulations guiding market administration in Lagos State.

"In Aguiyi-Ironsi market, certain individuals have decided to subvert the rules to their own selfish advantage. This is unacceptable and will not be tolerated under any

• Owoyale with the damaged tricycle

By Paul Oluwakoya

government to say sorry for what befell residents of Ebute-Meta," said Salami.

Salami who claimed she lost everything in her shop, located at

19, Herbert Macaulay Street to the hoodlums who broke in and made away with all her goods and N62,000 cash.

"Government was supposed to protect us from the attack but they

T

CITYBEATS

Council launches Trust Fund on road rehabilitation

A

BOUT N2.7million was realised at the flag-off of the Ejigbo Local Council Development Area(LCDA) Trust Fund for road rehabilitation across the local government.

The initiative introduced by the LCDA will operate like the state government’s Security Trust Fund where individuals and

By Miriam Ndikanwu

organisations would contribute to fund to fund the rehabilitation of roads in the LCDA. Council Chairman Kehinde Bamigbetan, said the money realised would serve as an intervention to restore the bad roads in the area.

The initiative which was flagged off drew high profile personalities and chieftains of the Action Congress of Nigeria.

The chairman announced a twelve man committee members comprising of clerics, individuals and organisations that will manage the fund, adding that the fund

managers will be meeting frequently to allocate the fund for rehabilitation of roads.

The committee will be chaired by Oriowo Dotun, while Barrister lhechi lke, Supervisor for Budget and Statistics in the LCDA is the secretary. Other members are, Chief S.M. Nwoye, Chief Abayomi Ogunfadebo, among others.

LASTMA, security personnel parley

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

the need for all ranks and files to obey traffic rules and regulations.

Musa said the Nigerian Army has been transformed to meet contemporary challenges.

According to him, no individual is above the law. Any erring officer should be reported to the superior authority for investigation and appropriate discipline from the Army, he advised.

Ayilara Waheed, a Chief Superintendent of Police, (CSP), reiterated that his organisation does not condone any act of indiscipline. He charged his colleagues to be of good conduct whenever they are on the road.

Waheed advised policemen to lead by example.

Others at the forum were Flight Lt. G.A. Fatai of theNigeria Air Force and State Traffic Officer, Margaret Ekpe.

They implored senior officers to take it upon themselves to monitor the rank and file and apply sanctions when necessary.

Cremation Bill on course

By Oziegbe Okoeki

T

HE Bill for voluntary cremation of unclaimed corpses has passed through second reading.

The Cremation Bill, a private member bill, was initiated by the Chairman, House Committee on Health Services, Suuru Avoseh, who submitted that the need for the Bill emanated from challenges faced in the mortuaries which have been overstretched.

Avoseh recounted his experience at the Isolo General Hospital mortuary where hundreds of decomposing unclaimed bodies piled up, exposing medical workers, visitors, patients as well as the immediate environment to impending epidemic.

According to Avoseh, the Adhoc Committee which was then headed by Dr. Ajibayo Adeyeye, a lawmaker, summoned the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris and gave him the mandate to announce mass burial of the bodies.

The re-appearance of yet new set of bodies after the mass burial attested to the need for an alternative solution to the problems of unclaimed bodies, hence the sponsoring of the Cremation Bill.

Hon. Bayo Osinowo, however opposed the bill citing culture and tradition. He said these two should be considered while the aspect of beliefs and religion should also be considered.

Other members who contributed to debate however supported the bill with Omowunmi Olatunji-Edet saying the good thing about the bill is that it is voluntary.

The Bill was later committed to Committees on Health Services for further necessary legislative actions to prepare it for third reading.

18

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

KWARA PATRIOTIC MOVEMENT c/o 46 Adelodun Road, G.R.A., Ilorin, Kwara State.

Wanted: A Credible and Purposeful Opposition in Kwara

W

e are propelled by a deep sense of patriotism to challenge the continuous and highly wicked propaganda of the opposition parties in Kwara State against the ruling PDP. Even after a resounding general election victory validated by the lower and appeal tribunals and finally by the Supreme Court, the feckless opposition continues to contest the people’s choice. Comments, they say, are free but that freedom must be tempered by decorum and the overriding interest of the state especially when such views threaten foreign investments in the state.

provision of potable water and electricity across the state to name a few, it was not difficult for discerning minds among the opposition to change their political toga and opt for the umbrella symbol of the PDP. Besides, the supposed cracks within the PDP family in the state have been fully cemented with many estranged members returning to the fold of the party, thanks to the political maturity of the leadership of the PDP in the state.

With this development, it is normal for the opposition parties to deceptively cry aloud if only to sustain their fluffy existence and mythical strength in the state.

The point is that all the media onslaughts and lamentations of the opposition were mere cacophony of selective truths, vicious vendetta and spineless grumbling.

As a group of people committed to the progress and development of our noble state, we feel the morbid views, if not corrected, can create negative impressions about the state in the minds of the unsuspecting public and distract potential investors. Again, we hold that future expression should be guided by the spirit of sportsmanship with the true intent of The only logical inference is that the opposition is desperate service to our noble state. to be heard so as to ensure continuous inflow of funds from their sponsors. We believe that, by now, these sponsors The fact that PDP won the last general elections in Kwara would have realized that their so-called agents have pulled state was not happenstance. It was the only political party a fast one on them. These agents have seen their sponsors that could be said to be truly and solidly on the ground. None as a veritable source of revenue for their daily sustenance of the other political parties possesses the strength and rather than for creating a credible opposition. This is why capability of the PDP. In terms of acceptability, spread, they have employed underhanded methods ranging from organizational ability, political expertise and even campaign blackmail to outright falsehood in their discourse of Kwara politics. arrangements, the PDP stands out.

The party has membership spread across all the 193 wards and 16 Local Government Areas of the state whereas all the political parties put together cannot boast of having full control of 5 Local Government areas. Aside this, the PDP controls 15 out of 16 Local councils with about 182 Councillors covering all the 16 Local Councils. With these rare feats, it is only natural for PDP to make mincemeat of other political parties in the state during elections.

Every state has its own political peculiarities. Kwara state cannot be an exception. And, unless the opposition appreciate this fact, they will continue to chase shadows. To be sure, the scenario painted above is not likely to change in the foreseeable future as notable members of the opposition willingly dumped their parties to join PDP, the main stream of Kwara and indeed national politics. Having seen the commitment and determination of the PDP administration to lift our noble state to the next level through properly articulated and pragmatic continuity programmes like Kwara Bridge Empowerment Scheme (KWABES), a wellcoordinated poverty alleviation programme, free education at primary and secondary schools, sizeable reduction in the school fees of the Kwara State University (KWASU), construction and rehabilitation of roads across the state,

We relish constructive views on the activities of the government. This, we believe will enable the government to appreciate the aspirations and yearnings of the electorate.

In the same vein, we abhor baseless opinions, warped reasoning and destructive tendencies which have become the hallmark of the opposition in the state.

As Kwarans, we should not forget the peculiarity of our dear state as a place yearning for development when compared with other first generation states created in 1967.

The opposition should support the state government in its effort to move the state forward especially when the value of government programs is unassailable. They can always observe and make useful recommendation through wellarticulated memos to the government. This is the only way by which we can be convinced that the opposition really love the state.

We hope our position will not be misunderstood. As said earlier, we are moved by the spirit of patriotism. Therefore, our intervention should be seen not as confrontational but as an altruistic intercession for the peace and continuous development of our noble state. Let there be no room for unnecessary acrimony and rancour.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION Comments

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

Away with them •Move to prune Federal Government agencies and cut redundancies salutary

T

HE news that the astoundingly large agencies and parastatals of the Federal Government may be drastically reduced is quite a cheery one and we urge government to do it post-haste. Following the recommendations of the Presidential Advisory Committee, the President had last year, set up a committee on the restructuring and rationalisation of Federal Government parastatals. The committee, headed by veteran civil servant and former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mr Steve Oronsaye, is said to be set to tip the applecart of bureaucracy with its report.

The committee, which had eight weeks to do its work, is yet to submit any report after about eight months.

The reason, according to report, is that

‘The financial implication of sustaining 541 parastatals and agencies must be enormous.

There is also the question of carrying redundant and unproductive workforce. These workers are better off retrained and deployed to areas where they will find fulfillment by adding value. We urge the government to shun lobbyists and press on with its agenda to reform the civil service and make it more efficient and value-driven’

it is under intense pressure from powerful interests to tone down its recommendations. The committee is said to have identified about 541 parastatals and agencies which it has recommended to be reduced drastically to an active and manageable 168. The objective is to cut redundancies and overlap of functions as well as wastages. This exercise would involve mergers of similar agencies and outright scrapping of some.

The immediate result of this, should the recommendation be put to effect, would be loss of jobs by directors-general and executive secretaries of affected agencies which could be as many as 750. There is no doubt that if the report of the committee is eventually submitted and implemented, it would be a major breakthrough in the attempt to restructure and reform the federal civil service.

Apart from removing the wedge of crippling bureaucracy that impedes efficiency in the civil service, the move will improve the effectiveness of the remaining agencies and most importantly, cut cost of running government. Recently, there was uproar over recurrent expenditure in the federal budget which has risen to 75 percent against 25 per cent for capital expenditure. This is unsustainable in the face of crying need for infrastructure upgrading and renewal. There is need to reverse the ratio in favour of the latter.

For instance, in the energy sector,

there are too many agencies under the ambit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

What does the National Petroleum Investment Management Service, (NAPIMS) do? What about the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the Directorate of Military Intelligence, (DMI)? The examples are numerous. A number of these agencies have simply outlived the purpose for which they were specifically set up, while others are existing merely for the subvention they get from government; and not for the value they create or add to the chain.

The financial implication of sustaining 541 parastatals and agencies must be enormous. There is also the question of carrying redundant and unproductive workforce. These workers are better off retrained and deployed to areas where they will find fulfillment by adding value.

We urge the government to shun lobbyists and press on with its agenda to reform the civil service and make it more efficient and valuedriven. Indeed, it must not stop at the parastatals only, it must look into every aspect of the service in order to save it from its debilitating inertia and lack of productivity; this is the only way government’s policies will translate from mere paper work to concrete developmental projects.

Let redundant agencies and parastatals be done away with without further ado.

Avoidable accidents • Frequent road disasters should force government to conceive and enforce safety policies

T

HAT there is a complete systemic collapse in the country has been manifesting in more ways than one. The accident which occurred on March 2 at the Otedola Estate area of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was a clear example of this. Different accounts have been given as to the number of the dead, ranging from10 to 16.

Many others were injured; not to talk of the loss of property, including cars and other valuables. Yet, the accident was avoidable and could have been averted in a clime where things work.

It was near this same spot that a trailer had claimed 40 lives on August 15, 2010. We cannot recount the number of road mishaps that has happened in the country this year alone.

The Friday accident was caused by a trailer conveying oil pipes from Lagos.

Four of the pipes were reported to have fallen off on motion on Thursday

‘We have had too many accidents involving especially articulated vehicles that we need to wonder whether it is not time we paid more attention to rail transportation to free the roads of part of this burden ... The relevant agencies have to wake up to their responsibilities.

And government must be ready to provide them with the kits they need to facilitate their operations as well as motivate them to make them love their jobs’

night, apparently after the rope used in tying them had snapped. The driver ignored entreaties by passers-by to stop. The incident was similar to the one that occurred at the Mile 2 area of Lagos about three weeks ago when one of the tyres of an oil tanker got burst. Rather than heed warnings to stop, the driver drove on until the tanker overturned and caught fire.

About 32 vehicles were burnt due to that carelessness.

Policemen came to the scene of the March 2 accident at Otedola Estate, but they could not remove the pipes because of the weight. If we are in a country where things work, they would have been expected to call the appropriate agencies to bring in the needed equipment to remove the pipes from the road. There was no indication that this was done. Apparently, everyone went home to sleep with the hope of coming back the next day. Regrettably, much harm had been done before those who could do something about the incident arrived the next day.

Meanwhile, there was no sign to warn other drivers that oil pipes had fallen off a trailer on the road, so that they could at least be more careful when they approached the scene.

Meanwhile, the streetlights on the road were not functioning. All these lapses compounded the result of the crashes. Since it was dark and visibility was poor, the trailer that first ran into the pipes fell on its side. This was followed by a Mazda and commercial bus that were at about the same time

trying to overtake it. Unfortunately, the trailer fell on the occupants and killed them.

In a nutshell, the accident was vintage Nigeria. This is one country where there are many under-aged and unqualified people behind the steering wheels. This is one country where many people get driver’s license even though they never had any driving test. This is one country where many of the vehicles plying the roads today would have been marked ‘off road’ in the years when things were working. We have had too many accidents involving especially articulated vehicles that we need to wonder whether it is not time we paid more attention to rail transportation to free the roads of part of this burden. When these vehicles are carrying goods or equipment, they ought to ensure that the items are well fastened or covered so that they would not constitute any hazard to other road users.

The relevant agencies have to wake up to their responsibilities. And government must be ready to provide them with the kits they need to facilitate their operations as well as motivate them to make them love their jobs. We have lost many people that ordinarily would have been alive to road accidents. We hope the driver of the ill-fated trailer that caused the untimely deaths of the victims would be apprehended and prosecuted. It is because people are allowed to go away with such blue murder that others keep toying with valuable lives on the roads.

An unbridged divide in U.S.-Israeli relations

I

F ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hoped that President Obama would publicly spell out the conditions under which the United States would attack Iran’s nuclear facilities, he likely was disappointed

by Monday’s meeting at the White House.

Though he spoke expansively about the threat an Iranian nuclear weapon would pose to U.S. national security, Mr. Obama did not advance beyond his long-held position that “all options are at the table.”

By the same token, if Mr. Obama hoped that the Israeli leader would endorse his assertions that “the prime minister and I prefer to resolve this diplomatically” and “do believe that there is still a window that allows for a diplomatic resolution,” he was not satisfied. Mr. Netanyahu made no reference to diplomacy; instead, he underlined that “Israel must reserve the right to defend itself,” adding, “My supreme responsibility . . . is to ensure that Israel remains the master of its fate.”

Though each man spoke of the solidity of the countries’ alliance, there is little doubt that Mr. Obama and Mr. Netanyahu continue to assess the threat from Iran and the best means of addressing it differently. Whether that leads to an Israeli strike on Iran over U.S. objections, Mr. Obama was no doubt right to predict “a series of difficult months” ahead.

In our view, Mr. Obama’s arguments against an early attack on Iran, which he outlined in a speech to the AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) lobbying group and in an interview, as well as alongside Mr. Netanyahu, were persuasive. Mr. Obama conceded that Iran had not yet made a decision to seek a diplomatic settlement with the West. But he told the Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg that Tehran “is not yet in a position to obtain a nuclear weapon without us having a pretty long lead time in which we know that they are making that attempt.”

While not explicitly threatening military action in that instance, Mr. Obama was clear in saying that “my policy . . . is not going to be one of containment,” and that preventing Iran from obtaining a bomb was “profoundly in the United States’ interest.” That should undercut charges by GOP presidential candidates that the president is ready to accept an Iranian bomb.

The gap this leaves in U.S.-Israeli relations is nevertheless twofold. First, Mr. Netanyahu’s government contends that Iran must be stopped not just from building a bomb but also from acquiring the capacity to do so. Second, Israel is reluctant to allow Iran to pass into a “zone of immunity” in which key nuclear facilities might be invulnerable to Israeli attack. Though the United States would retain the capacity to act, Mr. Netanyahu may not countenance a situation in which Israel is not “master of its fate.”

It’s also possible — even likely — that, having established the principle that Israel is prepared to act unilaterally, Mr. Netanyahu and his government will choose not to do so. That would give the United States and its allies an opportunity to probe Iran’s willingness to make concessions in another round of negotiations, which are expected this spring. Otherwise, Mr. Obama’s pledge that “the United States will always have Israel’s back when it comes to Israel’s security” will be put to the test.

– Washington Post

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

S

IR: There is nothing new under the sun and history often repeats itself. Hopefully, Stephen ‘Big Boss’ Keshi the Super Eagles handler would draw upon his impressive, extensive and vast experience as both player and coach with all the ups and downs together with his undoubted charisma to break the perceived conundrum that afflicts Super Eagles management: the issue of home based versus foreign based players.

Keshi may need to appreciate the fact that Samson Siasia failed with the Super Eagles, amongst other reasons, because he did not follow his mind; an overhaul of some of the players ensconced in the Super Eagles as superstars, big boys and untouchables. He tried to play safe by selecting the so-called big boys whilst picking a few new players, in addition to not emphasising the defensive midfield position. Talk of

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

Keshi: Neither foreign nor home based, but performance based sabotage by the players in the crucial match in Abuja against Guinea may or may not be true, but one thing is certain, Siasia selected the players that fumbled and he lost the job as a result. It is instructive to note that the then home based striker Ehiosun was only introduced into the match after foreign based players missed several goal scoring chances.

Perhaps many of our so-called big boys are not as good as we imagine them to be.

It has been contended that since

the big boys make big money playing for their clubs (just try converting their income into Naira), some of the, in the absence of comprehensive insurance cover while playing for the Super Eagles, try to avoid injuries that may jeopardize their career, whilst trying to utilize international appearances to maintain their eligibility for employment in Europe.

Some players do better for their country than for their club (Arvashin, Heitinga). Some players

do better for their club than for their country (Totti, Cristiano Ronaldo).

Some excel with both (Xavi, Yobo).

Some club bench warmers do very well for their country (Enyeama, Giovanni dos Santos). When was the last time some of our so-called big boys played very well for the Super Eagles? How many that played against both Guinea and Rwanda did well in both matches? If some did not play well against Rwanda in Keshi’s first competitive match in charge, he should fault himself

Managing Lassa Fever epidemic

S

IR: Again, the break out of Lassa fever has put Nigeria at the edge. The first casualty of the deadly fever was discovered only recently. But within few weeks now, there have been many more cases of deaths from the infections spread across many states. Insufficient information and ignorance in most of the affected communities are largely responsible for the continued spread of the pandemic. There is also the problem of poor disease surveillance at the grassroots which have resulted in the slow response to the epidemics with the high infection and fatalities.

Recent statistics released by the Federal Ministry of Health reveal that no less than 12 states are already under the scourge of the pandemic with over 397 cases and 40 deaths recorded so far. These include: Edo, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe, Ondo, Rivers, Gombe, Anambra, Delta, Lagos and Ebonyi.

The illness usually starts with the common feverish feeling such as general weakness and malaise.

Thereafter, other symptoms may appear such as headache, sore throat, pain behind the breast bone, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, abdominal pain and red spots. In severe cases, it may progress to swollen face, bleeding, gastrointestinal tract and low blood pressure.

The Lassa virus is carried by the

soft-furred rat, Mastomys natalensis, which is widespread in Africa. The mode of transmission of the virus from rats to humans is not known, but contamination of foodstuffs and water with rodent urine and faeces is suspected.

Human-to-human transmission may occur through contact with infected urine, faeces, vomit, saliva, and particularly through contact with infected blood in open wounds.

Medical professionals have the high risk of contracting the virus accidentally without being very careful while attending to the Lassa fever patients.

This certainly informs the high figure of them that have died so far from the breakdown of the given figure.

Those communities that enjoy eating rodents as special delicacies are at the high risk of the virus. So, ignorance often contributes largely to the risk of the infection as inadequate information is responsible for the contagious spread.

Experts recommend early treatment of suspected cases with Oral Ribavirin and the use of Ribavirin injection for severe cases and barrier nursing. Happily enough, the Federal Ministry of

Health has directed all of its medical facilities to treat any patient suffering from the fever free of charge. B It is possible to address the present situation and minimise the effects on the population through the active collaboration among organizations and cooperation of the people.

With the government carrying its responsibilities, communities and individuals must also be alive to their roles.

Manzo Ezekiel National Emergency Management Agency, Maitama, Abuja

and no other person; after all, he picked them.

However, the headaches of a national coach, like Keshi, are many. He does not have a lot of time to spend with the players like a club coach, yet he is expected to teach some players the basic concepts of the game. He does not have the luxury of giving underperforming stars too many chances before he drops them, given the vociferous demands for results. Thus the Super Eagles coach job is a hot seat, and perhaps Nigerians are a tad unrealistic in their expectations. We expect a comprehensive rebuilding process, yet we do not want to countenance the possibility of poor performances and bad results.

Some say that the home based players will strive harder in order to gain recognition. But as Ghana’s Abedi Pele once pointed out, if the home based boys do well, they may secure contracts by foreign clubs; they become big boys, and the cycle may repeat itself again.

What is the way out? Keshi has to exercise great judgment in selecting players, wherever they are based, with skills and capability, players that are motivated, ready, willing and able to work hard within clear and sound tactical frameworks to produce a balanced team and squad and achieve good results with the Super Eagles, despite obvious institutionalized problems and an obvious lack of truly outstanding talents and deep player pool that we took for granted in the past.

• Paul Temitope Lagos.

Omatseye’s dirge on Ojukwu

S

IR: I just read your dirge for my hero Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. Yours is the best of all the eulogies I have seen so far. The propagandists painted him as a rebel. To me he was not but I am now willing to concede a bit that he might have been a rebel with a cause. I remember as a 5-6 year old boy seeing the worst of what other Nigerians did to Igbo people. That Ojukwu galvanized my people to fight so that some of us might survive rather than the total wipe out the oligarchy had in mind endears him to me and other Igbo.

He had a lot to protect by allowing

the purveyors of evil to get their way but he stood and said no to genocide!

Before the Rwanda, there was the case of the Igbo especially the massacre at ASABA and the environs. The modern day Benin massacre occurred in Benin with the blood of Anioma people flowing like a river in 1967. The Anioma crime? Well they were Igbo and it was open season on the Igbo all over Nigeria. You mentioned about the main Ojukwu and the little Ojukwus. However, you forgot the miniature Ojukwus- the group which I belonged. I was a kid during the tragic period but I

felt so horrified about what was going on that I wanted to enlist to defend Igbo people but was damn too young to do so. My only solace was that Ojukwu, Chukwuma Nzeogwu and Tim Onwuatuegwu et al were doing their best to resist the forces of evil. At this time, it is like déjà vu all over again. This brings to fore the fact that Ojukwu lost the war of secession but won the battle to save the Igbo from extermination and that was what you saw the Igbo celebrate in him.

Now what Ojukwu saw 43 years ago is beginning to dawn on the rest of southern Nigerians recently. On or about Octber 12,

1960, Ahmadu Bello was quoted as saying: ’’.....the new nation called Nigeria should be an estate from our great grandfather Othman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We must use the minorities in the north as willing tools and the south as conquered territories and never allow them to have control of their future.’’ — Ahmadu Bello Sardauna of Sokoto (Patriot newspaper of 12 October, 1960). The Igbo were the sacrificial lambs for this southern conquest.

• Chuks Odifu-Egbune cegbune@gmail.com

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

EDITORIAL/OPINION

The Ibori affair

T

HE former governor of Delta State James Ibori has finally pleaded guilty to the charge of money laundering. His wife, his concubine, and his lawyer are already serving five years term in prison for money laundering and corruption. They were found guilty of money laundering and embezzlement to the tune of 70million pounds. Mr James Ibori himself has been found guilty of laundering 250million pounds. The British dropped the charge of corruption because of the technical problem of proving it. They, in any case found it unnecessary because everybody knows that there was no way Ibori could have amassed such a huge fortune without corruption, especially when he had no job except for being governor of his state in Nigeria. The judge was so incensed that he called him “a thief in government house”. Ibori’s handlers have now issued a press release saying that their man was not convicted for corruption, but for money laundering, as if the two offenses are not two sides of a common coin.

The media in England and in Nigeria have shown pictures of the various mansions Ibori purchased like a drunken sailor who had no respect for money and who had so much of it that he didn’t know what to do with it.

Instead of keeping quiet and remorseful, he is trying to pull wool over the eyes of Nigerians by claiming that he did not plead guilty to corruption, but only to money laundering. The Ibori case is a sad story for Nigeria. The British pointed out that the man was jailed in London in

‘We may yet in this country adopt the measure proposed by the late Professor Adeoye Lambo, Deputy Director-General of WHO (World Health Organisation) and a world class psychiatrist that our leaders need to be examined to find out if they are sane or not. From the Ibori case, it is obvious that many of our people are mentally sick and deranged’

1990 for credit card fraud. They also alluded to the fact that the same man was jailed in Abuja for fraud. The area judge who sentenced him in Abuja identified him as the man he jailed, but somehow, the higher courts in Nigeria allowed Ibori to pass through the eyes of the needle and to contest election for governor of Delta State. After he left office, the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) dragged him to court for corruption first in Kaduna, but his lawyers insisted he must be tried in Asaba. Predictably, the judge in Asaba freed him of the 170 corruption counts that were levelled against him. As if this was not bad enough, his commissioner for finance who was apparently instrumental to some of this sordid deeds found his way to the inner sanctum of the Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration as Principal Secretary to the president.

The whole scenario is so sad that it makes nonsense of the lives of the hardworking and honest Nigerians. It would have been okay if our country was populated by unthinking imbeciles rather than by sentient human beings who know right from wrong and evil from good. By simple arithmetic, counting the 250million pounds laundered by Ibori and the 70million pounds stolen by his wife, concubine and lawyer, we have 320million pounds; which is over half a billion dollars. I tried to use my calculator to find the equivalent of this amount in naira; my calculator could not handle the number of digits.

Imagine what these huge amounts of money could have done in the lives of the people of Delta State. Here is a state where water and electricity are not available for ordinary people and where most survive on less than two dollars a day; and where there is armed brigandage and kidnapping as a result of poverty.

Unfortunately, Ibori could not have been alone. Some of his confederates are probably still in government and trying to beat his record of looting the treasury in the unfortunate state. This kind of corruption is not limited to Delta State alone; it seems to be a general problem all over our country. The new governor of Bayelsa state, Mr. Seriake Dickson, loudly exclaimed that his predecessor in office was paying six billion naira every month as salaries to civil servants. In a state that is not up to two million people, that is, adults and children. The only way that state could have been paying such a huge amount as salary, would be that every citizen of the state was being paid a salary.

If that’s the case, we would need to congratulate Bayelsa State. But it is obvious that this was not the situation. It

was a case of rampant corruption gone crazy!

The states in the Delta have to be very careful not to give the impression that governments there are very venal and that leaders there are irresponsible and are only committed to looting of the local exchequer. This is why some critics are saying that the money being given to the oil producing states is Jide beyond absorptive caOsuntokun pacity and perhaps this money should be put in savings for citizens of those states against a rainy future, rather than being given to the present crop of leaders who seemed determined to ruin themselves and the states they govern. Many of these leaders to me are sick, because if one was not sick, one would not have stolen 250 million pounds; and one would not have transferred these huge resources to a country whose standard of living is light years ahead of that of the looter.

Finally, we may yet in this country adopt the measure proposed by the late Professor Adeoye Lambo, Deputy Director-General of WHO (World Health Organisation) and a world class psychiatrist that our leaders need to be examined to find out if they are sane or not. From the Ibori case, it is obvious that many of our people are mentally sick and deranged.

‘The states in the Delta have to be very careful not to give the impression that governments there are very venal and that leaders there are irresponsible and are only committed to looting of the local exchequer’

Plea bargaining and related issues T

HE essence of plea bargaining is, according to lawyers, the need to avoid a long drawn trial where the charges involved are similar. The concept on the surface appears good, but underneath there is more to it than meets the eye when looked at from the Nigerian prism.

With the kind of system that we operate, to resort to plea bargain in criminal matters may not serve the ends of justice. It will , I humbly submit, lead to miscarriage of justice. Why do I say this? The rich and powerful are in most cases caught in the web of the law when it has to do with high-profile criminal matters. Two examples will suffice - the trial of some former governors and bank chiefs.

These are powerful Nigerians with means to buy their trials if need be and pervert justice. There is nothing these people will not do to avoid going to jail. So, a plea bargain will be welcomed in the circumstance to save them from the shame of imprisonment. Plea bargaining willy-nilly benefits the wealthy accused because he knows the button to press.

We have seen it happen before and we will see it happen again, if plea bargaining in its present form

is retained. Can an accused who is poor make a plea bargain? The answer is no because he is not likely to commit the same offence as his rich counterpart.

My take is that if the rich can commit offences so serious that they would be slammed with 200 or more - count charges, they should be ready to pay the price when they are convicted. The purpose of plea bargaining is not to provide an easy way out for an accused, whether rich or poor. Unfortunately, this is how the concept is now being perceived nationwide because of its misapplication by some of our judges.

Yet, these judges are supposed to know better. Plea bargaining is a nice concept, no doubt, but I daresay Nigeria may not be ripe for it yet.

This may be why until now, it has not been applied in criminal trials until it ‘’sneaked’’ its way into cases conducted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). It has been with us for long for sure but never applied until now probably because of the underlying fear that it may be abused.

The EFCC may have resolved to apply it with the best of intentions and never bargained for an ambush

‘The purpose of plea bargaining is not to provide an easy way out for an accused, whether rich or poor. Unfortunately, this is how the concept is now being perceived nationwide because of its misapplication by some of our judges’

of the process by our ever scheming politicians and bankers. This is what is riling people like Chief Justice Dahiru Musdapher whose word ’’sneaked’’ I used earlier on.

Since he came to office in August, last year, Justice Musdapher has never hidden his disdain for how plea bargaining is being applied.

I align myself with him intoto.

The way the concept is being applied now leaves more to be desired. It does not serve the purpose of justice, rather it allows the highprofile accused to get away with his crime going by what we have seen in recent times. Is that the purpose of plea bargaining? No, it isn’t.

In the United States (US) and England from where we borrowed the concept, a convict is not allowed to go with a slap on the wrist just as we saw in the cases of former Edo State Governor Lucky Igbinedion and former Chief Executive of Oceanic Bank Mrs Cecilia Ibru. These were convicts on whom the full weight of the law should have been applied but they got away with paltry fines. What lesson did that serve. None; none, whatsoever.

ATHER, the message we curiously sent out was that crime pays as long as you are well connected. Is that how to build a society? How do we expect those coming behind them to behave?

These are some of the dangers being pointed out by Justice Musdapher in his critique of plea bargaining as now being applied by our courts. Unfortunately, until the cases on which the concept have been mis- applied get to the Supreme Court, his view will not be binding on the matter.

At last, sanity has prevailed in

R

the Kwara State judiciary with the return to office on Monday of Chief Judge Raliat Elelu-Habib, who was reinstated by the Supreme Court on February 17. Justice Elelu-Habib was sacked by former Governor Bukola Saraki on the approval of the House of Assembly without recourse to the National Judicial Council (NJC).

According to the Supreme Court, ’’although, the governor of a state has been vested with the power to appoint the chief judge of his own state, that power is not absolute... the Constitution does not give the governor of Kwara State, acting in conjunction with the House of Assembly, absolute power to remove the Chief Judge of the state from his/her office before the age of retirement without the recommendation of the NJC’’.

After the verdict, there was a contrived crisis in the state all aimed at depriving the chief judge the benefit of enjoying the fruits of litigation. With her resumption on Monday all that is now history. But the moral in it is for the NJC to maintain its integrity always in the face of any judicial crisis because of the privileged position accorded it by the Constitution.

If the NJC had soiled its image in the Kwara case, how would it have felt with this verdict? But can the body escape being tongue-lashed eventually by the courts with the way it is handling the Justice Isa Ayo Salami matter? The answer, with all due respect, is no.

Justice Salami’s case is similar to that of Justice Elelu-Habib. It is just that in Justice Elelu-Habib’s case, NJC played a decent role. The body didn’t allow itself to be used as it did in Justice Salami’s case.

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net

Having seen the folly in its action, isn’t it time that the body backed down? What does it want from Justice Salami that it keeps shifting the post whenever a solution to the problem is in sight? NJC has been provided a leeway by the Judicial Reform Panel raised by Justice Musdapher which recommended the recall of Justice Salami from an illadvised suspension.

Rather than seize the opportunity provided by that recommendation, NJC seems hell-bent on keeping Justice Salami at bay. It has raised a panel to negotiate his reinstatement. The panel will also reconcile him with his estranged former Chief Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu. Why didn’t the body reconcile the duo in August, last year, instead of suspending Justice Salami just to make Justice Katsina-Alu happy? It is not too late for NJC to retrace its step and do what is just. A National Judicial Council without a conscience is as bad as a corrupt judge and such an institution or a person cannot be tolerated in any decent society.

