The Nation May 08, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

News Labour threatens nationwide strike over insecurity P58 Sports Playing as Yekini’s co-striker was great, says Siasia P24 Business Nigeria needs N135,000MW to stabilise, says minister P11 www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

VOL. 7, NO. 2117 TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

N150.00

Arunma Oteh at House capital market probe

Okereke-Onyiuke blew N186m on Rolex watches

Stock Exchange ‘spent N37m on yacht’ Council members ‘shared N1.7b surplus’ N1.3billion spent on business travels

F

•Mrs Okereke-Onyiuke

OR those seeking answers to the sudden crash of the stock market, some came yester-

day.

The market succumbed to a combination of ailments - sensational lifestyle and financial recklessness, among others - according to the Director–General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms. Arunma Oteh.

Oteh was explaining why SEC eased out the former DG of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mrs. Ndi Okereke-Onyuike.

Oteh, in a presentation before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee probing the near collapse of the Nigerian Capital Market, said: “There were incidents of

‘

The extent and nature of the market abuses carried out between 2006 and 2008 are the primary reasons for the continuation of the investor apathy that we see today.

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

financial skimming, misappropriation, false accounting, misrepresentation and questionable transactions against the former NSE DG. “For instance, the NSE bought a yacht for N37million and wrote down the book value within one

’

year by recognising it in the books as a gift presented during its 2008 Long Service Award (LSA), yet there are no records of the beneficiary.

“The Exchange also spent N186million on 165 Rolex wrist watches as gifts for awardees out of which only 73 were actually pre-

sented to the awardees. The outstanding 92 Rolex watches valued at N99.5million remain unaccounted for.

“This happened in previous years. Other notable fraudulent transactions include the reclassification of the sum of N1.3billion originally expended on business travels. Of this sum, N953million was reclassified under “Software Upgrade” and subsequently expended as against being capitalised. There were other cases of such unethical accounting practices.

“In 2009, N1.7billion of the 2008 operational surplus was distributed to Council members and employ-

Lagos sacks 788 doctors

Jonathan to IG: get Oshiomhole’s aide’s killers

•Medical Guild kicks

From Vincent Ikuomola (Abuja), Osagie Otabor (Benin) , Damisi Ojo (Akure) and Bisi Oladele (Ibadan)

By Miriam Ndikanwu and Wale Adepoju

S

TRIKING Lagos doctors got the boot yesterday.

In all, 788 of them were fired. In their place, 373 newly employed medics are to resume in the various hospitals.

The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Board and the State’s Health Service Commission (HSC) announced the sacking of the doctors, who have been on strike since April 16.

In a statement, Head of Service Adesegun Ogunlewe said the two bodies sacked the doctors as a result of their failure to explain why they were absent from work without leave and without the due observance of the rules and regulations guiding strikes and industrial actions in the Public Service.

Continued on page 4

Continued on page 4

T

•Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) presidential candidate at the 2011 election (left) with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) national leader, during a courtesy visit by Gen. Buhari to Tinubu, in his Ikoyi home in Lagos ... on Sunday

HE President has ordered police chief Mohammed Abubakar to fish out the killers of Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s aide, Olaitan Oyerinde.

The Edo governor’s principal secretary was last Friday murdered in his Benin City home – a brutal action which climaxed a week of attacks on the governor and his associates.

Continued on page 4

•CITYBEATS P6 •ENERGY P15 •SPORTS P23 •PROPERTY P25 •POLITICS P43

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

2

NEWS Fabrice Muamba and fiancée reveal to Matt Dickinson that doctors trying to save him were twice preparing to admit defeat

“I •From left: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry Of Education Dr Ben Ibe, Chairman, Senate Committee On Education Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Minister Of Education Prof. Ruqayyatu Rafa'i, Secretary to the Government of the Federal Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole, at the third National Workshop on Eradication of Campus Cultism in Abuja ...yesterday

•From left: Yoruba orator, Prof. Akinwunmi Ishola, Vice-Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University Prof. Olufemi Mimiko,Prof. Toyin Falola; J.F. Odunjo’s daugther Dr Arinpe Adejumo during J.f. Odunjo Memorial Lecture in Ibadan ...yesterday

•Chief Executive Officer, Kings Guard Nig. Ltd. Mr. Olatunji Shitu(left) and host, Mr. Biodun Oduwole. Mrs. Biola Oduwole and Kings Guard Executive Director, Finance Mr. Kayode Odukoya at a cocktail organised by the security firm in honour of Mrs. Biola Oduwole, who was confered with a professor of Paediatric Endocrinology PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI from the University of Lagos in Lagos...yesterday

•Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) Mr. Ekpo Nfa, Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Dr. Christain Oboh, and Dr. Turuka of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during the sensitisation and enlightment campaign against corruption organised for NDDC staff at the commission's headquarters in Port Harcourt...yesterday

DIED. Now I am alive.”

There is disbelief in Fabrice Muamba’s soft voice as he sits in a hotel room and contemplates his status as a living, breathing miracle. He knows he should not be here, sharing jokes with his fiancée, talking fondly about his young son, reflecting with wide-eyed wonder on the day that doctors twice discussed giving him up as dead during 79 minutes of resuscitation.

“This is a miracle, I am the living witness of miracle,” he says, pausing as if still overwhelmed by his staggering good fortune. “You don’t believe in miracles? Ask me, I will tell you how it is.”

But we can see the miracle right in front of us. It is wearing the world’s biggest smile .

This is the greatest feel-good story of them all. The tale of how a young, fit, much loved man seemed on the brink of death in front of a live television audience. The days of prayer, support and clinging to the slimmest of hopes. Then, incredibly, the news that he might not only survive, but also defy every expectation of a tragically diminished life.

It is a modern miracle, celebrated with a wave of a joy in a banqueting hall on Thursday night when Robin van Persie, there to be honoured as Footballer of Year, rose from his seat and crossed the room to wrap his arms around his former Arsenal clubmate. A room choked with emotion.

All night people came up to great Muamba, to touch the man who came back from the dead.

Today at Wembley Stadium, the Bottom Wanderers midfielder will be announced to the crowed as a guest at celebrate with Muamba what it is to be alive “l have been given a chance to live again,” It still blows my mind.

As Muamba talks slowly and deliberately there are occasional repetititions . He is still piecing his memory back together and has been warned that it could take a year.

When Shauna, his fiancée, handed him his iPad recently, Muamba did not have a clue about his e-mail address or password. He writes lists of jobs to do because otherwise, he says “it goes in one ear and out the other”.

“His memory is becoming selective, “Shauna interjects with a playful gibe.

Muamba is due to start seeing a neuropsychologist once a week, but the road back is long. He is not allowed to drive for six months.

“I’ve still got a long way to go with the memory and it frustrates me,” he says, Obviously my brain is not as it used to be because there are things missing. My memory is litrerally all ovr the place. I will talk to Shauna, ask her about someone.

Five minutes later l’ll as the same question”.

He can walk around the house, the shops but exercise is not to be contemplated while his body recovers from the trauma. “I went two weeks without weeing. My kidney wasn’t working. It wasn’t producing urine at all. My leg was swelling up, like huge. And my feet, l couldn’t believe it.

“When l went to wee the first time it was like Christmas. It was nonstop, it went on forever. The doctors have told me, ‘Just shut down for the moment’; I have to let my body recover.”

When Muamba talks at one point about playing football again, he quickly corrects himself. That discussion is months away. It is less than three weeks since he was released from hospital, less than two months since his cardiac arrest at

white Hart Lane in the midst of an FA Cup quarter final. He is still recovering from the physical trauma, his family from their own agonies.

Shauna was watching the match at home on television with three-yearold Joshua when Muamba collapsed.

By the time she arrived in London on the train, he was in intensive care at the London Chest Hospital.

Only later would she discover- and only now does she reveal- that twice the doctors discussed whether there was anything more they could do.

“Seventhly-eight-minutes is a long time to try and revive anyone,” Shauna recalls, “It was only the personal connection between Dr. (Jonathan) Tobin (the Bolton doctor) and Fabrice that kept them going.

Dr. Tobin told me that. Obviously, when you have personal relationship, if it’s your child or wife, then you’re going to pump a bit longer.

They thought about stopping twice.

Dr. Tobin said ‘No, let’s try again.’”

And the kept on trying until they saved his life.

After more than an hour of compressions and mouth-to-mouth, Muamba’s heart began to beat on its own. But there was still an overwhelming sense of dread.

“When you are being manually resuscitated, you only get about 20 per cent of oxygen for the brain.”

Shaun said. “So with the fact that he was down so long….

“They prepared me. They said ‘Be prepared to have a severely braindamaged person come out if it. They gave his dad the manual about how to cope with a brain-damaged person. His faith was so strong. He said Fabrice was going to be fine.”

No one else dared to think so.

Tobin wept. Family and friends paced the corridor as Muamba lay unconscious for three days. Flowers were gathered around the country— wreaths too.

But Muamba did wake up, slowly stirring from his deep sedation. First it was just the gentle squeeze of Shauna’s hand in recognition of her voice. Then Muamba began to speak.

“When l woke up l saw Shauna is this hospital dress,” he says. “All l remember thinking is, ‘What the f…k is going on here?’ She explained everything that happened. l couldn’t believe it. ‘Me? Really? Did l really die?’”

Some memories of hospital will never fade. Shauna speaks of a young African cleaner who would come into the room every day to pray silently in the corner. Muamba of waking up to find his family around the bed saying psalms for his recovery. “They were praying so loud,” he laughs. “No one could sleep through that.”

He remembers watching television in his drowsy state and being sure that he had seen the Pope “Pray for Muamba.” Turns out it was the Archbishops of Westminster. Either way, he is convinced that the prayers of millions helped to save him.

There were troubled moments, too. In his exhaustion, Muamba says, he became “very, very moody.

People came to see me and l didn’t want to see them. L was telling people to get out of the room,” The medication? “Yeah, he says,” Let’s blame that.”

Then there were the first, daunting step, “It’s unbelievable, man just to be able to walk freely with no machine, no wire in you. Just to be able to breathe. To be able to see my little boy and play with him. He’s a minime. The freedom, it’s priceless, I’ll hold on to that feeling for ever.

There’s no money in the world that can buy that”.

Before he was sent home, Muamba was fitted with a defibrillator under

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

3

NEWS

‘If God is with me then who can be against me? There is nothing to fear’

•Muamba

his skin. “Do you want to feel it? he asks, leaning over to allow a prod of the solid metal disc just above his heart. He has been told to regard it as his safety belt. “If crash, it saves me.

A Belgian professional football plays with one in his chest, although, unlike Muamba. Anthony van Loo had his heart condition diagnosed before he suffered any significant attack. There is extraordinary footage of him collapsing in one game and being instantly jolted back to life.

For Muamba, the reasons for his cardiac arrest remains mysterious.

There have been scans test, examination, Muamba is willing to endure as many as it takes, but there may never be a satisfactory answered to the question. “Why him? Why then?

“It bothers me not to know,” he says. “I want to know. To be able to find the cause because if it happens to me, it can happen to anyone else.”

Muamba was deeply upset by the death of Piermario Morosini, the Livorno player, on a pitch only last month. Stunned again when Alexander Dale Oen, the Norwegian swimmer, collapsed in the shower last week while training for the

Olympic Games.

“Three times in sports in the last few months? Unbelievable. There has to be a way of stopping this,” he says,” Morosini in Italy, that shocked me big time. I watched it on You’Tube. It was mind-blowing l said to myself, “This was me, not so long ago,’ The power of prayer and the knowledge of the doctors saved me. I was lucky.

“Trust me, l take every day as a blessing. They said l should be brain dead. I asked him,’ Doc, tell me the truth,’ He told me, ‘Listen, I’m not going to lie, you should be braindamaged. You should be dead. A month ago l thought you were finished,’ It still shocks me. I’m still recovering, still understanding what happened. I haven’t seen the video.

I’ll watch it one day, but l’m not ready yet. It’s too much for me now.”

There is fragility in his movements but he grows stronger by the day, aided by the wonderful Shauna.

Be glad that such good fortune has befallen a happy young couple with so much zest for life.

No WAG. Shauna runs her own catering business from home, making Carribean food to order before hand-delivering it to client near their

‘

I love the game.

It’s been great to me. When l came over from the Congo (in 1999 aged 11), I only spoke three words of English; How are you?’ Football taught me the language, it gave me a chance

‘

Cheshire home. Muamba once took an Open University course in maths and business studies to complement his ten GCSEs, all A to C grades.

“That was always my Plan B,” he says.

He has two years left on his contract at Bolton, but the club and his agents, Key Sports, who kept up their bedside vigil, say that their only concern is the best possible recovery. For now, Muamba is personally replying to the boxes of letters from wellwishers from all over the world, from strangers to star such as LeBron James, a basketball idol who set a signed jersey and message of goodwill.

Muamba will be following Bolton’s fight against relegation, as he did on Wednesday when he went back to the Reebok Stadium and, overcome by the warmth of the reception, cried on the pitch when he was presented to the crowd. “When l watched the game, my God l wished l was playing,” he says,” I just wanted to be out there. I miss football a lot. Watching, that’s hard.

“I love the game. It’s been great to me. When l came over from the Congo (in 1999 aged 11), I only spoke three words of English; How are you?’ Football taught me the language, it gave me a chance.”

He went on to represent Arsenal in the Carling Cup. “When they had

great players- Patrick Vieira Gilberto Silva, Edu. A big pond with big fish. I was a very little fish l could get eaten.”

He played 33 times for England Under-21s. “I wanted to break into the England team. But if my circumstances won’t allow me to play football, I can say I gave everything. l’ve worked hard. We’ll see. There is a verse in the bible, l can’t remember which one, but it goes: ‘If God is with us, who can be against us.’ If God is with me, who can be against me? I died literally. I am alive. There is nothing now to be in fear of.”

It is an extraordinary tale, not just of a dead man walking but a couple who have been through so much, so young. On Valentine’s Day, they became engaged. A month later Muamba almost died. Now he and Shauna can plan together when they are going to be married.

What else? “I had a dream in the hospital that l won the lottery,” Muamba said. “And l can remember the numbers.” That’s pushing your luck, l suggest.

And the two lovebirds burst out laughing.

Culled from The Times

4

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

NEWS Lagos sacks 788 doctors Continued from page 1

•President Goodluck Jonathan (centre) flanked by (from right) Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of Power, Prof. Bath Nnaji; Vice President Namadi Sambo and chairman of Senate committee on Power, Senator Philip Aduda, during the presidential workshop on power in Abuja ... yesterday

Jonathan to IG: get Oshiomhole’s aide’s killers Continued from page 1

Three journalists died in an accident involving Oshiomhole’s convoy. The government said the accident was arranged.

Information Commissioner Louis Odion’s home was invaded by unknown gunmen, who missed their target.

Odion was away when they called President Goodluck Jonathan said: “I have directed that cases of murder must be properly investigated. At the end of the day, we must know what happened; not just in Edo State, but other challenges that are facing us on a daily basis.”

The President, who also

bemoaned the security challenges facing the country, spoke at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa during a workshop on power.

Oshiomhole was among the governors and businessmen at the workshop.

The police have offered a N10million reward to anyone with information that will lead to the arrest of Oyerinde’s killers.

Civil Society groups in Edo State have called on Oshiomhole to immortalise Oyerinde.

They said a major edifice or a street should be named after him.

Gani Fawehinmi Move-

ment for Good Governance Coordinator Kaduna Eboigbodin demanded justice.

He said: “We urge the Edo State Police Command and the Director of State Security Service to swing into action immediately and fish out all those behind the dastardly act. We cannot hide our feelings over the assassination of Comrade Olaitan.”

“Our message to the killers: you can kill Comrade Olaitan’s flesh but you cannot kill his dreams. His vision for a better Nigeria lives on and shall outlive you.

“He remained indomitable in life. He was admired by many who believed in his

straight-forwardness, astuteness and doggedness in service to humanity.”

The man who saw the late Oyerinde last has spoken about his last moments.

Rev. David Ugolor said the late Oyerinde died 30 minutes after he was rushed to the Central Hospital where there was no doctor to attend to him.

His words: “Olaitan was with me that night. He called me after close of work and we went to Etete Street to have a drink. At about 11p.m., we left. He dropped me at my house and he drove home.

Continued on page 60

The sacked doctors include 316 working with LASUTH and 472 working in the other hospitals.

The statement added that as the newly employed doctors resume, recruitment continues.

Explaining the events leading to the sack of the doctors, the statement said: “Resulting from the contemptible act of the medical doctors, the LASUTH Board and the HSC, the two bodies that appointed them, in line with subsisting statutes, served those who were ‘absent without Leave’ (AWOL) with queries.”

Some of them responded; the majority of the doctors shunned the query.

The statement maintained that the strike shocked the government “since the leadership of the Medical Guild still met during the week preceding the illegal strike with top Government officials in charge of health and establishment sectors”.

The government stressed that the doctors only gave 24 hours notice “as against the time-tested and statutebound processes and procedures for declaration of industrial disputes”.

A letter dated May 4 and signed by the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of LASUTH, Professor David Oke, said the Personnel Management Board (PMB), the disciplinary organ of government, met between April 11 and 13 to establish a case of misconduct, to wit: absence from duty without leave or reasonable cause against the doctors.

The disciplinary body also established against the doctors a case of insubordination for failure to respond to law-

ful query issued to them.

“The committee,therefore, recommends your dismissal from service, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Service Rule No 04502, 04507 and 04508. The board has, therefore, approved your dismissal.

“Therefore, you are to convey the possession of the property of the state government in your custody to the Chief Medical Director (CMD).”

Medical Guild Chairman Dr. Olumuyiwa Odusote described the sack as a confirmation of the government’s insensitivity and insincerity to resolve the issue on ground. He said the Guild has taken its hand off the matter and has handed the case to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

He condemned the state government for its “insincerity”, saying that they called the doctors for a meeting on Saturday whereas they had signed their sack letter a day before.

He also flayed the House of Assembly for passing a vote of no confidence in the bid to resolve the issue.

“The meeting held on Saturday at the House of Assembly and they (House members) showed partisanship on the issue.”

Odusote, however, said the doctors have no regret for embarking on the strike, adding that their pay is poor.

The doctors called for a meeting at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) with the NMA to determine the next line of action.

Continued on page 60

Oteh: Okereke-Onyiuke blew N186m on Rolex watches Continued from page 1

ees, in violation of CAMA and SEC rules which preclude the NSE from such, given that the NSE is a company limited by guarantee.

“Given the foregoing, it was important to me that we engage the NSE to address these weaknesses. Unfortunately, the former CEO of the NSE did not attend most of the meetings we scheduled.

“These were the kinds of financial imprudence that were perpetrated at the NSE. These transactions were routed through companies owned by some senior officers of the Exchange,” she said.

Oteh said the SEC launched a forensic investigation to examine the allegations of financial irregularity and mismanagement.

“While these investigations have been concluded, the results are unavailable because the former CEO of NSE, Mrs. Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, and three other former employees have an injunction against releasing the report.”

The SEC DG said while all the fraudulent practices were going on, the SEC, which was at the time headed by Musa Al-Faki, did not do enough to stem the irregularities.

On Market abuses by banks between 2006 and 2008, Oteh said: “The extent and nature of

the market abuses carried out between 2006 and 2008 are the primary reasons for the continuation of the investor apathy that we see today. I will give examples of some of the market abuses that the SEC investigation of the intervened banks uncovered.

“Afribank: With respect to Afribank, Afribank Trustees, Afribank Registrars and their Directors, committed various grave market infractions in share buyback schemes, made misrepresentations in the returns to the SEC to prevent detection that the Bank funded its public offer, violating Section 106 (4), and Section 110 of the ISA 2007 as well as Rule 109B of SEC Rules.

Shares owned by 1,258 entities (some fictitious) and individuals were merged into fourteen accounts of nine companies, some of which were owned by Afribank and its directors. These transactions were done outside the floor of the Exchange. Falcon Securities, Fidelity Finance and Spring Capital were some of the entities used.

“Finbank: Between August 2006 and December 2008, the Executive team of Finbank engaged six law firms to incorporate 95 companies and transferred more than 4425 billion of depositors’ funds to nine of these companies and purchased 2.8 billion units of

its own shares, violating Rule 109b of SEC Rules. The Bank also violated Section 105 of the ISA 2007, which prohibits a person from creating a false or misleading appearance of active trading of a listed security.

“Intercontinental Bank: Between June 2007 and December 2008, Intercontinental Bank, its directors and principal officers engaged in unlawful share buyback schemes, buying about 3.4 billion units of shares using depositors’ funds. It violated Section 105, 106 and Section 110 of ISA 2007 as well as Section 160 of CAMA and Rule 109b of SEC Rules.

“Union Bank: In 2007, Union Bank borrowed amounts totaling N30.4 billion from two foreign investment banks. These funds were transferred to Union Trustees, which in turn transferred the funds to Falcon Securities. In four days in November 2007, Falcon purchased 620.4 million units of shares worth N30.8 billion, ahead of a public offer/rights issue. In 2007, Falcon Securities carried out 181,088 transactions with respect to Union Bank shares. This drove up the share price of Union Bank stocks from a low of N23.30 in January 2007 to N50.33 in November 2007, in other words, a price appreciation of over 110% within 11

months.”

On “wonder banks”, Oteh said: “Wonder Banks, Umana Umana, Ponzi or Pyramid Schemes are unsustainable fraudulent schemes that use funds from new investors to pay off older investors at high rates of return, thereby quickly attracting new investors.

“A total of 440 wonder banks were identified in Nigeria and these had defrauded the unsuspecting public to the tune of £4106 billion. The Commission, in addition to spearheading efforts to track and bring to book operators of such scams, is also a member of an Inter Agency Committee consisting of representatives of financial services regulators and law enforcement agencies such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Police.

“So far, the Committee has obtained court orders to wind up the identified outfits. The Committee continues to make more recoveries as investigations progress. Furthermore, promoters of the schemes are also being handed over to the relevant law enforcement agencies for criminal pros-

ecution.

According to Oteh, part of SEC’s actions included dragging 260 entities and individuals to the Investment and Securities Tribunal (IST) She said: “As a result of the SEC investigations with respect to the intervened banks, we instituted legal proceedings, at the Investment and Securities Tribunal (1ST), against 260 entities and individuals. The Commission is alleging that these individuals and entities were involved in different forms of market abuse including insider dealing, pump and dump, wash sales and share price manipulation. We are seeking declaratory orders for the illegally gained profits that were made to be disgorged to restitute poor However, the Ibrahim ElSudi-headed eight -man ad hoc committee took the SEC DG to task over her decision to take 260 entities and individuals to the Investment and Securities Tribunal.

According to the committee members, the SEC had no right to move the cases particularly as the issue was being investigated by the Administrative Committee.

The SEC DG also washed

•Ms Oteh ... yesterday

her hands off the nationalisation of Afri bank, Bank PHB and Spring bank.

The Committee wanted to know the roles played by the SEC being the body responsible for mergers and acquisitions in the process of taking over the three banks by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

Continued on page 54

CORRECTION Mrs Omotayo Morgan is not the wife of Chief Emeka Anyaoku as erroneously published on page 26 of our Friday, May 04, 2012 edition. The error is regretted. –Editor

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

5

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

NEWS

Solution to insecurity in Nigeria is dialogue, says Obasanjo

F

ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday in Abuja disclosed that the way out of the insecurity problem in the country is dialogue.

Studies, according to Obasanjo, have shown that a number of factors are responsible for violent conflicts in the country.

He gave tha factors as: poverty, unemployment, religious intolerance, ethnic rivalry, growing acculturation and resource control agitation.

Speaking as the Chairman of the opening ceremony of a two-day National conference on culture peace and national security: the role of traditional rulers and local government chairmen organised by the National Institute for Culture Orientation (NICO), Obasanjo said

•Major reason for violence is ignorance From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

the most critical of the factors is ignorance, which leads to suspicion and mistrust.

He said the issue of national security should be accorded top priority attention as no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of chaos and persistent violence.

Obasanjo, who was represented by the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, advised government that: “the product of this conference should be an addendum to the array of ideas that are pending for utilisation in combating insecurity and ensuring peace

in our country.”

His words: “I accepted to honour the invitation to be the chairman of the occasion out of my unquestionable desire and interest in the oneness of this country and ensuring that peace and security is sustained in Nigeria at whatever cost and efforts.

“Your Excellencies, your Royal Highnesses, distinguished participants, ladies and gentlemen, a way forward is dialogue, enlightenment and sensitization programmes such as we are having today. Studies have shown that a number of factors are responsible for violent conflicts in Nigeria which are poverty,

unemployment, religious intolerance, ethnic rivalry, growing acculturation and resource control agitation and ignorance. The most critical of these factors for me however is ignorance which leads to suspicion and mistrust.

“It was for these reasons that United Nations, Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation was established shortly after the 2nd World War. It was established based on the understanding that wars or conflicts, in whatever form, arise from ignorance, suspicion and mistrust and therefore the need for defence of peace be constructed in the minds of men and women.

“Another critical factor worthy of consideration is a breakdown of our cherished values. Hitherto, Nigerians are a peace loving people and therefore had an in-built culture of respect for sanctity of human life, elders and constituted authority, appreciation for ethnic differences, hardwork, diligence, cooperation, hospitality for strangers, and encouragement of communal living. In the days of yore, our seeming diversity was our strength. These values accounted for the peace that pervaded our society in the past.

“Unfortunately, the evasion of these values due to increasing acculturation and negative external influence has also contribution largely to the spate of violent crimes and general insecurity we have today.”

Education sector’s transformation on course, says Wike

M

INISTER of State for Education Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has declared that the transformation of the basic education sector has taken off.

He spoke yesterday at MayoBelwa in Adamawa State while inaugurating two primary schools built by the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

Wike, according to a statement by his Special Assistant (Media), Simeon Nwakaudu, said the investments made by the federal Government in the sector are yielding dividends.

The minister said the Federal Government has developed partnerships with international development agencies to enhance access to quality education amongst the less privileged.

He said: “The Transformation Agenda as it relates to the education sector is yielding fruits. We are having gradual turn-over in terms of infrastructure and academic

programmes in our nation.

“We commend the Korean government for its commitment to the partnership we have built to develop our basic education. For us, the investment that is yielding the positive results will be sustained. The President is extremely committed to the educational advancement of the nation’s overall development.”

Wike also visited the Almajiri School under construction in MayoBelwa where he urged the contractor to speed up work to meet the deadline.

Korean Ambassador to Nigeria Mr Jong Hyun-Choi declared that the Korean government would make more investments in Nigeria’s basic education sector as a response to the commitment shown by the Jonathan administration.

He said the Korean government was satisfied with the improved investment in Nigeria’s education sector, pointing out that Korea escaped poverty through education.

• Wike, Governor Murtala Nyako and Hyun-Choi …yesterday

Receiving the schools, Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako expressed his gratitude to Minister of State for Education for facilitating

the construction of the schools in Adamawa State.

Highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of an honarary plaque

to the Korean Ambassador, HyunChoi by Wike in appreciation of the Korean government’s investments in Nigeria.

Health workers declare indefinite strike nationwide

T

HE Joint Health Sector Unions (JHSU) yesterday declared an indefinite strike as it directed all health workers apart from medical and dental practitioners to immediately down tools.

Briefing reporters in Abuja after the failed meeting with the officials of the Federal Ministry of Health, the Coordinator of JHSU, Comrade Faniran Olukayode said the strike would commence immediately as the 15-day ultimatum given to the Federal Government

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

expired yesterday.

Faniran, who is also the National President of Nigerian Union of Pharmacist, Medical Technologist and Professions Allied to Medicine (NUPMTPAM), said: “We just finished meeting with the Federal Ministry of Health headed by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Fatima Bamidele. We gave them 15 days ultimatum and we went to the meeting to see if they will meet our demands. But after meeting with them, there is need for the strike to com-

mence immediately.

“We are hereby informing the good people of Nigeria that having presented our demands to the Federal Government through various Health Ministers since 1980 and especially the past three years without any serious commitment to meet them, we have no other option other than to embark on an indefinite strike to press home our demands as a last report.”

He listed the issues in contention to include: non-skipping of salary CONHESS 10; National

Health Bill; Presidential Committee Report on Harmony in the Health Sector; Promotion of health professionals from CONHESS 14 to 15; Consultancy and Specialist Allowance and Call/Shift and other Professional Allowances.

Others grey areas, he said, include: request for implementation of 2008 Job Evaluation Committee Report; re-constitution of Board of Managements of Teaching and Other Tertiary Hospitals; need for review of retirement ages and appointment of Ministers of Health.

The Joint unions are made up of Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutes (SSAUTHRIAI).

Others include Nigerian Union of Pharmacist, Medical Technologist and Professions Allied to Medicine (NUPMTPAM), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU).

Tinubu: poor leadership responsible for high poverty rate

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HE National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has lamented the prevailing high poverty in the county. He blamed it on poor leadership.

Tinubu decried the state’s neglect of the aged. He deplored the absence of social security measures to protect the vulnerable class of the population.

He attributed this reality on what he termed the absence of leaders who think and actualise their thought. “The nation has to be able to interrogate its conscience and think of how to build a conducive nation,” he said.

Tinubu spoke in Lagos on Sunday while receiving a group - Senior Citizens Care Foundation - led by former Nigerian ambassador to

•Seeks support for the elderly

By Eric Ikhilae

Namibia, Chief Segun Olusola and founder of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC), Dr. Fredrick Faseun.

The group was in his Ikoyi, Lagos home to induct him into the Senior Citizens Club and present him with a certificate to that effect.

Tinubu, who noted that the global financial crisis has worsen the unenviable condition of the elderly in the society, called for enhanced efforts on the part of policy makers to initiate policies to better the lot of the aged.

He argued that although poverty and want was prevalent in Africa, the case of Nigeria, with wasted and misapplied revenue, was peculiar.

He observed that aside Lagos State, not other states in the country has made efforts to cater for the elderly.

Tinubu also blamed the high poverty rate in the country on the neglect of its education sector. He argued that examples in the developed societies have shown that education remains a viable weapon against poverty.

He thanked group, particularly Chief Olusola and Fasehun for inducting him into the club of senior citizens. He described Olusola as “a great ambassador of cultural revelation in Africa” and Fasehun as “a brother in the struggle for the emancipation of the people from

the shackles of poverty and oppression.”

Tinubu expressed delight and thanked God that he has been able to attain the age of 60 “considering the journey and the high mortality rate in the continent.”

Fasehun said the choice of Tinubu as an inductee was not on account of his age, but his leadership quality, contribution to nation’s development and his belief in the existence of the ordinary people.

He observed that “if every Nigerian leader has been dreaming about Nigeria the way you (Tinubu) have been doing, the country would have been better.” Fasehun expressed the hope that his (Tinubu’s) induction into the club will encourage other well meaning senior citizens to associate with the group.

•Tinubu

Fasehun urged those in government to initiate policies aimed at enhancing the quality of life of the elderly. This he said was necessary because today’s young will become old tomorrow.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

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CITYBEATS

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•Demolition of illegal structures under the bridge in Apapa...yesterday PHOTO : MIRIAM NDIKANWU

•The Apapa Expressway empty of trailers...yesterday

Order returns to Apapa as tankers are removed

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OTORISTS enjoyed a smooth ride yesterday on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, following the removal of fuel tankers clogging the road. The removal followed the expiration of the four-day ultimatum given tanker and trailer drivers to quit the road.

There was order as motorists drove without hindrance, with officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management controlling traffic.

LASTMA, the state Task Force on Environment, Police, the military and Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) Brigade enforced the ultimatum.

The operation, led by the Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, began about 12.00 am, with over 60 tankers impounded.

All shanties and illegal structures along the rail line at Naval Dockyard and under the Marine Beach Bridge, which hitherto served as home for miscreants, were also demolished.

•60 trailers impounded, shanties demolished

By Miriam Ndikanwu and Kemi Dauda

Residents and motorists were excited about the development, which many described as “too good to be true.”

"I cannot believe this is Apapa road that I’m driving through. I have appointment with a client in Apapa for 12 noon, but I left my house early, knowing the traffic situation on this route, but it is amazing that the trailers that constituted nuisance on this high way are no longer here," said a bus passenger.

She said the activities of trailers on the route had affected businesses and forced many residents to relocate from Apapa.

Other residents blamed the situation on what they called “an import driven economy” stressing that unless the government acts right, the problem would persist.

"Towing the trailers off the road will not permanently address the challenges. This is a country that depends solely on importation and if you send them away now, there will be problem of congestion at the port, it is only when we tackle the main problem that this issue of trailers and tankers nuisance will fizzle out.”

Chairman, Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Other Special Offences Bayo Sulaiman said the exercise was aimed at restoring Apapa’s glory.

Sulaimon said there was no way shanties could be left standing in the area as well as indiscriminate parking.

He said his men would mount a 24-hour surveillance in the area, just Oshodi, Mushin and Obalende, adding that the shanties and the tankers and trailers would never return to Apapa.

Man, 22, arraigned for theft

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By Adebisi Onanuga

A 22 year-old man, Emeka Ojukwu, was yesterday arraigned at the Mushin Magistrate's Court, for conspiracy, stealing and assault.

Ojukwu at about 12 noon on January 8, 2012, at Aguiyi Ironsi Market, Ladipo, Mushin, Lagos, allegedly stole a gold pendant, worth N100,000, a gold wrist watch worth N80,000, and a wallet, belonging to Mr Oki Olawale.

Prosecuting Inspector Emmanuel Ayorinde told the court that the Ojukwu assaulted Olawale by slapping him.

The offences he said contravened Sections 409, 285 and 170 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

Ojukwu however pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge.

Magistrate Mrs. D.T. Olatokun, granted the accused N50,000 bail with one surety in like sum.

Olatokun said that the surety must have evidence of gainful employment and tax clearance. She adjourned the matter to May 28.

The impounded vehicles, he said, would not be released until after three months, so as to send serious warning to residents not to take government directives for granted.

He said the taskforce did its job without any problem, noting: "There was no resistance because they have been warned, and some of the operators complied, you know our people are difficult and some who believe that it was just a threat and nothing will happen were those whose vehicles were impounded.

"We have to return Apapa to its old state; soon the government will come up with a beautification programme under all the bridges”.

Sulaimon said part of the reasons government is ridding the state of shanties was to address the challenges of insecurity. "If these

•A resident undergoing dental care...yesterday

RU Victoria Island Local Council Development Area, (LCDA), has flagged off the first dental care week in Lagos.

The project started yesterday at the council secretariat and will end on Friday at Kuramo Beach.

During a press conference at the Council secretariat, the Chairman, Mr. Abayomi Daramola, said many people never had time to give their teeth any special attention aside the daily brushing.

According to him, research has shown that millions of people are suffering from dental problems which does not manifest until it has almost destroyed the oral cavity.

He said: "The dental care week was borne out of the passionate concern of the LCDA to reduce the pains and stress people go through to obtain dental care and treatment "All the wards in Iru V.I. will benefit from the programme.

Oniru palace will host the community on Wednesday,

070-55462708; 080-65154338 767 or email: rapidresponsesquad@yahoo.com •

miscreants are displaced from the shanties, they will go and look for an apartment to rent where they can carry on with their activities if not they will definitely find their way out of the state."

The General Manager, LASTMA, Mr. Babatunde Edu, who said the exercise would be continuous henceforth, confirmed that about 60 trucks had been towed.

Responding to the development, the Zonal Secretary, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Tokunbo Korodo, said members were notified to vacate the road in line with the directive.

He, however, said the enforcement and impoundment of tankers might lead to congestion at the Ports.

"If the government impounds all trailers and there is nothing to use for loading, maybe we will vacate Lagos for them," Korodo said.

He, however, said drivers of trailers impounded are on their own, saying: "We have warned all our members to leave Lagos vicinity for now, we would not interfere with anyone whose trailer was impounded."

Iru V.I. flags off dental care week

LAGOS EMERGENCY LINES STATE AGENCIES 1. Fire and Safety Services Control Room Phone Nos: 01-7944929; 080-33235892; 4. KAI Brigade Phone Nos: 080-33235890; 080-23321770; 080-56374036.

080-23036632; 0805-5284914 Head office Phone Nos: 3. LASTMA Emergency Numbers: 2. Federal Road Safety Corps 01-4703325; 01-7743026 080-75005411; 080-60152462 (FRSC) 5.

Rapid Response Squad (RRS) 080-23111742; 080-29728371 Lagos Zonal Command Phone Phone Nos: 070-55350249; 080-23909364; 080-77551000 No:080-33706639; 01-7742771 070-35068242 01-7904983 Sector Commander Phone No: 080-79279349; 080-63299264 080-34346168; 01-2881304

PHOTO: KEMI DAUDA

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.

By Risikat Ramoni

Takwa Bay will receive the free dental health on Thursday and Friday is Kuramo Beach," said Daramola.

The council chief added that not less than 200 people will benefit from the dental care in each ward.

Daramola, a Pharmacist, urged other local government and local council development areas across the state to follow suit. He encouraged them to pay attention to the oral care as much as they do diabetes, high blood pressure, immunisation and other health challenges of the people. The head of the dentist in charge of the project, Dr Banjo Tunde, said the dental care will take place in a dental mobile van along with other dentists.

"The complete mobile care unit will handle all dental issues with specific focus on filling, tooth extraction as well as scaling and polishing which gives healthy gum and fresh breadth.

"Treatment will be based on the problem diagnosed."

He said people should avoid using hard toothbrush, because it scrubs their teeth more than it brushes it. He also said the use of fluoride-containing toothpaste provides a hygienic dental health.

"Your mouth shows how healthy you are," says the dentist.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

CITYBEATS

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Kidnappers place N60m ransom on lecturer

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N60 million ransom has been placed on a university teacher, Dr Rukayat Otulana, who was kidnapped at Agbowa, near Ikorodu, a Lagos suburb, last Friday.

Mrs Otulana, an Ophthalmologist at the Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu, Ogun State, was abducted while returning from Ikorodu, where she had gone to operate on a patient.

Her husband, Dr Biodun Otulana, the Medical Director of Aje Clinic, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, and a part-time teacher at the Ikenne campus of the school, said the kidnappers slashed their ransom yesterday from N100million to N60million, after the family’s pleas.

Otulana, who described the incident as unfortunate and shocking, pleaded with the abductors to release his wife.

He said: "I spoke with the kidnappers and my wife this

By Yinka Aderibigbe

morning. Her abductors are hell bent on collecting the ransom.

After much pleading, they reduced the ransom to N60 million.

"But where will I get such money?

I am a medical doctor like my wife.

I am not a politician. The children are worried. They have been asking where their mother was taken to since Friday."

He said the police at Agbowa phoned to inform him of his wife's abduction. He called on security agents and the government to facilitate her release.

According to Otulana, when his wife spoke to him, her voice showed that she was in good condition, though she pleaded with the family to raise the ransom so that she could regain her freedom.

Her students and colleagues at the Sagamu campus described Mrs. Otulana as a nice woman, a role model and a pillar of her family

who does not deserve her fate.