SMS ONLY: 08056504763

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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HE outspoken Governor Mu’azu Aliyu of Niger state has repeatedly claimed Nigerian problem is that of leadership.

The ongoing debate about the need for a Sovereign National Conference has once again abundantly demonstrated that our current leaders including those from the North have a blurred vision of society. Yet these are men saddled with finding solutions to deep-seated discontent and frustration of the masses such as we today find in the North. They are expected to provide the magic wand to preserve the existing power relations and prevent the type of social change Uthman Dan Fodio forced on the corrupt Hausa states in the 19th century or the one Britain was to later impose on the warring Nigerian nationalities.

The major ingredients for preventing descent into chaos and violent social change in modern society are free and fair election, respect for public opinion and tolerance of peaceful demonstration against government unpopular policies. Ironically, these very ingredients for peaceful social change are what the custodians of the nation’s vision today treat with disdain.

For instance, it has become obvious that it is the small greedy PDP ruling clique that perfected the art of election rigging in the last 13 years. Nowhere is this more pronounced than in the north where Boko Haram was first used to suppress peoples’ genuine desire for change.

President Goodluck Jonathan on his part, only this week, disclosed in an interview with Tell magazine that he has nothing but contempt for public opinion. Before then, he had aborted peaceful demonstration using the police and soldiers.

As one of the custodians of the vision of the nation, Senator Enyinnaya H. Abaribe, chairman of the Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, early this week, also claimed a call for a ‘sovereign national conference is an invitation to anarchy’ as well as ‘a vote of no confidence on the democratic system’ and by extension the National Assembly.

The Senate President, David Mark on his part, did not see the mindless killings of over 1,000 innocent Nigerians since 2009 by disgruntled Boko Haram dissidents and mass movement of Nigerians from places they had always known as home to their ethnic enclaves where they are regarded as strangers, a sufficient reason for a national dialogue. His own solution as contained in his statement to mark the festival of Eid-El Maulud was a call on ‘government at all levels and the security operatives to restore hope and peace that would engender confidence of our people to stop the drift’.

T

ODAY, the raging issue in Ogun State is the desirability or otherwise of the decision of the Ibikunle Amosun administration to rationalise the number of stateowned higher institutions for the purposes of effective deployment of scarce resources and to shift emphasis of the state education policy from quantity to quality. There have been many opinions expressed on the issue on the pages of newspapers, through television and radio programmes, on the internet and other fora.

Some of the opinions have been based on sentiments. Some others expressed genuine concern for the numerous Nigerian students who troop into Ogun State every year to seek admission into the many tertiary institutions in the state while some other opinions are mere samples of political manipulation aimed at creating distraction for the state government.

For some of us, in and outside the government, the debate signifies a good turn of events in our state. It means the culture of suppression, silence and impunity which had been imposed in our state before now has been dismantled. The people of Ogun State have regained their natural assertiveness, power of articulation and predilection for healthy exchanges. We are indeed happy that those who imposed the repulsive and repressive regime of silence are now benefitting from the liberalised environment. Their voices seem to be the loudest in the TASUED debate.

However, beyond the cacophony of voices, the decision of the Ogun State government to reduce its 10 tertiary institutions to six can be better appreciated in the context of the administration’s overall education programme. The Amosun administration’s education policy is hinged on affordable qualitative education. The programme was given full expression when the administration abolished all forms of fees in its primary and secondary schools and commenced rehabilitation of blocks of classrooms in secondary schools to correct the general decay in the education infrastructure. A hundred of such abandoned classroom buildings in 100 schools were totally rehabilitated in the first 100 days of the administration. Similar treatment will soon be extended to 200 others.

Twenty-six model schools are to be built across the local government areas to accommodate students displaced by the arbitrary return of schools to missionaries. The government has devoted 22 percent of its 2012 budget to education, the closest to the UNESCO recommended 26

Bungling custodians of blurred vision As for President Goodluck Jonathan, convinced by his self-serving advisers that a sovereign national conference would lead to disintegration of the country, he was impatient with South-west and South-south elders that went to Aso rock seat of power to plead with him that dialogue of various nationalities is the best safeguard against violent disintegration. He self-conceitedly informed the elders that the Alfa Belgore Committee, he recently put in place would take another look at reports of past conferences held to address the national question.

Joining these current custodians of blurred vision who believe dialogue will lead to disintegration are many of the governors of the unwieldy, and unviable self-serving military created states, and greedy politicians symbolized by those the London court, only last week described as “thieves in government house”.

They are ably supported by contractors and beneficiaries of current chaos, motivated only by greed over the sharing of free oil money no-one worked for.

On the side of a dialogue, we have the old West, driven by nostalgic cravings for regional integration that propelled the region to set the pace for development in the First Republic and the South-south, moved by quest for justice for an area that has become a grave yard of misery in the midst of abundance. We have the Southeast who as citizens of the world will thrive more under this semi-unitary system but now driven by insecurity of their ever mobile people in the north, want a discussion of the national question. The latest converts are the three northern geo-political zones. For them,

it is the pursuit of more share of the free oil money.For them, the allegation that all they have to show for the past allocations is impoverishment of a people now hiding under the guise of religion to challenge the social order, counts for little.

In the vanguard for a national dialogue are also the Civil Society and the restless youths, the hip hop generation; fresh, unblemished, impatient but indifferent to the old stereotypes of religion and ethnicity exploited by older generation to corner the common wealth. All the restless youths want is free space to actualise their full potential in arts, music and other forms of creativity not excluding ‘yahoo yahoo’.

The real tragedy is that in all of this, the President as the chief custodian of the nation’s vision, has not demonstrated that he is anything but a rabid PDP partisan as demonstrated by his manipulation of the recommendations of the Uwais Committee Report which the late President Yar’Adua set up following the massively rigged election that brought him to power in 2007.

David Mark, the Senate President has been part of the wheeling and dealing in the Senate since 1999. He was an active participant in the ignoble attempt by the Senate to surreptitiously give President Obasanjo a third term under the guise of constitution review in 2006.

Mark was a first class military officer who attended the best military academies in the world topping it up with a stint in Harvard University. He was once the chairman of committee on abandoned property, Port Harcourt, a former communication minister, as well as

Joining the TASUED debate

By Yusuph Olaniyonu percent while it ended the era of seizure of WAEC results of students in Ogun State because government now pays the examination fees as at when due.

The government now regularly provides running cost for all primary and secondary schools, thereby ending frequent imposition of levies by headmasters and principals. We have supplied instructional materials which included notebooks, writing materials and mathematical sets to all pupils and students in primary and secondary schools. More importantly, the government re-enacted the free textbook programme last enjoyed in Ogun State under the Onabanjo administration between 1981 and 1983. All primary and secondary school pupils and students are provided free textbooks in all core subjects which they can take home and return at the end of the session.

Having given good attention to the primary and secondary sections of the education sector and determined to continue to do so, the focus now shifted to the tertiary section. Visitation and Fact-finding panels were set up. Consultations were made through meetings with critical stakeholders like lecturers, non-teaching staff, students and parents. From the reports of the panels, it is obvious the institutions are not adequately funded, equipped and provided for.

The 10 tertiary institutions are therefore substandard institutions, or in some instances, glorified secondary schools.

From the reports of these panels, it was obvious that government over the years had shirked its responsibilities. That was why the debate of the report of the panels by the State Executive Council led to the question of whether we need so many higher institutions in Ogun State.

Another panel was set up to answer the question.

That panel recommended this rationalisation policy.

While the rationalization policy as it affects the ICT Polytechnics has been smooth, the TASUED case has generated controversy. There have been different motives for different groups to join the fray. While the apprehension of the students over their future is understandable, the

government has continued to engage them for the purpose of explaining the emerging issues.

After all, it is true that the students will not lose anything.

Almost all our tertiary institutions in Ogun State are sick. They are also grossly underfunded.

Their total monthly subvention is not up to what either Lagos State University (LASU) or Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) gets. For example, while all our 10 higher institutions get a total of N340, 019, 508 monthly, LASU alone gets N302, 000 million salary subvention while the Lagos State government funds many of the on-going capital projects in the institution’s campuses.

Lagos State with about 1,500 percent more monthly revenue than Ogun has only one university in addition to four other tertiary institutions. That means Lagos State has just 50 percent of the number of higher institutions that we have in Ogun State, a case of the rich dad with a small family compared to a poor dad with numerous children.

Ogun State has the highest number of state owned higher institutions, perhaps in Nigeria.

While Oyo and Ekiti have four each, Osun, like Lagos, has five, Ondo, an oil producing state, has three. Edo has two. It is a known fact that Ekiti and Osun have commenced a process of rationalsation. Ekiti is now merging its three universities to become one.

In Ogun, we have four other federal government-owned higher institutions with eight privately-owned ones. Just two weeks ago, the Federal Government again approved the licences of two private universities to be located in Ogun State.

It bothers me when people who are members of the elite argue that TASUED which does not have viable consultancy and thriving business arms like University of Lagos is self-sufficient.

Even UNILAG still depends on the federal government for payment of staff salaries and other expenses. TASUED generates whatever funds that are ascribed to it by indiscriminately admitting students, whether qualified or not. The interest is not in the academic development of

former military administrator of Niger State.

Unfortunately, with his stand on the lingering national question, it is difficult to know what Mark’s legacy in the Senate would be.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs Enyinnaya Abaribe on his part, needs to be told that the National Assembly (NASS) , will continue to be seen as custodian of blurred vision by Nigerians until it is able to justify the claim that it corners about N45m quarterly for each of its 109 members in addition to fat allowances for furniture, car, wardrobe and the latest scandalous purchase of N1.7billion Toyota land cruiser toys for their very demanding task of law making and oversight duties.

These custodians of blurred vision and harbingers of ominous foreboding are beneficiaries of current chaos. Their strategy includes scaring ordinary Nigerians who just want to live their lives peacefully with malice towards none. It is doubtful if any group in Nigeria wants disintegration of our beautiful nation.

Not even the largely exploited oil-producing areas can pretend not to know the implication of disintegration. They know secession is neither in their interest nor even an option.

Sandwiched between two deep seas – aggressive mercantile Igbos in the East, smooth and diplomatic Yoruba in the West, they have always known their best interest is served within the greater Nigerian nation state. It is not by accident that since the creation of the Mid-west in 1963 and the brief romance of minority in the South-east with the west, the oil rich enclaves have always aligned with the north or northern dominated political parties in preference to their immediate rampaging neigbours.

‘The real tragedy is that in all of this, the President as the chief custodian of the nation’s vision, has not demonstrated that he is anything but a rabid PDP partisan as demonstrated by his manipulation of the recommendations of the Uwais Committee Report which the late President Yar’Adua set up following the massively rigged election that brought him to power in 2007’ the students but in the school fees they will pay.

That was why the authorities of the institution borrowed N500 million from a bank, using the anticipated school fees as collateral. Apart from this N500m loan, TASUED has other pending loans.

That is why its student population is almost more than that of OOU. Again, what quality of facilities is being provided by the donors? Do they include the type that should enable TASUED to run courses like mass communication, petroleum and chemical sciences, transport management, tourism development, business administration, accountancy and many other non-education courses which this University of Education now offers to thousands of students? It should interest all of us that contrary to Statute 13 of the enabling law of this university and the founding objective of TASUED which is to produce teachers for our secondary schools, approximately 31% of the courses in that school are non-education courses and will not deliver the type of teachers that the state needs. We are waiting to be told whether mass communication is a secondary school subject.

We need to be told if secondary schools now offer subjects in transport management or tourism or petroleum and chemical sciences.

The population of students running part-time programmes in TASUED stands at almost 50% of the total university population which exceeds the maximum of 25% recommended by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

In taking the decision on how best to reduce the number of our higher institutions, we based our judgment on merit. OOU is a 30 year-old multidisciplinary institution. TASUED is a unidisciplinary institution. Having decided that we can only cater for one university, we chose the former over the latter because what TASUED was established to achieve, a better funded, equipped and administered OOU can achieve it through its Faculty of Education.

For those who argue that the rationalisation will deny more students some admission slots, our answer is that we are already reforming our primary and secondary schools so much that their products will perform so well in both WASCE and JAMB examinations that they will easily secure admissions into any university of their choice. We do not want to continue to sustain institutions which merely exist to admit students for the purpose of generating funds.

Olaniyonu is Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Ogun State.

Ameobi seeks victory against Arsenal Pg. 41

Mikel's age, name is a fraud —Laloko

Nation Thursday, March 8, 2012

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NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

Ameobi seeks victory against Arsenal

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HOLA AMEOBI believes Newcastle are in the mood to hand out some capital punishment when they travel to London to face Arsenal on Monday.

The forward came off his sick bed to score a late leveller over Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby at the weekend, and says United must take their second-half form from that clash to the Emirates.

He said: “I know more than most the effects (of the derby) I'm a fan and it's a game you don't want to miss or lose.

“You have to get a good result by any means necessary.

“We have to keep the momentum going now. We kept running at Sunderland and they were scared of that. We have to keep doing it.”

Ameobi hopes to have fully recovered from the flu, which laid him low for most of last week, in time to face the Gunners.

The clash at the Emirates is another huge game for Newcastle, as they continue their push for European qualification.

Victory for the Gunners would

put them eight points clear of United, and could well be a damning blow to Newcastle's hopes of Champions League football next term.

Having spent most of last week laid up in bed, Ameobi is champing at the bit to get back in action.

His derby day exploits have him fired up ahead of the clash with Arsene Wenger's side, even though he had overcome illness just to get on the field.

He said: “It wasn't hard for me I didn't need motivation.

“It was a tough week, I did a bit of light jogging last week.

“It didn't really go well. I didn't go to the pre-match routine with the team because I still didn't feel great.

“But I was never going to miss the derby.

“Thankfull y, I was able to come up with the g o a l against Sunderl and.”

Igiebor, Oduamadi welcome Keshi's invitation

•Happy to get Big Boss' recognition

H

WENGER

C

renews

Osaze

interest T

HE ARSENAL boss dropped his interest last summer after the Baggies slapped a £8m price tag on the 30-year-old. Peter Odemwingie has bagged 10 goals this season.

The Nigerian international pledged his future to West Brom by signing a new threeyear contract despite interest from Tottenham and Wigan.

Odemwingie also snubbed a January switch to mega-rich Russian side Anzhi

Makhachkala.

But Wenger could make a fresh move for Odemwingie, who has netted 10 goals this season, as the Gunners seek to bolster their attacking options.

Odemwingie scooped the Premier League player of the month award for February.

He scored five goals in February, including a hat-trick in the 5-1 Black Country derby win over Wolves at

Molineux.

Odemwingie added two more in last weekend's 4-0 win over Sunderland to win the prize for the third time.

After 15 Premier League goals last term, Odemwingie made a slow start this season, scoring five times in 21 games.

But he has doubled that tally in the space of just two matches.

Mikel's age, name is a fraud —Laloko

•Shola Ameobi

APOEL TEL AVIV of Israel midfielder, Nosakhare Emmanuel Igiebor and AC Torino of Italy's Nnamdi Oduamadi have both asserted that their doors are always ajar to represent their fatherland anytime they are called upon to do so amidst reports from the media that the Super Eagles' boss Stepthen Keshi has launched a silent manhunt for them and others.

Igiebor who made a switch from Nowegian side Lillestrom SC to Israel told NationSport from his base said that he always relished all the invitations extended to him in the past by the Under-23 national team and the few he played for the Super Eagles under Samson Siasia and during the formative reins of current gaffer, Keshi and would be happy to stage a return if the 'Big Boss' gives him another opportunity.

“I am always ready and willing to play for Nigeria. I don't have any other country and I always longed for an invitation to come before I was called upon by former Under 23 coach, Austin Eguavoen and thereafter coach Samson Siasia before I eventually had my debut for the Eagles against Botswana national team at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

“It is always an honour and if Keshi gives me another invitation I will see it as another chance for me to show Nigerians what I can offer to Eagles. I am currently in form in the Israeli League. I have played all the matches Hapoel had featured in except the few

NigeriansinCAF/FIFAcallfortruce

•Says 'I have his records •Taiwo Ogunjobi named in scandal

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri I couldn't play owing to injury. I have also won the Man of the Match Award in most of the games I have played this season,” The Edo born Igiebor said.

Nnamdi Oduamadi who is currently on loan to AC Torino from AC Milan also replied in the affirmative when NationSport reached him adding that with just a phone call from Head Coach, Stephen Keshi he would do everything within his power to honour the invitation without delay.

He expressed his joy at his back to full match fitness and stressed that all his plans for the remainder of the season were working as projected. The Lagos bred player added that it would be another target met if Keshi considered him for a call up to the Eagles.

Both Igiebor and Oduamadi were integral members of the Nigeria U-23 Olympic team that failed to qualify for the London 2012 Olympics after their clubs refusal to release them along with other foreign based regulars for the CAF U-23 Championship in Morocco which was the qualifier for the competition. The duo contributed in no small way during the team's qualifiers for for Morocco, 2011 with Igiebor supplying about six goals while Oduamadi's sublime skills and imperial touch created a lot of goals for the Dream Team V against the like of Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Ghana and others.

F

•Mikel

ORMER Head of the Technical Department of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Kashimawo Laloko has alleged that Super Eagles’ midfielder, John Mikel Obi is an age cheat.

Mikel was a student at Laloko's famous football academy before his rise to prominence. The Chelsea star turned out for Nigeria's Under-17 and Under-20 teams at the 2003 and 2005 World Cups respectively before moving up to the Super Eagles. But the coach declared when NationSport paid him a visit in Abeokuta on Tuesday that his former ward is not telling the truth about his real age and that his name too was altered. He added that former NFF scribe, Taiwo Ogunjobi was party to the ‘rebirth’ of the new Mikel Obi from the original player t h a t grace d

By Olusoji Olukayode his football school.

His words: “His name is not Mikel, his name is John. It was one of those who stole him, Ogunjobi (Taiwo), who turned him into Mikel.

His father is the one who is Michael. He's John, ‘something, something’. We have his papers with us. His middle name is an Igbo name, so they had to make sure that they changed his name. But I know that one day nemesis will catch up with all of them.

“We have his records. They changed his passport, changed everything, they changed his name, changed his middle name, took him to South Africa and made him to play. They changed his name.

Everything was a fraud that's not his age. I think he's going to be three or four years older, yes, so we have the records, we have everything.”

On why he had not spoken up earlier than now, he replied: “I have several times. You know that when our journalists benefit from something, they cover it up that's the problem. It was covered up by a lot of people. A lot of personalities are involved in Obi's case. A lot benefitted from (it), the NFA, a lot of people benefited that I know but you allow sleeping dog to lie.”

Moses accepts Martinez bench role T

HE WIGAN winger Victor Moses has defended manager Roberto Martinez's decision to rest him at the weekend.

The 21-year-old was left on the bench until the second half of the Latics 2-0 home defeat against Swansea •Osaze having returned from making his Nigeria debut in Rwanda. Chairman Dave Whelan publicly questioned Martinez selection, which also saw Mohamed Diame and Hugo Rodallega start on the bench. But Moses said the Spaniard had made the right decision.

"Obviously it's never nice when you're not playing, but it's the manager's •Victor Moses decision and I was feeling tired after being away with Nigeria," he said.

"I'd done a lot of travelling in a short space of time and it's not an ideal way to prepare for a football match. The fans probably don't realise that travelling so far for a game in midweek really does take it out of you, out of your legs especially.

A couple of the other lads were the same only getting back on Friday evening and when you're going out with tired legs, that's when you're risking getting injuries which the gaffer is trying to prevent.

"If you're away from the club between Monday and Friday it's hard to be fully focused on the game, so I understood the decision."

With 11 matches to save their Premier League future Moses believes the players will produce a response after another disappointment at the DW Stadium which left them rooted to the bottom of the table.

"What happened last week was part and parcel of the game, but the gaffer knows what he's doing and we'll be aiming to bounce back at Norwich," he said. We weren't on our game last weekend but it's happened now and it's up to us to bounce back and I'm sure we will.”

OMMUNIQUE issued at the end of the meeting of Nigerians in FIFA and CAF, held in Lagos on Wednesday, March 07, 2012.

1. We the Nigerian members in FIFA and CAF after intensive deliberations on the state of Nigerian football hereby resolve as follows.

2. That with due respect to the fundamental human rights of Nigerians, football is run by statutes as approved by national federations/Associations, CAF and FIFA and this is sacrosanct. 3.

Having voluntarily agreed to affiliate to FIFA, we are bound to respect and abide by the rules and regulations of FIFA (FIFA STATUTES, ARTICLES 10, 13, 17, 62 AND 64) hence the need to commence a process of reconciling members of the football family that will lead to the withdrawal of all football matters from ordinary courts.

4. As a matter of urgency there is need to conclude the process of repealing Decree 101 in line with our present democratic dispensation to conform with the statutes of CAF and FIFA,

thereby recognising the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as the sole body responsible for football administration and development in this country.

5. A committee be set up to help educate and enlighten the nation through the presentation of a document aimed at facilitating (4) above 6.We are not too comfortable with incessant and unsubstantiated condemnations of the Nigerian Football Federation by all and sundry, an act that has helped to soil the country’s image abroad and punctuated the development of the game through the suffocation of marketing and sponsorship drives.

7. There is need to discourage the frequent visits to FIFA by government functionaries to “resolve” issues that can always be solved by internal football resolution processes.

8. Henceforth, this body will be muscularly involved and interested in the health of football in this our dear country and will also serve in an advisory capacity towards the professional administration and development of football.

9. The above was unanimously considered as a vote of support and belief in Nigerian football.

Onuoha issues Bolton warning

N

EDUM ONUOHA has warned Wanderers that his QPR team-mates gave themselves a much-needed injection of confidence when they came from behind to bank a welcome vital safety point against Everton at Loftus Road on Saturday.

Bobby Zamora's equaliser earned Mark Hughes's side a 1-1 draw to end a run of three successive defeats.

And although it did not improve their league position they are three places higher and two points better off than Wanderers going into Saturday's relegation six-pointer at the Reebok Onuoha believes it provided a timely boost to morale.

“It's a point gained,” said the former Manchester City defender who was strongly touted as a target for Owen Coyle before moving to Loftus Road in January.

“When you're down where we are you don't have that many points anyway, so anything you do get you've got to accept.

“We've got a point against a good side everyone knows that in the second half of the season Everton always do well. Hopefully this can be a springboard for the final games of the season.”

Onuoha believes QPR have enough quality in their ranks to stay outside the bottom three and reckons the performance against Davies Moyes's side got them back on track after the run of defeats at home to Fulham, at Blackburn and at home to Wolves raised serious doubts about their survival prospects.

“I think the positives (taken from the Everton game) were that we didn't make too many mistakes,” he said.

“It's just a points business now. It doesn't matter how or where you get them.

“We will have to be at our best but I think we have the quality.”

•Onuoha

24

41

NATIONSPORT THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

Ameobi seeks victory against Arsenal

S

HOLA AMEOBI believes Newcastle are in the mood to hand out some capital punishment when they travel to London to face Arsenal on Monday.

The forward came off his sick bed to score a late leveller over Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby at the weekend, and says United must take their second-half form from that clash to the Emirates.

He said: “I know more than most the effects (of the derby) I'm a fan and it's a game you don't want to miss or lose.

“You have to get a good result by any means necessary.

“We have to keep the momentum going now. We kept running at Sunderland and they were scared of that. We have to keep doing it.”

Ameobi hopes to have fully recovered from the flu, which laid him low for most of last week, in time to face the Gunners.

The clash at the Emirates is another huge game for Newcastle, as they continue their push for European qualification.

Victory for the Gunners would

put them eight points clear of United, and could well be a damning blow to Newcastle's hopes of Champions League football next term.

Having spent most of last week laid up in bed, Ameobi is champing at the bit to get back in action.

His derby day exploits have him fired up ahead of the clash with Arsene Wenger's side, even though he had overcome illness just to get on the field.

He said: “It wasn't hard for me I didn't need motivation.

“It was a tough week, I did a bit of light jogging last week.

“It didn't really go well. I didn't go to the pre-match routine with the team because I still didn't feel great.

“But I was never going to miss the derby.

“Thankfull y, I was able to come up with the g o a l against Sunderl and.”

Igiebor, Oduamadi welcome Keshi's invitation

•Happy to get Big Boss' recognition

H

WENGER

C

renews

Osaze

interest T

HE ARSENAL boss dropped his interest last summer after the Baggies slapped a £8m price tag on the 30-year-old. Peter Odemwingie has bagged 10 goals this season.

The Nigerian international pledged his future to West Brom by signing a new threeyear contract despite interest from Tottenham and Wigan.

Odemwingie also snubbed a January switch to mega-rich Russian side Anzhi

Makhachkala.

But Wenger could make a fresh move for Odemwingie, who has netted 10 goals this season, as the Gunners seek to bolster their attacking options.

Odemwingie scooped the Premier League player of the month award for February.

He scored five goals in February, including a hat-trick in the 5-1 Black Country derby win over Wolves at

Molineux.

Odemwingie added two more in last weekend's 4-0 win over Sunderland to win the prize for the third time.

After 15 Premier League goals last term, Odemwingie made a slow start this season, scoring five times in 21 games.

But he has doubled that tally in the space of just two matches.

Mikel's age, name is a fraud —Laloko

•Shola Ameobi

APOEL TEL AVIV of Israel midfielder, Nosakhare Emmanuel Igiebor and AC Torino of Italy's Nnamdi Oduamadi have both asserted that their doors are always ajar to represent their fatherland anytime they are called upon to do so amidst reports from the media that the Super Eagles' boss Stepthen Keshi has launched a silent manhunt for them and others.

Igiebor who made a switch from Nowegian side Lillestrom SC to Israel told NationSport from his base said that he always relished all the invitations extended to him in the past by the Under-23 national team and the few he played for the Super Eagles under Samson Siasia and during the formative reins of current gaffer, Keshi and would be happy to stage a return if the 'Big Boss' gives him another opportunity.

“I am always ready and willing to play for Nigeria. I don't have any other country and I always longed for an invitation to come before I was called upon by former Under 23 coach, Austin Eguavoen and thereafter coach Samson Siasia before I eventually had my debut for the Eagles against Botswana national team at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

“It is always an honour and if Keshi gives me another invitation I will see it as another chance for me to show Nigerians what I can offer to Eagles. I am currently in form in the Israeli League. I have played all the matches Hapoel had featured in except the few

NigeriansinCAF/FIFAcallfortruce

•Says 'I have his records •Taiwo Ogunjobi named in scandal

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri I couldn't play owing to injury. I have also won the Man of the Match Award in most of the games I have played this season,” The Edo born Igiebor said.

Nnamdi Oduamadi who is currently on loan to AC Torino from AC Milan also replied in the affirmative when NationSport reached him adding that with just a phone call from Head Coach, Stephen Keshi he would do everything within his power to honour the invitation without delay.

He expressed his joy at his back to full match fitness and stressed that all his plans for the remainder of the season were working as projected. The Lagos bred player added that it would be another target met if Keshi considered him for a call up to the Eagles.

Both Igiebor and Oduamadi were integral members of the Nigeria U-23 Olympic team that failed to qualify for the London 2012 Olympics after their clubs refusal to release them along with other foreign based regulars for the CAF U-23 Championship in Morocco which was the qualifier for the competition. The duo contributed in no small way during the team's qualifiers for for Morocco, 2011 with Igiebor supplying about six goals while Oduamadi's sublime skills and imperial touch created a lot of goals for the Dream Team V against the like of Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Ghana and others.

F

•Mikel

ORMER Head of the Technical Department of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Kashimawo Laloko has alleged that Super Eagles’ midfielder, John Mikel Obi is an age cheat.

Mikel was a student at Laloko's famous football academy before his rise to prominence. The Chelsea star turned out for Nigeria's Under-17 and Under-20 teams at the 2003 and 2005 World Cups respectively before moving up to the Super Eagles. But the coach declared when NationSport paid him a visit in Abeokuta on Tuesday that his former ward is not telling the truth about his real age and that his name too was altered. He added that former NFF scribe, Taiwo Ogunjobi was party to the ‘rebirth’ of the new Mikel Obi from the original player t h a t grace d

By Olusoji Olukayode his football school.

His words: “His name is not Mikel, his name is John. It was one of those who stole him, Ogunjobi (Taiwo), who turned him into Mikel.

His father is the one who is Michael. He's John, ‘something, something’. We have his papers with us. His middle name is an Igbo name, so they had to make sure that they changed his name. But I know that one day nemesis will catch up with all of them.

“We have his records. They changed his passport, changed everything, they changed his name, changed his middle name, took him to South Africa and made him to play. They changed his name.

Everything was a fraud that's not his age. I think he's going to be three or four years older, yes, so we have the records, we have everything.”

On why he had not spoken up earlier than now, he replied: “I have several times. You know that when our journalists benefit from something, they cover it up that's the problem. It was covered up by a lot of people. A lot of personalities are involved in Obi's case. A lot benefitted from (it), the NFA, a lot of people benefited that I know but you allow sleeping dog to lie.”

Moses accepts Martinez bench role T

HE WIGAN winger Victor Moses has defended manager Roberto Martinez's decision to rest him at the weekend.

The 21-year-old was left on the bench until the second half of the Latics 2-0 home defeat against Swansea •Osaze having returned from making his Nigeria debut in Rwanda. Chairman Dave Whelan publicly questioned Martinez selection, which also saw Mohamed Diame and Hugo Rodallega start on the bench. But Moses said the Spaniard had made the right decision.

"Obviously it's never nice when you're not playing, but it's the manager's •Victor Moses decision and I was feeling tired after being away with Nigeria," he said.

"I'd done a lot of travelling in a short space of time and it's not an ideal way to prepare for a football match. The fans probably don't realise that travelling so far for a game in midweek really does take it out of you, out of your legs especially.

A couple of the other lads were the same only getting back on Friday evening and when you're going out with tired legs, that's when you're risking getting injuries which the gaffer is trying to prevent.

"If you're away from the club between Monday and Friday it's hard to be fully focused on the game, so I understood the decision."

With 11 matches to save their Premier League future Moses believes the players will produce a response after another disappointment at the DW Stadium which left them rooted to the bottom of the table.

"What happened last week was part and parcel of the game, but the gaffer knows what he's doing and we'll be aiming to bounce back at Norwich," he said. We weren't on our game last weekend but it's happened now and it's up to us to bounce back and I'm sure we will.”

OMMUNIQUE issued at the end of the meeting of Nigerians in FIFA and CAF, held in Lagos on Wednesday, March 07, 2012.

1. We the Nigerian members in FIFA and CAF after intensive deliberations on the state of Nigerian football hereby resolve as follows.

2. That with due respect to the fundamental human rights of Nigerians, football is run by statutes as approved by national federations/Associations, CAF and FIFA and this is sacrosanct. 3.

Having voluntarily agreed to affiliate to FIFA, we are bound to respect and abide by the rules and regulations of FIFA (FIFA STATUTES, ARTICLES 10, 13, 17, 62 AND 64) hence the need to commence a process of reconciling members of the football family that will lead to the withdrawal of all football matters from ordinary courts.

4. As a matter of urgency there is need to conclude the process of repealing Decree 101 in line with our present democratic dispensation to conform with the statutes of CAF and FIFA,

thereby recognising the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as the sole body responsible for football administration and development in this country.

5. A committee be set up to help educate and enlighten the nation through the presentation of a document aimed at facilitating (4) above 6.We are not too comfortable with incessant and unsubstantiated condemnations of the Nigerian Football Federation by all and sundry, an act that has helped to soil the country’s image abroad and punctuated the development of the game through the suffocation of marketing and sponsorship drives.

7. There is need to discourage the frequent visits to FIFA by government functionaries to “resolve” issues that can always be solved by internal football resolution processes.

8. Henceforth, this body will be muscularly involved and interested in the health of football in this our dear country and will also serve in an advisory capacity towards the professional administration and development of football.

9. The above was unanimously considered as a vote of support and belief in Nigerian football.

Onuoha issues Bolton warning

N

EDUM ONUOHA has warned Wanderers that his QPR team-mates gave themselves a much-needed injection of confidence when they came from behind to bank a welcome vital safety point against Everton at Loftus Road on Saturday.