Students and colleagues of the victim yesterday protested her abduction.

The protesters marched on the King's palace and called on him to assist in arresting the “worrisome” trend in the area.

A source said Mrs Otulana's abduction was the sixth in two years, adding that there are speculations that they were carried out by “the cult boys” in the institution.

"The school was thrown into confusion when the news of Mrs Otulana's abduction was broken on Friday night. What is worrisome is that that was the sixth time our lecturer would be abducted. A little over six months ago, a lecturer was abducted and his family had to pay a huge ransom to get him released. All of us are living in palpable fear. I don't know why they are now targeting medical doctors," the source said.

She said the students protested

•Mrs Otulana

to the palace of Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Adeniyi Sonariwo, early yesterday and called on the king and all wellmeaning indigenes to ensure Mrs Otulana’s release.

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LAGOS Magistrate's Court, Mushin, yesterday sentenced a man, Joseph Enang, to three months imprisonment with no option of fine for impersonating as a soldier.

Enang who was arraigned on a four-count charge of assault, threat to life, possession of fake military identity card as well as possession of Army trouser and sweater, pleaded guilty to all except assault.

The charge sheet stated that Enang, on May 5, about 10:40pm at 9, Adesanya Street, Idi-Oro, Mushin, Lagos, unlawfully assaulted one Muritala AbdulAzeez, by inflicting serious

THE Nigerian Institute of Safety Professionals (NISP) has urged organisations to make safety management a core part of workplace policy.

At a workshop for safety managers and professionals in Lagos, NISP said almost every workplace requires a safety manager. The institute's President, Mr Shaw Fregene, said although safety is everybody's business, safety managers have special roles to play towards achieving excellent safety-oriented goals of companies.

According to him, a safety manager will define an organisation's safety culture, draw up a policy, get the management committed, get directly involved, and establish accountability and maintenance, and safety resources.

"He will be responsible for the safety of the organisation and staff, manage technical information and communication systems, design the engineering requirements for safety, and conduct hazard analysis and risk assessment," Fregene said.

He continued: "It is also the safety manager's duty to determine ergonomics and human factor considerations in safety engineering, organise trainings, set safe practice standards, arrange inspection programmes and handle incident investigation and reporting, among others, Fregene."

Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Manager of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Peter Onyeri, an engineer who chaired the forum, lauded NISP for creating the awareness on the role of safety managers.

Papers presented dwelt on HSE policy formulation and implementation, legal framework, accident prevention, global requirements, budgeting and qualities of a safety manager.

Speakers included Gbolahan Abiodun; Kehinde Johnson; I. Okunamiri; Lucky Oderhohwo; Mark Murphy; Audu Williams; Lucky Onoigboria; Dr Wilson Arikpo and Julius Akpong.

Association denies faction • Deji Abiola coming out of the Court room... yesterday

By Adebisi Onanuga

the court to adjourn the case, " he submitted.

But the judge was not happy with Adebola’s request.

The judge said: "The date of adjournment is sacrosanct in this court. You cannot ask for an adjournment without cogent reason.

"If you are not going to continue with the case today, I'm going to discharge the accused and when you are ready to prosecute him you can bring him back."

Adebola also urged the court to vacate an adjournment earlier slated for May 16.

Justice Onigbanjo, rejected the request, saying he would not tolerate such adjournment because, "it will mess up the court's diary."

Abiola’s counsel Mr. Jimoh Lasisi urged the court not to grant the application, saying the case should go on since there are other witnesses.

"The prosecutor has told us there are other witnesses in this case. So if one witness is not available, they should bring

By Precious Igbonwelindu

other witnesses. I oppose their application and urge the court not to entertain it."

Justice Onigbanjo blamed the prosecution for wasting the court’s time and threatened to discharge the defendant if the EFCC failed to produce the witness at the next hearing.

"You cannot make me to have this matter on my list when you know you are not ready to prosecute. If you are not ready to prosecute, I would discharge the defendant for you to go and refile your case, " he said.

He adjourned the case till May 16.

Fake soldier gets three months in jail for impersonation

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Institute makes case for afety

By Joseph Jibueze

Court threatens to discharge Abiola’s son USTICE Adeniyi Onigbanjo of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, yesterday threatened to discharge Deji son of the late business mogul, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, of the one-count charge of stealing preferred against him, if the prosecution persists in delaying the case.

The case was instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for lack of diligent prosecution.

Trial was to begin yesterday in the case in which he is accused of stealing N35 million belonging to a Lagos businessman, Mr. Jose.

He was said to have promised to assist Jose to buy a printing machine.

All efforts to resolve the matter out of court have so far failed.

At the resumed trial yesterday, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Omeiza Adebola, had sought an adjournment instead of calling its first prosecution witness.

Adebola asked for an adjournment to enable him bring his first witness who he said was key to the successful prosecution of the matter. The witness, he said, had been transferred to Enugu. " We are unable to bring our case before the court because we were unable to get in touch with him . we crave the indulgence of

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By Precious Igbonwelundu

injuries on him.

It alleged that the accused threatened to deal with AbdulAzeez.

The charge sheet further stated that Enang also impersonated as a Military personnel through the forged military identity card.

He was also accused of having in his possession an Army trouser and one Army sweater, suspected to have been stolen.

The offences were said to have contravened Sections 171, 56(1) (a), 77, and 278 (1)(a) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Prosecuting Inspector Ezekiel

Ayorinde said Enang had confessed upon investigation, that he was not a soldier, adding that he admitted that he bought the Army uniform from Yaba market.

Ayorinde said the accused was arrested upon a complaint lodged by his landlord, AbdulAzeez that his tenant who is a soldier assaulted him.

He tendered as exhibits; a military identity card, an army trouser, an army sweater, the complainant's written statement, as well as his statements taken by the police.

Magistrate D.T. Olatokun said that the three months imprisonment for each charge

should run concurrently.

"This Court has considered the gravity of the offence committed by the defendant and his plea for mercy. He is hereby sentenced to three months imprisonment with hard labour and no option of fine for each of the count, and the punishment is to run concurrently.

"In respect of the first charge, the defendant is hereby admitted toN50,000 bail with one surety in like sum, who must possess tax evidence for three years and also show evidence of gainful employment," Olatokun said.

She adjourned the matter to June 20, for trial on the first count.

THE Lagos State Butchers’ Association (LSBA) has accused a faction within the body of trying to cause disaffection among members.

It described a claim by the Adisa Elewide-led faction that they are the new executives of the association as a coup against the association.

Addressing a press conference at the association’s secretariat in reaction to a purported statement by the Adisa camp, the Chairman, Board of Trustees (B.O.T), Alhaji Babatunde Afuwape, said that the attacks on the association by the Adisa faction was to cause disaffection and division in the group for their selfish interests.

“We are equivocally saying that no election was held and as it stands now, the LSBA has no executives and in the absence of executives, members of the B.O.T. take over the affairs of the association pending when a credible election will hold.

“We are also saying NO to political threat under any guise.

Opposition parties in Lagos should leave our association and not use us as stooges to achieve their political selfishness,” Afuwape said.

The Chairman who was represented by a member of the Board, Alhaji Sofianu Akinriola, said the attacks were motivated and funded by the opposition political parties in the state as a result of their desperate quest to wrestle power from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) come 2015.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

NEWS

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Lagos ACN decries Boko Haram threats to media

HE Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has urged the Boko Haram sect to stop its threats to media houses.

The party said such threats cannot cow the media into submission.

ACN noted the scars from the wounds the sect inflicted on some media houses recently are still fresh, yet it is threatening to attack more media houses.

In a statement in Lagos by its Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, the party urged the sect to negotiate with the government and stop its killing spree.

The party said Boko Haram would not gain anything from killing innocent people.

The statement reads: “We see the warning to further attack the press as a futile threat that will not in any way cow the press to silence. We see the warning as a demonstration of ignorance, because the press has come through a rough and turbulent history… If the sect knows that the Nigerian press went through more dangerous threats during the days of the military, it won’t think that it will cow the press to submission by its present threat; we want them to understand this.

“We want Boko Haram to know that their threat to attack the media, after their dastardly attacks on ThisDay and The Sun, will not achieve the result they intend it to achieve. We want them to understand that the media is an institution that thrives in adverse environment and, if former military regimes could not cow the media, Boko Haram will not achieve that aim. So, they are advised to forgo their resolve to attack the media again because that will be counter-productive.

“We believe the time has come for the Nigerian media to black out reports on Boko Haram as a way of mitigating the publicity that fire their murderous rage. We believe that the extensive reporting that greeted Boko Haram activities is inciting them to carry out more attacks on innocent Nigerians; we believe the time has come for the media to black them out. We feel the group does not deserve the generous reportage it is getting and we feel that the time has come to deny them that luxury.”

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•Ex-governor re-arraigned over alleged N211m fraud From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

•Daniel

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HE trial of former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel reopened yesterday at the state High Court in Abeokuta, the state capital.

The trial judge, Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje, reserved ruling on the admissibility or otherwise of a bank statement tendered by Daniel’s counsel, Prof. Taiwo Osipintan, till June 5.

Daniel was re-arraigned on April 15 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 38-count charge bordering on alleged breach of trust, fraudulent conversion of public landed property to personal use, fail-

ure to declare his assets truthfully and stealing over N211million.

In the charged sheet, the EFCC alleged that Daniel stole N211million in tranches when he was governor from May 29, 2003 to May 29, last year.

The embattled former governor was, however, granted a N500million bail with two sureties in like sum.

According to EFCC, Daniel used some companies - Kresta Laurel, Conference Hotel, GLD Consults, Silver Springs Investments, Millennium Parks, Blue Chapel and Master Line Company, where he has interests, to facilitate the alleged stealing.

The offences, the commission said, are contrary to and punishable under Sections 439, 393, 434 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun State and equally punishable under Section 27 (b) (3) and Section 10 of

Daniel was re-arraigned on April 15 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 38-count charge bordering on alleged breach of trust, fraudulent conversion of public landed property to personal use, failure to declare his assets truthfully and stealing over N211million. the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC) Act No 5 of 2000.

Counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, yesterday crossed-examined one of the prosecution witnesses,

Adebuola Babatunde, on Daniel’s “illegal” lodgments of some money into Blue Chapel Company’s account at Sky Bank.

Babatunde, who claimed to be the bank’s Business Development Manager, said he has been managing the account since he was employed in 2007.

According to him, Daniel is the sole signatory to the account but he never lodged any money either in cash or in cheque into the account.

Jacobs tendered a certified true copy of Blue Chapel statement of account. Daniel’ lawyer did not object to this. It was admitted and marked as Exhibit 1.

However, an attempt by Prof. Osipintan to tender from the bar a copy of the statement of account extracted from the pool of evidence was opposed

by EFCC’s counsel on the grounds that it was not admissible.

The court has fixed June 5 for ruling on the matter.

‘Negotiation with sect’ll encourage crime’

ENATOR Magnus Abe, representing Rivers South-East, has said any negotiation with armed groups would encourage crime.

The lawmaker expressed his conviction that negotiating with terrorists would give the impression that carrying arms against the society would make it easier for them to be heard.

Abe, who was reacting to the spate of attacks by the Boko Haram sect, especially on media houses and journalists, wondered why some people were calling for dialogue with the sect.

The senator expressed surprise that some people were calling for negotiation with the sect, “because they can kill”, while the recommendations of United Nation’s Environmental Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoni has not been implemented.

Abe said: “Let me again expressed our gratitude to Governor Rotimi Amaechi for his resilience in seeing to the emergence of the report. The Ogonis will continue to embrace the path of dialogue even as we mourn those who have died from contaminated water and food, among others.”

The former Commissioner for Information and member of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, advocated the adoption of peaceful methods to address legitimate grievances to check violence across the country.

In a statement by his media aide, Boma Pepple, the lawmaker urged Boko Haram to renounce violence or face the wrath of people of goodwill.

He said: “No man has the right to take the lives of others. It is a sin in the sight of God.” Abe urged Nigerians to reject the sect, emphasising that their activities are “intended to intimidate voices of reason and cow the free expression of diverse veins by the Nigerian people”.

Firm debunks owing staff gratuity

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Court reserves ruling on admission of bank statement in Daniel’s trial

By Jeremiah Oke

HE Executive Director (Operations) of Emzor Pharamaceutical Industries Limited, Mrs Nkeiru Okoro, yesterday denied holding the gratuity of the company’s former Customer Service Executive, Mr. Simeone Okenkwa.

Mrs Okoro described Emzor as a law-abiding company that takes the well-being of its workers and the customers seriously.

She added the company would not do anything that would jeopardise the welfare of its workers and customers.

Addressing reporters in Lagos, Mrs Okoro said: “Emzor is a law-abiding Nigerian company and we take our staff and community as our number one priority.

“In the case of Mr. Okenkwa, his money was not remitted to his account because during his stay with us, he did not register with any pension managing company, where his money would have been lodged. So, we had to open an account for him and send his money into the account...

“Meanwhile, we have paid his money into his account, when we discovered that he had an account where he worked before he joined us. All his entitlements have been paid.”

She said Emzor contributed 7.5 per cent, as stipulated by law, to its workers’ pensions.

The Head of the company’s Account Department, Mr. Ayo Adedeji, said for a worker to qualify for gratuity, he or she must have spent at least five years. He added that Okenkwa spent only two years and two months with Emzor and was still paid some entitlements.

Okenkwa recently addressed reporters in Lagos, alleging that Emzor did not pay his gratuity.

Following the company’s media briefing, Okenwa, in a text message, confirmed to our correspondent that Emzor has remitted the money into his account.

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (second left); Justice George Oguntade (rtd) left), Dr. Ademowo and his wife, Oluranti, at the 31st Synod of Anglican Church, Diocese of Lagos, at Our Saviour’s Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Ademowo urges govt to tackle Boko Haram threats

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HE Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos, Rev Adebola Ademowo, has urged the Federal Government to wake up from its “slumber” and tackle security and other challenges facing the country.

The eminent cleric spoke in Lagos at the opening service of the third session of the 31st Synod of the diocese.

He said the fact that worshippers cannot hold church services without security agents should worry everyone.

The theme of the synod is: What an Awesome and Mighty God We Serve!

Ademowo said the government must not be selective in prosecuting those accused of corruption, adding that Nigeria has been overtaken by “hoodlums”.

The bishop said the country needs prayers to overcome insecurity, unemployment and poverty.

He said: “Why should we have a battalion of security men when having a service?

Insecurity: First Lady holds rally at Govt House

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From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

HE fear of Boko Haram sect might have forced First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, to hold an

advocacy rally at the Presidential Wing of the Government House, Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

The rally was earlier scheduled for the IBB Square in Makurdi, the traditional venue for visiting Heads of State and other mass events.

But it was changed to the presidential wing of the Government House, ostensibly for security reasons bordering on the sect’s activities.

At the event were wives of 10 governors and delegates from the 23 local government areas of the state.

There was tight security, which prevented most delegates from entering the venue of the event that lasted about one hour.

Mrs Jonathan left the place in a chopper stationed under heavy security at the Government College, Makurdi.

By Nneka Nwaneri

But I know that after the tunnel, there is a light. We should come together and talk.

That’s the way forward.

“We need to pray more for

this country. The situation is worrisome and a lot of people are becoming frustrated, particularly because of insecurity and unemployment. The poor are getting poorer and the rich are get-

ting richer.

“It’s the duty of the government to take the cry of the people seriously. Corruption has become part and parcel of us, but it shouldn’t be.

“Those who are corrupt should be brought to book; punishment should not be selective. Prosecute those who are corrupt and give them the appropriate punishment.

Hoodlums have taken over the nation.”

Ademowo urged the Federal Government to learn good governance from the Centre of Excellence.

He said: “Take a cue from the Lagos State Government, who work flat out. They believe in accountability and we can see their monumental achievements. They don’t use siren or terrorise people but follow traffic lights. Others should take a leaf from them.

“The Federal Government should wake up from its slumber. It has been sleeping and something needs to be done now.

“A lot of Nigerians do not fear God, and that’s terrible.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

NEWS

Almajiri places moral burden on govt, says Sambo From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

•Sambo

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ICE PRESIDENT Namadi Sambo has said allowing almajiri children to roam the streets is not only a moral burden on the government and people of Nigeria but also

poses a grave danger to the nation.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Umaru Musa Yar’adua Bilingual Boarding Primary School for Almajiri, built by the Kaduna State Government, Sambo said the attainment of the nation’s goals cannot be realised unless the nation’s 9.5 million almajiri are removed from the streets.

He said: “The realisation that education is the bedrock of meaningful development in any society has increased tremendously. Hence, there’s need to expand access to

qualitative education in our dear nation.

“The idea of nurturing and ensuring the actualisation of the existence of a functional Almajiri boarding primary school by the Kaduna State Government was quite timely and will go a long way in complementing government’s efforts in the improvement of quality basic education in the country.

“The Almajiri education represents an effective partnership between the federal and state governments in the provision of quality education to the teeming population of Almajiri who had remained, for so many decades, outside the formal education

system.

“The development of model institutions, able to integrate and synchronise basic education effectively with Islamic disciplines, remains one of the international best practices in the provision of education to this disadvantaged group of children. This will make them to also contribute positively to the development of our dear nation.

“I must point out that the attainment of our national goals and objectives, especially in the education sector, cannot be complete without taking into account the plight of over 9.5 million Almajiri, especially in the Northern

states of Nigeria.

“The spectre of young people and vulnerable school-age children, bowl in hand, roaming the streets of our towns and villages, begging for the means of their daily sustenance, does not only place a moral burden on our national psyche but also portends a dangerous problem.

“I am pleased to inform you that President Goodluck Jonathan has since granted approval for the establishment of similar institutions nationwide to keep to our promises in addressing this menace and meeting our Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of ensuring that every child in

Cleric to Jonathan: tackle corruption, insecurity •‘Plea bargain encourages malfeasance’

‘Don’t turn Ondo into LP’s property’

By Eric Ikhilae

A CLERIC, Rev. Adebayo Akinde, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to confront the growing insecurity in Nigeria with more seriousness.

The Diocesan Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Lagos Mainland advised the President to confront high profile corruption and abuse of office among government functionaries.

He blamed the Boko Haram crisis on an alleged plot by some religious extremists to force Islam on the country, beginning with the North.

Akinde spoke with The Nation in Lagos at this year’s edition of the church’s preSynod breakfast fellowship.

The Synod, billed to hold from May 24 to 27, has Peace as its theme.

Arguing that it is the responsibility of every government to secure the lives and property of the people, the cleric wondered why the President has failed to tackle insecurity in the country.

He blamed plea bargain, an arrangement he described as the conspiracy of the elite, on the frightening dimension corruption has assumed in the nation’s life.

Akinde said: “If any government is serious to attack the problem of corruption, it will have to resolve to do it without fear or favour. A situation where we see people coming out and carting away public funds in tens of billions and still work about as free citizens, all in the name of plea bargain, will not solve the problem.

“If people know that when they steal, they will be punished, it will deter them from engaging in corruption.

So now, with the plea bargain option, people now steal big with the belief that after their plea bargain, they will still have enough with them.

“A thief does not have any right to retain even a per cent of what he has stolen. So, if the government is serious, there is nothing like plea bargain. Anybody who contravenes the law by stealing, let the law take its course.”

this country has the opportunity to education.

Kaduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa said his government has identified 35 Qur’anic schools for the pilot of the Almajiri education programme.

The governor said his government would collaborate with Education Sector Support Programme in Nigeria (ESSPIN) in clustering some Qur’anic schools for basic education and supporting the proprietors with farm implements to encourage them to be self-reliant.

Yakowa directed the Ministry of Education and its parastatals to ensure the resources invested to improve education are properly utilised.

The governor assures development partners that his government would continue to work with them to improve education.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

R

• Ondo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship aspirants: Dr Olusegun Abraham (left), Mr Jamiu Ekungba and Prof. Robert Ajayi Boroffice after a meeting with Elders Forum in Akure...yesterday. sPHOTO NIYI ADENIRAN

Security: Army urges partnership with civil society

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HE Nigerian Army is seeking a partnership between soldiers and the civil society on the internal security arrangement across the country .

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika made the suggestion at the Rhino Officers’ Mess, Marxwel Khobe Cantonment, Rukuba, Jos, the Plateau State capital. It was at the opening of a three-day seminar organised by the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.

He said: “The leadership of the Nigerian Army recognises the over-ridding need to cultivate and strengthen cooperation and collaboration with the civil society, as part of Federal Government’s transformational agenda, which has security as one of its cardinal goals.

“With the current security challenges facing the nation, it has become imperative for the Nigerian Army to collaborate more with the civil society, especially in the area of information and intelligence sharing.

“It must be realised that the responsibility of internal security is a partnership between

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

the civil populace and security agencies. The civil society provides the vital intelligence necessary for the success of our operations.

Thus, we must work together to provide the ambience for operational cooperation and friendship.”

The Army chief urged soldiers to show discipline in their duties.

He said: “The Nigerian Army does not tolerate indiscipline from any of its officers and men. I urged the commanders at all levels not to fail to report and punish all misdemeanours. There is need to be proactive at all times as failure to act promptly to save lives and property will not be accepted.”

The Chief of the Civil-Military Affair Department of the Nigerian Army, Army Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. BVT Kwaji said there have always been frictions in civilmilitary interactions, which informed the theme of the seminar: The Nigerian Army and Civil Society: Evolving Harmonious

Relations.

Plateau State Governor Jonah David Jang said: “Given the current security challenges in the country, which has increased the level of interactions between the Nigerian Army and civil society, there is need for mutual respect and understanding.”

Papers expected to be delivered at the seminar have diverse topics, such as: Counter-terrorism and Counterinsurgency in Nigeria: The Role of Media and the Civil Populace; Military-Media Relations: A Case for Constructive Engagement; The Role of the Media in the Nigeria’s National Security Architecture (Framework); The Place of Governance in a Globalised World: Issues and Prospects; The Nigerian Army and the Civil Society: Evolving Harmonious Relations Through Good Governance and Accountability, among others.

Participants are drawn from the Force Headquarters in Abuja, military formations under the 3 Armored Division, as well as those of I Division, comprising about 300 officers.

Over 5,000 dump LP, PDP for ACN in Ondo community

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VER 5,000 supporters of the ruling Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The defectors said they joined the ACN to support Prof.

Ajayi Boroffice, a governorship aspirant of the party and the incumbent senator representing Ondo North.

They urged the party’s national leadership to adopt the

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

senator as ACN’s flag bearer in the state, saying he stands out among other contenders.

The new ACN members said their defection showed that the LP and the PDP are no more on ground in Irele community in particular and the state in general.

They expressed their frustrations with alleged cosmetic projects of the Olusegun Mimiko administration, which they noted have no impact on

the people.

According to them, it was their money that was used to fund the LP when it was founded in 2006. They expressed surprise that the party could deny them political positions and patronage after getting to power.

On behalf of Boroffice, the Chairman of Jimi Adekanle Foundation (JAF), Mr Jimi Adekanle, welcomed the defectors into the party.

He noted that the popularity of the Asiwaju of Akokoland has

attracted thousands of people to the ACN. Adekanle, who is the Coordinator of Boroffice Campaign Organisation (BCO) in Irele Local Government Area, said he was expecting more politicians to defect to the ACN because the LP government has failed to fulfil its election promises.

He said the senator is a sellable material with enviable records that would be a pride to the ACN and the state, if he becomes the candidate and the next governor.

IGHTS’ activist and chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, has criticised the branding of state’s property in the orange colours of the ruling Labour Party (LP).

Abayomi, who is a governorship aspirant of the party, decried the use of the ruling party’s colours on markets, Federal Government oil subsidy palliative buses, mega schools, bus stops, refuse bins, among others.

The lawyer wondered what would happen to the facilities when another government takes over from the present administration.

He said: “We were alive when the successive administrations of the late Adekunle Ajasin, the late Adebayo Adefarati and Dr. Olusegun Agagu succeeded with gigantic projects. None of them branded their projects with any colour.

“It is unfortunate that Governor Mimiko is playing pranks on the citizenry of the state. He has been using our common wealth to boost his ego.”

Abayomi noted that the LP administration has taken over every collective property of the state, as if the party owned the state.

He expressed optimism that LP, which he described as an emergency political party in state, will soon disappear.

Abayomi condemned the branding of the oil subsidy palliative buses, donated by the Federal Government, in LP’s orange colours.

According to him, this gives the wrong impression that it is Mimiko’s government that provides them to ease transportation problem in the state.

The lawyer described the LP government as deceitful, saying majority of the people are aware of the governor’s antics and those of his cohorts.

Abayomi urged Mimiko, with other LP members, to prepare his hand over note.

He added that the residents will unseat the governor with their votes on October 20.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Tiger Brands, Dangote hold talks on flour

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OUTH Africa's biggest consumer foods maker Tiger Brands said yesterday that it was discussing with Dangote Industries over its conglomerate's stake in its flour mills’unit.

The talks came amid reports that Tiger Brands is bidding for an 80 per cent stake in Dangote Flour Mills, which makes pasta and flour in the country.

Shares in Dangote Flour Mill jumped 4.64 per cent to N4.96, their highest level in more than six weeks. Tiger Brands was little changed at 288.21 rand.

Johannesburg-based Tiger Brands did not give further details, saying developments would be reported to shareholders.

Buying all or part of Dangote Flour Mills would give the maker of bread, breakfast cereal and energy drinks a substantial presence in the food market.

Dangote has the milling capacity of 4,800 metric tons daily, producing wheat flour, confectionary flour, bread flour and pasta semolina Banking and company sources told Reuters that Tiger Brands has already done a due diligence and FirstRand'sinvestment arm Rand Merchant Bank is its advisor.

Within the next two months there will be a moderate improvement in power supply and a renewed distribution model that will allow the distribution companies in their various areas to promote planned distribution and keep the citizens informed.

- Prof Barth Nnaji, Minister of Power

Jonathan to BPE: don’t honour requests even from my mother P T

CITN opposes Reps on firm’s appointment From Nduka Chiejina Assistant Editor

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday read the riot act to officials of the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), warning them to execute the privatisation programme on power to the letter or face sanctions.

He gave the warning at the end of the one-day Presidential Workshop entitled: “Dismantling barriers to achieving our power sector vision”, held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President said: “Whether the person is my mother or my uncle, I do not want to hear that somebody is from the President or vicepresident. If you make mistakes, you are on your own and we will deal with you decisively”.

Jonathan, who was impressed with the quality of contributions made, assured that the economic management team will today at its meeting fine-tune and restructure what have been discussed and give timelines to follow.

The President, who said he was not impressed with the publicity and advocacy campaign by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

(NERC) on the June 1, take-off date of the new electricity tariff tagged Multi-Year-TariffOrder, warned that he did not want it to go the way of deregulation and that he would be disowned by the governors if it failed.

He said:“The Bureau for Public Enterprises must follow up on the privatisation issue strictly. We do not want to hear any story again. They must follow issues to the letter and strictly with the dates.

We must keep to the date on the power reform road map.

We agreed that it is only through privatisation that we would get to where we want to go and in doing that, let me use this opportunity to warn that I do not want to hear that they have been influenced by any politician. At least, I am the number one politician. Whether the person is my Mother or my uncle, I do not want to hear that somebody is from the President or Vice-President.

If you make mistakes, you are on your own and we will deal with you decisively. We

must give to the best bidders.

“The BPE will never make mistake to give this to the bidder that cannot perform.

It must follow international best practices. So, I want to assure all Nigerians and all the companies that have indicated their interest that there will be no political manipulations and that everything will be followed professionally and only the best can get it. We are not going to play politics with the powerprivatisation programmes any more”.

On the new tariff taking off on June 1, Jonathan declared: “On the June 1 date for the increase of electricity tariff, I do not think we have had a robust advocacy and this happened to me during the deregulation. At a point, I wanted to send a team to the states to work with the governors and I think it was the Benue State Governor that said no, that if we do that, there could be crises, that the governors should take charge. At the end of the day, by the time we announced the deregulation, almost everything was on my head. Everything was on Jonathan to

the extent that even the House of Representatives met on a Sunday to discuss it and it became an issue. At a point, some of the governors who participated in pressurising me started shifting back. All what I am saying is that we did not have a robust advocacy. The Civll Society may come and tell you that they never heard you. We want enough communication so that we do not get to that June 1 and Nigerians will say they have not been sufficiently informed.”

The NERC had announced that the new tariff would not affect low income earners, adding that it would attract more investors, as power generation would increase in the country.

He said the commission had already offered licences to more than 50 independent power producers, as part of efforts to improve power generation and distribution.

NERC boss Dr. Sam Amadi believed that engaging more power producers in the sector would ensure competition, boost quality transmission and efficiency in services to Nigerians.

Customs seeks collaboration among security agencies From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

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 -12.6% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -14.18% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $34.6b FOREX CFA 0.2958 EUR 206.9 £ 245 $ 156.4 ¥ 1.9179 SDR 241 RIYAL 40.472

HE Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) has condemned the appointment of Adeshola Adekanola and Co. by the House of Representatives to act as a tax consultant to the lower chamber.

Addressing reporters in Abuja , CITN President, Femi Jegede, described the appointment as illegal. “This appointment is illegal because one of the partners is not a member of CITN. It is not right for the House of Representatives to violate a law enacted by the same legislature,” he said, adding that the institute has written the House of Representatives to reverse the decision He said the CITN does not support the use of tax consultants for tax collection, insisting that it is the responsibility of the tax administrator in the three tiers of government to perform that role.

The CITN boss stated, however, that members can be hired to train staff of organisations interested in using the services of tax administrators, saying the use of tax consultants and tax collectors has led to a “dichotomy of functions.”

He said those hiring nonCITN members as tax consultants/collectors are either ignorant or mischievous, arguing that non-members cannot be sanctioned by the body when they err.

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•From left: FIRS boss Ifueko Omoigu Okauru; Director-General, National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS), Prof Chudi Uwazurike and Dr Ladi Hamalai, during the orientation for the new staff on ‘Organisational development and employee productivity: a professional perspective’ in Abuja ... yesterday.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

‘135,000 MW required to power economy’

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HE Federal Government yesterday said the nation requires about 135,000 MW of electricity to power the economy, adding that to achieve this, the country needed about 15 times of what is being generated.

Minister of Power, Prof.

Bath Nnaji, disclosed this at a one-day Presidential Workshop with the theme: “Dismantling barriers to achieving our power sector vision”, held at the Banquet Hall of Presidential Villa, Abuja. It was chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan.

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

The workshop was aimed at ensuring the alignment between Ministries of Power and Petroleum Resources and is about fleshing out issues that are impeding progress in the power sector and aligning them and also getting stakeholders so that Nigerians will see changes in the power sector.

Nnaji said the country would exploit methods of fuel for power generation, gas, hydro, coal, wind and solar to

achieve the target, adding that the baseline of power generation was 3,600 MW out of the 5,700 MW available capacity.

The Power Minister listed non-availability of gas, lack of proper maintenance, water management issues and transmission constraints as factors responsible for their inability achieve maximum capacity.

He assured that there would be improvement in the power generation and distribution in the short time, the medium term and in the long term, disclosing that the Federal Gov-

ernment had signed $1.5 billion Agreement with the US Export and Import Bank on power sector financing.

He also disclosed that two power giants, General Electric and Siemens, had signed memorandum of understanding with his Ministry to build 10,000 MW power plant in the country.

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AllisonMadueke, said the challenges in the power sector was as a result of “gross misalignment’’ in terms of gas supply to power plants.

HE Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit, Zone B, Kaduna, Mohammed Suleiman Bawa, has called for collaboration among security agencies to tackle the increasing wave of crimes in the country.

Bawa, who briefed reporters on the activities of his unit, yesterday, said the need for sharing intelligence among security operatives is more apt now than before, as no one agency can do it alone.

He displayed seized assorted second hand vehicles worth about N35 million that were smuggled into the country, saying those bent on breaking the law are becoming more daring and sophisticated in their nefarious activities.

In a statement made available to The Nation, the Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Service, Joseph Attah, said Bawa conducted reporters round the two trucks loaded with suspected fake drugs that have been intercepted and detained.

He said the consignments have been handed over to officials of the National Agency for Foods Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

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BUSINESS NEWS

CBN sets asideN75b for agric industrialisation

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has set aside N75 billion to boost agricultural industrialisation in the country.

The Nigeria Incentive Based RiskSharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), is set up to build the capacity of banks, lend to agric, deploy risk sharing instruments that would lower the risk of lending, its spokesperson, Jude Uzorwanne, has said.

Uzorwanne, who spoke at a meeting of Integrating Nigeria’s Agricultural and Finance Value Chains in Abuja, said the banks would be rewarded if they do a good job.

He said the scheme would also provide technical assistance to farmers and banks and develop a bank rating scheme that would give incentives to banks based on their capacities to lend to the agricultural sector.

He said: “NIRSAL breaks tradition in two significant ways, first, it fixes the agricultural value chains so that the banks can lend with confidence to performing projects across commercially healthy agricultural value chains, and secondly, it encourages banks to lend into the agricultural value chains from their balance sheets, without recourse to government funds, by offering them unprecedented incentives and technical assistance.

He said beneficiaries are limited to those who are part of NIRSAL. By the time the farmers discuss with the banks, the details are brought to NIRSAL to decide if the money will be released to the farmer. That way, NIRSAL and the farmers are committed.

He said NIRSAL is not a political programme, adding that whoever is

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

involved should be able to benefit from it. The loan is paid back with interest.Every month the farmer is charged 2.5 per cent, while every 90 days, the farmer is reimbursed with the money paid as subsidy.

“The bank will make the loan on a person to person basis. We are for complete transparency and being able to use money well, matters to us. On collateral, the banks will be flexible,” he stated, adding that the issue of using C-of-O will be stopped, but what they will ask for as security will vary from bank to bank.

He said the duration of the loan would be for the planting season, which is May to December. The bank will also lend to co-operative societies under NIRSAL. They have to be a group we can see. They should prove that they are who they say they are.

“Nigeria’s agric sector is abysmally under financed. Lending to the sector represents just 1.4 per cent of total bank lending in the country. This is significantly below the level of other developing countries such as Kenya which registers six per cent and Brazil, 18 per cent.

He said the lending to the sector has also declined, falling from 2.2 per cent in 2006 to 1.4 per cent in 2009. There are many reasons banks don’t lend to agric. They do not understand it well and, therefore see it as high risk, credit assessment processes are poor, and transaction costs are high because innovative distribution channels are not often used. In addition, only few complete agricultural value chains are available for banks to lend to.

•From left: Head, Globacom Gateway, Niyi Olukoya; Executive Director Human Resources, Mr Adewale Sangowawa and Head, Glo World, Mrs Titilayo Ebinisi, during the launch of Globacom Uni-World in Lagos.

PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

World Bank appoints Diop VP for Africa

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SENEGALESE Makhtar Diop has been named the new World Bank’s VicePresident (VP) for Africa.

According to a statement from the World Bank in Abuja yesterday, Diop was formerly Country Director for Brazil, where he managed its largest country programme.

Before joining the global bank, he worked at the International

From Nduka Chiejina Assistant Editor

Monetary Fund (IMF) and served as Minister of Finance of Senegal. He was also chair of the West African Monetary Union (WAEMU) Board of Finance Ministers.

Since 2001, Diop has held various senior positions, including Country Director for Kenya, Eritrea and Somalia, as

well as Director of Infrastructure and Director, Strategy and Operations in the bank’s Latin America and Caribbean region.

On his appointment, Diop, said: “With world-class development knowledge and innovative financing, we can help support Africa’s momentum and ensure that Africans, especially the poor, share in the continent’s economic and social transformation.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

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TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

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ENERGY THE NATION

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

US Justice, SEC close ERHC Energy probe E

RHC Energy Inc., a publicly traded American company with oil and gas assets in Sub-Saharan Africa, has announced the closure of probes into its activities by the United States Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The closure of the probe frees the company to resume business activities with its partners, while seeking other interests.

In a statement issued in Houston and made available to reporters, the company, which is also a member of the Chrome Group, said it received a formal confirmation on April 27, from the US Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, that proceedings on subpoenas served on the company several years ago were closed.

“The announcement follows ERHC’s receiving of letters from the Department of Justice and the SEC confirming that they have closed action related to the subpoenas served on ERHC between 2006

Stories by Emeka Ugwuanyi Assistant Editor (Energy)

and 2007. ERHC had earlier sought and obtained confirmation that it had satisfied the subpoenas of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and that the Subcommittee is undertaking no further action on the subpoenas,” the statement added.

Contrary to popular beliefs of wrong doings, which led to the probe, ERHC clarified that subpoenas are merely requests for information on the company’s activities, adding that “it did not necessarily mean that any further proceedings were intended or would result with respect to the Company.”

ERHC President/Chief Executive Officer Mr Peter Ntephe was quoted in the statement as saying: “Today’s announcement is the culmination of six long years of work aimed at protecting ERHC’s oil and gas interests and advancing the interests of our shareholders.”

With the closure of the probe, he added, “Now that the cloud of sus-

picion resulting from the subpoenas has been removed, we expect that many of the challenges of selling the ERHC proposition to prospective partners and the larger investment community may be significantly diminished.”

ERHC holds oil and gas exploration interests in the Republic of Chad, the Sao Tome and Principe Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the Nigeria-Sao Tome and Principe Joint Development Zone

(JDZ).

In the Republic of Chad, ERHC holds 100 per cent interest in BDS 2008 and Manga. The Company has a 50 per cent interest in Chari-Ouest Block 3. In the EEZ, ERHC holds 100 per cent working interests in Blocks 4 and 11, with an option to acquire up to 15 per cent working interests in two more blocks. In the JDZ, the company holds working interests in Blocks 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9.

ERHC Energy is a Houston-based

independent oil and gas company focused on growth through high impact exploration in Africa, and the development of undeveloped and marginal oil and gas fields.

The company said it is committed to creating and delivering significant value for its shareholders, investors and employees with sustainable and profitable growth through risk balanced smart exploration, cost efficient development and high margin production.

Siemens deploys two virtual power plants

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IEMENS said it has developed two virtual power plants. Virtual power plants are networks of several small power stations that are run like a single system.

The company said one of the new virtual power plants enables the Munich municipal utility company to run six of its cogeneration modules, five hydroelectric facilities, and one wind-power plant more efficiently and economically than if they were operated separately.

The facilities have a combined output of 20 megawatts.

The second was set up for the utility company RWE and consists of some similar components to those in Munich. “Although it will initially also have an output of 20 megawatts, the second virtual power plant will be expanded to 200 megawatts by 2015. The key component of each virtual power plant network is the distributed energy management system from Siemens. When incorporated into smart grids, virtual power plants open up new possibilities for energy suppliers and operators of energy generation systems,” the company added.

Siemens in a statement said the electricity produced in this manner can be traded on the European Energy Exchange in Leipzig, Germany, for example, or offered to other markets. Besides offering energy suppliers an additional way of selling electricity, virtual power plants also make the utilities more flexible, it added.