Bobby Zamora's equaliser earned Mark Hughes's side a 1-1 draw to end a run of three successive defeats.

And although it did not improve their league position they are three places higher and two points better off than Wanderers going into Saturday's relegation six-pointer at the Reebok Onuoha believes it provided a timely boost to morale.

“It's a point gained,” said the former Manchester City defender who was strongly touted as a target for Owen Coyle before moving to Loftus Road in January.

“When you're down where we are you don't have that many points anyway, so anything you do get you've got to accept.

“We've got a point against a good side everyone knows that in the second half of the season Everton always do well. Hopefully this can be a springboard for the final games of the season.”

Onuoha believes QPR have enough quality in their ranks to stay outside the bottom three and reckons the performance against Davies Moyes's side got them back on track after the run of defeats at home to Fulham, at Blackburn and at home to Wolves raised serious doubts about their survival prospects.

“I think the positives (taken from the Everton game) were that we didn't make too many mistakes,” he said.

“It's just a points business now. It doesn't matter how or where you get them.

“We will have to be at our best but I think we have the quality.”

•Onuoha

25

THE NATION

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

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

I

F an English teacher were to grade a letter written by a test candidate seeking employment to teach Accounts in a private secondary school, the candidate would have scored less than 40 per cent.

He was required to write the letter to the Commissioner for Education in Lagos State suggesting reforms that would improve education quality as part of the English Language test used to assess the suitability of teachers who responded to an advertisement for employment by Kith and Kin School, Ikorodu.

Not only did he address the letter wrongly, there was hardly any sentence free of errors.

Part of the letter read: “I want to suggest that the problem of education in Lagos State, if we can get a (sic) qualified teacher (sic) with experienced (sic) of teaching for two to five year (sic), and they were all pay (sic) well these problem (sic) will be solve (sic) —— the limited period of time.”

The teacher in question has a B.Sc (ED) in Accounting Education from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.

Good teachers are hard to come by, says Mr Kaoli Olusanya, proprietor of the school.

“The quality of graduates from Nigerian universities is poor.

When you advertise for them to write a test, their English is woeful. No matter what your discipline is, when you come here, you must write a test in English and Mathematics. Mathematics is to test your level of critical thinking and English is to test your tenses and how you can articulate your thoughts,” he said.

Olusanya is not the only school owner lamenting the difficulty getting good quality teachers.

Mrs Kehinde Philips, Executive Director of Edgewood College, Lekki Phase I and Mrs Jelilat Rasaki, Proprietress of Jellylas School, Iyana Ipaja have had similar experiences.

“I sat at an interview session after advertising in the papers. Out of about 50 teachers, I could only come up with one. People came with fake certificates, and they are not articulate. I test them in the subjects they are expected to teach and if they do not pass, they don’t hear from me,” Mrs Philips said.

On her part, Mrs Rasaki said she meets teachers like the one that wrote the letter above regularly.

“You advertise and about 100 teachers come but you can hardly get 10. There was an interview we had last year where I wondered that a teacher could not write a correct sentence. You cannot read through a line without spotting mistakes. There was a time we employed a teacher and the students were correcting his pronunciation,” she said.

Pastor David Jimoh, a teacher at St Charles College, Ilorin, said once when a teacher with Masters degree in Chemistry seeking a job at his school was asked to teach a class as test, he asked for another day to prepare himself for the class.

“I remember there was a man

The rot in the education system is partly blamed on poor quality teachers. School owners tell KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE their story.

• A letter written by a teacher seeking employment

Our experience with teachers, by proprietors with Masters degree in Chemistry who came to us with his application. He was told to teach a class but he asked for time to come another day so he could prepare

himself. This spelt doom for him,” he said.

If Olusanya is concerned about anything, it is that such poor quality teachers still find their

Part of the letter read: “I want to suggest that the problem of education in Lagos State, if we can get a (sic) qualified teacher (sic) with experienced (sic) of teaching for two to five year (sic), and they were all pay (sic) well these problem (sic) will be solve (sic)

INSIDE • PUPILS

email:- education@thenationonlineng.com

SPEND

N10

ON LUNCH

- Page 27

way into schools where they impart poor knowledge on pupils.

“We do not have room for such teachers here. But I am sure that that teacher is already in another school teaching. What will he teach the students?” he asked.

However, some educationists say the problem of poor quality of teachers should be blamed on the education system, which has

• YABATECH ADMITS 4,000 OF 106,000

witnessed a downturn for decades.

Mrs Nike Akindayo, a teacher and Ph.D student at the University of Lagos, said the teachers are a product of a deficient education system.

“Right now, we have a lot of deficiency in the education sector.

Because the education quality is low, there is no way teachers will • Continued on page 26

APPLICANTS

- Page 37

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

26

EDUCATION

FCT Secretary, PS seek urgent retraining of teachers

AUN FILE Workers revive football club SPORTS loving workers of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola have revived the AUN Staff Football Club.

Led by the new team coach, Dr Charles Nche, a faculty member, the group trained at the GTBank Field for over an hour recently.

It followed a general meeting convened to revive the club after close to a year of inactivity.

Nche, who expressed optimism about the future of the club to perform during competitions, said the workers would gain fitness.

Only 13 staff and faculty members answered the clarion at the inaugural meeting. The team is optimistic that at the end of the first few weeks of training, more people will signify interest in becoming part of the newly formed Football Club.

Library nears completion THE construction of the AUN Library which started four years ago is nearing completion.

In a statement, it recalled that during the ground-breaking ceremony of the library, a former President of AUN, Dr. Michael Smith, reiterated the importance of a library to tertiary institution.

A few months after that ceremony, the construction of the new building started while library services continued to be offered in what used to be the New York Hall of Peter Okocha Building for the library services.

Not many, especially those who never used the library’s facilities, knew that while the construction suffered some delay, the Library had continued to grow in the volume of its acquisition.

Currently, 99.9 per cent of the acquisition is in the electronic format. The volume is enormous with its large and diverse subscriptions to materials that include journals cutting across all branches of knowledge, it added.

New Dean for Arts, Science A new Dean has been appointed for the AUN School of Arts and Sciences. He is Dr Troy McGrath.

Since the Interim Dean Cortlandt Smith left last semester, Dr Craig Pearce has held fort with Dr John Leonard, an Economics professor, as Associate Dean.

McGrath is the Director of the Russian-American Center on American Studies at the Russian State University for the Humanities in Moscow. He also is Senior Research Editor at Otkritie Investment Bank, in Moscow.

McGrath earned both an MA and M. Phil in Political Science as well as PhD in International Relations at Columbia University. He completed MA-level Certificate programmes in Russian Studies and in the Study of East and Central Europe. He also obtained a Certificate in Education Management at Harvard University (2005), and Certificates from the World Bank Institute in Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations & Fiscal Decentralisation and on Public Expenditure, Institutional Reforms and Service Delivery.

F

OR the nation’s education system to meet the challenges of the 21st century, the Secretary for Education in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Kabir Usman, has called for the urgent training and development of teachers.

The poor training of teachers, the scribe said, is one of the factors responsible for the unacceptably high rate of failure in external examinations.

Usman, who spoke in Abuja last week at the opening of the 58th session of the National Council of Education meeting in Abuja, said for the country to produce ICT compliant, the Federal Government must be ready to reengineer their teachers to also become ICT compliant “This re-engineering must start at the basic level of teacher education and must include new methods of teacher training and on the job training,” he added.

He added that in the FCT, the Teacher Development Centre of the Education Resource Centre, (ERC), has come up with various innovations intended to improve the teaching skills of teachers.

“The ERC also devised the Teachers Professional Learning Community where teachers act as their own mentors, consultants and trainers so that they can freely interact with each other, share experience and proffer solutions,”

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

he said.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Prof Nicholas Damachi, said the aim of the event was to seek, among other things, the production of highly motivated

teachers for all levels of education and encourage the spirit of creativity in teachers.

While stating that the ministry is ready to tackle the problem of low quality of education in Nigeria, he urged states to collaborate with the ministry and donor agencies in achieving the

ideals of the Vision 20:2020 and the Education for All targets.

“Collective efforts should be made to train and upgrade the large number of untrained and uncertified personnel still occupying positions as teachers and administrators in both our public and private schools,” he said.

•From left: Public Relations Manager, Indomie, Mr Tope Ashiwaju; Principal Senior School I, Ibadan Grammar School, Mr Femi Adekunle and Senator Femi Lanlehin, at the donation of science laboratory equipment to the school by Indomie in Ibadan

Our experience with teachers, by proprietors • Continued from page 25 not be poor. These teachers passed through the poor system,” she said.

Mrs Philips added that any reform to address teacher quality must start from the foundation – that is primary school level.

“Teacher training is something the government must really focus on. It has to start from primary schools because today you find children in secondary schools who cannot even read. Once, government can focus on

education there will be improvement because from primary, secondary and university, the change will start from the bottom,” she said.

Mrs Rasaki thinks the solution lies in establishing more teacher training institutes where teachers would be properly groomed.

“We should institute more teacher training schools to give real teacher training.

It is important for teachers to have some sort of finishing school,” she said.

Even after they graduate, all the

school owners agree that teachers must undergo continuous training.

Mrs Bosede Ogunde, proprietor of Hubert Ogunde Memorial School, Akute said this is necessary to ensure they grow with changing trends.

“One thing I have noticed is that you cannot just pluck a good teacher on the tree. No matter how well-trained a teacher is, when you give an employment, you still have to train and retrain them. You do not rely on what they learnt in school. Education

is not static, as things change, your teachers must change,” she said.

Mrs Philips added that training and good remuneration is necessary to retain good teachers.

She said: “There are still good ones and they are clamouring for good pay so you have to do your best to keep them. If you can afford it, send them abroad for training.

“Children of nowadays are more enlightened than their teachers and this is because they are exposed through frequent travels while the teachers are not.”

Caleb Varsity to hold maiden convocation

A

LL is set for the maiden convocation of Caleb University billed for Saturday at its Imota, Ikorodu campus, Lagos.

The event is expected to feature a convocation lecture entitled: The Power Elite, Nigeria’s mineral economy and arrested development to be delivered by Prof Banji Oyeleran-Oyeyinka, Director, Monitoring and Research, United Nations-Habitat, Nairobi, Kenya.

During the convocation, honorary doctorates will be conferred on Brig.-Gen Mobolaji Johnson (rtd), Chancellor of the University, for being one of the governors cleared of fraud during his tenure and Dr Oladega Adelowo Adebogun, Proprietor, Caleb University, for his vision in creating the institution.

Two students, Mr Eric Bakare of the Industrial Chemistry Department, who is a youth corps member in the university and Miss Atinuke Atolagbe of the Department of Economics will also be rewarded for graduating with a first class among the 93 graduates.

Addressing reporters on Monday, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ayodeji Olukoju, said the university is sure of its graduates as credit is given to only those who deserve it.

“We are very strict with our studies here. That is why we have given first class to the best students. We are very firm with the enforcement of standards too

By Medinat Kanabe

that we have had to expel students in their final year,” he added.

Meanwhile, as part of preparation for the convocation, the school hosted a Black History Month event, organised by the Public Affairs Section of the United States Embassy, where the students watched a video on the life and times of the Abraham Lincoln.

During this event, Mrs Ifeanyi Olagbaju, an Educational Advisor, in the United States, advised the students on what to do if they intend to study for their Masters abroad.

Mrs Olagbaju said: “Today, we are remembering Abraham Lincoln and all the great things that he did for the advancement of the US and we are trying to pull out important things in his life, the fact that he was able to teach himself law and fight for change in the US, we want students to look at it and make a difference in their own life and community by affecting change in the country.”

Asked about the fallen standards of education in Nigeria, she said she reads reports every year about the fallen standard of education in Nigeria and she meets dynamic Nigerian graduates so she doesn’t agree that Nigerian educational system has fallen.

“When we talk about studying in the US, we want you to go and

study abroad but most importantly come back and help build institutions, and contribute to the development and growth of our great nation,” she added.

Speaking about the cost of studying abroad, she hinted that in her talk she said that education is a leveller; it doesn’t have anything to do with the amount of money that one has but for one to have access to study abroad, one must first and foremost be

an excellent student and be focused with a dream.

“If you work hard there are different grants and scholarship available to international students. The US government has the US achievers programmes for academically excellent indigent students, we also have the opportunity funds for graduate students, if they are short listed, you will study on US grants for free every year,” she said.

“ ... Now, Boko is truly Haram!”

27

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

EDUCATION ACE FILE UNILORIN FILE

Oloffa donates N1m to WAUG

• Pupils of a public primary school on the assembly ground

I

T is nearly 11am. The food vendor is excited as she busily dishes rice and stew into miniature white bowls with covers.

"I must finish quickly before they ring the bell for break," she told this reporter in Yoruba. She also has stainless steel bowls in front of her cooler of rice and stew on the table she shares the table with two other vendors. Next to her is a fruit seller who displays agbalumo (cherries) and banana for sale. At the other end of the table is another food vendor.

A few pupils are already coming to buy food for their lunch break.

"They must not catch me selling to the children now because it is not yet time," she said mischievously.

"I am sure the teachers are having a meeting, that is why the children can come out before time."

Soon, the bell goes and the pupils let out loud cheers as they pour out of their classrooms. "Mo fe ra rice N10" (I want to buy N10 rice), a boy said to the vendor in Yoruba. She serves two table spoons of rice and a dash of stew and gives to the child who picks a small plastic spoon and starts to eat without ceremony while standing.

Some pupils preferred to patronise the fruit vendor, buying one whole agbalumo for N10 or half of it for N5; or two fingers of banana for N10.

Those who bought cooked food did not buy more than N20 rice and none of them bothered about the tiny pieces of fish or pomo that was also available for sale at N20 per piece. Beans, which was also available, the vendor said, is a no go area.

Alumni group holds conference today THE Conference of Alumni Association of Nigerian Universities (CAANU) kicks off its quarterly conference at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo today. It will end on Sunday.

It will be declared opened by the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola.

Over 100 delegates made up of the presidents of AANU as well as the Director of Alumni Relations and Endowment of each University are expected at the conference, which will deliberate on issues affecting the universities.

Pupils spend N10 on lunch Who would have thought N10 could buy a plate of rice or two fingers of banana?

KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE visited a public primary school where pupils spend little on their lunches.

"If you force them to buy beans they will leave the food and the money. These children don't like beans," she said.

There was no water for sale at the food stand. "Pure (satchet) water is sold at the other side," the vendor said. However, her young customers seemed not to be concerned about drinking water.

Shortly, a slim dark primary five pupil comes to carry the miniature bowls of rice packed earlier away for delivery to the classrooms. She is some sort of a courier for the food vendor. While she attends to those in front of her, the girl makes delivery to pupils who have contributed lunch money (N10/ N20 per plate). After she and the vendor agree on the number of plates, the girl left.

"I should go myself but if anyone

asks of me, say I went somewhere," she called after the girl. "But don't worry, I will add to your food when you return."

Her spoons were not enough, so some pupils just looked around for used spoons to eat while other ate with their hands. One tall girl who bought N20 rice, finished her meal in two short swallows, licking her fingers as she walked away.

Another boy came requesting for N20 rice. After he was served, he called out to his friend: "Audu, "come and take your food." He promptly appeared, collected the food the boy bought and began eating while his friend looked at him longingly, hoping to get some.

"You want to beg, abi?" said the vendor to the boy. "No," he replied as he inched out of sight and continued his watch by the side of

Some pupils preferred to patronise the fruit vendor, buying one agbalumo for N10 or half of it for N5; or two fingers of banana for N10. Those who bought cooked food did not buy more than N20 rice - and none of them bothered about the tiny pieces of fish or pomo that was also available for sale at N20 per piece

an adjacent building.

Audu's meal is interrupted by a girl who bumped into him while she made her way to the classroom with her agbalumo.

Angered by her lack of remorse when he pointed out her error, Audu handed his plate to his faithful friend and would have challenged her to a fight, had he not being stopped. "She wanted to pour my food away," he said in Yoruba. He promptly collected his food again and resumed his meal, ignoring his friend.

Not long afterwards, a primary three pupil arrives with her younger sister who is in KG 1. She orders N20 rice, which she gives to the small girl.

The small girl looks around, picks a used spoon and focuses on her meal. After she finishes the food, the older sister requests for another plate for her. This was novel, given that other pupils could not afford more than N20.

When asked whether she would not eat herself, the older girl said: "I have contributed money in my class so I have eaten."

After their meals, many of the pupils joined the fun on the play ground. They chased one another or even fought. The bell rang again 30 minutes later and it was time for them to return to their classrooms.

• Dr Ayodele Ogunsan (left), Chairman, Executive Trainers Limited (ETL) with John Rider, Chairman, IoD West Midlands, at a workshop on "Corporate Governance and Business Ethics", organised by ETL in collaboration with University of Wolverhampton, West Midlands in UK.

THE Oloffa of Ofa, Oba Mufutau Muhammad GbadamosiOloyedeEsuwoye II, has donated N1 million to the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) for the hosting of the West African Universities Games (WAUG) expected to begin on March 27.

Oba Gbadamosi made the donation when a delegation of the university led by the Chairman, WAUG Local Organising Committee and Deputy ViceChancellor (Management Service), Prof Albert Olayemi, visited his palace.

The monarch said the games would afford people the opportunity of knowing how hospitable Kwarans are and boost the socioeconomic development of the state.

In his speech, Prof Olayemi said the university had already spent about N500 million on infrastructure development and appreciated the monarch for his generosity.

ILUMSA enlightens varsity community THE Ilorin Medical Students Association (ILUMSA) has organised the 28th edition of its Annual Health Week entitled: "Financing Health care system in Nigeria: Challenges and the way forward".

The week-long event started with an awareness programme and an inaugural lecture.

The events for the week included a variety night, workshop and inter-faculty debate between the Faculty of Law and the College of Health Sciences. There was also a community outreach, funfair and sporting activities.

The Week was rounded off with a Jum'at service.

Senior driver dies in accident TRAGEDY struck last Thursday when a reckless commercial driver hit Mr Abdulqadir Oba Memudu, a former senior driver attached to the UNILORIN security division.

Memudu died when his motorcycle was hit by a speeding car as he left the campus for his home at dawn after night duty.

Another worker, Mrs Felicia Ajiboye, who was on the motorcycle with Memudu, sustained injuries and is still receiving treatment at the UNILORN Teaching Hospital.

Memudu has since been buried according to the Islamic rites.

Fertility clinic opens THE University of Ilorin Health Services (UHS) has introduced a weekly clinic that will cater for the reproductive health needs of the university community.

Speaking at the launch of the facility last Thursday, the UHS Director, Dr Mary Ajiboye, said that as a primary health centre, the clinic will includ primary health care services in obstetrics and gynaecology, endocrinology and general reproductive health in its services.

Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the UNILORIN Teaching Hospital, Prof A. A. G. Jimoh, who heads the team of medical experts, who will co-ordinate the clinic, said a lot of research can be done at the centre.

He disclosed that the prevalence of infertility which is 15 per cent globally is 10 per cent in the country and 15 per cent in Ilorin metropolis.

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

EDUCATION Lawmaker empowers Epe students

ACE FILE FUNAAB FILE White Paper praises varsity, VC THE Presidential Visitation Panel on the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has commended the institution for its achievements.

In its White Paper report, the panel described the Vice Chancellor Prof Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun as resilient in pushing the frontiers of development.

It recommended that Balogun be given special commendation and national honour to serve as an example to other academics.

C

•From left: Taye Sogbesan, Yemisi Ajibanwo, Mrs Onabanjo and Mr Dola Jibowo

Chiefs, students celebrate ranking PROMINENT Egba High Chiefs have lauded FUNAAB's improved rating among the best universities in Nigeria and Africa.

The chiefs were praised the university for doing the Egba Kingdom proud with its emergence as the second best in Nigeria and 35th in Africa in the latest World Webometrics Ranking of Universities.

Besides, they expressed joy that the feat came at a time when a "true son of the soil", Prof Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun, is the helmsman.

In an interview, the Elebute of Egbaland, Chief Nelson Oyesiku said: "Your success in the ranking is not only delightful, it is awesome and most welcoming.

It is an eloquent testimony of the genuine efforts and high level commitment of your vice-chancellor to excellence in the last four and half years or so."

Scientists harps on importance of snails THE medical and economic values of the African snail have been noted by scientists.

They stated this at the first International Conference on the snails, organised by the Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR) of the FUNAAB. In a keynote address entitled: Snail production for sustainable development and good health, the National Project Co-ordinator, Science and Technology Education Post-Basic (STEPB) Project, Prof M. U. Adikwu, who was represented by Dr Uduma Osonwa, disclosed that pharmaceuticals utilise the snails to treat whooping cough, hypertension, stretch marks and wounds.

Ogun trains 1,000 teachers

T

O solve the problem of perennial poor performance in public examinations by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO), the Ogun State government has trained no fewer than 1,000 teachers in "leadership and capacity building" to enhance their competence.

The participants comprised 200 school administrators - principals, vice-principals and zonal secretaries, and 800 Senior Secondary School teachers of English Language and Mathematics, who were put through a refresher workshop on "enhancement of basic teaching

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

competencies" in the two core subjects.

The training was organised

by State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) and the Millennium Education Ltd, a subsidiary of Learn Africa Plc. Chairman of TESCOM, Ms Olubunola Onabanjo, said the two core subjects remain vital building blocks on which most other disciplines rest. She, however, lamented that despite this, pupils' interest and performance in the senior school certificate examination have continue to be unimpressive.

Onabanjo said the search for solution should no longer be concentrated on the students alone but something should be extended to the teachers who demonstrate some "level of incompetence" in the two subjects.

She said the government's commitment to education informs why the administration allocated about N42.42billion to education this year and advised the participants to justify the wisdom behind the training by paying attention to skills that would be imparted by the resource persons and bring it to bear on teaching and performances.

ONCERNED about the backwardness in education in Epe, federal law maker Lanre Odubote has moved to reverse the situation.

To prepare youths of the area for the task ahead, Odubote, who represents Agbowa, Epe Central and Eredo in the House of Representatives, said he is investing in their education.

For example, he is sponsoring coaching classes for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) billed for March 24.

The classes have been running since February 6 in three centres set up at Local Government Primary School, Agbowa, Epe Girls High School, and Okemagba High School, Epe where the candidates are being taught Mathematics, English language and other subjects between Monday and Saturdays.

Odubote said among the over 700 beneficiaries are 38 candidates from the 19 wards in the constituency, who he gave free UTME registration scratch cards and who stand to enjoy bursaries from him if they succeed in gaining admission into the tertiary institution.

The lawmaker said he expects his efforts to yield

•Odubote

fruits that would bring development to Epe. "I decided to face education because Epe is backward educationally. You can see in terms of the number of permanent secretaries we have in Lagos State.

Epe occupies a whole division in Lagos out of five. It is the only one that does not have enough people in the public service.

"We are now encouraging our students to go to school by offering them assistance.

They will be our assets in future. Epe occupies one third of the landmass in Lagos. We don't want government to take our land but to bring investment to us.

Epe is the future of Lagos," he said.

Meanwhile, Odubote is building an ICT centre for the public. Located in his constituency office, it will be launched in June.

51 get training on disaster management

W

ORRIED by the slow response to disaster management and control in the country, the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has trained 51 postgraduate students in disaster risk management.

The students were among the pioneer post- graduate students admitted by ABU from the military, para-military, medical and social sciences as well as disaster agencies for the programme.

Speaking in an interview

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

with The Nation after a dinner in honour of the graduates, Director of the Centre for Risk Management in the University, Prof Edwin Ekwuzi, said the training was aimed at tackling the problem of disaster management in the country.

The Director, who was represented by a senior lecturer in the Department of Geography of the institution, Dr Funsho Joseph, said the programme was instituted in collaboration with five universities to enhance disaster

management in the country.

"NEMA finds a synergy with ABU and five other universities each of the six geo-political zones to tackle the problem of disaster management in the country. Each of the centres was established to run a master and postgraduate diploma programme for people in various vocations that have to do with safety management, to produce manpower to handle disaster management in the country," he said.

Head of Department of Geography, where the centre is established, Dr Ojokuku Ati,

said the programme faced several challenges at inception.

Representative of the graduating students, Abdullahi Galadima, said they were happy to have acquired a certificate that has not been previously awarded. He added that though 60 of them were given admission, only 51 graduated while they lost one person.

He said: "As pioneer students of disaster risk management at a time Nigeria is going through a lot of disasters, our training can help to miti-

gate these disasters.The programme was organised and sponsored by NEMA to have a pool of workers to pick from in all the geo-political zones.

Disaster can come in various ways and you need every professional to handle it well; doctors, nurses, pharmacists, security agencies and social aspects to educate the community. The course would help me as a staff member of the World Health Organisation to handle problems associated with polio cases.

FirstBank launches academy

T

HE First Bank of Nigeria Plc has transformed its Learning and Development unit into an academy to train first class professionals for the banking sector.

The First Academy, as it is called, will be saddled with the development of employees to meet the needs of the bank in a corporate and academic environment.

Governing Council of the academy regarded as the bank's corporate university

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

was inaugurated on Tuesday last week at a colourful ceremony at the Protea Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The student bankers will benefit from affiliations the academy has established with the Global Association of Corporate Universities and Academies (G-ACUA) and the World Institute of Action Learning (WIAL) in gaining skills while undergoing the fourlevel training at the academy.

The structure of the academy requires the students to go through four schools namely the Foundation, Specialised Banking (one of Treasury, Operations or Credit), Man-

•From left: Dr Leonard, Mrs. Jaiyesimi; GMD/CEO FirstBank, Mr Bisi Onasanya, and Mr Ini Ebong at the inauguration of the FirstAcademy

agement and Leadership Schools.

At the end of the training the students are expected to gain competency-based skills and knowledge to take informed decisions in all areas to enhance the bank's growth.

Members of the Governing Council are IniEbong (chair-

man); Prof Richard Dealtry, founder, G-ACUA; Dr Scipton Leonard, Managing Director, WIAL; Dr YomiMakanjuola, MD, Thinck Metrics Ltd and Mrs AyodeleJaiyesimi, Head of Human Capital Management, First Bank.

Others are Mrs FolakeAniMumuney, Head, Marketing

and Corporate Communications, FirstBank Group; Mr Abiodun Odubola, Head, Credit Analysis and Processing, FirstBank; Mrs MorounkeBammeke, General Manager and Group Head, Operations and Mr Abdulahi Ibrahim, Group Head, Manufacturing, Institutional Banking.

29

A week of sporting events

Surprise package for students

Page 31

*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

Page 34

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: ladycampus@yahoo.com THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

•One of the off-campus hostels along Ifite road at UNIZIK

Murder at noon It was about 1:20pm last Tuesday when gun shots rang out around the hostel at the permanent site of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Ifite, Awka. There was panic. When it was over, one person lay dead. NGOZI EMMANUEL (recently finished from Mass Communication) reports.

T

HE sun rose early that Tuesday morning and almost as soon as it shone, it began to scorch. It shone so brightly on the Anambra State capital that it got everyone excited. Students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) went about their lectures as Tuesdays have proven to be as tough as Mondays on the campus.

As usual, there was a long queue at the permanent site bus stand.

Nobody had an inkling of the tragedy that lay ahead.

At the other end of the permanent site, the day seemed to drag slowly.

To residents of Christ the King Hostel (CKH), Ifite, all was normal.

Some were preparing for school or picking up buckets to fetch water; others were chatting.

Chukwunonso Ozo, the youthful caretaker of CKH Hostel, cracked jokes and laughed.

•UNIZIK VC Prof Egboka

•SUG president Victor

Shortly after the brief regular takeout time with the students, Nonso, as he was popularly called, went in to prepare for the day. Some students

recalled that there was nothing unusual about his behaviour. One said he joked with them freely as was his fashion.

When next Nonso was seen, he was in a bright yellow T-shirt and dark blue trousers. As the day wore on, some students who had noon lectures started leaving and those who were done for the day were arriving.

Nonso was sitting with some students at the mini-bar by the gate. The guys drank and gossiped and laughed.

Then a call came on Nonso’s phone and he excused himself from the group to receive it. A student, who was passing by, waited for Nonso to finish his call so they could exchange pleasantries. After the call, Nonso’s countenance reportedly changed.

The other student waiting to see him recalled that whatever the call was, it was definitely bad news. But he didn’t bother to ask Nonso about the call as they delved into pleasantries.

They were still chatting when a tricycle, popularly known as Keke NAPEP cruised by with two male occupants. It pulled up, a few metres away from where Nonso and the •Continued on page 31

•Chaos in UNILAG as moving car explodes • Cult clash averted at EKSU - P33

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

30

CAMPUS LIFE

Pushing ‘I really Out want to go Ngozi Agbo to school’

“H

AFSAT Aliyu, 11, has a dream to be distinct from her parents. The only way she believes she can do that is to do what none of her parents had the opportunity of doing: acquire formal education. But the hope of young Hafsat, now a Primary Five pupil, hangs in the balance.

Abbaganaram Primary School (Maiduguri) where she attends, is among the schools set ablaze by members of the Boko Haram sect, forcing about 10,000 school children to remain at home or roam the streets.

‘I want to use this opportunity to plead with whoever is burning schools in our state to think twice,’ Hafsat said in Hausa, adding that ‘most of the pupils attending such schools are from poor backgrounds. Personally, I always hawk garden egg after school to enable me buy books because my parents cannot afford it.’”

The foregoing was part of an instructive story “Boko Haram attacks force 10,000 out of school”, carried by Daily Trust of Monday, March 5.

My reaction when I first heard about the sect’s attacks on schools about two weeks ago was “Armageddon has finally come!” To say I did not anticipate the attack on schools was to deny the obvious. No discerning mind who has followed the unraveling of the fundamentalist sect in the last one year especially would say he didn’t fear this would happen. But somehow, I had thought higher institutions would be major targets. The University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) seemed to have anticipated this when it shut its gates and sent students home for some weeks, last year.

Then, towards the last quarter of the year, there were bomb attack scares at major institutions down south, especially the University

our future will not be jeopardized,” the boy was reported as saying.

According to reports, some 14 schools (more of public than private, more of primary than secondary) have been burned by Boko Haram in the last two weeks or so. Over 10,000 have been thus affected. What about the many more with whose schools have not been burnt but who are scared of going to school now?

Besides, which parent would send their children to school in Maiduguri when 08054503104 they do not know which school would (SMS only) be next, and also if the sect would not •campuslife@thenationonlineng.net get angrier and decide to throw their bombs during the daytime, to “teach •ladycampus@yahoo.com stubborn parents and schools a lesson,” of Ibadan (UI) and the University of Benin as we would say?

(UNIBEN).

Where does the prevailing scenario leave I must admit, however, that I was a bit re- Borno State and the rest of the north? Indeed lieved that the attack on primary and secondary where does it leave the country as a whole? schools took place at nights. This ensured there Since the beginning of its armed insurgence was no human casualty. How would we explain in 2009, the Boko Haram group did not attack it that children sent to school to learn became schools until recently. This is in spite of the fact sitting ducks for misdirected suicide bombers that its slogan renounces Western education. and bomb throwers? It would be akin only to Leaders in the north (political and religious) have the cases of worshippers killed for the “crime” been accused of refusing to strongly condemn of going to church! the group. A report featured in New York Times All the same, nothing excuses the attack on and reproduced by The Nation last week sugschools. Nigeria is already listed among nations gests that the claim is not spurious. The Ameriwith low literacy levels. Many of those who can reporter managed to get into a Mosque in manage to obtain our university degrees are Kano where he met with two senior members dismissed as “half-baked”. This accounts mainly of Boko Haram. This was after the January 25 for our poverty and low level of development, multiple bombings in that city. According to which are more acute in the north. How then the reporter, it was clear that the sympathies of does anyone think they are doing any group or the people in the Mosque lay more with the region a favour by destroying the little chance group than with the security agencies and govof attaining a better future that we have in the ernment. schools?

Today, I doubt if anyone can tame the group.

I was touched by the human face the Daily Trust There are signs that it has become amorphous, report gave to the incident. The reporter added in the sense that while one faction is saying that in the little time he spent with her, little one thing, another is saying the opposite. The Hafsat seemed determined to acquire formal baby cub has become a nebulous monster education. “She probably had a role model in ready to swallow those who gave birth to it. her late elder brother who died while in SS1.