“In addition, they can help im-

prove grid stability by making controlling power available in the minute reserve range.Virtual power plants are ideally suited for renewable sources of energy. Since Germany’s Renewable Energy Act was amended in January, this year, the associated market subsidy system encourages operators to sell electricity from their virtual power plants directly on the energy markets. As a result of the “energy revolution,” the importance of virtual power plants in smart grids is expected to grow.

“The distributed energy management system from the energy automation experts at Siemens uses sophisticated information and communications technology to network and combine the various decentralised power producers so that they can be centrally managed.

To make this possible, the system processes all of the relevant information, including weather forecasts, current electricity prices, and energy demand. On the basis of this data, the system draws up an operation schedule for all of the associated facilities and monitors its implementation. The system updates its energy consumption prediction every hour, depending on the weather forecast and the type of day.

“The operation schedule minimises the costs of generating electricity and operating the facilities within the virtual power plant network. In doing so, the system takes economic as well as environmental aspects into account,” the company said.

Angola’s LNG project to produce 5.2 million tonnes

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HE first phase of Angola’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Soyo, in the northern province of Zaire, now at an advanced stage of construction, is expected to produce an average of 5.2 million tonnes a year, says Angolan Oil Minister Jose Maria

Botelho de Vasconcelos.

Speaking during a business meeting jointly sponsored by the United States-Angola Chamber of Commerce and the Angolan Government on the sidelines of the annual Offshore Technology ConContinued on page 16

•From left: President, Association of Nigerian Petroleum Professionals Abroad (ANNPA), Mr Geoffery Onuoha; Executive Director, Corporate Banking, FirstBank of Nigeria Plc, Mr Kehinde Lawanson and Director,Department of Petroleum Resources Mr Osten Olorunsola at the Technical Workshop on ''Leveraging Nigerian Content for Greater Opportunities in the Offshore Sector'' hosted by the bank at the Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, Texas, USA.

Firm takes semi-automatic welding tech to OTC K

AZTEC Engineering Limited, an indigenous oil and gas service company and a subsidiary of the Chrome Group owned by business mogul Sir Emeka Offor, has taken its semiautomatic welding system to Houston, United States.

With this outing the firm has become the first Nigerian firm to do so at the Offshore Technology Conference in the US. Speaking with reporters at the Kaztec’s stand in the Reliant Park, venue of the OTC, the company’s Commercial Manager, Mr Charles Gallagher, said his company is very proud of achieving the achievement.

He said the new welding technology is a big boost for the company’s pipeline projects, through which it has been able to install hundreds of kilometres of pipelines in Calabar, Cross River State.

Gallagher added that developing the new technology was part of Kaztec’s effort to support Federal Government’s indigeneous content development programme aimed at to empowering more indigenous companies to come into the sector.

He said: “We are here in the market place to showcase our capability and capacity and we are ready to compete not only locally, but also, internationally.

So, we are moving into higher quality welding, which is semiautomatic welding, the first to be done by any local company and we are very proud of it.”

He noted that some firms have had to abandon some of the engineering, procurement, installation and construction (EPIC) projects due to lack of capacity, while Kaztec is breaking new grounds.

“We are in the third campaign, some companies have had to stop their works, but Kaztec Engineering is delivering on these projects. So, we pride our self on the quality of our projects in the market place,” he added.

In view of that, he said the OTC offered the company an opportunity to showcase itself to the world, and demonstrate its ability to deliver quality services in line with global best practices.

He listed some of the projects being handled by the company to include the 106km Adangba/ Caalabar gas pipeline project, which will transport gas to some independent power plants, IPPs in the Niger Delta, offshore platform installation for Addax Petroleum Development Corporation as well as some offshore pipeline installations for which it has acquired a fleet of vessels, includ-

ing pipe laying vessels, tug vessels and utility vessels that will fast track the delivery of projects.

He also noted that Kaztec was establishing a base in the Niger Delta for line pipe manufacturing, coating and fabrication as well as all the utility systems that complement them to co-ordinate both its onshore and offshore oil and gas projects.

On the company’s plans, Gallagher disclosed that Kaztec intended to “reinforce our capacity to ensure that projects are delivered according to world class standards. We want to broaden our staff, especially the engineering support in order to execute more EPIC projects because we want to engage in all facets of EPIC for the oil and gas industry.”

He noted that one of the major challenges faced by indigenous operators is dearth of technical capacity, which is why his company is boosting both technical and utility competences.

The British engineer, who compared his experience with working for other companies in different parts of West Africa, expressed surprise at Kaztec’s capacity, saying, “Having worked in various parts of the West African region, I came to Kaztec and found it to be one of the most developed, and the credit goes to the foresight of the Executive Chairman, Sir Offor, in investing heavily in men and tools.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

16

ENERGY

‘Indigenous oil firms should play in deepwater’ I

•Avuru

NDIGENOUS exploration and production firms should be ready to take over the operation of the deep offshore and ultra-deep oil business in Nigeria any time the multinational oil firms currently in the business divest their interest.

The Managing Director of Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited Mr Austin Avuru made the call at a forum organised by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) at the just-concluded Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas.

He predicted that most of the oil fields being operated by the ma-

‘Modern mapping tools enhance solid minerals discovery’

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HE Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) has said its modern mapping tools have helped in understanding the occurrences and quality of more solid mineral resources.

These tools include the regional geological mapping, airborne geophysical surveys and the regional geo- chemical mapping.

Its Director-General, Dr Siyan Malomo, said in the face of the enormous challenges of accelerated mapping, generation and dissemination of geosciences data and information, the agency emphasises the use of broad mapping tools for prospecting in the country.

And as more solid minerals are being discovered, Malomo said the mining sector will be able to contribute to the economy through generation of wealth, industrial development and the provision of infrastructure.

He said it was quite unfortunate that the mining industry has been providing limited contribution to the country’s GDP no thanks to the misplaced priority, especially in the area of accessing reliable geological data on mineral resources for investment.

Applauding the efforts of the agency, he said the reliability of its geological data is reflective in the increase in the number of foreigners, who have been thronging the NGSA headquarters in Abuja since May 2006, for inquiries on some mineral resources.

He added that credible local and foreign investors are also seizing the opportunity of a visit to get them furnished with adequate information on where to deploy their funds in the mining sector.

T

jors in deepwater province may reach their peaks in the next 10 years and would be handed over to indigenous oil firms just as what happened in the onshore terrain.

Avuru noted that it is important for Nigerian firms to think in that direction or lest when it happens and catches Nigerian companies unprepared,the opportunity would be lost to foreign firms. His prediction was based on the premise that it took the oil majors about 40 years to reach their peak

in the onshore operation after which their interest in such fields were to local exploration and production companies in Nigeria and other African countries.

He noted that technological advancement would make the multinationals and other international firms to divest some of the offshore fields between the next eight and 10 years, which is expected to be the period such fields will hit peak of their production.

He said: “The question is how prepared is Nigeria oil firms ready to manage oil operation in the

By Bidemi Bakare

Malomo said out of the 48 maps produced at a scale of 1:100,000, the agency had been able to produce 26 regional geological maps since its establishment as against 22 maps produced before the establishment of the agency.

On the status of airborne geophysical surveys, Malomo said the acquisition of airborne magnetic data for the country is completed while the purchase of radiometric data for the country without the Niger Delta on the account of wetness is completed. He said the acquisition of gravimetric data for Niger Delta has also been completed.

He said these surveys are needed for mineral and hydrocarbon exploration, groundwater prospecting, engineering and land use planning, mitigation of geological hazards and risks, among others.

As for regional geo chemical mapping, he said: “This is the analysis of soil, sediments and water on a regional basis to produce a body of geochemical data for the country.” He added that the regional chemical mapping projects, which consists of four components, is done solely by an NGSA staff member with or without supervision.

“The initial component funded by the Federal Government is carried out by the NGSA staff while the second component by the collaborationbetweentheBritishGeologicalSurvey (BGS) and the NGSA is facilitated by the Sustainable Management of Mineral Resources Unit of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development. The third component is done

by NGSA staff with some supervision by the BGS. The fourth component is to be carried out by NGSA staff without any supervision,’ he said.

Total continues fight to contain incident on OML 58 OTAL Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited’s (TEPNG) has said its teams have continued to focus on the well control operations of the IBW 16 on the Ibewa gas field in Rivers State, which was affected by the incident on March 20.

In a statement, Total said: “Our technical personnel and equipment are fully mobilised on site. Operations are progressing according to the planned schedule. The IBW 16 well was temporarily opened on April 24 to reduce the subsurface flow.”

The company said the IBW 16 well has now been shut in to allow the assembling of a snubbing unit. The snubbing operation consists of pumping heavy fluid into the well to stop the flow of reservoir fluids.

Rig-up of the snubbing unit is in progress.

“Simultaneously, as a precautionary measure, relief wells are proceeding on two selected locations.

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

deep offshore oil production when the multinational oil firms divest their interests in the fields having peaked in recouping their investment in the next 10 years. There is the possibility of foreign independent oil firms coming to take over the ownership and the operation of these vital national assets if they are ready.”

He appealed to the Federal Government to take a cue from Norway, Brazil, China and India in terms of supporting local oil and gas producers, adding that the development of the hydrocarbon resources, which is the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy should not be developed without participation of Nigerians.

We continue to monitor the safety perimeter as follows: Surveillance

by TEPNG’s teams on the ground and daily helicopter flights; dedicated monitoring wells have been drilled in the first 20 m depth of ground to check the behavior of the “surface” water (aquifer) around the impacted area (Piezometer wells); daily analysis of air and water quality continue to be performed. No hydrocarbons or toxic compounds have been detected; and one water well in the resurgence area has been secured,” the statement added.

It also noted that TEPNG is in close cooperation with the authorities, providing regular updates on the situation.

TEPNG remains in contact with community representatives and is working closely with its stakeholders to continue providing assistance and identifying other needs, maintaining continuous proximity with the population on ground, it added.

•Oil platform

Group seeks increased local input in oil industry

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HE Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) has urged the government to create the necessary environments to increase the participation of Nigerians in the oil and gas industry.

A chartered member of International Gas Union (IGU), the association held its maiden learning programme in Lagos. It has as theme “NGA learning solutions: Understanding the global and Nigeria Gas Business and its potential sectors The main thrust of the event is to further government’s framework that guarantees active participation of Nigerians in the gas sector without compromising international best practices.

The group’s President, Dr. Chima Ibeneche, said the benefits of the programme to the economy are immeasurable, noting that they would inspire indigenous expertise in Nigerians in the global gas industry. The training would also serve as a platform for the creation of an enduring knowledge network among the stakeholders including the building of industry competence and capacity.

He said young experts would be able to leverage on the competence and exposure gained from the critical issues in the industry by interacting with experts from other sectors.

According to the NGA Learning Solutions Course Co-ordinator Shaba Hassan, the course was designed to provide delegates the opportunity to examine the commercial and technical aspect of the gas business in the country and globally and also to explore the growing importance of gas in the world.

He said participants were able to achieve their objectives by understanding the natural gas treatment and processing methods, evaluation of gas retailing, wholesale, transportation and distribution business including analysis of new opportunities in today’s dynamic gas business and also the appreciation of Gas Master Plan (GMP) and the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

Other areas covered include Gas to Liquid (GTL) overview and Gas for Power (for IPPs).

He said of one major importance of the training is the quality of delivery from NGA’s experts. It was a four-day event with excellent interaction, participation and constructive feedback from delegates.

The introduction of local content is to deepen desire by the government for greater indigenous participation and to transform the oil and gas industry into the economic engine for job creation and national growth through the development of in-country capacity and indigenous capabilities. To meet the set goal and further government’s aspiration, NGA introduced its learning solutions, which has excellent affiliation/business relationship with the major players and stakeholders in the gas sector.

The course was well-attended by delegates from various sectors of the economy, such as representation from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporati on (NNPC), Nigerian Gas Company Ltd, Cutix PLC, Simmonscooper, Oando/Gaslink, Pan Ocean, Nigeria LNG Ltd and Masters Energy.

Angola’s project to produce 5.2 million tonnes Continued from page 15

ference here Thursday, he said the expansion of the Angola LNG industry continued to open up new business and partnership prospects for stakeholders.

He mentioned the various uses of the natural gas, which include

the production of electricity, petrochemicals and domestic applications, besides being a fossil fuel of low carbon content.

The event, held under the theme “Opportunities for partnership in the local context”, focused on the favourable business environment which Angola offers, with empha-

sis on the energy sector and the opportunities for the establishment of public-private partnerships.

The minister stated that Angola’s oil sector had been the main pillar of the Angolan economy, as a result of a strategy, which led to the attraction of relevant investments.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

17

ENERGY

‘Firms should increase training in modern geosciences’ T

HE provision of more training opportunities in modern geosciences tools and technology for interns and graduates is a task that major oil and gas companies in the country should be committed to.

This is to increase potential employees’ (graduates and interns) competency in using data and information to generate appropriate geosciences maps, thereby bridging the gaps between industry practice and academic theories.

The Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) stated this at its just-concluded Sixth mini-conference for tertiary institutions at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife. The Chairman NAPE-University Assistance Programme (UAP) Dr Wasiu Odufisan said if the bar of the quality of geosciences education is to be raised in the country, there is the need to supplement aca-

By Bidemi Bakare

demic knowledge in subject-areas with the industry’s training via field experience, organised lectures, seminars and workshops for graduates and interns.

He said NAPE, for instance, has continued to provide students with more practical training expectations through its joint technical meetings conducted on campus and awards for best-presenters of technical papers, judged against industry standards.

With support from stakeholders including the oil majors and associations such as NAPE, Odufisan said the industry would be better off as new findings through drilling from the shelf to the basin would be discovered.

He said it was because NAPE recognises the need to enhance the industry that has prompted it to continue to bring together through its bi-annual leadership forum, policy makers including the government, industry practitioners and the academics to explore ways to further improve geosciences education in the country.

He enjoined stakeholders to continue to collaborate and network to ensure that the knowledge of finding and producing hydrocarbon is shared to increase national capacity and technical base security.

All these efforts for training new sets of geo-scientists, according to him, are to ensure that the industry does not run out of the idea of finding oil.

He, however, advised the government to demonstrate more commitment through effective funding and revision of geosciences curriculum in the country to meet acceptable standard compared to the United States.

On the relevance and benefits of the mini-conference, he said it provided students the opportunity to learn the art and skills of delivering effective technical presentations to meet the industry standards.

At the end of the confab, he said the best six oral presenters and the best three poster presenters were given sponsorship to attend and participate at the forthcoming International Conference and Exhibition in Lagos.

He said sponsorship is being

•Mayowa Afe, NAPE President

sought for the best oral presenter and his supervisor to attend the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) convention in the US in 2013.

Middle East oil poised for tight summer

T

•Power transmission facility

Dubai hosts World Energy Forum Oct.

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HE ‘Global City of Dubai’ will host the World Energy Forum (WEF) from October 22-24, 2012 .

The event is under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and monarch of Dubai, The Founder and Executive President of the Africa Asia Scholars Global Network (AASGON), Abdul ‘Dewale Mohammed has been appointed World Energy Forum 2012 Representative for the United Kingdom, ASEAN Countries (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and some African countries, the Federal Republic of Nigeria in particular.

By his appointment Abdul Mohammed has been mandated to co-ordinate the promotion, planning and marketing of WEF2012 in the specified regions, oversee the production and distribution of the WEF2012 ‘Golden Book’ 120-page full colour Souvenir Publication, the Promotional DVD, Commemorative Stamp, Coin and Postcards as well as organise its Dubai International Friendly Polo Tournament

and promote the BeyonceKnowles International Concert at the 25,000 seated capacity Dubai Stadium, a supporting activity of WEF2012.

The United Nations has designated this year as the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All to create a global platform for sustainable energy. WEF2012 promotes worldwide discussions and outcomes on the issue.

Making history in October, Dubai will become the first city to host the World Energy Forum outside of the United Nations Headquarters. This world class event will to a large extent enhance a global awareness of Dubai’s Integrated Energy Strategy 2030.

As part of preparations for the event, a Pre-Conference Luncheon Reception will be held in Abuja, Nigeria to mark this year’s UN World Environment Day (WED) in June and similar Pre-Conference events will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia and in London, UK in July to celebrate this year’s World Population Day (WPD).

The WEF2012 Pre-Conference UN World Environment and Population Days seek to raise awareness of global environ-

mental and population issues such as renewable energy and climate change.

The WEF2012, which holds at the Dubai International Convention Centre, in the United Arab Emirates, has tremendous opportunities to offer by providing an excellent platform and exposure that will maximise the anticipated benefits to prospective corporate sponsors, exhibitors and advertisers as well as participants.

According to Prof. Harold Hyun-Suk Oh, President/Chairman of WEF, “World Energy Forum does not meet for the sake of meeting but is creating a global conversation searching for answers and practical solutions by inspiring technological innovations and research as well as facilitating political will to meet the challenges facing humanity. Therefore, a World Energy Forum conference separates itself from sectarian, partisan, purely commercial, and some regional-specific gatherings in that it embraces all energy sources whatever forms they may be found and welcomes all to participate in an open debate for humanity’s sustainable future.”

HE Middle East oil market is braced for a tightening third quarter as soaring power generation demand is set to curb Saudi Arabia’s exports and Western sanctions could deprive the market of Iranian supplies.

But although tighter supplies should push Gulf oil premiums higher and could lift the Singapore ship fuel bunkering market, fears of regional fuel oil shortage are unfounded, traders and analysts in the Middle East and in Asia say.

“Saudi Arabia is likely to remain a large net exporter of fuel oil, with much of this going to Asia,” Riyadh-based HSBC analyst John Tottie said.

“As we go into the summer season, the import of lower-sulphur fuel oil may increase, just as it did in 2011. Yet, the kingdom is likely to remain a large exporter of high-sulphur fuel oil, given the high fuel oil yield of Saudi’s oil refineries.”

Barclays Capital said in a note last week that Saudi plans to slash crude use for power generation may turn it into a net importer of fuel oil this summer.

“With Iranian volumes likely to be curtailed severely following the sanctions and with the risk that Saudi Arabia turns into a net importer of fuel oil, more than 1 mt (million ton) of fuel oil exports are at risk of being lost from the market,” London-based analyst Mishwin Mahesh said.

Asia-based traders who also rely on Middle East oil do not expect major shortages as they anticipate increased oil shipments into East Asia from other producers.

Industry players still point to Western arbitrage cargoes as remaining the main bearish factor for East Asia’s fuel oil market.

“Together those two factors fall in supplies from Saudi and Iran could be very bullish,” a Singapore-based trader said. “But it will also depends on Singapore strength.”

Asia’s oil market fell sharply in early March under the weight of heavy supplies and slow demand.

Spot cash premiums for the 180 cst and 380-cst grades have since improved to above $2 a metric ton (1.1023 tons) though, recovering from a discount low of 10 cents and 50 cents respectively as Western imports fell to three-year low levels in April.

Saudi Arabia’s plan to reduce direct crude burn for power generation and rely more on natural gas and fuel imports this summer could result in a drastic drop in

its monthly average fuel oil exports of around 500,000 to 600,000 metric tons.

But several Gulf-based traders say the drop in supply from the leading fuel oil exporter was unlikely to shock the market, thanks to ample Saudi stocks and alternative fuels.

“They have been building inventories of gasoil, which they will use in summer,” one-Gulf based fuel oil trader said. “It also depends on how much gas they can obtain from the fields. In the end, crude burning may not be much less, but just a bit less,” he said. “They have other options than fuel oil.”

Uncertainty over temperaturedriven electricity demand, or how much will be met with gas, make it impossible to predict how much fuel oil will be burnt

by Saudi Arabia but there is wide agreement that fuel oil exports will fall.

“In the end their available supplies will fall, but I think they will still be able to export,” a second Gulf-based fuel oil trader said.

Iran Issues The availability of supplies from the other major Middle Eastern oil exporter Iran could take a hit from the US-led sanctions.

Western sanctions aimed to deter Iran pursuing its nuclear program may not specifically ban purchasing Iranian fuel oil, but financing and shipping difficulties make overall trade with Iran almost impossible.

“Already, a few of Iran’s existing fuel oil lifters have been sanctioned by the U.S. government, and as long as the sanctions exist, these volumes are likely to find it difficult to access consumer markets in the Far East,” Barclays said in its note.

While there is a consensus that July 1 will mark a much tighter era for Iran to export crude and oil products, some traders still believe the sanctions have never been watertight.

“It will end up one way or the other in either Singapore or in China,” a trader said.

Record volumes of Iranian fuel oil flowed into East Asia in 2011, even though there were some sanctions already in place, making up nearly eight per cent of the seven-million metric tons monthly inflow into East Asia, the world’s biggest fuel oil market.

The region typically gets two grades - the National Iranian Oil Co’s (NIOC) straight-run 280-cst, mainly used as feedstock in refineries, and the cracked 380-cst as bunkering fuel.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION COMMENT

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

Not again!

S U.N. SECRETARY General Ban Ki-moon was urging the world last week to expand investment into Burma, the Irrawaddy, a Burmese magazinein-exile, was publishing a story about 7,800 acres of Burmese farmland being confiscated by the government to make way for copper mining.

“Farmers also said that they were only given a small amount of compensation for their property as, according to company officials and local authorities, their lands are actually owned by the state and the confiscation was carried out by presidential order,” the Irrawaddy reported. Companies mining in the area are Chinese, Canadian and Burmese state-owned.

Maybe the farmers of Salingyi Township, Sagaing Division, aren’t on the top-10 list of Mr. Ban’s concerns. But as Europe, Japan, Korea and, to a more cautious degree, the United States lift restrictions on doing business with Burma (also known as Myanmar), the reported dispossession is worth a moment’s attention.

Burma, run by one of the most brutal and repressive military regimes, has long been one of the world’s most isolated economies as well. But President Thein Sein has initiated some political reforms and released some political prisoners. Last week Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace laureate and longtime political prisoner, was sworn in as a member of parliament , an emblem of the swift political change taking place and a harbinger — it is hoped — of more to come.

Last month, Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won 43 of 44 parliamentary seats it contested in a byelection. The vote proved that she remains the indisputable spokeswoman for Burma’s people. But it didn’t shift much power from the generals and retired generals who rule Burma. The NLD controls only 7 percent of parliamentary seats. The regime’s control of media remains among the world’s 10 most stifling, as the Committee to Protect Journalists reported last week (“its vast censorship structure remains in place”).

Hundreds of political prisoners remain in jail.

And — as the farmers of Salingyi no doubt understand — there is no rule of law and no independent judiciary.

In light of all this, the question of how quickly to relax sanctions is tricky. Too slowly, and the generals will see no benefit to democratization. Too quickly, and outside nations will lose leverage to promote further democratization. The Europeans, in voting to suspend rather than lift sanctions, acknowledged the need for balance, but Burma’s reforms may prove more reversible than Europe’s suspension, once its companies are on the ground.

In the unseemly rush for minerals and other natural-resource contracts, developed-nation companies and their governments are giving the impression that a 7 percent solution is good enough. The people of Burma deserve better.

– Washington Post

Gold rush to Burma

•States must obey the law on minimum wage if only to avert another national strike

P

ORTENTOUS clouds of another impending national workers’ strike gathered on the last May Day celebration when organised labour expressed its displeasure with the alleged non-implementation by some states of the new national minimum wage of N18,000. In his address at the Eagle Square in Abuja, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, declared that another strike is inevitable over the issue.

Some of the states he named as failing to fulfill their minimum wage obligation in accordance with the law include Enugu, Ebonyi, Kwara, Oyo, Kebbi, Kogi and Adamawa.

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) had opposed the new minimum wage claiming that most states could not afford to pay. The governors demanded an increase in revenue allocation to states to enable them cope with the minimum wage burden and it was indeed in the hope of higher revenues that they supported the controversial removal of the purported fuel subsidy. But the workers contended, rightly in our view, that the governors forum was part of the negotiation and, in any case, the minimum wage bill had been signed into law and thereby binding on all.

There is no justifiable reason why any state should still be claiming inability to pay so long after the law came into effect. Besides, given the well publicised, largely outrageous salaries and emoluments of public office holders, it will be

pretty difficult to convince anyone that Nigeria cannot afford a minimum wage of N18,000 for workers, which is actually an unrealistic pittance relative to the cost of living. Beyond this, the monumental level of corruption at all levels across the country suggests that the wage obligation to workers can be comfortably met with greater transparency, accountability and responsibility in the management of public funds.

The NLC President adduced no evidence to support his allegation that some governors, under the guise of federalism, are canvassing that industrial relations, minimum wage and labour be placed on the concurrent rather than the exclusive list as currently obtains. We can only say that in federal systems, it is normal for the national government to fix the minimum wage, but this does not necessarily mean uniformity of wages across board.

Anything above the legally binding minimum will necessarily be dependent on each state’s financial buoyancy.

On his part, the President-General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Peter Esele, insisted that the N18,000 minimum wage has become unrealistic and called for a review “to bring it in conformity with the objective realities of our times and to cushion the effect of the fuel price hike on the common masses and the increasing cost of basic commodities, including housing”. It is indeed quite convenient now for Mr. Esele to speak self-righteously about the negative implications of the last fuel price hike for

living conditions. Has he forgotten so soon that it was the leadership of the NLC and TUC that capitulated and agreed to the current pump price of N97 without any consultations with their civil society collaborators in the anti-fuel strike and demonstrations in January?

Rather than reflect soberly on their roles in helping to effectively abort the anti-fuel price hike strikes and demonstrations, both comrades Omar and Esele were being clever by half in claiming that the report of the House of Representatives probe of the subsidy has vindicated labour’s position “that the entire oil sector is stemmed in corruption and needs to be cleansed”.

If they were indeed so sure that the socalled fuel subsidy was a big scam, why didn’t they stand firm when it mattered?

‘There is no justifiable reason why any state should still be claiming inability to pay so long after the law came into effect.

Besides, given the well publicised, largely outrageous salaries and emoluments of public office holders, it will be pretty difficult to convince anyone that Nigeria cannot afford a minimum wage of N18,000 for workers, which is actually an unrealistic pittance relative to the cost of living’

A rash of economic summits?

•Not really. But what is needed most is implementation of ideas from the summits N a country groping for development and sapped by mass poverty, economic and investment summits are necessary roadmaps to periodically plan, with a view to surmounting these huge challenges.

That is why yearly economic summits like the Nigerian Economic Summit, organised by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), the Lagos Economic Summit, the latest of which was the just-concluded ‘Ehingbeti 2012’ as well as the Ogun State Economic Summit that also just held, are crucial.

But even the national and state summits have been joined by the South-South Economic Summit, a regional economic summit, also just held by the BRACED Commission, from April 25 to 28.

BRACED is the acronym for Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta states, all in the political South-

I

‘No one could possibly question the recurrence of economic and investment summits. If this country must break from its development challenges and the concomitant mass poverty, it needs these summits as nurseries of ideas. Still, there is the legitimate fear that these ideas are not translating fast enough into tangible gains, given the still prostrate state of the economy’

South but now being pooled into an economic bloc, to share resources and push rapid development in this oil-rich but massively poor region of Nigeria. In the present clamour for regionalisation, the BRACED economic summit initiative makes immense political, economic and developmental sense.

Economic summits play many roles.

They link policy makers with putative investors. That way, the government breaks news about economic incentives in a conducive atmosphere, with a “captive” investment audience all plugged in.

Investors not only interact with government officials, and in so doing, make inputs by critiquing government’s policies and policy proposals; they also mix with themselves to explore areas of cooperation and cost-cutting.

Also, yearly investment summits offer opportunities to make policy the focus; and play down on politics, no matter perceived partisan differences. That was clear from ‘Ehingbeti 2012’ where the Federal Government, controlled by a different party, announced the laudable cooperation with the Lagos State government in rail infrastructure development as well as a new power initiative to boost socio-economic activities in the nation’s economic capital.

They also help to track developments in economic initiatives. For instance, also at ‘Ehingbeti 2012’, Ben Akabueze, Chairman of the Lagos Economic Summit Group (LESG) and state economic planning and budget commissioner, announced that more than half of the recommendations of ‘Ehingbeti 2011’ had

been implemented, while the unimplemented parts were being reviewed according to prevailing circumstances. Besides, he further disclosed, 109 out of the 118 resolutions from the earlier summits had been implemented – which is just as well: for there is a point of view that Nigeria’s problem is not the paucity of ideas but the ability to implement these ideas for the desired goals.

Therefore, no one could possibly question the recurrence of economic and investment summits. If this country must break from its development challenges and the concomitant mass poverty, it needs these summits as nurseries of ideas.

Still, there is the legitimate fear that these ideas are not translating fast enough into tangible gains, given the still prostrate state of the economy. That is fair comment; which has made many to refer to the rash of summits as mere talk shops that need to grow implementation teeth.

Perhaps the solution lies in focused summits on core problems: like power, for instance. Power holds the key to economic activities; and without regular electricity power, most of the plans, no matter how beautiful or innovative, would remain just that: plans.

So, while general economic summits should not be discouraged, special ones dedicated to overcoming Nigeria’s crippling electricity power challenge may just make a huge difference. That would appear the direction to go, if all these efforts must translate into tangible growth in the economy, and lead to sustainable development and eventual prosperity.

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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 TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: Some stories lend themselves to repetition lest we forget not just the event but also the lessons taught. It is apt at this time when political gladiators in Edo State are running around the state canvassing for votes in the July 14 governorship election, to tell the story of what happened on the Nigerian political landscape during the second republic which lasted from October 1, 1979 to December 31, 1983.

In 1983, there were five political parties in Nigeria with each of them holding a section of the country as their “home” grounds. Their governors who had served from 1979 to 1983 were seeking re-election for another term of office. In the West, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) was in control of Lagos, Oyo, Ogun and Ondo/Ekiti states. The National Party of Nigeria (NPN) con-

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Edo 2012: Lest we forget trolled the federal government as well as some states in the north and east.

The UPN was so popular that dislodging it in any of the states controlled by it during the 1983 elections was thought impossible. The party at the centre, the NPN, determined that the west, being the nation’s commercial hub and federal seat of power, was too vital not to be taken. The party went ahead to strategise and perfect its rigging machinery and ignored all entreat-

ies to allow for credible elections, boasting that it had the federal might to wrest the west from the Unity Party of Nigeria. The NPN picked Chief Akin Omoboriowo, a former Deputy Governor to Pa Adekunle Ajasin, to run against his former boss in Ondo State.

So it was that during the elections of 1983 the Federal Electoral Commission, FEDECO, announced NPN as winner of the governorship elections in Oyo and Ondo states. Then, hell was let lose. In Ibadan and

Ondo, the people trooped out en masse to protest what they described as “robbery”, knowing they had all voted for the UPN candidates, particularly in Ondo State.

The people triumphed and Ajasin returned to office for a second tenure as Governor of Ondo state on October 1, 1983.

The civilian administration swornin on October 1, 1983 lasted only three months as the second republic was prematurely terminated by the military on December 31, 1983.

A consumer generation

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IR: In the history of our dear country, Nigeria, we have heard about the unmatchable exploits of those that wielded the sword to ensure the greatness of this country. Nigerians cannot forget heroes like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Herbert Macaulay, and Sir. Ahmadu Bello, among others.

They played their parts in the generation that ensured the independence of the country and worked towards its sustenance. The generation that effectively utilized public funds to the benefit of the masses rather than satisfying their own needs at the expense of the populace, the generation, whose contributions to the progress of the country is still evident up till now. This was the generation that produced selfless politicians and economically sensitive technocrats that strived for the good of the country.

Unfortunately, the current generation of those at the helms of affairs in our country is nothing to write home about; they are better described as consumer generation, with no productive inclination.

They are those bent on consuming the resources of the country with no regards for the interest of the masses. They are the selfish.

They are those that are able to pervert justice in the polarized Nigerian judiciary, but later met their fate in foreign courts. They are the story-tellers, who promised to contest election once, but later ate their words due to their insatiable appetite for power, regardless of the debilitating consequences of their decision on the people.

They are the elected ones that will come to office with several agenda and will be acting in ways contrary to their so-called agenda. They promised security, whereas their own lives are not safe due to lack of political will to implement sustain-

able security strategies. They are those that barked around as the custodian of the rule of law, whereas, there is no place for public opinion and equality in their schemes.

They are the people who, taking advantage of the porous security structure of the country, sponsor terrorists to render the country ungovernable. They are those that delight in the wailings and sorrow of their fellow Nigerians. They hide under the shield of religion to perpetrate anti-religious activities. What a brutish generation!

This consumer generation has failed Nigerians; it has almost sucked

all the milk and honey that nature bestowed on her. It has sapped all her strength that made her a voice in the international community, thereby making her a falling giant.

The coming generation should brace up and learn from the mistakes of this failed generation. Personal interest should not be prioritized over national interest. The desire to occupy public offices should be to serve the people, rather than draining the country of her resources.

• Simon Godwin University of Lagos

It is expected that Nigerian politicians would have learnt lessons from the events of 1983 but it is doubtful if any lesson had been learnt. Elections since the advent of the present democratic dispensation in 1999 have left much to be desired in terms of organisation and attitude of politicians who believe that elections must be won at all cost, fair or foul. This is why long drawn litigations have trailed every election.

The election scheduled for Edo State on July 14, is not likely to significantly witness a shift from previous exercises characterised by widespread irregularities.

The recent accident involving the convoy of the Edo state governor in which three journalists died has also taken on a political colouration heating up the polity with claims and counter-claims of culpability.

Several questions are agitating the minds of many over the incident.

These may be answered when police investigations are concluded.

However, it is sad that the state is being needlessly turned to a veritable battle ground the outcome of which will benefit no one, especially the innocent citizens. The death of anyone before, during or after the election will certainly not profit either of the parties contesting the election. All parties must, therefore, endeavour to conduct their campaigns peacefully, canvassing votes purely on the basis of developmental issues. This is the best way to assist the electorate make informed choices on July 14.

• Nasamu Jacobson Lagos

Can we believe the president on 2015?

IR: President Goodluck Jonathan has said for the umpteenth time that 2015 election is not in his mind and what is paramount on his mind is the transformation agenda he promised Nigerians.

Some people have gone ahead to kick-start campaigns for him to recontest the 2015 election. This has created a lot of tension in the country, even when the President is yet to even mark one year in office.

The foot soldiers of this campaign

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are people from his South -south zone, who have been threatening fire and brimstone in the event that President Jonathan is not allowed to re-contest.

In spite of his denial, many Nigeria are still skeptical judged by the President body language.

The recent case, where somebody went to court to determine on the qualification of the President to contest the 2015 election actually made people suspect that it was the voice of Jacob while the hand was Esau’s.

The people should be allowed to determine who rule them. That is the essence of democracy, but elections in Nigeria have not been credible. The faer of most Nigerians’ is that the quest for a change of government through transparent election would remain a mirage with the sitting president conducting election.

If President Goodluck Jonathan would want Nigerians to believe in him as regard election in 2015, he should caution his kinsmen to allow

him concentrate on governance. This would go along way to reduce the already charged political atmosphere in the country.

Nigerians would be happy if the President would provide them with basic things of lives, like frequent power supply, security of their lives, goods roads, improved health care system and economic prosperity that would place Nigeria amongst the most developed country in the world.

• Bala Nayashi Lokoja

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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elements from the North had almost assumed a near-divine right to inflict brazen injustices on other set of Nigerians, on the power front.

ANK opportunism – that is the At the height of its power helong and short of Goodluck gemony, even respected voices Jonathan’s happening on the like that great Kano orator, presidency.

Alhaji Maitama Sule, was proOlakunle True, his ascendancy from vice presipounding a theory of how the dent to acting president and finally to North was divinely gifted to lordbeek@yahoo.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please) Abimbola president, following the death of Presirule; while others should condent Umaru Musa Yar’adua, was his right centrate on their commercial by law. Every right thinking Nigerian and administrative gifts, in a difought for that right and ensured he envinely ordered Nigerian polity! joyed it; even with the diabolical maHarold Smith, a British labour noeuvring of the Yar’adua cabal. technocrat in Nigeria’s colonial service in Lagos, had alleged assailant enjoys temporary illicit advantage.

Jonathan breached But not so his decision to run for president. True, that too how the British chose the North as tag-team partner to politithe zoning agreement, and he is the clear one at fault here. The was his constitutional right; and he committed no crime cally wrong-foot the rest of the federation. The Civil War North that tried to press its zoning right is the victim. Let nopressing it. But there was the prickly, little question of zon(1967-1970) resulted from the January 1966 coup that threatbody attempt a cynical change of roles! ing, which the president brazenly breached, en route to musened to upset that power apple cart.

But for those whooping in defence of northern political rights, cling his way to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candiThe 12 June 1993 annulment was also northern-led, though and quietly justifying the Boko Haram criminality, madness and dacy. brave northerners like Col. Kangiwa Abubakar Umar also resenseless mayhem, this is no blanket endorsement.

Zoning threw up the Northern-led Yar’adua-Jonathan ticket sisted it, giving up his commission in the process. Even Olusegun Yes, as far as the 2011 PDP presidential nomination was conafter eight years of the Southern-led Obasanjo-Atiku presiObasanjo, the “corrective measure” for June 12 was a northern cerned, the North was badly done by, by the rest of the country. dency. Jonathan stepped up to complete Yar’adua’s tenure, imposition. “The Yoruba want a president, right?” the northern For those anti-North elements of the South and the Middle Belt, after the president’s death.

Hobson appeared to have growled. “We’ll give them one!” And who wanted so badly a southern president to “deal” with the Had he lived, Yar’adua would have presented himself for a open sesame, Obasanjo came! But Obasanjo would play pooNorth, they should admit they were part of the original sin that second term and probably won it. Thereafter, the ticket dle to nobody – not his northern imposers, not his Yoruba created the present hideous chaos – if you buy Gen. Azazi’s would have returned to the South, at least by the PDP zoning kith-and-kin. He would bow before a temple, where he was theory that Boko Haram went for broke because Jonathan snatched arrangement. If the party had won the election, that would absolute god! the North’s due. have established some regular convention of power interStill, that arrangement – and it was not as limited to PDP as Even those who demonise the Yar’adua cabal, that tried to change between North and South. Without prejudice to votothers are claiming right now – signposted a fresh start, in illegally stonewall a Jonathan presidency, should credit that ers saying otherwise, assuming free and fair elections ruled equitable power rotation, even if it did not strictly fit into the group with some strategic thinking. Knowing the only ethos the roost, that would have assured every of the six geo-poclassical democratic concept, where the people have unfettered the Nigerian political elite subscribe to is expediency over and litical zones producing the presidency. choice. above justice, and that the Nigerian rabble would always back But then Jonathan chanced on the presidency and truncated It was this delicate power fabric that Jonathan ripped – like the winning horse, no matter how unjust that victory was prothat arrangement; simply because he had presidential musthe opportunist who stumbled on a dead hippo and, without cured, the Yar’adua cabal only tried to push their luck, in a lawcle to do so. Yar’adua died, so his right to second term died thinking, started to hack it out! less society that lays so much store by injustice. Armed with with him – and logically so. But his northern lobby insisted The tale of President Jonathan and Nigeria is not unlike the presidential privilege, the Jonathan Ijaw cabal has not behaved on pressing their right to their quota, even after facing defeat Biblical story of Jesus and Judas. Jesus said he had been orany nobler than the Yar’adua group. in the illegal gambit to stonewall Vice President Jonathan’s dained to be betrayed. But woe betide that person who did But having said that, the North cannot, in all good conscience, right to complete Yar’adua’s tenure. that betrayal. Judas did; and he ended up in grief – a pathetic mount any moral high horse as wailing victim of political injusThat was the “original sin” Gen. Andrew Owoye Azazi suicidal, mocked even by his pitiable betrayal trove. tice. Between Lord Fredrick Lugard’s contraption of 1914 and revisited at the South-South Economic Summit in Asaba, Delta Ninety-eight years after Lugard’s 1914 amalgamation, Nithe power meltdown of 2010 when President Yar’adua died, State. But like everything about the Jonathan Presidency, it geria as we know it, is unravelling. An American lobby, based reeked of both rank opportunism and patent dishonesty. on logic and rigour, has picked 2015 for the final dismemberGen. Azazi would have been dashing hero of costly politi“Ninety-eight years after Lugard’s ment. Would Jonathan carry the historical burden of a presical truth which nevertheless must be told, if he had not atunder whose charge Nigeria went kaput?

1914 amalgamation, Nigeria as we dent tempted to twist the truth to suit the emergence of his prinThat need not be. And there should be no extreme panic on cipal; and to justify, on “home soil”, his lack of result (many know it, is unravelling. Would the Boko Haram lunacy. It is only a logical phase in the odyssey would insist, incompetence) as national security adviser a country that, for almost 100 years, has run a relay of injusJonathan carry the historical burden of of (NSA), in the grisly war against the Boko Haram lunatics. tices.

Instead, he emerged a clear villain in the temple of truth by a president under whose charge NiBut the situation is redeemable. Declare a pan-Nigeria talk attempting the classical Nigerian pastime of pouncing on to re-fashion the charter for a new federal Nigeria. That is geria went kaput?” the victim, while cowering before the aggressor, because the hardly novel. But is Jonathan ready?

“You chanced upon a hippo and straight, you plugged your knife into it. Did you think it got drowned there for your sake?” – Yoruba saying decrying rank opportunism.

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epublican ipples

NSA, PDP and the original sin

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AST week, President Goodluck Jonathan finally took on the swirling industry in town – the moneyspinning business of Project Jonathan for 2015. The project, which has witnessed some twists and turns some of which borders on the comical have naturally acquired the opportunistic character of our prebendal politics. As would be expected, the man at the centre of it all gave nothing away that could be remotely seen as dousing the root of the tension which he acknowledged is needlessly heating up the polity. Time, yet again to recycle the now worn homilies about facing the job that needed to be done, and how the activities of the merchants of distractions have prevented him from doing the job we elected him to do.

Trust the President, he fell short of acknowledging that the distractions he referred to were largely his own making; that the fuel for the needless sabre-rattling across the nation’s ethnic divide, as indeed the security flare-ups on which the fate of the nation now precariously hangs and which have come to define his Presidency, are by-products of his opportunistic politics; coupled with this is the astounding incompetence that he and his team have brought to bear on the job in the last one year. Sure, there will be enough time for more alibis.

If it seems any indications however, the fact that that discussion about the shape of 2015 within the PDP are so animated and divisive, barely three weeks to the first anniversary of the so-called pan-Nigerian mandate –ought to be proof of how disenchanted Nigerians are with the President and his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Unfortunately, such has been the tragic hold of this party on the nation and its destiny that Nigerians are not only routinely sucked into their intraparty squabbles, they seem to have been manipulated into surrendering all initiatives to a party under whose watch the nation has been on a free- fall on all indices of human development. Part of the consequence is that the nation today pays more attention to what the PDP does or what it fails to do than what ails it the most.

The story of the PDP reminds me of the African fable of a village reject who would rather beat his drum in the village square than any other place. Well, the PDP outcast would not just take its vile drums to the market square; it would go as far as do an Occupy-the-Market dance. Like the political Boko Haram which it sired, the PDP has become the nation’s nightmare.

Agreed, there are those who believe that the President has been excessively harried over his immoral abrogation of the PDP zoning formula. And given how the other nightmare – the Boko Haram has turned, there are those who will wager that the menace actually

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

Our PDP nightmare metastasised as a protest against the jettisoning of the party’s zoning arrangement. That may well be. For those who would rather hawk their alibis in their dozens, here is my disappointing verdict: the nation is not in the present sorry pass because President Goodluck Jonathan was prevented from forming his government. And the Boko Haram didn’t become bold and daring overnight because a southern Ijaw man presently occupies the Presidential office. We are where we are simply because those saddled with the authority of office lack the balls to do what is necessary to tame the two monsters currently facing the nation at the moment. Whether it is Boko Haram or the other monster – the criminal impunity and the mindboggling corruption currently threatening to choke us all –this presidency has proven time and time again to be clueless as to be incompetent.

The imperative therefore is one of reframing the issues at the heart of the current disenchantment. By May 29, this President would mark the first anniversary of his election as President and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic. Can anyone truly point at one achievement – or rather one initiative to suggest that the administration has a minimalist grasp of the issues facing the nation in the current time? I am not aware of any institution circumscribing either the President’s powers or even his authority to govern, which is why the current regression in governance is inexplicable. To suggest, as some are wont to do, that the President has been hamstrung in the performance of the functions of his office for whatever reasons, by some invisible forces, is to make light of the powers of that awesome office. I must add here also that I haven’t quite heard the leaders of the Jonathan-must-

run-in-2015 orchestra present their case with some conviction that their man has done well; rather, the issue has been the nauseating turn-by-turn politics of the PDP under which a bumbling party seeks to reward itself for serial incompetence while dragging the nation further down the pit.

Those who think that it is yet early in the day to discuss the 2015 elections are welcome to luxuriate in the illusion that the party would muddle through to deliver sterling performance. Other than the party’s readiness to avail their members of the full course of the main meal while leaving the rest of us to feast on crumbs, can anything be said of the party of the umbrella when it comes to promises of performance? What is their record in the last 12 years of occupation of the Presidential office to excite anyone?

And yet they swear that the presidential office is theirs for keeps!

But then, the issue isn’t so much about the PDP. It is about Nigerians and their resolve to take their destinies in their hands by demanding that those entrusted with the responsibility of public office perform or quit. This is where I guess the opposition parties must unite and take the lead. Taking a lead means coming together to build a formidable platform to wrest power from the PDP. This is because the success of the PDP in 2015, God forbid, would spell doom not just for the values we hold dear but the nation’s aspirations to progress. So, time to talk about 2015 and beyond. As for their concerns, who cares if they are distracted?

‘The nation is not in the present sorry pass because President Goodluck Jonathan was prevented from forming his government. And the Boko Haram didn’t become bold and daring overnight because a southern Ijaw man presently occupies the Presidential office. We are where we are simply because those saddled with the authority of office lack the balls to do what is necessary to tame the two monsters currently facing the nation at the moment’

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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HERE is something humbling about the decision by the House of Representatives to convoke the Nigeria Refining Capacity Summit which held in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital between March 28-29. The Speaker, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal in his welcome address set the tone by admitting that even as an arm of government, the legislature does not have all the solutions and knowledge to all the problems, he noted however, through the summit, the lower parliament had provided a platform where invited stakeholders and experts ventilated their views on how to boost the nation’s refining capacity.

Perhaps I should begin this piece by stating unequivocally that as lawmakers, we are unhappy about the fact that our country relies solely on import to meet its petroleum products need. It is unacceptable that the eight largest exporter of crude is also one of the highest importers of refined petroleum products. So we chose Towards a Functional Refining Regime in Nigerian Petroleum Industry as a fitting theme. It is gratifying to note that Uyo 2012 provided a veritable stage for robust engagement and search for solutions.

And all those who participated agreed that it was one of the best organized and most productive topical national discourse in recent times. I am aware that stakeholders are anxiously waiting for post summit action to justify the time spent at Uyo. I wish to use this medium to reassure everybody that the lofty ideals behind Nigeria Refining Capacity Summit are on course.

Uyo 2012 was indeed a unique gathering. I really can’t remember in recent times, when 300 distinguished stakeholders in the petroleum industry gathered under one roof to addres one problem.

But there was also consensus that deregulation of the downstream sub-sector was critical in reforming the petroleum industry. We all agreed that the success of deregulation as a policy was not only hinged on consistency in government policies but also in its implementation.

At another realm, participants decided that rather than subsidize consumption, we should subsidize production. Of course by insisting on production, we know the implications. Apart from creating more jobs, Nigeria stands to gain strategic security advantage that comes naturally with the ability to refine our product in our country.

It also came to the fore at the summit that refining is strategic in the petroleum value chain if we intend to optimize the resources given to us by God. For us as a country, we can actually learn from the experiences of countries like China and Brazil . Petrobras,

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OVEREIGN NATIONAL CONFERENCE Vs NATIONAL

ASSEMBLY Writing a new constitution that carries the authentic garment of autoctonocity is a national project that will most likely affect the shape and structure of the National Assembly itself and again it is a fundamental principle of law that you cannot preside over your own matter.

Second, no individual party and or candidate presented the subject matter of writing a new constitution in their manifesto for the 2011 national elections. It means they never had a mandate of their constituents to write a new constitution.

Third, law-making business, particularly, the grundnorm, as opposed to constitutional amendments, rightly belongs to constituent assembly expected to make laws which may affect the assemblies as we now have them.

Four, again, sovereignty belongs to the people. They periodically invest a part of their sovereignty on the candidates who eventually win particular elections. That is why governments in civilized climes and matured democracies usually refer to the people through referendum, and or plebiscite, significant new developments occurring that were not envisaged in between their mandates to another elections.

Readers should understand the import of this aspect with what is going on within the European Union over their various economies. Germany, Italy, Spain, and Greece etc have had to present new issues on monetary policy matters to their citizens in referendum or plebiscite.

Five, let it be known as a fact that the resolutions and conclusions of the representatives of the people at a Sovereign National Conference, SNC shall not affect

Nigeria Refining Capacity Summit : a post-mortem

By Dakuku Peterside the Brazil national oil has performed excellently well since it was opened to private investors in the 1990s. That same period, Brazil introduced reforms that made the company more efficient and even better managed. So at the end of the 1990s, the Latin American country underwent market liberalization. For instance, in 1997, the Petroleum Investment Law was adopted and this among other things, liberalized oil production in the country.

Part of the reforms included market liberalization and this eventually led to the Petroleum Investment Law and this immediately liberalized oil production. The effect of these on the Brazil ’s economy is unimaginable.

This year alone, Petrobras will invest over $500 million in Argentina , and this is just the beginning.

On the other hand, China is also a good example. The cultural revolution during the 1960s and early 1970s reshaped China ’s institutional structures. As it turned out, ideology rather than economic development dictated the institutional structure. The remarkable upsurge in popular protests particularly in the 1990s in China also resulted in major economic reforms in the oil and gas sector.

However, over the last two decades, China has witnessed dramatic changes in its energy sector. In a bid to make business more profitable and transparent, China embarked on administrative and enterprise sector restructuring. Today, oil and gas is controlled by closely monitored state enterprises and the country is better for it.

Uyo 2012 also questioned some realities.

Why is it that some models that appear to be working in other places fail in Nigeria ? However, a range of different models were placed under scrutiny by the participants.

In addition, the summit revisited the unresolved issue of regulation. It dealt extensively on regulatory framework for licensing and operations of refineries and came to the conclusion that it needs a little bit of fine tuning and government guarantees. In view of the small margin, especially at the formation stages, refineries on a comparative scale are not attractive to investors. An investor would rather look in other directions where turnover and profit have a shorter gestation pe-

riod. Therefore, it was agreed that government leverage was inevitable. And like rail lines, government must take the lead in investing in large refineries.

In the United States for instance, agricultural subsidy is government’s special grant paid to farmers and agribusinesses. Its function primarily is to supplement income of farmers, manage the supply of commodities and influence the cost and supply of such commodities. At the moment, the US government pays about $20 billion in cash annually to farmers and owners of farmland. Between 1995 and 2005, the US government paid about $250 billion in farm subsidies as part of government’s continued bailout of agriculture. I am also aware that Congress legislate the amount of farm subsidies through a five-year farm bills.

One of the most important decisions arrived at in Uyo is the inevitability of Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). Too many things about the operation of our petroleum industry are shrouded in secrecy. Agitation by host communities will continue and environmental challenges especially gas flaring will continue to be a challenge until we tackle them head on by putting the appropriate legislation in place. We are losing so much revenue due to indiscretion and lack of transparency by the operators. There have been complaints about accountability of revenue generated. If we must put an end to these leakages and other challenges confronting the industry, then there must be a reform.

There is also another strand of boosting investors’ confidence by increased transparency and accountability in the way we conduct affairs in the industry. Therefore, all stakeholders resolved that for us to be taken seriously as a country, we must deal with and put behind us, the issue of PIB. And there was a consensus that without PIB, we will make no major progress in the industry.

In addition, the abuse of the subsidy regime as shown by the House of Representatives Ad hoc committee report has further brought to the fore the urgent need to seek for solution to our inability to refine products incountry. And the earlier this is addressed, the better because Nigerians are we waiting.

Make no mistake about the fact that the peo-

ple of this country are full of ideas and ingenuity; all they need are opportunities which are lacking.

However, as a participant, I went away with the impression that we are obviously not doing as much as we should do as a people.

In fact, I was particularly awed at the quality of thoughts and direction the summit provided.

Another interesting part is that Nigeria Refining Capacity Summit also provided an opportunity for us to tell ourselves some bitter truth. Chief Godswill Akpabio, the host governor in his welcome address re-echoed one of those contradictions in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria. The governor drew attention to the secret pains of Akwa Ibom, a state that has the highest production quota in Nigeria but does not have a refinery or an oil depot.

But Uyo 2012 was not all about lamentations. I am confident that these contradictions would be addressed. I am happy too that we all departed with very strong commitment and promise to better our country and the life of our citizens. For instance, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Trade and Investment assured of his ministry’s commitment towards supporting direct investment in the oil and gas sector, particularly in the downstream petroleum industry. And he has also mandated the management of all the oil and gas Free Zones in the country to double their efforts towards attracting investments in the oil and gas sector, though with special emphasis on refining. Indeed, the summit reinvigorated our hope in our quest towards attaining local refining capacity.

I can therefore confidently say that I see a new dawn if we vigorously pursue the reforms and be guided by best practice which is one of the recommendations of the summit. We must also collectively agree to root out corruption in all forms in the oil and gas industry. Corruption is incompatible with growth especially when rooted in the economic mainstay of a nation. And as a country, we must commit ourselves to optimizing all the benefits accruable from natural resource endowment and use it to develop other sectors of the economy for sustainability. This is urgent and critical. It is not measured by rhetoric but concrete action to show we are ready to optimize oil revenue to build infrastructure that will drive growth and make our country the preferred investment destination. In fact, I see a great Nigeria .

• Peterside, a member of House of Representatives is also Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum, Downstream

Exposing my family conversation -2

By Ayo Opadokun the operations of the sitting governments.

The new constitution shall commence to operate at agreed date after the current governments have enjoyed/completed their lifespan.

WHY IS NIGERIA AMONG THE FIVE MOST CORRUPT NATIONS IN THE WORLD? The predicament of corruption can be traced to the Muritala/Obasanjo’s emergence into governance in Nigeria. The purported purge of the civil service led to situations where many top and junior officers were indiscriminately sacked, suspended and quarried in military fashions.

In fact, many senior officers on leaving their officers at the close of time got their sack notices in vehicles while returning home. The unfortunate case of General Muritala Mohammed’s personal quarrel with Alhaji Sule Katagum the erstwhile chairman of the Federal Civil Service and Mr. Akindele the top most engineer of the Federal Ministry of Communication are illustrative of the lawlessness of military dictatorship.

Succeeding governments leadership since the advent of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida regime have totally undermined the state institutions established to identify, check, prevent and eliminate corruption. Police was undermined and unfunded adequately for over two and half decades. The police was not given the modern tool neither was the institution’s welfare well attended to. The military leadership deliberately weakened

the police so that no other government coercive agency can deter the army from undertaking its usual insurrection against the state.

MODE OF REPRESENTATION INTO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Appreciable work had been done to identify the various ethnic groups in the country. At the PRONACO conference, there were about 415 identifiable ethnic configurations in the country. Many of them speak identical tongue. Therefore there are agreeable ethnic blockings that are acceptable as common factor ethnic languages all over the country.

Opinion leaders should know that at the SNC, representation would not be by the concept of majority and or minority. Each ethnic group will have one vote. Every grouped ethnic blockings/regional federation will come to the conference with their draft constitutions. These drafts will then be tabled, discussed, resolved and concluded on the basis of give and take.

Moreover, elections and or nominations to the SNC will be held in accordance with the traditional ways and procedure which is traditionally and or culturally acceptable for choosing, nominating and electing representatives of such ethnic groups, and other stakeholders. Governments will not nominate people either for the ethnic nationalities or for other stakeholders.

Federal Government is expected to be represented in the conference just by very few nominees to represent key government departments. For example, the secretary to Federal Government, the leadership of the Army, Airforce, Navy, Police, National

Security etc. may be expected to be nominated by government at the centre.

Other details should be well discussed and adopted among the representatives who will manage the conference as soon as the people are ready for the national dialogue. Those who are against authentic national dialogue most likely because of their current advantageous positions are the very enemies of the corporate Nigeria.

• Concluded

‘The predicament of corruption can be traced to the Muritala/Obasanjo’s emergence into governance in Nigeria.

The purported purge of the civil service led to situations where many top and junior officers were indiscriminately sacked, suspended and quarried in military fashions. In fact, many senior officers on leaving their officers at the close of time got their sack notices in vehicles while returning home’

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PROPERTY

Tuesday, MAY 8, 2012

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

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The making of Banana Island •Property prices hit the roof

•Ocean Parade Towers, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos

If you call it small London, you may not be wrong because it is planned like that exquisite city. No overhanging electric cables, no running pipes on the road.

Everything is underground. Welcome to Banana Island, where the rich are sparing no cash to put up tasteful homes in a season of deep recession in the property market. OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE reports.

•CONTINUED ON PAGE 26 •Forgery-proof C of O coming, says Fashola - PAGE 26

•’Nigeria has lowest mortgage penetration’ - PAGE 39

•’Indigenous

tech is panacea to housing delivery’ - PAGE 40

26

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Forgery-proof C of O coming, says Fashola

L

AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola says he has kept his electoral promise to upgrade infrastructure, green the environment and improve the well-being of Lagosians.

Speaking on his 1,800 days in office, he said his administration inaugurated the Records and Archives Bureau, Office of the Public Defender, the Security and Command Centre, Iponri Mini-water works and Maternal and Child care centre at Gbaja.

He said: “ Whilst we are making progress with 14 out of 15 inner roads we promised to rehabilitate in Agege, the 16 local roads in Badiya, the two schools in Bariga and the one in Gbagada.

We have completed one out of 11 drainage channels in Lekki, while the ones we committed to repairing in Agege, Shomolu and

Stories by Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Asst. Editor

other parts of Lagos after last year’s rainfall, are being worked on and considerable progress made.”

The governor revealed that the state has embarked on the regeneration of Costain axis, Obalande and the construction of Ajao-Ejigbo Link Bridge.

He said the state is hamstrung on the Ijegun- Isheri Oshun-Isolo Jakande bridge due to paucity of funds as it requires over N10 billion to execute the project.

As soon as funds are available the project will be completed, he said.

On the proposed Mile 12 to Ikorodu road project, he said it is estimated to cost N30 billion and will begin soon.

Fashola promised to award contracts for the construction of 17 new schools, renovation of 282 classes

in seven schools, renovation and furnishing of 44 science laboratories, provision of 15,000 students furniture and 1,986 thousand housing units.

He regretted that the planned addition of over 660 housing units meant for Agbowa community may be hampered by a case instituted against the government by the community. He advised against taking for granted the freedom and hospitality obtainable in the state.

The government, he said, would also provide road furniture such as street lights and lane marking to check traffic challenges in the metropolis.

On land documentation, he said: “Because we understand very clearly the importance of proper land documentation to our collective prosperity and economic growth, we are also finalising the

The making of Banana Island •CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

I

T is an estate for the wellheeled. It sits pretty in a cosy part of Ikoyi and its name sounds hilarious: Banana Island.

This artificial island built on reclaimed land in Ikoyi is the new abode for the super-rich. Bye bye old Ikoyi, bye bye Victoria Island, bye bye Park View Estate, bye bye Lekki. It is now Banana Island or nothing for the rich.

Sitting on 1.6 million square metres of land divided into about 535 plots ranging in size from 1,000 square metres to 3,000 square metres, the island derives its name from its banana shape.

Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it has state-of-the-art infrastructure, making it the priciest in the property market.

Its price is above the average land price in other highbrow areas in Lagos and Abuja.

Its a gated community and its inhabitants enjoy underground electrical systems (no cables hanging out), 24-hour water and electricity supply ,good road layout, a central sewage system and treatment plant.

Accommodation is paid for in dollars or Euros. With property prices dipping in most areas, Banana Island seems immune to the price crash. The price of land in the Island keeps soaring While in some highbrow areas one can still get a standard land price of about 18 by 36 metres or little above that for between $500,000 and $1 million in Banana Island it will cost almost double the price.

In the last six months, the price of land has appreciated to the extent that a land size of 1,300 square metres in the area costs well over N250 million as against N200 million last year. Also, a plot of land measuring 2,080 square metres sells for N380 million as against N304 million last year, though some special plots are priced as high as $4 million.

However, if a buyer is desirous of buying a fully built house he must be ready to part with a huge sum. For instance, the cheapest building on the island costs about $8 million.

A surveyor and principal partner, Kola Akomolede & Co, Asiwaju Kola Akomolede, confirmed that land prices have appreciated at Banana Island. According to him, it costs between N175, 000 and N200,000 per square metre as against

N150,000 last year.

He said: “The property market is picking up a little bit. Dolphin Estate, Lekki and other parts of Ikoyi costs between N75 and 80 million for a 100,000-square metre as against Banana Island that costs N100 million.”

On what is driving the price, he said the area boasts of competitive infrastructure and there is more money in circulation for people to trade in exclusive properties.

He said rent is not picking up as much because of the oversupply of luxury houses in Ikoyi, Lekki and Victoria Island.

President, Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors & Valuers (NIESV) Mr Emeka Eleh said prices of land have gone up to about 20 per cent in Banana Island more than other highbrow areas because it is most preferred for its infrastructure.

He said: “Old Ikoyi has been made unattractive - losing some of its serenity to property investors and discerning home owners due to the over production of apartments and flats in the area that made it over crowded.

“This is pronounced in such areas like Osborne Road and Second Avenue. The difference in Banana Island is its serenity as it is removed from the hustle and bustle of old Ikoyi. Besides, it has well laid out plans, good roads and water, stable light and well developed drainage.”

He said Banana Island is a community where things run efficiently and the resident association is doing a great job to ensure that living in the estate remains a pleasurable experience.

President, International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI Africa) Mr Chudu Ubosi said property prices at Banana Island are going up to about N180,000 to N190,000 per square metre.

This, he said, is probably because it is well laid out and a virgin estate where people are just starting to build. He added that the estate has become a toast of the few wealthy who can afford it, because of the good drainage, which makes it impassible to experience flooding.

He said: “Banana lsland has the greatest appreciation value for property and because of its proximity to the city centre it has remained a place to live for the rich, especially as it boasts of competitive infrastructure.”

•Luxury flats in Banana Island.

plans for the issuance of a new certificate of occupancy (CofO), different from the yellow certificate that you are accustomed to.

The new certificate will be a much more secure, tamper and forgeproof document that is bar-coded and electronically readable, and in the next few months we will be announcing details of its implementation in a way that will ensure a seamless transition from the old to the new.”

Furthermore he revealed that people can now access information about a particular property through the Geographic Information Service(GIS) in order to conduct thorough property searches.

According to him, what remains to be done is to match all the properties and their owners with their title documents online, and to conclude the electronic payment regime that will allow the public

•Fashola

download certified true copies and maps and also pay for them online.

TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

27

‘

It is obvious that the rights of the chairman of NHRC, Prof Odinkalu, alongside his lawyers, have been brutally violated and they are, therefore, entitled to remedy against the Police under the law

’

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

• SEE PAGE 30

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World Press Freedom Day: Is the Press really free

Recent reports on press freedom by the Reporters Without Borders (RWB) and Freedom House (FH) portray Nigeria as one with less regard for freedom of the press. As the world celebrates this year’s edition of World Press Freedom Day, lawyers argue that although there are enough legislations to protect journalists, the laws need to be applied. ADEBISI ONANUGA, ERIC IKHILAE and PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU report

T

HE nation, last Thursday, joined the world in com memorating the World Press Freedom Day. May 3 is set aside annually by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to raise awareness on the importance of press freedom.

It also serves to remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Hu-

man Rights.

This year’s edition is the 21st since the adoption of the African newspaper journalists’statement of the free press principles in 1991 by the UN under the Declaration of Windhoek (Namibia) This years’edition was held under the themes: “Media freedom has the power to transform societies”; “Difficulty in the access to quality information undermines media freedom”, and “Challenges to me-

dia in a new environment”, issues that touch on the core of media operations in the country.

Unfortunately, the day was celebrated at a time the media, once again, awed by threats to their continued existence, a development reminiscent of what it was subjected to under the arbitrary rule of the military.

The nation’s media, aside from being constantly subjected to political manipulation and state harass-

Inside: Lawyers oppose holding NBA ... - P.29

ment, is now confronted with violent threats from socially- estranged groups, with claims of having grievances with the state.

This is in spite of the existence of legislations, both local and international, imbuing the media with responsibilities and empowering them with a supposed inalienable right of existence. The Constitution, in Section 22, empowers the press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media to, at all times,

hold the government and its agencies responsible and accountable to the people, a function it must perform by scrutinising their activities.

Section 39 also allows every person the freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference. Sub-section 2 provides the •See story on page 28

‘Make study of International Law compulsory’ - P.30

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

28

LAW COVER CONT’D

Legislation alone can’t ensure press freedom, say lawyers

• Continued from page 27

freedom for every person to be entitled to own, establish and operate any medium for the dissemination of information, ideas and opinions, but subject to the approval of the government or its appropriate agencies.

There is also the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, which gives every Nigerian and, by extension, the media, a legal right of access to information, records and documents held by government and private bodies carrying out public functions.

These laws are intended to domesticate the concept of media freedom captured in the 1948 UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

Despite these provisions, the media in the country have constantly been subjected to a series of inhibitions primarily from the state and its agencies.

Prior to independence and shortly after, press freedom was inhibited by the Sedition Law, the succeeding military government enacted decrees like the Decree 2 and 4 under Buhari and Babangida regimes to hinder press freedom.

Both administrations erroneously interpreted national security to imply the protection of government and those in power, a view that contradicts the general belief that national security should exceed the deployment of brute force to ensure territorial defence to include the improvement in the physical, social and psychological quality of life of a society and its members.

Governments in the past have devised means of browbeating journalists into seeing national interest the way those in government see it. Those who have deviated on most occasions have had to either pay with their lives or terms of imprisonment.

Journalists in the country have in most cases been caught in situations where they are between the call of duty and the need to protect “national security,” a security often erroneously equated with the safety of the interests of those in power and the media owners.

This development, observers argued, has effectively hampered the media in executing its functions of informing, educating and entertaining as well as setting societal agenda.

This, as reflected in the last World Press Freedom index, published in 2011 by RWB, placed the country in the category of countries without free press. The country is ranked “not free.”

The Freedom House also supported this position when it ranked the country 15 of the

• Fagbohungbe (SAN)

• Falana

• Keyamo

over 20 countries sampled in sub-Saharan Africa in its 2011 Freedom of the Pres Report.

Elements which formed the decision of the group included the level of press freedom in the country and editorial independence enjoyed by the press.

This unenviable performance by the country in global measurement of press freedom requires urgent steps on the part of journalists and media stakeholders to seek ways of improving on press freedom by ensuring the provision of a conducive environment for media operation.

Law experts, who examined the issue of press freedom, argued that there are enough legislations to secure journalists and ensure their independent operations.

Chief Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN), rights activist Femi Falana, Dr. Chukwudi Mba and Festus Keyamo said the nation’s Constitution and the FOI Act have adequately provided for press freedom. They added that the media only suffer from psychological oppression.

Fagbohungbe said the Constitution has given the press enough freedom which no one can curtail, adding that it is not seen from the Constitution if there are any restrictions to press freedom. He said the lawmakers have been extremely careful in restricting press

freedom since the inception of the 1999 Constitution.

Fagbohungbe said the FOI Act is another plus for press freedom. “I think the press has enjoyed the support of the society because they have been doing very well in keeping everybody on their toes.”

Keyamo aired similar views when he argued that although the Constitution has provided legal freedom for the press, psychological freedom is still non existent.

“In the past years, we have had a lot of killings of journalists. This is enough to strike psychological fear in journalists, who will, in turn, avoid reporting certain issues for fear of their lives.” Keyamo said He noted that although the present FOI Act was an improvement on the former, it was still not as desired. “There is need for the government to pass a more-enhanced FOI Act, ensure the safety of journalists as well as ensure protection of their live,” Keyamo said.

Falana said: “I think there is ignorance with respect to the use of the law. On the other hand, we are already part of the culture of impunity. We don’t take advantage of the law. We need to fight for rights. I have challenged some publishers to organise in-house seminars for their staff,

for journalists, for their would-be workers so that we can open up government, because that is what the law is all about.

“The other way we can do that is for media houses to live by the ethics of the profession: publish and be damned. This is where the media would have to redefine the politics of advertisement. I could recall during the January 2012 protest against the removal of subsidy. In order to cover up the event, the government deliberately engaged in what they called wrapping advertisement to cover up stories and the media fell for it.

Some of the advertisements offended the law because the advertisers are unknown.

“That is an area the media can also run into trouble if people sued to find out who these characters are. Again, we can ask for this information through the FOI Act. So, you can no longer publish advertisement for anonymous person.

“Just last week, we got a brief from an organisation that was linked with Boko Haram by the State Security Service. Due to the recklessness of the newspaper that published the report, a libel action is going to be filed in court. That is what I meant when I said the media also have to display a lot of responsibility so that you don’t run into a problem.”

Why I set up arbitration centre, by ex-NBA President Ojo

F

ORMER Nigerian Bar Associa tion (NBA) President Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN) has said he set up the Centre for International Commercial Arbitration to facilitate arbitral and mediation hearings in a conducive environment.

He said since arbitration is very relevant in the resolution of disputes because it is quick, prompt,

By John Austin Unachukwu, Legal Editor

efficient, there is need to make it more accessible.

Users are sure of not going through most of the hurdles associated with regular court proceeding, Ojo said.

“It is also private and driven by the parties themselves. What we

call party autonomy in arbitration parlance. If lawyers do not turn arbitration into litigation, it will maintain its relevance for a long time to come.

“Do not forget that arbitration is not for lawyers only. Anybody who has undergone the relevant training can be an arbitrator no matter your profession. We have

• From right: Deputy Governor, Delta State, Prof. A. A. Utuama, receiving a gift from NBA Chairman Ekiti State Branch, Mr Owoseni Ajayi, during the 2nd Annual Afe Babalola Law lecture by the Ekiti branch in Ado Ekiti.

architects, surveyors, engineers and even doctors now who are arbitrators.

“The fact that you are a lawyer or retired judge does not mean that you can be an arbitrator. You must acquire the requisite training,” Ojo said.

Asked why he established the centre, Ojo said: “It’s a dream I had since 2002. In 2002, I was involved in an arbitration as a member of a panel of arbitrators in Abuja.

“We had the hearing in the board room of one of the parties and the other party initially agreed to that but later objected. We tried to get another suitable venue but this proved difficult.

“I then made up my mind that in future I would set up a standard, well-equipped world-class arbitration centre in Abuja which will compare favourably with similar centres in other parts of the world.

And this is the dream I just actualised.”

Ojo said the centre has four hearing/syndicate rooms and a large theatre-style conference room that can contain 50 people, as well as retiring rooms for parties and the arbitrators/mediators. Four hearings going on simultaneously and conveniently. The smallest hearing room can sit 13 people.

Other facilities are video conferencing, e-conferencing, wire-

• Ojo (SAN)

less internet, fax and direct dial telephone service to accommodate trainings, workshops, seminars, corporate retreats, Annual General Meetings (AGMs), business meetings, product launches/ demostrations, arbitral hearings and mediation hearings.

Ojo said Nigerians are gradually embracing arbitration. “Arbitration and mediation or alternative dispute resolution (ADR) generally have come a long way in Nigeria going by its acceptability and usage level. The process can be fasttracked through adequate training for its users. My advice to the business community is to avail themselves of the process in resolving their business disputes,” he added.

, 2012

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

29

LAW & SOCIETY

Lawyers oppose holding NBA Delegates’ Conference in Kaduna

T

HE Egbe Amofin O’Odua (the Yoruba Lawyers’ Fo rum) has kicked against holding the proposed Delegates Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Kaduna State.

It said though it holds nothing against the North, it will not be wise to expose over 10,000 lawyers, who will be attending the conference to elect a new leadership, to danger.

The lawyers said the NBA should instead consider other states less prone to bomb attacks.

Kaduna has witnesses several bombings in recent times, with many lives and property destroyed.

By Joseph Jibueze

The group met at Ekiti State at the weekend, where they discussed issued relating to how to move the legal profession forward.

The meeting was hosted by Deacon Dele Adesina (SAN).

The group said the security challenges facing the country cannot be ignored.

It offered to mediate in a legal dispute between Ekiti lawyers and the state government, and urged them to withdraw a suit they filed.

It was also said more branches should be mobilised ahead of the NBA National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for this

month in Lokoja, Kogi State capital.

Egbe members, who intend to contest the forthcoming elections, were at the meeting.

Also there were aspirants for NBA Presidency from outside the Egbe, including Emeka Ngige (SAN), Okey Wali (SAN) and Blessing Ukiri.

Secretary of the group, Mr Ranti Ajeleti, told The Nation why the Egbe is opposed to holding the conference in Kaduna.

He said: “We reviewed the position of law in Nigeria and in Western Nigeria in particular, that is, the Common Law. We also discussed the advancement of the le-

gal profession in Nigeria and the West.

“As regards the Delegates Conference being proposed to hold in Kaduna – it has not been fixed –the group said that with the security challenges in Kaduna, it will amount to an invitation to mass suicide for a gathering of lawyers of about 10,000 in black suits to assemble in any part of the core North now where we have bombings and security challenges.

“We did advise that the NEC meeting of the bar should consider a much more fairly secure place. We suggested Ilorin or Lokoja, because of what is hap-

pening in Kaduna, Abuja, Borno, Yobe, Kano. We don’t want to commit mass suicide.

“Whoever is responsible for the bombings will score a good point should they be able to eliminate many lawyers, which could affect the current security situation in the country. We don’t want that.

“The other issue discussed was that the Ado-Ekiti Branch of the NBA is up in arms against the government of Ekiti State about appointment of judges.

“We advised the branch to withdraw the matter from the court and to allow the Egbe to look into their complaints and resolve them.”

• From left: NBA General Secretary Muyiwa Akinboro; Elemo of Oke Emo, Ilawe-Ekiti, Chief Gbenga Agbona and former NBA President Wole Olanipekun (SAN)

•From left: Former NBA Publicity Secretary, Abdurasheed Muritala; Ekiti State Attorney-General, Dayo Akinlaja and host Deacon Adesina (SAN)

•From left: Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Okey Wali (SAN) and Mrs Stella Oduah

• Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi (Afuntade I) and Chief Bamidele Aiku (SAN)

• Ajeleti

• Chairman NBA Osogbo, Toyin Adegoke

• Abioye Akerele (left) and Chairman, NBA Lagos Branch, Taiwo O. Taiwo

• Chairman, NBA Local Government Reform Committee, Niyi Oshinubi (left) and former Chairman, NBA Ikeja Branch, Bisi Ade-Ademuwagun

• Chief Ngige (SAN) and NBA Ist Vice-President Ukiri.

PHOTOS: JOSEPH JIBUEZE

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

30

LEGAL OPINION

Police not above the law

“A

NY man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and, therefore, never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” John Donne, an English poet.

Most times when the rights activists complain about the Police and their abuse of powers, it is often dismissed by the unwary as undue radicalism and mere grandstanding by some meddlesome interlopers, with no clear vision of their mission in society. But that is far from the truth, as the stark reality of this problem have become a constant torn in our collective psyche as a people The citizens of this country are daily assailed by various acts of abuse of their civil rights by the Police in the purported exercise of their statutory duties, ranging from unlawful arrest and detention, extortion, intimidation, false imprisonment, torture, extra judicial killings, solitary confinement and all forms of inhuman and degrading treatments, expressly prohibited and outlawed by the constitution.

The recent travails of Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Anslem Odinkalu, with the Police high command, in Abuja, over his comments on the growing spate of extra judicial killings in the country, a position taken based on available official data from government sources, including the same Police authorities, is, indeed, worrisome.

The incident should be seen as a serious source of concern to all lawabiding citizens, in whose interest the Commission was established by law as a bulwark against injustice, through the promotion, protection and defence of the fundamental human rights and the basic freedoms under the constitution.

This is a wake up call because if the head of such a high profile organisation, appointed by the President, on merit, with all its statutory powers and functions intact, could be so harassed and maltreated by the Police, what other evidence do we require to conclude that the common man has no future in Nigeria? This is because those who are supposed to protect them whenever their rights are being violated, have turned to be the law breakers themselves, and this they resort to with impunity.

As reported in the media, the chairman of the commission had while presenting a paper at a conference organised by the National Association of Judicial Correspondents, in Abuja, last month, frowned at the dangerous slide witnessed in the criminal justice system in Nigeria, especially the high rate of extra-judicial killings allegedly perpetrated by the Police, and the Police could brook none of it, threatening hell and brimstone, against the chairman.

The invitation letter to him as well as the body language of the Police authorities spoke volumes of an inherent threat of arrest and detention, and the chairman being wellguided sought the company of his lawyers before honouring the invitation.

To the Police, his comments, though not a figment of his imagination or personal conjecture, but extracts from official data contained in various panels’ reports on the subject matter, including the Police itself, was an affront to their imperial powers, a reckless and irresponsible attack on the image and integrity of the Police, and, therefore, he must be treated like a common suspect, and in spite of his official position as the chairman of an independent institution created by statute, just like the Police.

And his just fears of repression was vindicated, when he honoured the invitation with his lawyers only to be told point blank that they had no business with his lawyers and as such the lawyers would not be al-

• Agbedo

By Frank Agbedo

lowed to witness his interrogation or call it inquisition, if you like. The lawyers had insisted that there was no legal basis for their being excluded from the interrogation proceedings, having a duty in law to represent their client, but the Police team comprising senior officers, remained adamant and unyielding citing, what they called “standard practice in the Police, as the basis for the denial of access to counsel to their client.