In the Daily Trust report, a parent in ‘He used to help me with my school work,’ Maiduguri, Mallam Usa Musa, captures the Hafsat recalled, just as she restated her earlier reality with these words: “So far, the gunmen plea: ‘I really want to go to school!’” have not killed any pupil or teacher but the Another pupil the paper spoke to was truth is that they have killed the future of our Babagana Ali, 12, of Gwange Primary School children by declaring war on formal which was also burnt. “Our prayer is that the education...they have put the lives of our chilpeople (who) are burning our schools should dren at a crossroad. If children cannot go to sheath their sword and embrace peace so that school, is there any hope for the future? The

‘I lost at the SUG; I won at the national level’

•Adekola

OU represented IBBU at the last Computer Science Students’ competition and came third.

What was it like getting to that stage?

No doubt, I felt and still feel great and quite honoured. It is a privilege for me to be a winner in the competition and I want to give all glory to God Almighty for making that possible.

Do you see this as a sort of compensation, coming after you lost your bid to become the assistant secretary-general of the Students’ Union?

You can say that again. I call it a blessing in disguise because this is just God’s way of paying me back for my hardwork. God saw that I was ready to serve the people then but I was denied that opportunity. But I am truly grateful that the same institution turned round to honour me for my feat at the competition.

We understand you arrived late for the competition. How did it feel seeing opponents who having come early seemed more prepared than you?

I felt very inadequate. I was so afraid I wouldn’t measure up. This was not helped by the fact that we were supposed to be three representing IBBU, Lapai at the competition, but somehow and for reasons I cannot explain, I was the only one there. It was a classic case that would make our students say O’boy, fear catch me O. Seeing other students from many universities, especially those ones who claim to be more prestigious than IBBU, was a bit

Y

Adekola Ajayi is a 400-Level student of Computer Science at the Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, Niger State. He represented the institution at the national competition for computer science students where he came third. He shares his experience with OLATUNBOSUN YINKA (200-Level Chemistry). unsettling. I just thank God at how everything turned out eventually. So now I can say: I went, I saw, and, most importantly, I conquered. All glory be to God. Would you describe yourself now as a success?

Oh yes I would say that. This is because one’s success depends on the outcome of the positive things one is able to achieve after one has set goals for oneself. I set this goal for myself and achieved it; thus I am a success.

You are in final year now. As an outgoing student, what is your advice to fellow IBBULITES? I urge everyone to be hardworking and diligent in all they do. With these, the sky would be their limit.

result of the actions and inactions of the Boko Haram will have adverse effect on our lives generally. Some parents are now skeptical of allowing their children to go to school”.

A teacher in one of the burnt schools, Jummai Sam, supports with this: “The unfolding scenario is scary. The consequence is just too much to bear. It appears we are heading for the rocks. Thousands of children are out of school; this is significantly unconceivable. Already, our school and many others are gone and the children have been banished to staying at home. The implication is that many of them would be roaming the streets and at the end of the day, they would be forced to engage in social vices which will not augur well for the society”.

And to think that anyone imagines we do not have enough miscreants already!

Last Thursday, our Education section opened with a revealing story titled “Have public schools derailed?” It recounted horrific tales of public primary school pupils who are unable to spell their own names or read the most elementary of story books. I say “horrific” because these children attend schools in our own “Center of Excellence” state, Lagos. They also revealed that their teachers do little except write stuff for them on the board, then ask them to copy.

According to one child, the teacher does not bother with marking their notes or assignments. The girl, Nasimat Ibikunle, said: “The teacher does not mark herself. A boy in my class goes round and writes ‘seen’ in our books. (Our teachers) used to leave us in class and go out. Sometimes, they write on the board and tell us to copy”.

Now, if this is what happens in Lagos, with all the interventions of Governor Babatunde Fashola and corporate bodies, how bad is it in other states? And even with this scary state of the public schools, how far worse now that Boko Haram is further slicing an already decapitated situation?

I wrote earlier this year calling for an emergency intervention in the education sector.

Then, I didn’t know about the two incidents under review today. Not that those in government had shown a sign that they read my plea, but now what do one call for? Indeed, we need salvation.

Ciao

‘Determination and discipline are key to success’ Chinenye Sandra Eze recently graduated from the Department of English Language and Literature, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka. A campus broadcaster, Sanzye, as she is popularly called, was among the initial contestants for the 2012 Nigerian Idols. NGOZI EMMANUEL met her. wrong songs and all. This actually got

W

HAT’S your background?

I am the second child and second daughter in a family of seven. My parents are still alive though separated. I’m from Igboukwu in Aguata local council of Anambra State. I am a very happy soul, free spirited; could be bossy but also very compassionate.

How did your journey to Nigerian Idols start?

In 2010, I once went for the MTN Project Fame audition but didn’t make it. I was discouraged. But I summoned courage to enter for Nigerian Idols last year and subsequently registered on the day of the Enugu audition but my courage was dashed by the judges who rejected me. Somehow, out of sheer determination, I went on to the Lagos audition on the night of my birthday, risking a night travel. Although Yinka Davis gave me a little yes, the other judges were really sceptical. But I pushed on and that was how the journey started.

Have you been singing before this time?

I haven’t exactly done anything major but I have been doing some backup for upcoming artistes. And seriously, I never believed in myself so I will never tell anyone I sang. Thus, Nigerian Idols was my first time ever to sing on the stage.

Tell us about your experience in the house?

I did not exactly make it to the house because it was meant for the top 10.

But camp was maddening. It was from the top 100 to top 30, which I made.

There were so many creative and tal-

•Chinenye

ented people and it was like everybody could sing. There were different sets of characters also like the clowns, the reserved, the big talkers and the hyperactive people. It was tasking but I learnt a lot of valuable lessons. I got the very first opportunity to train my voice. The experience was worth the while and I miss the friends I made there – the likes of Honey, Ayo, Diwari, Ibinabo and Nikki who all made it to the top ten!

What did you wish had happened differently while you were in the house?

I wish I had more knowledge of music. The kind that suits my voice!

Countless of times, I kept picking the

me evicted. And I wish I have had more stage attitude and confidence. Apart from these, every other thing was perfect.

What is your biggest lesson?

In the process of igniting your dreams, never give up! Inasmuch as I didn’t win, I already feel like a winner and it was a big deal for me making the top 30. And there’s a huge possibility that I might audition for next year’s, and that way, I wouldn’t just be another virgin voice.

Share with us your future plans?

Uhm...so far I have been evicted but music is still in view. But now, I think I am going to do a little more radio broadcasting because that’s one other passion I cannot seem to quell or get out of my system.

What are your other skills?

I’m a stage host; I also farm! But the thing is music and radio, they are at the top.

Are you in a relationship?

No. I’m still single and open-minded!

Where would you like to see yourself in the next five years?

I will be the most renowned on-air personality in Nigeria and have my songs on Trace TV and others!

Any word for young ones like yourself?

In this 21st century, it is really difficult to see people go for what they love, as youths are always money driven. If you are gifted, please develop it. Hone your skills and follow your dreams. And then never give up!

Determination and discipline, though old, remain the ever current model for success.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

31

CAMPUS LIFE

Murder at noon •Continued from page 29

male student were standing. In a split second, a shot rang out from one of the guys in the tricycle, hitting Nonso in the belly. There was commotion and screams as Nonso slowly turned around to see what had hit him. When he turned, another shot hit him in the chest. He slumped and hit the ground. Everybody in the vicinity ran. Female students were screaming.

As he fell, one of the men from the tricycle, the one who had done the shooting, came down and moved towards Nonso. He was described as tall, dark, huge and ugly looking with a gash on his face. The killer turned Nonso over and checked his heartbeat. Probably thinking that the victim was still struggling to live, he shot Nonso again in the forehead.

All this while, the Keke waited patiently. He later climbed in and the tricycle reportedly drove off.

Minutes after students trooped out. Everybody talked at the same time; guys lamented and girls screamed. Two girls reportedly puked at the sight of Nonso’s blood covered body.

Obviously having been tipped off, some members of the UNIZIK anticult unit came; this made the okada riders around to flee - no bike man wanted to help chase the tricycle. Soon, some policemen arrived from the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Investigations revealed that Nonso had a problem with a female student in the hostel the day before.

It was gathered that the girl had brought five guys into her room the

previous day. As one of them walked around the compound, he ran into Nonso, the caretaker who asked him if he was looking for someone.

The male visitor reportedly snubbed Nonso and walked back to the girl’s room. Nonso followed him to the girl’s room and was reported to have asked the girl why she would bring such persons to the hostel. A row broke out between the guys and the caretaker. The guys were asked to leave and they did.

A student living in the hostel, said it couldn’t have been the little argument of that day that got Nonso killed. He said Nonso was also into landed property management, buying and selling land to people, adding that aside the CKH hostel, the late Nonso also had about three other hostels he oversaw. The source said the murder might have arisen from a land conflict.

Many students, however, refuted the claim that the killing could be cult-related as they insisted that Nonso never exhibited any questionable character.

The SARS arrested a person it described as the first suspect in the murder, the female student who brought to the hostel the five guys who quarrelled with Nonso the day before he was killed.

Nonso’s body has since been deposited in the mortuary. All efforts to get to the suspect at the B Division Police Station failed.

Nonso was described as a downto-earth, friendly, open-minded youth. He was said to have had no qualms in telling students when he was angry or happy.

•Students receiving a trophy from their Rector, Dr. Fasan, after winning the soccer contest

•Journalism and Production departments slugging it out on the field

A week of sporting events The NTA TV College, Jos, Plateau State, has held its first-ever sports week. JOHNPAUL NNAMDI (400-Level TV Journalism) captures the thrills of the fiesta. for their forthcoming examina-

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•A sign board against cultism at UNIZIK

Banks and electricity paralyse students’ activities

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UE to incessant robbery attacks on financial institutions in Ogun State, some banks have been temporarily closed down. The students of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) have resumed for session for the past five weeks but banks are yet to open, a situation that has halted academic activities on the campus.

Students travel to Ijebu Igbo, Ijebu Ode, Ibadan and Sagamu to withdraw money but it was another ball game when some banks in Ikenne and Ijebu Igbo were robbed by robbers. These incidents forced all the banks in Ogun State to shut down operations and left students to be stranded.

Electricity is another problem affecting students. They complained that since their resumption five weeks ago, there had not been power supply in Ago Iwoye, a city where most of OOU students live.

From Modestus Diko OOU

Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, Olufemi Penzer, 400-Level Mass Communication, said: “We have not gotten to the middle of the semester, students are already starving. We now had to resort to calling our parents to send recharge cards which we will sell to eat. Government must arrest this insecurity in Ogun State. Another painful thing is light. We have to pay at high cost to type, print, photocopy projects, assignments, it is absurd.”

Kunle Ashaolu, a 300-Level Microbiology student, said charging business is now fast growing in Ago-Iwoye because of the total black out in the city. “To charge a phone costs N50, laptop is N100 because there is no power supply. Banks have compounded our problems as we cannot withdraw money. Please help us inform the state government to do something about this.”

O see students and lecturers running after one another in a playful mood is a rare sight, especially in higher institutions.

However, this was the clear picture at the maiden edition of the NTA TV College sports week fiesta which was held in the college’s sports ground. It featured football, volleyball, badminton, chess, scrabble and table tennis. The matches were mainly between departments in the degree and diploma programmes on one hand and staff of the college on the other. And it was highly competitive.

Mr Terkimbe Manyam, chairman of the Sports Committee, explained that the aim of the week was to turn the minds of students off academic activities and to encourage healthy relationship between staff and students.

He said: “Apart from the fact that sport is a unifying factor, it also helps people to relax. Thus, in an academic setting like ours, we saw the need for students’ minds to be turned away from academic activities and also cultivate the spirit of healthy interaction between students and lecturers.”

Trophies and cash prizes were awarded to winners. The Television Journalism department of the degree programme carted away

the first prize in table tennis and football, while the female team of the diploma programme came first in scrabble, table tennis, volleyball and football. The Television Production department of the degree programme won the first place in volleyball.

The Rector, Dr Ayo Fasan, presented trophies to the winning teams.

Manyam encouraged those who won to keep up the spirit. He also urged the losing teams to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship by accepting defeat in good faith. He also stated that next year’s edition would be better because the college has plans of inviting corporate bodies to sponsor it, as well as students from other institutions to make the event more competitive.

However, many students did not participate in the event. They claimed that they were preparing

tions. Others criticized the idea of the sports week coming up a week before the commencement of their exams.

However, Mr Manyam explained that this was a deliberate choice and that participation was not made compulsory.

He added: “Some students are not interested in sports. Some are not even interested in their academic activities. So those who know the value were those who participated and they were happy”.

Sulieman Dutse, a 200-Level-TV Production student, told CAMPUSLIFE that the event was an interesting one. “I see it as a nice idea. Almost every student who loves sports was able to indulge in one sports or the other and especially with the staff. It gave us the opportunity to work out and really showed that there is unity in the college,” he stated.

‘Some students are not interested in sports. Some are not even interested in their academic activities. So those who know the value were those who participated and they were happy’

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

CAMPUS LIFE

Death of two friends

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•A solar power pump built by one of the corps members

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Energy Commission trains corps members

HE Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) in conjunction with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has held a five-day training workshop on renewable energy project for corps members in the Southsouth region of the country.

Speaking at the workshop, which took place at the Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH), Calabar, the ViceChancellor of the institution and chairman of the programme, Prof Efiom Ene-Obong, said renewable energy was not only relevant to Nigeria because of energy security issues but also for mitigating the negative climate change effects.

Prof. Ene-Obong said renewable energy which is abundant in most of the rural communities of the country would not result into greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. He noted that exposing youth to the technology was another way of encourag-

From Victor Gbonegun CRUTECH

ing self employment and economic empowerment opportunities for graduates.

In his speech, the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Prof A. Sambo, who was represented by the Director of Renewable Energy Commission, Prof Jidere Bala, said the commission, in the last 10 years, had collaborated with NYSC in the area of training, so that corps members would acquire skills in the fabrication and maintenance of renewable energy devices for application in the industry.

The NYSC Director-General, Brig.

Gen. Nnamdi Okorie-Affia, represented by Dr D. Nwaeze, said the collaboration between the bodies

was productive, noting that the renewable energy was a new thinking in national development. He disclosed that the idea was to equip corps members with skills that can assist them towards economic empowerment through practical training in the areas of design, construction, operation and maintenance of some selected renewable energy devices.

At the end of the workshop, some of the participants who had built some renewable energy devices such as saw dust stove, solar power pump, solar crop dryer, and biogas digester, were given certificates of participation while prizes were presented to persons that came first, second and third in their inventions.

Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, the corps members described the workshop as highly advanced skill acquisition and promised to replicate the skills and knowledge gained in their host communities.

EPARTMENT of Educational Planning and Administration (EPA) and staff of the Federal College of Education, Pankshin was thrown into shock by the news of the death of two students of the institution last week. The deceaseds - Rebecca Dookaan and Joy Akpusur, both 300-Level students and close friends - died in a ghastly accident that occurred on the Makurdi expressway.

When CAMPUSLIFE visited the department, their classmates said the two friends always do everything together. A student who craved anonymity said: “When we all went for our teaching practice, Rebecca and Joy undertook their practice in the same school.”

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the students were given lift from Lafia to Makurudi, their home town, but when the vehicle they were riding in got to Kadarko on Makurdi expressway, it had a head on collision with a vehicle coming from the opposite direction. They died instantly with the driver of the other vehicle.

Students protest high transport fare

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HE students of Lagos State University (LASU) residing at Iba town have demonstrated against the high cost of transportation from their hostels to school. The students claimed that commercial drivers in the area jerked up fares by more than 70 per cent following the removal of subsidy on fuel by the Federal Government.

The protesters gathered at Iba bus stop, where the protest began. They trekked from the starting point to National Union of Road Transport Workers

Corps members render free medical service

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•Mr Otufodunrin with the students

‘Journalism does not encourage laziness’

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T was supposed to be an excursion. But the visit by the Mass Communication Students Association (MCSA) of University of Lagos (UNILAG) to the corporate headquarters of The Nation newspaper, last Friday, turned to be a classroom, as the Online Editor of the newspaper, Mr Lekan Otufodunrin, lectured the students on new developments in media houses and some useful terms used in the business.

Led by their president, Babajide Adejumo, a 400-Level student, the students, who were mostly 100Level and 200-Level students, were advised to develop their creativities to excel in the discipline.

From Wale Ajetunmobi LAGOS

Otufodunrin said: “Unless you are hardworking and creative, the media job will be a difficult job for you because the profession is not meant for lazy people.”

He told the curious students, who asked how newspapers survive in a country such as Nigeria that has low reading culture, that without advertisers’ patronage, no media company can endure because Nigeria is yet to attain the age when information would be seen as valuable.

“You need to count cost if you want to start a newspaper business.

You cannot fill all the pages with

articles because it will be too cumbersome even for the readers and the paper will not sell. This is why a newspaper needs adverts to cater for the cost of production and adverts determine the number of pages produced by a paper,” Otufodunrin said.

He noted that there were times when newspapers were printed in black and white, saying “the advent of technology has ensured that we print in different colours.”

Babajide said the visit was to ensure the new students had practical knowledge of what they were being taught in class. The students were conducted round The Nation to see how a newspaper is produced.

SOME corps members in the health group of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Ikorodu zone have embarked on self financed community development projects.

Part of the activities at the programme was the donation of medical supplies, health related awareness campaigns, free medical checks and treatment, etc. This was done within Ikorodu with the supervision of the Local Government Inspector, Mr Aaron Olowokandi.

They also visited Odokekere community, an adjoining community to Odogunyan in Ikorodu.

Here medical consultations were carried out as regarding health issues in hypertension and diabetes.Drugs were also given out to control minor cases and im-

From Ogechi Ajah FCE PANSKSHIN

The death of the students was received as a shock to the college. A lecturer in the department said: “How could close friends lose their lives the same day and on the same spot?” the lecturer asked. Nadine Kashaun, a course mate, lamented, saying she had lost good and easy going friends who were accommodating and never wanted problem for their fellow students.

The president of National Union of Benue State Students (NUBESS), FCE Pankshin chapter, Samuel Akogwu, 300-Level English Language, said: “The death was a great loss to the association and the college as a whole because Joy and Rebecca were very committed and dedicated students, who always stayed away from trouble.”

The students were buried between five days interval. The burials were attended by members of Nigerian Federation of Catholic Students (NFCS).

From Olasunkanmi Arowolo LASU

(NURTW) office located at Iyana Iba. Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, Ayoola Kings, who led the protest, said: “They must bring the price back to N30, from Iba to Iyana-Iba and N50 from Iyana-Iba to Iba.” The transport fares were increased from N20 to N50, N50 to N70, and N20 to N40 for Iba town to Iyana-Iba, Iyana-Iba to Iba town and Iba town to Iba Estate/ LASU gate respectively.

Responding, the Joint Secretary of NURTW, Alhaji Hassan, said the union never ordered the commercial bus drivers to increase the transport fare but promised that the issue would be tabled before the union’s branch meeting that would be held soon.

From Hannah Ojo LAGOS

mediate referrals to the General Hospital, Ikorodu was made for severe cases, all at no cost to the community members.

The turnout was large as over 300 adults were attended to. Seun Odutayo, a Chemical Engineering graduate from OAU told CAMPUSLIFE that the group had the support of the Baale of the community who encouraged them not to relent in their service to the nation. He added that finances for drugs and medical equipment needed for the projects which they have been performing were been generated internally by individuals in the group.

The group is made up of four doctors and a nurse namely Dr Mariam Oshodi, Dr Tunde Ibiyooye,Dr Adrew Oladipupo, Dr Omolola Adekigbe, Oluwaseun Odutayo, the group head and other. while the medics amongst them assume the sole responsibility of carrying out all medical procedures, the other members take care of logistics, resources, planning and executing projects.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

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CAMPUS LIFE Fellowship holds leadership training TUDENTS have been advised to stand against homosexuality, religious extremism and terrorism wherever they find themselves.

This was the message at the four-day Leadership Training Conference organised by the Nigerian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (NIFES), Warri zone. The event took place at NIFES Hall Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun.

Speaking on Responding to adverse policies and fundamentalism at the conference, Prof A. Anigala, a resource person, said fundamentalisms were propagated by extremists who believed their fellow human being should be treated as second class citizens even in their own country. “Nigeria will be better of for it, if students can take bold steps against some adverse policies that were being put in place by anti-unity groups,” he said.

While speaking on the topic: Strategic leadership in a post-modern campus, Mr. Sina Ayodele, NIFES Area Director said: “Post modernism has an overwhelming effect in all areas of our campus life today and as such,

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•The burning car

Chaos in UNILAG as moving car explodes

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T was penultimate Monday evening at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) when all lectures had ended and students were retiring into their hostels. Suddenly, a moving vehicle burst into flame.

Pandemonium ensued. Students ran helter-skelter as they feared it might be a terrorist attack from Boko Haram sects.

It was a university commercial vehicle with registration number LM 162 AAA. It had five occupants on board.

Whatever caused the fire could not be immediately ascertained but some students in the cab said it may not be unconnected with a spark in the engine of the vehicle. The fire raged for more than an hour. The incident happened at the roundabout between Moremi Hall and Mass Communication department.

An eyewitness told CAMPUSLIFE

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From Ayideji Adesina and Rotimi Akinola UNILAG

that the officials of the Fire Service department of the university located about 150 metres from the scene did not respond to the distress call “until the fire got out of hand”. The fire fighter reportedly told students that they had no water in their tank. “When the firemen eventually responded, they came with some funny fire extinguishers that could not stop the raging fire. So, they were prevented by angry students,” a Mass Communication student, who was at the scene of the fire, told our correspondent.

A deputy Dean of Student Affairs (DSA) who came to the scene could not control the students who were asking the fire fighters to “go away”.

A student, who was at the fore front of the protest, claimed that the uni-

versity official wanted to hand him over to the policemen that came with the fire fighters. But the Deputy Dean denied the allegation, saying he was only setting “dialogue in motion.” The students, who sustained injuries while trying to put out the fire, insisted that the deputy DSA was trying to get them arrested.

The driver of the vehicle almost committed suicide as he attempted to re-enter the burning car, which was acquired through hire purchase.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that it took the efforts of passerby who were mostly students, to put out the fire, but the vehicle was completely burnt.

The owner of the vehicle allegedly collapsed at the sight of the damage . He was said to have been rushed to the hospital. None of the occupants was injured in the incident.

NYSC adopts new orientation course

HE 2011 general elections that claimed the lives of some corps members, who were employed as ad hoc staff put government on its toes when concerned people intensified the call for the scrapping of the scheme.

Apart from the security challenges facing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, there is also a financial burden, which the government claimed it spends N7billion on the exercise yearly without the guarantee of employment for the youths.

To arrest the problem besetting the scheme, a new posting policy was, last week, unveiled by the Minister of Youth Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, as part of the reform agenda of the Federal Government to revamp the scheme.

Abdullahi said NYSC was becoming moribund, which called for an urgent need to overhaul the scheme for better result after 38 years of existence.

The minister said the scheme lost its glory because of distortions in the system that brought about untapped potential among youths that can transform the country. “Current realities have resulted to the need to improve security for members of the service posted to

From Gerald Nwokocha NYSC ABUJA

various parts of the country,” Abdullahi said, adding that “interference by members of the elite is affecting the equitable distribution of the members of the service.”

He insisted that the consequences would be grave for the scheme if identified challenges were not addressed, mentioning rural health, education, infrastructure and agriculture as key sectors where the new posting policy of corps members would be focused.

“The possible contributions of NYSC’s new reform policy include economic development, labour supply, strengthening value system, unity and national integration, patriotism and national loyalty to provide a soughtafter experience that brings value to youths and the nation,” Abdullahi noted.

The Minister said President Goodluck Jonathan had approved the implementation of the reform, which he would personally implement with the assistance of the Director-General of NYSC, noting that there would be no preferential posting for foreign stu-

dents.

To ensure inter-ministerial cooperation in driving the new policy, Abdulahi said, it made his ministry to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health in the posting of corps members to ensure active participation in the provision of primary health care, especially in the rural areas.

The Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, wanted a situation whereby corps members would be deployed to areas that will help the ministry attain its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and midwives’ services scheme which were being handled in the 36 states of the federation.

Chukwu said corps members would be required to supervise all the components of primary health care, maternal health, immunisation, behavioural change education and disease surveillance. “We are not just talking about medical doctors but health workers that can form what we call a formidable department in our local government.

They (corps members) have many things they can do, they can supervise immunisation, water sanitisation and so on.”

•CAMPUSLIFE man Wale Ajetunmobi (fourth left) with other corps members displaying their NYSC certificates after their passing out programme at Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State recently

Cult clash averted at EKSU

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ENULTIMATE Friday would have been a bloody day for students of Ekiti State University (EKSU) if not for the timely intervention of the university peace corps who averted a clash between two major rival cult groups.

According to eye witnesses, trouble started brewing in the morning when some male students believed to be members of Eiye confraternity beat up a member of Aye group. In the evening, the rival group, whose member was beaten, planned to retaliate.

At around 7:30pm on the day, some five members of Black Axe moved from Osekita axis of the school to Satelite Phase 2 area, where one of the rival students lives.

On getting to the house, nobody was at home and this made the member that was beaten up to roar in anger. On their way back,

Orientation for freshers

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HE National Association of Building Students (NAOBSS), Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA) chapter, last week, held her orientation programme for freshers.

The event was held in a lecture room at The School of Environmental Technology, Gidan Kwano campus.

The head of the department was represented by Dr B.L. Olawuyi, a lecturer in the department. In his speech, Olawuyi explained the roles of builders in the construction industry, throwing more light on the misconception by students of the differ-

From Akindotun Akintomide PTI

Christian students must not defile themselves with all forms of immoralities that are being witnessed on campus”. He advised the students not to be carried away with the advent of modern civilisation.

The highlights included seminars, drama, music night, election of new sub zonal and zonal officials and handing over to the new zonal training secretary. The excitement in the hall was at its peak when choirs from different schools in the zone slugged it out in a music contest. PTI choir became the best in the zone, while choirs from Delta State Polytechnic, Oghara and Delta State University (DELSU) took second and third positions.

Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, Nnaemeka Onyechi, a participant from DELSU said: “This conference has really impacted my life greatly and I am returning back to my school like a changed person ready to explore the world of the righteous.”

From Jasper Dada EKSU

the cultists harassed students in the area. Those putting on blue shirt, the Eiye colour, were molested by the boys who were armed to the teeth. Students scampered for safety as the five-gang boys moved back to their base.

A molested student who spoke under anonymity said: “I was coming from my girlfriend’s hostel at Osekita area when I saw the boys coming in anger. I assumed they were students arguing over football or politics but one of them shouted: you no dey fear abi, who you bi to see the Aye boys dey para and before I could say anything, they broke a bottle on my head and stabbed me on the hand.”

Upon receiving an emergency alert, the Peace Corps cadet swung into action, moving around the school and resident areas. The cadet Marshall, Temitope Ajayi, a 500-Level Zoology student, said: “We are here to protect the students and we urge them to give us their maximum cooperation by reporting anybody who they know to be trouble shooters.”

From Tolu Ajobiewe FUT MINNA

ence between the building profession and Civil Engineering. “The construction of buildings that withstand the test of time is a function of builders in the construction sector and as such, the role of the builders in the environment should not be neglected,” Olawuyi said.

NAOBSS president, Usman Yusuff, urged the new students to shun drug, cultism and other social vices that may jeopardise their stay on campus. He advised the freshers to take their studies seriously, “if you want to excel.” Ademola Nurudeen, one of the students, said the orientation was necessary to give the new intakes an insight into the profession.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

CAMPUS LIFE Engineering students at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State, under the aegis of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), have marked their week. AKINDOTUN AKINTOMIDE (HND II Welding and Fabrication Engineering Technology) reports. all the generational problems that

In pursuit of excellence

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T was an event graced by lecturers and technocrats from the oil and gas industry. It was put together by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Students’ Chapter, Effurun.

The theme was:“Depleting oil and gas reserves in Nigeria – Meeting the technological challenges”.

The event featured lectures, debates, paper presentation by students, petro-quiz, excursion to PTI demonstration rig and flow station and many more. These activities were capped with a dinner and award night.

In his address opening Mr Kayode Ayeni, chairman of SPE Cection 104 Warri, admonished the students to take their to serious academic work seriously because there were lots of opportunities waiting for them in the industry upon graduation.

On day two of the event, a topical issue, “Fuel subsidy removal: its effects on the Nigerian economy” was the discussion of the day. Invited speakers constituted a panel to discuss the much-debated subject matter. It was an interactive session in which lectures were given while the curious students made numerous contributions and also asked questions on sundry issues revolving round the fuel subsidy removal.

In a lecture, Mr. Chris Onoruese,

•Members of management with SPE-PTI executive members after the programme

a lecturer, said: “Subsidy removal should be embraced considering the overbearing nature of government in the oil and gas sector of the economy which has contributed to the various inefficiencies hindering the growth of the sector”. He also mentioned several conditions that must be put in place for the policy to work.

Another member of the panel, Mr Musa Ariyo, a senior staff of Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), while delivering a lecture, said: “The removal of fuel

subsidy has caused a serious effect on various household items considering the N18,000 minimum wage which the government is not ready to increase. … Though with the removal, the nation’s GDP will rise but the standard of living might fall because people are getting poorer every day”.

Ariyo argued that government must come up with ideas that would help create more small scale industries which would lead to “massive employment and wealth creation in other to cushion the ef-

fects of the subsidy removal”.

In the same vein, Engr.O. Odubiyi argued that the subsidy removal has come to stay and it will be worthwhile if the proceeds realised from the removal is properly utilised.

“Considering the futurist impact of the removal, it should be embraced if we say it is worth it,” Engr. S. A. Saleh opined while moderating the session.

Rev. O. M. Okorie, a lecturer, challenged the students to learn from the failures of their fathers in order to rise above them and solve

have bedevilled the country since independence.

Okorie, who gave a lecture on the theme of the event, said: “According to a research, in the next 22 years Nigeria oil reserves might be totally depleted which will result into a decline in oil production”. He said that it is better to think about other alternative sources of energy generation rather than focusing only on oil and gas.

At the event, Mrs. O. B. Akpojivi, the PTI Deputy Director of Academics, lauded the association for the good representation it has been giving the school over the years at both national and international levels. “Keep the flag flying,” she encouraged.

The colourful dinner/award night marked the end of the event.

There, 10 best students in a scholarship aptitude test written on the first day of the event were presented with cash awards that will cater for 65 percent payment of their tuition fees for the next academic session.

It was another party time on a night that students had the fun of their lives.

Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, Akpan Oto-bong Ezekiel, President of PTI students’ SPE said: “The theme of this year’s event was aimed at creating consciousness of the fast depleting oil and gas reserves on the minds of students and to task them on developing themselves technologically to proffer solutions to the problem. My gratitude goes to everybody who helped make this event a success,” he added.

Students of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) resumed from a forced five-month holiday to meet renovated facilities.

STANLEY UCHEGBU (300-Level Accounting) writes that they were surprised by what they met.

•One of the hostels renovated by management

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HEY were away for five months. When they returned, they met a transformed institution. To say that they were surprised by the development will be putting it mildly.

They were simply stunned since their return, they have not ceased to talk of the accomplishments of Prof James Epoke who has spent a little over a year in office as Vice Chancellor (VC). Some of the projects he undertook include hostels and provision of pipe borne water, repainting of lecture venues and replacement of dilapidated seats across faculties, provision of laboratory equipment, construction of a library for the Law Faculty including expansion

•Water tanks installed for the use of students

Surprise package for students of an e-Library component.

Internet facilities which enable students with laptops or phones to browse freely for 90 hours per month were also installed. The construction of the faculties of Engineering and Pharmacy blocks and hydro power electricity is almost completed.

On academics, Epoke said the management has zero tolerance for sorting of courses, cultism, admission racketeering and other social vices that can endanger the university.

A student of Physics who didn’t

want to be named said when the management came up with the “development levy” of N10,000, students, though compelled to pay, were grumpy. “Now,” he added, “we are very excited seeing that the development by the Vice-Chancellor. It is sad, however, that our academic calendar has been distorted because of students’ rampage.”