With the lawyers out of sight and out of hearing, apparently, as prelude to formal arrest and possible detention, they demanded a written statement on the allegations from the chairman of the commission, but being fully aware of his rights, he refused to be forced into writing a statement, which he insisted must be voluntary and not under duress, informing them of his constitutional right to remain silent, if he so wished, when accused of an offence and unrestricted access to his lawyers.

Both parties stuck to their guns and the ding dong lasted for several hours, before reason and sanity finally prevailed over sentiment and bravado and the swords were sheathed on both sides.

The so called standard practice, cited by the Police, as basis for their brazen onslaught against the chairman and his lawyers, could not have been predicated upon any known law, but is rather a sad and regrettable reflection of the mindset of a Police force that was yet to wean itself from its anachronistic colonial past, where it was set up as an instrument of repression, oppression and victimisation of citizens perceived to be enemies of the colonial masters, and never as a civil organisation aimed at the protection of life and property of the citizens as well as maintenance of law and order in the society.

Our laws have made ample provisions in relation to pre-custodial/ interrogatory rights of suspects under the criminal law, and these are well-entrenched under Section 35(2) of the 1999 Constitution,as amended, which makes it illegal and unlawful to compel any person against his will to make a statement or to answer any questions while under interrogation by a Police officer or other law enforcers.

The Supreme Court gave judicial imprimatur to the above law over two decades ago, in the case of Seidu Vs the State (1982) 4. SC at Page 41, where it was held that an accused person’s statement was admissible in evidence against him, only it was proved to have been obtained voluntarily by the prosecution.

In his book, Rights of Suspects and Accused Persons under Nigerian Criminal Law, this writer had given the basis of this right, at page 174 thereof thus: “The crux of this right is the necessity to protect a person from self-incrimination before a charge is formally preferred against him. It also gives fillip to the other kindred right of pre-

sumption of innocence, preserved under section 36(5) hereof, which places the burden of proof of an offence on the prosecution beyond reasonable doubt and the failure of which the accused or defendant is entitled to an acquittal, either suo motu or on the application of his counsel “ Over time conscious efforts have been made by civilised societies to protect and preserve the inalienable rights of its citizens.

One of such efforts was the development of a body of rules governing procedure for obtaining statements and interrogation of suspects. This body of rules aptly called The Judges Rules, was affirmed by an American Court, way back in 1966, in the case of Miranda Vs. Arizona, popularly known as the Miranda Right, whereby a suspect has a right not to be compelled to talk or make any statement unless fully apprised of his right to remain silent and an unhindered access to a lawyer of his choice.

In the light of the foregoing, could there have been any legal justification for the actions of the Police against the chairman and his legal team, or better still could their reliance on their “standard practice” suffice as legal exculpation for their wrongful conduct?

Certainly, the so-called standard practice, in the face of extant laws, particularly the constitution, lacked any legal, moral and rational foundation, except its place as a stale relic of the discarded primitive era, where might was right and only the crudest and fittest could survive.

It bears no pontification that by virtue of the provisions of Section 1 of the constitution dealing with supremacy of the constitution above all authorities and individuals in Nigeria, if any law, practice or regulations is inconsistent with the provisions of the constitution, the constitution shall prevail, and that other law, including, the so-called standard practice, shall to the extent of the inconsistency be declared null and void. In the final analysis, the Police is subject to the law and constitution, which had created it in the first place and, therefore, cannot operate ultra vires the powers assigned to it by the same law that brought it into being Having established the position of the law in this case, it is obvious that the rights of the chairman, Prof Odinkalu, alongside his lawyers, have been brutally violated and they are, therefore, entitled to remedy against the Police under the law. Section 35(6) of the constitution, provides that, “Any person who is unlawfully arrested or detained shall be entitled to compensation and public apology from the appropriate authority or person. The law is trite that, where there is a wrong, there must be a corresponding remedy.

This is expressed in a latin maxim , “Ubi jus ibi remedium”.

The chairman of NHRC, a government institution established by law, under NHRC (Amendment Act) 2011, as an independent commission with a clear mandate as the ombudsman for the respect and protection of peoples’ rights, deserves all the respect and honour due to his exalted office, which have been badly abused by the rampaging agents of the state, and only an official apology and adequate compensation to Prof.

Odinkalu, on behalf of Nigerians, by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) could assuage the bruised office of the chairman, and the public outrage against this monumental shame.

•Chief Agbedo, a Legal Practitioner,nd Law Author, is Executive Director, Global Centre for Defence of Human Rights (GCDHR) Lagos.

LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com

Nigeria: One week, one trouble

T

HE democratic tenure is just about 72 days old, though it already looks like eternity. But for the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan had to act and later became President following the ill-health and eventual death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, he would have just been going through the elementary rudiments of power. But the past 72 days has been as hellish as a full term in the Nigerian purgatory. The legion of assaults on the national psyche reminds me of primary school days, when one of the pupils then, had the nick name: one week, one trouble.

Nigeria’s past has had its fair share of centrifugal forces competing to undermine the national edifice, including a civil war; but it looked like President Jonathan’s new presidency has inspired a boom in the industry. Part of the impetus is the president’s meekness, which many have called indecisiveness. But no body should forget, arguably, Mr President’s most enduring byline during the elections: ‘I have no enemies to fight’. Now if you ask me, l could not understand how a man, who has lived to become an adult, and a politician in the beleaguered Niger Delta to boot, could not have many enemies, not to talk of even one.

I guess many would have been more comfortable if the President had rather said: “I have enemies, but l will not fight them, like former President Obasanjo’, or that ‘l have enemies, but l bear no malice against them, as a Christian’. But with the avalanche of troubles buffeting his Presidency, and the President smiling instead of frowning at them, it does appear truly that Mr. President never had any enemies, or that he refused to see any enemy, even when it stares him in the face. Some commentators even believe that the President would give an arm and a leg just to have no enemy, and that is why his enemies, well if you prefer, the enemies of the sate are mutating on nearly a daily basis.

The most threatening enemy of Mr President is, of course, those he said would bomb him if they had the chance, the Boko Haram. But in the manner of a man determined to have no enemies, he has sent a white flag with a basket of flowers to them, and we are all waiting for their acceptance of the peace offer. While the pros and cons of his reaction to the number one enemy were playing out, the labour union threatened to bring down the country unless they get their just wage.

Again, after initially pretending that he was ready to fight them, Mr President agreed to bury the hatchet.

While Nigerians were hoping the sabre-rattling of the enemy lines are the few and scattered; religious leaders left their tunics in the mosques and churches and turned bank experts. Just to test a man determined to have no enemy, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Oritsejafor has declared like an imperial majesty, that Nigeria will never allow Islamic banking, while the Sultan of Sokoto, thundered in presidential reply that it is either Islamic bank, or nothing. I look forward to a favourable disposition of the matter, in a manner of no victor, no vanquished, but before then like many l wondered, what is the business of the clerics with taking over the executive functions of the President, with the kind of mean finality in their choices.

As if in competition with the ordinary mortals to test the will of Mr President, there was the ecclesiastical impetus to the impetuous elements seeking to rubbish the lamb without blemish.The heavens open in Lagos and other parts of the country and on a Sunday of all days; and sorrow and tears were the lot of many. While scores were carried unprepared to their dreadful end, many lost their entire worth in life. In Enugu, it was a trailer driver and his merchandise that turned a sleepy roundabout near Ogbete market, into a human bakery. As those who lost their loved ones and their entire life earnings mourned, life in Nigeria is becoming increasingly worthless, short and brutish.

Yet, the human element is proving more fiendish than the natural element, in the Nigerian conundrum. If, in doubt, ask the survivors of the Abuja road robbery incident. Not satisfied with robbing the victims of their wares, the robbers organised a mass murder for the night travelers. With road as their death beds, about 14 of them were guillotined by the speeding trucks, while the robbers kept watch. Of course when murders committed in our high streets remain unsolved, it would be a miracle to find those who not only rob Nigerians of what they have but of their lives with reckless abandon.

Of course, these troubles would pale into insignificance if the economic managers are turning the country around. Many Nigerians would be lost in reverie, if governance was the top priority of the men and women in Abuja. Unfortunately, a new spin has been added to the mix.

It is already tagged tenure elongation drama, or as Mr President rather insists, a single tenure scheme. My take, if Nigerians want rotational presidency, is to make it constitutional, but if it is an attempt to secure an extension or a longer term for the incumbents, then it can only be more trouble for Nigeria.

While we grapple with the daily drudgery of a troubled Nigeria, we can do with meaningful governance. Yes, Nigerians do not need a war monger as President, but Mr President may have to release bile sometimes, and he should know that the enemies of the state are automatically his enemies.

• This article was first published on August 9, last year.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

LAW & SOCIETY AT A COCKTAIL ORGANISED FOR DELEGATES AT THE COMMONWEALTH LAWYERS CONFERENCE IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

• From left: Aniedi Akpabio; CLA President, Mrs Boma Ozobia and Ebere Eke.

• From left: NBA President, Joseph Bodunrin Daudu (SAN); Yemisi Olukanni; Nigeria Ambassador to Australia, Ayo Olukanni and Ranti Daudu.

• General Secretary NBA, Olumuyiwa Akinboro; M. A. Abubakar and his wife Hadiza

• From left: Dr Nechi Ezeako; Council Member CLA Yusuf Ali (SAN) and Kenneth Odidika.

• From left: Ebere Eke, Senator Magnus Abe; his wife Bariyah and Jibrin S. Okutepa (SAN)

• From left: Sekina Adepeju Oduye Quadri; Mayowa Debayo Doherty and Editor, ThisDay Law, Funke Aboyade.

• From left: Muazu Oyeramisa Abdullahi, John Olusola Baiyeshea (SAN) and Hadiza Mary Donli

• From left: Pius Okubo (SAN), Emmanuel Okang and Joe Adojo Abraham

• Attorney-General Abia State, Hon Umeh Kalu (left) and Dr Livy Uzoukwu (SAN)

• From left: Ashong Asu Ashong; Marc Enamhe and Chairman, Ikot Ekpene branch NBA PHOTOS: JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU Aniedi Abotti

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

LAW & SOCIETY AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON OIL AND GAS CONTRACT AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

• Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) Prof Epiphany Azinge (SAN) (left) and Deputy Governor, Delta State, Prof Amos Utuama (SAN)

• From left: NIALS Bursar, Austin Odukoma; Secretary, James Bathnna and A.A. Khalid

• Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Odein Ajumogobia (SAN) (left) and Chief Mike Agbamuche

• Former President NBA, Thomson J.O. Okpoko (SAN) (left) and Andrew Odum

• From left: Dr Chinere Ani; Prof Yinka Omoregbe and Joy Sagua • Afor Irogbo (left) and Mesike Peter

• Dr Francisca Nlerum (left) and Stellamaris Omo

• Pastor Rhoda Ikede and Jude Simede

• Newworld Safugha (left) and Chief Paulinus D.O. Akpeki

• Hon Nwashindi Kennedy (left) and S.I. Kwubosu.

PHOTOS: JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

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LAW & SOCIETY

‘Make study of International Law compulsory’

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ARTICIPANTS at this year’s New Frontiers Lecture by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, (NIALS) rose with one resolve: the Federal Government should make the study of international law in the universities compulsory.

Reason: To build equip Nigerians for the challenges of transnational legal practice.

The guest lecturer, Prof Balakrishnman Rajagopal, led the discussions. He spoke on the topic: International law of the New Global South: towards emancipation or hegemony?

He said it is imperative for the new world order to accommodate the interest of all countries against a situation where only the interest of the wealthy and powerful were mainly served.

But participants disagreed with the lecturer when he said communism is dead. They, consequently, argued that communism as a theory is not dead, even if its practice may not be too visible as before.

In a chat with The Nation, the Director-General NIALS, Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN), said: “Well, the lecture is an annual event and the topic is obviously the privilege of the lecturer to choose a topic that fits into the idea of a new frontiers lecture. Once you have something to offer, that obviously is an improvement on the position of the law at a point in time, then that obviously fits into the bill.

“From an international perspective, we can understand that all the issues canvassed and all the points made, certainly fits the bill of a new frontiers lecture because this is an emerging area of law with all the challenges, with all the complexities and he has been able to make a pointer to the way forward in trying to make sure that the dilemma and all the issues are well harmonised. So, we feel that he has done justice to the lecture and we feel that it is now left for the general public to further read the lecture and distill from it.

“And, indeed, for all our diplomats both in the foreign ministry and otherwise. It is important for them to read it because it is something that wants to give a pointer to the global South and what they can do to sufficiently entrench themselves in the scheme of things in the United Nations and globally. It is also suggested that Africa and other members of the global south including China and India, that we have come of age. This is the time we can take our position on the scheme of things among the comity of nations.

“So, for us, this is a Vintage lecture, we are very proud that we were able to attract Prof.

Rajagopal to come all the way from MIT, Massachussates in the United States of America (USA), where he holds sway as a leading authority in the field and as somebody who has served the UN meritoriously both in Cambodia and in other parts of the world to come here to deliver this lecture. So, we are very grateful.”

On the call to make International Law a compulsory subject in the Faculty of Law in the country’s universities, Azinge said: “Well, at any point in time, you do not measure yourself with what is happening domestically. The best way for anybody to assess himself, especially in the field of scholarship, is to see where you stand among your peers outside your environment.” “ If you are not strong in the area of international law, you cannot match your peers abroad because they are not all that interested in what you are doing in your domestic environment. They are interested in what you are doing that will impact positively globally in other climes and in other nations. That is why we feel that it is not just international law.

You cannot be very good in maritime law if you’re not too good in international law. You cannot be good in international economic law if you’re not very good in international law.

You cannot be talking about trade and investment if you do not understand foreign investment and all the implication. You cannot even be good in arbitration, these are certain areas of influence at the moment and one without a background of international law will find it difficult to grapple with some of this.”

Azinge further said: “Now that the country is talking about transformation, attracting foreign investment, thinking about how to improve our energy, petroleum and all the rest, all these areas have connections with international law. And if we don’t address some of these issues, we will have a problem. So, my position is that they should find a way of enforcing international law as a compulsory subject one in way or the other. Even if it means that it is a core subject, but it does not count towards your grade or aggregate, fine, but let people have a rudimentary knowledge of international law so that they can take it up from there, so that in time to come, they will not be

• Azinge (SAN)

• Prof Rajagopal

• Prof Dakas

• Dr Esiemokhai

By John Austin Unachukwu

lost in issues of this nature where people are trying to interrogate or scrutinise critical areas that pertain to the growth and development of our own environment.”

Rajagopal said: “The international order is western dominated. Now there is a sense that other powerful countries from the Third World are also becoming influential. So,international order provides a platform for interaction between the new countries, so that it will not be like the international order of the past.”

“The international order of the past was a problem rather than a solution because it resulted in the exploitation of people justified by laws and conquests. Now we want to make sure that the new international order will be much better.”

On the death communism, Rajagopal said: “I think it is hard to mention the idea that Communism is alive as an economic ideology. But the model and social dimensions of communism and the critique that communism developed of capitalism continues to be, in fact, very relevant and we see that they continue to show in the reality of today’s capitalism. So, in that sense, it is still alive but no country has managed to exist successfully with communism as an economic ideology.”

Dr. Emmanuel Esiemokhai said: “To say that an ideology is dead or has demised, is incorrect, because an ideology flows with time, it has its ups and downs. Communism as propagated by Kharl Max is an ideology that is over 200 years old”.

“Initially, no nation has attempted to be a socialist state, actually there are no communist countries but it is a communist ideology.”

“Now, I happened to have studied in the So-

viet Union where this ideology was practised, and then in the East Germany where I passed through, the idea is that the wealth of a nation should not be in the hands of a few capitalists, stakeholders and shareholders.

“The national wealth should be used to democratise and to build the national economy. So, where you have a state where socialism is practised like in China, development is faster because in China, they were riding bicycles 30 years ago, but today, it is a different thing. I was there for three years, so I have seen the development of their economy as a result of the socialist system.

“In Western Europe, they always tell you that Communism is dead and all that just because they didn’t like the ideology. This ideology of capitalism is practised in America. The American system will be destroyed if communism succeeds. That is why they are afraid and mobilise all forms of propaganda to make sure that the system collapses.”

Prof Clement Dakas “It is beyond doubt that TWAIL, which is Third World Approaches to International Law, has played a very critical role in interrogating international law and used it to engender a frame work of fairness.

“Unfortunately, as I pointed out, there is a disconnect between scholarship as accredited by many scholars and policy, particularly at the level of official policy and I think that it is actually important that we bridge that gap between scholarship and policy, so that the interrogation of international law can flip into shaping official policy. Whether you like it or not, there are different levels of policy engagement.”

“Policy engagement at the official level, particularly in a world that is dominated by state

actors, is one that we cannot afford to underrate. So, it is very imperative that we seek to bridge that gap.”

On the state of international law in our law faculties, Dakas said: “Indeed, one of the take aways from this lecture is the imperative need have a proper engagement with international law and, in my view, it will require a curriculum change, so that international law becomes a compulsory subject.

“In a world in which there are challenges of globalisation, in a world in which there is serious engagement with the custom of transnational legal practice. Very many Nigerian lawyers are actually lost in transnational legal practice and it is actually critical for international law to become a compulsory subject in the curriculum of Nigerian Law faculties.”

Dr. Adebisi Arewa “First of all, I find the lecture very exciting; it is long overdue; it is topical, particularly in interrogating the challenges that the south is really going through, which usually are states.

And, of course, because of the lack of capacity in international law, the relationship of the south vis-a vis the global north, is impaired.

We don’t even know where we stand, we cannot define our capacity. “ This underscores the fact that in most faculties of law in Nigeria, for instance, international law is taught as an elective, it is not even a compulsory course. We need these skills. So, my entreaties to the facility of law authorities and the Council of Legal Education is to enshrine international law as a core course, probably taught for two years at the faculties and taught for one year at the law school as a core course at the law school. It is also has a practice dimension where we talk of transactional legal practice.

Dr Arewa stated: “Since the world is now a global village, we need the requisite capacity to play in it, we need the international law skill to be part of the global players, without that basic skill, we cannot play globally and that is very critical.

On the impression that the communism is deed, my intervention during the lecture is that communism is still very relevant as a theory, it derives from Maxism, the explanatory value of the maxist theory is still there.

“Francis Fukuyama did a very good piece some years ago entitled, “The end of history”, by which he was trying to use biological analysis to explain the demise of the then Soviet Union and he concluded by saying that the demise of the Soviet Union was the end of history. He said capitalism was that paradigm, which explained all human conditions and I challenge everybody by saying, it is not true. As a matter of fact, there is no end to history because the constant is change; change is always constant.

“Beside that the theory tends to be more relevant today, does not mean that it cannot lose that status and to be supplanted by another they which is better.

“So, capitalism itself is going through crises; capitalism is failing everywhere in the world and it then needs to enhance it with the explanatory value of maxims from which communism derives. So, if we want to go in terms of ideology and economic paradigm, all these things, the bottom line is that they explain production, relation of labour and relations of property rights , which is very critical for developments. .”Now if we want development, we should be able to follow them selectively.

We should not allow the smokescreen of ideology to affect our sense of judgment as a nation and as a people.

“Any paradigm that will advance the development of our country and society, we borrow it. And we keep reviewing all these paradigms because there is no given theory that is sacrosanct. It is very unscientific to see any theory as sacrosanct. Even the theory of electricity of Albert Einstein has been supplanted. So, we should hold any theory such as we keep reviewing and applying them for the good of own society.”

LEGAL DIARY Shippers Council holds seminar for judges THE Nigerian Shippers Council and the National Judicial Institute (NJD)will hold the 12th Maritime Seminar for Judges from June 5 to 7.

Venue Sheraton Hotel & Towers Abuja Time: 9.00 a.m. daily.

Chairman: Chief Ernest Shonekan The Seminar will be declared opened by the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Eastern Bar Forum meets AN emergence general meeting of the Eastern Bar Forum (EBF) holds on Saturday, May 12.

Venue: Bar Centre, High Court Complex, Port Harcourt, River State. Time: 10 a.m. Agenda: Forthcoming NBA elections.

Enugu Bar elects officers THE Enugu branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) penultimate week Monday elected new officers to run the affairs of the branch for the next two years.

The following officers were elected: Chairman, Harold O. Eya; Vice-Chairman, Bismark Ogboko. Secretary: Eluke Mathew; Treasurer,Joy Gbanigo; Publicity Secretary, Chuks Mbamala; Asst Secretary, E. A. Chuba Odum; Social Secretary, Maximus Ike Ugwoke; Legal Adviser, Godfrey Ekoh and Financial Secretary, Ngozi Udoji

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LAW & SOCIETY

Bi-Courtney’s loses bid to delay payment of N721m judgment sum B

I-COURTNEY Limited has lost its bid to extend time to pay a debt of N721 million which it owes Aso Savings and Loans Plc. Justice Morenike Obadina of the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere dismissed the company’s motion.

Bi-Courtney borrowed N500 million from Aso Savings in July 2009 with an agreed interest rate of 24 per cent per annum. It used its Plot 70, Alexander Avenue, Ikoyi property collateral.

The credit facility had 180-day

Eric Ikhilae and Joseph Jibueze

tenure, but Bi-Courtney allegedly did not pay at its expiration.

Aso Savings lawyer, Mr Yusuf Kadiri, told the court when the suit was filed that the value of the credit facility had risen to N721, 170.781.40.

A consent judgment was, consequently, entered against Bi-

Courtney following the terms of settlement filed by the parties.

Mr Wale Babalakin signed the terms of settlement for BiCourtney, while Managing Director of Aso Savings, Hassan Musa Usman signed on behalf of the firm.

In the settlement agreement, it was agreed that Bi-Courtney would pay the judgment sum in five instalments.

Bi-Courtney asked the court later for more time to comply with the judgment.

It prayed for an order restraining Aso Savings and its agents from taking steps to take over the property.

But Aso Savings argued that BiCourtney allegedly did not have the intention or capacity to pay the debt.

It added that the motion was meant to overreach and deprive it of reaping the fruits of the consent judgment, and that it was brought in bad faith, and would adversely affect it if granted.

Ruling on the motion, Justice Morenike Obadina held that BiCourtney’s motion was not only unmeritorious, but also frivolous.

Dismissing the application, the court held that the consent judgment subsists. Aso Savings can, therefore, enforce the judgment-debt against bi-Courtney, the court added.

NBA Committee seeks IP introduction in schools

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HE Intellectual Property (IP) Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said there is need for the government to include intellectual property as a course in the educational institutions. It regretted the lack of IP policies to regulate the practice.

The benefits accrued to the individual and the nation remain a mirage to many Nigerians, especially because millions of inventors and innovators are not aware of the numerous gains of protecting their birthrights.

Chairperson of the Committee, Mrs. Chinyere Okorocha, said they chose to celebrate Nigeria’s unsung heroes at the World IP Day celebration to create awareness on the benefits of IP rights.

“Nigeria’s unsung heroes include the inventors, actors, etc, who have not really been fully recognised for their creative abilities and who are yet to benefit from the fruits of their labour as inventors,” she said.

Mrs. Okorocha noted that Nigeria has highly creative people. “From the clothes that we wear, to the rhythm in our music and dance, to our innovative genius as actors and

By Precious Igbonwelundu

actresses, also our literary mastery and so much more”.

“Unfortunately, majority of the populace are not even aware that some form of financial benefit can be made from this inventive activity. Even in cases where the inventor is indeed aware, they tend to sell themselves short, preferring short time gains to a long term benefit.

There are many instances of inventions being created by Nigerians, but being shipped off to Europe, America or indeed the Asian world to be developed and industrialised and then sold back to us,” she lamented.

According to the Chairperson, has restated the need to protect IP properties in the country. They said the drive to protect and respect these rights cannot be overemphasised.

She noted that the country has different acts such as Trademark, Copyrights, Patent or Design, as well as Ancillary Laws but no policy linking the various stakeholders.

“The IP Committee is trying to bring the various agencies involved in IP business such as the university, the Research and Development institutions, the Customs, among oth-

• From Left: Lara Kayode, Afam Nwokedi, & SBL IP Committee Chair, Chinyere Okorocha

ers, into one umbrella to develop an IP policy for Nigeria that will be a guide in protecting or commercialisng IP rights”, Okorocha said.

Vice-Chairman of the Committee, Mr Afam Nwokedi, said an effective

IP system is essential to technological and cultural development, as well as indispensable to economic growth and social welfare.

He said: “There is, indeed, a correlation between the quantity of investments a country can attract from

abroad and domestically and the quantity of its IP system. In an economically active nation like Nigeria, creativity and ingenuity in intellectual property is the corner stone to achieving a sustainable and healthy growth of the economy.”

Court stops Ikoyi Club from expelling member

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HE Registered Trustees of Ikoyi Club 1938 have lost in their bid to expel a member, Prince Mordi Aigbedion, from the club.

This is because a Lagos High Court, Igbosere, presided over by Justice A.A. Philips dismissed an application filed by the Registered Trustees of Ikoyi Club, which sought to stay the judgment of the court quashing the decision of the club to expel Prince Aigbedion.

Justice Philips while dismissing the application of the registered trustees of the club held that the judgment sought to be stayed was declaratory and not executory, and therefore, refused to grant the application.

An administrative panel of inquiry had found Aigbedion liable for expulsion based on an allegation that borders on a criminal act, which ought to have been referred to the police for further investiga-

tion.

Aigbedion had sued Mr Richard L. Kramer, Mr Alaba Okupe, Akin Laguda and Mr Dele Adetiba as the registered trustees of Ikoyi Club 1938, over his expulsion as a member, stating that he was not allowed to make any representation to the purported disciplinary committee that recommended his expulsion.

In his application filed before the court through his client, Chief Richard Ahonarougho, he had sought an order of certiorari to quash the report of the investigative panel which it pointed out was not a court of competent jurisdiction and that it lack the power and competence to investigate any allegation of crime against him adding that the respondents likewise lack the power to expel the applicant from the membership of the Ikoyi Club 1938 based on the findings on an alleged crime contained in the said report.

In his written address, counsel to the applicant, Chief Ahonarougho, relying on Section 4 of the Police Act, submitted that only the police are saddled with detecting and preventing the commission of crimes in Nigeria.

He had further argued that the investigative panel found the applicant culpable of the offence of forgery that is an indictable offence of which the law requires strict proof, adding that the panel failed by not sending the purported forged document for forensic examination by experts in that area and, subsequently, urged the court to declare their report null and void.

Following the judgment of the court in favour of the applicant and declaring the report of the panel null and void, the registered trustees of the club had gone back to the court and filed an application for an order seeking to stay its execu-

tion.

In his written statement before the court opposing the application, counsel to the respondents, Mr O. Olaiya, stated that the decision of the General Committee of the club to expel the applicant was based on the report of the disciplinary subcommittee of the club and not the findings of the panel.

He also stated that there was no evidence before the court that the applicant was not given an opportunity to appear before the said panel of inquiry.

He argued further that for an application for certiorari to succeed, the error alleged to have been committed by the panel must be patently disclosed on the face of the record and documents placed before the court adding that this will clearly show that the condition precedent grounding the cause of action for certiorari proceedings can be said to be fulfilled.

But delivering judgment in the matter, Justice Philips dismissed the respondents’application for stay of execution of the judgment.

“I am of the view that in the light of the serious allegations made against the applicant and the seriousness of the punishment to be meted out to him should he be found liable, the proper procedure would have been to invite the police to examine the altered documents and confirm whether the same were fraudulently altered or not before deciding his fate. “ I, therefore, for this reason grant this application and do hereby make an order that the decision of the respondents to expel the applicant from the Ikoyi Club 1938 was made in error and is hereby quashed,” he said.

The court also awarded N10,000 to Prince Aigbedion as cost, saying that the judgment creditor was entitled to his fruit of labour.

Hausa community petitions Amosun over demolished property

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HE Hausa community in KaraIbafo in Ogun State has petioned Governor Ibikunle Amosun over the demolition of a property belonging to their kinsman’s firm, Jinsam Nigeria Limited.

In a petition signed by their counsel, Mr Imhanguezogie Doyin Peter, they urged the governor to call to order, the Caretaker Chairman, Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area, Mr Jamiu Balogun, to avoid an ethnic clash, saying the incident is generating tension in the area.

The petition was copied to Kaduna State Governor, Ogun State Commissioner of Police, the Area Commander, Ibafo, the Divisional Police

By Adebisi Onanuga

Officer (DPO) Ibafo and Speaker, House of Representatives.

The property, which is situated at Plot 1, Block ‘A’ Scheme 2, OPIC Estate, Kara-Ibafo, was said to be owned by a northerner and had served as accommodation to many Hausa people in the community.

The petitioners alleged that some suspected hoodlums invaded it on April 19 and detroyed the fence of the property said to have cost about N5million.

The petitioners said this would have triggered a riot if not for the Hausa who allowed sleeping dogs to lie.

Ihe petition reads in part: “The Hausa community in Kara-Ibafo is over 3,000 and they all considered this act as an affront on the Hausa community,” it stated.

“While a copy of this petition was pending before the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ibafo Police Station on April 24, 2012 and a meeting arranged between the petitioner, the chairman and representatives of the Hausa community, the chairman ordered a bulldozer to demolish the entire fence of our client’s property under police cover from Ibafo Police Station, where a petition was pending before the DPO,” it alleged.

When the DPO was contacted on phone about the demolition, he replied

that he was helpless that he was going to withdraw his men from the scene.”

It added that the incident generated tension in the community as they viewed the development as the handiwork of the Yoruba who destroyed Northerners properties because Jinsam is owned by a Northerner and KaraIbafo is mostly populated by northerners.

“We want you to use your good offices to investigate this matter to bring perpetrators of this act to book as no individual, no matter his status in society, is above the law.

“The peace and security enjoyed at Kara-Ibafo will be jeopardised, if the act of the chairman is allowed to continue unabated,” they added.

• Amosun

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AVIATION Last week, experts and players in the aviation sector converged on the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) annex to examine the challenges confronting the ‘comatose’ sector, amid efforts by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, to unveil a road map that stakeholders argue needs proper understanding. KELVIN OSA- OKUNBOR reports

Minister, experts differ on industry road map M

INISTER of aviation Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah and experts last week offered divergent views on the implementation of a road map for the aviation sector, which the minister said will be showcased for industry appraisal after a road show.

The disagreement comes on the heels of the alleged non-consultation for input by industry groups and experts, who said before a road map must be carried out in the sector, the minister has to receive the input of experts who are on ground and be familiar with the issues.

President of Aviation Round Table Captain Dele Ore affirmed that the challenges the Nigerian aviation industry is grappling with, is not different from what other parts of the world are grappling with. He expressed concerns over the calibre of professionals, who drew the road map for the sector, which is in serious need of reassessment.

Ore said the validity of the roadmap could only be ascertained if it had the input of stakeholders, before it could be subjected to serious analysis and ultimate endorsement.

Chief Executive officer (CEO) Mr Gbenga Olowo canvassed a rechristening of the seminar’s theme, to reflect understanding the road map for the sector. He also called for self examination by all players on why aviation growth and develop-

ment has taken a nosedive in the past few years.

He raised issues bordering on ageing professionals the bust and boom of many domestic airlines, factors responsible for the growth of the industry, and why Nigerian carriers are not doing well at the expense of other carriers.

Olowo said until the right policy is in place, through government supported consolidation, operators could pool their aircraft together to form a strong carrier, such that there is sufficient aircraft for the strong carriers to emerge, through what he described as “Magnet approach.”

The harsh experience of many domestic carriers has made Nigerian operators a good case study of how not to run an airline, with a schedule that cannot guarantee profitability.

He called for the remodeling of the airports based on the airport master plan instead of remodeling in beats and inconveniencing airport users and operations.

On the part of the unions in the industry, the president of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Comrade Benjamin Okewu, noted that rather than criticise the road map of the ministry it is incumbent to rally round the transformation train of government to ensure that ongoing projects are not thwarted for the ultimate benefits of aviation stakeholders.

On the controversial issue of setting up a national carrier, Okewu said the time is now to set up a national carrier, which is instrumental to the development of airport hubs, manpower development and operational capacity that could provide the platform to compete with foreign carriers.

The Managing Director of First Nation Airways, Mr Kayode Odukoya called for consistency in government transformational measures that will fast track the growth and development of the sector.

He said the operators,are well aware of the operational challenges of the industry, which the government could have a full understanding of, if a forum is created for input gathering.

The conference also considered ways and means of interfacing aircraft manufacturers, with funding and acquisition window that will be good for the sustenance of the industry, with reduced interest rates.

Managing Director of Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nnamdi Udoh called for the domestication of the model that will be adopted as a road map for the development of the sector.

He also called for realistic target given the peculiarities of the environment, even as he cautioned against ambitious projects that could be realistic, timely and mea-

•Mrs Oduah

•Dr Demuren

surable.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Belujane Konsult, Mr Chris Aligbe praised the minister for the giant strides in coming up with a roadmap for the industry, which never existed. He called on stakeholders to key into it irrespective of its deficiencies. He, however, disagreed with the floatation of a national carrier, owned and operated by government. He recommend flag carriers operated by private concerns to fly the nation’s flag.

He recalled the absence of political will by past ministers of aviation to turn around the sector.

“If the airline sub sector must

be delivered from collapse, the hiccup of owner manager syndrome must be removed, because failure by the operators to look inwards has not accelerated the growth and development of the industry.”

“This has become imperative, as the need for government to by way of legislation and policy create a platform that will bring about the consolidation of domestic carriers. The is because examples abound all over the world on how government policy has accelerated the growth and sustenance of the airline industry.

Delta Airlines acquires refinery DELTA Airlines has acquired an oil refinery from ConocoPhillips for $180million and expects to recover the investment in its first year of operations by saving on fuel costs.

The acquisition is expected to be completed in the first half of 2012 with jet fuel production beginning in the third quarter.

The airline according to a statement, expects the move to save it $300 a year in fuel costs, which hit almost $12 billion in 2011. The refinery will be tweaked to maximise jet fuel production. Production at the refinery will be combined with multi-year agreements to exchange gasoline, diesel, and other refined products for jet fuel will provide 80 per cent of Delta’s jet fuel needs in the United States. The swap agreements are

with British Petroleum and Phillips 66.

Richard Anderson, Delta’s CEO, put an interesting perspective on the deal. “This modest investment, the equivalent of the list price of a new widebody aircraft, will allow Delta to reduce its fuel expense by $300 million annually and ensure jet fuel availability in the Northeast.

This strategy is aligned with the moves we have made to build a stronger airline for our shareholders, employees and customers.”

This is a novel deal and the entire industry will be watching with great interest. If it works as planned, expect more deals like this. The high cost of fuel is making every airline look at ways to soften the shocks to their cash flow.

Emirates is Airline of the Year L-R: President, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Mr Benjamin Okewu; Managing Director, Skyway Aviation Handling Company Ltd (SAHCOL), Mr. Olu Owolabi and Gen. Sec. ATSSSAN, Mr Olayinka Abioye during the association’s gala night held at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

NAMA eradicates casualisation

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ANAGING Director of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Mazi Nnamdi Udoh said he has been able to foster industrial harmony after his appointment.

Speaking during the Workers’ Day celebration, Udoh said he has cancelled casualisation in NAMA as a way of adding value to the personnel of the agency.

He said: “The key thing is very stable industrial relations, there was acrimony, bitterness and as I made

it open, there is nothing like casualisation anymore. There is no outstanding promotion and all scheduled training are on course; all outstanding staff claims are addressed and above all if you look around, there are major infrastructural changes that are coming on.“ Expatiating on cancellation of casualisation, the NAMA boss said: “It is a question of personal conviction, managerial support and ministerial directive. Why create an un-

healthy working environment with people who have worked with you for five years and you pay them N5,000 and so on.”

“Even the graduates among them that have not be employed by management, know it is a question of time because there is no board and the ministry has the approval that taking into cognisance, federal character indices on spreading it across number two, the Minister wants workers to be part of the transformation.”

EMIRATES SkyCargo has been voted Cargo Airline of the Year and, for the 24th consecutive year, was also named Best Middle East Cargo Airline. The carrier, which was also named Best African Cargo Airline received the accolades at the prestigious Cargo Airline of the Year 2012 awards held at London’s Lancaster Hotel.

“These awards are voted for by our industry and their recognition of the continued success of Emirates SkyCargo is a great honour,” said Ram Menen, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President Cargo, who was present at the event. Emirates SkyCargo receives the awards at a time of continuing growth. A fourth Boeing 777F joined its fleet earlier this year, taking its dedicated fleet to eight aircraft, with a further nine Boeing

777Fs on order.

Since January, Emirates has introduced services to eight new destinations: Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Dublin, Dallas, Lusaka, Harare, Liege and Seattle. It will also launch flights to Ho Chi Minh City in June, Lisbon and Barcelona in July, and Washington DC in September. Emirates SkyCargo currently serves a route network of over 120 destinations from its Dubai hub, spanning six continents across the globe.

The Cargo Airline of the Year 2012 awards are organised by trade magazine Air Cargo News and attract votes from freight forwarders around the world. The awards are the only event where the British International Freight Association audits and approves the votes cast.

38

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

MARITIME

• Oil tanker

Cabotage Act review: Foreign ship owners lobby NIMASA, others

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ULTINATIONALS and foreign shipping companies are lobbying the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), some politicians and members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to ensure that the review of the Cabotage Act does not sail through.

The Inland and Coastal Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003 has passed through second reading at the House of Representatives.

A senior official of NIMASA, who craved anonymity, told The Nation on Friday that the foreign shipping companies and others are making the move to get a bigger slice of the market.

At the moment, only about 60 of the over 600 vessels in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry are owned by indigenous operators.

The source said out of these, only about six do business in the offshore sector.

He disclosed that each vessel offshore charge at least $5,000 daily. This, according to the official, is the least amount collected by a foreign vessel.

He said the country loses about N2 trillion yearly.

Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

His words: “We have plenty of hydrocarbons. As at today, it is about 38 billion barrels, but our government is working towards making it 40 billion. That is our proven reserve. We are said to be the 10th world producer of oil.

The world everyday uses 84 million barrels per day of oil and the country produces between 2.5 and 2.6 million barrels every day. For gas, we have 24 trillion reserves.

“Nigeria has the best shrimps in the world, called tiger shrimps. That is why you have very many Indian fishing companies in the country. All the tiger shrimps are exported. We import into Nigeria every five million metric tonnes of cargo, 100 million metric tonnes of general goods. We import about 65 million litres of petroleum products every year.

“In the oil and gas industry, Nigeria has close to 500 oil wells that we are drilling all over the place. For each well, there is a rig, which is supported by a minimum of five ships and they are called oil support vessels. As at today, for ships that earn $5,000 and

above per day, there are about 600 of them. There are those that even earn $150,000 per day. You have 60 belonging to Nigerians out of the over 600. Those 60, if you go to our waters, you will see them there; they have no jobs because there is no full implementation of the Cabotage Act because of its deficiencies that are under going review,” he said.