Another student, who spoke from the Geology Department, is Emmanuel Effiong. He said: “The development is a good one, indeed, as it has made our students

to believe more in the management. We will like to appeal to the school authority to reconsider the removal of apportionment inside the hostel for security reasons.”

A female student from Chemistry Department who simply identified herself as Chomisky said the stride by the Vice-Chancellor has made his departmental colleagues to praise him for his forthrightness. She added: “We however plead with him to remain a friendly leader and always show concern for the welfare of

students and equally grant them a listening ear whenever they complain about some policies affecting them as student. On this premise, I plead for the restoration of our Students Union Government(SUG) as soon as possible because it enlivens academic activities on campus. He should remember that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”.

Gabriel Uzor is of the Faculty of Law. He said the incidence of street urchins who found their ways to the school parading as students of the university just to pilfer, snatch phones, laptops and money from students has been curtailed by the new security agents.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8 , 2012

35

CAMPUS LIFE

Not a happy ending at all

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By Tolulope Ajobiewe toluodigwe@yahoo.com

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T is heartwarming that this topic is being disclosed at this period when Nigerians of today, are becoming fully aware of the need to fully identify with the different aspect of our rich cultural heritage. There was a time in the recent past when we almost lost hope on this. Many in the cultural sector, thought that we were been swallowed by western culture. Even when we are yet to fully appreciate and identify with our culture, there is hope that all will not be lost, that we will still have something tangible to hand over to the next generation. To understand this discourse, we have to define culture in the Nigeria context.

Culture has been defined in different ways by different scholars, but the most universally used definition is "culture is the way of life of a people". This means culture has to do with all the aspects of living of a particular set of people, examples of which include language, food, fashion, politics, economy, arts etc. In a nut shell, culture is the life wire of a society.

To define culture in relationship to the Nigerian society is a difficult task because Nigeria is a multicultural society, with more than 250 cultures and languages.

But there are things that are common to us that qualify us as one big cultural family. Let us look at some of those elements of our culture.

Arts and Literature: The Nigerian

Y heart is still bleeding by the recent killing of a Nigerian journalist. I mean the Kano State correspondent of Channels television, Eneche Akwogwu, who was mowed down during the multiple bomb blasts that rocked the city of Kano on Friday, January 20, 2012.

Truly, every profession has it hazards. A soldier, for instance, prepares for any eventuality because he can get killed anytime, whether on the battle field or not.

But must a journalist also prepare to die for reporting what is happening in our country? Eneche died untimely but his achievements at the age of 31 inspired me a lot. After I saw the news of his bagging the broadcast station’s

chairman’s award for 2011, I received the news of Eneche’s death with a shock sent down my spine.

For goodness sake, the young man was carrying out his noble duty but he ran into the cold hands of death barely three days after his return to his Kano base from Lagos. It is so disheartening that journalists have to be sacrificed so brutally in the course of their assignments.

I recalled the last CAMPUSLIFE workshop I was privileged to attend. At the function, the talks of “who wanted to be journalist” dominated the discussion. Few of the participants indicated interest to be journalists. In my own case, I did not see myself becoming a journalist, but the lecture of

the Guardian Editor, Mr Debo Adesina, changed my mind. Yet, these are the people that are liable to get killed anytime and for no just cause.

In the military era in Nigeria, journalists were part of the vanguard that fought the yoke of oppression. There was no time in the military era journalists were not herded to jail because they spoke the truth for the power that be. Why should I be victimised for doing my job as a journalist?

Should we then crucify a medical doctor for treating an accident victim or for the safe delivery of a woman in labour? Should we also start killing lawyers who de-

fend our right in the court? Will it be right for us to start killing policemen for ‘protecting’ our lives? This killing of journalists is getting unbearable and it must stop. My tribute goes to the family of Eneche Akogwu and all other families who suffered the loss of their beloved ones, who died in active duty.

Conclusively, I believe there is need for necessary reform in the industry. Journalists should be adequately compensated for the efforts they put in and the risk they take regularly to inform people.

Also media owners need to insure the lives of journalists, to guard against incidents that may take their lives. This will, to a very great extent, motivate and encourage journalists, and as well help address the plight of aspiring journalist like me.

Tolulope, 300-Level Urban and Regional Planning, FUT MINNA

Cultural appreciation in modern Nigeria

By Olumide Lawal olulawal99@yahoo.com

society is the reflection of its rich cultural heritage which is dated back to move than 2000 years.

From the Nok, Ife Esie, Benin, Igbo ukwu, Tada, Owo to the present day arts of Ben Enweonwu, Bruce Onabrakpaya, Yusuf Grillo, Uche Okeke etc. In these arts, especially the early ones, the philosophies, conventions and aesthetic vale of the diverse ethics groups and culture in Nigeria are portrayed.

These arts, both the ancient and contemporary, are making waves all over the world. You hardly enter any art gallery or museum in the world without arts and objects from Nigeria. And this spread and appreciation is due to the awareness created by us in the modern Nigerian society. More art exhibitions are being organised, both in Nigeria and abroad. Many schools and groups of artists are emerging, creating different dimensions, and area of arts. The society is now becoming more aware of the beauty in arts, thereby encouraging artists to bring out their best. Unlike in the past when parents disowned their children because they wanted to be artists.

Literature is another aspect of our culture that is very rich, and worthy of note. It is a thing of joy to note that the modern Nigerian

society is going back to the roots to enjoy real cultural and traditional literature in the form of songs, folktales, stories, praise songs and the like.

Not only that our modern day novelists, playwright and musicians corrected the ugly image the white men created about us. For instance, Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Ola Rotimi, Elechi Amadi, in the various work succeeded in bring out the rich culture heritage of our people, showing that we need all these before the white men came to corrupt us with their own culture.

Fashion: This can be broadly defined to include garments, hairstyles, headwear, body decoration, cosmetics, jewelry and accessories of all kinds. It is worthy to note that Nigeria is almost leading the world in fashion. We are dropping preference for western fashion and embracing our cultural traditional fashion. Time has gone when Nigerians must appear in suits in every occasion. Even outside the country, Nigeria punctuates the crowd of fashion with our culture.

We have to encourage ourselves to showcase as much of our fashion as possible when we are abroad.

It creates our identity, it makes us stand out in the crowd. Most of us who do that must agree with me that each time we wear our traditional attires, beads and accesso-

ries to any function abroad, you steal the show. Whenever Nigeria Fashion Show (NFS) goes abroad, there is always a crowd gathered to appreciate our fashion Music and Drama: These are inseparable from our cultural heritage. All Nigerian nationalities and cultures have their own traditional music and dance, which are central to the way Nigerians remember their past and celebrate their present. Songs are played on flutes, trumpets, stringed, instruments, xylophones, thumb pianos, which are linked to specific places and events such as harvest, burials, marriages, and coronation.

One is happy to see that on various occasions even during white weddings, traditional music and dance dominate the occasion. Even some Christian songs are accompanied by traditional music instruments. Most modern Nigerian musicians emerge from the school of traditional music.

Theatre and Drama: The contemporary theatre and drama in modern Nigeria society were pioneered by Hubert Ogunde and grew out of a long tradition of masquerades, festival and storytellers. Masquerade emphasises custom. The dance rather than dialogue was the key instrument of social culture and political commentary. Nigeria has grown so

popular in the film industry that we are rated third largest film market after Hollywood and Bollywood. This should be improved upon and encouraged to boost our identity both within and outside the country.

Language: I deliberately put this aspect of our culture last because it is the one that suffers most. Language is the most important element in any culture. It is the unifying factor in any society. It is unfortunate that we have not been able to formulate a common language for the people living in Nigeria. And the most unfortunate is that our individual languages are going into extinct. Parents no longer teach their children indigenous languages.

To make sure that we uphold our cultural heritage, we must, through sound education, inspire pride in national culture and maintain its continuity from generation to generation and between one social class and another.

The modern Nigeria society, like any other society in the world, is inseparable from its cultural heritage, for its history is recorded and embedded in its culture. The clarion call is, let us speak culture, wear culture, preach culture, preserve culture and above all appreciate our God-given culture.

Olumide writes from Ede, Osun State

Letter to Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

I

WRITE to congratulate you on your well deserved appointment as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs by the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Indeed, this singular honour by Mr. President has singled you out as an achiever.

You are a woman of vision, endowed with potentials to contribute immensely in the transformation agenda of President Jonathan.

I remember those days when you were the president of Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) Women Association, your exemplary behavior lifted the association to a height it never dreamed. FUTO Women association (FUTOWA) also helped the university management in many areas.

For instance, they championed a campaign aimed at restoring Igbo language and culture which led to the inclusion of Igbo in GST in FUTO. Other areas you did well were in organising workshops and seminars of which some included the Global Hand Washing day, the breast feeding day, HIV/AIDS awareness, and also a workshop that taught FUTO women how to look good, plus so many other workshops which were targeted

towards capacity building.

Indeed, staff and students of FUTO benefited immensely from those wonderful programmes you introduced while you were the president of FUTOWA. There were so many lessons we learnt from those workshops, especially that of the continuous HIV/AIDS pandemic awareness which enabled most students and staff to know their status without shying aware from the heart to heart counseling.

Right there at the Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Chaplaincy, you left a legacy which the students cannot forget. Ma, indeed students and staff of FUTO have missed you much. Though, you have gone to a higher calling from Mr. President who also believed in you by calling you to work in his cabinet. We love you so much.

You are a woman who is down to earth, free with the youths and easy going. You can be approached anytime without hitches. You stood firm behind your husband, Prof Celestine Onwuliri, who was the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of FUTO, that made him achieve much as the VC. When the news came to us that you have been appointed a minister, it made a headline in our cam-

pus newspaper the 3rd Eye. Every student and even the Students Union officials were happy and celebrated it. Drinks were declared free in all cafeterias on campus.

This showed how happy we were.

On the higher ground you have gone, we so much believed in you that you will deliver. You have got the experience after all; you were one time African representative in the Governing Council for AIDS in Geneva. A woman of impeccable character, we expect you to bring in more innovative programmes that will boost the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and affect us as Nigeria’s citizens.

It is expected of you to portray the image of Nigeria in such a way the world will be yearning to come and develop Nigeria. We also expect you to work with men of vision as your advisers and special assistants removing sentiments in the choice of people you may work with if you must achieve a lot.

The menace of the Boko Haram sect in Nigeria as well as the Jos riot has portrayed the nation in bad light among the comity of nations.

They now view Nigeria as insecure and a lawless nation. Something has to be done urgently to redeem the image of our nation.

We also expect you to collaborate with other ministers to create a blue print aimed at tackling the challenges facing the ministry and ways you intend solving them. Nigerian embassies should be improved. You should also look at having an agreement with other nation’s embassies on ways of assisting Nigeria to meet up with its vision to be among the 20 economies in the year 2020.

There is need for Nigerian embassies to be strengthened because the embassy of a nation is the nation itself in a foreign land. Everybody cherishes the way the United States guards her embassies in any foreign land. They don’t joke with lives of their citizens working as expatriate outside the US. Let Nigeria try and emulate countries like US and improve their embassies.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry should also look at solving the stress and difficulties Nigerians face in processing their visa to foreign lands, especially the United Kingdom and the US. Let there be no queue of Nigerian citizens at these embassies that treat us like animals.

If these are implemented, the Foreign Affairs Ministry will wax

By Gerald Nwokocha ossygerald@yahoo.com strong. With the much I have seen, you are doing well as a minister. I trust you so much. You are a woman of vision with so many initiatives. You have not failed and cannot afford to fail. Once again congratulations and may you live long.

Gerald, is a corps members, NYSC Abuja

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

36

CAMPUS LIFE Students of the University of Jos (UNIJOS), last week, enjoyed free bus rides. ESTHER MARK (400-Level Mass Communication) sought the reason behind the gesture.

Free bus service? No, its low-cost scheme

S

OME students were walking from the Village Hostel to the park en route their lecture rooms.

When they saw the students coming, the cab drivers became vociferous in their chants of “permanent site, main campus.” Four passengers were already seated in a loading cab. All it needed were two more passengers to complete the number before embarking on the journey. The driver was happy as he visualised in his mind that, “this would be a fine day for business.” The two needed passengers boarded the cab.

But, suddenly, a big bus arrived, with the driver beckoning on students to come on board. Everybody was familiar with the University of Jos (UNIJOS) inscription on the bus. In a flash, students started running towards the bus. Those in the cab disembarked and joined the race. It was nicknamed the “awuf bus race”.

The bus, was filled in no time. It was even filled beyond capacity as many were willing to stand as “attaché passengers”. The students were happy.

The cab drivers were disappointed.

And off the bus went, conveying students from the Village Hostel, through the permanent site, Abuja and Naraguta hostels, before stopping at the main campus on Bauchi Road.

As soon as the bus dropped off some students, those waiting in the next parks quickly boarded, spoiling business for the cab drivers.

Expectedly, the journey was interesting as the students cracked jokes, with the drivers joining in the fun.

This reporter was waiting for a cab at a park at Naraguta Hostel, on her

On and Off Campus

way to the permanent site, when one of these free buses came along. She and other students struggled for seats on the bus. During the journey, she engaged some students in a discussion, to know their feelings about the free bus service.

Judith Hamuel, in 200-Level Political Science, while praying that the gesture doesn’t end quickly, said if it continued for a month, she would have saved an equivalent of the tuition fee she paid for the session.

Rebecca Dara, in 400-Level Mass Communication, said: “Since Monday, I have been saving money by waiting for the buses. This money would go into other pressing areas of need.”

The free ride, however, stopped after one week, to the disppointment of many students. The sudden stop resulted in many students running late for lectures.

While many students felt the school introduced the scheme to lessen the effect of fuel subsidy, others thought it was an initiative by the dissolved Student Union Government (SUG).

They were all wrong. CAMPUSLIFE spoke with the Deputy Dean, Students’ Affairs, Dr Jacob Agaku who referred our reporter to the Transport Officer, Mr Isa Usman Shuaibu.

Shuaibu said the gesture was to test run the four buses that had been put in order since last year. According to him, “the buses have been serviced and put in order since last year and we wanted to test run them to see how fit they are for the road. The Dean decided to have the buses on the road free for students for one week, after which modalities are being put in place to

By Solomon Izekor

•Students at the bus park boarding one of the free ride buses

introduce a transport scheme with reduced fares.”

He added: “Having completed the one week test run, we have submitted our proposal to management on how to run the transport service for our students. We intend printing tickets which students would pay only N30 from the school to all hostels and N50 to the Old Campus. This is cheaper than the current rates they pay for cabs and bikes.”

Asked when the service would kick off fully, Mr. Shuaibu said it depends on the approval from the management. He added that the university “did not receive any special subvention in regards to the fuel subsidy”. According to him, “we are just doing all we can to make the learning environment conducive for students”.

Reacting to the proposal, many students were happy with the gesture.

For Ejura Adama, in 400-Level Mass

Communication, “this is a welcome development because it means additional pay on our pockets as we would save some money from the reduced fare. It would also mean more comfort since the busses are big enough and the seats can contain three people per seat. No more inconvenience in those old small rickety cabs. God bless the management for such studentoriented gesture.”

John Adeiza, in 400-Level Sociology, who resides at Village Hostel, said: “The proposal is a good one. It means more security for students since the university authority would be championing the cause of transporting students to and fro school. As you know, we are always mindful and cautious of the environment – no thanks to the sad recurring Jos crises and if the students would be in the school bus, it means some level of security is assured, though we know

it is God Who protects”.

John Simon is a 100-Level Building Science student. He called for more buses, adding that when the scheme fully kicks off, the four buses would be small, compared to the number of students.

However, a student who pleaded anonymity retorted humorously in Pidgin English: Haba school, na now wey we dey holla una say una too try, na him una dey talk about ticket and reduced fare.

We gree say the money no plenty, but wetin una start, make una complete. Why una go come dey run test for our head say una dey check buses wey una repair. Make una kuku close eye do am free bus ride or make we dey pay N10 per drop. That way, we go know say una care wel wel for una students!

While the proposed modalities to kick start the scheme is awaiting approval, many still described the one week gesture as a welcome development.

Almost a month after Valentine’s Day, many believe the essence of the occasion has been abused by youths. To correct this, members of the Nigeria French Village Christian Fellowship (NFVCF) held a month-long programme. GILBERT ALASA (300-Level Foreign Languages, University of Benin) was there.

When love heralds Le Village

T

O some people, February, being the second month of the year, is that time when the euphoria of the New Year begins to fade, leaving us to confront the realities of our lives. For others, February is the month of Saint Valentine; a period where the bounds of love are renewed by way of giving and reaching out to the less-privileged. But for many single youths, it has been abused as sexual perversion seemed to have replaced the practice.

Recently, at the Nigeria French Language Village Christian Fellowship (NFVCF), members resolved to make the month memorable.

Throughout the Sundays in the month, the atmosphere around the fellowship was charged; a clear indication that the members were out to send a message. In the same vein, all Bible teachings were centred on the tenets of brotherly love and how best to attain this as a group, family or nation.

Aside the exchange of gifts among members on Valentine Day proper, the annual event culminated in a weekend-seminar tagged “Love, Sex and Relationships”. At 10:30am on Saturday, students trooped out in their numbers to the school’s Main Auditorium where they were taken through practical issues relating to sexuality, relationship and marriage.

Dr Joseph Adeleke opened the day

•Students listening during a session

with his stimulating discourse on marriage. He advised the students to seek the will of God to avert the illfate that befalls many contemporary marriages. He said that marriage is aimed at attaining completion and fulfillment but these marital blessings elude many homes due to wrong choices.

A female student who did not want to be named said that the seminar has motivated her to take a stand to remain chaste until her wedding day. “Sincerely, the event was an eyeopener because most young people misconstrue sexual pervasion to be love. By and large, that accounts for part of the social and marital problems we have today. I have never seen my parents show true love to each other. And of course, I want something different.”

Then came the high-point of the seminar where a key speaker, Pastor Corneille Agboton, demystified the issue of sex and why single youths must abstain from the practice.

From all indications, students

savoured every bit of his discussion mostly due to the graphic illustrations he conjured up at regular intervals.

Pastor Corneille explained that sex has been abused by many youths, resulting in broken homes, sexually transmitted diseases, regrets and distorted destinies. He enjoined the students to abstain from all forms of sexual activities until they are legally married.

Other speakers who thrilled the audience include Mrs. Tope Afolabi who spoke on “How to Know the Will of God” and Mrs. A. Adeleke who took the students through practical measures for resolving marital conflicts.

Students were given opportunities to ask troubling questions and answers were carefully provided.

However, as the programme was brought to a close in the last weekend of February, Vice-President of the fellowship, Pastor David Meraba, enjoined students to continue in the spirit of love and “be true ambassadors of Christ who loved us and offered Himself as a ransom for our sins.”

37

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

EDUCATION

Poly to introduce online exams

Obasanjo lauds UNN

F

• Graduates 1,184

T

HE Lagos City Polytechnic (LCP) will start conducting internal examinations online before the end of this year, its Acting Rector, Mr Akinola Oki, has said.

Oki said during the institution's Sixth Convocation that the initiative is one of the measures being introduced to strengthen prompt release of results and improve the quality of students trained by the polytechnic.

Other measures include training for lecturers, standardisation of tests and examinations and organisation of entrepreneurship workshops to enhance their employability after graduation.

"The academic quality of our students has greatly improved since inception.This is because the quality of the lecturers has improved as a result of further training and professional attainment, which has contributed immensely to the im-

•From left: Mr Oki, Otunba Deru and Mr Odufuwa during the convocation at LTV8 (Blue Roof), Alausa

provement of the academic standards of our students. Moreover, every student is made to undergo courses in entrepreneurship development so that he or she can establish his or her own business on graduation rather than seek employment all over the place," he said.

He urged the 1,184 graduates to make good use of their training and represent their alma mater well.

The Proprietor, Mr Babatunde Odufuwa, urged the graduates to regard the completion of their education as a starting point.

"Your journey has just started. LCP

has built the necessary foundation needed for you to succeed in life. It is up to you to see roadblocks as stepping stones; to see problems as opportunities to be stronger and see the sky not as you limit but as you starting point," he said.

Delivering the keynote speech on Enhancing the standard of tertiary education in Nigeria, Otunba Femi Deru said the problems of incessant strikes, which disrupt the academic calendars of tertiary institutions must be addressed by both the government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

"There is an urgent need to trans-

form Nigeria Universities System.

Both Federal Government and ASUU should take responsibility for the incessant disruption of the academic calendars,” he added.

“Webometrics, a global tertiary education ranking organisation released recently that only three institutions in Nigeria made its list of the 100 best universities in Africa and none is ranked among the first 1,600 in the world. Our dons should therefore carefully evaluate their work ethics and intellectual output and determine just how adequate these are for the educational aspiration of the country," he said.

ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has praised the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof.

Bartho Okolo, and his management team.

He spoke while delivering the 41st Convocation lecture of the institution.

Obasanjo, who spoke on the importance of leadership to educational transformation, lauded the vice-chancellor for transforming the university.

"I must commend the present administration, led by Prof Bartho Okolo, for the transformation I have seen in the university. I compare this with the image I have from my previous visits and I can confidently say that if the trend is sustained and there is a critical mass of believers, this great institution will rise up to its true potential as a global centre of excellence," he said.

Obasanjo said the education system would be better if the problem of leadership is solved.

He urged the Okolo administration to continue to push towards achieving the vision of the institution.

The former president implored the university to contribute to national development.

MATRICULATION

Kwara Poly matriculates 6,200

T

HE Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin has matriculated 6,200, National Diploma (ND) students for the 2011/2012 academic session.

The Rector, Masu'd Elelu, said about 25,000 candidates applied for admission into the ND programmes.

Elelu advised the matriculating students to take their studies seriously, and warning them against keeping bad company.

While assuring the students of their safety on campus, he warned them against contravening the

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

rules of the institution which could lead to expulsion.

He said the polytechnic enjoys stable academic calendar which accounts for the large number of candidates seeking admission into the institution.

The stable academic calendar, he said, is facilitated by the peace reigning in the institution.

He said the management of the institution would soon buy two 60seater vehicles to ease transportation problem on campus.

5,000 take oath at MAPOLY

N

O fewer than of 5,000 new students took the matriculation oath of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, Ogun State, for the 2011/ 2012 academic session. They pledged to be of good behaviour and face their studies diligently.

The students, comprising full and part time, also pledged to shun cultism and other vices capable of truncating their careers. The Rector, Mr Tokunbo Fowode, said the polytechnic has invested on the provision of infrastructure to sustain its prime place.

He advised the students against turning the liberty they would enjoy to an opportunity to indulge in shady deals or examination malpractices Fowode said: "Let me, however, quickly sound a note of warning that freedom does not mean absence of control, but an opportunity to re-assess your life to confirm to yourself that you came here to gain not only a piece of paper, but to be prepared to become an achiever in life.

"We desire that you conform to all the rules and regulations of the institution. We are very particular about the dress code and wish that you would all dress appropriately and decently to school and even outside school so that you can serve as role models for others.

"Another sore point in educational institutions is examination malpractice. It is our hope that Moshood

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

Abiola Polytechnic students would dare to be different in this area. Please do not indulge in any form of examination misconduct because the institution has zero tolerance to such vices," he said.

Meanwhile, this year's matriculation featured exhibition of products made by different departments of the institution including an electronic ballot box produced by the electrical and electronics engineering department; an automotive instructional lighting system produced by the mechanical engineering department and newspapers, magazines and music album produced by students of Mass Communication department.

• Cross section of matriculating students of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)

YABATECH admits 4,000 of 106,000 applicants

NLY 4,000 of the 106,000 students who sought admission into the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) for the 2012/2012 academic year were admitted, its Rector, Dr Margaret Ladipo, has said.

Dr Ladipo, who lamented the development in her address at the institution’s matriculation, however, said more infrastructure are being provided to boost its carrying capacity.

O

By Adegunle Olugbamila

She said: "At today's ceremony, we will be matriculating new intakes in the region of 4,000. This is a far cry from the 106,000 candidates who applied to the college as more preferred institution.

"In line with the Federal Government's direction of improv-

Be committed to your studies, students urged

T

HE Vice-Chancellor, Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, Prof Johnson Odebiyi, has charged new students of the institution to be committed to their studies.

Odebiyi, who spoke at the Fifth Matriculation for 220 students, said the institution was ready to produce students that would transform nation.

He said the primary assignment of the students was to acquire skills, knowledge and training, noting

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

that though Nigeria has many educated people, it lacks those with integrity.

Odebiyi said: "The moment you enter into this university, you are presented with an open cheque cashable in four or five year. How much you get or whether you get anything at all, depends entirely on you.

"Your dedication to work and commitment to the pursuit of in-

tellectual excellence are major factors that will determine what you get. I must, therefore, urge you to use your period of training in this university not only on preparation for your chosen career, but also a period of reflection on how you will live a life of integrity and disciplined participation in the community."

The Pro-Chancellor of the university, Bode Ayorinde, also tasked the new students to know the main reason they are in the school.

ing access to education, concerted effort is being made to improve our carrying capacity through construction of more structures for lectures in 2012 that will provide additional sitting space of not less than 2,500, which is to be provided this year through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) special intervention. Approval was received from the council for the conversion of 500-lecture theatre single-floor project to a four-floor project to provide additional office and laboratory accommodation towards improving capacity."

She congratulated the students spread across schools of Art, Design and Printing; Engineering; Environmental Studies; Management and Business Studies; Science and Mathematics; Technology and Liberal Studies.

"I urge you to make the best use of the golden opportunity presented by your admission into the college," she admonished.

The management, she said, complied with the 70-30 ratio for technology and management-oriented programmes as recommended by the government.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

38

EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP

EKSU FILE

APPROACHING DEADLINES

VC tasks HODs THE Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, Prof Patrick Aina, has urged the heads of department to join hands in moving the institution forward.

During several meetings with them at the Senate Chamber on Monday, last week, he warned against extortion. He urged them to attend to students promptly, particularly their welfare and studies.

He said results should be released in two weeks after an exam, adding that culprits would be sanctioned.

"As far as I am concerned, results must be out shortly after examinations no matter the sacrifice", the VC stressed.

On fees, he said no debtor would be allowed to take any examination.

Students were owing about N3 billion, which has affected the financial status of the university,” he said.

Incentives for students THE EKSU VC, Prof Aina, has urged students to avail themselves of the measures introduced to cushion the effect of fees like.

He listed these as renovation of Students' Union building, students' loans, scholarship schemes and work-study programme for deserving students.

Aina promised internet connectivity on campus, access to management through regular Town Hall meetings, and social networks sites.

The VC, who spoke on the need to reposition EKSU as a world class university, said the management would not inflict hardship on students, adding that the policy on fees payment is for the benefit of students because with adequate facilities, they would be able to compete with their counterparts in other parts of the world.

The students expressed satisfaction with the explanations and promised to inform their colleagues.

Centre for gender studies coming EKSU VC Prof Aina has constituted a committee to look into the possibility of setting up a Centre for Gender and Development Studies (CGDS).

The centre will, among others, establish undergraduate and postgraduate academic programmes in Gender and Development Studies, build technical capacity of practitioners through short courses and conduct researches on gender and development related issues.

The members of the Committee are Prof E. Y. Aderibigbe, Department of Microbiology (Chairman); Dr Yinka Ogunlade, Department of Chemistry; Dr Kemi Ogundana, Department of Sociology; Dr. I. O. Babatunde, Faculty of Law; Dr Funmilola Agbebi, Faculty of Agriculture; Dr. M.S. Amirin, Faculty of Education; and Mr. E. A. Awoyomi, PAR Academics as Secretary.

The committee is expected to submit its report in four days.

Study Subject(s):Post-harvest and Agriculture, Renewable and Sustainable Energy, and Water and Sanitation Course Level:Research Scholarship Provider: Financing Agreement between the European Commission and the ACP Group of States under the ACP Research for Sustainable Development Programme of the 10th EDF Intra-ACP Envelop Scholarship can be taken at: Africa Eligibility:- be legal persons and be nationals of African Union, ACP, EU Member States, Least Developed Country as de fined by the United Nations (LDCs), European Economic Area (EEA) Member States, one of the official EU candidate countries or, for proposed actions taking place in at least one LDC, reciprocal access shall be granted to the members of the OECD/Development Assistance Committee and be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with their partners, not acting as an intermediary and be registered locally in ( or have a memorandum of understanding in relevant research areas, with) an eligible African country prior to the publication of this call for proposals and Scholarship Open for International Students: Yes Scholarship Description: It is compulsory to strengthen the capacities of African researchers and scientists by facilitating the integration of their efforts for the sustainable development of the Africa continent. The cooperation on specific scientific topics, sharing data and scientific knowledge, at national, continental and international level will create the conditions for better understanding and solving the African problems via the African scientists. The already existing scientific excellence will be acknowledged via a transparent evaluation procedure. In this way the African Union Commission will provide the support to those institutions and consortia able to consolidate their scientific excellence at supranational and African continental level.

How to Apply: By Online or electronically Scholarship Application Deadline: April 20, 2012 Africa Biosciences Challenge Fund Research Fellowship, 2012 Af-

rica Research Fellowship in the field of Agriculture at Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) Hub at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), 2012 Africa Study Subject(s): Agricultural research Course Level: Research Scholarship Provider: The Africa Biosciences Challenge Fund (ABCF) Scholarship can be taken at: Africa Eligibility: A national of one of the BecA countries: Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. o Affiliated with a national agricultural research program or university in the BecA region o Currently engaged in agricultural research o MSc or PhD in agricultural bio sciences.

Scholarship Open for International Students: Yes (Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda) Scholarship Description: The Africa Biosciences Challenge Fund (ABCF) is a competitive grant that enables scientists from national research institutes and universities within the eastern and central Africa region to conduct research at the world-class research facilities of the Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) Hub at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), in Nairobi, Kenya.

We seek applicants who have exceptional ideas for short-term research projects (three to six months) that can be carried out at the BecA-ILRI Hub. How to Apply: Online Scholarship Application Deadline: March 30, 2012

Distance Learning to increase enrolment by 350,000

S

OME 100 lecturers from seven universities are learning to prepare study materials and assess their students differently.

They are also learning to deploy the open and distance learning (ODL) technology to enable more students to assess university education.

Dr Kerry Murphy and other academics have flown in from the Open University, United Kingdom for the two-week workshop for the lecturers, who are from the University of Lagos, National Open University of Nigeria, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Federal University of Technology, Yola, University of Maiduguri and the University of Abuja.

The effort to expand the carrying capacity of universities through the ODL mode is being spearheaded by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in collaboration with the

• Mr Momoh

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

British Council.

Mr Julius Momoh, whose firm, Schul Portals, is providing web portal services for the ODL platform, said once the infrastructure and expertise are on ground, the universities would be able to admit at least 50,000 more students each.

"The ODL is to arrest the problem of assess. It has been estimated that 1.5 million youths will take the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and the universities cannot accommodate more than 350,000. NUC wants to increase the number of dual mode universities - that offer both conventional education and distance learning education. The goal of the project is to increase capacity of universities to take at least 350,000

• Prof Lawal

• Dr Murphy

more students.

"Every university that passes the test after the workshop will be accredited by the NUC and international assessors so they can go ahead to increase enrolment capacity to 50,000 students."

Speaking on the content of the workshop, Dr Murphy, who is Director of Research at the Open University, UK, said the ODL platform requires harnessing technology and the internet to deliver quality tuition.

To this end, Murphy, who managed the Lagos centre of the workshop comprising lecturers from UNILAG and NOUN, said the academics were being taught how to write teaching materials for students who learn through technology.

He explained that the peculiari-

ties of ODL requires that the materials be interesting and test the students'ability to think. He added that the reduction in the ages of students assessing university education through the ODL platform means that lecturers also have to appeal to the interest of younger readers to attract their attention.

"The teaching material has to be designed in a way to interact with the students. We are trying to get the students to think. The materials should be conversational, engaging and interesting. It is not about rote learning but should make the students think," he said.

Director of the Distance Learning Institute, UNILAG, Prof Funke Lawal said the expertise from the foreign dons would help Nigerian academics to improve their technical and writing skills.

Council inducts 63 pharmacists at Igbinedion Varsity HE joy of 63 pioneer graduands of the Prof Dora Akunyili College of Pharmacy of the Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, knew no bound last week as they were inducted to practise their profession by the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN).

They had waited for over two years after graduation but could not go into full practice because their College of Pharmacy was not accredited by the PCN. Speaking during the ceremony, Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Eghosa Osaghae, said what would have been his greatest source of worry during his tenure has been laid to rest with the accreditation of the college.

Osaghae said getting the PCN

T

• ‘Nigeria has only 16,000 pharmacists’ From Osagie Otabor, Benin

accreditation was not easy for the institution even as he admitted that he had many sleepless nights thinking about the pains of the students.

He said: "We worked day and night to see a day like this. Some parents became skeptical about sending their children to study pharmacy but this is victory at last."

Administering the oath, Acting Registrar of PCN, Mrs Gloria Abumere, said the induction of the graduands would address the paucity of pharmacists in healthcare delivery system in the country.

Mrs. Abumere urged the pharmacists to help halt the declin-

ing trend in the health indices in the country, as well as keep up to date with current international best practices.

"This number of phar m a c i s t s would definitely increase the circle of influence of the pharmacy profession. It is hoped that you will go out there to halt the declining trend in the health indices of Nigeria. Pharmacy like every human endeavour is dynamic and as such the need for you to continuously update your knowledge cannot be over-emphasised," she said.

Delivering a keynote address on the topic, "The prospect and

challenges of Pharmacy practice in Nigeria", former Chairman of PSN, Osita Idemili, disclosed that there are only 16,000 pharmacists in Nigeria.

He c a l l e d f o r t h e e s t a b lishment of more schools of pharmacy if Nigeria were serious about reducing child mortality, improving maternal health as w e l l as combating dreaded diseases.

He listed other challenges of pharmaceutical practices in the country to include poor capital for investment, government policy, and ineffective en f o r c e m e n t o f t h e e x i s t i n g pharmacy laws.

The best graduating stud e n t , Florence Chibuzor Okolo, was given a cash prize of N10,000 by PCN.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

39

EDUCATION

Secret of our success in WASSCE, by principal

M

ANY private secondary schools boast of excellent results in the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE). But none is open about the strategies it adopted to achieve the good grades.

However, Mrs Oluwayemisi Oloriade, says Wellspring College is different.

In an interview, the Principal of the school located in Omole Phase 1 Estate, Lagos, said the college places premium on preparation.

She said teachers are monitored to ensure they deliver quality education, while pupils are not allowed the luxury of playing when they ought to study.

She said: "At Wellspring, we pay attention to the quality of instruction. We don't allow distraction for pupils in the boarding house. We don't allow them to waste time.

The SS3 classes are on my floor and I go there up to five times daily to monitor them. For teachers, every teacher tends to be lazy except

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

someone is monitoring them. We have a calendar for teachers that details what they ought to do and we monitor their performance."

In addition to providing quality tuition, the principal said the school has a policy that ensures no child is left behind, which ensures that pupils with academic challenges receive extra attention.

This is why Mrs Oloriade said the college was able to record 100 per cent in the 2011 May/June West African Senior School Certificate in 14 subjects (English Language, Biology, Financial Accounting, Government, Further Mathematics, Christian Religious Knowledge, Commerce, Economics, Food and Nutrition, Yoruba Language, Igbo Language, French, Technical Drawing, and Agricultural Science); 97 per cent in Mathematics; 89 per cent in Literature in English; 82 in Geography, and 50 per cent in Chemistry.

Thirty-three candidates recorded

the excellent performance last year while 42 are being prepared to surpass their feat this year.

To ensure that this time around performance in Chemistry is better than 50 per cent, Mrs Oloriade said the college has recruited new teachers. She attributed the average performance to a change of hands which has been rectified.

"There was a change of hands in Chemistry and it affected us. In

Mathematics in 2010, we had 70 per cent and we felt it was not good enough. At a point, we had three teachers teaching SS3 mathematics and the result improved. Right now, we have got more hands to handle Chemistry," she said.

But it is not all about academics in the school. Mrs Oloriade said the school builds up the pupils morally, spiritually and entrepreneurially.

• Mrs Oloriade

Hearing impaired pupils shine in sports

A

LARABASODIQ and AbassRukayat, two hearing impaired pupils of DOESTDOT Secondary School, Idimu, Lagos clinched best male and female athlete awards at their school’s Second Inter-house Sport Competition.

They came first in almost all the sports.

Speaking to reporters, the Proprietress, Mrs Esther Ogunbayo, said she started the school out of love for such children.

She advised parents with hearing impaired children not to write them off, adding that their problem does not affect their brains.

"My two hearing impaired children are doing fine. One of them has a Master's from the US and the other one is studying engineering also in the US because I took good

By Medinat Kanabe

care of them and showed them love.

"Believe in God and trust in God and give them education because that is the only legacy you can give them. Don't look at them as second class citizens but carry them along in the home. I can bet with you that there is no profession that you don't find the deaf," she said.

On the challenges she faces running the school, Mrs Ogunbayo spoke about the difficulties of getting dedicated teachers to teach, especially the hearing impaired.

"Some of the teachers after some time go away because they cannot continue with the stress of teaching the children. No amount of money can persuade you to teach the hearing impaired if you are

• State improvement officers undergoing training at the Agege LG Education Authority, Lagos.

not dedicated. Another challenge is paying the teachers. We pay the hearing impaired teachers differently from the conventional teachers.

"The teaching materials also are not usually enough, so we sacrifice a lot to get the materials. Whenever I travel, I buy materials and we also make locally which is

My two hearing impaired children are doing fine.

One of them has a Master's from the US and the other one is studying engineering also in the US

'Ajegunle is council to beat at Spelling Bee'

T

HE Supervisory Councillor of Education in the AjeromiIfelodun Local Council of Lagos State, Mrs Adeyemi Bella, said her pupils will be the ones to beat at this year’s edition of the Spelling Bee competition.

Speaking at the preliminary competition for pupils that will fly the flag of local government area at the grand finale of the competition holding later in the year, Mrs Bella said her confidence was informed by the council’s efforts to improve education.

"All I know is that Ajegunle is called jungle city and in the jungle we have lions and tigers. We want to tell other local government areas in the state that we are ready to defeat them at the state finals of the Spelling Bee Competition this year. Our pupils will win this edition of the competition.

"I have been going round schools.

Improving educational performance is not about providing chairs, table and books but by going into schools to monitor the teachers. There is machinery put in place to specially train these children in oral English and improve their spelling skills," she said.

Forty-eight pupils from 16 primary schools, 30 from 10 junior secondary schools and 45 from 15 senior secondary schools participated in the keenly contested spelling competition.

In the primary category, 11 yearold Gospel Okere of LA Primary School, Ago Hausa, came first by spelling the word 'longitude'; while

the word 'passionate' won 14-yearold Amarachi Akwaraudu of Expressway Junior Secondary High School the ticket in the JSS category.

Sixteen-year-old Daniel Idahi of Unity Senior Secondary School came first in the SSS category when he correctly spelt 'paparazzi'.

Speaking on the competition started by Senator Oluremi Tinubu's New Era Foundation 10 years ago, wife of the Council Chairman, Alhaja Adenike Shakirat Bayewu said its aim is to ensure that public schools receive the attention of the government.

She added that this year's edition is an improvement on last year's and commended English Language teachers in the council for helping their pupils sharpen their spelling skills, just as she encouraged winners to prepare well for a more vigorous competition at the state level.

To groom the winners for the final, the Education Secretary and Head of Department of Education in the council, Mr. Adewale Adeogun and Mrs Hikmot Olusanya said they will get extra lessons in oral English from teachers.

"We had 18 months training for our English teachers in Oral English and vocabulary. We did it once in a week.

Our winners will be groomed by two of these teachers to sharpen their spelling skills for bigger contest at the state level. Another incentive we have for our teachers is that the teacher of the best student will act as Education Secretary for one day. This will serve as a morale booster for others", Adeogun said.

more expensive," she said.

When the school started, the Chairman, Mr Olushola Ogunbayo said parents were skeptical about enrolling their wards to learn along side hearing impaired children. However, he said this has changed.

He said: "We have eight pupils to two teachers in the hearing im-

paired classes. Right now, we have acquired land to expand because where we are is not big enough but what we need is capital to develop it."

Rukayat's mother, Mrs Kudirat Abass, told reporters that when she gave birth to Rukayat, she was not happy. But now she has made her proud. "She is the kind of daughter that anybody would want. I don't know how to give signs. I communicate to her in my own way," she said.

Asked what her daughter wants to become in future, she said a banker.

•

• Mrs Fashola (fifth left), Mrs Ogunbawo (4th left) with other top government functionaries and pupils of the school

Foundation renovates school

I

KEJA Junior High School workers and pupils are in high spirits, thanks to the Alfred Debbie Opal Foundation (ADOF) which refurbished their two-storey block of 16 classrooms.

The project, dedicated by wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, is the latest intervention by the foundation to make the school environment more conducive for learning.

ADOF President, Mrs 'Ladun Ogunbanwo, said the rehabilitation was to complement government's effort under the Support-our-School initiative.

She said the rehabilitation cov-

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

ered replacement of damaged windows, door, and ceilings; fixing of walls, floors, staircase and air vents, and painting of the building.

Mrs Ogunbanwo, who established the foundation in memory of her late parents, said ADOF also extended helping hands to other schools. She urged the pupils to make good use of the facilities.

"I equally appeal to the students who are the ultimate beneficiaries of this project to make good use of the facilities for the advancement of their educational goal," she said.

Lauding the intervention, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Educa-

tion, Mrs Omolara Erogbogbo, said the investment in the lives of public school pupils, many of whom are from underprivileged backgrounds, would help to make the society more conducive.

"Even if our children study in America, they are all coming back to interact with these children. So we had better do something for these children," she said.

Similarly, Mrs Fashola urged other individuals and organisations to emulate the good works of ADOF. "Mrs Ogunbanwo is interested in this school because this is where she had her teaching practice. She has walked the talk. I pray that what ADOF has done will be replicated in other places because really we owe these children to give a conducive environment," she added.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

40

EDUCATION EDUTALK Ex-VC advocates adequate power supply in schools Should T HE education system will be better if adequate power is the provided in schools former Vice-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU), IleIfe, Prof Akinola Salau, stated this in a paper entitled: Towards sustainable energy provision in Nigeria, which he delivered at the yearly party/ lecture of Oluyole Club, Lagos at Kankanfo Inn, Ibadan.

Salau identified inadequate supply of electricity as one of the major problems affecting the quality education.

He said: "This country is blessed with energy. We have gas, coal petrol, but we have the problem of sustainability. Human existence depends on electricity. If you are in the education system without the electricity, it will reflect on the result. People in sciences will not be able to perform experiments; people at home will not do assignment very well; more importantly, many of us dwell in rural areas without adequate power supply and if I am the teacher in such an area, it will be difficult."

President of the club, Prof Bashir Akande described inadequate power as a major setback for edu-

By Seun Olalude

cation.

"We are aware that the lack of solution to our energy needs has been the major drawback to our development in this country; sustainable energy being the basis of industrial economic power and many other indices of progressive societies," he said.

Oluyole Club, Lagos comprises Ibadan indigenes in Lagos. The group empowers students to achieve their goals.

At the event, the group rewarded brilliant undergraduates with N50, 000 each. Some of the beneficiaries spoke with The Nation.

Olatunji Sameul, a student of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, OAU, said the bursary would enhance his education.

He said: "I'm very happy to be a partaker of this kind gesture stretched to us by the club. This will help students in the higher institution to aim higher academically.

There are numbers of youths in the country who desire to be educated but without help this will help

some of us to further."

Another beneficiary, Oladeji Idris, a Pharmacy student at OAU, said the bursary will help to reduce the financial burden on his parents.

"My parents are going through stress to get me educated. This in a way lessens their burden," he said.

Asimiyu Opeyemi also from the institution said the programme is a hope to the indigent students.

"Looking at the members of the club, they have all made it in their careers and I believe they know that the only way to help the youth is by investing in the education system. May God continue to bless them," he said.

On why only OAU students benefited from the award, the club’s Secretary, Mr Niyi Fatokun, said they were the only ones who applied.

"I wrote several letters to government universities in the country, asking them to submit the names of Ibadan indigenes who have high grades, but I never received any reply apart from OAU. Here we are rewarding only those who participated. If next year, it is the only university that participates, we will not hesitate to do the same," he said.

• YES Club members presenting a gift to their mentor, Mr Damilola Ajayi

Entrepreneurship training pays off for pupils

I

F there is one thing that does not bother Odion Atalor, it is the fear that she may find it difficult getting a job after her education. She believes the future is filled with opportunities to make the best out of life.

The SS2 pupil of Immaculate Hearts Secondary School, Maryland started thinking like this when she joined the Youth Entrepreneurs Stakeholders (YES) Club, which exposed her to four months of entrepreneurship training. She belongs to Prana, one of the 20 groups that Damilola Ajayi, founder of the club, evolved to make practical use of business skills they gained from the training.

They graduated at a ceremony held at the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB) during which some of the groups made presentations about their firms and exhibited products they created and marketed.

Prana Group made wristbands,

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

printed exercise books, and made bedside drawers and dolls, which Odion said they successfully marketed in schools and their neighbourhoods. However, their highflying product was the customised wristband, which because popular among school children because they could have their names engraved into it.

From the experience, Odion said she gained confidence to think out of the box for a source of livelihood.

"YES Club has really brought out the best in me - that entrepreneurship spirit. It has instilled in me independence. I don't need to rely on people. It has made me to think like an entrepreneur and know the value of money. There will not be a time of difficulty in my life because of what I learnt from Yes Club," she said.

The initiator, Ajayi, who carried out the project in four secondary schools in Gbagada and Maryland areas of

Lagos, said the pupils were taught vocational skills, how to write business plans, negotiate, make presentations, market, set goals, among other skills needed to successfully run businesses.

He said out of the 20 groups that started the training last year, 12 made it to the graduation while eight were evicted.

Ajayi, who sponsors the initiative, said he was inspired to start entrepreneurship training for secondary school pupils because many of the undergraduates he met fantasised about getting good jobs rather than being job creators.

"The Executors Concept, the profitmaking company I run funds this project. We do training for youths in tertiary institutions. During one of our training, we found that most youths have this ingrained job seeking mentality. They are not thinking of employing people. That inspired me to start the club in 2010.

We started training in 2011," he said.

Benue, NERDC to boost quality education

T

HE Benue State government has pledged to collaborate with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) to boost quality of education.

Commissioner for Education Dr Elizabeth Ugo made the pledge at a workshop for principals of post-primary schools and inspectors of education in the state.

The focus of the workshop, which

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

took place at the Aminu Isah Kontagora Hall in Makurdi, was the implementation of the new senior secondary school curriculum and quality assurance instrument.

Ugo said it was aimed at equipping participants with the knowledge, skills and attitude for handling the new curriculum and enable them to guide pupils in the selection of subjects.

In his welcome address, NERDC Executive Secretary, Prof Godswill Obioma, commended the state for its efforts in the development of education, particularly in the implementation of new programmes and quality assurance.

Obioma, represented by Dr Love Nneji, said it was the first time a state government was inviting large numbers of teachers to that kind of workshop.

with

parents send thugs to schools?

AST Friday academic activities could not hold at the Keke Kofoworola Senior High School, Agege because a parent sent thugs to Belo-Osagie beat up a teacher for flogging her daughter.

Kofosagie@yahoo.com The said teacher was first weak08054503077 (SMS only) ened with a fetish object wielded by a woman before being beaten black and blue by the thugs numbering 40 and had to spend days at the General Hospital, Ifako Ijaiye recuperating.

Even after some of them were arrested, another group of thugs stormed the school, probably to finish off the man. The police had to make a second visit to the school before peace was restored.

Teachers were unhappy that one of them had been so treated and shunned the classrooms for that day. Though not all of them supported the way the battered teacher used to flog the pupils, they were not pleased a parent could go that far.

The teacher was alleged to have flogged the girl in question, an SS2 pupil, to the point that she could not sit down the day before. I learnt from a source that prior to that incidence, his colleagues try to intervene when he punished the pupils but their appeals usually fell on deaf ears.

Right now, the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) wants the mother and the thugs prosecuted for brutalising the teacher. I agree with them. The parent should have pursued the matter through the proper channels by reporting the matter to the principal. If she was unsatisfied, she could have taken the matter to the education district office and from there to the ministry of education. On the contrary, she took laws into her hands and caused mayhem in the school. Such behaviour is unacceptable and would earn the pupil expulsion in some other schools. Already, I wonder whether the girl will be able to return to the school because I learnt she has not been attending classes since the incident. If she should resume, she will likely get cold treatment from the teachers and even her peers who almost wanted to fight the thugs that invaded their school.

There is also a word of caution for teachers. Wielding the rod excessively is not the best way to correct a child. There are many other ways a teacher can make sure that a pupil is punished and understands why he is being chastised. If a teacher is excessively harsh, he only builds up resentment against him in the students.

There will come a time he cannot wield such power over them and they would not respect him. Teachers should be firm but always remember that their role is to build their students to be responsible adults and not to break them.

Parents on the other hand should not go to schools to fight teachers. It sets a bad example for the children who may think that they can get away with anything they do. Young children may also learn wrongly that you must settle scores with violence or acrimony.

They should be taught to respect authority and pursue their grievances following available channels of communication.

L

‘The parent should have pursued the matter through the proper channels by reporting the matter to the principal. If she was unsatisfied, she could have taken the matter to the education district office and from there to the ministry of education. On the contrary, she took laws into her hands and caused mayhem in the school. Such behaviour is unacceptable and would earn the pupil expulsion in some other schools. Already, I wonder whether the girl will be able to return to the school because I learnt she has not been attending classes since the incident’

From My Inbox Re: Addressing foundational challenges (Thursday, March 1, 2012) I agree with you that the education system has problems. The truth is the problems will not go away until the neo-colonial capitalist economy of production is created. Amos Ejimonye, Kaduna.

In addressing foundational challenges, the quality of teachers also needs to be addressed. Many of the teachers produced by sandwich programmes are not given proper training to make them good teachers. Some universities appear to have a “let my people go” policy when it comes to students undergoing sandwich programmes, which are churning out teachers who cannot speak correct English and who they would never have allowed to graduate in regular university programmes.

The programmes appear to be mainly money making ventures with the supervising university sometimes being hundreds of miles away.

08077375—.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

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44

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

DEPRIV ATION & DERIV ATION PRINCIPLES: WHY THE NORTH IS POOR (I) DEPRIVA DERIVA Ross Alabo-George imaginasion@gmail.com

“According to official figures, the leading oil producing state, Rivers, received N1,053 billion between 1999 and 2008 in federal allocations. By contrast the Northeastern states of Yobe and Borno, where the Boko Haram sect was created, received N175bn and N213bn respectively. Broken down on a per capita basis, the contrast is even starker. In 2008 the 18.97m people who lived in the six states in the north-east received on average N1,156 per person.

“By contrast Rivers state was allocated N3,965 per capita, and on average the oil producing South- South region received on average N3,332 per capita. This imbalance is compounded when the cost of an amnesty programme for militants in the Delta is included with an additional 1 per cent for a special development body for the Niger Delta. To boot, the theft of oil by profiteers in the region diverts tens of millions more weekly from federal coffers.” – Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

Yes, forget these per capita figures! I agree the North is poor. Yes, I agree the poverty has bred millions of destitutes, who have become instant and easy recruits for Boko Haram. But my question is: Who impoverished the North?

N90 billion; Cross River state, N144 billion; Anambra state, N82 billion; Enugu state, N74 billion. Now let’s look at the 2012 budgets recently passed into law by the four major Boko Haram occupied states – Kano state has a budget of N 210 billion; Borno state, 150 billion; Gombe, N94 billion; Yobe state, 80 billion.

A simple comparative analysis shows that Ekiti state has about the same revenue as Yobe and Gombe, but only 17 students passed WAEC and NECO in Gombe state last year, while Ekiti is known for its high literacy level. Gombe state has a bigger budget than Enugu and Anambra, why hasn’t MASSOB bombed anyone? Borno state has a budget twice that of Enugu state but the poverty and unemployment level in Borno state is more than thrice that of Enugu state. Borno has a bigger budget than a Niger Delta state- Cross River, while the leaders of that state over the last decade have transformed it into the Nation’s leading tourist destination; those of Borno have transformed it into a Somalia.

Kano state gets the highest statutory allocation from the FG, because on paper Kano is the most populated state in Nigeria, yet Kano has about 1.6 million destitute Almajiris. Kano has a budget almost thrice the budget of Enugu, twice the budget of Kwara, Anambra and Ekiti, but how come almost 90% of students in Kano fail WAEC? How come the poverty level in Kano is higher than all these states put together?

A caveat: I am an unabashed capitalist who believes that every citizen has a right to do good business and make profit. I salute hard work and do not disparage honest efforts. However, uncompassionate capitalism driven by pulleys of aristocracy breeds a brutal class Why is the North so poor? From the figures above I order worthy of condemnation. have shown that Southern states with lesser budgets In my last article titled – “Elrufai’s amnesia: The day have shown better development performance than Boko Haram Wore Jeans”, I categorically stated that most North Eastern states with bigger statutory greed and the senseless chase for power by the Fulani allocation and budgets. aristocrats and political elites of the North are responsible for the extreme poverty of the North. I still Now, I need to tackle the sensitive question of and will always stand by that. My position did not go revenue allocation that has infuriated the Mallam down well with my targets; they responded Lamido Sanusi and Mallam Elrufai and their likes.

Niger Delta states get higher revenue allocation vituperatively. because they contribute virtually all the eggs in the Mallam Sanusi’s statistics was intended to mislead us national crate. That is expected. Albeit the 13% by ruffling the rudder of our common sense. See, Ekiti remains grossly inadequate, the CBN Governor has state has a 2012 budget 0f N88 billion; Kwara state,

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

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suggested that the ‘Boko boys’ are resisting the close friend of General Ibrahim Babangida. Also worthy of note is that General IBB’s first son is married disparity. to Alhaji Mohammed Indimi’s daughter – Yakolo I want to posit that the North through their aristocrats Indimi-Babangida, who also serves as a director in and ex-military rulers (except Gen. Mohammed the company. Alhaji Indimi hails from Borno State.

Buhari) rake in more oil money (from the Niger Delta) individually than any Niger Delta state, and Oriental Energy Resources Limited runs three oil collectively more than twice the entire Niger Delta blocks: OML 115, the Okwok field and the Ebok field. put together. In this disquisition, I have attempted OML 115 and Okwo are OML PSC, while Ebok is an to show that 80% of crude oil and gas produced by OML JV. All of them good yielding offshore oil blocks. indigenous companies is controlled by the North. It OML 115 on its own is 228 sqKm. On OML115 is an area they have well conquered through General Oriental Energy Resources Limited has 60 per cent IBB, Abacha and Abdulsalami. However, the loots while Equity Energy Resources AS. On Okwok, Addax has 40% and on the Ebok field, Oriental never get back home.

Energy Resources shares with none: its 100%. AMNI In this first part I will attempt to describe the very produces twice as much as Cavendish Petroleum. uneven nature of the distribution of the nation’s wealth among the Northern aristocratic families and I will then shift to the centre of the aristocratic their military generals who for decades looted hegemony and capitalism in the North – Kano. Here.

Nigeria. They did so blatantly, and while Nigeria Enter the Fulani Prince Nasiru Ado Bayero, Mallam was weeping about oil windfall loot and others, (Prince) Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s cousin. He is a Key Nigerians would wail if they know how much of the shareholder and director in Seplat/Platform nation’s resources these folks allocated to themselves petroleum operators of the Asuokpu/Umutu and their business fronts before they stepped aside. Marginal Field with a capacity of 300,000 barrels monthly and A 30mmfcsd gas plant capable of feeding 100MT of LPG. The Ado Bayeros, Yar’Aduas Let us therefore begin.

To the state of origin of Boko Haram: Borno State. and Atiku Abubakar are Nigerian holders of Intels. It Enter Cavendish Petroleum, the operators of OML is a private port. Intels is discussed later.

110 – with good yielding OBE field. This oil block was awarded to Alhaji Mai Deribe - the Borno Enter South Atlantic Petroleum Limited (SAPETRO). patriarch, who even in death will remain the richest South Atlantic Petroleum (SAPETRO) is a Nigerian man dead or alive in the history of Borno state- by Oil Exploration and Production Company that was General Sani Abacha on the 8th of July, 1996. OML created in 1995 by General T. Y. Danjuma. General 110 has a proven oil reserve in excess of 500 million Sani Abacha awarded the Oil Prospecting License barrels (More than the entire 300milliom barrels (OPL) 246 to SAPETRO in February 1998. reserve of Sudan). As yet with the capacity to produce about 120,000 barrels of crude oil daily from its OBE The block covers a total area of 2,590km2 (1,000 sq.

4 and OBE 5 wells. At optimal production levels, miles). SAPETRO partnered with Total Upstream Cavendish nets circa N4billion monthly in crude oil Nigeria Ltd (TUPNI) and Brasoil Oil Services sales (Using current oil price of $100pb). Cavendish Company Nigeria Ltd (Petrobras) to start prospecting Petroleum’s N4bn monthly net dwarfs the monthly on OPL246. Akpo, a condensate field was discovered statutory allocation of Borno which is about N3bn in April 2000 with the drilling of the first exploration and its internally generated revenue staggers around well (Akpo 1) on the block. Other discoveries made on OPL 246 include the Egina Main, Egina South, N1billion.

Preowei and Kuro (Kuro was suspended as a dry gas/ His mansion in Maiduguri has become a tourist minor oil discovery). attraction. A simple Google search will throw up different perspectives of Mai Deribe’s palatial home. In June 2006, General TY Danjuma divested part of Enter Oriental Energy Resources Limited, a company its contractor rights and obligations to China National owned by Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, a Fulani and Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) for $1 billion

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(N160bn). Akpo exports about 230,000 barrels of condensate daily. Condensate export is not regulated

by OPEC, so SAPETRO/TOTAL exports as much as possible each day. Egina exports about 75,000 barrels of oil daily.

Therefore, Akpo and Egina fields export just over 300,000 barrels of oil/condensate daily (three times what the country Ghana exports). SAPETRO (TY Danjuma) get 25% of this. Now, note I have not talked about the gas component – it’s about 2.5 trillion cubic feet. The money SAPETRO nets each month is more than the monthly statutory allocation of all the Niger states combined and also more than the oil revenue of Ghana. Do your math.

Enter AMNI (or is it AMIN?) International Petroleum Development Company. AMNI owns two oil blocks – OML 112 and OML 117. In the production sharing contract, AMNI gets 60% for owning the oil block and Total gets 40% for providing technical advice. OML 112 was awarded on the 12/02/1998 while OML 117 was awarded 06/08/1999 all by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar. Operations started on both blocks 0n 26/ 02/2006. The licenses are due to expire 11/02/2018 and 05/08/2019 respectively. (Now you see why the next election is important?).

The Okoro and Setu fields in OML 112 are operated

by Afren Energy, a company substantially controlled

by Rilwanu Lukman. The Okoro and Setu oil fields have about 50 million barrels in reserve and currently produce/exports just a little below 20,000 barrels per day. The chairman of AMNI International Petroleum and Development Company is Alhaji (Colonel) Sani Bello a Fulani from Kontagora, Niger State. Lest I forget, Alhaji Bello’s son- Abu, is married to General Abdusalami Abubakar’s eldest daughter.

Enter Express Petroleum and Gas Limited floated by Alhaji Aminu Dantata, solely for the purpose of fronting for winning oil block(s) even though he and the company are in no way qualified for the award.

General Abacha awarded him OML 108 on the 1st of November, 1995. CAMAC Houston, a company owned by Kase Lawal bought 2.5% of Express Petroleum’s 60% holdings. The other 40% on OML 108 is owned Sheba E&P Limited an IBB tributary company. SEPCOL operates the Ukpokiti offshore

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

field in Shallow water Nigeria, which was acquired from ConocoPhillips in May 2004.

Enter Shebah Exploration And Production Limited (SEPCOL) . It is the operator of the Oil Mining License 108 offshore Nigeria. Head office is in Lagos, but ‘head quartered’ in Minna.

Enter Consolidated Oil. Conoil Producing Limited is an integrated upstream oil and gas company. They are the operator of six blocks in the Niger Delta as well as 25% Equity holder in the Joint Development Zone (JDZ) Block 4. Corporate Head office is in Lagos, but its ‘Headquarters’ is in Minna, Niger State.

Conoil signed a technical operator agreement with Continental Oil and Gas Limited (CONOG) to provide 100% funding and technical service agreement to operate blocks OML 59 on a 40% (Conoil) / 60% (CONOG) basis. Conoil entered into a Production Sharing Contract with the NNPC by virtue of an agreement executed on 17th October 2008.

Conoil’s has overall potential hydrocarbon resources of over 1.0 Billion Barrels of Oil and 7.0 Trillion Cubic Feet of Gas. General Ibrahim Babangida awarded the first oil block to Conoil in 1991. The company produces about 100,000 barrels per day.

Enter Rilwanu Lukman, another Fulani multimillionaire with fronted controlling holdings in Afren, the operators of AMNI oil blocks and also with very key interest in the NNPC/Vitol trading deal, Vitol is a London based oil trading company. Vitol lifts 350,000 barrels of crude oil daily from Nigeria.

Enter Intels and the Yar’Adua , Ado Bayero family and Alhaji Abubakar Atiku. The Oil and Gas Free Zone and Oil Services Centres, as well as Support Bases, are operated from government-owned facilities, leased to Intels under long-term agreements.

Intels runs a ‘private port’, a venture that has systematically killed the Calabar, Warri and Port Harcourt ports. There are over one hundred major companies operating at the Intel facility in Port Harcourt. The company makes more money in profit than the government of Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states put together. I shall give details and figures in the part two of this disquisition.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

Finally, for the Part I of this disquisition, I introduce you to NorthEast Petroleum. The name is as clear as the message it sends. I do not need to write so much about NorthEast Petroleum registered as NorEast. NorthEast Petroleum Nigeria Limited is the holder of OPL215 license, covering an area 0f 2,564 square kilometres in water depths between 200 to 1600 metres. NorEast is the parent company of Rayflosh Petroleum Nigeria which got the 2005 bidding round and was awarded the blocks OPLs 276 & 283 closing thereupon a Joint Venture Agreement with Centrica Resources Nigeria Limited and CCC Oil and Gas. Not surprising, NorthEast Petroleum is owned by another Fulani businessman from the North East, Alhaji Saleh Mohammed Jambo. The license was awarded to him by General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida in 1991 and then renewed in 2004. So far $50Million has been spent on the very promising Okpoi-1 and Egere -1 exploratory well.

In the Part II, we shall finish the discussion. We will table other North Eastern billionaires who make more money than their states of origin from Niger Delta oil blocks.

With all these oil blocks owned by ‘NorthEasterners’ in the Niger Delta, it should be clear to Elrufai and Sanusi who really benefits from the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme.

Sadly, the National Bureau of Statistics Poverty Profile Report just released shows the North East as the poorest region in the nation with 69.1 and 76.3 as absolute and relative poverty level respectively, while the South-West had the lowest poverty profile with 49.8 as absolute poverty level and 59.1 relative poverty level.

With these figures from the National Bureau of Statistics, I rest my case.

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty. Let us reason together.

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NATURAL HEALTH

What should woman wear‌Skirts or trousers (3)?

I

SAID it. For women, there is often no end to sweet music.

So, we are back this week to another column on energy medicine as it affects the health of women. I had just finished a telephone discussion last Friday with a 1964-68 high school friend living in England, who'd just returned home briefly to find home-brewed solution to a colon cancer challenge for which he'd had surgery and chemotherapy in England, when two women called in a row. I had been careful in the first and second series of this subject to evade, as much as possible, suggestions on natural medicines for ailment, which may have foundations in energy dysfunctions. For that would mean trying to heal from the outside, as is often done, when, according to energy medicine, healing should be from inside out. Well, I agree, as I did with them, that there isn't any harm in embarking on both approaches or even more to healing.

So, here we are, one week ahead of Women's Day, yielding ground to women, and still asking; why do women fall ill, and how can they avoid the landmines of ill health?