Sources at the Ministry of Transport said multinationals with the support of some officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have been mounting pressures on the ministry to ensure the implementation of the Act does not see the light of day.

Also, the Chairman of the committee, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyin, also confirmed that he was under pressure on his committee’s efforts to ensure the Act works for indigenous ship owners.

He said foreigners, who will be affected, are worried over the review.

“It is a pity that some officials of the NNPC do not feel they should give businesses to indigenous shipping companies,” he said.

Transporters appeal to Fashola

•Fashola

N

O fewer than 200 transporters at the Marine Beach, Apapa, have appealed to Lagos State Governor, Mr

Babatunde Raji Fashola and other relevant government agencies not to evict them from the area because of the criminal activities of some hoodlums and commercial cyclists.

Speaking with The Nation in Lagos on Saturday, Chairman of the International Group Transport, Alhaji Nalado Sa’adu, who spoke through his representative, Alhaji Danbaba Mohammed, said they were in support of the move by the governor to sanitise the area, but appealed to the governor to ensure that security agents do not disrupt their business since none of their members

has been arrested or detained for any crime in the area.

The transporters, Sa’adu said, have been operating under the bridge that leads to Leventis, Dockyard Road and rail crossing for over 37 years.

The group claimed that they are legal occupants as they paid ground rent to the Federal Government before they were allowed to transact their businesses in the place.

They displayed an approval letter issued to them by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, and signed by the Director of Lands, A. Babarinde, to back their claims.

NGO condemns freight forwarder’s arrest

A

non-government organisation, the Maritime Industry Advocacy Initiative (MAIN), has condemned the arrest and detention of a freight forwarder, Mr Lucky Amiwero.

Amiwero was arrested recently and detained for five

days, by men of the Customs Federal Operation Unit in Ikeja, Lagos.

In a statement, the group said: “Having watched the shameless display of naked power by the Nigeria Customs Service and having waited for days to see if any-

one or group will be bold enough to challenge or correct the Customs over its attempt to kill an ant with a sledge hammer, we are compelled to call on well-meaning maritime industry stakeholders to join us to condemn the action of the Customs.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

39

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

‘Nigeria has lowest mortgage penetration’

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HE Minister of Lands, Hous ing and Urban Develop ment, Ms. Amal Pepple has said Nigeria has one of the lowest mortgage penetration on the continent in terms of mortgage to debt at less than four per cent.

She made this known at the Mortgage Finance Roundtable in Abuja, stating that the government needs to ponder on how to improve accessibility to mortgage finance in order to stem the present trend whereby most home owners in the country rely on their personal savings to build their houses.

She said: “The mortgage to debt ratio, which is a factor of mortgage penetration, is less than four per cent. Using the figures published

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

by the Africa 2011 year book of the Centre for Affordable Housing in Africa, Nigeria has one of the lowest mortgage penetration on the continent in terms of mortgage to debt at less than four per cent.

“This is in comparism to South Africa at 30 per cent, Namibia at 20 per cent, Morocco at 15 per cent and Tunisia at 13 per cent. Other countries, such as Kenya, Rwanda, Botswana, Senegal, Algeria and Uganda also fared better on the scale in spite of their low ratings.

“The comparative figures for some developed countries and emerging economies are the United States, which is 82 per cent,

Singapore 34 per cent and Malaysia 24 per cent as at 2009.

“In terms of income disposition, less than seven per cent households can afford to obtain mortgage loans even if it is spread over a period of 20 years, in view of the high poverty level.

“The funding of mortgages from short term deposits in the banking systems leads to the enthronement of high interest regimes and wide affordability gap in home ownership.

“Though loans sourced from the National Housing Fund (NHF) are much cheaper at six per cent interest, this is still considered high relative to what obtains in developed countries.

“Other challenges in the mort-

gage industry include undercapitalised primary and secondary mortgage institutions, lack of vibrant secondary market, and lack of common underwriting standards, low inflow of direct foreign investment, which is in favour of oil and gas, agriculture and solid minerals among others,” she stressed.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala, said the Housing sector also holds huge potentials for job creation and employment, particularly for the youths.

The National Bureau of Statistic reports that the real estate market contributed 1.64 per cent to GDP in Q4 2011, while building and construction contributed 1.99 per cent

•Pepple

to the GDP in Q4 2011. Many of the unskilled youths can find useful employment in this sector.

Firm unveils property magazine

A,

PROPERTY development firm, CMB Building Maintenance & Investment Co. Ltd has launched a property magazine ‘Property Digest’.

The all gloss magazine debuts with several sections such as the x-ray of the nation’s property market, the big role of property managers and how to know a successful one. Also included are safety, health and environment.

Other articles featured are probable reasons for the spate of developments on Lagos Island, stakeholders, view point, building materials, homes and decor and the economy.

In his presentation at the launch held at Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos, a don from the University of Lagos, department of Architecture Prof. John Godwin, said the Bi-annual publication is a part of CMB’s effort to bring good quality magazine into the sector for readers to have informed opinion on issues relating to property.

In promoting the digest, he said CMB will not only bring examples of their own develop-

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Asst. Editor

ment but also those of others who they think meet the criteria for excellence and sustainability.

He said the magazine will bring new solutions and concepts in property developments across the world including updates on climate change and other topical issues relating to the real estate sector.

Earlier in his speech, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CMB Building Maintenance & Investment Co Ltd., Mr Kelechukwu Mbagwu, said his firm will bring style and panache to the specialised magazine sector of real estate patterned after the popular ‘Readers Digest.’

He frowned at the fact that most property magazines in the market are more of decorative than useful.

He said: “ The magazine will be informative guided by practical experience, detail the prevailing prices and trends and have unlimited inputs from professionals from the real estate

•Mrs Shade Ogundare, Mbagwu, Mr Rotimi Aladesanmi and Prof Godwin, during the launch of Property Digest.

and banking sector.”

Asked how the quality of the maiden edition will be sustained without advertisement support, Mbagwu saidt his firm

intends to maintain the quality in outlook and content.

He said though they will have an advertisement drive for the magazine, it however, will not

determine the production quality as they are convinced on the need to provide an advisory and investment role to players in the industry.

UN-Habitat inaugurates new homes for Pakistan flood victims

U

N-Habitat has inaugurated thousands of new single room homes for the victims of devastating floods in a country already bracing itself for further flood devastation this year The 2010 and 2011 floods left an estimated 18 million homeless. In response, UN-Habitat Pakistan initiated the Pakistan Settlements Flood Recovery Project thanks to generous funding of the Government of Japan amounting to $44.6 million.

“It was a great challenge not only for Pakistan but also for the international community to help the affected populations due to the large magnitude of destruction,” said Toshi Noda, UN-Habitat’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific during a visit to the area last week.

“Thanks to the generous and timely funding from the donor agencies, UN-Habitat was able to start projects in the flood affected areas. I am happy to see the progress and the way the project has been implemented to improve the lives of people during the post-disaster situation,” he told journalists and officials gathered for the inauguration of 30,000 shelters with infrastructure and basic services includ-

ing water and sanitation facilities which were built in the villages of Union Council Dheri Zardad and Babook Qualay in Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Mr. Noda was accompanied at the inauguration ceremony by Shahzad Bangash Director General of Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Siamak Moghaddam, the UN-Habitat Country Programme Manager in Pakistan.

“There are still many issues to be resolved related to human settlements in Pakistan and I am hopeful that UN-Habitat will continue its support through additional projects in future,” he added.

•1004 flats Victoria Island, Lagos.

Ghanaian heads West African engineers’ body

E

NGINEERS in the 16 countries of ECOWAS have formed a new regional body known as the West African Federation of African Organisations of Engineers (WAFEO).

A statement by the Head, Media and Publication, Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Emeka Ikenna

From: Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

Okpani, said at a meeting in Accra, Ghana , representatives of the variaous engineering bodies in member countries ratified the constitution of the body and held its first general meeting for the purpose of electing officers to lead the new body.

The statement said a past President of the Ghana Institution of Engineers, Mr Kwasi Kwakwa, was elected President of the new body, while the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Mr Mustafa Balarabe Shehu was elected Vice-President. The new executive will have a tenure of two years.

“The new body will be attending as a regional delegation for the first time tomorrow when the General Assembly of the Federation of African Organisations of Engineers opens in Nairobi, Kenya on tommorw.

40

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT Building Issues

How to market your home using visible media

T

•From left: Ogunleye, Omopeloye and Ajanlekoko, at the event

PHOTO: OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE

‘Indigenous tech is panacea to housing delivery’

E

XPERTS have suggested the harnessing of indigenous technology in the housing sector to meet the 16 million housing gap.

They said in Lagos that without a viable indigenous technology in the building industry the quest to provide affordable housing to a greater percentage of the population would be futile.

President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr Goodie Ibru, said the housing sector deserves attention as it remains a veritable platform for growth. “There are huge and hidden potentials in the sector waiting to be tapped,” he said.

He saidthat business in Lagos were grappling with the challenges of land acquisition, title documentation and building approvals.

Ibru, represented by his Deputy, Mr Remi Bello, urged the government to continue with land reforms. He canvassed extensive research in local building technology to achieve the delivery of cheaper houses and encourage mass hous-

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Asst Editor

ing.

President Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) Mr Segun Ajanlekoko said local capacity promotion is the panacea to reversing the huge deficit in housing and infrastructure deficit. He argued that the nation cannot grow until it trains its professionals and artisans.

He said: “We neglect our artisans to our detriment because if they are not trained well they bungle our housing development.

“I call on the government to establish a Construction Industry Board to train artisans and bring them up to speed. It is only a sound technological base that can grow the economy of any nation as exemplified by Singapore, Malaysia, China and South Korea.”

President, Institution of Civil Engineers, Mr Ade Omopeloye said most successful societies have a pedigree of accomplished indig-

enous technical development as technology plays the role of supporting national development and economic growth. He stated that in a developing economy such as Nigeria, the quest for indigenous technology should be key and that insistence on foreign technology will be counter-productive such that the country will be developing the economy of other nations.

He said: “Nigeria is yet to attain the stage where our technology is self-sustaining. Volumes of researched documents are lying fallow in libraries and archives of research institutes abandoned to accumulate piles of dust. Some other discovered ideas and techniques have become irrelevant and obsolete overtaken by new technologies where they are kept. The fact that the principles of technology are dynamic makes it difficult to leave newly discovered ideas unattended to as new discoveries are springing up daily to outclass innovations of yesterdays”.

Nigerite launches green essay competition

P

LANS have been concluded by Nigerite Limited to organise the Grand finale of the Lagos Green Schools essay competition on Friday.

The competition tagged Embracing Renewable Energy for All involving all schools in Lagos State is scheduled to hold at NECA House in the Central Business District area of Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

Disclosing this in Lagos, the company’s Marketing Director, Mr Toyin Gbede said the competition is an initiative of the company’s The Youth, Our Future campaign programme which is also aimed at commemorating the Earth day 2012 celebration.

Gbede said: “The objective of the competition is to engage the youth and to generate awareness on the need to protect the earth and to elicit public action.”

His words: “In line with our corporate social responsibility objectives, Nigerite Ltd, in partnership with Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) is sponsoring this competition to mark the Earth Day 2012”.

He said the company’s initiative is aimed at boosting Lagos State government’s great and exemplary leadership role in raising awareness on the importance of sustainable living.

The Marketing Director, who praised Lagos State for the giant

strides it has attained in achieving the dream of a Lagos Mega City Project,” said the competition is open to students in Lagos State Schools aged between 11-18 years.

The students are to submit an essay under the topic The Three R’s: Reuse, Reduce and Recycle as a tool for Renewable Energy” and “Clean Water is Life.

Nigerite Limited has been involved in several project initiatives in the past such as: Nigeria Conservation Foundation – World Environment Day “Flora and Fiona School Competition, 2011. It has also worked with the University of Lagos – Remodelling of Department of Architecture MED Studios and several others.

Firm expands building materials product portfolio

E

MEL Building Materials has expanded its product portfolio by launching a new range of roofing tiles, security doors and architectural processed glass products.

The new roof tiles range from Tilcor, New Zealand, security doors from Formet, Turkey and architectural processed glass products from FG Glass, India were unveiled at the just concluded fourth Nigeria Infrastructure and Construction Exhibition, West Africa’s leading Infrastructure & Con-

struction event organised by the CWC Group.

“The launch of these new products is part of our drive to strengthen our market position in the sector and give a launch pad for the products of our international associates,” stated Vikram Mansukhani, Head of Marketing, Emel Building Materials.

“We have a proven track record in providing building material solutions to various customers and our products are more in demand than

ever throughout the country.”

Mansukhani said Tilcor has developed an enviable reputation internationally for excellence in product design, quality manufacturing and competitiveness. The company’s roof tiles range caters for all types of construction needs from residential to light– commercial and public works.

The range comprises of three distinct brands: Shake®, Tudor® and Royal® and are available in a wide range of colours, are lightweight, versatile and easy to install.

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie HERE are effective marAsst. Editor keting tips when it comes photos, poor videos can do more to off-loading your propharm than good.

Make sure that erty in the market. Effective marwhoever takes the video is keting is one of the essential components of realising the best skilled.

Some sellers think they can sell price possible for your home. their houses without the hassle This is in addition to preparing your home for sale and pricing of exposing it to the public Selling off-market works occasionit right for the market.

One of the way’s to get your ally, but most sellers who try it property sold easily is by listing eventually end up having to put with a real estate agent who has their home on the market. This a marketing plan that includes wastes time and could delay the broad exposure. The onus lies sale.

There are other drawbacks to on you to identify what your trying to sell without full market chosen agent will do to encourexposure.

One is that it’s probage buyers to look at your home.

Majority of home buyers today ably going to be limited to a limuse the Internet as a part of their ited nuumber of people who home search. Make sure that may not really be the ones that when your home need your propgoes on the market erty. In today’s ‘Some sellers there are good world there is no photos that show think they can limitation to maryour home off to sell their houses keting, after all advantage. they say, the world without the Studies have global village. hassle of expos- is aThe shown that buyers important ing it to the ignore online listthing here is for ings that don’t public Selling you to really be have photos. ready before adveroff-market In the alternative tising. What you ensure that your works occasion- don’t want to be ally, but most seen don’t showagent has an attractive and well sellers who try case it because laid out web-site it eventually buyers remember that will showcase what they see, not your property and end up having what you tell them; to put their its attractive takes. it will look like “In order for buyhome on the when you finish ers to connect with a room or market. This painting your home, the replacing outdated photos should be wastes time and light fixtures. laid out in such a could delay the For instance l way that the buyknow of a particusale’ lar person who put ers feel they are walking through up his house for sale and was your home. You don’t want to asked by neighbours who convey that the home has an odd floor plan by placing photos in needed a larger home if they could see the house before it a haphazard order. “ It can’t be emphasised too went on the market.

The buyers were so turned off much how important it is that by the poor appearance that the photos of your home are they not only didn’t buy the good-quality photos that reprehouse, but they didn’t even want sent the property accurately. to see it when it came on the marYard and view photos will help ket.

So, you can lose buyers by sell your home, or photos of any letting them see the house before special feature your home has that can be displayed photo- it’s ready.

A potentially more serious graphically, a courtyard, swimdownside of selling without exming pool or even a built-in outposing your home to the market door barbecue.

Video and You-tube are becom- is that you’ll never know what it ing a popular way to introduce could have sold for with the benefit of promotion. buyers to a home.

You might be leaving money However, just as with still on the table.

‘The buyers were so turned off by the poor appearance that they not only didn’t buy the house, but they didn’t even want to see it when it came on the market. So, you can lose buyers by letting them see the house before it’s ready’ •Contributions, questions? e-mail: quichi3cities@yahoo.com

43

TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The probe report of the House of Representatives’ ad-hoc Committee on the management of Petroleum Subsidy Fund (PSF) has generated some misgivings. VICTOR OLUWASEGUN and DELE ANOFI examine the report and its implication.

Fuel subsidy probe: Who pulls the strings?

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HERE is no doubt that the eight-member House of Representatives ad-hoc Committee on fuel subsidy management headed by Farouk Lawan has stirred the hornet’s nest. Since the recommendations were laid before the House on April 18, hell has been let loose. The report, whose consideration was done on April 24 and 25 catalogued monumental infractions in the management of the subsidy funds.

The report called for the refund of N1.07 trillion by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Authority (PPPRA) and some oil marketers to the government coffers.

It told the NNPC to refund N595.49 billion to the Federation Account and the trial of the Executive Secretary of the PPPRA between 2009 -2011.

The report stated that the nation spent N2.587 trillion on fuel subsidy as at December 31, 2011 rather that the conflicting official figures of N1.3 trillion, N1.6 trillion and N1.7 trillion from the PPPRA, OAGF and the CBN. It initially blamed the former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ibrahim Dankwanbo for the payment of N999 million, 128 times on January 12 and 13, 2009 but the blame was eventually shifted to the PPPRA during the consideration of the report with vehement opposition from some members of the House.

While some Nigerians praised the committee for a job well done in exposing the rot in the management of the subsidy funds, those indicted by the report cried foul. There were controversies on some of the issues in the report, particularly the major actors who were said to have been overtly or covertly involved in the subsidy scandals.

Some Nigerians, and even members of the House raised issues concerning privileges given to the Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke and the former Accountant-General of the Federation, Dankwambo-who is now the governor of Gombe State. Critics blame the process that led to the removal of the former AGF from the list of indicted officials in the report and accused the House leadership of having capitulated by shielding people implicated in the scam.

The committee went on to recommend the total reorganisation of NNPC. The NNPC took out paid adverts in some dailies, to discredit the House committee report.

It said the committee was not empirical in its findings and besides, it went beyond its reference.

Lawan stated that his committee during the writing of the report tried its best to ensure fairness to all involved.

To buttress this, the House during its consideration of the report gave 17 oil marketers that did not appear at the public hearing two weeks to appear and present their cases.

The report recommended the overhauling of the management of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) among others.

Despite of the encomiums that heralded the committee report was a horde of opposition that assailed it.

Some of the recurrent questions being asked were whether the committee was really fair in its hearing?

Was the committee’s findings empirically examined? At the initial laying of the report on the floor of the House there were denials by various companies indicted in the report concerning the veracity of the committee’s findings and its recommendations.

For instance, 17 oil marketers who claimed they were not invited to the hearing and wrong doing by other stakeholders have made nonsense of the committee’s report raising fears that the document which was adjudged to have been a fair representation of the fraudulent situation in the sector may have its own margin of error after all.

The companies were given a reprieve of two weeks after threatening to head for the courts. Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited was one of those that took the committee to task on its recommendations. The company was one of the original 15 companies listed as those that obtained FOREX but did not import petroleum products.

The company, while making a case against the committee’s findings, said: “We are therefore, surprised by the publications contained in some national newspapers wherein we were listed as one of the companies that obtained foreign exchange in the sum of $232,975,385.13 with questionable utilization as regards the supply of petroleum products.

“We believe that the ad-hoc House Committee on the monitoring of the subsidy regime has not conducted its affairs in a thorough manner and its findings are not only misleading but also damaging to the reputation of established companies like ours.

“The committee did not verify or determine actual subsidy requirements from facts available. The actual daily consumption of petroleum products could easily be verified from the National Office of Statistics which is set up and has the statutory duty of keeping statistics of such nature. Even from the report of the committee, there are facts available which the committee could have assailed to determine the actual subsidy requirements but the committee instead prefer to act on conjecture, probability and unfounded beliefs.

• Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Allison-Madueke flanked on the left by Mr Oniwon and Reginald Stanley.

“The committee despite all attempts by NNPC to clarify the process for the subsidy scheme as applicable to NNPC failed to grasp the mechanisms of NNPC’s involvement in the subsidy scheme. If such basic facts are understood but ignored by the committee, it calls to question the integrity and reliability of the Report.”

Supporters of the Austin Oniwonheaded corporation believe that rather than castigate the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, he should be commended. According to them, the GMD honoured the invitations of the parliament anytime he was called. Besides, they argued that NNPC can’t be said to be above the law because it has a board and reports to a minister.

In other words, if anyone is to blame, it should be the minister.

The PPPRA also faulted the report of the committee saying the sequences of N999m payment was not paid to “unknown entities” as alleged in the report, but to identified marketers.

It also denied the allegation of corruption by the report, saying contrary to the accusation that it paid itself N312 billion as administrative charges, the amount was for subsidy payments. According to PPPRA, the payment was “approved by government based on the report of the Federal Ministry of Finance appointed Auditor using e-payment.”

Many Nigerians were angry that the House at a point during the consideration of the committee’s recommendations failed to be assertive over indicted heads of agencies and ministries.

Robinson Uwak PDP member Akwa Ibom was one of the lawmakers that sensitized the House to the groundswell of discontent amongst Nigerian over the refusal of the House to mention names.

The lawmaker during the consideration of the report on April 24 raised a motion under order of privileges saying that his constituents have been calling him and alleging that he and the House by extension shielded the Minister of Petroleum, Alison-Madueke in the consideration of the previous day.

Uwak said: “since yesterday, I have been receiving calls from my constituents, accusing me that we as

members are shielding the Minister of Petroleum Resources, many Nigerians were angry that the House at a point during the consideration of the committee’s recommendations failed to be assertive over indicted heads of agencies and ministries. Mrs Alison-Madueke. This allegation is rubbing negatively on the credibility of my person.

“We should recommend that the Minister of Petroleum Resources should resign her office with immediate effect.”

Though Uwak was applauded by other members, the motion did not sail through.

Uwak later spoke with reporters in his office. According to him, he was trying to save an embarrassing situation that could portray the House in a negative light. He said he could not fathom a situation whereby the House would indict some people who serve under a particular Minister, and leave the Minister whom every other person reports to and who oversights the Ministry looking like a saint.

During the consideration of the report, some of the recommendations were altered and various arguments were put forward for the alteration by those who proposed the motions.

Some of the prominent amendments included recommendation (4), which urged the “speedy drafting and submission” of a well drafted and comprehensive PIB to the National Assembly.

This elicited a heated debate on whether or not the bill was already in the House. Members involved in this argument include Emmanuel Jimeh, Eziuche Ubani, Femi Gbajabiamila, Samson Osagie eventually agreed the bill was in the House. Ubani said: “I was there when the bill was submitted. We should go ahead and consider the bill. When we get to public hearing if the executive has anything to add, they will add.”

On recommendation (5) in which the word “direct for the auditing of the NNPC to determine its solvency” was changed to “urge…”

Samson Osagie, Minority Whip suggested the auditing of NNPC’s account by the Auditor–General within three months.

This caused a furore as many said there might be a cover up if the au-

‘Many Nigerians were angry that the House at a point during the consideration of the committee’s recommendations failed to be assertive over indicted heads of agencies and ministries’

diting was done by the AuditorGeneral’s office. Femi Gbajabiamila, Minority leader said: “Because of the nature and the objectives of the investigation, we need an independent body.” The House eventually voted for the Auditor General to conduct the audit because it is that office that should statutorily carry out the assignment.

On recommendation (36), which deals with the accounting firms Akintola Williams Delloite and Olusola Adekanola & Partners, Betty Apiafi said:”Over the years we have watched the incompetence of the companies engaged to monitor the payment of the subsidy. The recommendation is not hard enough.

These two companies should be prosecuted. All the payments made on fuel subsidy was based on the approval of these firms and due to their incompetence, the country has lost billions.”

Mohammed Barwa, Chief Whip wanted “Negligence and abetting” to substitute the word “Incompetence.”

Chairman of House Committee on Rules and Business Sam Tsokwa, revealed that the firms were collecting N275, 000 for the subsidy approval for each vessel. He said the huge financial consideration led to the continuous approval of those that did not qualify. He added: “They are two of the best in the country but they were professionally negligent.”

On recommendation (41) that has to do with Ministry of Finance, Ubani said: “We should name those involved.

Tsokwa added: “They should be investigated and prosecuted by the anti-corruption agencies.”

One of the amendments that shook the House was recommendation (42): “that the payment of N999,000, 000 in 128 times within 24hrs (12 and 13 January, 2009) by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation should be further investigated by the relevant anti-corruption agencies.”

The Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha who presided over the committee said Lawan, the had clarifications to make.

Lawan said a CBN letter has shown that the former AGF has no case to answer, that the payments were from PPPRA. But Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila objected saying instead of deleting the former AGF’s name from the recommendation, it should be co-joined to the PPPRA. Uche Ekwunife said rather than concentrate on the number of times the money was withdrawn, members should consider what the funds was •Continued on page 44

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

44

POLITICS Prince Adetilewa Sijuwade of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is a member of the House of Assembly representing Ife Central Constituency, Osun State.

He spoke with Deputy Political Editor EMM ANUEL OLADESU on politics in the state and other issues.

Sijuwade: PDP’s tricks will not work in Osun •Sijuwade

H

OW would you react to the political situation in Osun State?

The political situation in Osun State cannot be discussed in isolation. It will make sense to discuss politics and the wellbeing of the people together. Politically, the Osun State government has never had it so good.

The governorship was won by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN); all the 26 members of House of Assembly, nine members of the House of Representatives and three senators are from the ACN. It became more obvious, when during the presidential election, the incumbent President lost to the ACN candidate.

So, politically, Osun State is for ACN. It is a true reflection of the political wish of the people of the State of Osun to vote for the ACN in all ramifications. Those votes came on the platform of the promises and manifesto of ACN, and the six integral programme of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

But the opposition has alleged that the ACN government is planning to islamise the state…

The responsibility of government is to foster harmony and promote the welfare of the citizens. It is very disappointing for a government to now face allegations, rather than challenges. It will be very wrong for any right thinking person to conceive an idea that the Governor Aregbesola, wants to islamise the State of Osun. Osun State, particularly Ile-Ife, is believed to be the seat of culture of the black race, where all religious practices have their foothold, right from ancient history.

So, that is recognised by the governor. That is why at every government function, prayers are held in this order: the Christian religion, Islamic prayers, and the ‘Iwure’, which is traditional prayer. All the bishops, Imams and traditional religious clerics are usually in attendance. On Christmas and Easter periods, this same government provided free rail transportation to indigenes, picking up Christians at Abeokuta, Ibadan, Iwo enroute Osogbo. This was done for people

who could not afford transport fares during the period. Cultural days like Olojo Festival in Ile-Ife, Iwude in Ilesa and others are also being funded by this same government to promote culture. So, how can that type of person have an agenda to islamise Osun? Of course, the governor, like every other Nigerian, has his constitutional right to also practice and propagate his religious belief. He had at no time forced his religion on anybody. Actually, the uninformed will say because the governor, the chief of staff and SSG are Muslims, but records show that about three quarter of the permanent secretaries and House of Assembly members are Christians. Can that be termed as an agenda to make Osun soley a Christian state? The real issue is the fear of Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola. The PDP government could not achieve in seven years what the Aregbesola administration achieved in his first hundred days in office, when he employed 20,000 people. So, there is no comparism between the two governments. So, the only option left for the PDP is to look for ways of diverting the governor’s attention and derailing the new Osun Omoluabi Project of Rauf Aregbesola. They also want to cripple the laudable initiative, the Southwest integration programme of the ACN governments in the zone.

PDP has said the governor is mooting an idea for secession...

I would have thought the allegation of secession was a joke, if it was made on the first of April, which we all know as a April Fools’ Day. It is also an indication that the opposition does not have anything to offer the people, except confusion. The fact that we proposed state anthem, to be adopted as a Yoruba anthem at the inaugural meeting of our people on regional integration at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan, did not mean that Osun is seceding. The anthem was written for Yoruba race by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo at the prime time of his political career. And if you care to listen, you will hear the voice of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The anthem is about the Yorubas and not just the State of Osun. It is a wake up call on the children of Oduduwa to rise up to their responsibilities. “Omo Oduduwa dide, bosipo eto re”. Also, the fact that we adopted the flag is not new.

Virtually all the states in Nigeria have their flags and anthems. So, why is that of the State of Osun so

special? Can a state secede, and if yes, why would Osun State want to secede? It is a land-lock state and would it also make any economic sense with the kind of IGR being generated in the state? There is no oil and gas deposit in Osun State.

So, how will the state fund the secession?

What is that special thing that Aregbesola has done in office?

What Aregbesola has achieved in less than two years, with the meager resources of the state, are numerous. He has increased pension payment to retirees from N30 million to N250 million. We also found out that five percents of students who sit for WAEC passed English and Mathematics. So, he invested in “Opon Imo”, which is the high-pad for all secondary schools, which contains text books, past questions, answers to past questions on all subjects being taught in schools. This means students would have access to their text books, class books, teachers’ notes and past questions and answers on each subject being taught in secondary schools. It means students would be able to study and read outside school. He also provided two school uniforms for each student. This also is done at a cost of about N2 billion. The problem of road construction is directly a product of financial engineering.

The state government has contracted roads to companies of good repute.

But because of pancity of funds government designed a payment schedule of 15 per cent down payment and the balance spread over 36 months. These contracts are backed by guarantee given by various home countries of the contractors. Also, on agriculture, aside from providing farmland to prospective farmers, the government also serves as guarantor for loans to those farmers in commercial banks. The agreement was also reached with the Nigeria Railway Corporation, also with some state funding, to open up the rail track to Dagbolu in Osun State. This is to ensure competition and bring farm produce closer to Railway Station for free transportation to Lagos, through the same means, finished products to Osun State will be sold at prices not inclusive of transportation, which translates that you can sell at the same price in both states. This will mean economic boom in Osun because people from hinterland will rather prefer to buy in Osun to save time and money.

Fuel subsidy probe: Who pulls the strings?

•Continued from page 43

used for to find out if the withdrawals were justified. She said at the time of the N999m withdrawals “there was a CBN policy that no individual or corporate entity could withdraw up to a billion in a single transaction.

“We should concentrate on what the money was used for,” she said.

But Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa disagreed saying not only should the former AGF’s name be included, he should also be indicted. She described the recommended punishment “investigation by relevant anti-corruption agencies,” was too mild. “if one person stays in his office and writes cheques of N999m 128 times, that person should be indicted.”

Such tense moments ran through the two-day consideration of the report.

It is asked if there are traitors in the House?

Are there certain lawmakers in the House who have been positioned to set certain agendas during the course of the discussion of the report? Were there people working against the recommendations of the report of the ad hoc committee from the floor of the House? People who were positioned to make contributions and sponsor motions specifically targeted at certain indicting recommendations?

Going by the events that unfolded in the House during the consideration of the report by the House, many have ventured suggestions that a number of lawmakers had been bought over by certain interests.

Already, a hypothetical scenario has presented itself before Nigerians

with the two weeks reprieve given to 17 oil marketers who were initially asked to refund a total of N41.9 if necessary, through the intervention of anti-graft agencies for their refusal to appear before the ad hoc committee.

There have been insinuations that things may not be as it seems, and that the house may have been compromised. Obviously, the river the House committee has to cross will be that of the integrity of the probe process. The committee needs to debunk the notion that it has been “reached” or that certain lawmaker had been recruited in order to cleverly sidetrack the initial recommendations of the panel so as to work towards a predetermined answer.

How well the House retains the confidence of the nation will be seen in the way it concludes the final leg of the investigation with the oil marketers.

Akin Omoboriowo: The man, the myth

By Deji Fasuan

C

HIEF Akin Omoboriowo, one of the most colourful and discussed politicians in the last three to four decades has passed on. But his reputation – in whatever form you view it, lingers. By far the most demonised of Southwest politicians (apart Garrison Commander Adedibu), Omoboriowo bowed out, still a controversial figure. Beside the label of betrayal which his trauducers have stubbornly attached to him, Omoboriowo was a bundle of humanity. His trait as a party loyalist (indeed fanatics), was the sources of his seeming double personality, hence odious perception. Infact Omoboriowo was a decent, forthright and considerate human specie. His fault, if it was, lay in his origins and beliefs.

Let me start with some fundamentals. The man grew up in an environment and among associates who elevated loyalty to a course or a boss to the level of religion. See through the list. Oga Sam (Aluko), Agunbiade Bamise, Prof David Oke, Prof Banji Akintoye, Ayo Fasanmi, Chief Joel Babatola, Chief Falodun, Ade Akilaya. All these great faithful are of Ekiti Origin. In the discipleships (not hierarchy) of the Action Group – and its successor political organisations, only Wunmi Adegbonmire (Omo Ekun) from Akure can match the level of religions devotion and commitment these Ekiti men had for Chief Obafemi Awolowo. These eight men and of course Akin Omoboriowo are miles ahead of the Ajayis, the Adebanjos, the Onabanjos, the Otebanjos of this world in relation of their followership or discipleship, but not necessarily in hierarchy as has been noted above. Let us admit one fact. Omoboriowo did not earn public opprobrium until the events of 1980-83 in Ondo State. When the UPN big wigs in their wisdom gave the impression that Ajasin would run one term as governor to be succeeded by Omoboriowo for the second stanze, it was an unfair treatment for Ajasin who was being denied his right. Curiously, nobody in the UPN hierarchy believed in this concoction – except Awolowo and Omoboriowo. As Wole Soyinka would say, this was ‘pathetic naivety’.

As from the second year of the Ajasin administration, the ‘Omoboriowo Group’ began to emerge – both in the Assembly and the state as a whole.

This was an unnecessary distraction to the government, but it was doubtful whether Awolowo or Omoboriowo perceived it that way.

The situation was almost balanced between the Awolowo/Omoboriwo forces and the Ajasin forces in terms of numbers and level of commitments.

Indeed it was doubtful whether Chief Awolowo saw any imminent turmoil. He was free with and confident of his long life associate Governor Ajasin, while he was always reassured of the followership/ discipleship of his Ondo State ‘Baba Kekere’ . As it turned out, the two perceptions were not ad idem.

Slowly the centrifugal forces were giving way. In Ondo State, the two camps became distinct and apparent in all legislative and political matters.

Omoboriowo garnered his support from Ekiti and Ilaje – Eseodo mainly, with sprinkles from Akoko. Of course Ajasin’s foot soldiers were strong, determined, intellectually based and would give no quarters. Remember Adegbonmire, Adegoke, Adedipe, Akintoye, David Oke et al?

Then the UPN primary. Some primaries! The most charitable thing one could say is that it was inconclusive. In today’s political lexicon, it was manipulated – and Omoboriowo was declared the looser. – And hell broke. Not the physical combat yet. That was still months off. Tragically, Akin Omoboriowo got paid back at the primaries when his trusted agent took his pound of flesh as a reprisal for an earlier political maneuvering between the two.

Then suddenly Omoboriowo became the beautiful bride who many political organisations courted. He finally succumbed to the NPN – the arch – enemy of the ‘progressives’ of the West. The subsequent election and the declaration of the results by FEDECO signaled the beginning of what the Ekitis in old Ondo State called the ‘Holocaust’. Some Ekiti and Akure indigenes were killed, houses belonging to Ekiti public and private persons destroyed and most known Ekitis chased out. For us in Ekiti it was the beginning of the beginning. First some people have not yet outlived the trauma, second, the job of convincing some doubting Ekiti indigenes of the need for a separate political entity became easier.

Looking back still baffles the imagination why Chief Awolowo deserted Omoboriowo and opted for his grand ally Chief Ajasin. Also one wonders why Omoboriwo and his close political associates could not wait for Ajasin to complete two terms as chief executive of the state after which he most probably would have been presented the prize on a platter. In a haze of madness the Ekitis, Akures, and Akokos who are culturally connected took on themselves and almost succeeded in destroying centuries – old affinity.

Akin Omoboriowo in his twilight made his peace with men and his God. He said often that he had forgiven his detractors – and I believed him. He had a stout heart. He was affable to his friends and preached peace, peace most of his later life. May he rest in peace.

• The late Omoboriowo

• Fasuan JP, Chairman Committee for the creation of Ekiti State.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

45

HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

N

IGERIA accounts for 23 per cent of global malaria burden, with maternal mortality topping the table, Health Minister Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu has said.

This figure is about a quarter of the world’s.

Chukwu, who spoke at a dinner in Lagos for reporters to mark World Malaria Day, said 47 per cent of the global malaria burden came from five countries. They are Nigeria, Democratic Repulic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Kenya. Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs Fatima Bamidele, the minister said malaria, according to National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS), constitutes about 11 per cent of Nigeria’s maternal mortality of 545 per 100,000 while infant and childhood death rates are 25 and 30 per cent.

The disease, he added, has become a problem to Nigeria despite that it could be easily prevented, treated and cured.

Chukwu said the country has introduced various measures on roll back malaria (RBM), like the disease management, Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) and Malaria in pregnancy among others.

The Federal Government distributed 46.8 million Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) in 30 states.

It has also scaled up the use of Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) and larviciding and massive distribution of anti-malaria medicines and commodities. The government has built capacity for health workers at national and state levels, among others.

Chukwu said malaria deaths have been reduced by one-third in the last 10 years in Africa, adding that the Malaria Household Survey conducted in 2010 in nine states – Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe and Kaduna in the north and Anmbra, Akwa Ibom and Rivers in the south showed an increase in the percentage of households with at least one LLIN from 2.2 to 88 per cent.

“There was also an increase in the

•From left to right: Mrs Amajoh, Mrs Bamidele and Bishop Sunday Onuoha at the dinner.

Nigeria leads in maternal death globally, says minister From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

percentage of children under-five years, who sleep under nets the night before the survey from three to 44 per cent. Also, there was an increase in the percentage of children under-five years with fever treated with an effective anti-malaria within 24 hours from onset of the symptoms from 0.0 to 5.8 per cent and increase in the number of expectant mothers, who received two or more doses of IPT from nine to 16.6 per cent,” he added.

He said stakeholders and partners

should ensure that Nigerians sleep under LLINs and those infected by the disease treated with artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACTs) with sulphadoxine pyrimethamine after the 16th week to protect the mother and the unborn child from the disease.

He urged the private sector and individuals to invest in malaria control.

He said about 100 million cases of the disease are reported yearly, adding that this was because of inadequate and late release of funds for malaria control.

Chukwu said the disease accounts for six out of 10 out-patient visits and three out of 10 admissions in health facilities.

He said: “N480 billion is lost to malaria yearly by Nigerians due to out-of pocket treatment and prevention costs. It is also responsible for loss of man-hours at work and school. This could pay the yearly salary of 2.2 million workers.

Co-ordinator, National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), Mrs Chioma Amajoh, said the ministry programme on malaria has

been supported by ExxonMobil with over $110million reaching almost 66 million people, thereby reducing malaria by 33 per cent in Africa.

She said the Federal Government has been investing in partnership to rid the country of the disease.

“Malaria is still one of the world’s biggest killers, claiming about 655,000 lives yearly. Research shows that malaria robs Africa of more than $12 billion in lost productivity yearly and accounts for about 40 per cent of health expenditure,” she added.

She said the country has made progress in controlling the disease with the distribution of two bed nets per household to reach 60 per cent of its target. The improvement in treatment is laudable. The removal of tariff on bed nets, malaria treatments and rapid diagnostic tests is also a great achivevement, she added.

‘Cases of ear, hearing patients rising’

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HE number of Nigerians with ear and hearing-related problems are on the rise, the Nigeria Hearing and Speech Association (NIHSA) has said.

According to its National President, Prof Julius Ademokoya, the number of patients with ear and hearing-related problems seen in some health facilities is about 10 weekly.

He spoke during the association’s visit to the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists (Registration) Board of Nigeria in Lagos. “People are not expected to expose their hearing to the sound level of 80 decibels,” he added.

Ademokoya said many people are losing their hearing to the effect of noise at the airports, factories with heavy equipment and because of loud advertising, grinding machines and buses hooting among others. The use of cell phones is also a major problem affecting hearing, he added.

“These days, people experience series of bombings and shooting and as such, have problems with

By Wale Adepoju

their hearing. There is acoustic trauma and people go deaf immediately after hearing noise of a blast. Old people hearing degenerate due to aging and agingrelated problems,” he said.

On the hearing level of Nigerians, he said, this depended on the people’s hearing test. “If you lose two or five decibels daily before you become old, you would have lost your hearing which is deafness,” Ademokoya added.

He identified quinine and quinine-related drugs and alcohol as factors that can cause hearing defects Also, the association is seeking to stop quackery in the profession.

Ademokoya said: “We want to have something solid like the physiotherapists association.”

He said the body would also organise internship programme for prospective speech therapists and audiologists.

“If you want to be a speech therapist or an audiologist, you start from the Master Degree level

•Ademokoya (fourth left); Public Relations Officer, Mrs Grace Bamigboye; Financial Secretary, Ayo Osisanya and Mrs Grace Ademola-Sokoya. With them are Registrar, Mr Joshua Jagunola (centre); Treasurer, Mrs Olabisi Ajibade (4th right), Assistant Director, Mrs Olufunke Akanle; Vice-President, Mr Barnabas Vangerwua and Mr Simeon Afolabi, during the visit.

followed by an internship programme. This will make it easy for employers to place us at par with sisters’professions such as the physiotherapy. This will also help to curtail quackery. So, the minimum entry level is first de-

gree for now. It will ensure competence as anything that has to do with human health is important,” he added.

The speech therapists and audiologists, he noted, assist the Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeons

to make crucial decisions about patients. “The more accurate or precise the information is, the better the outcome of the treatment. This is necessary because we have had cases of wrong diagnosis in the country,” he said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

46

HEALTH

‘Over four million Nigerians blind, visually-impaired’

N

O fewer than 1, 130, 000 people between 40 and above are blind, Consultant Ophthalmologist at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Dr Bassey Etim, has said.

Etim spoke at a workshop on low vision for optometrists, ophthalmologists and ophthalmic nurses organised by the National Eye Health Programme (NEHP) in con-

junction with the International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE) in Calabar, Cross River State. He explained that the Northwest geo-political zone has the highest number of blind adults (28.6 per cent) .

Another 2. 700million adults, he said, are estimated to have moderate visual impairment, with an additional 400, 000 severely visually impaired.

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

He also said low vision is an indication of diminished vision that is not corrected by standard glasses, contact lens, medication or surgery.

He said in the country, untreated cataract is the most common cause of low vision and blindness, adding that 84 per cent of visual impairment in the population is

caused by either preventable or treatable causes.

Sub-regional Manager, West Africa, ICEE, Dr Anne Ebri, said over 124 million people globally have low vision, adding that the figures would double over the next two to three decades.

She said, traditionally, low vision services have come under neglect as practitioners have very limited

skills, and inaccessibility to assessment tools and devices is a major deterrent.

She said NEHP in collaboration with ICEE, the Cross River State Ministry of Health and the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital have trained 45 practitioners who are providing low vision services in 34 tertiary and secondary institutions in the country.

Global Fund appoints Communications Director

T

HE Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, has namedMr Seth Faison as its Director of Communications.

Faison, a communications expert heads the New York office for Sitrick and Company, one of the world’s leading strategic communications firms handling the

fund’s account.

A Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent for the New York Times, he has over 25 years’ experience in media-related fields.

General Manager, Global Fund, Jaramillo, said of him in Geneva: “Seth has the right background and skills to implement our strategy and achieve that goal.”

Medical personnel not united, says PSN chief’

T •From left: Assistant Director, Nutrition, Military Hospital, Ikoyi, Lagos, Mrs Fatima Amadu; Managing Director Nestle PLC Mr Martin Woolnough; Prof Atinmo; Marketing Services Director, Nestle, Mrs Iquo Ukoh; Deputy Director, Nutrition, who represented Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Public Health, Dr Abimbola Ajayi and Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Manager Nestle Dr Sam Adenekan at the event.

PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

Nutritionist seeks help for iron deficiency

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RESIDENT, African Nutrition Societies (ANS) Prof Tola Atinmo has described micronutrient deficiency as one of the major public health concerns in the country, urging Nigerians to treat it with seriousness.

He spoke at the press launch of fortified Maggi cubes by Nestle Nigeria PLC in Lagos.

He said iron deficiency has many economic effects that were under-estimated, adding that they sap the energy of workers and hurt the learning ability of children, thereby making them unproductive adults.

He said iron deficiency include dietary intake of iron, parasitic infestation, diseases and menstrual loss, especially chronic ones, poor dietary bioavailability of iron.

“Iron deficiency status of Nigeria was graded into deficiency and iron store depletion. Unlike iron deficiency that is observed when the serum ferritin is below 12ng/ml for adults and below 10ng/ml for children, iron depletion level is recorded when serum ferritin is less than 20ng/ml,” he said.

He said the consequences of long-term iron deficiency include impaired mental development in children, decreased physical work capacity and impaired function.

“Young children and expectant mothers are, particularly, vulnerable to iron deficiency because they need higher levels of the mineral for growth and develop-

By Wale Adepoju

ment.

Chairman, National Food Fortification Alliance (NFA) the Mr Fred Chiazor said the NFA has been contributing to the formulation of policies and strategies to mitigate micronutrient deficiencies.

He commended the company for leading in the fortification of seasoning with iron at an affordable price.

Chiazor said foods are fortified to enrich diets that lack variety and can be known to be deficient in certain nutrients.

He said: “The WHO guidelines for food fortification distinguish three approaches it. They are mass, targeted and marketdriven. Mass fortification refers to the addition of micronutrients to edible products that are consumed regularly by the public, such as cereal, oils and vegetable fats, milk and condiments.

“Targeted fortification refers to the fortification of food designed for specific population subgroups, such as complementary weaning foods for infants, food for institutional programme aimed at school children or preschoolers and foods used under emergency situations. Market-driven fortification refers to a situation in which a food manufacturer takes the initiative to add one or more micronutrients to processed foods to increase sales and profits.”

As such food items such as flour,

sugar, edible oils and salt, among others, were fortified to improve the deficiency status of a population and requiring changes in dietary habits.

Nestle Managing Director, Mr Martin Woolnough, said the company’s development of the iron-fortified Maggi cube is a continuation of its commitment to helping reduce micronutrient deficiencies globally.

He said the company provided 53 billion servings of iron, 102 billion servings of vitamin A and 14 billion servings of zinc in 2011, adding that over 50 million cubes of magi made from iodized salt are sold daily in the country.

He said: “The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends using, as vehicle for fortification, products that have high household penetration. A seasoning such as Maggi cube is, therefore, a perfect carrier of iron to help improve nutritional status, growth and development.”

He said: “Iron is a part of red blood cells, specifically the protein haemoglobin, which carry oxygen through the blood anaemia – the state of having too little haemoglobin in the blood - mostly caused by lack of iron in the diet. In some countries in Central and West Africa up to 90 per cent of the children are anaemic. In Nigeria, the problem affects more than three quarters of pre-school-age children.”

He said the company was collaborating with scientists on global and regional levels to fortify appropriate food products, according to local needs.

Amosun’s wife urges women on regular cancer check-ups

W

OMEN have been urged to undergo regular medical check-ups to detect symptoms of cancer Wife of the Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, made the call at the flag-off of a cancer awareness campaign and screening in Abeokuta.

Mrs. Amosun said the state government is embarking on the campign as part of measures to give preventive health services an awareness on the disease, saying that if cancers are detected early, they could be prevented.

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

According to her, the plan is to ensure that the exercise is extended to the nooks and crannies of the state for the benefit of the people.

“The objective of the campaign was to take the screening exercise to the communities. We will be starting with one Primary Health Care (PHC) centre in each Local government area and eventually take it to all the centres in the state such that people in communities do not have to travel for long distance to access these

services,”she said.

Mrs Amosun said studies have shown that cancer occurrence can be linked to some factors in the environment, community and individual behaviours, advising that people should learn to change such habits to reduce the incidence of cancer in the society.

She charged women to cultivate the habit of self-breast examination and urged them to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the campaign to undergo screening for both breast and cervical cancer.

HE Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has identified disharmony among professionals as the major problem of health care delivery.

Speaking at the Lagos State Branch of the society’s Annual Luncheon and Conferment in Ikeja, its President, Mr Okwor Azubuike, urged the Federal Government to address these problems in the interest of the sector.

Azubuike, represented by the former Chairman, PSN, Lagos Branch, Mr Olumide Akintayo, said the country lacked team spirit in the health sector because of disunity, blaming it on CAP 463 Law of the Federation 2004.

He said some of the salient provisions of the law made it a privilege to be a citizen, adding that “as a pharmacist, there was restriction even in my training. For example, it is not specified enough that I must have access to records in hospital wards. This is one thing doctors do to hinder all other health professionals right from the training stages from getting into hospital bed side and all that. That is why you hear in Nigeria that patients belong to the doctor.

“That is why a doctor will say he is the permanent head of the health team because they have deliberately interpreted medically qualified people to imply only medical doctors. That is why you will find a situation where a doctor will tell you people in other professions cannot reach the peak of their careers right there in the hospital setting because, according to them, there are only two full-fledged departments in a hospital. And in their reckoning they are meant for the Clinical Service Director and the Director of Administration,” he added.

He said the Federal Government set up the Presidential Committee to ensure harmony in the sector but the recommendations in the report were yet to be implemented.

Azubuike said: “That committee has worked and came up with far-reaching recommendations but I perceive a deliberate attempt by some powerful interest in the health ministry to suppress the spirit of that report because they feel it is not in the best interest of a particular favoured profession.”

He urged the Federal Government to implement the recommendation without further delay.

“I am seizing this opportunity to call on President Goodluck

By Wale Adepoju

Jonathan, who set up the committee, to ask for that report again.

The only reason we have a farreaching report for the first time was that the headship of that committee was not vested in anybody in the health sector but in a respectable High Court Judge. I have gone through that report and I challenge anybody to go through it to see whether the individual right of any professional is being trampled upon based on that report or not,” he added.

He said the poor handling of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) because of an group interest, have is another issue the government should look at, saying it was unduly schemed in favour of a particular profession.

He said the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was a result of the government’s transformation agenda, but that its implementation so far has been poor.

He noted that the expertise of other professionals in the sector apart from doctors have been under-utilised. “It is getting to the state where you will leave other health worker no choice than to hold their destiny in their hands,” he added.

Also, Chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Lagos Branch, Mr Akintunde Obembe, said: “The Federal Government can do a lot by giving the pharmaceutical companies soft loans with little interest, among others.”

He identified the exchange rate as a problem affecting pharmaceutical companies and investors to manufacture affordable drugs.“We are trying on our own to impress it upon the government to come out and assist because the health of the citizens is at stake, there will be problem. It should encourage the pharmaceutical companies to do what they have to do so that people can get pharmaceutical products at a cheap rate,” Obembe said.

On the cause of strikes in the health sector, he blamed it on the government, saying it has been concentrating on a particular profession rather than on the entire health team which consists of doctors, pharmacists, nurses among others.

He said this was the reason doctors are behaving the way they were behaving.

“Honestly, if the nurses go on strike today, the government will feel their impact more than that of the doctors. That is the truth, “ he added.

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EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

NSE opens on downside

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 7-5-12

•Transcorp unveils growth plan

T

HE Nigerian stock market opened this week negative as investors cashed in on built-up capital gains that accrued from recent bullish rally.

Aggregate market capitalisation of all equities dropped from N7.228 trillion to close at N7.198 trillion while the All Share Index (ASI) slipped to 22,571.78 points as against its opening index of 22,665.99 points.

The decline was particularly orchestrated by losses suffered by the trio of Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank and Nigerian Breweries, which lost 63 kobo, N2.67 and 34 kobo to close at N14.90, N110.13 and N16.70 respectively. Cement Company of Northern Nigeria also dropped by 19 kobo to close at N4.81 while UAC of Nigeria lost 13 kobo to close at N33.99 per share.

On the positive side, Ashaka Cement topped the gainers’ list with a gain of 39 kobo to close at N11. International Breweries followed with a gain of 27 kobo to close at N5.68. Dangote Flour Mills and Access Bank gained 22 kobo each to close at N4.96 and N7 respectively.

Meanwhile, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) Plc would optimise its idle assets and invest in new facilities and businesses to ensure stable growth and returns to shareholders.

Speaking at the annual gen-

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

eral meeting of the conglomerate in Abuja, chairman, Mr. Tony Elumelu, said the conglomerate has commenced the execution of its expansion plans to fully utilise the massive unutilised land on its Transcorp Hilton Abuja site and roll out new hotels across major economic centres in Nigeria such as Lagos and Port Harcourt.

He added that the conglomerate has also signed a partnership agreement with Symbion Power, a US-based energy company, to engage in power production venture, which would lead to a significant increase in power production for the benefit of the nation.

According to him, the conglomerate took several significant steps in its key sectors of agri-business, energy and hospitality – that would no doubt see Transcorp taking its rightful place as a key player in the economic development and transformation of Nigeria.

He said that Transcorp’s agribusiness subsidiary, Teragro Ltd, has the annual capacity to process 26,500 metric tonnes of oranges, mangoes and pineapples, turning them into juice concentrate that will be supplied to ready-to-drink juice manufacturers in Nigeria and beyond.

“This plant will contribute tremendously to increased employment, the utilisation

of local produce, as well as serve as a domestic supply substitute for indigenous manufacturers. I am excited and optimistic about Nigeria’s coming of age. Now is the time to become fully engaged in transformational investments that create economic prosperity and social wealth by increasing employment and enhancing the quality of life for all Nigerians,” Elumelu said.

In his remarks, president, Transcorp, Mr Obinna Ufudo, explained that the audited report for the 2011 indicated that as part of its transformation, Transcorp resolved legacy issues across the group and necessary adjustments were made in the accounts to reflect this.

The report showed that group revenues rose marginally by 1.07 per cent to N14.07 billion as against N13.9 billion in 2010. Profit after tax however, fell by 13.4 per cent to N4.67 billion from N5.39 billion.

He noted that the conglomerate finished 2011 with momentum and has been positioned for a stronger 2012, adding that Transcorp is undergoing a transformation, driven principally to create value for shareholders.

“We have fully embraced and enthroned the highest level of global best practices and governance standards in our operations and businesses. Our major priorities now are creating value for our stakeholders as well as making profits for our shareholders, and we believe very strongly that the foundation that we are laying, and our hard work, will lead to dividends being paid by the end of this financial year,” Ufudo said.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 7-5-12

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

51

MONEY LINK

‘Diaspora remittance to emerging economies hits $501b’

R

EMITTANCE by Diaspora from advanced to emerging economies has hit $501 billion, Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane has said.

Speaking at the May Lagos Business School Breakfast Session in May, Rewane said the fund, which nearly equaled the level of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to emerging markets, will bring sustainable development in benefiting economies.

He said credit lines from offshore banks in Nigeria are declining and becoming more expensive but the country’s trade flow remains relatively unchanged at 10 per cent of its external reserves. The $3.6 billion reserves now

Stories by Collins Nweze

in Chinese Yuan will be revalued even as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) outlook in April projects Nigeria will grow by 7.1 per cent in 2012.

“This is 1.6 per cent above the SubSaharan Africa projected growth rate.

The growth will continue to be driven by the non-oil sector but the challenge is how to manage the impending impact of the Asset Management Corporation (AMCON) bonds maturity date of December 2013,” he said.

Rewane said that the CBN has very limited options to push rates up without hurting business as the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meets in three weeks. He said that money sup-

‘Amended tax law benefits HE recently gazetted Personal workers’ Income Tax Act , 2011 has re-

T

duced the tax burden of tax payers, tax consultant, and former chairman, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Ikeja District Society, Chukwuemeka Eze has said.

He said that the new law makes cherry news for tax payers.

Many Nigerians, especially members of the organised labour, he explained, have engaged their employers or the relevant tax authority in regular negotiations over the exact sums deductible from their personal incomes.

Although the applicable laws have been explicit on the amount deductible as reliefs or allowances before calculating the amount standing as personal income tax liability, the dispute has always been on what reliefs are recognisable to a particular income earner under the law.

However, he added that although many sections of PIT Act 2004 was

amended to achieve PIT Act 2011, the Principal Act remains intact, as the same has not been repealed. One of the notable amendments in the new law is the substitution of the sixth Schedule in the Principal Act. Before the amendment, the first N30, 000 earners will pay five per cent, next N30, 000 pays 10 per cent. Also, next N50, 000 pays 15 per cent, next N50, 000 pays 20 per cent and above N160, 000 pays 25 per cent.

But the new tax rates means that first N300,000 is taxed seven per cent; next N300,000 taxed 11 per cent; next N500,000 pays 15 per cent; next N500,000 at 19 per cent; next N1,600,000 at 21 per cent and above N3,200,000 at 24 per cent.

A comparative analysis shows that the tax payer under the Principal Act bears higher assumed tax burden while the same tax payer bears a lesser tax liability under the Amendment Act.

ply growth deceleration also contributed towards inflation containment in March.

The expert noted that there was N888 billion provisions for subsidy for 2012 as against N245 billion in 2011 just as discordant views on subsidy, shows that a crisis is simmering.

Besides, oil price dipped by 3.7 per cent but revenues remain firm. External reserves rose to an 18 month high of $36.48 billion in April.

The analyst said cash transactions remain primary mode of transaction

at 83 per cent of total payments. He noted that the impact of cash-less banking scheme is still minimal.

“Technology handicap remains a major constraint impeding use of electronic payments. Impulse needs are patronising cards while daily and frequent needs are still mainly settled in cash. There are 3,000 transactions per day per major supermarket,” he said.

The FDC boss said that at the global arena, expectations for Chinese economy growth is now revised to 8.5 per cent for 2012 even as fund

IFC commits $1.2b to microfinance banks

T

HE International Finance Corporation (IFC) has committed $1.2 billion in investments to microfinance bank projects globally, with more than 150 financial institutions in over 60 countries.

IFC Vice President for Business Advisory Services, Nena Stoiljkovic said the projects will help clients do more for low-income customers in Africa.

“Since its first microfinance investment in 1997, IFC’s involvement in microfinance has steadily increased.

As of June 2011, IFC had directly committed over $1.2 billion in investments to microfinance projects globally, with more than 150 financial institutions in

over 60 countries,” he said.

In a statement, the global lender said microfinance and mobile financial services programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa have also received support from the African Development Bank, Austrian Development Bank, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and the governments of Austria, Denmark, Japan, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.

Also, IFC and MasterCard Foundation yesterday, launched a partnership to increase access to financial services for an estimated 5.3 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa. Building on recent economic momentum and stability in

instrument in economic policy and public expenditure management and control and as such, requires mechanics and extremely rigorous procedures.

He explained that in the past, managers in the public sector had a narrower range of expectations for the role of internal audit than managers in the private sector.

African Center for Resource Studies (AFCRS) organisers of the forum, which holds in Lokoja from 25th – 29th June,

P

OLICY makers, chief financial officers (CFOs), and other national stakeholders are set to discuss developmental issues in Nigeria at the 10th Nigerian Development Forum (NDF10) focusing on performance based budgeting, public expenditure management and control.

Speaking to journalists ahead of the confab, Chris Onwuka, President African Center for Resource Studies said Public budget remains a fundamental

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 Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 150m 150m 138m 138m

MANAGED FUNDS 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

GAINERS AS AT 7-5-12 SYMBOL

DIAMONDBNK INTBREW UBA UBN CUSTODYINS ETERNAOIL DANGFLOUR REDSTAREX IKEJAHOTEL VITAFOAM

O/PRICE

2.80 5.41 4.03 4.36 1.68 3.41 4.74 2.59 1.08 3.54

C/PRICE

2.94 5.68 4.23 4.57 1.76 3.57 4.96 2.71 1.13 3.69

113m

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Current Before

O/PRICE 0.91 1.60 15.53 5.00 0.99 112.80 17.04 0.56 1.37 5.58

C/PRICE 0.87 1.53 14.90 4.81 0.96 110.13 16.70 0.55 1.35 5.50

CHANGE 0.04 0.07 0.63 0.19 0.03 2.67 0.34 0.01 0.02 0.08

29-2-12 27-2-12

113m

155.7

22-2-12

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

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%

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

Date

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%

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

LOSERS AS AT 7-5-12

SYMBOL FIDSON GTASSURE ZENITHBANK CCNN LIVESTOCK NB GUARANTY TRANSCORP FIDELITYBK FCMB

Exchange Rate (N) 155.8 155.8

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

CHANGE

0.14 0.27 0.20 0.21 0.08 0.16 0.22 0.12 0.05 0.15

113m

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

INTERBANK RATES OBB Rate Call Rate

2012 said the analysis of budgets and the allocation of State Budget are at the heart of the recent controversies on strategic choices on development and the capacity of the State to drive economic growth.

“This explains why the internal audit function in the public sector was dominated by pre-payment audits. Thus internal auditors devoted most of their time to the checking on individual transactions before the payments were made, he said.

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

many African economies, the project will create new opportunities for economically disadvantaged people to expand businesses, gain access to costeffective financial services, and manage risk.

Through this new $37.4 million partnership, IFC and The MasterCard Foundation will help microfinance banks expand more rapidly and develop new products and cost-effective delivery channels, while expanding coverage in new, often hard-to-reach locations. The project will also help providers to deliver low-cost mobile financial services to low-income customers.

Budgeting, expenditure mgt top agenda at forum

FGN BONDS

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

managers were cautious in April as risks in Europe returned to centre stage.

“Global investors trimmed their emerging market overweight from over 40 per cent to over 28 per cent.

They equally raised their cash balance to 4.7 per cent of their portfolios.

“Britain has returned to recession after two consecutive quarters of negative growth. The main drag on the economy was construction even as Spain’s unemployment rate is now 24.4 per cent, highest level in 18 years,”he said.

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE 9.17 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE 122.59 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 103.35 THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.74 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.08 BGL NUBIAN FUND 0.89 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,702.66 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 8.13 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 7,259.48 THE DISCOVERY FUND 193.00 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

9.08 1.00 122.48 103.00 0.72 1.08 0.88 1,696.26 7.74 1.33 1.80 7,071.36 191.08 1.62

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous 04 July, 2011

Current 07, Aug, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

NEWS Police arrest 20 suspects in Nnewi

Ezeife restates call for Igbo presidency

From Odogwu Emeka odogwu, Nnewi

•Ekwueme seeks revival of Igbo culture

T

WENTY robbery suspects were arrested yesterday by the police in Nnewi, Anambra State.

Four of them were in army uniforms.

The suspects were arrested by a patrol team from Nnewi Central Police Station, while allegedly stealing electricity cables.

Police spokesman Emeka Chukwuemeka confirmed the incident, but said the identities of the suspects were still unknown.

He said the matter is being investigated.

F

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Orient Magazine, Newspaper and Communications Limited and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

The theme of the five-day workshop, sponsored by Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, was: “Rediscovering lost Igbo values, a conference on value reorientation”.

Ezeife said: “Every zone in Nigeria has produced a

President, except the Southeast. So, in 2015, we should be allowed to produce the President. We do not have any conflict with Jonathan.

We are not going to fight him; he is free to run for a second term, but producing the next President is important to Ndigbo.”

Former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme was at the event. He said the workshop was a forum to discuss culture and not politics.

Ekwueme said such events would revive the Igbo culture and values.

Governor Peter Obi, who was represented by Commissioner for Information Culture and Tourism Maja Umeh, said Southeast governors are working hard to unite Ndigbo.

NUJ National President Mohammed Garuba said the zone would achieve its 2015 dream, if its people are at peace with one another.

From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

I

Hospital gets dialysis machines From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

NDIGENES of Mbaise, Imo State, living in the United States (US) have donated dialysis machines and surgical beds to the Aboh Mbaise General Hospital.

Inaugurating the equipment, wife of the Governor, Mrs. Nneoma Okorocha, thanked the donor for complementing the government’s effort in providing quality health care services for the people.

Director-General of the Imo Foundation Mrs.Ngozi Njoku, under whose office the donation was made, said the foundation was set up by Governor Rochas Okorocha to coordinate humanitarian services that will assist the less-privileged.

She urged individuals and organisations to partner the government in alleviating the suffering of the masses.

Leader of the donor group Mr. Collins Olorondu said the gesture was to improve health care services in public hospitals.

Transition Committee Chairman of Aboh Mbaise Local Government Anthony Atudume thanked the governor for responding promptly to the call for the renovation and re-accreditation of the Aboh Mbaise School of Midwifery.

I

•Ekwueme (third right); Ezeife (second right); former Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Peter Ejiofor (right); Ezeemo (third left); Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra Council, Mrs. Tochukwu Omelu (second left); and Umeh...yesterday.

PHOTO:NAN

Suspected kidnapper held in Onitsha

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HE police yesterday arrested a suspected kidnapper in Onitsha, Anambra State, and rescued his victim, a 14-yearold boy.

The victim, a secondary school pupil, was abducted from Lagos.

Area Commander, Onitsha Area Command, Mr. Roland Omatoje said: “The suspect

•14-year old victim rescued From Okodili Ndidi, Onitsha

kidnapped the victim from his (victim’s) uncle’s shop in Lagos. He hypnotised the boy and took him to a motor park, where they boarded a luxury bus heading for Onitsha.

“While in transit, the suspect started fondling the victim’s private part in the dark and the boy raised the alarm. Other passengers intervened and realised that the suspect was a kidnapper.

“When the bus got to Onitsha, the management of

the transport company alerted us and the suspect was arrested. The victim lives at No. 24, Emmanuel Street, Okofili, Igando, Lagos. He is a pupil of Commercial Junior Grammar school, Egbeda, Lagos.”

Omatoje said the suspect would be charged to court when they conclude their investigations.

Abia warns against extortion of motorists

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HE Abia State Government has warned touts to stop extorting money from motorists under the pretence of collecting revenue for the government.

Commissioner for Transport Ukpai Agwu Ukpai gave the warning yesterday in

From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

Umuahia while taking over from the former commissioner, Mr. Nene Nwuzor, who has been moved to the Office of the Governor.

Ukpai said anyone caught in the “illegal act” would be

punished.

He said the government was investigating the operations of the hoodlums to uncover their identities and those of their sponsors.

Ukpai cautioned workers in the ministry against indiscipline.

He said: “As we move to

generate revenue for the government, anyone who presents himself a decedent will be treated as one, as we are not ready for indolence in the line of duty.”

Ukpai also warned against operation of illegal parks and indiscriminate parking by the road sides.

Ebonyi council urge govt to fight robbers

T

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

ORMER Anambra State Governor Chukwuemeka Ezeife yesterday restated the call for an Igbo president in 2015.

But he said the people of the Southeast would not fight President Goodluck Jonathan, if he decides to run for a second term.

Ezeife spoke at the Parktonia Hotels in Awka, the state capital, during a workshop organised by the

Okorocha urges monarchs to fight malaria MO State Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha has said the involvement of traditional rulers and community agents in the fight against malaria would yield positive results at the grassroots.

Okorocha spoke during the 2012 World Malaria Day celebration, hosted by the Rivers State Government in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health.

The governor urged the authorities to redesign the operational framework of the campaign.

He said efforts made by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Federal Ministry of Health to roll-back malaria in the country have failed because of lack of proper sensitisation at the grassroots.

Okorocha said educating the people at the grassroots on the need to keep their environment clean would strengthen the fight against malaria.

Oko Poly crisis: Ekwueme brokers peace

HE people of Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have urged Governor Martin Elechi, the Commissioner of Police and security agencies to tighten security.

They lamented the incessant robberies in the council, which, they said, have led to the closure of two banks in the area.

The Coordinator of the Ohaozara Development Centre, Mr. Godwin Odi, spoke on behalf of the people at the weekend while

From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki

conducting reporters on a tour of projects executed by the council.

Odi said: “The greatest challenge we have here in Ohaozara is the constant attack by robbers. We used to have two banks here in Uburu, but because of the incessant attacks, they have shut down. Our people now travel to Afikpo to deposit money.

“In the last two years, members of our vigilance

‘In the last two years, members of our vigilance groups have been killed and others are scared to continue with the job. The robbers strike with sophisticated weapons.’ groups have been killed and others are scared to continue

with the job. The robbers strike with sophisticated weapons.

“We appeal to the governor, Police Commissioner Adeola Adeniji and the State Director of the State Security Services (SSS) to deploy more security personnel to the council to check the activities of men of the underworld.”

Projects executed by the council include bridges, culverts, classroom blocks, health facilities and boreholes, among others.

ORMER VicePresident Dr. Alex Ekwueme yesterday urged students of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State and the host community to live together in peace.

Ekwueme spoke at the institution’s auditorium during an interdenominational prayer service organised by the management to thank God for the reopening of the school.

The former vice-president was represented by his wife, Beatrice.

She urged the students to be of good behaviour always and concentrate on their studies.

The Rector, Prof. Godwin Onu, thanked Ekwueme for his role in resolving the crisis.

Onu said: “Dr. Ekwueme’s intervention did the miracle and, today, the crisis is over. The polytechnic is grateful to Ekwueme for helping to resolve the crisis.”

He said Ekwueme’s name is synonymous with conflict resolution across the country.

The rector warned the students never to take laws into their hands no matter the level of provocation.

He said: “There is no alternative to peace. Jawjaw is better than war-war.

Let us always imbibe the culture of dialogue, which is better for the society.

“We want a polytechnic that will be upgraded to a University of Science and Technology and that can only be achieved in a peaceful atmosphere. You should not take steps that will derail our aspirations.”

Chairman, Orumba North Local Government, Emeka Aforka, said: “Our people are good, hospitable and peaceful. We do not believe in crisis and that is why we created room for the resolution of the crisis.”

F

Imo monarch kidnapped From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

T

HE newly-elected traditional ruler of Awo Mbieri in

Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, Eze Oliver Nwozuzu, has been abducted by gunmen.

He was kidnapped during a church service.

An eyewitness said the gunmen stormed the church during the service, shot into the air intermittently and abducted Nwozuzu.

Police spokesman Sam Oodee confirmed the incident and urged the public to give information that would lead to the arrest of the culprits.

He said: “These criminals live among the people; so, residents must be vigilant and report strange activities to the police.”

There has been a dispute in the community for years over the authentic successor to the throne.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

54

NEWS

‘Okereke-Onyiuke blew N186m on Rolex watches’ •Continued from page 4 The process was concluded within three days over a weekend but the SEC boss said her organization was not involved.

“So, it is safe to say that your organization is not involved in the Nationalization process of those banks,” Dogara said.

When further prodded on the role played by the SEC to protect the interest of investors in the affected banks while the Central Bank (CBN) and the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) were protecting the interests of their primary responsibilities, she said her organization played the role of protecting public interest.

Saying that the three banks were no longer listed on the stock exchange, Arumah said she was not aware of what became of their investors.

“It was an industry-wide decision and if I were to insist on protecting the investors’ interest, then they would have to give something back because the three banks’ shareholder’s funds were in the negative of over N600b,” she added.

On Project 50 which was meant to celebrate 50 years of Capital market in Nigeria, she said it was not against the rules to receive donations from potential investors and industry players to fund the project.

“There was no compromise, there is no conflict of interest and it is not abnormal to partner with others toward the development of the market” However, to the disappointment of the committee members, she failed to obliged the Committee with the list of contributors to the Project, saying she would have done so if she had been earlier informed.

Meanwhile, reminiscent of what led to the personalization of issues that eventually culminated in the stepping down of the previous committee probing the capital market, the DG was reproached for evading questions.

She also evaded a question on when the SEC would conclude its intervention programme in the NSE and disengage its nominees from the NSE Council where the regulatory body has 8 members out of 15.

According to her, the intervention and the inclusion of eight members from SEC on the Council of NSE was to strengthen and professionalize its oversight function of the NSE. “It’s our bid to strengthen and professionalize the NSE and for our nominees to bring their expertise to that organization. We have a report and we will do justice to it”.

There were however moments of friction between the

T

HE training of participants in the Osun Youth Employment Scheme-Technology (OYESTECH) has begun at 10 centres across the state.

The Project Coordinator, Mr. Bambo Bashorun, yesterday said the training is

committee and the SEC boss.

Problem began when the DG was asked why its powers to resolve conflicts between industry players and in her extended explanation alluded that the committee lacked confidence in the Investment and Security Tribunal (IST).

She also failed to state the extant rule that empower SEC to abort an administrative proceeding established

by SEC to handle a particular dispute between a bank and its investors that was transferred to the IST. She however said that unclear definition of responsibilities between conflict resolution bodies in the sector.

Though she posited that it would assist the market to see culprits punished, Arumah however confirmed that convictions are yet to been seen in the sector.

She also mentioned that her organization has resolved over 1,700 disputes though her organization was not meant to guarantee investors’ funds.

On another occasion when the confronted her with the issue of labour as contained in a petition, she told the committee that the right thing was for the committee to give her the document to go through “I take exception to that remark. We have rules here and it is not for you to dictate to us how to conduct proceedings here,” El Sudi warned.

Earlier during the presentation of the Director-General of the Nigeria Stock Exchange, Oscar Onyeama, had explained to the committee that the SEC had 8 nominees in the Council of the 15 members does not mean they will exert any untowards influence on the NSE. The committee had expressed the fear that it may affect the daily management of the NSE and open the organization to overt influence from the SEC which is meant to be a regulator.

“People say because there are 8 members nominated by that SEC, that SEC owns NSE. It’s wrong. They have been professional in their conducts.

“So far, we have not received directions on what management should do on a daily basis. Besides, I think I am known globally as being independent.”

A member of the committee, Yakubu Dogara noted that those who were responsible for the crash of the Capital Market should be brought to book..

His words: “Those that cooked up phantom figures that caused the crash of the Capital market must be brought to book. Because if we are not careful, we will be back here doing another public hearing on this issue.”

The hearing continues today.

Oni a dividing factor in PDP, says Ambassador-designate A

CHIEFTAIN of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Ambassador-designate from Ekiti State, Princess Jolaade Onipede, yesterday said ousted Governor Segun Oni has always been a dividing factor in the party.

Princess Onipede spoke in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, at a reception organised in her honour by the 2004-2008 PDP State Working Committee.

She said Oni’s refusal to reconcile with other factions after the 2007 election set the way for the PDP’s dwindling fortunes.

Princess Onipede said unless factions in the party unite and form a common front, the PDP may lose the 2014 governorship election.

She described some members of the party as “enemies

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

of progress, whose agenda is to make the PDP their personal fiefdom”.

The ambassador-designate urged the Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe-led state PDP executive to “build bridges of unity with all and sundry to revive the party”.

She said her appointment would offer her opportunities to serve the country and prove that women have important roles to play in the nation.

Former state PDP chairmen, Chief Ropo Adesanya and Chief Bola Olu-Ojo; Senator Clement Awoyelu; and former Youth Leader Olu Ogunsakin were at the event.

Others in attendance were Ogundipe; Chief Dayo Okondo; former Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Ebenezer Arogunmasa; representative of the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade; and the party chairmen in the 16 local government areas.

Adesanya accused Oni of factionalising the party. He said Oni’s inability to “contain crisis when it reared its head led to the party’s polarisation”.

Adesanya said: “Segun Oni does not know party politics.

He was responsible for bringing strangers into the PDP and these people, who were ignorant of the grassroots politics our party was known for, later brought the

party to its knees.

“They are still at work in the party and are currently thwarting our effort to transform the PDP. “After participating in the widely-acclaimed free and fair state congress, Oni and his group turned around to reject the people’s verdict.

They formed a parallel state executive, which has denounced by the PDP National Working Council (NWC).

“Rather than calling this group of people to order, Oni was advocating harmonisation because they were his candidates.”

Ogundipe said the objective of the State Working Committee (SWC) is to take over the administration of the state in 2014.

•From right: Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola; his deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori; and others at the flag-off of the distribution of instructional materials to primary schools at the Local Government Service Commission in Osogbo, the state capital...at the weekend.

OOU lecturer’s abductors insist on N50m ransom

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HE abductors of a lecturer at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago- Iwoye in Ogun State, Dr. Olusola Otulana, yesterday insisted on N50 million ransom for her release.

Her husband, Dr. Biodun Otulana, who runs a private hospital in Ijebu-Ode, pleaded with the abductors that there was no way he could get the money.

Otulana said he does not even have N1 million, let alone N50 million.

•Lecturers, doctors shun work From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

The Nation gathered that the victim, who was allowed to speak with her husband yesterday, said she was going through hell and begged him to do whatever he could to secure her release.

Mrs. Otulana is an Opthalmologist with the Department of Surgery in College of Health Sciences, Sagamu campus.

She was kidnapped last Friday between Imota and Ijebu-Ode, while returning from Ikorodu in Lagos State.

The kidnappers initially demanded N100 million but reduced it to N50 million on Sunday.

Dr. Agboola Deji of the Morbid Anatomy and Pathology Department said lecturers yesterday decided to shun work until Mrs. Otulana is released.

Resident doctors at the OOU Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, have also taken a similar action.

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Ogun State chapter, is expected to address the media today.

Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUSS) in OOU, Dr. Adesola Nassir confirmed the lecturers’ decision to shun work and urged the state government to intervene and ensure Mrs. Otulana’s release.

OYES-TECH training begins in 10 centres From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

one of the employment initiatives of the Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration.

He said the training would focus on Information and Communications Technolo-

gy, repair, servicing, maintenance and assemblage of mobile phones, computers (desktops and laptops) and other electronic equipment.

Bashorun said: “The approach to accomplish this objective will be a comprehensive and comprehensible

training and development strategy, which will be a combination of instructive and participatory approaches depending on the module.

“There will be an intensive and practical training with hands-on internship and industry attachment

for beneficiaries to get practical experiences in the repair, servicing, dismantling and assembling of mobile phones.”

He said the objective of the programme is to train and set up 20,000 youths in mobile phone technology, com-

puter and entrepreneurial skills within 24 months.

Bashorun urged interested persons to purchase N1, 000 scratch cards from Wema Bank and First Bank branches in Osun State and log-on to www.oyestech.com.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

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NEWS

Judges, public officers lack integrity, says CJN

Two Delta ACN members die From Okungbowa Aiwerie,Asaba

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)in Delta State has announced the death of two of its leaders in Central Senatorial District, Patrick Atsiangbe and Isaac Umukoro.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Frank Eghomien, the ACN said Atsiangbe was the district’s vice chairman while Umukoro was an ex-officio member of the State Executive Committee (SEC).

The Chairman, Adolor Okotie-Eboh, Deputy Chairman Ngozi Emeni, Prof Adegho Eferakeya, Mrs Veronica Ogbuagu, James Ebeye and other party leaders have visited the bereaved families to commiserate with them.

Amaechi advises Christians

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IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has advised Christians to find solutions to the nation’s insecurity problems.

Amaechi gave the advice yesterday in Port Harcourt when he opened the Love World Exhibition of the Christ Embassy.

The governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on New Economic Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), Tex Wariboko, hailed the church for helping government with peace, education and health.

The Chairman, LoveWorld Exhibition Committee, Pastor Tony Aduroja, said the seven-day event with the theme “Welcome to our World” is a unique opportunity to enlighten people on the “vision, mission and message of the Senior Pastor, Chris Oyakhilome.

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HE Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Dahiru Musdapher, yesterday cast aspersions on the integrity of judges.

Warning that the National Judicial Council (NJC) will not tolerate indecency, he cautioned judges to abide by the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.

According to him, the council will soon establish a ‘Monitoring and Evaluation Unit’ for appropriate disciplinary action.

The CJN spoke in Abuja, at the opening of a five-day workshop for judicial officers on professiona ethics, management skills and information technology, organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI).

The NJI Administrator, Justice Umaru Eri, said the emergence of modern information and communication technology has led to the realisation that they could be effectively and positively deployed in the administration of justice.

He advised Judges to live a pious life and have the fear of

Condemns governors over independence of judiciary From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

THE Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, has condemned some governors over their refusal to effectively fund the judiciary to enhance its independence.

He spoke during a National Convention and Delegates’ Conference of the Magistrates’ Association of Nigeria, in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

The CJN said poor funding has impeded the work of the judiciary, thereby making it a challenge to exert its independence.

Represented by the Chief Justice of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Idongesit Ntem-Isua, Musdapher also identified poor remuneration of magistrates as a challenge to administration of justice especially, criminal justice.

His words: “The work of the judiciary has been impeded by underfunding, especially at the state level. Most governors have refused or neglected to give effect to Section 121 (3) of the 1999 Constitution.”

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

God. Eri informed participants that the institute was working towards uploading NJI publications online and also order for some judicial materials.

The CJN said: “It then fol-

lows that judicial officers must imbibe all the essential qualities of a good judge such as integrity, honesty, knowledge of the law, willingness to listen, empathy, sense of fair play, patience and humility. These and many more are the hallmark of a good judge.

“These attributes are sadly

lacking amongst some judges and generally in Nigeria’s public life.

“Therefore, if any of these standards are detracted from, the high regard in which a judge is held within that society is diminished, and the likelihood that his pronouncements will be viewed with utmost levity by the public is undoubted, t “My lords, if the provisions of the Code of Conduct for judicial officers are obeyed, we would not be battling to extricate the judiciary from some of the rot and prevailing iniquities, which it has unfortunately enmeshed itself in.”

Justice Musdapher also warned judges against lateness.

He said: “A situation where some judges habitually do not sit by 9am will no longer be overlooked.

“Except for a good reason, judicial officers must be punctual in court, they must maintain official hours of the court and commence the business of the court by 9am.”

Sanusi hails Akpabio

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ENTRAL Bank Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi on Sunday hailed Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio for prudent management of resources.

Lamido spoke at Akpabio’s investiture as the Silverbird Man of the Year in Lagos.

According to him,” Akpabio is one of the very few governors who have prudently managed the state resources. I know some people would say that he has more money and that is why he is doing all that, but let me also tell that there are people that would collect more that what he is collecting and there would be nothing to show for it.”

Akpabio called for an end to the carnage in the country.

He said for Nigeria to develop and attract investors, peace must reign on all sides.

The governor said: “I am delighted to be honoured today by the Silverbird Group as their Man of the Year.

“My being honoured today alongside a great achievers like Gen Yakubu Gowon,Gen TY Danjuma, Gen Mohammadu Buhari makes me value this award the more.”

•Warriboko cutting the tape at the event...yesterday. With him from left are: Aduroja; Pastor Joy Amaekena and the church’s Regional Pastor, South-South, Rev. Tom Amenkhienan.

A

Fed Govt, states, others to develop transport roadmap

TRANSPORT road map is being developed by the Federal Government in conjunction with the states.

The Federal Government yesterday met with the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers Association (NURTW) to fasttrack the implementation of the national mass transit framework.

The partnership is to develop and sustain a robust, effective and affordable mass transit system across the country.

Speaking at the workshop organised by the National Automotive Council (NAC) entitled: Developing Framework, Roadmap and Financial Options for National Mass Transit held in Abuja, the Director-General of NAC, Aminu Jalal, said there

From Olugbenga Adanikin and Adenike Adebowale, Abuja

was the need for stakeholders to contribute to the roadmap before its implementation.

He said the committee setup by the Federal Government to design the master plan has completed its task.

Jalal said: “There is a committee set up to develop effective framework for mass transit and to discuss the available options to support the buses.

“That is why we called the states, in particular the operators and transport unions, to discuss the framework because their inputs is vital.”

He said the states would present a NEEDS analysis to

address their transport needs.

The NAC chief added that eight local bus manufacturers will partner to ensure successful implementation of the plan.

According to him, the purpose of the workshop is to present the transport framework to the states, transport unions, investors and other stakeholders before submitting to the Federal Government.

The Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, said the programme would create jobs as well as attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

While describing the sector as unsatisfactory and limited in quality and scope, he expressed optimism that participants would develop

the required infrastructures such as bus stops, depots and terminals to make the project a success.

Aganga urged the participants to create enabling environment for sustainable private sector involvement in mass transit operations and manufacturing.

The Managing Director of Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, said Lagos has been able to work on the shortcomings of the Federal Government to make the state’s transport sector such that could be imitated.

He disclosed the state government has a 20-year roadmap for the sector, which covers rail, buses and water transportation.

Mobereola, therefore, called on the Federal Government to support the state’s initiative.

‘My kind of candidate’ From Osagie Otabor, Benin

THE Benin Monarch, Oba Erediauwa, yesterday gave an insight into the kind of party and candidate he desires for the state.

Oba Erediauwa said his prayer as a father is for the individual or party to be committed to the unity of the people.

The monarch said the individual or party should be committed to infrastructural development, job creation, reduction of poverty and respect for the traditional institution.

Oba Erediauwa, who spoke in a statement by Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council Frank Irabor, said it was wrong for any political inclinations to be ascribed to him.

While reiterating his nonpartisan position, the Benin Monarch warned against the use of his imprimatur and effigy during campaigns.

Bayelsa, group bicker over workers From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

A human rights group in Bayelsa State has faulted Governor Seriake Dickson over what it described as “detention without trial” of persons allegedly involved in the wage bill scam.

But Dickson denied the allegation and blamed the police for the incarceration.

Some civil servants were detained in connection with the alleged scam, and have not been charged to court.

The Bayelsa Citizen Vanguard, in a statement by its Coordinator, Ebikabiola Torubeni, said the arrest and continued detention of such workers is illegal and a violation of their rights.

The Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Media, Daniel IworisoMarkson, dismissed the claims.

He said the refusal of the police to grant bail to the suspects was not the prerogative of the government but that of the police.

Edo LP gets candidate From Osagie Otabor, Benin

THE Labour Party (LP) in Edo State has picked a candidate for the July 14 governorship election.

Andrew Igwemoh was elected yesterday at the primary in Benin City, which was supervised by the party’s National Chairman, Dan Nwanyanwu.

Nwanyanwu said the LP was not in alliance with the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) or any other party.

Nwanyanwu said Edo people, especially members of the party, will vote for a progressive governor.

Igwemoh said he would be committed to improving the lives of Edo citizens with better governance and accountability in the utilisation of public resources.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

56

NEWS PRESIDENTIAL WORKSHOP ON POWER

•Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe (left) with Governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) (second left), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) and Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) at the Presidential Workshop on Power in Abuja...yesterday

•President, Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote (left) and Managing Director, Access Bank, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imokhuede

•Labour and Productivity Minister Emeka Wogu (left), his Works counterpart Mike Onolememen, •Chief Executive Officer, •Petroleum Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke and business Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Kingsley Moghalu and Group Managing Visafone, Mr. Jim Ovia man Femi Otedola PHOTOS: AKIN OLADOKUN AND NAN Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Austen Oniwon

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

58

NEWS

Okah insists Fed Govt to blame for bombings •Applies for bail

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N alleged terror mastermind Henry Okah has accused the Federal Government of being behind a bombing in which he is to stand trial, according to an application for bail made available yesterday.

President Goodluck Jonathan’s office rejected accusations Okah made in the request for bail in South Africa, where he was arrested and will stand trial for bombings that killed 12 people during 2010 independence celebrations in Abuja.

Okah’s lawyer, Jacques van Greunen, said Okah’s bail request had been delivered to the prosecutor and will be filed with the court tomorrow. There were reports earlier on the contents of the affidavit, apparently leaked by Okah from jail.

In the bail request, Okah argues he should be free on bail pending trial because he is innocent. Okah says Jonathan’s administration orchestrated the bombing to eliminate a rival and to fan ethnic tensions for political gain.

In a statement issued last week, Jonathan’s spokesman Reuben Abati said the president’s office “categorically affirms that these allegations are false in their entirety and without any factual foundation.”

Abati did not elaborate, but said Jonathan’s government would have more to say to the South African court. The trial is set to start in October.

Okah has been jailed in South Africa since being arrested shortly after the October, 2010 bombings. He is charged under South African terror laws. The Federal Government has not requested his extradition.

Pension scam: Accused threatening witnesses, EFCC tells court T

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday told a Federal High Court, Abuja, that a former Director of the Pension Office and former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Kogi State, Dr. Sani Shuaibu, has been threatening Prosecution Witnesses.

Shuaibu was arraigned before Justice Adamu Bello with four others over charges of fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud and concealing the illicit origin of stolen pension funds by the EFCC. Others are: Badawulu Ventures Limited, Ebunu Attah Investment, Muha Millennium Motors Limited and Ribaile Petroleum Limited.

The accused had earlier been arraigned with 32 oth-

P

•Remanded in prison

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

ers over a 136-count charge of corruption, abuse of office and theft on the accused.

Obla did not state why Shuaibu is being arraigned differently.

In the amended charge against him, Shuaibu allegedly conspired with Badawulu Ventures Ltd, Ebunu Attah Investment, and Riba-lle Petroleum Ltd to launder illegal funds derived directly from the pensions department, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation into the account of Muha Millennium

Motors Limited through which he allegedlly purchased Brifina Hotels Limited located at Plot 1106, Cadastral Zone, BO2 Durumi District, Area 1, Abuja, at N399 million.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge.

Although his counsel, Mr. Sunday Ameh (SAN) applied for bail, the prosecution counsel, Godwin Obla objected.

Obla told the court that Shuaibu has a history of interfering with investigations and harassing potential witnesses in related cases before

the same court.

He told the court that the EFCC had written a letter to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), requesting for investigation.

Before adjourning the matter till tomorrow for ruling on the bail application, Justice Bello ordered that the accused be remanded in Kuje prison.

One of the charges reads: “That you, Dr. Sani Teidi Shuaibu, former Director, Pension Accounts, office of the Head of service of the Federation of Nigeria, Badawulu Ventures Limited, Ebunu Attah Investment, Muha Millennium Motors Limited and Riba-lle Petroleum Limited at various times in April 2009 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired among yourselves to con-

vert resources in the aggregate sum of Three hundred and ninety Nine Million (N399, 000, 000.00) only derived directly from an illegal act at the Pensions Department Office of the Head of Service of the Federation of Nigeria to purchase Brifina Hotels Limited, Plot 1106 Cadastral zone BO2 Durumi District Area Abuja, Certificate of Occupancy No: 1807w1cc4z-6723r-cf4eu-20, property of A.E Bright Future Motors Nig. Limited with the aim of concealing the illicit origin of the resources, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 17 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 14 (1) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.

Security agencies ‘ve been empowered, says Jonathan

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has urged traditional rulers and local government authorities to promote and preserve Nigeria’s cultural values and heritage.

He said the nation’s cultural diversity should be the source of its strength and not its downfall.

The President said security operatives have been empowered to prevent crime.

Dr Jonathan spoke in Abuja at the opening of a two-day national conference on: Culture, Peace and National Security: The Role of Traditional Rulers and Local Government Chairmen.

Represented by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Mrs. Sarah Pane, the President said: “It is so sad to note the level of destruction of lives and property caused by ethnic and religious violence in the country.

“We should learn to exhib-

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Labour threatens strike over insecurity

HE Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday said it might be forced to call workers out for a nationwide strike, if the Federal Government fails to tackle insecurity in the country.

The umbrella Labour body urged President Goodluck Jonathan to prevail on security agencies to apprehend the killers of Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, the Principal Private Secretary to the Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

NLC Vice-President Issa Aremu broke the news in Kaduna at a lecture organised by the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN).

He said without security, democracy cannot flourish in the country.

Aremu, who is also the General Secretary of the textile workers’ union, noted that the assassination of the late Deputy Secretary-General was one too many.

According to him, if the government fails to ensure that security agencies arrest those behind the killing, Labour may adopt a method that would force the government to act.

Urging politicians to play idea-based politics instead of personalising issues, the union leader recalled that during the aborted Second Republic, politics was based on ideas.

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

it mutual respect, savour various cultural and religious af-

filiations in the interest of our collective peace and development. There have been great distortions and dislo-

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

He noted that the real test case before the President is to direct security agencies to fish out Oyerinde’s killers.

Aremu said: “We will never rest. This government should not provoke labour on strike on the issue of security in the country.

“On behalf of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union and the generality of our members, we commiserate with Comrade Governor of Edo State, the family of deceased, the NLC and the governments and good people of Edo and Osun states (Oyerinde’s home state) on the great loss.

“This singular murderous attack on our comrade is also an attack on us all.”

Former Kaduna State governor Alhaji Balarabe Musa said Nigeria has slid into the era of political assassination witnessed between 1999 and 2007.

He warned that if not checked, the recklessness of opposition party in Edo State could lead to the breakdown of law and order.

Musa said: “In Edo State, we see the recklessness of the opposition to undermine the effort of the current administration in the state and the interest of the good people of Edo State.” cations in our cultural values, heritage, peace and communal security. Let us go back to our root and rediscover

our cherished core cultural values that guaranteed mutual respect, justice and co-existence.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

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NEWS

JTF smashes car robbery syndicate

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HE Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno State has arrested members of a syndicate that specialise in snatching cars in Maiduguri and selling them in neighbouring states and across the border through their sponsors and car dealers.

The JTF said the syndicate has been in the business for some time now.

According to a statement

From Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri

by the JTF spokesman, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, the robbers were arrested last week, but the car dealers were nabbed later after interrogation.

Musa said: “JTF has arrested four armed robbers, two stolen car dealers and recovered three stolen vehicles in Maiduguri.”

He said the robbers were

arrested last Wednesday at the Airport Road within the Maiduguri metropolis.

The JTF spokesman said preliminary investigation revealed the robbers have accomplices that receive the stolen vehicles and sell them.

He said: “The accomplices often give the robbers advance payment before the vehicles are sold. They have so far confessed to have

received 10 stolen vehicles from the robbers.”

Musa said the dealers were arrested during a search conducted on their premises where three stolen vehicles were recovered- a Honda Accord, a Volkswagen Golf car and a Toyota Caina car.

He said the suspects have been handed over to the Police Command for interrogation.

FCTA moves to discover ghost workers From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

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N apparent move to fish out ghost workers on its payroll, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has begun the computerisation of records.

Federal Capital Territory (FCT)Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, dropped the hint during the FCT operations briefing session in Abuja yesterday. He said his administration is planning Biometric Enrolment of its manpower and that letter of award to that effect will soon be released.

The minister said the FCTA has concluded arrangement to conduct human resource audit to ensure that salaries and wages are paid only to employees, not ghost workers.

According to him, the FCTA would soon begin the verification of certificates of the workers employed from 2006 to date to ascertain their authenticity.

He said the FCTA has trained 1,300 teachers in-house on the use of ICT in teaching and learning, while another 100 professionals were also trained in-house on autocard and the 3D graphic design.

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•From left: Wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Helen Mark, First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, wife of the Vice-President, Hajiya Amina Sambo and wife of Benue State Governor, Mrs. Yemisi Suswan, during the First Lady’s Peace Advocacy visit to PHOTO:NAN Benue State… yesterday.

Impeachment fever grips Niger Assembly

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Niger State yesterday waded into the impending impeachment move rocking the House of Assembly.

The party invited its 24 members in the 27-seat Assembly to a meeting that lasted for more than three hours at the state secretariat on the Eastern Bypass in Minna with the aim of resolving the leadership crisis rocking the House.

A source at the meeting which began at about 9am appealed to the lawmakers to sheathe their sword, urging them not to initiate impeachment of the leadership of the House.

The Nation gathered that the

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

leakage of the impeachment move may have informed the refusal of the leadership of the House to convene sitting since April 17 for fear that they may be impeached.

The development, we learnt, further made the party leadership to wade into the crisis by summoning the Monday meeting where the lawmakers were told of the implication of their move to sack the House leadership.

The proponents of the impeachment move, however, argued that the continued adjournment of sitting by the House leadership for alleged fear of impeachment might further throw the House into another constitutional crisis,

as they alleged that the House might not meet the required number of sittings as contained in the 1999 constitution for a legislative year.

Some concerned members of the House across party lines have also expressed fear that it would not meet the required 181 sittings for a legislative year as contained in section 104 of the constitution.

A member who spoke with our correspondent in Minna after the meeting on condition of anonymity confirmed the party had to intervene by summoning its members with a view to reducing tension that has gripped the PDP-dominated Assembly.

“We have never had it so bad. Our last sitting was on

April 17 and there has not been sitting since then because the leadership of the House felt there was a plan to impeach them. The way things are going, we may not meet the required number of sittings by the law and this is as a result of laxity on the part of the House leadership. We feel we cannot and should not tolerate this,” the lawmaker said.

The source said the meeting had to be adjourned when no consensus was reached after three hours of heated arguments.

Efforts to get the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Hassan Saba, to comment on the issue were fruitless as he could not be reached on his phone.

Councils’ caretaker committee: CPC takes Bauchi Govt to court A

BAUCHI High Court presided over

by Justice Ibrahim M. Zango has restrained the state government from releasing and approving in any manner, funds to the 20 local government chairmen and councillors.

The state government is, however, allowed to pay the local government employees their salaries and allowances, pending the determination of a motion before the court.

In a motion ex parte filed by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) on May 4, granted by the court, against the state government; Commissioner for/ Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Bauchi State Accountant-General and the State Attorney-General are joined as respondents.

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

The respondents are further restricted from awarding any contract or executing any project or programme using the local governments’ funds in whatsoever manner, pending the determination of the originating summons.

A

The motion ex parte, according to CPC counsel Saleh Bakaro, is brought pursuant to Order 6 Rules 2 (1, 3 (1) and 10 of the Bauchi State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules of 1987,in which the party prayed for an order of interim injunction.

In an originating summons, the CPC counsel

cited several Federal Government laws and Bauchi State Local Government laws, saying the purported appointments and swearing-in of the 20 local government caretaker committee chairmen and their councillors by the government are a violation of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.

Dame Jonathan’s visit shuts down Makurdi

LMOST all the major roads in Makurdi the Benue State capital were shut to traffic yesterday following the visit of the First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan.

Commercial motorcyclists, motorists and commuters had a hectic time reaching their destinations, as there was traffic jam, which resulted in breakdown of many vehicles.

The traffic situation in the capital city yesterday was worst than that of the first day

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

when Mrs. Jonathan arrived in Makurdi.

Security personnel diverted traffic on the busy Iyorchia Ayu Road, Zone 4 Road and at High-level roundabout.

Other areas barricaded were Mr. Bigg’s roundabout, Makurdi-Otukpo Road and Government House, Makurdi roundabout.

Many residents experienced pains as they spent several hours on the road while taking their children home from school.

Wamakko inaugurates 500 housing units OVERNOR Aliyu

Wamakko of Sokoto State yesterday inaugurated the N2.8 billion 500 Mana housing units.

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers and indigenes of the state.

“We are intensifying efforts to ensure workers are well accommodated and taken care of,” the governor said.

He identified shelter as the second in rank to food in human hierarchy of needs.

Wamakko said the effort was aimed at fulfilling and providing comfort for the people.

The governor appealed to civil servants to put in their

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

best to reciprocate government’s efforts towards improving their welfare.

He said the Mana housing units had basic infrastructure such as water, electricity, security post, among others.

The governor, who allocated some houses to beneficiaries, including the Nigerian Air Force, individuals, Sokoto North and South local government areas, disclosed that the 1,000 Arkilla-Kalambaina housing units would be completed and inaugurated soon.

Kano improves water supply with N5.6b

K

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

ANO State Government has spent N5.6 billion to complete abandoned projects and construct new water pipes to ensure increased distribution of water across the state in the past one year.

Briefing reporters in Kano, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Bala Mohammed Gwagwaruwa, said the government inherited many abandoned projects from the last administration.

“It is pertinent to refresh your memory. Before we took over the mantle of leadership, the situation at the water corporation was very pathetic and disheartening to the extent that only the water works at Challawa was partially functioning.

“The power situation at Challawa was also frustrating because out of the six generators, only two were functioning. This seriously affected the supply capacity of the water works,” he noted.

Africa Peace Foundation signs MoU

N

IGERIA will record another diplomatic gain on Thursday as the Africa Peace Foundation, in partnership with the Littoral University, Port Novo Republic of Benin, will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Hotel Du Lac, Cotonou. The MoU will be based on how to promote peace and development in Africa. The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Oyebode Ayeni, said the school would introduce peace and conflict resolution as a mandatory

course for students.

Dignitaries expected at the event include: a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Useni (rtd), as the special guest of honour, Prof. Ola Makinwa, President-General, Africa Peace Foundation, Dr. Robert Ayorinde, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the Republic of Benin and representatives of African countries. The university, owned by a Nigerian, has a huge population of students from Nigeria.

Hollande for inauguration May 15

F

RENCH President-elect Francois Hollande is to start work on forming a new government, after telling supporters his victory gave hope of an end to austerity.

Hollande has vowed to rework a deal on government debt in eurozone membercountries to focus on promoting growth.

The Socialist leader won just under 52 per cent of votes in Sunday’s run-off election.

Centre-right incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy is the first French president since 1981 not to win a second term.

He will hand power to Hollande on 15 May, following talks between the two camps, the presidency has said.

Hollande must act quickly to reassure other eurozone countries he is up to the considerable challenge he faces, the BBC’s Christian Fraser reports from Paris.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

60 DECLARATION OF AGE.

PUBLIC NOTICE

I CHETAUYA AUGUSTINA .E DECLARED THAT I WAS BORN ON 10TH JUNE 1986 ACCORDING TO MY PARENT.AND MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE GOT LOST IN TRANSIT.GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ZUBAIR OLAITAN HABEEBAT now wish to be known and address as MRS BELLO OLAITAN H. All former documents remain the same.General public take note.

FOREIGN

ZUBAIR

PUBLIC NOTICE THE GAMES VILLAGE OWNERS-RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION Notice is hereby given to the general public that the above mentioned group has applied to the corporate affairs Commission Abuja for registration under part “C” of the companies and Allied Act of 1990 THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pharm. Steve Onya 5. Mr George Mordi 2. Engr Olugbenga Olatunde Olabenjo 6. Mr Ayo olagunju 3. Barr. Phillip Ololie 7.Mr. Ayodele Ajayi 4. Mr. Joseph Mobolaji Olatemiju AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1) To improve local housing conditions, services to the community and the environment.

2) To represent the views of residents and to work toward ensuring that the best interests of members are served.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi-Ironsi Street, Maitaima PMB 198 Garki Abuja within 28 Days of this Publication.

Signed: BOARD OF TRUSTEES

PUBLIC NOTICE NUTRITION, AGRICULTURE AND HEALTH INITIATIVE This is to notify the General Public that the above named Organization has applied for Incorporated Trustee Registration under the Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. Popoola Abiodun Olalekan 4. Anjorin Olufolakemi Mercy 2. Hassan Ikrama Ibrahim 5. Pikuda Yeside Cecilia.

3. Akinyemi Babatope Ebenezer AIMS AND OBJECTIVES • To promote food and nutrition security • To promote health Service utilization • To develop capacity of youth for health, nutrition and agriculture engagement • To promote effective health communication • To foster the development of public health and internship programmes 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: TRUSTEES

PUBLIC NOTICE BETHEL HOLISTIC INTERVENTIONS INITIATIVE The general public is hereby notified that the above named organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission to be registered under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

Lt. Gen Joshua Nimyel Dogonyaro (rtd) 2.

Col. Jacob Lohsel Nimyel Kum (rtd) 3.

Mr. Bali Nanmak 4.

Pastor James Umaru 5.

Barr. Elijah Zacharia Ochoga AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. Income generating activities to reduce the impact of illiteracy, poverty to a sustainable level.

2. HIV/AIDS awareness/enlightenment programmes counseling and testing.

3. Having a society where holistic health is available and accessible to all.

Any Objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 (days) of this publication.

Signed: SEBASTIAN BRUNO Secretary.

Lagos sacks 788 doctors Continued from page 4

Lagos doctors rose from a congress after they were sacked yesterday with a decision to shut down all governmentowned hospitals in the state if their sack is not reversed. .

They held the congress under the umbrella of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State chapter.

Lagos State Chairman of NMA, Dr Temiye Edamisan, described the government’s action as “draconian and undemocratic.”

He said: “If we are in a military regime, we will understand it. If they do this to the doctors and they survive, they will do it to the other workers in the health team. They have turned everybody to their slaves because they think they are so big now that people should become their slaves.

Go and see the taxi drivers who have become their slaves “He said the body decided that within the next 24 hours, its National Officers Committee will meet with the state government, adding that: “The reaction or outcome of the

state government to that meeting will definitely determine the next line of action.”

On the position of the doctors, he said: “We are going to wait. Forget about the sack letter. We have gone this road before. This is déjà vu. We know this has happened before we are not moved.

“The person who wrote the sack letters will find reason to withdraw them later.

What is most important is that Lagos State wants to casualise the medical profession; this is an insult to the profession. We hope that no doctor will fall prey to that. If they fall prey, they will regret it.

The state government will turn them to cleaners in the hospital.”

On the ongoing recruitment of doctors to replace those sacked, he said, the disciplinary committee of the NMA would deal with the issue.

“The state should withdraw to where we were.

“When we declared the indefinite strike, we already knew that this was what they were going to do. We are not being deceived but the masses. It is left for the masses to decide on what they will do,” he added.

Putin returns as Russian President

•Putin

V

LADIMIR Putin has been inaugurated as president of Russia in a lavish ceremony in the capital, Moscow.

Putin is returning to the presidency after an absence of four years in which he served as prime minister. The outgoing President, Dmitry Medvedev, was widely seen as an ally of Putin.

He won a third term as president in controversial elections in March.

On Sunday, thousands of protesters opposed to the inauguration clashed with police in Moscow.

Putin took the presidential oath at the Grand Kremlin Palace, in a hall that was once the throne room of the Russian

tsars.

In a short speech he said Russia was “entering a new phase of national development”.

“We will have to decide tasks of a new level, a new quality and scale. The coming years will be decisive for Russia’s fate for decades to come.”

US foils new underwear bomb US intelligence officials say they have disrupted a plot by al-Qaeda in Yemen to detonate an upgraded version of the failed 2009 “underwear bomb”, according to US media reports.

The device is said to be in US custody, with the FBI reportedly examining the bomb, which was seized by CIA agents.

Reports said no target had been chosen and no plane tickets purchased by the time the alleged plot was foiled.

Jonathan to IG: get Oshiomhole’s aide’s killers Continued from page 4

“At about 2pm, the wife knocked on my window and told me they had shot Olaitan.

I went and we took him to the hospital. He died in our hands after about 30 minutes.

Olaitan was not killed by his friends as speculated.

“It is only cowards that will resort to violence. We live in a free world. Olaitan never believed in security. He never thought anybody would hurt him.”

An Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) gubernatorial aspirant in Ondo State yesterday urged security agents to unravel Oyerinde’s killers.

Akeredolu, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), during a condolence visit to Oshiomhole in Benin City, described the death of Oyerinde as “murder too many and trag-

ic”.

The aspirant who was accompanied by Mr Banji Ayeloge, Director General, Aketi Campaign Network (ACN), said: “It is deplorable to observe that our brand of democracy seeks to kill its best material to settle political or personal scores.

“As things are in the country today, almost every Nigerian believes that this much vaunted metaphoric book has become too voluminous by virtue of the incessant inclusion of fresh cases showcasing the dark sides of human beings.

“Nobody puts hope in our criminal justice system. If the security agencies have failed to resolve several murders which preceded this latest felonious act, why should anyone expect anything different this time around?

“Criminals get more emboldened at every successful strike at the underbelly of the society by social deviants.”

The aspirant urged law enforcement agencies to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident towards bringing the perpetrators to book.

Akeredolu cautioned that the killing of Oyerinde should not be linked to armed robbery attack “theory”.

“The spate of violence was aimed at giving the opposition party victory at the poll.

The ACN-led administration in Edo state has impacted positively on the lives of the people and no desperation or violent acts can stop Governor Oshiomhole’s reelection in the July election,” he said.

The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) described Oyerinde’s murder as an ungod-

ly act of criminality.

The TMG, in a statement by its chairman, Comrade Mashood Erubami, yesterday said: “The merciless killing of Oyerinde brings to mind, once again, such dastardly killings of Nigerians in high government positions in the past and the inability of the security forces to unravel the identity of the killers till today.

“Though these killers remain unknown, but woe betides those who can kill but cannot wake the dead. Definitely, the killing of Laitan will bring everlasting curse and unforgivable sins on them as they have murdered sleep and they will sleep no more. The cries of anguish from the eyes of his old mother and family will not allow these unknown killers and their paymasters to smile again in their lives.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

61

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TUESDAY, MAY 08, 2012

www.thenationonlineng.net

TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 7

NO.2,119

WHO SAID WHAT ‘It then follows that judicial officers must imbibe all the essential qualities of a good judge such as integrity, honesty, knowledge of the law, willingness to listen, empathy, sense of fair play, patience and humility. These attributes are sadly lacking amongst some judges and generally in Nigeria’s public life’ DAHIRU MUSDAPHER

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

T

HE piece you are about to read first appeared in this column on April 27, 2010, just a little over two years ago. It was titled “A conclave of reprobates.” * Even for an attentive audience bombarded daily to the point of saturation by direct experience and media reports of the pathologies and discontinuities of Nigerian existence, the past two weeks must have been especially exhausting.

Tired of engaging former Delta governor and grand larceny suspect James Ibori in a sterile game of hide-end-seek, the EFCC moved to have him arrested and, surprise of surprises, the police announced that it was set to launch a manhunt for the fugitive exgovernor, whose indictment sheet stretches literally from Lagos to London. The hunt is reported to have been approved at the highest level where Ibori was once assured of shelter, if not aid and comfort, in his flight from justice.

Women in his hometown, Oghara, bared all to stage a protest march, and the National Association of Nigerian Students threw its weight behind Ibori and warned the EFCC to leave him alone.

The ICPC filed fraud charges against PDP chief Vincent Ogbulafor, raising the possibility that even if the PDP were to rule Nigeria for the next 60 years as Ogbulafor once confidently predicted, his future in the party may already be well behind him. Echoing a plea heard all too often in customary courts and roadside tribunals, Ogbulafor said the devil was behind it all.

For a while, the PDP governors rallied to his support, and then seemed set to abandon him to his fate.

Faced with a challenge for control of its mechanism for dispensing patronage, Africa’s biggest patronage organisation, better known as the PDP, suspended ahead of its National Executive Council meeting 19 ranking members at the spearhead of the revolt, with the party in real danger of splintering.

Not that anyone would grieve, except the freeloaders.

While visiting the United States, Acting President Goodluck Jonathan could not or would not answer forthrightly whether he plans to run for president next year. But within a week of his return, campaign posters pushing his candidacy are on display all over Abuja.

The Okigbo Report detailing how Babangida regime squandered or could not account for vast sums of oil money accruing from the Gulf War suddenly materialised, more than 15 years after it was declared lost and irretrievable. So did the Okiro Report detailing who and who fed at the Halliburton Trough.

The line-up includes men in power and their powerful wives feeding ensemble. In

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

A time like this

•Danjuma

one powerful family, goggled man and wife and son fed all at once, an act for which a new term will have to be coined. How about “triple-dipping”?

Turai Yar’Adua pulled another desperate stunt and managed to get one newspaper to proclaim breathlessly how, following a miraculous recovery, her husband, the incapacitated president, had walked down from the living quarters, greeted everyone around him by name, embraced his mother, and walked straight into his study, where he could be found at the time of the report, some three hours later.

Message: Watch out, Dr Jonathan. Don’t let that Washington trip and the visit with President Barack Obama and your being placed in the second of four rows in the photograph featuring world leaders and the CNN interview get into your head. The real owner of the seat you now occupy is coming soon to reclaim it.

Finding that it had fallen for a tawdry hoax,

RIPPLES WHAT WE’LL DO WITH SUBSIDY LARGESS, by Kolade

HARDBALL

•For comments, send SMS to 08057634061

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Like all other things about Nigeria, state police is a question of time

D

Please don’t tell us, we know its APRIL FOOL

the newspaper that had reported Yar’Adua’s “recovery” went to town to ask readers whether they believed the story. As in Nigeria itself, there is always something new in Nigerian journalism.

Warming into his fourth tour of duty, National Security Adviser General Aliyu Mohammed, one of the most reticent and unpretentious men I know, issued a comprehensive report of the state of the nation indicating powerfully that, if Nigeria is not already a failed state, it is well on the way to becoming one.

Not since the week before and after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election has there been a conflation of this kind. Some may even insist that we have to reach back to the weeks preceding the overthrow of the Shagari Administration to find a similar conjuncture.

If there is any comfort in all this, it is that 2010 is not 1983, and that the forces in play today are vastly different from the forces in play then. But it is cold comfort indeed that a country that should be looking toward its Golden Anniversary with confidence and optimism is mired in confusion and self-doubt This, then, is hardly the best time to think about the Constitution. Yet, in he midst of all that has been going on lately, I have found myself thinking about the Constitution, especially the institution of the Council of State it encapsulates.

The Council is composed of the President and the Vice President, all former presidents or heads of state, all former federal chief justices, the president of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Reps, and all state governors, and the Federal attorney-General. Its mandate is to advise the President with respect to his duties on a wide range of subjects in general, and on issues relating to the maintenance of public order in particular “when asked to do so.”

In another country, the Council would be the repository of the nation’s collective wisdom and experience, a fount of inspiration, men and women who, having given of their best to their country, would stay splendidly

above the fray and would never again seek elective office nor descend into the pit of partisanship. It would be the body to turn to when the country is buffeted by strife and uncertainty – the very kind of period Nigeria is going through now.

I suspect that this is kind of body the framers of the 1979 Constitution in which it was first embedded had in mind.

But what do we find?

Aside from a few honourable exceptions, the Council of State is a conclave of former officials who failed miserably when they had all the chance and resources in the world to set Nigeria firmly and irrevocably on the path to progress, prosperity and respectability, if not greatness.

For the most part, they fended for themselves and their cronies. When they thought at all about the people in whose name they claimed to rule, they thought of how to rob them of their voices and their votes and their freedom; they thought of how to deny them justice, to subjugate and stultify them in every way, forgetting that, “with “little men, nothing great can be achieved.”

The last time the Council of State was convened, was it not to seek its imprimatur on yet another plan to rescind a phantom government subsidy on petroleum products?

And did it not dutifully assent? * The foregoing, as I made clear at the start, was written two years ago.

It remains to add that, even without last week’s bestial attack on the cattle market in Potiskum, Yobe State, in which 60 persons were killed and the market set ablaze, livestock and all, the macabre murder in Benin of the public-spirited progressive and principal private secretary to Edo Governor Adams Oshiomhole, days after the governor himself narrowly escaped death when a dump truck jack-knifed his motorcade in what may well have been an assassination attempt, the current situation in Nigeria is far graver than the one I described two years ago.

The signs of a failing state are everywhere visible. The “Somalianisation” of Northeastern Nigeria, to borrow General TY Danjuma’s evocative term, is happening right before our eyes. Danjuma, I gather, had employed that very term again and again to warn discreetly of the unfolding tragedy, but to no avail.

A time like this demands imaginative, inspiring, and focused leadership.

The nation may yet muddle through, again.

But if President Goodluck Jonathan and his team do not bestir themselves to set it boldly and imaginatively on a different course, they will bring on it the fate reserved for bodies that go round and round continually in evershrinking circles.

URING their condolence visit to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, the five Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governors of Lagos, Ekiti, Osun, Oyo and Ogun States called for security system reforms to, among other things, divest the federal government of responsibility for the police. The suggestion was made in reference to the murder last week of the governor’s principal private secretary, Mr Olaitan Oyerinde, and the obviously unchallenged manner criminals and terrorists continue to torment many states.

The ACN will not be the first to advocate the need for state police. The debate on the feasibility of state police has been going on for decades, but it took on added urgency after the restoration of civilian rule in 1999.

Apart from the fact that most high-profile crimes have remained unsolved in Nigeria, it is evident that federal control of the police has become hopelessly outdated, particularly because of the inability of the federal government to adequately fund the security

organisation. The federal government is overwhelmed by insecurity, but it has unreasonably continued to shoulder the blame for incompetently running the police instead of sharing the burden. Successive governments have not only been reluctant in carrying out fundamental reforms in the management of internal security, they have also adamantly refused to address other crying needs for radical changes. The consequence is that the entire country itself is becoming a huge, unmanageable tinderbox.

Oyerinde’s murder is merely the most recent example of the refusal by national leaders to boldly and imaginatively confront contemporary exigencies. If states had their own police establishments, the governors would be constitutionally compelled to take full responsibility for securing their domains, and could win or lose elections based on their performance in the security department.

Worrisomely, it is not only the police that exemplify the ossification of national leadership. Much worse is the fact that the

country’s political structure has clearly proved hopelessly unworkable for more than three decades. But in that long period, and for a structural problem that is so openly evident, we have had to tolerate both foisted and elected leaders who neither summoned the courage nor embraced the wisdom to champion fundamental restructuring of the polity, a restructuring capable of satisfying the yearnings of a complex, multi-ethnic and multi-religious society.

As the Boko Haram revolt shows, the country is running out of time to address its deepening fissures. Though the police may from time to time enjoy bright leadership, without devolution the crisis of securing a huge country like Nigeria will continue to worsen. What is certain to make the whole problem even more inflammable is the sheer indifference of the leadership in recognising that not to address the country’s structural problem is to foster instability and, before long, possibly dissolution. Whichever way we turn, the consequences are only a question of time.

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