As a reminder, Dr Christian Northrup, M.D., gynaecologist for 35 years and a New York Times best-selling author, set the ball rolling in the first column of this series. After she suffered a serious breast abscess which warranted surgery, she discovered energy medicine, which is the basis of one of her books, WOMEN'S BODIES, WOMEN'S WISDOM. It is in this book she mentions the natural relevance of wearing skirts, not trousers, to a woman's health. In summary, according to energy medicine practitioners, including herself, women, more than men, are connected to energy from the earth, which the roomy skirt allows her, more than trousers, to "pull in". This school of thought attributes gynaecological and other female health problem to insufficient "sucking in" of this energy. Last, week's follow-up column featured the chakras, the seven energy vortexes, which mediate energy, from the SPIRIT, that is man, dwelling in the physical body, to that body. The chakras also step down this energy as desirable, to avert energy surges as may cause paralysis or SPONTANEOUS HUMAN COMBUSTION. This subject was the ave in England in 1979. People suddenly caught fire and burned to ash without the fire burning any object around them. One man lay on the carpet watching television. Nothing in the room, not even the carpet, burned! His bones and all, except his shoes by which he was identified, burned to ash. Where did the heat or fire come from? scientists wondered. It requires about 3000 degrees centigrade to burn bones to ash, yet the normal human body hardly produces more than 38 degrees! Similar cases were tabulated. But no acceptable scientific answer was forthcoming. Spiritually speaking, could the indwelling spirit have become so charged that, bursting into flame, the physical body couldn't stand or hold the pressure, and gave way? This is a subject for another day!

NERGY medicine invites us to see ourselves as bundles of energy flowing like a stream with a source, course and destination. The spirit, as a living spark from out of the radiance of God, is energy. Spirit motes, lesser gradation of spirit than the human spirit, bind up and animate matter. Thus, the earth, like trees, rivers, oceans, stars, moon and sun, to mention a few, are radiating. Man, that is the human spirit, stands on earth as though in a sea of radiations. The chakras modulate, like an electricity transformer, the voltage of this ocean of energy that the body absorbs from time to time. Dr. Northrup gives hope to ill people when she says that in most cases nothing can impair health for as long as this river of energy within us flows, undisturbed, that is unblocked. " Most of the blockage in our energy systems," she says, "are emotional in nature." And she adds: "It's helpful to think of your energy system as being like a stream of water flowing along.

As long as this energy flow is healthy and you're feeling good about yourself, there is much less risk of disease. Environmental toxins, dietary fat, and excessive sugar or alcohol (to name a few) usually don't manifest in disease unless other factors have already set up the pattern of blockage in the physical body's energy system in the first place.

She says these factors "can be likened to debris carried along in the body's energy flow". The debris floats along unless there is a felled tree or other blockage to the water flowing in the stream. When there is, the debris collects in the branches of the felled tree and accumulates. Over time, similar accumulations in the body's energy flow can result in physical illness. In fact, scientific research has associated a failure in the flow of information between cell with the induction of cancer in those cells.

A physical barrier of any kind that blocks communication between cells is a carcinogenous influence. That fat and connective tissue that form a fibroid, for example, do so only when the energy flow around and through the uterus is already blocked in some way" Relying on Anne Wilson schael's WHEN SOCIETY BECOMES AN ADDICT Dr. Northrup mentions about 13 types of behaviours which may cause emotional blockages to energy flow.

marriages which are soft killing them. Many bachelors think men can't fix their own meals. Women, married or not, believe they need men to pick their bills. Emotional disturbances occur where they are shoved aside or can't find a cooperating prey.

CRISES ORIENTATION

W

ATCH people who are always entangled in crises.

Often, they create the crises to distract themselves from their feelings

DEFENSIVENESS Husbands criticise a lot. Some woman cannot stand critical feedback and make adjustments, such as keeping kitchen knives away from potential troublemakers, or keeping medicines out of children's reach.

DISHONESTY Even unto oneself, dishonesty is rampant. One may wish to please the boss by feigning capacity to go an extra mile where colleagues are recoiling. How often do doctors, including Dr. Northrup, sit before patients, pretending doctors don't fall ill, when they should have taken a break to revamp their ailing health. Dr. Northrup says she wanted to measure up in a male dominated profession, gynaecology, although she was beset with a deep breast abscess and was advising patients in a similar condition to take a holiday and rest to boost their immunity ....

DUALISTIC THINKING

E

BLAME That's the attitude of always seeing someone or something else "as the cause of whatever is happing to you".

DENIAL Many people have lost touch with their needs or feelings.

Often, they rationalise that "something will kill a man, anyway" rather than abandon lifestyles disagreeable to their health.

CONFUSION Lack of clarity about anything.

FORGETFULNESS From names and car or door key, bodily needs may be easily forgotten.

To people hurt by spouses, men are either bad and woman good, and vice versa.

IT SHOULD BE EVIDENT by now that the best health care is that which recognises that diseases is travel on the wrong route.

So, if, blindfolded, I wish to get out of a room but find myself banging my head against the wall, I should recognise I am not in the doorway and search for it. Changing one's attitude may take one back from a wrong route to the right one and help in the creation of health, as energy medicine doctors now advise us.

But we cannot leave the old abruptly and that's why, until the time finally ripens for energy medicine, we wouldn't be able to help trying to heal the "inside" from "outside". This takes us back to those two woman who telephoned to request for herbal medicines for common women's ailments, one of the commonest of which is menstrual cramps and pains.

Dr. Northrup had them as a girl. Then, one day in the operation theatre, they forced her out of 'a major surgical case' during her residency. One woman told me last week she'd lost three pregnancies caused by cramping. I meet many women who have either uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts and breast pain or a combination of them. Some women do not ovulate, others suffer from vaginal candidiasis or other vaginal problems. In some cases, especially where pregnancy is critical desired, the sperm flows back after lovemaking, no matter the physical efforts to get it into the cervix. Some women who take clomephene citrate (clomid) to induce ovulation often find the effects shortlived.

Some have polycystic ovaries, others hormonal insufficiency or imbalance, or premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which may involve craving certain foods, especially sweets and carbohydrates, cause edema, weight gain, swollen, tender and painful breasts just before menstruation. woman with any or combination of these problems is well-advised to limit carbohydrate intake, increase pro tein, vitamins and minerals intake, avoid poultry chicken, turkey, egg, milk, meat and caffeine containing foods and drinks. Menstrual cramps suggest an excess of prostaglandin 2 PG2 series eicosanoids, which fuel inflammation, cramping and pain deficiency of essential fatty acids (EFAs), which may be obtained from Evening Primerose Oil, Flax seed oil and the proprietary Udo's oil. Magnesium relaxes cramped, strained muscles. As an excess of estrogen over progeserone may also induce uterine cramping and beast pain, VITEX, a propriety product, may help to stabilise the pituitary gland and normalise the hormones. Where there is enough progesterone and estrogen is not dominant, but the harsh estrogen fractions (Estradiol and estrone) predominate in the estrogen matrix, estriol, may be promoted, or phytoestrogens may help.

A thyroid gland suffused with chlorine, fluorine and bromine may inhibit iodine absorption and create hypothyroidism and estrogen dominance, weight gain, lethargy, weakness, excessive menstrual bleeding and infertility, going by many studies. The proprietary product IODORAL has been shown to help out. In stressful situations, an adrenal gland formula such as AMAZON ADRENAL SUPPORT may help. Coenzyme Q10 (COQ10) at 120mq/capsule (two capsules taken with a meal two times daily) also help to improve energy. This may also be a breast health recipe. After all, many authorities continue to quote a Danish research by three doctors working on nutritional approach to the healing of breast cancer. They added COQ10 to the vitamins/minerals/antioxidant regime of more than 30 woman for three months, using COQ10 at going daily.

Nothing happened. But when they increased COQ10 dosage to 390mg, they found that the cancer disappeared in another three month. Many women who cannot menstruate but are in menstruating years probably have candida infection or some other ovarian blockages, if the trouble is not hormonal imbalance, partially high level of prolactin. Prolastin level reduces under VITEX, ZINC and VITAMIN C therapy, provided there is no tumor or other problems in the pituitary gland. Candida can be dealt with using AMAZON A-F, MYCO, BELLACO CAPSI and KYOLIC ACID GARLIC EXTRACT. The woman of today, like her mother and grandmother, still has a friend in Mother Nature. But her negative attitude, like her dressing which blocks energy flow in her body, must change for her to experience abundant radiant health.

A • Diagram, courtesy of Dr Northrup

SCARCITY MODEL Feeling that everything is insufficient ... money, love (bachelors or spinsters behave there are not enough of good women or men around).

PERFECTIONISM When the interior is inadequate or chaotic, a tendency to cling to external subterfuge for order may develop, in which there is a relentless search for a perfect spouse, job, body, people... what else, always finding other inadequate.

ILLUSION

M

ANY of us fear to confront our needs and feelings, and succumb to illusion rather than being objective and facing reality, resorting to "it is not my portion" and "God is in control" mantras. If the Creator wasn't in control, would the Universe and humans exist? Fatalistic thinking that all occurrences were prescripted or Divinely ordained fare no better, and gives atheists valid argument: who is to blame, if, from the beginning of time, everything had been prefixed and everyone is merely playing his or her own role in the Act?

NEGATIVISM Our thoughts are hardly positive. In fear of the untoward, we rush home from work before nightfall. We are afraid to send our children to good schools we'd like them to attend because of the cost. Quitting a job for self-employment frightens many underpaid people who are not happy in their employment.

DEPENDENCY Even when they can get by on their own, many people still prefer to ride on other people's backs. Many woman stick to

e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com

Tel: 08034004247, 07025077303

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

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e-Business Is social messaging upstaging SMS? Short Messaging Service (SMS) has long been the most popular form of communication and has helped network operators offset the effect of falling voice revenues. But it is in danger of becoming extinct as more people are turning to social messaging platforms, such as BlackBerry Messenger, 2go, Facebook, as the new form of electronic communication. But mobile operators remain unruffled, ADLINE ATILI reports

O

NE of the basic features of mobile phones which has been with us from inception, text messaging or Short Messaging Service (SMS), is being threatened and could be replaced by the more convenient and trendy social messaging as the new form of electronic communication.

For most of the past decade, SMS has delivered margins of 90 per cent or more for mobile operators.

Mobile operators around the world lost $13.9billion in text messaging revenue last year, as against $8.7billion in 2010. This arose from subscribers using social messaging applications, such as BlackBerry Messenger on their mobile phones, according to an estimate from technology research firm, Ovum.

This study examined how Internet Protocol-based social messaging is cutting into the profitable revenue streams generated by SMS and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS).

Social messaging is defined as messaging that occurs through platforms other than SMS, MMS or email, and which is either tied to a social network or has a social component attached.

Social messaging players include mobile applications, mobile social networks, and mobile instant messaging platforms such as BlackBerry Messenger; Apple’s iMessage, which enables consumers to send free text messages, photos and videos among all iOS devices; Twitter; Facebook Messenger, a free standalone messaging solution enabling iOS; Android; as well as Vonage Mobile; 2go and Skype.

Ovum’s Consumer Analyst and author of the report, Neha Dharia, said: “Social messaging has disrupted traditional services and operators’ revenues in this area will come under increasing pressure.

“Tapping into the creativity of applications (apps) developers, forming industry-wide collaborations and leveraging their usage data and strong relationships with subscribers are the key ways for operators to ensure that they hold their ground in the messaging market.”

While this new technique of messaging only represented six per cent of total messaging revenue in 2010 and nine per cent in 2011, Ovum, said its impact on operators’ positions within the messaging market is significant.

The study warned that offering innovative messaging services and aligning revenue plans with models in the social world will not be enough to win the battle against social messaging.

“The most important factor, however, will be co-operation between Telcos. They are no longer competing merely among themselves, but must work together to face the challenge from the major Internet players,” Dharia, said.

However, despite the threat to messaging revenues, Ovum stressed that the strong presence of social messaging should be looked upon as an opportunity.

“This threat will drive Telcos to consider alternative sources of revenue, such as mobile broadband. And now that the market has been tested, operators know what types of messaging services work.

• With social messaging apps, such as Facebook Messenger, you can send messages directly to your friends on their mobile phones for free

“In addition, operators are in a position of strength because they control the entire messaging structure through their access to the user’s phone number and usage data. The established billing relationship is a great advantage, as is the fact that operators control to a great extent, the services to which the user is exposed,” the report stated.

What makes social messaging a hit is the immediacy of the message exchange and the fact that it makes continued exchange simpler than sending them back and forth. Consequently, subscription to social messaging services in Nigeria is increasing over the years.

2go, according to analysis, is arguably the biggest mobile messaging platform in Nigeria offering the coolest way to communicate with friends for free.

The messaging platform which recently hit 15 million active users globally records 20 million log in per day and sends 200 million messages per day between people.

With about 5 million active users in Nigeria, 2go claims to sign up 30,000 new users on average in Nigeria each day and at peak time, mostly in the evenings, the platform has almost 500,000 Nigerians online at the same time.

With 9 million total registered users, Nigeria has become the platform’s biggest market globally, overtaking South Africa.

But the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) is possibly, the most efficient and functional of the social messaging services; it is unique only to BlackBerry phones.

Additionally, it is among the most popular social messaging platforms in the country. Since the introduction of the service in Nigeria, it has become the writing tool of choice for users of the smartphone.

BBM is an instant messenger programme for BlackBerry-to-BlackBerry communication, utilising users’ PIN code, an eight digit alpha-numeric sequence that is assigned to every BlackBerry device.

A BBM user who gave his name, simply as Emmanuel, said: “The BBM service is more convenient than SMS. One advantage of the service is that as you send the message, it is instantly delivered. The line of conversation is not deleted too as you can still read your messages and replies, even several days later.”

According to a report by the research group, Mobile Youth, young people are increasingly abandoning SMS in favour of social messaging apps, with texting expected to drop off 20 per cent over the

‘Social messaging has disrupted traditional services and operators’ revenues in this area will come under increasing pressure...tapping into the creativity of applications developers and strong relationships with subscribers are the key ways for operators to...hold their ground in the messaging market’

next two years.

A BlackBerry Messenger user, Dapo, said: “Since I started using the BlackBerry Messenger, I don’t send text messages anymore, except to those that do not own BB. “The beauty of it all is that it’s faster, more convenient and more sophisticated than SMS. In addition, you can send photos and links in your messages. If it were possible, I’d buy BB for all my loved ones so as to enjoy better communication with them. Honestly, to me, BBM is the best thing to happen since the advent of GSM services.”

The Mobile Messaging Futures 2009 – 2014 report outlines an exciting future for social messaging amid continued strong worldwide subscriber growth.

By 2014, the report predicts that mobile social messaging will supplant SMS as the mainstream messaging service as smartphones and wireless Internet proliferate.

A telecoms consultant, Mr Godwin Iddah, however stressed that the idea of social messaging replacing text messaging was preposterous, maintaining that they would only serve to complement one another.

He said: “Overall, BBM service is a good, solid messaging system available to BlackBerry users but it will merely supplement text messaging and not replace it. Millions in this world rely on text messaging exclusively in place of voice calls as voice minutes cost more than text messages.

“This is coupled with the fact that not everybody can afford those phones with social messaging software, unless the application happens to be embedded in low end phones.

“Even if embedded in low-end phones, like I said earlier, not everybody can afford the data charges, because BlackBerry Internet service is not ‘free’ in the true sense of the word ‘free.’ For those lowend users, SMS would still play a vital role in their communication pattern, while operators would still earn revenue from it.”

Corroborating, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Rajan Swaroop, said revenue from text messaging would not be affected by uptake of social messaging now or in the future, “they will only complement each other,” he said.

Another top official of one of the Telcos, who did not want his name in print because he was unauthorised to answer questions, disagreed that revenue from SMS will likely plummet as a result of social messaging, citing low penetration of smartphones, including BlackBerry, in the country.

He said: “Total BlackBerry Internet subscribers of all the Telcos in Nigeria combined are not more than five hundred thousand. Some people have BlackBerry phones, but do not subscribe to the Internet service.

“That category of BB users will still have to send text messages. The only impact would be from BlackBerry Internet subscribers. Therefore, messaging would still be ‘king.’”

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INDUSTRY

Solid minerals contribution to GDP now 11%, says Minister F

ROM three per cent, the contribution of solid minerals to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has risen to 11 per cent, Mines and Steal Development Minister Mohammed Sada has said.

He attributed the rise to the reforms in the sector, which have enhanced operations and paved the way for private investment by foreign and local companies.

The minister said Nigerians were already benefitting from the reforms.

“The reports we are getting now is that the contribution of the sec-

Stories by Toba Agboola

tor has risen to about 11 per cent.

“Go out there and see: people are making a lot of money from mining in the country. This is why, despite the supposed dangers associated with the activity, many more people are going into the sector and making a lot of money.

“The benefits to individual operators are apparent, but what we need to do is to streamline the pro-

cess properly, and to find ways to make it contribute more to the coffers of government,” he said.

He explained that most mining activities still remain informal and, therefore, does not remit much to the Federal Government in forms of tax and royalties, adding that his ministry’s focus was to improve regulations that would make it easy for small and artisanal miners to be formalised.

According to him, the solid min-

erals sector remains one of the fastest growing onr in the economy, with the potential of replacing oil as the major source of revenue to the government.

Sada explained that as of today, more than thirty-eight foreign companies holding 421 exploration licenses have commenced exploration activities in the country.

The Minister acknowledged that a lot of revenue coming from

the sector is lost due to poor monitoring and ineffective structure, noting that most of the discrepancies within the would be corrected with the proposed audit of the industry to be conducted by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

“On the Ministry, we have also inaugurated a committee on revenues to help the government focus on expanding revenue collection from the sector to enable government provide those infrastructural services that are needed to build a more vibrant economy,” Sada added.

Commission seeks improved cross-border entrepreneurship for women

H

OW can women entrepreneurs reap from the business initia tives of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

This was the question to which businesswomen in the sub-region gathered in Lagos to find an answer to during the inauguration of the Nigeria Chapter of ECOWAS Federation of Business Women Entrepreneurs (FEBWE).

They spoke of the need for ECOWAS member states to ensure that women entrepreneurs have access to the best services and also integrate gender dimensions into national trade policies.

Stakeholders at the event, which included the Minister of Water Resource, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe; chairperson of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture Women Group (NAWORG) and facilitator of ECOWAS/FEBWE, Mrs Alaba Lawson and President of ECOWAS/FEBWE, Candide Leguede emphasised the need to empower women towards meeting the millennium development goals.

Leguede appealed to ECOWAS leaders to assist women entrepreneurs to contribute to the Gross Domestic Product of the economy.

According to her, the association is determined to ensure the development of members by creating avenues to access financing.

She appealed to the women entrepreneurs to mobilise others at the local level. “This is necessary if together we want to make great achievements.

Through our commitment, and a little effort from each of us, we can maximise our contributions and our efforts to obtain the best results that we all can be proud of.”

Earlier, Mrs Lawson said the objective of setting up the organization was aimed at promoting and facilitating trade on a common platform for various groups or individual women entrepreneurs in the sub-region through intra and continental trade.

“There is no gainsaying that women are better managers in the various economic system in the world in the area of transparency, integrity and accountability. However, there are various challenges that women entrepreneurs face in the business world in the attempt to initiate and facilitate wealth creation particularly among our women and disadvantaged youth,” she stated.

Mrs Ochekpe disclosed that the Federal Government has put in place a robust water sector roadmap in line with its transformation agenda aimed at providing access to quality water across all communities in Nigeria.

To achieve total success of the water roadmap, the minister stated that, in addition to building dams and constructing new boreholes in communities across the country, the ministry is also reconstructing and revamping abandoned water projects, especially old boreholes to make rural communities have access to water.

SON to test petroleum products

T

HE Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is deter mined to rid the country of fake and adulterated petroleum products, its Director-General, Joseph Odumodu, has said.

Speaking in Lagos at a stakeholders’ forum for operators in the oil and gas sector, he said one of the measures his agency has employed to achieve this target is to begin testing of petroleum products by the end of this month following the completion of nationwide sampling of petroleum products in circulation.

He said: “Our programme would include testing of the products for quality as well as check-

ing of volumes being dispensed for accuracy of declared measurements. I wish to warn that distributors found wanting would be made to face the full weight of the law.

“The Standards Organisation of Nigeria has the statutory responsibility to rid the Nigerian society of substandard products of any form and this we must do even in the petroleum products sub-sector of the oil and gas sector.

“In line with our Zero Tolerance to substandard products campaign, we aim to achieve significant reduction in the presence of substandard products in our markets before the end of this year.”

•From left: Chief Opral Benson, Mrs Lawson and Mrs Leguede, at the event.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

NECA: New billionaires likely under N888b subsidy fund A NEW set of billionaires will emerge from the N888 billion voted for fuel subsidy in that year’s budget, the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) has said.

To enable small and medium enterprises benefit from the fund, NECA’s Director-General Segun Oshinowo has urged them to top into business opportunities in the oil and gas sector.

Speaking at a forum on business opportunities in the oil & gas sector for SMEs in Nigeria organised

by NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW).

Oshinowo implored SMEs to tap into the opportunities that would arise from the development.

Oshinowo urged the participants to be focused because the various presentations made at the forum by experts in the sector would generate ideas that could be tapped

into to benefit from the openings in the oil and gas sector.

He applauded NNEW for organising such informative and enlightening programme that can generate wealth for Nigerians.

Consultant, Lonadek Nigeria Limited, Dr Ibilola Amao, who spoke on new opportunities in oil and gas industry for SMEs, said since the Nigerian Content Act was passed on April 22, 2010, it had opened wide the windows of opportunities for Nigerians to go into the oil and gas industry.

She said the business opportunities and project activities that were handled by expatriates were no longer reserved, and that consideration should be given to Nigerians first, saying: “so where a Ni-

gerian can demonstrate capacity, capability and competence, the Nigerian will be given the business, rather than the expatriate.

Nigerians should get a copy of the Nigerian Content Act, read it and will find a lot of activities and different activity areas, where Nigerians are expected to be players in the oil and gas industry.”

Speaking on the critical factors required to succeed in the oil and gas sector, Mr Tonye Cole, Managing Director, Sahara Oil, said “if you must succeed, you must play it hard because “Oil, is a dirty product but the business itself is just as dirty as the product. If you do not have stomach for risks, you should stay out of the business as the business is full of risks and challenges.”

Cashew stakeholders target N250b yearly export revenue

T

HE National Cashew Associa tion of Nigeria (NCAN) has set a yearly revenue target of N250 billion from exports.

The President of NCAN, Mr Tola Faseru, said at the annual cashew season inauguration and workshop in Ilorin, Kwara State, that it was imperative that cashew stakeholders put in more effort to lift the revenue from N23 billion to N250 billion soon.

He said with ongoing capacity expansion, improved processing and packaging procedural skills being

imparted and the willingness displayed by the government and sector operators, the target would be achieved.

The workshop had the theme, “The New Cashew Order.” It was organised by NCAN, and featured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding( MoU) on the facilitation of cashew cluster financing.

Faseru said if the production base and processing capacity of the group were developed, NCAN could grow earnings to more than N250 billion He said it is also important to ac-

celerate the implementation of existing incentives, such as the Export Expansion Grant scheme, and improve on research and development in plant technology.

According to him, it was also needful to increase farmers’ extension programmes and energise competitive processor, trader and farmer financing schemes. He said there should be promotion of domestic consumption.

Faseru said NCAN planned to boost production of the crop to 400,000 tonnes in five years from the

current production volume of 120,000 tonnes per annum.

According to him, the association plans to improve the regulation of cashew trade and provide an enabling environment for all cashew stakeholders.

He stated that NCAN’s aim was to improve the profitability of cashew business and to effectively integrate all stakeholders in the cashew value chain.

Faseru added that the association would liaise with the government and international community to

drive and engender growth in the sector.

In his goodwill address at the occasion, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, said there were ample investment opportunities in the cashew sub-sector.

He, therefore, urged investors to avail themselves of the investment opportunities in production of cashew fruit juice from cashew apple, activated carbon from cashew nuts shells as cashew nut shell liquid as well as in kernel processing.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

53

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 7-3-12

Vono explains rationale for N840m rights issue

V

ONO Products Plc has said that the net proceeds from its impending N840 million Rights Issue would be used to strengthen its operations and pursue expansion programme as part of efforts to put the company on a the path of sustainable profitability.

Speaking yesterday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Managing Director, Vono Products, Mrs. Titilola Bakare, said the company has concluded arrangements to commence the proposed Rights Issue of 525 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N1.60 per share.

According to her, the supplementary issue was necessitated by the need to strengthen and expand its activities and ensure that the company is properly positioned to tap into the opportunities in the Nigeria economy.

She outlined that the net proceeds from the recapitalisation exercise will be used to upgrade the factory, buy new plants and machineries and boost its working capital among others.

She said boosting the company’s working capital would eliminate dependence of banks for funding to finance its operations.

She noted that the company was facing the challenges of a depleted working capital, which has adversely affected its production capacity and effective

•Market rallies further

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

distribution of its products.

“The brand is strong, the products are eye-catching and attractive to everyone; people want it. What we just need is getting it right, making it available to everyone,” Bakare said.

Commenting on its return to profitability, Bakare said the company has been able to reduce its loss considerably and will, hopefully, bounce back to profitability by the end of the 2012 financial year.

According to her, the turnover figure for the year ended 2010 was N430 million while the company ended 2011 with N600 million, representing about 62 per cent increase in turnover, even though the company was still maintaining a loss position.

“We are happy to inform our stakeholders that our loss position has reduced considerably from about N300 million to about N100 million in the past one year.

Vono is already on the way to bouncing back to profitability and we are looking at this year as the turnaround year for profit. It is after profit that we will start talking about dividends for our shareholders,” Bakare said.

She expressed optimism that with the passage of the national budget and the budgets of the various state

governments, the federal and state governments will undertake educational and health programmes, which are expected to impact positively on the company, especially through increased patronage.

She said Vono’s products for the health and educational sectors will record significant improvements in the current year, going by the plans of the federal and state governments to increase their support and undertake major health and educational projects.

Meanwhile, the stock market rallied further yesterday as stocks continued to ride on the back of bargain hunting and positioning for 2011 earnings and bottomed-out stocks. The All Share Index appreciated by 0.68 per cent to close at 21,068.34 points as against its opening index of 20,926.31. Aggregate market value of all equities rose from N6.595 trillion to N6.640 trillion.

The uptrend was orchestrated by widespread gains by equities as well as concentrated gains by highly capitalised stocks. Mobil Oil Nigeria topped the 31-stock gainers’ list with a gain of N6.65 to close at N139.65.

Dangote Cement followed with a gain of N2.20 to close at N116 while PZ Cussons Nigeria rallied N1.24 to close at N26.21 per share.

On the other hand, UAC of Nigeria (UACN) Plc led the few list of nine losers with a loss of 50 kobo to close at N28.50. Nigerian Aviation Handling Company followed with a loss of 31 kobo to close at N7.23 while Avon Crown Caps dropped by 26 kobo to close at N5.11 per share. Total turnover stood at 199.18 million shares valued at N1.80 billion in 3,867 deals.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 7-3-12

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

55

MONEY LINK

Cash-less: CBN grants waiver to specialised banks

T

on the policy, the apex bank has created better opportunity for the sector to thrive, and recover from numerous challenges facing it.

Also, Moses Adigun, an operator in the PMI sector, said the policy will give them more opportunity to carry out their businesses and get more customers. He explained that PMIs are licensed by CBN and Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria to operate as a mortgage outfit that will collect deposit and support individuals and corporations in meeting their housing needs.

•Operators applaud move

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has waived the daily cash withdrawal limit of N1 million for specialised banks namely microfinance banks (MfBs) and primary mortgage institutions (PMIs).

A circular by CBN signed by Mr Giaus Emokpae, Assistant Director Banking and Payment System, said that the waiver was due to the nature of their businesses.

The regulator explained that the practice where Deposit Money Banks apply cash withdrawal/deposit limits for corporate organisations to PMIs and MFBs will no longer hold.

It explained that they are specialised banks under the new banking model, which have customers that maintain savings demand and time deposit accounts with commercial banks.

“As deposit-taking institutions, they are obliged to honour the withdrawal requests of their customers and other deposit obligations. It is imperative to note that the aggregate withdrawal by the depositors of MFBs and PMIs per day could exceed N1 million. Thus necessitating those institutions to withdraw over N1 million from their correspondent banks in order to service their customers,” the circular said.

It stressed that by this directive, withdrawal and deposit by microfinance banks and primary mortgage institutions had been excluded from the policy of N1 million limits for corporate bodies. The CBN, however, said that the cash withdrawal and deposit limits were applicable to customers of MFBs and PMIs. The cash withdrawal limit policy started in Lagos on January 1 and will be extended to other states by June.

Under the directive, individuals are not allowed to withdraw or deposit more than N150, 000 per day while withdrawal by corporate

Stories by Collins Nweze

organisations should not exceed N1 million.

The regulator said defaulters will be penalised as from March 30, adding that the objective is to reduce business transactions with cash.

The waiver on cash limit granted specialised financial institutions such

as microfinance banks and primary mortgage institutions will enhance patronage in the sector. Chairman, Gold Microfinance Bank, Lanre Abiola told The Nation that the regulator has finally addressed the fears of operators by removing limits on their transactions with commercial banks. He said that by soft-pedalling

DfID, Bill & Melinda Gates give $.5m grant to MFB

H

ASAL Microfinance Bank Limited has received $500,000 grant from Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access (EFInA).

EFInA is funded by the United Kingdom’s (UK) Department for International Development (DFID) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Managing Director of MFB, Rogers Nwoke, said HASAL got the grant because its proposal was innovative and focused on EFInA’s key sectors that would increase access to finance for the low income population in the country.

He stated that the bank’s product is “promoting branchless banking through Hasusu Savings Product”.

The project, he said, “sees the bank covering the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory through branchless banking. The test-run for the project has been carried out and full implementation has begun with Abuja Municipal and BWARI Area Councils.”

With this scheme in place, HASAL, he explained, could reach out to more people who would have been excluded from formal fi-

Asst. Editor

nancial services without necessarily opening new branches in these locations.

He said the bank would be carrying out sensitisation campaigns, customer awareness campaign, customers’ forum in the FCT. To promote the project and enlighten customers about the bank and the benefits of embracing CASH-LESS NIGERIA through the use of electronic channels.

With the grant, Nwoke noted that the “project will create additional 250 jobs for HASAL Savings Executives (HSE) who will be mobilising savings from all the rural areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The scheme is targeted at developing the HSEs into entrepreneurs under a new scheme of HASAL Branchless Banking Model.”

Mr. Rogers Nwoke then disclosed that for the three years the microfinance bank has been in operation it has disbursed N7.7billion in loans to its customers numbering more than 38,000 with a shareholders fund in excess of N529 million. Shareholders’ Funds will be recapitalized up to the N2b required for a National Microfinance Bank.

T

HE Blair Elumelu Fellowship Programme (BEFP), a partner ship between The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) and the Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative (AGI) has been launched.

The programme, according to a statement is expected to give partner governments access to experts drawn from international private and public sectors.

Working within the government of Sierra Leone, the first Blair Elumelu Fellow is currently supporting the administration’s drive to attract foreign investors and develop its domestic private sector.

By leveraging the expertise of Elumelu, a business leader who transformed a single-country bank – United Bank for Africa (UBA) – into a panAfrican financial institution spanning 20 African countries and 3 continents; and Blair, the former British prime minister; as well as the expertise of the full-time Fellows, the three-year programme aims to help partner governments: Enhance competitiveness Speaking to an audience of Sierra Leone’s leading business people, en-

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

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

MOBIL CADBURY NCR LONGMAN DANGFLOUR PZ CAP PRESCO ETERNAOIL AIRSERVICE

O/PRICE

133.00 9.62 10.23 2.81 4.02 24.97 15.12 8.51 4.29 1.69

Current Before

C/PRICE

CHANGE

139.65 10.10 10.74 2.95 4.22 26.21 15.87 8.93 4.50 1.77

6.65 0.48 0.51 0.14 0.20 1.24 0.75 0.42 0.21 0.08

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

5.37 2.30 2.97 1.72 1.29 7.54 0.54 4.30 0.58 1.59

C/PRICE

CHANGE

5.11 2.19 2.83 1.64 1.23 7.23 0.52 0.56 7.10 1.55

0.26 0.11 0.14 0.08 0.06 0.31 0.02 0.02 0.20 0.04

Date

150m

150m

150m

155.8

29-2-12

138m 113m

138m 113m

138m 113m

155.8 155.7

27-2-12 22-2-12

147.6000

149.7100

150.7100

-2.11

NGN GBP

239.4810

244.0123

245.6422

-2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

(S/N) Bureau de Change 152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N)

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Dec ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

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% 12.6%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 1,177.37 99.76 0.76 1.04 0.88 1,666.70 8.24 1.39 1.87 7,137.57 193.00

9.08 1.00 1,160.06 99.49 0.73 1.04 0.87 1,663.73 7.84 1.33 1.80 6,953.84 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE

LOSER AS AT 7-3-12

AVONCROWN REDSTAREX UBA IKEJAHOTEL LIVESTOCK NAHCO WEMABANK EVANSMED ACCESS CUSTODYINS

Rate (N)

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD

Parallel Market SYMBOL

Exchange

Sold ($)

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

(S/N)

GAINERS AS AT 7-3-12

Amount

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

INTERBANK RATES

Amount

Offered ($) Demanded ($)

MANAGED FUNDS

OBB Rate Call Rate

trepreneurs, and public sector officials, Elumelu, who set up his Foundation to help foster the growth of Africa’s private sector, said: “I am delighted to launch this innovative partnership with Mr Blair as a way of supporting the Sierra Leonean people.

“I am particularly encouraged by the work that President Koroma is doing to transform the economic landscape of Sierra Leone, and I want to ask the country’s private sector to prepare itself to take advantage of the enabling environment, which is being created.”

Blair, Patron of the Africa Governance Initiative, which has been working with the government of Sierra Leone to help build its capacity to deliver public services and develop the country’s private sector since 2008, said: “Sierra Leone has made very significant strides in attracting investment over recent years, and President Koroma is absolutely right to take inspiration from the success of emerging economies like India and China.

“Sierra Leone’s future prosperity – indeed, Africa’s prosperity – depends on developing a private sector that can compete with the best in the world.”

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

• CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido

Blair, Elumelu launch global Fellowship Programme

From Nduka Chiejina,

FGN BONDS

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

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• AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 July, 2011

07, Aug, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

56

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

57

NEWS

Boko Haram kills four in Borno

F

OUR persons were killed on Tuesday night by gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members at Konduga, Borno State.

It was learnt that the assailants attacked a police station and the Konduga Local Government secretariat.

During the attack, which lasted three hours, three policemen and a five-year-old boy were said to have been shot dead by the gunmen.

Sources said two churches

From Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri

were burnt.

They said shortly after the Magrib prayer, the assailants stormed the council secretariat.

Sources said the gunshots rent the air from 7pm till 10pm.

One of the burnt buildings was inaugurated in 2001 by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

Six vehicles were also set ablaze.

Pupils on rampage in Gombe From Vincent Ekhoragbon, Gombe

The divisional office of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) inside the secretariat was burnt down A security official said the gunmen came in six Golf cars and six Hilux buses.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Samuel Tizhe, said no police officer was killed.

He said three injured policemen are now receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

G

•Acting IGP Abubakar

Comptroller of Customs shot dead

A

CUSTOMS Comptroller, Alhaji Adamu Ahmadu, was allegedly killed by Gunmen on Tuesday night.

Ahmadu was in charge of

From Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri

Borno and Yobe states.

Four men reportedly invaded his home and shot him.

Eyewitnesses said the gunmen forced their way into his home and shot him.

Borno State Police Commissioner Simeon Midenda said he was shocked to hear

the news.

He said: “My brother, I’ve not received the information. Please let me find out.

Thank you.”

Fuel subsidy: Kano arraigns 32 suspects

K

ANO State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Maliki Kuliya Umar, said yesterday that the 32 suspects arrested during the fuel subsidy protest violated the laws against public protest.

Umar spoke at their arraignment at a Kano High Court.

He said: “The 32 suspects arrested during the fuel subsidy protest are hoodlums out to cause trouble.

“We have looked at the issue and decided that justice must be done. There is no going back.”

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

He said: “Already, 21 of the accused will be arraigned before a Kano High Court, four will be arraigned at a magistrate’s court, while the remaining seven who are considered under-aged are to be arraigned before a juvenile court.”

The commissioner said the suspects were charged to court for destroying part of the Cabinet Office and torching 21 vehicles.

“They also injured police officers. This is against what the Nigeria Labour Congress was pursuing,” he concluded.

Nine die in crash at Potiskum

N

INE people died yesterday in a crash involving a trailer and a Golf saloon car near Ngelzarma, at Potiskum in Yobe State.

The state Commander of the Federal Road Safety

From Duku Joel, Damaturu

Corps, Halliru Baba Hallilu, confirmed the accident, saying five men, one woman and three children died in the crash.

Hallilu said the accident occurred about 8 am and was possibly caused by over-

Ajaokuta Steel workers barricade roads From Mohammed Bashir, Lokoja

W

ORKERS of the Ajaokuta Steel Company, Ajaokuta, Kogi State yesterday blocked all roads to the company, to protest the management’s alleged inability to implement a new salary structure.

The protest, which started in the morning, resulted in heavy traffic on the Ajaokuta Federal Highway.

The workers said the management was short-changing them.

The Chairman of the Interim Management Committee, Philip Umunnakwe, said the management has no power to implement the new salary structure.

He said the Salaries and Wages Commission has to give approval before the management can do so.

Umunnakwe, however, said the money is intact and not embezzled as being alleged in some quarters, adding that it would be paid back to the treasury as unspent fund.

The Zonal Secretary of the Steel and Engineering Workers Union of Nigeria (SEWUN), Comrade Emmanuel Ojo, said what the management paid as salary was less than what it collected from the government.

He noted that the management was collecting N312 million on behalf of the workers, “but only N250 million is being paid as salary to them on a monthly basis.”

According to him, the union has written a letter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (ÉFCC) to probe the company, alleging foul play.

He said the crisis was ignited by the management’s directive that the banks should use the December payment schedule to pay January salary.

The union leader said the workers viewed the action as a way to evade the full implementation of the agreed salary structure, hence the protest.

The Deputy National President of SEWUN, Alhaji Momohjimoh Salami, said the workers are not asking for any pay increase as being speculated in some quarters, but the implementation of the already approved salary structure.

Travellers from the Southeast and Southsouth and those coming from Abuja were stranded while the protest lasted.

speeding.

He advised motorists to obey road signs and traffic rules.

Thirty-two people last month died in a similar crash on the Azare/ Potiskum Road.

PUBLIC NOTICE NWACHUKWU

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NGOZI JUDITH NWACHUKWU now which to be known and addressed as MRS NGOZI JUDITH OMECHE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

EDENSETING I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EDENSETING MARY OKON now which to be known and addressed as MRS AKANINYENE UDOH MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OKUNOLA I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Okunola Zainab Odunola, now wish to be known and be addressed as Mrs. Idowu Zainab Odunola. All former documents remains valid. NYSC and general public should take note.

AMADI I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Amadi Tina Nneka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ariba Wisdom Tina Nneka. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public take note.

LOSS OF CHINESE PASSPORT Chinese passport with no G 29726842 belonging to Mr. Shuang Xiao got lost at Eleko Beach on Saturday 18th February 2012, and all effort to trace it has proved abortive. If found, contact Mr. Shuang Xiao on 08034130554 or the nearest police station.

PUBLIC NOTICE SCRIPTURE COMMUNICATION MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL This is to inform the general public that the above-named organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act BOARD OF TRUSTEES 1.Mr. Mark Osamagbe Ighile 2. Sharon Titilope Ighile.

3. Cozens Bankole Aiyejusunle. 4. Steven Okiekie Aigbe.

5. Ademola Richards. 6. Ige Kolawole Bello.

7. Aderemi Omowumi Tomori. 8. Bimpe Filani 9. Damiana Esosa Ogedengbe AIMS AND OBJECTIVES a) To provide qualitative Christian leadership in ministry. b) To encourage the growth of home disciplines in Churches. c) To propagate the principles of Christ in scripture and graphics.

Any objection to this registration Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Garki Abuja, Nigeria, within 28 days

should be forwarded to the Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Maitama, Abuja, P.M.B 198, of this publication.

Signed Tade Ipadeola Chambers

PUBLIC NOTICE CHRISTIAN PREACHERS’ CHURCH This is to inform the general public that the above named church has applied to the corporate affairs commission, Abuja, for registration under part c of the companies and allied matters act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE; Rev. Broderick Paul Adowei [ General Overseer] Barr.Mrs, Tam Esther Azubuike [Secretary] Engr, Tare Adowei Mrs, Pereware Horsfall.

OBJECTIVES To propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ through church services, seminars, crusades , print and electronic media.

To promote love and unity in the body of Christ.

Assisting the less privilege in our society.

To raise up children in the fear of God through the establishment of schools.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar- general, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication Signed Barr.[Mrs] Tam Esther Azubuike

OMBE State Government has shut Government Science College, Nafada, after the pupils went on the rampage over an alleged cartoon of a prophet found on the premises.

A source said unknown persons drew a cartoon of the prophet and threw it inside the school on Tuesday.

The source said six pupils came across the cartoon and took it to one of their teachers.

The matter later got to the school authority who warned the pupils not to let their colleagues know about it.

The source said while the school authority was trying to stop the matter from escalating, two of the pupils spread information about the cartoon, thereby causing trouble.

He said the pupils torched the administrative department and four staff quarters.

Effort to speak with the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Aishatu Ahmed, was not successful, as she was said to have gone to the school to ascertain the extent of damage.

Commissioner of Police Orubebe Ghandi confirmed the incident, saying policemen have been drafted to the school to restore peace.

He said there was no casualty, but the Commissioner for Education has directed that the school be shut to prevent the matter from escalating.

58

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

NEWS Subsidy: Nwabueze, Braithwaite, others sue Fed Govt for N440m over teargas spray

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ORTY-FOUR eminent Nigerians who were tear gassed during a fuel subsidy protest in Lagos have sued the Federal Government at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, for N440 million.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector General of Police, and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, are the respondents.

The applicants sought a declaration that the alleged use of tear-gas and live ammunition to disperse and stop them from staging a peaceful protest by security agents on January 19 this year is illegal, oppressive, and null and void.

In a fundamental rights enforcement application by their lawyer, Mr Festus Keyamo, they said the action violates their fundamental rights as enshrined in Sections 34, 35, 38, 40, and 41 of the 1999 Constitution.

They prayed for an order compelling the respondents to pay N10 million to each of them for allegedly infringing on their fundamental rights.

The court is also urged to make an order compelling the respondents to tender written, unreserved apology to each of them.

The applicants are: Prof Ben Nwabueze (SAN), Dr. Tunji Braithewaite, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, Prof Pat Utomi, Dr. Dipo Fashina, Dr Frederick Fasehun, Olawale Okunniyi, Nike Ransome-Kuti, Ganiyat Fawehinmi and Mohammed Fawehinmi.

Alhaji Shettima Yerima, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, Shehu Sanni, Kate Henshaw, Collins Eselemo, Prof Akin Oyebode, Seun Kuti, Dr Tunji Abayomi, Baba Omojola, Sheik Abdurahman Ahmad, Dr Lakin Akintola, Mr Giwa Amu, Dr. Wale Balogun and Ms. Funmi Iyanda.

Others are Mr. Wale Ogunade Alhaji Yemisi Coker, A. Olusegun Obasanjo, Mr. Segun Fatoki, Mr. Akintoye

‘On inhaling the noxious substances, the applicants were choked and could hardly breathe.

Some of the applicants fainted and were rushed to the hospital for treatment’

By Joseph Jibueze

Branko-Rhodes, Mr Achike Chude, Ms. Pamela Braide, Prof. Anthony Kila, Mr. Kunle Oladejo, and Mr. Sola Alao are also applicant.

The rest are Yemi Adamolekun, Amara Blessing Nwosu, Engr. Ife Oyedele, Mr. Kola Oyeneyin, Mr. Diekola Onaolapo, Alhaja Irawo, Femi Falana, Senator Gbenga Oguniya and Mr. Nelson Ekujumi.

Keyamo said: “On 1st January 2012, the pump prices of petrol were increased from N65.00 to N141.00 by the Petroleum Products Price Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) which act effectively removed the subsidy on petrol prices.

“This action led to widespread protests across several states of the federation including Lagos State. In Lagos State, residents including the applicants rallied at various points to peacefully protest against the subsidy removal.

“Residents assembled at various points in Lagos State particularly at the Gani Fawehinmi Park Ojota, Falomo round-about Ikoyi and the roundabout at Obafemi Awolowo road Ikeja.

“These assemblies continued daily from January 1 to 13, 2012 and were led by numerous civil rights activists.

During the cause of the protest, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and other Civil Society groups joined the protest.

“The rallies were tempo-

rarily stopped by Organised Labour January 14 and 15, 2012 with the intention to reconvene on January 16, 2012.

“On the morning of 16th January, 2012, residents of Lagos including the applicants woke up to find soldiers and policemen deployed to the streets of Lagos State and were placed at strategic areas to prevent residents from assembling at their various rally points.

“The major rally points at the Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota were in fact cordoned off by soldiers and police men who prevented residents including the applicants from gaining access thereto and thereby prevented the rallies from continuing.

“On the 19th of January, 2012, the applicants were on a peaceful match via Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos to the Gani Fawehinmi Park when they were stopped by heavily armed soldiers and policemen.

“The soldiers and policemen made it clear to the applicants that they have instructions from the respondents to disperse and stop the protest by all means. The Applicants tried to educate the officers that the right to peaceful protest is their inalienable rights enshrined in the Constitution of this country.

“Rather than listen to them, the officers of the respondents started shooting live ammunition sporadically into the air. The officers of the respondents opened canister of tear gases on the applicants.

“On inhaling the noxious substances, the applicants were choked and could hardly breathe. Some of the applicants fainted and were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

“The officers of the respondents meted out this brutality on the applicants in other to stop the protest abruptly ‘by all means’. The applicants could not stage the protest because of the actions of the aespondents.”

PRESENTATION OF DEVELOPMENT AGENDA FOR WESTERN NIGERIA (DAWN) BY AFENIFERE RENEWAL GROUP

•Former Ondo State Governor Bamidele Olumilua (left), former House Speaker Dimeji Bankole and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader Bola Tinubu at the presentation of Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) in Lagos...on Tuesday

•Wole Olanipekun (SAN) (left), ACN Legal Adviser Muiz •Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo Bamire and others guests

•Senator Olabiyi Durojaye

•Dr. Frederick Fasehun

•Prof. Wale Omole

NYSC rules out postings to volatile areas

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HE Director-General of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Gen. Nnamdi Okore-Affia has restated the service position not to post Corps members to volatile areas.

Gen. Okore-Affia, who said that the scheme has a mandate to post Corps members to every part of the country as enunciated by the law, however, regretted that events have made the scheme to change its position.

Speaking in Umuahia, the

From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

Abia State capital, when he visited Governor Theodore Orji, the NYSC chief said the lives of Corps members is very important to the country and their parents, therefore the scheme is not in a position to expose them to danger.

Okore-Affia said his mission in the Southeast was to thank the governor for the support he has given to the NYSC camp in the state and for securing the lives of

Corps members deployed in the state.

The Director-General praised Orji for the state-ofthe-art Orientation Camp in the state and other things his administration has done for the scheme.

The governor urged Okore-Affia to bring his wealth of experience to bear in transforming the scheme, stressing that the entire nation is looking up to him to change the focus of the scheme that has brought pride to the country.

•Idowu Sofola (SAN)

•Akinseyinwa Apata

•Yanju Adegbite

•Dipo Famakinwa

•Comrade Rotimi Obadofin

Bank upgrades internet banking platform

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UARANTY Trust Bank has again raised the bar in internet banking with an upgrade of its platform.

According to the bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Segun Agbaje, the recent upgrade will enable customers use the GTBank internet banking platform to perform foreign currency transfers (British Pounds, United States Dollars and Euros) from their domi-

ciliary accounts with the bank to any bank account within or outside.

Agbaje maintained that with the latest innovation, the internet platform now supports foreign currency conversions and allows customers generate, view and print online receipts for all transactions.

Determined to maintain strong service culture, the bank CEO reiterated that the bank “will continue instituting inno-

vative channels and products in the future, as part of its efforts to position itself as the bank of choice in Nigeria and provide its stakeholders with convenient, safe and efficient banking experiences”.

Agbaje urged customers to sign on to the bank’s internet banking service and enjoy the opportunity of conducting transactions from the comfort of their homes, offices and anywhere in the world.

•Mrs Dupe Ajayi-Gbadebo PHOTOS: OMOSEHIN MOSES

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

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FOREIGN NEWS Six UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan explosion

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IX British soldiers have been killed in southern Afghanistan when their vehicle was hit by an explosion.

Five from 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment and one from 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment had been on patrol in Kandahar province on Tuesday. Their families have been told.

It is the biggest single loss of UK life at one time in Afghanistan since a Nimrod crash killed 14 in 2006.

The number of British military deaths in Afghanistan since 2001 is now 404.

This is the worst single loss of life in one incident due to enemy action for UK troops in Afghanistan since the start of the war in 2001.

The last time a similar number of UK casualties was caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) was in the summer of 2009, when five British soldiers died in an IED blast.

The device remains the deadliest weapon in the Taliban’s arsenal. It is effective on a psychological level, as well as causing deaths and severe injury, and is relatively cheap and simple to

manufacture.

The level of suspected casualties suggests a large amount of explosives were used. It is, though, possible the deaths may have been caused by a legacy landmine, perhaps left over from the decades of conflict in the country. However, the Taliban do also use such mines while making new IEDs. The cause of the explosion has yet to be confirmed.

Prime Minister David Cameron said it was a “desperately sad day for our country”.

“Every death and every injury reminds us of the human cost paid by our armed forces to keep our country safe,” he said, at the start of Prime Minister’s Questions.

In a statement, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the six soldiers were on a security patrol in a Warrior armoured fighting vehicle when it was caught in an explosion in Kandahar province.

Brig Patrick Sanders, commander of Task Force Helmand, said it suffered “catastrophic damage”.

Syria crisis: Valerie Amos visits Homs

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NITED Nations humanitarian chief Valerie Amos has made a brief visit to the devastated Baba Amr district of Homs in Syria.

She spent an hour there, accompanied by Syrian Red Crescent officials.

Relief teams have been waiting since Friday to move into the district, but ICRC officials said most residents had now left for areas already getting aid.

Government forces retook Baba Amr after weeks of shelling. Activists say troops have committed massacres since then. Damascus blames

rebels for many deaths.

International media organisations are heavily restricted in Syria, making it impossible to verify the claims of either side.

The rebel Free Syrian Army left the city last week in the hope, it said, of protecting civilians from further violence.

Meanwhile there have been loud explosions and heavy shelling in Idlib, opposition sources said, amid fears the northern city could become the next major flashpoint as international attention is focused on Homs.

Opposition groups said 39

people were killed throughout the country yesterday, of whom 26 were in Homs, six in Idlib, three in Deraa and two each in suburbs of Damascus and Aleppo.

The UN says more than 7,500 people have died as a result of the violence in Syria over the past 12 months.

There have been no official statements from either Baroness Amos or the Red Crescent, but the UN aid chief spent less than an hour in Baba Amr assessing its humanitarian needs.

She then moved on to other districts of the city, and is

Libya’s NTC rejects calls for Cyrenaica autonomy

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IBYA’S national unity will be defended with force if necessary, the head of the governing National Transitional Council (NTC) has said.

Mustafa Abdel Jalil called on regional leaders to engage in dialogue, a day after senior figures in oil-rich eastern Libya called for semi-autonomy.

He warned that remnants of the Gaddafi regime were “infiltrating” their ranks.

Civic leaders in the east say they have experienced decades of neglect from Tripoli-based governments.

Leaders from the region, which was once called Cyrenaica, made their call for more autonomy in a document issued after a meeting in Benghazi, which was the focal point of the revolution that toppled Muammar Gaddafi.

They demanded a regional parliament, and control over the police force and courts, but stopped short of advocating a division of the country.

They agreed that foreign policy, among other responsibilities, should be left to the government in Tripoli.

South Africans protest against tolls

S •President Bashar al-Assad of Syria

currently on the way back to Damascus.

OUTH Africans yesterday protested against the new tolls on roads between Johannesburg and the capital, Pretoria.

A BBC reporter in Johannesburg says thousands were on the streets, in scenes reminiscent of anti-apartheid rallies.

The Cosatu labour federation says the proposed system will hurt the poor.

The protests are also directed against the practice of labour brokering - when agencies hire workers on short-term contracts.

The marches - organised by Cosatu (Congress of South African Trade Unions) – took place in 32 towns and cities across South Africa.

Cosatu says it expects as many as 100,000 people to join the nationwide protest.

The BBC reporter in Johannesburg says the streets of Johannesburg are a sea of red - the colour of Cosatu.

It is one of the biggest marches in recent years, and looks like the mass demonstrations against the apartheid system during the 1980s and 1990s, our correspondent says.

US Republican Primary: Romney reaps ‘Super Tuesday’ spoils NEWS

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NITED States Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has crowned a string of Super Tuesday victories with a wafer-thin win in the swing state of Ohio.

As expected, he cruised to victory in his home state of Massachusetts, as well as Idaho, Vermont and Virginia.

Mr Romney also won in Alaska, which Ron Paul was pinning his hopes on for his only win of the nomination campaign.

Rick Santorum won a hat-trick of contests, while Newt Gingrich took his home state of Georgia.

Mr Romney now leads the field with 415 delegates committed to backing him at the national Republican convention in August.

A candidate needs 1,144 delegates to win the party’s nomination and go on to challenge Barack Obama in November’s election.

But Super Tuesday did not deliver a sufficiently convincing

victory to end the race and convince Mr Romney’s rivals to pull out.

After Tuesday’s 10-state voting marathon, Mr Romney defended his position as the front-runner.

Mitt Romney has inched ahead. On paper, looking at the mathematics, he is obviously the winner.

But the point is he’s failed to seal the deal. He has the best organisation and the most money but can’t deliver a knockout blow.

Rick Santorum has established himself as the main “anti-Mitt”.

But he would have to pull off some exceptional coups in the next few primaries to convince people that he can be the Republican candidate, rather than just the main repository for conservative protest votes.

Funeral for man

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HE death has occurred of Prince Durojaiye Adesanmi. He died on February 20. He was 90.

A wake will be held in his honour on May 11 and funeral service on May 12 at St. Paul Anglican Church, Ayegbaju, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Entertainment of guests follows at Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife. He is survived by children,

•The late Adesanmi

grandchildren and great grandchildren

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012

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TOMORROW IN THE NATION

www.thenationonlineng.net

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 7, NO. 2058

‘We dream of the future and talk of change within the limits of our intelligence forgetting that the world of such future that we anticipate will foster a more demanding struggle against the limits of our intelligence, not a cozy rose bed in which we can lie down to be waited upon by a more compliant fate and time’ OLATUNJI OLOLADE

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

F

IGURES fascinate me. I usually marvel at guys who could pile up figures, break them down and spin them round and round to arrive at a certain conclusion, even without using a calculator, that piece of scientific ingenuity that never ceases to intrigue me.

My mathematics was bad. Physics, to me, sounded like science fiction, some esoteric language. Perhaps, I would have paid more attention, if only I had known early enough the place of figures in human affairs. Calculators are ubiquitous in offices and schools.

Mobile phones now have calculators. Such is the importance of figures.

But figures are no mere numerical symbols representing some inanimate objects. Depending on how they are used, they conjure powerful images that evoke various moods and reactions. Don’t we get excited when our favourite soccer team triumphs in a duel with amazing scores? Don’t we yell when some crooks cook up figures?

Sometimes, figures make our hearts sink, such as when casualties of a tragic incident are announced. Other times, figures make us scream; when they are big, especially in cash.

Consider the Federal Government budget for this year. Of the N4.648trillion, N921.91billion will go to defence. Many a citizen must have frowned on seeing the figure splashed on the front pages of newspapers. They probably asked: are we at war?

But for the contractors and their middlemen, it is a shout of joy. The power of figures.

When newspapers reported that the Presidency planned to spend N1billion on food for the year. There was uproar. Questions were flying all over the place, many of them from people who have never been privileged to see a presidential dish, let alone savour its exotic aroma to appreciate the culinary skills that go into the preparation of such repast.

What manner of food will cost N1billion?

Designer foods to be cooked by expatriate cooks whose exertion will attract payment in hard currency? The questions were many.

Figures can evoke so much emotions, drawing tears from the eyes. Such was the tragic case of the Christmas Day Catholic Church bombing in Madalla, Niger State where 44 people were killed. Of the 53 who were injured, seven have gone blind. In the UN House bombing in Abuja, 23 were killed. In all, the Boko Haram sect is believed to have killed 935 people. In Jos, whole families, including babies, are killed in their sleep. In the morning, the community bursts into anger, mourning the dead. The other day in Ezillo, Ebonyi State, 52 residents were massacred. It all looked like a return to savagery.

But these are no mere figures; they represent flesh and blood, human beings murdered by fellow human beings. The arithmetic has been difficult to do.

Just before the petrol price protests, the government said it had spent N1.3 trillion on subsidy. The cash, it said, should have gone into the provision of infrastructure. But there was the argument that no subsidy existed and that the claim was just an excuse to raise petrol price and compound the pains of the

GBENGA OMOTOSO

EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK

gbenga.omotoso@thenationonlineng.net

The power of figures

masses. Anyway, petrol price went up to N97 per litre, up from N65.

Now, the government says the extra petrol cash is not enough to build roads and hospitals as well as all the other good things of life which it promised. National Planning Minister Dr Shamsudeen Usman says only N180billion is available to be spent by the Federal Government to cushion the effect of the “partial” removal of the fuel subsidy. He reveals that the government based its plan on the assumption that petrol will sell at N141 per litre, bringing N1.134trillion into the kitty. Now, only N426billion is available for the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). Now, how sure is SURE? The Presidency says it is on course. We will surely be patient for new figures to come up.

About six months after President Goodluck Jonathan announced to a beleaguered nation the discovery of the cassava loaf, not much has been heard about the revolution. The loaf probably remains the star feature at the presidential breakfast table; it is yet to make its debut in many homes and common places, such as the mai tea’s . The plan is to make us all dump wheat bread and embrace cassava, which, going by the way His Excellency and some privileged members of the cabinet were munching the stuff on television the other day, must have been a product

RIPPLES PALLIATIVES: FED GOVT SHOULD FUFILL ITS PROMISES NOW -NAWOJ

Which PROMISES•••if GOVT says YES, it means NO

of a remarkable breakthrough in culinary science. But many are wondering now whether we can still save N656 billion yearly on wheat importation simply by eating the new loaf ? In other words, the popular question is: where is cassava bread?

A figure could also be scary, if it applies to say a jail term or a period for which one has to endure some unpleasant situation. Consider the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its plan to rule for 60 years, in the first instance. There is so much hardship in the land.

Insecurity has hit an intolerable level. No sector is spared of the dereliction that has sent us many steps down the ladder of human advancement. Yet, the PDP wants to rule for 60 years. The party has demonstrated its stability by having as many as four chairmen in about five years. Its leading lights are yet to know the difference between governance and politics; yet they want to rule for 60 years. Will Nigerians agree?

Figures could also be depressing when they are thrown up as economic indicators. Inflation is said to have come down to 12.60 per cent and foreign reserve is $34.7billion. To the man in the street, these are irritants since there are no changes in his conditions of living. Empty figures.

Fraud has ceased to shock Nigerians as scammers battle to outdo one another. In fact, the bigger the figure, the greater the joke.

From wonder banks and 419 scammers to bank-

A

The Salami matter

TENDENTIOUS suspension sanctioned by the Presidency, five panels examining a truck-load of empty allegations and sulking politicians hurling insults. How much more can a man take?

If we are truly interested in restoring the battered image of the Judiciary, this is the time to call off the circus and recall from suspension Court of Appeal President Justice Isa Ayo Salami. Since the 29-man National Judicial Committee set up on October 14, last year by Chief Justice of Nigeria Dahiru Musdapher found nothing against Justice Salami, the National Judicial Council (NJC) should have allowed the matter to die.

Instead, it played into the hands – some believe it was actually acting the script - of those who have vowed to drag the Judiciary into the gutter of politics and destroy its myth for their selfish interest. This nonsense – insulting the Judiciary – will not stop, until ballot brigands are not only made to lose the prize of their robbery but sent to jail.

Members of the NJC should note that history is recording the events of these times, including the dithering of the Jonathan Presidency and the PDP’s attempt to drag the Judiciary into the cesspool. They should have the courage to do the right thing or be ready for the harsh verdict of history.

•For comments, send SMS to 08057634061

HARDBALL

I

F we knew how really sick we are, we would literally be scared to death.

Professor Abdulwahab Johnson, Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Ilorin, early in the week told an inaugural lecture audience that an estimated 15 million to 20 million Nigerians were asthmatic out of a world total of 300 million asthma sufferers. This is a depressingly sizable figure in a country of over 160 million people prone to a myriad of other health challenges. On the same day Johnson was scaring his audience out of their wits with a true picture of our health problems and failings, the Nathan Kidney Foundation was issuing a statement indicating that on the average, some 15,000 cases of kidney failure occurred yearly in Nigeria. Of course, the foundation adds, this dire situation manifests in a country with “little or no access to renal replacement transplant.”

Thanks to World Health Organisation

ing whiz kids, huge figures have harassed our sensibility. Many star bankers of yesterday are facing charges after being found to have stolen depositors’ funds in figures that boggle the mind.

But it is not only bankers’ loot that amazes us all. In London, former Delta Governor James Onanefe Ibori admitted fraud of nearly £50million, said to be part of a total embezzlement which could exceed £250million. His political opponents, those people who have always wanted his downfall, have turned the whole issue upside down, announcing gleefully that a court pronounced him guilty of corruption. Trust the Ogidigborigbo; he fired back, saying he never pleaded guilty to corruption, but money laundering. Despite that, many observers remain confused, not knowing the difference between corruption and money laundering. They keep asking: what is the difference? How was the laundered cash sourced? Through embezzlement? Misappropriation of funds? Kickback? Over-invoicing?

Contract-splitting? Donation? Brokerage?

Commission? As the Idoma of Benue State would say, Koko la, (say something else).

The other day in Abuja, the chairman of the Pension Reform Task Force, Alhaji Abdurasheed Maina, said some N151 billion pension fraud had been uncovered and that property worth N15billion had been seized from Pension Office officials who have neither been named nor charged to court. Besides, N24billion cash was recovered and 66 illegal bank accounts with N180million were discovered. Wonderful figures.

What picture will such figures conjure up in the mind of a woman who needs N5,000 to buy drugs for an ailing child? Or a man who cannot eat a decent meal a day. Or the one who needs N200,000 for a surgery? The thought of other figures, such as the N11.5billion voted in the budget for foreign trips, the N280million for bullet-proof cars for the Presidency and the billions bandied about at the petrol subsidy probe, will diminish his will to live.

Such is the power of figures in a country where cash is everything and conscience is nothing.

Nigeria needs health audit (WHO) efforts, we have a fair idea how we rank in terms of many health indicators, even as the World Bank gives us additional bad news in terms of our economic performance and other social indicators. We already know, for instance, that our life expectancy is dismal, of course minus the 5,000 people the security agencies manage to execute extrajudicially every year according to the Human Rights Commission. We also already know the state of our infrastructure, how it has become quite comprehensively decrepit, as if we slept while the world passed by, and how humongously expensive it is to maintain or rebuild anything in Nigeria.

But one thing we do not have, but would

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above like to have, is a comprehensive picture of how really sick we are; and, yes, that includes psychiatric illness. Let the Ministry of Health be challenged by the transformation-minded Goodluck Jonathan government to do a health audit of Nigerians. We need to see graphically how many of us have cardiac problems, kidney failure, diabetes, HIV/ Aids, various mental problems, cancer, etc.

Who knows, perhaps we would be shocked to discover that most Nigerians are actually sicker than healthy. If the figures do not give us a fit, perhaps we can have the presence of mind to plot our way out of the bind we have consigned ourselves by apathy, lethargy and absolute lack of imagination.

For at the rate we are going, if we do not kill ourselves off with deliberate, unlawful executions, and policemen do not also kill themselves off in fits of anger, then the job will most likely be completed by diseases.

What a life!

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E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO