The Nation October 13, 2011

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

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VOL. 7, NO. 1912 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

Outrage over detention of The Nation editors

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HERE was outrage yesterday over the detention of editors of Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation, over the publication of a letter from former President Olusegun Obasanjo to President Goodluck

From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

Jonathan.

Four editors of the newspaper and three other employees were arrested by the police at the Lagos and Abuja offices of the organisation on Tuesday and detained.

Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon and News Editor of the weekend titles Dayo Olufade were detained at Force CID, Alagbon, Lagos while the Managing Editor, Northern Operations, Yusuf Ali and Abuja Bureau Chief Yomi Odunuga were de-

tained at the Abuja Force Headquarters.

Also detained were Labour correspondent, Mrs Dupe Olaoye-Oshinkolu, Legal Editor John Unachukwu and Chief Security Officer (CSO), Jide Adegbuyi.

All but Alli were released

last night after police interrogation and search of their homes and offices.

Notable individuals and organisations have condemned the raid on The Nation.

The detention of its editors was criticised by the News-

papers Proprietor Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the International Press Institute (IPI), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and Amnesty International (AI) among othContinued on page 4

Ex-Governor Daniel charged, remanded Akala returns to SSS cell

SOME OF THE CHARGES

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

S

IX days after his arrest and detention, former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel was yesterday arraigned before State High Court 4 in Abeokuta.

For two days, hundreds of people had besieged the Federal High Court expecting Daniel to be docked for alleged stealing of public funds.

The former governor was arraigned on a 16-count charge of stealing and false declaration of assets in a charge sheet dated October 12 and signed by Chile Okoroma, Head of Legal Services of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on behalf of the Chairman of the commission and the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation.

Daniel, who was dressed in a cream flowing agbada with a black cap to match, was brought in a bus marked ABUJA BR 737 BUR. He alighted into the waiting hands of Continued on page 4

•Daniel ... yesterday

•Count1: Stealing contrary to section 390[4][f] of the Criminal Code Law Cap 29, Laws of Ogun State 1978.

Particulars of offence: Otunba Justus Olugbenga Daniel on or about March 31st, 2010 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court whilst being the Executive Governor of Ogun State fraudulently converted the sum of $1,000,000[One million US dollars] property of Ogun State government being part of the funds deposited in the Ogun State government domiciliary account with First City Monument Bank which you used to acquire shares of Glanvill Enthoven & Company [Nigeria] Ltd. •Count 2: Stealing contrary to section 390[4][f] of the Criminal Code Law Cap 29, Laws of Ogun State 1978.

Continued on page 58

Abdulmutallab pleads guilty, faces life jail •Abdulmutallab

To be sentenced January 2, next year

STORY ON PAGE 4

•SPORT P24 •EDUCATION P25 •POLITICS P43 •NATURAL HEALTHP45

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

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NEWS OUTRAGE OVER SIEGE ON THE NATION

‘The Presidency should tell us w

Eric Newton, Knight Foundation In a free society, the police have no business in the newspaper office. These kinds of raids make the world believe that Nigeria is not an open and honest country.

It is bad for Nigeria and for democracy.

S

Gbenga Adefaye The drama was irreverent, irrelevant and unnecessary because the law has set out the due process for taking in anyone who has infracted against it. We are not aware that the editors of The Nation shunned any formal invitation.

Amadou Mahtar Ba, Media Initiative It is unfortunate that during the Abacha regime, there was a vibrant press, so why in a democracy is such repression taking place? This news of arrests is therefore baffling.

Lanre Arogundade Any form of throw-back to the notorious era of repression when journalists were openly harassed and media houses invaded by armed marauders serving the interest of military and civilian dictatorships, is unacceptable.

Governors, MRA, IPI, NPAN, activists,

EVERAL organisations home and abroad yesterday condemned the arrest and detention of four senior editors and correspondents of The Nation by men of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID).

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and others said the police erred in invading the offices of the newspaper.

ACN, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described the development as ‘harassment’.

The statement reads: “ACN wondered whether Inspector-General of Police Hafiz Ringim, who reportedly ordered the arrest of the reporters, would have acted with the same alacrity if the personality concerned is an ordinary Nigerian.

“The Nigeria Police Force put up a show of force in harassing and detaining harmless reporters. This is typical of the police, which sees itself as beholding to the elite while daily intimidating, brutalising and killing ordinary Nigerians.

One can only imagine how successful the police would have been in tackling the security challenges facing the country if it had been employing the same attitude (show of force) in battling armed robbers, kidnappers and Boko Haram elements.

“Would Obasanjo have done that (petition the police) if he had not been a former President? Is it not possible that he used his status to goad the police into carrying out an illegal act, in line with his trademark disregard for the rule of law?

Does Obasanjo remember that he would probably not be alive today were it not for this same media which exposed the plan by the

By Olukorede Yishau, Assistant Editor (News)

Abacha administration to execute him with dispatch after his conviction over an alleged coup?”

It added: ‘’Under President Jonathan’s watch, the judiciary has been hobbled and judges cowed. Is it now the turn of the media to be cowed? Is the arrest of The Nation’s editors aimed at sending a signal to the media that publishing the truth is not enough, and that journalists risk arrest and detention if their stories make the high and mighty in the society uncomfortable?’’

“It is curious that the Presidency has not come out to say whether or not the contentious letter is in its possession or is the presidency saying, by its silence on this issue, that no such letter exists?’’

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi also condemned the arrest.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, Fayemi said the invasion of the newspaper house called for serious concern under a democratically-elected administration.

He said the arrest and detention of the editors of The Nation evoked memories of what the Press underwent under the military in which journalists were arrested, detained, tortured and media houses closed down for many months.

Fayemi noted that there are more civil and polite ways the police can react to any report carried by the media, adding that invasion of a media house in a Gestapo-like manner send wrong signals to the international community.

The governor called for an unconditional release of the detained journalists maintaining that keeping them in detention for more than 24 hours is a violation of their fundamental human rights.

Indiscriminate arrests and detention of journalists, according to him, is an indication that the country is gradually sliding into civilian dictatorship.

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola condemned the invasion. He said: “The invasion of the Abuja and Lagos offices of the Vintage Press Limited, Publishers of The Nation has come to us as a surprise.

The rude intrusion into the operations of the company and the arrest of its senior editors is a sad reminder of what Nigerians went through in the dark days of the military.

“A free press is a major component of a true democracy. When we are back to the dreaded era when journalists were manacled, bombed, jailed, intimidated and forced to go on exile and their relations and close associates were arrested, when security agents laid siege to or closed down their offices, then Nigerians should say good bye to democracy.

“What happened on Monday in Lagos and Abuja has put a bold question mark on the readiness of the Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal Government to allow Nigerians to maximise the potentials that should be part of a truly democratic environment.

“Already, contentious issues such as the Sovereign Wealth Fund, Federal Government’s arrogation of too much power to itself and others continually force Nigerians to ask questions about the true state of our country. Adding this flagrant abuse of power and daylight violations of the rights of individuals and institutions further compound Nigerians’ concern about their polity.

“And this message goes to all security agencies as well that Nigerians belong to us all and no tier of government reserves the right to use agencies of the state to terrorise per-

ceived political opponents.

“The Nigeria Police owes Nigerians fullin this odious development.

This is because the issue over which The Nation has been subjected to this shameful display of power is between an individual and a corporate entity. In a normal society, when an individual feels his rights has been violated, the court is there as an arbiter. But in this one, the security agency should tell Nigerians where it comes in at this stage of the matter.

“Security agencies are hereby called upon to immediately release all the editors of The Nation who were arrested and a public apology tendered to them and Nigerians as a whole.”

A media-focused non-governmental organisation, Human Rights Writers’ Association, HURIWA, also condemned the development.

In a statement by its National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs officer, Miss. Zainab Yusuf, the group said the Federal Government must promote and protect media freedom.

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) said the development was worrisome. Its National President, Muhammad Garba, said the development was aimed at silencing any dissenting voice. He urged teh government to shun any act capable of rubbishing its democratic credentials.

The Deputy National President of the NUJ, Rotimi Obamuwagun said the detention of the senior editors was not only undemocratic, but unconstitutional.

Also, a human rights lawyer, Gbenga Akinmoyo said the detention was a slap on the nation’s democratic government. Besides, an activist, Titiloye Charles condemned

the invasion.

According to him, the action is reminiscent of the military era when critical news media and activists were repressed and forced to go underground.

Charles urged law enforcement agents in the country to be civil in their operations.

The duo of Obamuwagun and Akinmoyo, said such action should be condemned by every Nigerian.

They noted that those who felt slighted by the newspaper’s publication should have sought legal action to tackle the matter instead of arresting the editors of the newspapers.

Charles said the arrests of these senior journalists over a publication is a breach of their human rights.

He said: ‘The law court is open to any person who feels maligned by publications rather than resort to intimidation by law enforcement agents’ he Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has petitioned Ms Pansy Tlakula, Commissioner and Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa over the “unlawful arrest and the continuing intimidation and harassment of The Nation editors and others working for the newspaper.”

In the petition, dated October 12, and signed by SERAP Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation said:”We ask the Honourable Commissioner to urgently intervene to stop the Nigerian government from further intimidation and harassment of journalists working for one of Nigeria’s leading independent newspapers, and respect internationally recognised right to freedom of expression and press freedom in the country. The above illus-

T

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

3

NEWS OUTRAGE OVER SIEGE ON THE NATION

us whether or not it has the letter’

,

Dr Is-haq Akintola We charge Nigerian security agencies to stop all forms of Gestapo-style invasion of media houses. Why is it that unarmed and innocent civilian are always easy victims of our security agents? Why are they timid and helpless when armed robbers and kidnappers strike?

Joe Igbokwe The invasion and arrest follows a series of rising anti-democratic inclination of a regime that professes to be democratic. We are sad that a regime that should be upholding the tenets of democracy, which includes freedom of speech and information, is in a desperate bid to suppress such freedom.

Ayo Opadokun The security onslaught on the defenceless journalists was a painful reminder to all of us that the crude abuse of human rights and the denial of the fundamental rights of expression associated with the successive military dictators are still fresh and live with us.

Lai Mohammed It is curious that the Presidency has not come out to say whether or not the contentious letter is in its possession or is the presidency saying, by its silence on this issue, that no such letter exists?

lawyers, condemn invasion of The Nation trates the government’s intolerance of critical views, and its policy of attack against the media.”

The organisation also said that, “the attack against the media by the government is coming at a time the government’s effort to fight corruption is waning; and when the government continues to perform poorly in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index. The government’s anti-corruption agenda cannot work effectively without the important contribution of the media. Without press freedom, it is much easier for the government to take away other human rights and to perpetrate official and large scale corruption.”

The organisation expressed concern that “the action by the Nigerian government contravenes the country’s international legal obligations, under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a signatory. The unlawful arrest and the intimidation and harassment of innocent journalists also directly violates Section 22 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended), which requires the Press to hold the government accountable to the people.”

“SERAP is also concerned that the government’s action specifically undermines and limits the citizens’ right to freedom of opinion and expression; including the right to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers,” the organisation added.

According to the organisation, “the guarantee of freedom of expression applies with particular force to the media. Indeed, the right to freedom of expression and peoples’ right

How Obasanjo’s petition led to police invasion

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OLLOWING publication by The Nation of the now controversial letter said to have been written to President Goodluck Jonathan by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the ex-head of state wrote a petition to the Presidency.

Jonathan on receipt of the complaint forwarded it to Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), who referred same to the Citizens Rights Unit (CRU) in his ministry for action.

The CRU next sent the petition to Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, asking the Police to investigate the matter. Acting on this request the Police authorities swung into action – invading The Nation offices in Abuja and Lagos – arresting four editors and three editors.

Sources told The Nation last night

that when word of the invasion and mass arrests got to Adoke, he reportedly told Ringim that the CRU request for an investigation was not an instruction to detain the entire editorial and administrative leadership of the newspaper.

to seek and receive information cannot be meaningful unless the media plays its key role in a democratic society without political interference or influence.”

The Committee for the Protection of Peoples Mandate (CPPM) said it received with shock, disbelief, sadness and anger the siege by security agents on The Nation and the arrest of some employees of the newspaper by the police.

The group said in statement: “Ever since the advent of this democratic train, the Nigerian state has become the theatre of the absurd and our intelligence have been daily assaulted by the irresponsible and unresponsive ruling political class who have treated us to all sorts of obscenities.

“Our ruling elite have learnt nothing about the ethos of good governance in this modern age but are rath-

er behaving like the appendages of our military misrulers of the past.

“President Goodluck Jonathan must be told the home truth that since the advent of his administration; it has been tales of economic, social and political pains for the Nigerian people.

“His government has not been alive to its responsibility in terms of governance despite the goodwill it enjoyed at inauguration but which has been frittered away by obscene conducts and comments.

“Not even during the military misrule did we witness this culture of unconstitutionality and impunity that the Nigerian state has become under the Jonathan presidency.”

The group said the country was on the precipice of collapse, wondering why the “President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces”,

• Ringim

• Obasanjo

• Adoke with all the powers could not save the country from the threats of Boko Haram and the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).

The CPPM said it was unfortunate the country hurriedly move the celebration of its 51st Independence Day anniversary from its usual Eagle Square to Aso Rock It said: “We are also not surprised that our security agencies that are daily being mowed down by the contradictions of the Nigerian state can continue to be so irresponsible to allow themselves to be used once again against the people and the constitution as usual by the powers that be.

“We admonish them to take a cue from their counterparts in other parts of the world who have always sided with the people and the constitu-

tion.”

The Ogun State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) condemned the development.

Publicity Secretary of the party in Ogun State Mr. Sola Lawal said the action of the police is “a sad commentary on the Jonathan administration.

“The government should be wiser than to allow itself to be used by anyone to settle personal score with journalists”, it said.

The Director of Publicity, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Southwest, Ayo Afolabi, described the raid of The Nation as the return of the dark ages.

He said it was disturbing that President Goodluck Jonathan administration has deviated from facing the numerous challenges facing the country to harassing innocent journalists.

He said: “It is said that when government runs dry of ideas they engage in diversionary tactics but we of the ACN see this as a tactless diversion of public attention. It is wrong and counter- productive.”

Media Rights Agenda (MRA), in a statement in Lagos, said it was disheartening that 12 years into democratic rule, the Nigerian media was still being subjected to such highhandedness and abuse of power in violation of the right to freedom of expression guaranteed by the country’s Constitution and international human rights Law. MRA’s Executive Director Mr. Edetaen Ojo said: “It is a tragic irony that at a time when the entire country is paralysed by fear and widespread insecurity, the government is focused on using the police force and other law enforcement agencies to invade newsrooms and harass journalists when they would obviously be better deployed to tackle the real security problems facing the country.”

4

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

NEWS Continued from page 1

•From left: MD/CEO, Fidson Healthcare Plc Dr Fidelis Ayebae; Director, Laboratory Services Mrs Stella Denloye, who represented the Director-General of NAFDAC; Prof. Oladipupo Akinkugbe; Special Adviser to DG, NAFDAC Mrs Aishat Okpa; and Director, Fidson Healthcare Plc Mrs Olufunmilola Ayebae during a re-launch of Ciprotab Softtab at the company’s corporate office in Lagos ... yesterday PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID

Abdulmutallab pleads guilty, faces life jail

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HE trial of Farouk Abdulmutallab accused of trying to blow up a commercial airliner on Christmas Day in 2009, abruptly ended yesterday as he pleaded guilty to each of the eight counts against him.

The sudden reversal came before the start of the second day of proceedings in the trial of Mr. Abdulmutallab, who is not a lawyer but who was representing himself.

The eight counts include attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and conspiring to commit an act of terrorism. The charges carried a penalty of life in prison, but the details of the plea were not immediately available.

On the opening day of the trial on Tuesday, Jonathan Tukel, an assistant United States attorney, described the outlines of the government’s case against Mr. Abdulmutallab, 24, in a lengthy opening statement.

But a lawyer assigned to as-

sist Mr. Abdulmutallab told jurors that the defense did not intend to give an opening statement.

Mr. Tukel told jurors that Mr. Abdulmutallab had admitted to a fellow passenger that he had been trying to ignite an explosive device aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253, en route from Amsterdam to Detroit, and that Mr. Abdulmutallab had made similar admissions to a paramedic and a federal agent, who Mr. Abdulmutallab told, “I’m with Al Qaeda.”

Before his sudden plea, Mr. Abdulmutallab gave few clues as to how he would defend himself against the charges except to make clear that he had intended to call a passenger from among the 290 who were on board.

In court on Tuesday, Mr. Abdulmutallab, well-educated and from a well-to-do Nigerian family, said little. He wore a colorful tunic, and grasped his hands before him and flipped

through papers during much of the proceedings.

For their part, prosecutors laid out a case that appeared to be some cross between an ordinary lineup of witnesses to a crime and a rare courtroom primer in terrorism, Al Qaeda, jihad and martyrdom. Mr. Tukel told jurors that Mr. Abdulmutallab, while still in school, had begun to listen to the tape-recorded messages of Anwar al-Awlaki, the cleric who was recently killed by a missile from an American drone aircraft in Yemen.

“He wanted jihad, he sought it out and he found it,” Mr. Tukel said of Mr. Abdulmutallab.

The prosecutor flashed on a large screen an image of Mr. Abdulmutallab — before the plane episode — and a translation of parts of what Mr. Tukel described as a video message of martyrdom, which Qaeda elements released afterward in taking credit and giving praise for what had happened.

ers.

The NGE berated the Police for taking Nigeria’s rating down by a few notches.

It condemned what it called ‘proxy arrest’ of Ogienagbon, Olufade, Alli and Odunuga.

They were arrested in lieu of the Managing Director/Editor-in-chief, Mr Victor Ifijeh and Editor Gbenga Omotoso, General Editor, Kunle Fagbemi, Deputy Editor News Adesina Adeniyi, Group Political Editor, Bolade Omonijo, Managing Editor, Waheed Odushile and Administration Manager Folake Adeoye.

A statement by NGE president, Mr Gbenga Adefaye said: “Those who came to effect the arrest were kitted in anti-human trafficking kits.

The drama was irreverent, irrelevant and unnecessary because the law has set out the due process for taking in anyone who has infracted against it.

“In this case, we are not aware that the editors of The Nation newspaper shunned any formal invitation to them with contempt. Those editors, who were invited in Abuja, honored the invitation with dignity and respect to the authority.

“The Attorney-General of the Federation must share blame for the Police misstep in these matters: he ought to have advised the action agency - the Police on the letters of the law which is specific on who is responsible for the content of a newspaper.

“The law does not allow for proxy arrest, which was the past time of dictatorial military regimes. We are 12 years into democratic rule where the rule of law is paramount, where due process, no matter how slow, is compulsory, where self help must be prevented.

“The Nigerian Guild of Editors demands that the arrested and detained editors be released forthwith while the police

Outrage over detention of The Nation editors should follow due process in the discharge of its duties. Anticipatory arrest without a show of court certified warrant is unlawful and oppressive.

“It is an atavistic recline into the cave. Keeping the arrested editors beyond 24 hours without being charged to court is unlawful.

“Nigeria has moved beyond such frontiers and the police is expected to know their limit within the law.

“The place to establish criminality is in the court of law and no one should undermine the due process, in a way to diminish our country in the comity of the civilized nations.”

The NPAN statement expressed grave concern at the police invasion of Tuesday, October 11, 2011, of the Lagos and Abuja offices of The Nation.

The body’s president, Nduka Obaigbena said: “The NPAN said the police action was unhelpful to the atmosphere of free -flow of information being engendered by the historic signing into law, of the Freedom of Information Act , by President Goodluck Jonathan, on May 28, 2011.

“To say that the police action is a set back would be an understatement as it undermines the constitutional right of Nigerians to a free press. At this time when all hands should be on deck to help the police and other security agencies deal with our unprecedented security challenges, pursuing journalists and newspaper houses, instead of terrorists, could only be a major distraction.”

Reacting through a statement by its spokesman, Alison Bethel McKenzie, IPI said: “We are appalled to hear that the police would simply raid the offices of The Nation and

start arresting journalists.”

“We are even more appalled that, over 24 hours later, the journalists remain in custody and have not been charged, which is a violation of their rights. Unless police have concrete evidence to prove that these journalists committed a crime, they should release them immediately.

“The Nation and all other news outlets in Nigeria have a right to publish the news, whether or not it embarrasses the president and former president.”

Also yesterday, world human rights body, Amnesty International (AI) urged the National Assembly to adopt a motion imploring the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to fully and promptly investigate all acts of intimidation and violence against human rights defenders and journalists.

Africa Programme Director of AI, Erwin Van Der Borght made the plea when he visited Senate President David Mark in Abuja.

Mark’s Chief Press Secretary Paul Mumeh said in a statement that Borght was of the view that “such investigation would help bring the culprits to book and serve as a deterrent to others.”

“Amnesty International also canvassed that the National Assembly draft a bill to establish a comprehensive witness protection programme for the protection of individuals - including human rights defenders involved in investigations or other proceedings against those accused of human rights violation,” the statement added.

Mark assured the delegation and the international community that Nigeria has resolved to eliminate all forms of human rights abuse in line with global best practices.

Ex-Governor Daniel charged, remanded Akala returns to SSS cell

Continued from page 1

students who booed and taunted him, demanding that “he should be jailed”.

He held a brief meeting with his counsel, Taiwo Osipintan (SAN), Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) and Yemi Oke, which lasted minutes.

Although, scores of loyalists were on ground to receive him, the din of the noise from the booing students, who arrived the Isabo Court in good time, drowned all words of encouragement, greetings and compliments thrown at Daniel by his loyalists.

Daniel, who though looked wearied, laboured to put a pleasant mien when he alighted and shortly after entering the court premises, he requested to use the toilet. The request was granted by the EFCC operatives.

Hs wife, Olufunke, accompanied him to the toilet.

Daniel subsequently appeared before Justice Olarewaju Mabekoje by 9:11am and there met with his former aides – deputy governor, Alhaja Salmot Badru, Secretary to the State Government, Gbemi Adekoya, Deputy-governorship candidate under Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), Mrs. Jokotade Odebunmi, among others.

By 9.17, when Justice Mabekoje took his seat, the court Clerk called out the case file with number AB/EFCC/02/2011 reading: “the Federal Government of Nigeria and Otunba Justus Olugbenga Daniel”. The

F

ORMER Oyo State Governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, and two of his former aides were returned to the custody of the State Security Service (SSS), Iyaganku, Ibadan yesterday following the inability of the court to rule on their application for bail.

This came as the trial judge, Justice Mashood Abass, warned parties involved in the case against further attempts to influence him. He said he would arrest anyone trying to influence his decision on the case no matter how highly placed.

“I am warning everybody concerned in this matter that my decision cannot be influenced. If anybody tries to influence me, I will call for the arrest of such person.

Apart from swearing to an oath, I have my career, family and name to protect.

“I want to assure all parties that nobody can influence my decision. Enough is enough. Those concerned know themselves,” he said.

Abass promised to do justice and decide the case with the fear of God. He could, however, not give ruling on the application for bail by the accused yesterday as counsel to both parties argued their written addresses till 4:00 pm.

Lead counsel to the three accused persons, Chief Momoh Osman (SAN), took two hours to make oral arguments on his written address, while prosecution former governor signified his presence and walked into the dock.

The EFCC lead counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, introduced his team, while Taiwo Osipitan (SAN) led the four-man legal team of Daniel comprising three

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

counsel, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN), took one hour to reply. Both adopted their briefs and relied on the written addresses.

Citing relevant authorities and referring to similar cases, Osman (SAN) argued that the accused applicants willingly submitted themselves to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had never jumped bail before, and suffered ill-health as grounds for the court to grant them bail.

He further argued that the law empowers the judge to grant them bail, adding that the accused are presumed innocent until proven otherwise by the court.

He relied on Section 19 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud-related Offences Act that allows persons standing trial for such offences to be admitted to bail.

Osman also pointed out that Section 39(4B) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) Act gives the court the power to admit the accused to bail.

According to him, the accused can also be admitted to bail under Section 118(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act. Faulting the argument by the prosecution that the accused applicants are culpable for some other offences on which investigations were not yet completed as a reason to deny them bail, Osman said

others - Taiwo Oyetibo (SAN), Yemi Oke and Deji Eniseyin.

Rotimi Jacobs told the court that a 304, page document had been filed, but apologised for serving the defendant counsel late. Osipitan, who confirmed receipt of the document,

the accused should not be detained indefinitely. He said investigation of the accused started in 2009.

“Even though they (prosecution) demand that they be kept in custody because investigations are still on, they have not availed the court the time frame they would want them kept in custody in fairness to their human rights and recourse to humanity.

“The fact that they do not know when they will conclude their investigations provides the platform for the need to admit the accused applicants to bail. What it means is that this matter is not ripe for arraignment,” he said.

Osman also argued that the accused applicants have made written promise not to jump bail or commit any offence during the trial. He said the three accused applicants had met the criteria set by statutes and law to be admitted to bail and urged the court to rule in their favour.

But in his oral argument, Obla opposed the application for bail and the arguments advanced in its support. He relied on the 15-paragraph supporting counter affidavit filed against the application for bail by Alao-Akala. He disclosed that they filed a 17-paragraph counter affidavit against the application to grant Senator Hosea Agboola bail and the 16-paragraph counter affidavit in opposing bail for Mr Femi Babalola.

pleaded for a 30-minute standdown to enable him study the document and also have a word with his client.

The request was granted.

When the court resumed 30 minutes later, the 16-count charge was read to Daniel, who

pleaded not guilty.

His counsel, Oyetibo who took over from Osipitan told the court that application for bail, dated October 12, 2011, had been filed and served the prosecution counsel.

Rotimi, for EFCC, confirmed

•Alao-Akala

receiving the bail application, but added that a written document was attached to the application and prayed the court to grant him time to study it and file a counter affidavit. He then asked that the case be adjourned till Friday, October 14, for the hearing of the bail application.

Daniel’s counsel, however, pleaded that his client be remanded in the EFCC custody where he had been detained since his arrest last Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State government, through the Information and Strategy Commissioner, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, said it had no hand in the travails of the former governor.

Addressing reporters in Abeokuta on Monday, Olaniyonu said: “Senator Ibikunle Amosun had declared that he would not probe anybody or government,” but is only interested in meeting his electoral promises to Ogun people.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

5

NEWS FAROUK ABDULMUTALLAB’S TRIAL (DAY ONE)

‘I’m not guilty under Islamic law ’

Free Press staff writer DAVID ASHENFELTER , in a live blogging, gave a blow-by-blow account of how Farouk Abdulmutallab pleaded guilty at the U.S. District Court in Detroit on the second day of testimony in his terrorism trial.

9:06 a.m.

The defendant entered the courtroom a few moments ago. He’s wearing a dark jacket over a long brown tunic or dashiki.

The judge just entered the courtroom. Defense attorney Anthony Chambers has asked for a sidebar – a private conversation at the side of the judge’s bench.

Edmunds just announced that a matter has come up that will require a 45-minute recess.

We’re on hold.

9:13 a.m.

Free Press Reporter Tresa Baldas, who is sitting in the courtroom, said Abdulmutallab left the courtroom with a manila folder in his cuffed hands. Before leaving, he stuffed what looked like his own papers into the envelope.

He was escorted out of the courtroom by marshals – without defense attorney Chambers.

9:23 a.m.

Tresa said there’s some strange body language between Chambers and Abdulmutallab and the other players in the courtroom this morning. When Edmunds announced that another matter had come to her attention that warranted a recess — the second such recess in two days — a silence hung in the air. Maybe the defendant has decided to go it alone without Anthony Chambers as his standby lawyer. We’ll see.

9:54 a.m.

Abdulmutallab just reentered the courtroom. He’s sitting at the defense table conferring with Chambers, his standby lawyer. We’re waiting for the judge to take the bench.

9:59 a.m.

Chamber says his client plans to plead guilty. Edmunds is advising him of his rights. She will put him under oath. The defendant is standing at the podium.

10:00 a.m.

Edmunds is asking Assistant

U.S. Attorney Jonathan Tukel to go through the charges against Abdulmutallab.

There are eight counts. The most serious counts carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.

10:04 a.m.

Edmunds is swearing Abdulmutallab in. Abdulmutallab is standing at the podium flanked by his standby lawyer, Anthony Chambers, and prosecutor Tukel. He says he is 25 years old. He says he has an engineering degree and before that, he has been through high school. He says he is fluent in English, which we knew.

He says he has never been treated for mental illness or drug or alcohol abuse. Edmunds says he is competent to proceed.

10:06 a.m.

Abdulmutallab says he’s satisfied with Chambers and the advice he has received.

Edmunds is going over his rights.

10:07 a.m.

He says he understands his rights and wants to plead guilty. The judge is going over the penalties.

10:09 a.m.

It appears that Abdulmutallab will plead guilty to all of the charges.

10:15 a.m.

Abdulmutallab is facing 30 years to life in prison. Here are the charges and penalties: Count 1: Conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries. Penalty: Up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine, mandatory consecutive to other sentences.

Count 2: Possession of a destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Penalty: 30 years to life in prison and a $250,000 fine, mandatory consecutive.

Count 3: Attempted murder on an airline. Penalty: Up to 20 years and a $250,000 fine.

Count 4: Using and carrying a destructive device dur-

• Abdulmutallab

•Chambers

do you plead to Count 1? Edmunds ‘ How asked Abdulmutallab. “I plead guilty,” he said. How do you plead to Count 2? Edmunds asked. “I plead guilty” ing a crime of violence. Penalty: 30 years to life and in prison, a $250,000 fine, mandatory consecutive.

Count 5: Placing a destructive device that endangers the safety of a civil aircraft. Penalty: Up to 20 years in prison, $250,000 fine.

Count 6: Possession of a destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Penalty: 30 years to life in prison, and a $250,000 fine, mandatory consecutive.

Count 7: Attempting to use

a weapon of mass destruction. Penalty: Up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Count 8: Attempting to destroy a civil aircraft. Penalty: Up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

10:16 a.m.

How do you plead to Count 1? Edmunds asked Abdulmutallab.

“I plead guilty,” he said.

How do you plead to Count 2? Edmunds asked.

“I plead guilty,” he said.

How do you plead to Count 3? Edmunds asked.

‘

“I plead guilty,” he said.

10:18 a.m.

How do you plead to Count 4? Edmunds asked. “I plead guilty,” he said.

10:23 a.m.

He said the same thing in response to Counts 5-6. He also pleaded guilty to Count 7.

10:32 a.m.

Abdulmutallab read from a statement saying he was guilty under U.S. law, but not under Islamic law, for the crimes charged. He said he tried to carry out the bomb-

ing in retaliation for the murder of innocent civilians in Iraq, Israel, Afghanistan, Somalia and elsewhere by the United States.

10:34 a.m.

He warned the U.S. that, if it continued to murder innocent Muslims, a calamity would befall the U.S. “If you laugh at us now, we will laugh at you later,” he said.

10:35 a.m.

He said committing jihad against the United States is one of “the most virtuous acts” a Muslim can perform.

10:38 a.m.

Tukel says he is satisfied with the defendant’s plea.

10:42 a.m.

Edmunds just found Abdulmutallab competent and is accepting his guilty pleas. She just found him guilty. She referred the matter to the probation department for a presentence investigation report.

Sentencing set for Thursday, January 12, 2012 by 2 p.m.

11 a.m.

Edmunds just excused the jury. She said jurors could talk with reporters if they wanted to, but they decided against it. They’re leaving the courthouse.

11:25 a.m.

Outside the courthouse, Abdulmutallab’s lawyer, Anthony Chambers, said he hadn’t his client to plead guilty.

“It’s disappointing,” he said, adding that he never wants a client to plead guilty to charges that could result in a life sentence. He said Abdulmutallab made the decision on his own and announced it this morning.

He said he thinks he had a viable defense to some of the charges, adding that he questions whether the aircraft was damaged by the bombing attempt.

He said the guilty plea enables his client to get on with the rest of his life and read a statement in court to explain his actions.

‘Cancer claims twice as many lives as AIDS’ To many, HIV/ AIDS is deadlier than cancer. But Betty Akeredolu-Anyanwu, President of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN), says cancer kills more people than AIDS, malaria and tubeculosis put together, writes OLUKOREDE YISHAU

T

HROUGHOUT this month, breast cancer organisations in the country are joining their counterparts worldwide to raise awareness about breast cancer. The United Nations has designated the month breast cancer awareness month.

The President of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN), Betty Akeredolu-Anyanwu, said the cancer burden in the country is enormous.

She said: “We need to identify the challenges responsible for the low impact of available cancer control mechanisms. We have been told time and time again that cancer burden is rising in both developed and de-

veloping countries with seven million people dying of cancer, each year worldwide and close to 11 million new cases diagnosed annually, a figure estimated to rise to a staggering 16 million by 2020. Going by this data, cancer claims twice as many lives as AIDS, accounting for more than 12 per cent of all deaths every year.

That’s more than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria put together!”

That is why a former President of a global cancer control body, Franco Cavalli said:”Cancer in the developing world is a disaster waiting to happen.” He added that “ by 2020, 70 per cent of cancer deaths will be in developing countries

where the incidence is rising rapidly but resources for prevention and treatment are severely limited”.

Akeredolu-Anyanwu said: “While the picture may appear bleak, it is a wake-up call for these countries to act now before it is too late. Nigeria , like other developing countries is witnessing a rising incidence of cancers with its problems of ignorance, poverty and communicable diseases yet unsolved. Whereas some countries in this league seek to confront the situation by at least recognising cancer as a health priority and deploying some resources, Nigeria appears indifferent as cancer never appears on the radar screen of health priorities of the govern-

ment.”

She added: “Consequently, there is a lack of development of cancer treatment facilities, cancer professionals, public education and patient support services. This apparent neglect is responsible for the unabated late presentation, wrong diagnosis (for example, incompetent Nigerian doctors who diagnose a breast lump as a “boil”), mutilating surgery, lack of accurate, supporting databases, such as cancer registries, insensitivity of doctors and other care givers to the plight of patients, and exploitation of patients by over billing.

What do we have? Needless deaths of unknown figure.”

She said these challenges

have made an average Nigerian see cancer as a condition which cannot be cured.

In her words: “Some have reasoned that this stigma may be responsible for an undue sense of fatalism that could adversely impact on the commitment of the government, health agencies and private institutions in the fight against cancer. But what about elsewhere?”

She said Nigeria must tackle the problem headlong. “ Enough of the fire brigade approach where projects are executed without adequate information and planning. It must be emphasised that planning integrated, evidence- based and cost effective interventions throughout the cancer continuum

•Akeredolu-Anyanwu

(from research to prevention, early detection, treatment, palliative care) is the most effective way to tackle the cancer problem and reduce the suffering caused to patients and their families,” she said.

6

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

NEWS Senate rejects Jonathan’s nominee for FCC •Confirms four others From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

THE Senate yesterday rejected President Goodluck Jonathan’s nominee as a member of the Federal Character Commission (FCC).

The choice of Teddy Obi Akwari to represent Imo State was thrown out. Four representatives from Benue, Kebbi, Adamawa and Jigawa states were confirmed.

Two Senators from Imo State – Hope Uzodinma (Imo West) and Matthew Nwagwu (Imo North) opposed Akwari’s nomination.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator Dahiru Kuta presented the report to the Senate.

The Senators claimed that Akwari’s selection did not reflect the principles of Federal Character in Imo state.

Other nominees confirmed by the Senate are: Mrs Margaret Icheen (Benue), Muhammad Alkali (Kebbi), Dr Salihu Bello (Adamawa) and Alhaji Adi Ahmed (Jigawa).

Senate also confirmed the nomination of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola for the Supreme Court.

Justice Ariwoola was nominated by Jonathan.

NLC meets in Edo over fuel subsidy From Osagie Otabor, Benin

THE National leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday converged on Benin City, Edo State capital for a meeting on the planned removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

Its President Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, who disclosed this when he visited the Benin monarch, O’monoba Erediauwa, denied that organised labour has reached an agreement with the Federal Government over fuel subsidy removal.

Omar described the proposal as “a very unpopular decision that portend dangers to the nation’s economic and political sector.

He said: “One of the reasons we think we cannot come to Benin without seeing you is because we are very much in need of your blessing. But not only for NLC but for the entire country, because you are one of the very few and highly revered traditional rulers that can talk anywhere and people listen.

“Nigerians definitely rely on you. We are coming at a very crucial time, Nigeria and Nigerians need people like you for guidance. You know the talk of the country today is a very serious intention of government to do what it called removal of subsidy of petroleum product. That is deregulation.

“The is one issue we believe the government is on its own while the Nigerian people are on the other side. This is a very unpopular decision that government is about to take and we believe in people like you who can talk to anybody anywhere in this country and listen. If you lend your weight to this issue I am sure government will have no choice that they begin to think otherwise,” he said.

Tinubu, Fashola: Why Lagosians should vote ACN •ANPP chairman, others defect to ruling party

A

CTION Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday presented its 57 chairmanship candidates for the local government elections to Lagosians at the flag off of its campaigns at Onikan Stadium, Lagos.

At the carnival-like campaign, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Chairman, Hon. Abiodun Oyebolu defected with scores of party chieftains to the ruling party. He hailed ACN’s national party leader, Senator Bola Tinubu and Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) for building the party into an enviable platform in the Centre of Excellence.

Asiwaju Tinubu, Fashola and chairman of the chapter, Otunba Oladele Ajomale, who presented flags to the candidates, explained why Lagosians should vote for them at the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas.

Tinubu said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had failed the country and Lagosians, admonishing the people to reject its candidates at the October 22 polls. He stressed that the performance of Governor Fashola had rekindled hope about good governance in the state, assuring Lagosians that the ACN candidates would replicate his achievements at the grassroots, if elected.

Fashola said: “This is the most important election. It is the election that is the closest to me and you. Go out there and participate. This is the election that will determine how your local governments, your primary education and primary health would run.

“The state government will continue to help the local government in the discharge of its education and health duties.

More roads would be tarred across the councils. I am not interested in working with PDP chairmen at the local governments. So, vote for ACN candidates”.

Party followers from the three senatorial districts and five divisions of Ikeja, Ikorodu, Lagos Island , Badagry and Ibeju-Lekki thronged the venue with their brooms, the symbol of the party and posters of candidates. The event kicked off with opening prayers by Alhaji Murphy Adetoro from Eti-Osa and Pastor Raheem Daramola.

At the rally were the Deputy Governor Joke Orelope-Adefulire, former Deputy Governor Abiodun Ogunleye, Secretary to the Government Mrs Oluranti Adebule, Chief Adeseye

T

HE branch manager of a new generation bank in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government of Edo State, Monday Isekobo, has been abducted by gunmen in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government.

Isekobo was seized at the entrance of his house about 7pm on Monday night.

The kidnappers are demanding a N10million ransom from the family, according to the Chairman of banker’s forum, Auchi branch, Bash Sanusi.

Sanusi said Isekobo left Auchi for Irrua after the close of work at about 6pm when

•Tinubu (fourth left) addressing the rally…yesterday. With him are Fashola (fifth left), his deputy Mrs Adefulire (sixth left), Mrs Adebule (left), Pa Sunmola, Chief Ajomale and Pastor Daramola (third right)

•ACN supporters at the rally...yesterday

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor and Mariam Ndikanwu

Amingo, Pa Abiodun Sunmola, Primate Charles Odugbesi, Mrs Toun Adediran, Hon. Wale Oshun, Mr. Wale Edun, Ademoorin Kuye, Lateef Raji, Kayode Opeifa, Chief Funso Ologunde, Alhaji Mutiu Are, Sesan Olarewaju, Sola Abayomi and Idowu Ajanaku.

Among the candidates at the rally were Toba Oke (Ifako-Ijaye), Jide Jimoh (Yaba), Shamusedeen Olaleye (Isolo), Amida Abudu (Olorunda), Hon. Sofola (Kosofe), Gholahan Bagostowe (Somolu), Oris Hakeem Sulaiman (Bariga), Bolaji Ariyoh (Osodi-Isolo), Kehinde Bamigbetan (Ejigbo), Moses Dosu (Badagry), Ayodele Adewale (Amuwo-Odofin), Samuel Adedayo (Apapa-Iganmu), Oladele Adekanye (Mainland), Fatai Ajidagba (Ifelodun), Yemi Ali (Ojuwoye), Benjamin Olabinjo (Ojokoro) and Mrs Akinyemi Obe (Coker-Aguda).

Welcoming the party faith-

ful, Ajomale observed that they have maintained an abiding interest in the fold, adding that the party is enlarging its coast daily. He presented brooms and party flags to the defectors; Oyebolu, Alhaji Adeyemi, Alhaji Anikepo and Mr Femi Richard. He assured them that they would not regret their action.

Fashola said victory across the 57 councils is possible, advising members to work towards success. He added: “We thank God Almighty for what we have been able to do so far, We won during the general elections; we should win all the 20 local governments and 37 LCDAs”.

Tinubu, who paired with Ajomale in presenting party flags to the candidates, thanked God for the achievements of ACN and success of Fashola administration. He also thanked the party elders and leaders for their commitment.

To Fashola, he said: “We are proud of our working governor. He is performing wonders with the meager resources and he has turned Lagos into a

PHOTOS: OMOSEHIN MOSES AND DAYO ADEWUNMI

mega city and friendly state.

The governor is showing a sign of responsibility and development, using the resources of the state for its development. he deserves congratulations”.

The former governor asked Lagosians to shun PDP, which he described as Poverty Development Party and Peoples Destruction Party, at the polls, saying that the party was cajoling them with the false promise of local government creation.

Tinubu added: “Since 1999, PDP has been winning by rigging, manipulation, alteration of results, multiple finger prints. Even, where they should win, they still rig.

Look at Oshodi-Apapa Expressway. Any government that knows what it is doing should have expanded the road.

“After 30 years of inaugurating Ibadan/Lagos Expressway, it has not been rehabilitated. Let them terminate their concessions. Lagos government will do the road. Let Governor Fashola go and

Bank manager kidnapped in Edo •Banks give condition to resume operations From Osagie Otabor, Benine

he was kidnapped at the gate of his house at Irrua.

His abduction is coming at a time banks operating in Auchi and environs made five demands before they would reopen for business in the area.

Banks operating in the area have closed shops since last Wednesday, following incessant robbery attacks.

The banks gave their demands at an emergency meeting with traditional rulers in Edo North and security agen-

cies at the palace of the Otaru of Auchi, Aliru Momoh.

Among their demands were improved security ; increase in the number of Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC); manning of all exit routes by the Joint Task Force; putting in place of an anti-robbery squad and fishing out the perpetrators of the robberies.

Sanusi said it was regrettable that the police blame insiders from the banks for success of the robberies.

He said: “They (the police) have been carrying this round

the place that insiders from the banks give out information to the robbers to succeed in their operations, the question is, what do you do when you have a gun to your head?

“It is for this reason that we are demanding that the Police and other security agencies fish out these robbers and make them to confess whoever is behind their successes.

“We pay heavy taxes to the government to be protected.

The police must protect us and guarantee our safety for us to operate in the area, unless this

take over the Airport Road/ Oshodi Road and do it. We will defend and support you.

Don’t wait for them anymore.

They are liars. They have failed. They cannot solve unemployment problem”.

The national leader charged the members to mobilise and cnvass for votes through doorto-door campaigns in Lagos State. He noted that those who lost out at the primaries may be aggrieved, urging the candidates to move swiftly to pacify them.

Tinubu called for unity, harmony and reconciliation among the rank and file, advising the elders, leaders and candidates to carry along all members in their preparations for the polls.

He said: “Go to your streets, mobilise and canvass for votes. Engage in door to door campaigns. Let the candidates reach out to those who did not become flag bearers. Let there be unity and harmony. Let us cooperate together. Let us team up. By the grace of God, ACN will achieve success.

is done, we are not re-opening for business.”

Edo North Police Area Commander Gabriel Haruna said fighting crime is not a monopoly of the Police alone, but a battle that all must be involved to ensure a secured and better society.

The traditional rulers called for more collaborative effort between the police and various security agencies and called for financial support for the various vigilante groups by banks operating in the area.

A committee comprising the State Security Service (SSS), Police, traditional rulers, banks and vigilance groups was set up.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

7

NEWS

•Jonathan (middle); Oritsejafor (fourth left); Chairman, Christian Pilgrimage Commission, Archibishop Nicholas Okoh (third left) and others at the inauguration at the Presidential Villa… yesterday PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

Fed Govt may end sponsorship of pilgrimage T

HE Federal Government will soon stop funding pilgrimage to holy lands, it was learnt yesterday.

President Goodluck Jonathan said the government would soon stop spending money on such exercise.

He spoke yesterday at the inauguration of the 11-man committee of the Federal Government’s delegation to

NESG hosts US bank chief

N

IGERIA’S apex private sector advocacy group, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) will host the Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Fred P. Hochberg, to a dinner at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, on October 18 .

Top government officials, including Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Central Bank Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, will attend the event.

NESG Director-General Frank Nweke Jnr. said Hochberg’s visit reaffirms global interest in Nigeria’s economic advancement and shows the willingness of global partners to invest in the country.

“The 17th Nigerian Economic Summit is just a few weeks away, and the US EXIM bank Chairman’s visit, at this time, is an affirmation that Nigeria is being rightly positioned as a strategic player in world economy.”

Adeboye to minister in Abuja From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

T

HE General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, is to minister at the 10th Abuja Special Holy Ghost Service at the Redemption Camp on Abuja Keffi Expressway in Nasarawa State.

The programme, “Emmanuel”, will hold November 10 and 11.

Speaking at a church programme in Jabi, the pastor of the Desire of Nations Parish, Pastor Kunle Oloso, said the event is organised to meet the spiritual needs of people.

•Eleven-man panel set up From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

the 2011 Christian Pilgrimage.

The committee is headed by the President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

Pastor Israel Abba is the Secretary.

The President said with the increasing population, it would get to a point that the operation becomes self-funding.

“You know it will come to a time when the Federal Government will no longer spend money to manage the exercise,” Jonathan said.

The President explained

why he had discarded the old system of ad hoc committees, saying the old system lacked continuity and institutional memory.

He said: “When we came on board, we brought change into the system. Before we came on board, it has been ad hoc committees being established every year.

“In that kind of arrangement, there is no continuity and institutional memory.

“That was why we decided to have a delegation that will be led by the CAN president every year.”

The President said the new committee is an independent government body that will advise the President.

The new process, Jonathan said, would give room for learning.

He said the process has started yielding results as there was no adverse case

Three arraigned for alleged theft

EFCC, Atuche’s lawyers disagree on Evidence Act T HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and lawyers of former Managing Director of Keystone Bank (formerly Bank PHB), Francis Atuche disagreed yesterday on the authenticity of the new Evidence Act. Atuche, his wife, Elizabeth and a former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu, are facing a 27-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony and theft of the bank’s N25.7 billion before Justice Lateefat Okunnu of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.

EFCC’s lawyers Kemi Pinhero (SAN) and Dele Adesina (SAN) said the Evidence Act (2011) has replaced the old law.

But Atuche’s lawyers Anthony Idigbe (SAN) and Deji Sasegbon (SAN) said the old Evidence Act ( 1990) was still valid.

Judges too seem uncertain about which of the Acts to use in criminal cases.

At the trial of former Intercontinental Bank Managing Director Erastus Akingbola

By Joseph Jibueze

on Tuesday, Justice Habeeb Abiru did not allow lawyers to cite the new Act because, according to him, it has not been gazetted.

Following arguments on which of the law was valid, Justice Okunnu adjourned till tomorrow a ruling on the admissibility of some documents.

EFCC sought to tender the documents through the Head of Compliance, First Registrars Limited, Rauf Bello.

They are: a dividend warrant collection schedule, a share certificate schedule, a statement of share accounts for listed companies, a share application form, and a dividend warrant for listed companies.

Idigbe opposed the bid, saying the documents did not comply with the provisions of the old Act. He said they were photocopies and private documents.

The counsel said the new Evidence Act has not been gazetted; therefore he could still rely on the old Act. “Even the Senate President has said what we are buying from the street is not the original copy,” Idigbe said.

But Pinhero argued that Idigbe was relying on “an archaic law”.

He said the new Evidence Act has been gazetted.

According to him, it is numbered 20, Volume 98, in Government Notice 103, Act Number 3, and printed and published by Federal Government Printers with the number: FGP 027/32011/2,200 (OL13).

Justice Okunnu had earlier dismissed Idigbe’s opposition to Bello as a prosecution witness.

The lawyer said EFCC’s counsel did not notify the defence that Bello, who was subpoenaed, would be testifying.

“His statement was not pro-

By Joseph Jibueze

•Atuche

vided to us; we don’t know what he wants to say. It’s a breach of the defendants’ fundamental rights,” he said.

Pinhero said Idigbe’s objection was misconceived because it was indicated in the documents before the court that a representative of First Registrars would testify, and that deposit slips of Bank PHB shares, among others, were in the List of Exhibits.

Justice Okunnu, held that enough was done by the prosecution to notify the defence, and that “the two factors amount to adequate notice.

The objection is overruled,” she said.

8.1m suffer from HIV/AIDS, says minister

M

ORE than eight million Nigerians are directly or indirectly suffering from HIV/AIDS. AIDS was first discovered in the country in 1986.

Minister of Health Onyebuchi Chukwu made this known at the opening of an International Symposium on New Prevention Technologies for HIV/AIDS. The symposium organised by the National Agency for Control of AIDS (NACA) and United States Department of Defence in Abuja.

He said life expectancy of Nigerians has reduced from 53 in 1990 to 46.5 years in 2008 because of the disease.

According to him, an estimat-

•New preventive drug for women From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

ed three million have died from the disease and left behind two million orphans, while an estimated 3.1 million Nigerians are still living and battling with the disease.

Despite efforts to stop the spread, the Minister represented by the Director, Department of Public Health, Dr. Mansur Kabir, said there is a treatment gap of 66 per cent in the country.

On the new preventive technologies, the minister said: “The research and development process for new prevention technologies is a truly global

enterprise.

“Nigeria’s involvement in the development of new HIV prevention technologies is feasible through partnerships between its institutions and international institutions.

“I am aware that the Nigeria National HIV vaccine development plan has been developed and recently modified under the guidance of National Action Commitee on Aids (NACA) and given mandate to the National Vaccine Working Group to oversee the overall implementation of the vaccine plan.”

NACA’s Director-General Prof. John Idoko said: “We

during last year’s pilgrimage.

Jonathan said pilgrimage is a serious business and urged members of the delegation to put in their best.

Oritsejafor assured the President that the committee would do a thorough job.

“We shall be careful to discharge the responsibility and make the needed input to make the pilgrimage worthwhile,” he said.

don’t have a vaccine yet but it seems we are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. We have been talking about new biomedical technologies that have come up in the last year.”

“For the first time we have something that women can use to protect themselves from HIV, that is a major step recognising that we had three trials in the past on microvisite but we failed.

“We now have a microvisite that works. We need to work on it so that it works better.”

“We now have hope for vaccines. There is also hope that we can expand our prevention arsenals and then treatment as prevention .”

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned a businessman, Innocent Eloka and his wife, Bernadine, at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, for allegedly stealing N250 million from their employer.

They were arraigned with Francis Okocha on two counts of conspiracy and stealing before Justice Habib Abiru.

The agency alleged that they conspired between April 19 and July 5 to steal N239.9 million and N10.3 million from Clarion Bonded Terminal Limited, Lagos.

Its prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that Eloka was the company’s Managing Director and his wife, the Chief Operations Officer. Okocha was the General Manager.

Oyedepo said the offence contravenes Section 390 (7) of the Criminal Code, Cap C17 Vol. 2 Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003 (as amended).

The defendants pleaded not guilty and were remanded in EFCC custody.

Arik orders two planes

By Kelvin Osa- Okunbor

Arik Air has ordered two 747-8 Intercontinental aircraft valued at $635 million.

The order was announced at the Corporate Council for Africa’s eighth Biennial U.S.Africa Business Summit in Washington, D.C. Arik Chairman Sir J.I Arumemi-Johnson said: “Boeing’s new 747-8 fits perfectly into our long-term planning.

“It brings the best operating economics for its size, which is important with the increase in fuel prices.

“The airline plans to use the 747-8 on its key long-haul routes.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

8

NEWS Oyo ACN condemns minister’s attack on Ajimobi

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Oyo State has condemned a statement credited to the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mrs. Jumoke Akinjide, which claimed that the people of Oyo State regret voting for the ACN in the April general elections.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dauda Kolawole, ACN described the minister’s statement as “an act of irresponsibility, insincerity and insensitivity.”

It said: “Rather than regret voting for the ACN, it is actually the past Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government that the people are having eternal regret about.

“It will be very hard for the people of Oyo State to forget the unprecedented level of violence, looting and brigandage unleashed on the state during the eight-

By Jude Isiguzo

year rule of the PDP government.”

ACN said this has been confirmed by the ongoing arraignment of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Alaka by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly looting the state treasury of over N25 billion.

“Even while in government, several of AlaoAkala’s commissioners and aides were regular guests of the EFCC, answering questions about the looting spree in the state,” the party said.

ACN said the people have no cause to regret electing Ajimobi, who has rid the state of incessant violence caused by the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) during Alao-Akala’s administration.

Man petitions IGP over alleged assault From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

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MIDDLE-aged man in Osun State has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Hafiz Ringim, over alleged assault by a traditional ruler in Ejigbo Local Government Area.

The petitioner, Timothy Adegboye, an indigene of Igbon near Ejigbo, alleged that the monarch ordered some hoodlums to beat him up over a land dispute.

Adegboye said there was a rift between his family and Mr. Azeez Olarewaju over a land and he had earlier petitioned the police, following threats to his life.

While the matter was being investigated, he said the monarch wrote to the police that he would settle the dispute between the parties.

Adegboye said he later discovered that the monarch was interested in the land.

He said: “There was a reconciliation meeting between the families at the monarch’s palace, where I was scolded for involving the police in the matter.

“The monarch ordered some miscreants in the palace to beat me up and I was severely injured. My family reported the case at Ejigbo Divisional Police Station, but no arrest was made.”

He urged the IGP and Commissioner for Police Mr. Olusegun Solomon to probe the attack and apprehend the culprits.

Ajimobi inaugurates Christian pilgrims’ board

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YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday inaugurated the board of the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board.

The event took place at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, the state capital.

Ajimobi urged the 17member board, headed by Rev. Theophilus Fadeyi, to make the welfare of pilgrims its priority.

He said the members were chosen to partner the government in repositioning the state.

Ajimobi said: “They were chosen based on strict recognition of their past and present contributions towards uplifting Christianity, their competence and records of integrity in their secular endeavours.

“We are sure that with the calibre of people God has helped us to bring on this board, the affairs of Jerusalem pilgrims would never be the same again, for good.

“Our people expect that we will take Oyo State from its inherited zero level to the position of a hero in the comity of states. While we are

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

sworn to ensuring this, we urge leaders of faith like you to pray fervently that we will make a huge success of this endeavour.

“Within our few months in office, we have discovered that God brought us to the helms of affairs, at this particular time in the history of Oyo State, to change the lives of our people, redirect a government business that had been perceived as being for everyone and for no one in particular, and change the focus of governance from being a Salvation Army for public officials to one that is a haven for the generality of our people.

“Hitherto, government office was a place where everyone ran into to retrieve life-lasting largesse.

“Revelations on how this government had been run in the previous four years have shown us clearly that our intervention was God’s way of restoring our people and state to its pacesetting status.

We are convinced that God will not let our people down.”

•From left: Head of Department, Adult Education, Ondo State University Prof. Abeke Adesanya; renowned essayist, Prof.

Adebayo Williams; and Director, Confuctus Institute, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos, Prof. Muyiwa Falaye during the 29th Annual Conference of Philosophy Education Association of Nigeria in Lagos.

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

Woman vandalises 20 vehicles, shop in Ekiti A WOMAN in Efon Alaaye, Ekiti State, yesterday vandalised about 20 vehicles.

The woman, Olubu Alaure, is in her mid-30s. It was learnt that she took a cutlass around 4:30 am and broke the windscreen of about 20 cars.

She also vandalised a shop and its contents, including unused recharge cards.

Alaure was holding the cutlass and pacing the area, when residents woke up around 6 am.

She resisted attempts to collect the cutlass from her, but later succumbed. A resident, Mr. Awopetu Femi, owner of a red Gulf 4, said:

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

“People came to inform me that something had happened to my car around 6 am.

When I rushed down, I met this. I don’t know what I can do. This is a woman I have seen so many times and never suspected that she has a problem. This car is less than a month old.”

Miss. Stella Ajayi, owner of a Mazda 626, said: “I have stayed here in this house with Alaure for years. Nothing like this has ever hap-

pened. But she started behaving funny last week. She took a tyre and attempted throwing it at me. When she threatened to beat me up, I ran out, but she ran after me. She took a substance that was smelling like human waste and splashed it on me. But somehow, I let the experience pass.”

Alaure’s uncle, Mr. Samuel Adetunsin, said she has been mentally unstable for about 15 years.

He said: “When she finished primary school, she followed a man to Lagos,

where she reportedly beat up a woman. Since then, she has been unstable. Because of her condition, her mother has been very sick in the past five years.”

Chairman, Efon Local Government, Mr. Joel Omoniyi said the council’s welfare department would handle the issue.

He said: “We all can see that she is a threat to peace in the town. We cannot leave her like this. The social welfare section will be mandated to come for her immediately.”

Around 10:30 am, four policemen from Efon Divisional Police Station drove her away in a van.

Aregbesola laments poor access to rural areas

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SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has called for the creation of access roads to rural areas across the country.

Aregbesola told a team of World Bank officials yesterday that access to rural areas would boost mass food production.

The delegation also comprised representatives of the National Planning Commission on the Joint World Bank/French Development Agency Mission on Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP), Phase 2.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

The governor said lack of access to rural areas remains a major threat to the successful implementation of agricultural programmes.

He said: “We never knew, during our campaign, that we would get this kind of support from you. But we were very clear of our commitment to promoting unequaled and unprecedented massive food production.

“Our agricultural pro-

gramme is targeted at banishing food shortage and hunger from our land. But the greatest challenge to agricultural production here is access to mobility.”

Aregbesola regretted that an unacceptable percentage of agricultural products do not get to the markets because of poor access roads, adding that his administration has started opening up rural communities under the Osun Rural Enterprises and Agricultural Programme (OREAP).

He allayed the fear of the

World Bank team on the poor maintenance culture in Nigeria, adding that roads constructed under RAMP, as well as state infrastructure, would be maintained.

Leader, Access Maintenance Projects, Mr. Nicholas Peter said Osun State is a good platform for RAMP because it already has an implementation unit that had worked extensively on opening up rural areas.

Peter said RAMP would assist Osun to achieve its vision of producing food en masse.

NURTW bans Tokyo, Auxiliary

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HE National Headquarters of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) yesterday banned factional leaders of the union in Oyo State, Lateef Akinsola (a.k.a. Tokyo) and Mukaila Lamidi (a.k.a. Auxiliary), from participating in union activities, especially contesting and participating in any election.

NURTW National President Alhaji Najeem Yasin met with members of both factions in Abuja and the stakeholders agreed to let peace reign.

Although Tokyo was absent at the reconciliatory meeting, his supporters were present. Auxiliary was at the meeting.

Yasin said: “While assuring the good government of Oyo State of our pledge to continue to be law abiding

•Oyo members reconcile From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

in the exercise of our lawful functions in the state and in the interest of our members, I wish to repeat our collective resolve not to condone any act of indiscipline.

“I hereby state, without reservations, that those identified, mentioned or found to have associated with the das-

tardly acts recorded in Oyo State in the past few years shall not be part of the incoming administration of the state chapter of the union.

“Both Akinsola and Lamidi are hereby banned from participating in all union activities, especially contesting and/or participating in any election.”

Yasin urged the Oyo State

Governor Ajbola Ajimobi to lift his ban on NURTW activities.

He said: “Both factions have agreed to work together and contribute their quota to the governor’s plan.

“It is on this premise that I appeal for pardon for whatever might have been our shortcomings.”

Members of both factions embraced themselves after the meeting.

Academics welcome new LASU VC

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HE Academic Community of the Lagos State University (LASU) has pledged its support to the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Obafunwa.

Prof. Obafunwa, until his appointment by Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola last week, was the Provost of the University’s College of Medicine (LASUCOM).

One of the candidates nominated for the

post, Professor Olukayode Amund, pledged his support and cooperation to Obafunwa and urged all stakeholders in the school to do the same.

Chairman-Elect, Conference of Alumni Associations of Nigerian Universities, Chief Richard Ahonaruogho, lauded Obafunwa’s election.

Ahonaruogho described the new VC as “a thoroughbred professional.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

9

NEWS Tribunal upholds Bauchi Reps’ election From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

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HE Legislative Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Bauchi yesterday upheld the election of Tukur Mohammed Adamu and Abubakar Sade of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as elected members of the House of Representatives representing Kirfi/Alkaleri and Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituencies.

Their elections were challenged by Musa Sani Abdu and Sama’ila Ahmed of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

The petitioners had claimed that the elections of the PDP candidates did not comply with the Electoral Act 2010, as amended.

They alleged malpractices, multiple thumb-printing and other electoral irregularities and prayed the tribunal to nullify the elections of Abdu and Ahmed.

But tribunal Chairman Justice Maria Zukogi said the petitioners failed to prove their cases beyond reasonable doubts and, therefore, dismissed their petitions.

She said the plaintiffs had no evidence that the tribunal would have relied upon to prove that the elections did not comply with the 2011 Electoral Act, as amended.

Justice Zukogi ordered the petitioners to pay N300,000 cost on the first petition, and N200,000 on the second petition to the first and second respondents.

Jang seeks US investors in Plateau From Marie-Therese Peter, Jos

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LATEAU State Governor Jonah Jang has urged investors in the United States to establish businesses in the state and reap high returns, especially in agriculture and solid minerals.

The governor spoke when he visited the Nigerian Ambassador to the US, Prof Ade Adefuye, in Washington DC. A statement by the governor’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr. James Mannok, quoted Jang as saying that Plateau State has an investmentfriendly climate that investors could rely on to get the best from their investment.

He said his administration was repositioning the state as a leading agricultural destination.

The government, the governor said, is discussing with private power generating companies to enable investors benefit from the state’s potentials without power.

The statement reads: “Jang pointed out that Plateau is among the three states in Nigeria that the National Economic Council (NEC) has asked to make presentations on agriculture modules in their states. Plateau had solid minerals in large commercial quantity.”

Adefuye said there is a renewed interest and investment initiative from America towards Nigeria as well as cooperation in governance.

He urged Plateau State residents to utilise well the opportunities provided by potential foreign investors to develop the state.

Reps to probe 2011 budget performance

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HE House of Representatives has expressed reservations over the implementation of this year’s budget and resolved to probe the process, it was learnt yesterday.

The resolution is coming on the heels of the lawmakers’ expectations over the 2012 budget proposal.

At the inaugural meeting of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption, its Chairman, James Faleke, noted that corruption has become so endemic that it imping-

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

es on the execution of projects duly appropriated for.

He said the performance of this year’s budget has not been encouraging, adding: “We are on the brink of considering 2012 Budget when the performance of the current and previous budgets was not satisfactory.

“We have seen projects that were awarded almost

10 years ago and still ongoing. We have to know the reason for such discouraging trend and, in our opinion, the endemic poverty in the country is being fuelled by corruption.

“As empowered and in deriving our jurisdiction from the Standing Order of the House, as stipulated in Order 18 (B), Rule 129, we are going to carry out our oversight functions to the betterment of this country.”

The lawmaker said the

committee would investigate corruption in federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

He said: “As we all know, the greatest challenge confronting out society today is corruption, lack of ethical standards and breakdown of values.

“Therefore, we have a huge task ahead of us in tackling these issues from the legislative standpoint.”

The lawmaker promised that the committee would

foster transparency leading to institutional integrity through efficiency of public expenditure management.

Faleke said: “We owe it a duty as a committee of the House of Representatives to come up with programmes and actions that would strengthen the fight against corruption in our society and bring back the lost glory.”

With an oversight jurisdiction over the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Code of Conduct Bureau (CDB) and Code of Conduct Tribunal, the lawmaker said the committee’s activities would be all-encompassing.

He said: “This committee is generic, as there is no aspect of our national life that is not characterised by one form of corruption or the other. Therefore, we have seen ourselves as change agents in the fight against the scourge.”

Faleke said members of the House would be coopted into the crusade agaisnt corruption until the scourge is fought to a standstill.

Security strengthened in Kaduna for governorship verdict today •Pupils of Bakari Dukku Primary School, Bauchi, displaying the books donated to them by the governor’s wife, Hajiya Aisha Yuguda, in Bauchi…yesterday

Plateau youths to UNIJOS: give us jobs to end violence Y

OUTHS from three communities in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State have asked the management of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) to offer them jobs and admission to stop the spate of violence in the state.

The youths, from Angwan Rogo, Angwan Rukuba and Jenta Adamu, the major flashpoints in Plateau State, spoke during a two-day advocacy visit to the local government, organised by the Centre for Conflict Management and Peace Studies, UNIJOS, in collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Embassy, Abuja.

The Head of Angwan Rogo, Mallam Abdullahi Maikano, hailed the UNIJOS management for its efforts

From Marie-Therese Peter, Jos

at conflict management.

He noted that people give a false impression of his community through rumour-mongering by saying no one returns alive from the community.

Maikano urged the university’s management to employ the youths as cleaners and grant qualified ones admission.

He noted that unemployment and idleness were the major causes of violence among the youths.

The community leader also lamented the security situation in the community, saying: “Having securi-

ty personnel around one is not peace. The presence of the security personnel frightens us.”

Maikano urged the residents to be sincere in the efforts to return peace to the state.

A cleric at Angwan Rukuba, Evang. Samuel Datiri said since the youths who perpetrate violence come from homes, parents and guardians need to monitor their children and wards .

Residents of Jenta Adamu called for tighter security at the boundaries linking their community with others’.

They noted that many atrocities perpetrated in the

area were caused by “illegal immigrants”.

The residents called for the implementation of the reports of various commissions of enquiry to serve as deterrents to others.

The Director of UNIJOS Centre for Conflict Management and Peace Studies, Prof Audu Gambo, said the people’s responses showed that they had lost confidence in the government.

He promised to deliver the centre’s findings to relevant authorities for response.

Prof. Victor Dugga of the Advancement Office, UNIJOS, and Annie Meke, the Under Secretary of the Netherlands Embassy, said dialogue was the solution to crises in the state.

CPC factions clash at Appeal Court in Makurdi

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WO factions of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) from Nassarawa State yesterday clashed at the premises of the Court of Appeal in Makurdi, Benue State.

They were attending an appeal filed by Senator Yusuf Nagogo challenging the decision of a High Court in Lafia, the state capital, which ruled in favour of Solomon Ewuga, as the candidate of the CPC for Nassarwa North Senatorial District.

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

Hearing in the matter was slated for continuation yesterday in Makurdi.

Ewuga won the CPC primary for Nassarwa North Senatorial District but Yusuf Nagogo’s name was published in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) register.

Despite many letters by the CPC reminding INEC that Solomon won the primary and was the party’s lawful candidate, no change was

effected in the name until Nagogo was returned during the election.

Following the adjournment of the matter till October 20, Ewuga’s supporters, who came to the court in many buses, started abusing Nagogo, who was guarded by armed policemen.

The Ewuga faction overwhelmed the security men, throwing stones and other objects at Nagogo.

In retaliation, Nagogo’s supporters joined the affray and it became a free-for-all.

Nagogo was smuggled out of the court premises, under heavy security, to Lafia.

A worker at the Court of Appeal told The Nation that in the next adjournment, supporters of both candidates would be barred from the court promises.

At yesterday’s sitting, the appeal of Tanko Wanbai (CPC) challenging the election of Senator Sulieman Adokwe (PDP) for Nassarwa South Senatorial District was adjourned for further hearing.

SECURITY has been strengthened in Kaduna and environs ahead of today’s judgment on the governorship election petition filed by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) candidate, Haruna Saeed Kajuru, challenging the election of Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Kajuru is praying the tribunal to dism iss the governor’s objection and declare him winner of the April 28 election.

In a letter to the parties, the tribunal said the judgment would be delivered today at the High Court complex in Kaduna.

Police spokesman Aminu Lawal, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), told reporters in a telephone interview that the command has tightened security to forestall a breakdown of law and order.

Lawal said the security arrangement would curtail the action s of aggrieved supporters.

Yakowa was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

PUBLIC NOTICE CESSGO: We, formerly known, called and addressed as Coalition of Enugu State Support Group Organization (CESSGO) now wish to be known called and addressed as Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS Enugu State Chapter (NEPHWAN). This change of name is to enable us to be in line with National NEPHWAN directive. All former documents bearing Coalition of Enugu State Support Group Organization (CESSGO) remain valid. General public take note.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

10 PUBLIC NOTICE

NEWS

NNABUCHI: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OLUCHI PRINCESS NNABUCHI now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLUCHI PRINCESS NKEMJIKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE AFRICAN CHILD DIASPORA FOUNDATION Notice is hereby given to the general public that the above named organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part of C of the companies and Allied Matters Acts, 1990.

TRUSTEES 1. Barrister Victor Eyo Offiong (M) 2. Mrs. Uyi Edem Offiong (F) 3. Mrs. Uyi Kokoma Odinuwe (F) 4. Mrs. Christiana Ikwanong (F) 5. Mrs. Queeneth Abariowoa Clentsil (F) 6. Dr. Anthony Nuonum Ugbaja (M) AIMS/OBJECTIVES 1. To propagate and protect the rights of the African Child.

2. To provide home, care, Training and Education for poor children especially Street children irrespective of race, religion and nationality with emphasis on the African Child.

3. To research and educate on development alternatives for children in Africa.

4. To provide re-integration support service for needy Africans and Africans families in Diaspora 5. To promote critical thinking among young African Children

Group urges SPDC to obey ‘Local Content Act’ A GROUP, Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change, has accused the Anglo-Dutch multinational oil company, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), of undermining the “Local Content Act.” It threatened to mobilise thousands of Niger Delta women to cripple the company’s activities.

In a statement yesterday by its President, Nelly Emma, Secretary John Sailor and

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

Public Relations Officer Mukoro Stanley, the group alleged that the company was conniving with a top official of the petroleum ministry “to bury the Local Content Act.” It said: “We want transparency in the oil industry and urge the President to be firm

with the Local Content Act, so that his dream of eradicating poverty and youth unemployment will be achieved soon.

“We have not dropped our plan to mobilise thousands of Niger Delta women to cripple the activities of oil majors in the region. What happened recently at Escravos, when the people mobilised against Chevron,

will be a child’s play compared to what we are planning for Shell.

“By the time we are through with them, they will be forced to pull out of the region and we will also ask kinsmen of the Shell MD to leave the Niger Delta region.”

They said the Youth Unemployment Initiative launched by the President on Tuesday would be a mirage, if oil companies are not mandated to obey the Local Content Act.

Any objections(s) to the above named organization should be forwarded within 28 days of this publication to the registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama Abuja.

Signed BARRISTER VICTOR EYO OFFIONG 07055333611

PUBLIC NOTICE IDOMA GOLDEN UNITY CLUB OF LAGOS This is to inform the general public that the above named church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, No 1. 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

Francis Eje -Chairman 2.

Anthony Ojobo -Secretary 3.

Alfred Okpe -Treasurer 4.

Sunday Edeh -Patron 5.

Egwu Onyeke -Financial Secretary 6.

Patrick Ejeh -Legal Adviser 7.

Stephen Raphael -Vice Chairman AIMS 1.

To promote and protect the welfare of member 2.

Foster unity amongst members and Nigerians in General Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs commission Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Barr. Dickson Ojile Onah Esq Dickson Ojile Onah & Co 106, Ikorodu Road, Fadeyi – Lagos (Legal Practitioners)

PUBLIC NOTICE

•From left: Leader of 24 Lagos State Indigenes sponsored for a four-year Seafearer Development Course in Egypt, Oseni Olatunji; Representative of Governor Babatunde Fashola and Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed; Permanent Secretary Dr. Aderemi Desalu; and Director, Finance and Administration, Mrs. Fausat Dosunmu; and other students when they visited the governor at Alausa...yesterday

DIVINE MERCY PROPHETIC REVIVAL MINISTRY

Man kills two in Edo

This is to inform the general public that the above named church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, No 1. 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

Sister Augustina Ibekwe 2.

Brother Samson Ibekwe 3.

Sister Mary-Jane Obinwa 4.

Brother Ikechukwu Nworji Vincent 5.

Chisom Ibekwe AIMS 1.

2.

3.

-General Overseer - Treasurer -Member -Secretary -Member

To preach the gospel of God To propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ and Evangelism To cater for the welfare of its members and charity work

Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs commission Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Barr. Dickson Ojile Onah Esq Dickson Ojile Onah & Co 106, Ikorodu Road, Fadeyi – Lagos (Legal Practitioners)

PUBLIC NOTICE

ASSET DISPOSAL This is to inform the general public that the underlisted scrap, disused and unserviceable equipments/plants belonging to the Ministry of Commerce, Industries and Cooperatives, AdoEkiti will be disposed off by Public Auction on 20th October, 2011 at the premises of Fountain Road Aggregates Co. Ltd; Igbemo-Ekiti by 10.00a.m.

The items include: Welding Machine, Dumper, Bitumen Tankers, Asphalt Plant, Cone and Lennox Crushers, Payloaders, Isuzu pick-up, Compressor, Wagon driller, diesel Tank and general scrap.

For further information, please contact: SHITU OLUREMI ESQ - 08033434862

T

WO senior citizens, Mrs. Lucy Omofumwan (75) and Pa Sunday Idemudia (73), in Oza-Nisi, Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State, have been mur-

dered.

They were killed by a man, simply identified as Oghenovo from Ovu village.

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

The late Mrs. Omofumwan was killed with a machete in her kitchen, after the suspect had killed blind Pa Idemudia in the bathroom.

Late Pa Idemudia’s grandchild witnessed the act.

Erosion: Edo seeks Fed Govt’s intervention

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HE Federal Government has been urged to assist the Edo State Government in curbing erosion.

President, Etsako Club 81 of Edo State, Alhaji Sufy Abdulmalik, spoke yesterday in Lagos, while briefing reporters on activities marking the association’s 30th anniversary.

By Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

The event is slated for Saturday at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.

Abdulmalik said: “Even the blind will confirm that the present government in Edo State is doing a wonderful job, but the Federal Government must come to

the aid of the state and its people on the erosion that is threatening to cause permanent damage to Auchi-Abuja and Auchi-Agenebode roads.

“We urge the Federal Government to use the ecological funds to fix the routes.”

He praised Governor Adams Oshiomhole for

evolving various initiatives that have curbed crime in the state and said the governor would be honoured by the association.

Abdulmalik said Etsako Club 81 is concerned with the development of the state and has awarded 140 scholarships to indigent students of various schools in the country.

Delta to sanction shoddy contractors

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HE Delta State Government yesterday threatened to prosecute contractors for shoddy jobs.

Commissioner for Works Mr. Solomon Funkekeme spoke in Asaba, the state capital.

He said erring contractors would not be shielded, if summoned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for questioning.

•To establish multi-door court system From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

Funkekeme said the true cost of projects would be reflected in their quality.

He said projects executed to specifications would showcase the government’s commitment to making life easier for the people.

Funkekeme warned that erring contractors would be sanctioned.

Also, the government is working towards establishing a multi-door court system.

The state will, today, inaugurate a project steering committee towards the realisation

of the project.

The Chief Registrar of the High Court, Mrs. M.O. Omovie, in a statement, said the purpose of the multi-door court system is to enhance access to justice for all citizens.

She said: “It is not all cases that should be taken to court, there are cases we can sit down and resolve, hence the Multi-Door Court House.”

Court upholds senator’s election

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HE election of Senator Arthur Okowa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was yesterday upheld by the Court of Appeal sitting in Benin, the Edo State capital.

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

The appeal of Mr. Jude Asikwa of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), challenging Okowa’s victory, was dismissed because the

appellant filed out of time.

The three-man panel, led

by Justice Agbo, said: “Even if the court decides to hear the matter today (yesterday), its time has already lapsed.”

The appellant had stated that the case must be heard within 60 days. Asikwa’s counsel, Sola Abidakun, said his client would seek clarification at the Supreme Court on the issue.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

S’Africa’s Woolworths floats shop in Nigeria

H

IGH-END South Afri can supermarket chain Woolworths is to open three stores in Nigeria in December, its first foray into Africa’s most populous nation as it counters a move into the poorest continent by the world’s biggest retailer, Wal-Mart.

Woolworths, which sells clothing and upmarket food similar to Britain’s Marks and Spencer, said yesterday it had signed a joint venture with Nigeria’s Chellarams and hoped to open seven further stores in Nigeria over the next two years.

“We are confident about our investment in Nigeria and the growth prospects of the Nigerian market,” said John Fraser of Woolworths’ international division.

“The country has a large population with significant and growing middle and upper-income groups.”

Wal-Mart, according to Reuters completed its $2.4 billion purchase of a 51 per cent stake in South African retailer Massmart in June, giving it a platform for expansion in a continent that will be home to 2 billion people by 2050.

In anticipation of a WalMart squeeze, established South African retailers, such as Massmart rivals Shoprite and Pick n Pay have rushed to lay out continental expansion plans.

Massmart has 288 stores in 12 sub-Saharan African countries through its various wholesale and retail chains, although the continent’s biggest grocery seller remains Shoprite, with outlets in 15 countries outside South Africa.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$112/barrel Cocoa -$2,856/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,161/troy ounce Rubber -¢146.37pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N6.747 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -9.3% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending-22.42% Prime lending -15.82% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -10.23% Time Deposit -7% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $30.8b

CFA EUR £ $ ¥ SDR RIYAL

FOREX -

0.281 213.2 245.00 156.91 1.5652 245.8 40.57

The Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NEBT) shall exist only as long as it takes the distribution firms to become credit worthy and be able to directly negotiate their own power purchase pacts.

-Prof Barth Nnaji, Minister of Power

Fed Govt to sell N55b bonds

Nigeria to invest $2.68b in T Indonesian refinery T

HE Federal Govern ment plans to invest RP24 trillion (about US$2.68 billion) in Indonesia to fund the construction of three oil refineries, an Indonesian official has said.

According to The Jakarta Post, Indonesian Industry Ministry’s Director-General for manufacturing-based industry, Panggah Susanto, was quoted by kompas.com as saying that both countries had agreed to build the refineries in Indonesia.

The report quoted Panggah as saying that Nigeria, which produces 2.6 million barrels of oil per day (bpd), was looking for a partner to refine its crude oil.

Panggah, according to the report, said: “Previously they wanted the refineries to be built in Nigeria. However, as

By Emeka Ugwuanyi with agency report

Indonesia is currently improving its downstream industry, Indonesia wanted the refineries to be built here instead.”

The refineries, which are projected to produce 300 barrels per day (bpd) each, the report said, would be used to process crude oil from Nigeria.

“Indonesian state oil firm PT Pertamina, will buy the crude oil from Nigeria and process it here,” he added.

When The Nation contacted on phone, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, Nigerian National Petro-

leum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, to comment on the issue, he said he was not aware of any such deal between Nigeria and Indonesia. The NNPC is Nigeria’s state run oil company that is supposed to midwife such transaction but it claimed ignorance of the deal.

Nigeria despite being a big player in the global oil market with crude reserves of about 35 billion barrels and 187 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves depends on imported refined petroleum products for its domestic consumption and will spend over N1.3 trillion this year to subsidise the cost of imported premium motor spirit (petrol), sold at regulated price of N65

per litre.

The country’s three refineries with combined installed refining capacity of 445,000 barrels of crude daily, work at very sub-optimal level and sometimes, don’t entirely work, especially when pipelines that convey crude to the plants are impacted. The situation compels the government to depend on importation to meet energy needs of the populace.

The government is discussing with some international oil companies to collaborate with the NNPC and some state governments to build new refineries but close to two years, the initiative commenced, the feasibility study is still being conducted.

HE Federal Govern ment is to sell N55 bil lion ($346.13 million) in three-year, five-year and 10year sovereign bonds on October 19, at its 10th monthly debt auction this year, the Debt Management Office said on yesterday.

The debt office, according to Reuters, said it will sell N8billion of the three-year maturity, N17billion of fiveyear and N30 billion of 10-year bonds, which are due to mature in 2014, 2015 and 2018.

All are re-openings of previous issues and the results of the auction will be published the following day.

“Kindly note that for reopenings of previously issued bonds (for which the coupon is already set), successful bidders will pay a price corresponding to the yield-to-maturity bid that clears the volume being auctioned, plus accrued interest from the original issue date,” the Debt Office said in a statement.

Dealers said they expect that the recent hike in the CBN’s benchmark interest rates would be reflected in the outcome of the auction.

Nigeria issues sovereign bonds monthly to support the local bond market, create a benchmark for corporate issuance and fund its budget deficit.

NASSI seeks production of NYSC uniforms Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

T • From right: Executive Director, North/Retail Banking, FinBank Plc, Mr Adam Nuru; Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Idongesit N.B. Isua and Zonal Executive, Southeast/Southsouth of the bank, Mr Okey Ezeala, for the launch of e-Judiciary portal in the Akwa Ibom State judiciary sponsored by the bank.

Nigeria records $51b half year inflow

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HE economy recorded a total foreign ex change inflow of $51.02 billion in the first half of 2011, representing an increase of 29.8 per cent over the previous year’s figure.

According to the Economic Report for the first half of 2011 released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday, the increase reflected the rise in oil receipts and autonomous sources. Of the total, inflow through the CBN stood at $19.6 billion or 38.4 per cent, while the autonomous sources amounted to $31.4 billion or 61.6 per cent.

The total outflow of foreign exchange through the economy during the review period also rose, by 21.2 per cent to $21.32 billion from its level in the corresponding period of 2010. The development was due to the increased Wholesale Dutch Auction System utilisation.

The report also indicated that the number of reported cases of attempted and/or successful fraud/forgery in the banking industry declined to N6.5 billion, involving a total of 1,393 cases.

•Banks’ fraud drop to N1.9b

By Collins Nweze

Out of this number, 410 cases were successful and resulted in a loss of N1.95 billion to the banks, compared with 5,960 reported cases of fraud and forgery, involving N11.6 billion with actual loss of N8.0 billion in the second half of 2010.

Similarly, 116 Automated Teller Machines-related cases valued at N17.2 million were reported, compared with 411 cases amounting to N82.2 million recorded in the second half of 2010. The development was attributed to the improvements in risk management practices in the banking system.

The average Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) of the 16 non-intervened banks was 21.5 per cent, while the CAR of the eight intervened banks was -53.5 per cent. Overall, the average CAR of the industry stood at five per cent, representing a decline of two percentage points from its levels at end-De-

cember last year and a shortfall of three percentage points relative to the Basel II minimum requirement of eight per cent.

Banks’ industry-wide average liquidity ratio, at 50.3 per cent, was above the 30 and 47.5 per cent minimum requirement and the level at end-December 2010. One bank, however, failed to meet the stipulated ratio, compared with the 100 per cent compliance achieved at end-December 2010.

The banks’ industry-wide average liquidity ratio (LR) exceeded the 30 per cent minimum requirement, while the ratio of non-performing credits to total loans at 10.4 per cent was below the acceptable contingency threshold of 20.0 per cent for the industry.

The CBN report also indicated that the volume and value of cheques cleared stood at 16,188,775 and N9,919.05 billion, compared with 18,458,480 and N10,412.12 billion in the second half of

2010.

Also, the ratio of non-performing loans (net of provisions) to capital declined to 34.7 per cent from 64.2 per cent at end-December 2010. The development was attributed to the acquisition of N2.73 trillion eligible bank assets (EBAs) by AMCON and the improved risk management practices by banks. The activities of AMCON had significantly improved the quality of DMBs’ credit portfolio.

At N8,521.4 billion, aggregate institutional savings at end-June 2011 increased by 42.9 per cent over the level in the corresponding half year of 2010. The DMBs remained the dominant savings institution, accounting for 99 per cent of the total. Activities on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange were mixed, as the market capitalisation (MC) grew by 36.6 per cent, to close at N11.2 trillion, while the All-share Index (ASI) declined by 1.6 per cent to 24,980.20 at end-June 2011.

HE National Association of Small Scale Industrialists has called on the Federal Government to empower small scale industrialists by allowing them to produce the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) uniforms.

The Director-General, NASSI, Chief Chukwu Wachukwu, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Abuja.

He said if all the youth corps uniform and boots are produced by NASSI, the government in one way or the other would create jobs.

He said:”The government should concentrate on the real sector for job creation, most times when these contracts are given out, they are taken to foreign countries, where they are done and brought back in a very rough way, which is not supposed to be.

“If NASSI is given the opportunity to handle it, the organisation will monitor the quality and standard of the production, and ensure they are delivered on time. All the government needs to do is mobilise the association by creating sthe enabling environment.

“The government should also ensure that 20 per cent of all businesses in the country are solely reserved for small scale industrialists. NASSI is willing and ready to drive the economy.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

12

BUSINESS NEWS

MAN backs deregulation of downstream oil sector

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HE Organised Private Sector (OPS) has backed the efforts of the Federal Government to deregulate the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry for the growth of the economy.

The President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), a member of the OPS, Chief Kola Jamodu, said deregulation would boost and engender competition in the industrial sector and eliminate cartels.

Fielding questions from reporters in Abuja, the renowned industrialist, who called on Nigerians including members of the OPS, to brace for the challenge ahead, described deregulation as a necessary sacrifice, which everyone must be ready to make for the common good of the economy.

He said: “I think it is a necessary sacrifice that will benefit Nigerians sooner than later. I think the earlier we make the sacrifice, the better. We have looked at it from the standpoint of manufacturing and one thing that is pertinent is that once deregulation is in place, the whole system would be liberalised.

Whatever proceeds we get from the liberalisation of the downstream, as the government, has said, will be used for the upgrade of key infra-

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

structure. The roads are bad, no electricity, we must fasttrack the power projects, but we need money to do all these.”

Jamodu, who was the former President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Mines Industries and Agriculture (NACCIMA), also stated that members of the OPS are in discussion with the government on deregulation. He, however, noted that it is apparent from all indications that deregulation is the only ‘medicine’ that can revitalise the economy.

“In the last few years, our economy has been growing at an average of 7.5 per cent GDP, yet people are not feeling the impact of such growth. This means we have reached a point where we

must restructure,” he said.

Commenting on the likely gains of deregulation to the economy and the manufacturing sector in particular, Jamodu said it would help break all existing monopolies across all sectors through the stimulation of positive competitions among firms and the entire private sector.

He, however, called on the government to come up with creative ideas and palliative measures to ensure that the proceeds of deregulation are ploughed back to the economy for the benefits of the masses.

Jamodu described the proposed National Social Safety Net package as a good programme if well implemented. He added that the scheme will raise the standard of living of the man on the streets in the post-deregulation era.

•From left: Chief Executive Officer, Oando Marketing Plc, Mr Omamofe Boyo welcoming Director, NIMASA, Alhaji Jarma Bulama, to Oando Marketing’s Independence Soiree, organised for its customers, in Lagos.

IFC targets opportunities in agric, others

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HE International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, said yesterday that it aims to seize new opportunities for investment in the agribusiness, financial and infrastructure sectors to support development in Nigeria.

Thierry Tanoh, IFC VP for Latin America & the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa, and

Western Europe disclosed this during a three-day visit to Nigeria.

He said the corporation aims to play a bigger role and will quickly pursue new opportunities under the new policy environment that is clearly encouraging private sector investment.

According to a statement from IFC, during the visit,

Tanoh met with the Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Central Bank Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

“He discussed policy initiatives that could encourage increased private investment in the power sector at meetings with Minster of Power Barth Nnaji; Director- General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises Bolanle Onagoruwa; Chairman of National Electricity Regulatory Commission Sam Amadi; and Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company Chief Executive Officer Rumundaka Wonod,” the statement said.

He also met with key business leaders and clients to discuss how IFC could do more to help the private sector contribute to growth, development and job creation in the

country.

IFC, according to the statement, is targeting housing and mortgage finance. In the agribusiness sector, it is seeking to help financial institutions lend more to the sector and support large agribusinesses and commodity traders to improve quality in their supply chains by supporting local farmers and related infrastructure.

In the infrastructure sector, IFC is reviewing power and transport opportunities, including potential public-private partnerships, to help address urgent needs that support overall economic growth, development and job creation.

Tanoh noted that IFC is well-positioned to contribute more in Nigeria, as it is coming off a record year for new investments and with a strong

portfolio of advisory programmes. “IFC provided new investment commitments of $926 million in Nigeria in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, up from $690 million the previous year. IFC has been a leader in supporting Nigeria’s financial sector through trade finance, and partnerships with commercial banks and specialised financial institutions.

“IFC has also financed telecom infrastructure, business infrastructure, tourism, and health-related and services projects. Its advisory programs offered support in sectors such as rural telephony and mobile banking, health advisory, financial sector infrastructure, corporate governance, and SME management solutions,” the statement added.

NAICOM partners IMF on money of measures HE National Insurance laundering framework against money laundering.

C o m m i s s i o n

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(NAICOM) is leveraging on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) technical facility to build capacity for Anti-Money Laundering/ Combating Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr Fola Daniel has said.

Daniel disclosed this at the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) National Insurance Conference in Lagos.

He said the support would help strengthen the industry’s risk-based supervision.

The commissioner called on insurance brokers to assist underwriters in conducting due diligence on knowing more about policyholders, stressing that brokers must be armed with the legal framework for AML/ CFT compliance in the country.

He said: “Money laundering is a serious crime that affects the economy as a whole, impeding the social, economic, political and cultural development of societies worldwide.

“Over the last decades, globalisation has been accompanied by growth of

By Chuks Udo Okonta

cross-border and national underground economies fuelled by illegal businesses.

Such criminal activities as drug trafficking, human, trafficking, migrant smuggling, traffic in body organs and firearms, as well as prostitution and racketeering, have generated immense profits that boost demand for money laundering.

Fighting money laundering involves combating the recycling of illegally gained proceeds and providing additional tools to detect and go after the underlying crime.”

Daniel said a central objective of supervisors and regulators is to boost confidence in the financial system and use available tools to ensure that financial institutions are not controlled by criminals or being misused for criminal purposes.

“To assist national governments to implement effective anti-money laundering programmes, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) issued a list of 40 recommendations, which set out basic, universally applicable

The FATF has also issued out of nine special recommendations on terrorist financing as new international standards to supplement the 40 recommendations,” he added.

The commissioner called on brokers to key into the industry’s Market Development and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI), noting that the initiative is designed to ensure the continuous availability of genuine products.

“I had expected a more energetic and proactive collaboration from brokers than we are getting at the moment. For emphasis, one of the key objectives of the MDRI is the continuous availability of genuine products at the grassroots.

Naturally, fake insurance products will thrive in the absence of genuine products,” he added.

President, Nigerian Council of Registered Brokers (NCRIB), Dr Teslim Sanusi, said the council would continue to uphold the tenets of professionalism, adding that the industry can never meet the public expectations in the absence of professionalism and ethical practice.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

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THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

14

INDUSTRY

Fed Govt to encourage patronage of local goods

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INISTER of State for Trade and Investment Dr. Samuel Ortom has said the Federal Government is determined to encourage patronage of made-inNigeria products.

He made the statement during the visit of Zambia Defence Staff College, Course 11, led by Brigadier General Bornface Musoba, to Abuja.

Receiving the delegation, Ortom noted that patronage of made-inNigeria goods would create effective demand , facilitate the expansion of industries and creation of employment for the youths.

He said the government was concerned about the unemployment situation adding that the ministry was ready to fast- track employment and wealth creation in Nigeria by providing the enabling environment for local and foreign investors..

Ortom stated that previous policies of government were not invest-

By Toba Agboola

ment friendly but, however, stated that the government through collaboration with the Organised Private Sector (OPS) was reviewing the country’s trade policies as part of renewed efforts to boost Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

He said: “We have all it takes to make this country great. We have been working with the private sector to create job opportunities and provide the enabling environment for local and foreign investors to grow the economy.”

In her presentation, the Director Policy, Standards, Research and Statistics, Mrs Funmilayo Olumodimu, said the Ministry was aware of the enormity of the challenge facing it adding that the ministry was focusing on key areas where the country had comparative advantage to create jobs, generate wealth and grow the economy.

She said: “ The ministry is aware of the enormous challenges facing the ministry with respect to job creation, wealth generation, accelerating economic growth and development. We are focusing on agri-businesses and revitalisation of industries in collaboration with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN). Also, we are working on an industrialisation plan for the country as part of our strategy to be number one in Africa and be among the top 10 in the world in the agribusiness and agro-allied sector”.

Earlier, Musoba praised the Federal government for putting in place the enabling environment for investors adding that the initiative had attracted a lot of investors from Nigeria, especially in banking and cement sectors into Zambia.

Group to host summit

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USINESS and government leaders will gather on October 19 and 20 to engage in a constructive debate on the changes the country needs to thrive during the next 50 years.

This will be the focus of “The Nigeria Summit; Transforming Potential into Profit” taking place in Abuja.

The event is organised by Economist Conferences, a division of The Economist Group, publishers of The Economist newspaper.

Oliver August, The Economist’s Africa Correspondent, will chair the conference. “Few would deny that Nigeria has the potential to become one of the world’s top developing economies.

The question we ask ourselves at The Economist — and our guests at our Nigeria Summit — is how likely that is.” says August.

The Nigeria Summit, a forwardlooking conference, will bring the country’s political leaders and more than 150 international business leaders, investors, policymakers and influential commentators to confront Nigeria’s challenges head-on during the two days of open dialogue.

Key speakers include federal and state government officials, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, the Chairman and CEO of the CAMAC Group, Mr Kase Lawal, and among others.

India, Nigeria bilateral trade hits $14.6 billion HE volume of trade between

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India and Nigeria has hit $14.6 billion, the High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, Mahesh Sacdev, has said.

Mahesh said this at the ongoing Abuja Sixth International Trade Fair.

He said the bilateral trade between the two countries has been very healthy, adding that the trade volume between them had doubled in the past three years and Nigeria export is about to grow significantly.

He said the purchase of Zain Nigeria by Airtel Limited, an Indian

company last year also boost the trade volume while also saying India was the largest investor in Nigeria in year 2010.

“We are very happy with it and we believe that this envelop of investment will also be expanding as a major Indian drive to boost investment in Nigeria. We believe that the entry of companies such as Nagar Junar which is to set up $2.6 billion fertilizer plant, Indoramar which will also set up another fertiliser plant of over a billion dollars, in Nigeria will boost the investment further,” he said.

Firm to establish worldclass shopping mall

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•From left: Mr. Olanrewaju Onadeko; Arch’Bishop Ondo Province Bishop M. Abe; Primate Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Revd Nichola’s D. Okoh, and Chairman, Revd Cannon Segun Agbetuyi, at the post AGM luncheon in Ikeja.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

Govt plans 1.2m jobs from cassava production

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HE Federal Government may soon douse the country’s unemployment level with plans to generate 1.2 million jobs from cassava production and revolution.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, said as the government was planning to invest in cassava production, no fewer than one million unemployed youths would become gainfully engaged.

To strengthen the value-chain in the cassava sub-sector, he said the Federal Government has concluded plans to establish a Cassava Market and Trade Development Corporation, to drive the valueadded activities.

Speaking while addressing participants at the stakeholders forum to signal the kick-off of the cassava transformation action plan and implementation strategy, he said the government intended to create1.2 million jobs - half onfarm and half off-farm, besides increasing the income of over 1.8

I

N continuation of its global policy of cleaniness at all levels and as its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), ,Macleans, in partnership with Passion House Limited and Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has cleaned up Surulere Local Government in its efforts to clean up the state and the country.

Surulere makes it the fourth local government to be cleaned after Ajegunle,Amukoko and Mushin in

million cassava farmers in the country to $450, through improved productivity yield of 12.5 tonnes per hectare.

“The cassava transformation agenda seeks to create a new generation of cassava farmers, oriented towards commercial production and farming as a business, and also link them up with reliable demand, either from processors or a guaranteed minimum price scheme of the government,” he said.

Adesina regretted that cassava production in Nigeria was increasing at three per cent yearly, while the country continued to import starch, flour and sweeteners that can be made from cassava.

According to him, cassava products have been unacceptable in Nigeria because of the manner in which they were produced, marketed and consumed.

To fully exploit the potential of cassava, especially as a substitute for imported raw materials and as an export commodity, he said there was need to change how cassava was grown and traded using a value-chain development approach.

“The overreaching strategy of the cassava transformation was aimed at turning the cassava sector in Nigeria into a major player in the local and international starch, sweeteners, ethanol and dried chips industries, by adopting improved production and processing technologies, and organising producers and processors into efficient value-added chain”, he stated.

According to the minister, the value-added chain would be driven by the private sector, with support from the public sector, while the federal, states, local governments and the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), would be organised to train farmers in modern production methods.

EGASUS Development Limited, a commercial real estate development firm, is set to recast the Lagos landscape with what can be described as the most innovative and audacious commercial real estate project within West Africa in recent times.

Packaged by some of Nigeria’s best in project structuring and management, the firm proposes to build the largest shopping and amusement resort in sub-Saharan Africa.

The project, which is designed as a Joint Commercial Development (JCD), is the first of its kind.

The company’s Managing Director, Mr Daud Adebisi-Balogun, said

the project is a high-reward property investment channel, which will appeal to shrewd investors who do not have the capital to invest in commercial properties but are still desirous of the high returns and security offered by real estate.

He said: “JCD offer small-scale investors the chance to enjoy the profits of commercial investing.

Pegasus Development Limited and her associates will handle all the details of packaging and delivering the shopping mall while the investor simply buys a piece of the land on which the mall will be built and mandates us to develop the mall on his or her behalf.“

Govt gets support on FDI

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BUSINESS development firm, CB Network, has promised to support the Federal Government’s drive to attract foreign investment through its ongoing trade and investment promotions.

Tagged: “Global Partnership for the sustainer of the world economy through Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs),” the three-day investment promotion, scheduled for Lagos State, is aimed at promoting global investments and trade developments in small and medium scale enterprises within the African sub-region The 2011 African SME Expo, according to the organisers, would bring investors from different walks of life together to fashion out in economic blueprint for African economy.

Event and Show Director, Prince Gbenga Agboola, who spoke on the programme said, such business initiative will also increase foreign direct investment in Africa while promoting accelerated developments for the SMEs in Africa and beyond.

According to him, the event is an annual capacity building conference as well as business networking, aimed at creating a platform for international business partnership and fostering importation of ideas and exhibiting latest innovations.

Agboola noted that the trade expo will equally bring investors, entrepreneurs, policy makers, government representatives and political leaders together to practically engage the operators of the SMEs.

CSR: Maclean cleans up Surulere

By Ajose Sehindemi

the ongoing campaign of ensuring a clean enviroment that will be conducive to all.

This was disclosed by the Head, Procurement and Corporate Reporting function, GlaxoSmithkline (GSK),makers of Macleans, Mrs Folorunsho Onobowale during the exercise.

Mrs Onobowale said: “Since we

started last year to clean the state and the enviroment, the idea is to set an example for others on how the enviroment should be, as that is what Macleans stands for,cleaniness.”

She said the way most people manage waste is not good enough as it is not encouraging,because ‘we throw papers everywhere and when rain comes, it pushes them into drains;drains are blocked and this attract mosquitoes and then you

know what the ripple effect will be’ Mrs Onobowale used the occasion to appeal to Nigerians to cultivate the habit of cleaniness as “there are waste papers,nylons available so whatever we do,let us pack those things in our home,our enviroment,put them into bins and dispose of them properly so our enviroment can be cleaned.”

Commenting on the exercise,the senior brand manager, Macleans, Emeka Ucheena, said: “It is a national

initiative, if you look at this country three to four years down the line,you will discover we are going to have more mega cities.Lagos in the next three to four years is going to be the third largest city in the world and with that there is going to be pressure on the enviroment. So, you need to begin to sensitise the people now,you need to create that culture of enviromental cleaniness in people now.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

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INDUSTRY

‘African economies grew consistently before global crisis’

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FRICAN economies enjoyed an annual average growth rate of more than five per cent a decade before the global economic crisis, the Director, Economic Department of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Prof. Emmanuel Nnadozie has said.

Nnadozie spoke in Addis Ababa at the unveiling of the African Economic Outlook 2011, jointly published by UNECA, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the African Development

By Toba Agboola

Bank. (ADB).

He said Africa’s remarkable economic growth was accompanied by notable increase in trade and capital flows from emerging partners.

Nnadozie, who also heads the New Economic Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) Division, UNECA, said the world economy was still mired in slow growth and high unemployment with severe internal and external imbalances.

“In this context, Africa has the potential of attracting more invest-

ments from its emerging partners and becoming an important global growth pole and significantly contributes to global macroeconomic rebalancing,’’ Nnadozie said.

He said the report was both timely and significant in UNECA’s efforts to help African countries identify opportunities and address challenges in order to maximise benefits from relationships with emerging partners.

He said the outlook provided strong evidence that Africa was becoming more integrated into the

world economy adding that Africa’s emerging partners had opened opportunities for diversification of exports and production, diversification of sources of development financing and technology transfer.

Also speaking, UNDP Resident Representative, Mr Eugene Owusu, said in spite of some food and energy price shocks and recent political instability in North Africa, the outlook had continued to be positive.

Owusu stressed the need for Africa to continue to strengthen economic ties with emerging economies

through South-South cooperation while at the same time taking advantage of special trade initiatives with the United States and Europe to diversify trade and markets.

According to him, although Africa has the lowest human development index by 2010, Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the highest progress compared to other regions adding that to sustain the progress in human development, Africa should take actions on several fronts to promote more inclusive and pro-poor growth.

Traders seek affordable cost of ome traders in Lagos have urged the CBN Governor, services Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to ad-

S

equately see to the pricing of data transmission service on mobile money scheme by operators.

According to them, if the service charges are too high, it will make the mobile payment system unattractive to users and unsustainable to the operators.

They said to sustain the policy, there should be minimal charges on every electronic payment, with no hidden charges, to foster confidence and usage of the mobile payment system.

The traders spoke on condition of anonymity after a market awareness for the acceptance of the cashless economy at Ladipo market held by CBN in partnership with E- Payment Providers Association of Nigeria (e-PPAN).

A spare part dealer at Ladipo market urged the apex bank governor to exclude Lagos State in the pilot scheme of the cashless economy policy saying that, “Smaller states should be used as pilot schemes because the volume of cash involved

By Paul Oluwakoya

would not challenge the policy and that the implementation in larger state such as Lagos should be delayed so as to put in place adequate measures to control the greater volume of transactions in Lagos.”

He noted that the challenges of interconnectivity between mobile payment providers and telecom operators will have undesirable effect on implementation of the scheme if not well sorted out.

However, Mrs. Onajite Regha the CEO e-PPAN who answered the traders questions cleared their minds with information on the adequate provisions CBN has put in place to ensure that the policy is itch free and economy friendly She added that, “Global regulation is encouraging the use of interconnection clearinghouses as recommendation by the international Telecommunication Unit (ITU).

From Left: Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom and Commandant, Zambia Defence Staff College, Capt Orok Asuquo (Nigerian Navy), exchanging gift, during the visit of the delegation from Zambia Defence Satff College Course 11 to the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja.

Indomie rewards children heroes with N2.2m HREE heroic kids have

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emerged and were honoured for their bravery and exemplary acts of heroism at this year’s edition of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) based Indomie Independence Day Award for Heroes of Nigeria organised by Dufil Prima Foods Plc, makers of Indomie Instant Noodles.

The three winners - Njoku Chigbo, 14, Ajila Wehbe, 10 and 15 year old Sule Mallam Hamza - were unveiled and presented with crystal plaques and cash prizes at an elaborate event held on October 8, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Ahmadu Bello way, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Chigbo from Abakaliki in Ebonyi State, won the coveted first prize of one million naira for outstanding bravery and heroic act .He rescued a drowning woman and repeatedly dived into the Ebonyi River to rescue her properties as well, including

a motorcycle.

The second prize winner, Ajila from Lagos was rewarded with N750,000 for safely delivering her 16-year old pregnant sister without adult supervision or previous medical experience while Sule Mallam Hamza from Nassarawa won the third prize of N500,000 for saving the life of a little boy from drowning in a river.

While delivering his welcome address at the event, the Managing Director, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Deepak Singhal revealed that the Indomie Independence Day Award for Heroes of Nigeria is the flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of the company is a reflection of the importance and belief of the company in the extraordinary qualities of the Nigerian child which must never be ignored but must be celebrated.

‘Simplify judicial procedure’

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HE Nigerian Economic Sum mit Group (NESG) says there is a need for the country to simplify its judicial processes to ensure prompt adjudication of cases.

This was one of the recommendations of the 16th summit of the group recently, in Abuja.

The group advised all tiers of governments to simplify judicial processes on election petitions, commercial disputes and other cases in the nation’s judicial system.

“There is a need to reverse the culture of impunity by ensuring compliance with existing laws, procedures and regulations,” it said.

NESG urged the government to promote value-based ideologies and to intensify the war on corruption in both private and public sectors.

“Public and private sectors should have the will to allow the system to run effectively through good administration and corporate governance.”

•Marketing Director, NB Plc, Mr. Jacco Van der Linden (third left), during the cheque presentation of N5 million to the Ekubo Family, winners of the MDA 5 Grand Finale held at the Eko Hotels & Suites in Lagos.

CSS Bookshops declares 5k dividend

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HURCH and School Supply (CSS) Bookshops Limited, formerly CMS Bookshops, has declared a dividend of five kobo per share to its shareholders for the 2011 financial year.

This was disclosed by the Chairman, the Revd Canon Segun Agbetuyi, at the annual general meeting held in Lagos, where he said earnings per share increased

By Ajose Sehindemi

from 7k in 2010 to 8k in 2011.

Canon Agbetuyi said the situation was caused by continuing market sluggishness occasioned by the viability index downsliding with a worsening run in major economic, social, political and security indices of the country.

He said for the third consecutive year, total revenue has been on the

N260m level with sales for the year under review increasing by a mere 7.8 per cent from the previous year to N266.8m.

On future prospects, he said publication of curriculum based textbooks will come under focus while the press will be expanded through joint venture with an internationally renowned firm.

NASSI urges govt to patronise small-scale industries

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HE National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) has said the Federal Government should allocate at least 20 per cent of its yearly expenditure to small-scale industries.

Chief Chukwu Nwachukwu, the national president of the associa-

tion, said this would encourage the growth of the sector.

“We will want Mr President to enforce that all the military, paramilitary and youth corps uniforms and the like should be given to small industries.’’

Nwachukwu said if the government was serious about generating

employment and boosting the economy, small-scale businesses needed to be patronised by the government.

He said rather than importing items, the small-scale industries should be given that opportunity.

Nwachukwu assured the government that NASSI members

could handle better quality products, especially uniforms and shoes.

Nwachukwu noted that if the President wanted to transform the economy, importation should be reduced and local production encouraged.

“Nigerian industries are capable

of doing all these things by themselves, if only they are encouraged by the government.

“The country has the raw materials; there is leather in Kano and there is also cotton for textile and over 70 per cent of these cottons are exported, leaving the textile industries to die,’’ he said.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION Comments

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

Egypt’s delaying tactic

Good news •UBTH raises the scale with stem cell transplant

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HEERY news seems a rarity these days, so any whiff of it must be harnessed and celebrated. It is on this score that we clink glasses with the management and staff of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and indeed, Nigerians, on its landmark achievement of stem cell transplantation (SCT).

The institution’s chief medical director, Professor Michael Ibadin, was euphoric as he told newsmen recently that UBTH achieved a feat which only two other countries in Africa – Egypt and South Africa - hitherto, had. Stem cell transplant, as the name suggests, is the replacement of damaged (and injurious) cells from part(s) of the body with matching healthy cells. SCT will prove particularly useful in the treatment of such cells-ravaging diseases as sickle cell anaemia, cancer and leukemia;

‘This indeed, ought to be a stepping stone to a glorious new era at UBTH in which the institution will truly live up to its stature and essence. We expect to see emerge henceforth, a reference point in the whole of Africa, a centre of research and excellence. In fact, it would not be out of place to expect UBTH to latch on its current feat to grow into a leading centre of medical tourism in the entire black world.

especially in the re-enervation of organs impaired in the cause of treatment of these serious ailments.

For instance, in the UBTH breakthrough, the first beneficiary is a sevenyear old sickle cell anaemia sufferer whose case had been complicated by stroke. The successful transplant procedure was carried out after a match from his 14 year-old brother.

UBTH worked in collaboration with the University of Basel, Switzerland, where its own medical team had trained for the purpose for about one year. Although stem cell transplantation has been widespread in Europe and America for more than three decades, especially since discoveries were made about the human immune system which has made it possible for the body to accept or reject quickly, what is compatible with it, or otherwise; the procedure remains sensitive and its results putative. This explains why it has not become widespread in spite of its importance to the evolution of modern medicine and of course, why it has remained a very expensive procedure, almost out of the reach of millions of individuals who ought to otherwise, have found succour in it.

As we celebrate UBTH’s success in SCT, let it be known that this procedure comes with serious ethical issues which the relevant arms of government must begin to take in its strides at this early stage. For instance, there is widespread use of the human embryo in stem cell research. Also, in-vitro fertilized eggs and foetus are in high demand in some SCT

procedures. There is need to begin to look at some of the issues, set some ground rules and eventually enact laws.

But this feat should not be a one-season wonder. We urge Professor Ibadin and his colleagues to show Nigerians that this is not a fluke or happenstance.

This indeed, ought to be a stepping stone to a glorious new era at UBTH in which the institution will truly live up to its stature and essence. We expect to see emerge henceforth, a reference point in the whole of Africa, a centre of research and excellence. In fact, it would not be out of place to expect UBTH to latch on its current feat to grow into a leading centre of medical tourism in the entire black world.

Even though we appreciate that enormous funding is required to reach these desired heights, we restate our longheld view that institution-building is not first about funds but principled leadership, the will to excel, vision, passion and the ability to identify and tap into windows of opportunities that abound around the world.

We commend the Federal Government working through the Federal Ministry of Health under Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu for providing the enabling environment which allowed the UBTH project to flower. We urge government to draw inspiration from this success and energise other institutions and research centres. UBTH has put Nigeria on the world medical radar and has made us proud.

Goodbye to privacy?

• Hush, big brother may be eavesdropping on your telephone conversation HESE are truly abnormal times and no one knows what perilous augury will dawn with tomorrow. First, the country has been garrisoned by soldiers marching down on communities as if she were at war with herself. Soldiers, fully kitted, carrying out the civic duties meant for the police now seem the norm. While we are yet to live that down, the news is abroad that government is set to enact an electronic surveillance on the citizens’ telephone conversation. All these measures are ostensibly, to check the increasing security challenges occasioned by rising cases of violent criminal activities in the country.

The plan, which may be pushed to the National Assembly soon as a bill, will allow security agencies unfettered access to telephone transmission through the interception of telephone signals. The proposed law, currently at drafting stage, when passed, will codify messages for ease of interception by security agencies and create a platform for sharing information by the network of agencies.

On its face value, and considering the current security situation in the country, the e-surveillance could have provided an added fillip to the fight against crimes, especially the incipient terrorism mode now burgeoning in the country. Many developed countries like the United States, Canada, Britain, France, China and Israel, to name a few, have one form of monitoring mechanism or the other designed to protect their sovereignty and the citizenry. The logic of course is that you will have a country first before you could claim citizenship and surely, you must

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own a life first before you would worry about all other rights, including privacy.

This is the – well, compelling – argument often proffered by governments and security top brass when they want to go into voyeurism and peep through the keyholes of people’s lives. A most recent example is the U.S. after the 9/11 terrorist attacks where a series of laws were passed which granted security agencies more powers that potentially invade individual privacy. For instance, detention without trial and increased, deep probing surveillance on individuals became tolerable. Anti-terrorism measures they are called and they have caught on across the world, constricting private space and individual liberties. United Kingdom for instance, is said to have installed over 1.5 million cameras watching over public space.

Despite all of these, there are still places around the confines of the individual entity which remain out of bounds even in the U.S. which can claim to be the most targeted country in the world. Apart from maybe China, it is not known that any country has created a direct access to telephone signals. Accesses are still routed through the service providers, using universally established legal procedures.

This way, some checks are placed on the individual or agency seeking such private information.

More crucially, for a developing country like Nigeria where institutions of checks and balances are weak, if not nonexistent, handing such carte blanche powers over to a few people to have access to the innermost thoughts and actions of the

populace may prove even more lethal than the worst sort of terrorism. To illustrate, in the heat of the Watergate Scandal in the U.S in 1972 ( the secret wiretapping of the Democratic Party office

by President Richard Nixon and some members of his administration who are of the Republican Party), both the Supreme Court and the Senate were able to exercise their powers to subpoena presidential tapes. Nearly 40 years after, such an action may still not be possible here today.

Above all, section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides unambiguous guarantees of fundamental rights of privacy and civil liberties. Therefore, those seeking to surreptitiously plot to abrogate the rights of the much-talking Nigerian to talk freely, will have that section to contend with.

‘More crucially, for a developing country like Nigeria where institutions of checks and balances are weak, if not non-existent, handing such carte blanche powers over to a few people to have access to the innermost thoughts and actions of the populace may prove even more lethal than the worst sort of terrorism’

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HE attack by the Egyptian army, as well as civilian thugs, on Christians who were seeking to peacefully protest Sunday in the center of Cairo produced tragic and reprehensible results, including 26 deaths and more than 500 people injured. It also showed everything that is wrong with a military regime whose mismanagement of the country — and prolongation of its time in office — threatens to destroy Egypt’s chances for democracy.

Several thousand members of the Coptic sect, which makes up about 10 percent of Egypt’s population, were marching to protest the failure by the military government to prevent attacks on their churches. According to independent accounts, they were set upon first by civilians wielding sticks and stones and then by military vehicles, whose crews deliberately drove over unarmed protesters and opened fire with machine guns.

The response to this violence by the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and its appointed civilian prime minister was shameful.

On state television, calls were issued for citizens to take to the streets to defend the army — as if it, and not the Copts, was under attack. Meanwhile, security forces intervened in the studios of independent broadcasters, including U.S.-financed al Hurrah, to prevent them from reporting. Prime Minister Essam Sharaf implausibly blamed the violence on a foreign conspiracy while saying it had “taken us back several steps.” Egyptians took his remarks as a threat to postpone — once again — promised elections.

There’s little doubt that the transition to democracy is in danger. But the fault lies not with protesting Copts, Islamic fundamentalists or others who have been organizing and agitating for change in Cairo, but with the military regime. The 24 senior officers on the ruling council have repeatedly said that they wish to hand over power to civilians as soon as possible. But they keep extending their time: Having at first promised to carry out a transition by last month, they now are talking about a timetable that would keep them in office for at least a year, and maybe much longer.

While they linger, the generals misrule. They have subjected thousands of civilians to unfair military trials, intimidated the media and spooked tourists and foreign investors with erratic economic decisions, including the rejection of much-needed foreign loans. They issue laws and even constitutional amendments, then abruptly change them. They have failed to protect Christian churches and the Israeli embassy, which was sacked by a mob of thugs as police stood by. They then cite such outbreaks of violence as justification for still more repression — including the extension of the previous regime’s autocratic emergency law.

The scenes of chaos in Cairo may cause some to conclude that democracy should be delayed while order is restored. In fact, just the opposite course is needed: The generals should be pressed to accelerate the election of a civilian president to whom power can be handed over. A White House statement got it right: “These tragic events should not stand in the way of timely elections and a continued transition to democracy.” The United States should now use its leverage with the Egyptian military to drive home that message.

– Washington Post

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

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NE of the most demeaning and dehumanising crime ever committed against mankind is the trans-Atlantic slave trade which colonialism advanced when it lasted, especially in the continents of Africa and Latin America. However, it is utterly saddening to realise the fact that this degrading and callous act is still with us, long after the efforts of charismatic American wartime President, Abraham Lincoln, and Britain’s William Wilberforce necessitated its abolition, almost 200 years ago.

Most worrisome, and perhaps disheartening, is the subtler but more sophisticated nature in which this act of human injustice against fellow human is perpetrated nowadays. The reinvigoration of this social menace has gradually entered our consciousness once again as championed by the media.

Recently, I watched a two hour documentary, produced by a journalist; Juliana Rudolf, on the popular TV network, Al-Jazeera. The captivating documentary which was filmed in cities of Italy and Nigeria vividly displayed in graphic details; what young Nigerian ladies go through in the hands of organised criminal rings, which specialise in drug and human trafficking between the two countries. Sad enough, members of these mafia rings are not only Italians, but Nigerians alike, who lace their pockets with filthy cash at the expense of fellow compatriots who are cheaply attracted into

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Curbing human trafficking forced labour and prostitution.

Societal problems like the ravaging poverty and the need to seek for greener pastures have been severally put forward as the major alibi for the resurgence of this illicit act, moreso, as majority of those at the receiving end are from the lowest stratum of the society, economically. Nonetheless, there can never be any excuse,

reasonable enough to stand as a genuine justification for this exploitative concept of the highest order.

Education remains the bedrock upon which the foundation of any civilised society is based. The basic tool of liberating the young and vulnerable in the society lies in putting an efficient and effective compulsory education in place for all. There is no doubt that the

•Funmilola Ajala, Ibadan.

Nigeria is ripe for a revolution

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IR: Only about four years ago, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt would never have imagined what happened to him and the state he is-in now. Less than two years ago, Muammar Ghaddafi would also never have imagined what has become of him and his family; ditto for some other Afro-Arabic leaders whose countries’ revolutions have started. Don’t forget Laurent Gbagbo of Cote D’Ivoire in the heartland of black Africa.

Two Nigerians of blessed memory predicted Nigeria’s revolution. The first was the late Chief Gani

Fawehinmi in the Abacha years.

Mass poverty, youth unemployment and unbridled corruption led Chief M.C.K. Ajuluchukwu to envision Nigeria’s revolution during the presidency of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, 1999-2007, even though the man died not long after the prediction.

I have always believed that one day is coming when poor people from all over Nigeria will overcome all obstacles and unite against their oppressors and exploiters, because, in spite of ethnicity, religion, and any other sectional consideration,

Siasia’s crocodile tears

IR: It is not enough for Samson Siasia, the Super Eagles Technical Adviser to beg Nigerians for the ignominious exit of the national team from the 2012 Gabon – Equatorial Guinea Nations Cup final.

In any civilized country where corruption is not trademark, the exit door is there for him. The most honorable thing for him at this juncture is to throw in the towel.

So much for the shedding crocodile tears. To whom much is given, much is expected. The exit is the result of the lack of in-depth football technical knowledge on the part of Siasia. His spat with Vincent Enyeama caused the nation this shameful loss.

Whilst I agree that no player is indispensable, the timing of the disagreement with Enyeama was counter-productive. One would have expected Siasia to have learnt

standard of education in Nigeria has drastically nosedived overtime; most importantly, the girl-child education. The likes of Wangari Maathai, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and so on, wouldn’t have become celebrated global icons without access qualitative education in their formative years. ‘Knowledge is power’, like the popular saying goes.

It is equally paramount to focus collective energy on intensive orientation of the Nigerian masses, with the aim of exposing the dangers associated with human trafficking, principally to poor parents, who are fond of transferring their parental responsibility of child upbringing to relatives and family friends.

Lastly, the suggestion by Senator Uche Chukwumerije; calling for capital punishment for convicted human traffickers should be given serious consideration. This will no doubt serve as a strong deterrent to would be offenders, and perhaps, create a Nigerian model of how best to tackle human trafficking. A stitch in time; saves nine.

from the France 2010 World Cup fallout culminating in their exit in the first round.

Siasia has been over pampered by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Whatever regret Siasia may have, he should pocket his sorrow as it is obvious that ominous clouds are gathering in the sky now and Nigeria may not recover from this disgraceful show for a long time to come.

Nigeria had no business losing the match when the country was leading by 2-1. Complacency and barrenness on the part of the coaching crew paved the way for an equalizer. Had Nigeria won the match, it was obvious CAF would have considered the country for a slot among the best two losers.

With the draws and the preliminaries of the Brazil 2014 World Cup soon to start, the exit of the Super

Eagles from the Nations Cup should be food for thought.

Soccer-loving Nigerians are in pains; the nation is mourning. It is too much a bitter pill to swallow.

Can Siasia ever get it right before the World Cup preliminary begins?

Several indigenous coaches have failed us. We have not been patient with the foreign coaches to really assess and determine their suitability. Give us a foreign coach now before we meet our waterloo in the hands of less fancied African nations. Whatever is left of Siasia’s contract should be determined. Soccer authorities should send him back to the age group so he may rediscover his lost glory there.

• Muyiwa Idawu Ipaja, Lagos

Nigerians live among themselves and they intermarry a lot.

Any pretense that the Arab-type revolution is impossible in Nigeria is self-deception. One day, poor Nigerians will rise above the divide and rule tactics and face their common enemies, exploiters, who are feeding fat at their own expense, irrespective of religion or ethnicity.

See how only our rulers and their cronies thought Nigeria’s 51 st Independence anniversary was worth celebrating. The presidency, the legislators, and the other privileged persons were congratulating themselves, even as university and many other labour unions embarked on strike and protest actions.

As if all the confusion means nothing, President Goodluck Jonathan is preoccupied with his seven years single term dream. His message means: Whether a ruler is a saint or a villain, let him or her control seven years of your national life. Our rulers’ preoccupation is about power and more power, MEND or no MEND, Boko Haram or no Boko Haram.

I would advise that Nigerians must insist that whoever cannot prove his mettle in four years deserves no further chance. Rather than giving Nigeria a truly independent electoral body that is rooted in our constitution, President Jonathan is asking for a cheap seven years for an unknown president.

Both MEND and Mr. Boko Haram are protesting what they perceive as injustice and decay in the polity.

They may have their own excesses, but any attempt by the powers that be to sponsor counter groups, such

as the so-called “Egbesu Mightier Fraternity”, can only compound and aggravate Nigeria’s woes. I personally don’t think that intimidating Boko Haram and MEND is the solution to bad leadership and mass poverty. Until Nigeria is set on the path of justice and fair-play, the government will continue to be on its own during such crises, and American intervention can only be a liability. The Niger Delta and all other Nigerians should envision greater benefit in political order than in the opportunism of power-grabbing.

First ladies continue to organize workshops for senior government workers, and attendance is strictly by invitation. First Lady-ism will be swept away by the revolution of workers’ unions and unemployed peoples who suffer because of dearth of infrastructure. Our rulers organize prayers in churches and mosques, and you wonder how God will grant the prayers of unrepentant rulers, since He is not in need of any ministerial appointment, contracts or bribery! Anyway, prayer pretense will hasten Nigeria’s revolution.

Expansion of cabinet by the President, and multiplication of committees by the legislature, along with financially misplaced priorities will also quicken our journey to revolution. Deceptive slogans, such as the Vision 20: 2020, Seven Points Agenda, and the Transformation Agenda will catapult Nigeria into revolution. Power-grabbing and resistance to electoral reform will launch the nation into an irreversible revolution.

•Pius Oyeniran Abioje, Ph. D, University of Ilorin.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

Nigeria and the curse of elections – 6

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HEN in 1979, after 13 years of military rule, the civilians were handed over power, the affliction of electoral malpractices were not cured. The old political parties came in different hues and colours but their provenance was unmistakable.

The old NPC metamorphosed into the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). The NCNC became the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) and the Action Group came in form of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

Awolowo led the UPN while Azikiwe led the NPP and Shehu Shagari, a former parliamentary secretary under Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa led the NPN. The election of 1979 was almost a replay of the 1959 political drama. The NPN had the largest number of votes in the presidential election followed by the UPN. The NPN did not quite fulfill the constitutional requirement of winning the overall number of votes and at least 25 per cent of the votes in two-thirds of the states of the federation. It won this in 12 rather than in 13 states out of 19 and through legal abracadabra 12 two-thirds of states replaced the required 13 states.

The opposition protested to no end. The military, in order to save its skin appeared desperate to hand over to the politicians and the military gladly accepted the legal interpretation which satisfied nobody. But this was to be a minor thing compared with what happened in 1983 when the ruling NPN threw caution to the winds and flagrantly rigged the election in a land slide in spite of the fact that the country had been run aground. The military wing of the ruling class intervened to save the situation in December 1983 and by 1984, Obafemi Awolowo withdrew from politics and issued a curse on Nigeria that the country would for a long time not enjoy democratic governance.

In 1987, the old war horse died and many of his supporters vowed never to vote again in the sham elections of Nigeria. The story is told about farmers in Ekiti going to their farms in the morning of the 1993 presidential election. When told about the coming election, some of them innocently said they thought election had died with Awolowo in 1987!

Azikwe died in 1996 having become politically irrelevant and had the misfortune of witnessing the roguish regime of Sani Abacha. The military that came into power in 1983 remained in the saddle to 1999

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HE controversy surrounding the dredging of Calabar Port is a reflection of how selfish interests and avarice have hinderED the nation’s attempts at developing its ports and water channels.

Despite the wonderful river configuration Nigeria is blessed with, the waterways are neither navigable nor inter-connected.

With the solitary exception of Bonny channel, the other functional ports and water channels in the country were developed in the colonial era. Attempts by successive Nigerian governments to develop the second and third generation seaports have always ended in fiasco. In this category are the seaports and terminals of Warri (Warri River), Calabar, Oron and Ibakala (New Cross River); Eket and Ibom (Cross River); Buruntu (Farcodos River); Obigbo and Azumiri (Imo River); Koko and Sapele (Benin River); Lokoja, Boko, Ndoni, Onitsha and Oguta (River Niger); Abonema (Sambraeor River); Makurdi (Makurdi River); Badagry (Badagry Creek); and Ekpe (Ekpe River) to mention a few. All these ports and terminals have witnessed several unsuccessful capital dredging campaigns (not maintenance dredging) at huge costs to the nation.

It is a shame that as an independent nation, we are yet to recognise that water transportation is by far cheaper, safer and more environment friendly than road, rail and air. This is besides its potential for generating huge foreign exchange, attracting tourists, creating employment opportunities as well as reducing the cost of living.

It is estimated that the nation loses about $33 billion yearly in over 22 ports lying idle in all parts of the federation. The poor state of Nigerian roads is also a direct consequence of years of neglect of the waterways. Goods that naturally should move on water are usually put on the road with attendant risks and strains on the roads. In fact, some of the moribund ports were

after annulling the elections of 1993 won by Moshood Abiola the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). The military under General Badamasi Babangida, a suave military politician who had a large followership and loyalty because of his use of state resources to benefit his supporters, had organised two political parties, the Social Democratic Party – a party “a little to the left” and the National Republican Convention NRC – a party “a little to the right” Babangida had rightly recognised two tendencies in Nigeria’s political life, one was conservatism and the other was some kind of socialist or social welfare radicalism. He therefore organized two parties to represent these tendencies. In spite of the soulless origin of these two parties, they took on lives of their own and evolved into living parties which threw up two improbable presidential candidates in the persons of M.K.O. Abiola, a multimillionaire friend of Babangida parading himself as leader of a socialist party and Bashir Tofa, a Kano multimillionaire friend of Babangida. It seems head or tail Babangida could not lose. But he apparently expected his northern friend to win.

He miscalculated in this because Abiola’s legendary generosity worked for him, to the extent that he even defeated Bashir Tofa in his own ward in Kano. The electoral umpire Professor Humphrey Nwosu seemed to have run an election that has been adjudged the fairest and most transparent Nigeria. During the election, electors filed before the symbols of their parties, voted and were counted in what was called “open-secret” ballot or “option A4.” When the results showed Abiola had won, his enemies within the military threatened to kill Abiola and possibly Babangida and the elections were subsequently annulled.

Whatever reasons were given for this were not believed by anybody and from there on it was clear that elections can never resolve the fissiparous political tendencies in the country. The military again, as a palliative, put together a contraption of unelected military/civilian government headed by a former Unilever executive, Ernest Shonekan as an interim administration after President Babangida abandoned ship. This did not work and a full blast military administration headed by General Sani Abacha,

Minister of Defence, shoved aside Shonekan and administered the country until 1998, when he died and a temporary administration by another military man, General A b d u s a l a m i Abubakar took Jide over and quickly Osuntokun arranged power transfer to a civilian administration.

Abacha’s administration was the most nakedly brutal the country had ever seen. He used terror and murder to cover the corruption of his administration.

This was particularly an open sore of a country in which thievery, thuggery and ethnic cleansing became state policy. The reaction from the Yoruba people, who were the target was measured and effective and involved enlisting of international support through the media and international institutions like the Commonwealth and the United Nations and even the Papacy. This unfortunate situation following a fairly well conducted election was somehow resolved when Abiola the unfortunate victor who became a victim and Abacha his tormentor died one after the other in 1998 in what appears to be unnatural deaths, although there is no evidence to support possible conspiracy involving international secret services.

‘This unfortunate situation following a fairly well conducted election was somehow resolved when Abiola the unfortunate victor who became a victim and Abacha his tormentor died one after the other in 1998 in what appears to be unnatural deaths’

NPA’s sham interest in indigenous firms

By Cos Nnadi vehicles for the agricultural golden age of the 60s when there were hardly roads. They provided the platform for moving farm produce for export and within the country.

In most societies, this natural resource would have witnessed rapid development but here, the reverse is the case. About 45 years after these ports were acquired by the Federal Government from private operators, there is no groundwork, no blueprint, not even the desire to grow and maintain them. Of course, the few Nigerians reaping the benefits of the cyclic pattern of port development that rejects progression would stop at nothing to sustain the status quo. As far as they are concerned, it does not matter if the water channels silt back soon after being dredged since they stand to gain from re-awarding the contract to firms that will “settle” them. This explains why dredging contracts in Nigeria are hardly supervised and the contractors are promptly recommended for payment whether or not they perform their functions.

The bitter rivalry over the port of Calabar revolves around the urge of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to manipulate a N30 billion contract for the third capital dredging of the port. After overseeing two failed attempts at making the port navigable, officials of the transport ministry and NPA are still making frantic efforts to deliver the fresh job to a particular company so as to derive maximum benefits. It is widely speculated that the company has been issued a contract letter in the face of objections and without reference to the Bureau of Public Procurement. The late Sani Abacha regime invested N3billion in the same project in 1996 while the

Olusegun Obasanjo administration put in $56 million (about N9.8 billion) in 2006. The present effort is also certain to fail given the way those entrusted with the responsibility of awarding the contract are going about it.

In a fair contest, the firm the ministry and NPA are openly backing is the least qualified for the job. It offered the highest bid price among the four companies that fulfilled the requirements for commercial evaluation. Its bid price of 120,331,199.47 euros is about 41 million euros more than that of the company that was first on the list, 30 million euros more than the second placed company and 19 million euros more than that of the company that was third. Besides, the company in question is a subsidiary of NPA and was set up expressly to manage Lagos channels and ports.

These should have excluded it from the bid process ab initio since NPA cannot be a judge in its own case.

Moreover, the company did not disclose its ties with NPA as required in the bid procedure and NPA did not declare its interest in the company.

With the precarious position of the subsidiary company, the arbiters resolved to set aside procurement procedures as enshrined in the Procurement Act 2007 for other considerations. After 10 months of tinkering with the commercial evaluation, they came up with a clever ploy that the job should go to an indigenous company to give the favoured company an undue advantage. This has been the source of the conflict between these government establishments and the other contending companies. The stance of the aggrieved companies is that the arbiters should be fair to all concerned. Due process demands that the job should go to the lowest bidder and if for any reason the

company that offers the lowest bid price is found wanting, the next should be considered. And in the event that the second is also found unsuitable, the third should be invited.

Ordinarily, the desire of the umpires to encourage local companies is something any Nigerian would cherish since it will help in no small measure to check capital flight. But, invoking this rule for selfish ends is unacceptable.

Were these government agencies really concerned about raising Nigerians from the level of obscurity in the maritime industry, they would have started with human capital development.

A sound maritime academy like the one in Poland would have been established long ago to put Nigerians in good stead to take over from the expatriates. NPA’s sham interest in indigenous companies recalls its joint venture with Continental Shipyard Limited (CSL).This was one project the federal government eagerly embraced believing it would help train Nigerian youths in ship building. But it turned out an avenue for milking the nation dry and the late Umaru Yar’Adua administration cancelled the deal in anger.

The company being touted as indigenous is not even one strictly speaking. It is a consortium of NPA and a Swiss company. The consortium is wholly managed by expatriates, who function as technical partners to NPA. It is common knowledge that the company was hurriedly incorporated during the concession period of the Obasanjo administration following NPA’s inability to manage the channels.

The technical partners, Depasa Marine International, without

prior dredging experience or tools were given NPA’s dredgers to execute government contracts.

The prejudice against due process and foreign firms derives from the vested interest of the arbiters in the juicy contract. The various attempts by officials of the two agencies to pacify the other contractors also point to this. Only recently, the DirectorGeneral of the Bureau of Public Procurement revealed in an interview that the bureau had been under pressure to favour a particular company. All these suggest that the ministry and NPA had resolved to offer the job to the said company even before advertising it in national dailies.

The advert was a ruse designed to give the impression that laid down rules were followed. The excesses of the ministry of transport and NPA must be curbed for as the BPP boss rightly observed, the fight against corruption in the public sector will fail if government officials continue to freely flout procurement rules.

NPA’s choice of consultants is another clog in the wheel of progress. Most of the consultants the authority uses for dredging campaigns do not seem to know their left from their right in marine engineering. The documents of NPA consultants are there in the Corporate Affairs Commission for all to see. The 2006 Calabar Port dredging for instance was marred by faulty quantities provided by the consultants.

It is time we took a second look at the NPA as currently constituted.

The authority has deceived the nation enough and something drastic needs to be done about that.

•Dr Nnadi, former editor of The Comet on Saturday, is on the editorial board of a national daily.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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RESIDENT J Jonathan is a master of equivocation. He owes us no apology for this. He has after all made it clear he is neither a Pharaoh nor a General. But we also know even without being told that he is no slave to promises. He is quick at changing his mind if an opportunity beckons. We can therefore hazard a guess that he must have been emboldened by threats of the fraudulent cartel of Nigerian oil importers, their foreign partners and Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, his minister for finance, who also doubles as World Bank representative, to declare with such finality that ‘fuel subsidy must go’. It was not too long ago he begged this group to reduce price of kerosene from N150 to N50, a request that was ignored.

We must not forget that Jonathan was part of Yar’Adua administration that set up a panel to find out if indeed there was fuel subsidy or whether government had been subsiding ‘‘corruption, inefficiency and fraud” in the PPPRA, a body that has always been used to unleash hardship on Nigerians’.

He is yet to tell Nigerians the outcome of that investigation. But both the President and his Minister of Finance, Okonjo- Iweala are not alone in this calculated assault on poor Nigerians. The governors, who like grass hoppers must devour whatever they set their eyes on are solidly behind the duo as long as the proposed Sovereign Wealth Fund(savings for the raining day) is dropped and the money shared.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi, speaking for his colleagues claimed they are out to protect the interest of the masses in view of their fresh discoveries that the major beneficiary of fuel subsidy are a ‘few Nigerians who are just gathering money’’, and that ‘fuel is being smuggled out of the country’. In their judgment, the answer to this government’s

‘Nothing has changed to indicate the president is capable of restraining his greedy PDP legislators from siphoning the nation’s resources through cronies in the name of constituency projects. This government therefore has no moral right to inflict further sufferings on Nigerian commuters, farmers and government workers on minimum wage of either N7500 or proposed N18, 000’

R

ECENT events in the life of the nation especially the numerous acts of bombings and mass murders in Borno and other northern states and Abuja have impelled me to write this piece. Before the election of President Goodluck Jonathan in April, many people had tried to use these of bombings and mass killings to discredit him as a weakling who could not act as commander-in-chief. Fortunately, all of that came to naught and a great majority of Nigerians came out and voted for him in an election which was generally certified as free, fair and credible by both the local and international observers.

Now, even after his swearing-in and more than 100 days into his presidency and counting, the bombings and mass murders in Borno and Jos have not abated despite the good intentions and efforts of the Jonathan administration. Fortunately, however, there has been a large measure of peace in his native Bayelsa State. His state governor, Timiprie Sylva had the foresight to commence a process of reconciliation with the militants who had made the state and the entire nation ungovernable. The then president, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (now late) and his deputy, now president, saw the wisdom in this approach and established the amnesty programme. Today, relative peace has returned to the creeks of the Niger Delta and the nation’s crude oil production has jumped from about 750,000 barrels per day to more than three million barrels per day. This has yielded substantial revenue for national development at all tiers of governance.

This is where the worrisome development in Bayelsa State arises. Who wants to disturb this relative peace in the Niger Delta in general and particularly in Bayelsa State? Who wants to destabilize Bayelsa? Is it intended to be

Removal of fuel subsidy, an assault on Nigerians failure is removal of fuel subsidy. But they are magnanimous enough to promise ‘safety nets to cushion the effect’ of the expected hardship that will follow. The governors have reassured us that they ‘will save money to develop the economy and at the end of the day, we will provide opportunities for the greater number of people’.

But such disingenuous arguments and promises by Babangida in 1985, Abacha 1995 and Obasanjo 2001 resulted only in comedy of errors. We have enduring legacies Buhari put in place with the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) under Abacha who almost stole our country blind. We have relics of toll gates built with taxpayer’s money and destroyed with tax payer’s money as outcome of such promises by Obasanjo.

But now, Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) wants Nigerians to pay at least N143 per litre to compare favourably with N150 per litre in the US, N173 in Canada and N180 in Ukraine. They however forgot to add that in those countries, there are social support for the less privileged and subsidy for farmers who in some cases received from government as much as two dollars for each head of cow they own.

Here, our farmers for instance in Kano will have to hire and fuel trucks to ferry their farm products to Lagos. Instead of government subsidy as an incentive, what the farmers get is illegal taxation. Between Kano and Lagos, hired trucks will have to pay illegal tolls in more than 20 spots. They have to cope with the Nigeria Police, federal road safety officials and vehicle inspectors.

They have various local government touts in as many of the local government areas they traverse.

Beyond periodic call for sacrifice to satisfy their greed, it doesn’t appear there is much our government is doing to protect the masses of Nigerians. We have now been told we consume imported rice that had been kept in the silos for an upward of 15 years. We are at the mercy of importers of fake drugs, fake motor parts, fake tires, fake generators and fraudulent investors that exploit our youths as daily paid workers paying slave wages.

Nigerian telephone users perhaps pay more than consumers elsewhere in the world. In the three countries, cited, calls within the same network are virtually free while subscribers pay only for international calls. The telephone service providers, taking the advantage of our huge population are smiling to the banks with huge profits at the expense of Nigerian subscribers. They know how to play their cards with the government and the media.

Electricity supply is not only erratic, it is expensive. The tariff was again recently hiked from N6/kilowatt to N8.50k in less than a year after the first hike by PHCN. The implication of this is that consumers don’t have a choice but pay whatever imaginary figures PHCN slam on them.

Those who have meters are not faring better. For instance after paying 50 thousand naira for PHCN meter, the consumer is forced to pay between N1, 200 and N1, 500 as meter service charges every month.

The Bayelsa conundrum

By Bisi Ejekwu used to further attack and disparage the president as a man who can not keep the peace even in his own home? Or as some sceptics would ask, is the President trying to use his federal might to orchestrate the current state of suspense in Bayelsa?

For most people not steeped in the murky waters of Nigerian politics, it may be difficult to know where all this is going to. But as every one knows, the governorship election in Bayelsa State did not hold in April 2011 along with those of five other States. Before the high court overruled INEC, the parties had held their primaries, elected their candidates for governorship and submitted same to INEC. By that ruling, the governorship election in Bayelsa was postponed till 2012. So many months after the general elections, INEC has now woken from its slumber and is pressing for a ruling to the effect that the High Court was wrong in extending the tenure of the affected governors.

In a nation where it is generally held that the judiciary is up for sale to the highest bidder (remember the Salami saga?), the question now is: who is beating the drum for this latest bravado by INEC? But before you hazard any guess, it is important to speculate what will happen in Bayelsa and the five other states should the Supreme Court come to a different ruling from the lower courts. Strictly speaking, the governors and their deputies will automatically step down and the Speakers of their various Houses of Assembly will assume the mantle of leadership. Then the sleeping EFCC will

wake up from its slumber, chase the exgovernors and their deputies for just or for no cause whatever as the ‘harmless’ president and his enforcers in Abuja anoint their chosen ones to run on the ticket of the ruling party.

On paper this sounds very simple. But I can assure you that this is a harbinger for instability the like of which the nation has not seen in a long time. To be sure, the governors will not go down without a fight. To chase them off before the elections with EFCC and the courts will further scandalize the anti-corruption agency and lower its already low standing in the eyes of right-thinking members of our nation and the international community.

Secondly, there will be no better way to heat up the polity than embarking on this gambit. Third, the unrepentant militants who have remained dormant for some time now will find the excuse and the space to come back to ‘business.’

The other thing the ruling PDP must consider is the combined effects of sections 33 and 35 of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended. Can any party legitimately hound a governor who is yet to be convicted out of a race for which he has been nominated by the party in a primary and his name has been submitted to INEC as the party’s representative merely because the election was delayed by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction?

I respectfully submit that it is not open to a party to substitute a candidate whose name has already been submitted to INEC as the party’s candidate on the mere ground that that election was postponed by order of court. The only condition

It is only in Nigeria consumers are subjected to this type of rip-off.

Contrary to government’s claim, it is obvious that their decision to remove fuel subsidy is borne out of greed. While most of the ongoing contracts are yet to be executed, they are looking for justification to award more to them. The current exercise, which Labour has described as government declaration of war against Nigerians and a recipe for ‘chaos and anarchy’, was as a result of government’s desire to increase spending by 4.8 trillion naira next year. The next year budget anchored on the sale of 2.48 million barrel a day at a cost of $75per barrel will still leave a shortfall of N771 billion. They want that expected shortfall to be paid for by eighty percent of Nigerians who live below a dollar a day.

But we have not been told how this sacrifice will affect the president and his ministers, the governors and their over blown staff strength who depend on government for everything. It is not extended to the Senate and the lower House that has already budgeted N1.2 trillion for 360 cars to be fueled at government expense. It will not affect their outrageous salaries.

The recent Presidential Assessment Committee disclosed that of the 11,886 projects MDAs were executing, there were 33 projects per constituency for members of the House of Representatives and 109 projects per Senatorial constituency. Of this, the report shows that N2.696 trillion have been paid to contractors while the projects remain uncompleted. The Guardian described this ‘father Christmas –style of anticipatory release of funds from the safety of federal treasury for jobs not yet done, as amounting to unconscionable waste of resources’ Government has not meted out sanction against those who derailed the $16 billion power project. No one has been held accountable for the derailed Lagos-Kano 1300 kilometres project that by their projection would have been completed in 2012.Those who sabotaged the turnaround maintenance (TAM) of the refineries are leading lights of this government.

Nothing has changed to indicate the president is capable of restraining his greedy PDP legislators from siphoning the nation’s resources through cronies in the name of constituency projects. This government therefore has no moral right to inflict further sufferings on Nigerian commuters, farmers and government workers on minimum wage of either N7500 or proposed N18, 000.

under which the party is allowed to substitute a candidate is where the candidate has died or is incapacitated or has voluntarily withdrawn from the race or from the party and he has put his position in writing to his party.

As several commentators have stated, the PDP will be handing over the reigns of power in the affected states to the opposition by default if it ventures to substitute candidates it had already submitted to INEC for the same elections.

On mere technicality, the opposition will clinch victory from the jaws of defeat.

All said, the wise path to follow is either to allow the primaries already held to stand or to use the current state party structures to hold new primaries if directed in writing to do so by INEC. If the second option is followed all the parties will be affected and none will take advantage to clinch the position merely by resort to litigation. Finally, though we all strive to have an independent INEC, where as in this case, its pursuit of the current appeal might lead to a breakdown of law and order, then it must be prevailed upon to abandon its appeal and work hard towards giving Nigerians an even freer and more credible election.

•Ejekwu writes from Lagos

‘All said, the wise path to follow is either to allow the primaries already held to stand or to use the current state party structures to hold new primaries if directed in writing to do so by INEC. If the second option is followed all the parties will be affected and none will take advantage to clinch the position merely by resort to litigation’

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

23

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

24

41

NATION SPORT Agbonlahor ready to face City ASTON VILLA manager Alex McLeish says Gabriel Agbonlahor should be fit to face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

The speedy forward has beaten the back problem which forced him out of England’s Euro 2012 qualifier in Montenegro.

However, Nathan Delfouneso looks set to miss out after picking up a hamstring tear which could keep him out of Villa’s next two games.

“Gabby has trained this week and as long as nothing interrupts his training schedule on Thursday and Friday he should be fine for City,” said McLeish.

“I am disappointed for Nathan as I think his hamstring prevented him playing the rest of the game.

Also it has maybe cost him a couple of games here. I don’t think it is too bad but sometimes sprinters get these injuries more than others.

“He has got to do a bit of preventative work in the gym and I’m sure Adrian Lamb will help him attain stronger hamstrings that enable him to make his bursts from start to finish in games.”

The Football365 fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

NIGERIA/GHANA FALLOUT

Outcome won’t affect our verdict, says NFF • Confirms receipt of Siasia’s response to query

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HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has reiterated that the goaless draw got by the Super Eagles on Tuesday night friendly match with the Black Stars of Ghana at the Vicarage Road, Watford, England would be of little relevance of the sort on the decision it will take on the country’s senior national team when its Technical Committee meets today in Abuja.

Nigeria drew 2-2 with the Syli Stars of Guinea in the final round of the qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations slated for Gabon and Equatorial Guinea next year where a win could have guaranteed at least a best runner up berth to the 2012 soccer fiesta and in a chat with the Chairman of the Technical Committee of the NFF, Barrister Christopher Green he expressed that the goalless draw was on no effect and insignificant since the Eagles fall short of expectations when it mattered most last Saturday in Abuja.

According to Green”It will be of no effect at all I can assure you that. We missed it on Saturday when we drew in a match a win was very crucial when we played Guinea. What sort of goalless draw in a friendly game against Ghana?

When it matters most is when it is important. The Eagles inexplicably drew at home to Guinea in a tie we needed a at all cost and the team’s technical crew must take responsibility for the inaction of the squad.

Liverpool to bid for Ogbonna • Agbonlahor

Junior Osagie, Barnabas rejoin Enyimba ENYIMBA will Sunday attempt to overturn a 1-0 advantage of Wydad Casablanca in the CAF Champions League semi-final second leg with the help of strikers Junior Osagie and Victor Barnabas.

Osagie and Barnabas have missed the team’s last five matches but are now back training with the Nigerian champions in Enugu ahead of the crucial Champions League tie against their Moroccan rivals.

Former Club Africain of Tunisia striker Osagie stayed away from the team, while Barnabas was injured in a road accident.

Both are very experienced strikers and will therefore be expected to deal with the pressure they will face on Sunday as they fight back to qualify for the Champions League final.

Enyimba lacked firepower in the first clash in Casablanca with only Uche Kalu upfront as they played a very defensive game with three central defenders providing goalkeeper Paul Godwin extra cover.

Kalu and leftback Valentine Nwaebili are the leading scorers for Enyimba in this year’s Champions League with three goals apiece.

The other returnee to ‘The People’s Elephant’ is Chijoke Ejiogu, whose experience and penalty-stopping prowess could come in handy against Wydad this weekend.

“He has a new attitude now and that is why is he back in the squad,” a top team official informed MTNFootball.com.

LIVERPOOL are ready to firm up their interest in Torino defender Angelo Ogbonna.

Despite Toro’s Serie B status, Ogbonna has been involved with the Italy senior squad this year.

The Granata expect Liverpool to bid for their star defender in January and have learned a •16 million offer is being drawn up.

Ogbonna remarked last week: “Liverpool? A dream club, I love the Premier League and one day maybe I’ll play there.”

• Ogbonna

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri “Something has to be done and we have to move forward. Tomorrow (today) we are looking at what the coach has answered to his query and the reasons why he didn’t win and we can now think of the way forward. The NFF has always ensured all the teams are given enabling environment with which to thrive no wonder administratively we do not fail to do our duties and we leave the rest to them to fulfill their own part of the agreement.

“I thank God that every Nigerian is saying that we have given the Super Eagles all the support that could ever think of with which to succeed and even more. It is now left to the technical crew to tell us what actually transpired.

Same view was also expressed by another member of the NFF Technical Committee, Christian Chukwu in a separate interview. He stated that even though the draw against Ghana was a positive result after the fallout of the disappointment of missing out on the AFCON 2012, but it will be of little effect on what the verdict of the Committee would be after deliberations.

Meanwhile, the Technical Committee of the NFF has confirmed that the chief coach of the Super Eagles, Samson Yebowei Siasia has replied the query issued him in the aftermath of the 2-2 draw the team had against Guinea, a result which eliminated Nigeria among the elite sixteen countries that will take part in the AFCON 2012 for the first time since 1986 when Zambia halted the then dreams of the Green Eagles.

The Chairman, Technical Committee of the NFF, Barrister Chris Green who made this available to SportingLife disclosed that the Committee will pore over the response of Siasia regarding the Eagles’ ouster from AFCON and thereafter recommend actions that will be taken for the interest of the country’s football.

EAGLES’ NATIONS CUP CRASH

Jonathan to chart way forward N

IGERIA’S President Goodluck Jonathan may have been shocked by the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2012 Nations Cup and will be involved in the decisions on the team, according to sports minister Yusuf Sulaiman.

“Mr. President like every Nigerian I am sure was shocked about this (failure to qualify for Nations Cup). Whatever he decides to do, I will covey it to you.

But I cannot pre-empt what he wants to do,” Suleiman told MTNFootball.com in Abuja.

The minister insisted that there was a need for wide-range consultations on the way forward for Nigerian football before decisions on the future of coach Samson Siasia and the team are taken.

“We are going to sit down and take a critical look at what really happened.

We don’t want to apportion blame but we want to find out what really happened,” said the sports minister.

“I sat with my DG (Director General, Patrick Ekeji) and we agreed that we will not do any bandwagon approach and fire brigade approach on this issue.

“What we usually do in Nigeria is that when you have that kind of problem you go back and come out with very drastic measures saying sack this one, sack that one and that has not helped the matter in any way.

“There may be faults from us as officials so don’t reduce everything to the players or to the coach. There are

• Siasia

• Jonathan

things that even myself as minister may not know until we sit down and give everybody the opportunity to explain and find out what happened before we can take a decision.

“If the problem were specific to Nigeria, then you can take drastic measures, but the problem is not specific to Nigeria. It has turned out that Nigeria, South Africa, Algeria, Cameroon and Egypt, the major football power houses in Africa, have not qualified.

“So, you cannot go back and take a unilateral action (decision) because I think the problem is becoming endemic. I want to believe that young

nations like our neighbours here Niger and even Guinea that we played against, their players are more hungry to succeed and participate than our players who feel they are already established.”

He added: “If you saw the game, it had to do more with hunger that is why when our two young boys were introduced, Uche and Ahmed, many people were saying can you see. It does not mean that Ahmed and Uche were better than those that they substituted, but it was because they are younger and hungry for success.

“This is the kind of thing that we want to come back and encourage and tell the Super Eagles to let them

understand that when you go out to play for Nigeria, it is not just the 11 of you who are on the pitch, but it is the over 150 million Nigerians who are on the pitch.

“So, whatever you do translates to the psyche and emotions of the 150 million people and it is not good to play with the emotions of 150 million people because the consequences could be catastrophic.”

The technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation will now meet in Abuja Thursday to make recommendations to the NFF board on the way forward for the national team.

“I don’t want to pre-empt what the NFF would do but whatever they would do I will sit down with them to see the issue of a national team and national participation in the International sporting activities like African Nations Cup is beyond the NFF,” said Sulaiman..

“It is an issue that every single Nigerian is interested in and at that level it goes beyond just that.

“When I met with the players I told them Nigerians do not see them as just a mere football team. They see them as symbol of national cohesiveness and as a symbol of national consciousness and they cannot afford to play on the emotions of Nigerians.

I think we are going to look at it from that point of view.”

R

OY Hodgson is hoping that Nigeria striker Peter Odemwingie’s form does not drop for West Bromwich Albion, after the forward came under criticism whilst playing for his national side.

The striker was accused of not making enough of an impact in Nigeria’s 2-2 draw with Guinea, which meant the country failed to qualify for next year’s African Cup of Nations.

This is the first time a Nigerian side has failed to qualify for the tournament since 1986, but the Baggies manager hopes that Odemwingie is strong enough to bounce back to form against Wolves in their upcoming match.

“Sometimes it works for you and sometimes against you,” Hodgson told the club’s official website.

“The last thing Peter needed at the moment was to go and be heavily criticised in Nigeria but we could have been lucky, he could have gone to Nigeria, had a wonder-game, scored three goals and been carried off as the hero - and that would have helped us a great deal.

“It’s just one of those things and there’s nothing we can do about it except make certain that when he comes back he divorces Nigeria from West Bromwich Albion.

“We think here he is a very good player, we believe in him very much, we think he’s going to be the man alongside Shane

• Wants candidate to resume work immediately From Tunde Liadi, Owerri

T

• Aiyegbeni

F

ORMER Everton physio Mick Rathbone claims Blackburn striker Yakubu is ‘in the shape of his life’ following his return from injury.

Rathbone, who played more than 300 appearances for Rovers between 1979 and 1987, has spoken out about the 28-year-old Nigerian hitman after boss Steve Kean snapped him up from Everton during the summer transfer window.

Rathbone helped Yakubu get back to full fitness after he suffered a long-

• Blames Eagles’ AFCON ouster

‘Aiyegbeni in form of his life’ term serious Achilles injury while at Goodison Park and he feels the player is now at his best and guaranteed that he will score goals at Ewood Park.

On, ‘the Yak’, who scored twice on his home debut to help see off Arsenal 4-3 last month, Rathbone told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph: “I think he is in the shape of his life. He’s a big strong unit but he’s in great shape

at the moment.

“Don’t expect him to run 30km in a game, but get the ball in to him around the box and he will score goals.

“Do you come back 100 per cent after an injury like that? That’s debatable.

But you can come back, look at David Beckham and countless other examples.

“It’s credit to him, you have to put a

lot of work in and he did that. It is one of the worst injuries you can get, I think it’s worse than a cruciate ligament.

“I think he’s looking okay at the moment. I saw him play against Newcastle and Arsenal. He just needs a run of 10 games and he will score goals in the Premier League, I’ve no doubt about that.”

Long, and possibly Tchoyi and Cox, who are going to keep us in this division.

“We need to make certain he understands that.

“We can’t help what’s going on in Nigeria, we just have to make certain he comes to terms with that and deals with it.

“We will make it clear it has no impression on us whatsoever and, as far as we’re concerned, he is the Peter Odemwingie of West Bromwich Albion that we appreciate, are impressed by and we know will do very well, even though in 38 games he will play some very good ones, some pretty good ones and some not so good ones, because that’s what front players do.

“I don’t think there’s any front player in the world who is different.

“Against Bayern Munich [Manchester City’s Sergio] Aguero was taken off the field after 60 minutes after three or four games previously running the show.

“It doesn’t make him a bad player; it just means it’s not his night.”

The West Brom boss went on to say that although the international break had a potentially negative effect on Odemwingie, it has boosted other players in the squad.

“National team games can work for you or against you,” he said

Eguavoen admits pressure to qualify

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NFF to deliberate on appointment today

affect you

FINAL LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS

HIEF Coach of the National U23 Austin Eguavoen on Wednesday admitted that his team is under pressure to qualify for the London 2012 Olympics.

The Dream Team has since resumed camp preparatory for the final lap of qualification for the football event of the quadrennial games in an 8Nation tournament.

The former Eagles’ coach was, however, quick to add that the pressure on the team is understandable following the failure of the Super Eagles to make the 2012 Africa cup of Nations and the Dream Team V inability to feature at the just ended All Africa games.

“Whether we like it or not this team is under pressure. And it is understandable because of the ouster of the Eagles from the Africa cup of Nation and our inability to make the last All Africa games therefore we cannot afford not to deliver the 2012 Olympic tickets to Nigerians. We all know how passionate our country is when it comes to football matters, so we cannot afford to give this country another heart break” Eguavoen declared while addressing his player during Wednesday morning training Session.

The Benin City born coach who has been in Abuja sorting out his travel plans to see select players in Europe added that at the end of yesterday’s training session, the camp doors would be closed on testing of recommended players from top class coaches in the country.

“Time is not on our side, as you all

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR’S JOB

HOUGH the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will only meet today to decide the fate of the technical crew of the Super Eagles over the team’s inability to qualify for the 2012 African Cup of Nations, NationSport reports that the committee will decide on one of the issues that will form deliberations.

Speaking with NationSport in an exclusive interview the source opined that the post of a Technical Director which will oversee the activities of all the national teams in the country’s football team shall be discussed and a decision to be taken almost immediately in order for the post to be declared vacant for interested persons.

“What we are looking at which has always be on the card is to create room for a technical director somebody that should be in charge of the national teams as it were and proffer technical solutions to thier problems.” The source indicated On the supposed likelihood of conflicts between the would-be technical director and the chief coaches of the national teams the source informed that, “Their roles must be defined. In clubs and in some countries we have the post of the technical director and sporting directors. We will ensure that their roles are defined so that there won’t be tension of any sort.

The position will be declared vacant very soon.” He added.

NATION SPORT Gambo will HODGSON TO OSAZE be banished Don’t allow Nigeria’s failure —Pillars GM

• Eguavoen

By Innocent Amomoh know we have approximately six weeks before our first game in the eight nation tournament. And you would agree with me that you cannot build an Olympic team in six weeks but that is all we have and we must make good use of it” “Therefore there is no more time to look at players; we need to hit the ground running on our tactical plans.

Please do not get me wrong and don’t be offended if you are asked to go, the truth is you are all talented but not all of you would fit into our plans” Eguavoen appealed.

The Dream Team V began camping on the 5th of this month at the Genesis hotel and suit in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano HE General Manager of Kano Pillars football club, Alhaji Abba Galadima has frowned at the manner in which the prolific striker of the club, Gambo Mohammed left the shores of the country to seek for greener pasture abroad without due process.

Abba, in an interview with Nation Sport in Kano yesterday declared that Gambo Mohammed, who left the country to seek for greener pasture, would be punished accordingly since he refused to follow the laid down procedure before jetting out.

“It was gathered that Gambo Mohammed left Kano through the Malam Aminu International Airport to Vietnam, where he proposed to fulfil his ambition to play for an international club.

“Gambo would definitely face punishment as he left Kano without the consent of the management of Kano Pillars and I assure you that the management would not hesitate to slam the appropriate punishment due to him when he returns.

“The Kano Pillars player should have followed the laid down procedure before embarking on such journey but to our astonishment he did not follow due process.

“We are not against his ambition to play in Europe but it would have been appropriate for him to follow the laid down procedure of the club. It would be for the good of the club if eventually he secures the club he intends to play for.”

Abba wished the Gambo good luck in his crave to get to the peak but however insisted that he would be punished accordingly for going against the rule of the club, saying, “Slamming a punishment on him would serve as deterrent to others who might have similar notion.”

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• Gambo

Give Siasia another chance—Ndubuoke • Tasks Eagles’ coach on home-based players S Nigerian football faithfuls gradually come to terms with the fact that Super Eagles will not feature at the next edition of the Nations Cup, General Manager of Heartland FC, Fan Ndubuoke has advised against sacking chief coach, Samson Siasia. This is even as he tasked Siasia to get the home-based players more involved in the national team.

His words; “Our failure was a collective one. All sectors of our football administration didn’t seem to do the right thing. On the eve of the match, I was at Transcorp Hilton till late in the night and I saw the players loitering about receiving visitors. This wouldn’t have happened in the era of Late Emeka Omeruah. It wasn’t the responsibility of Siasia to keep those players in their rooms. The team has a camp commandant who should ensure the enforcement of camp rules”.

He continued; “I am not exonerating Siasia from the failure. For instance, I fault his decision to keep Ike Uche and Ahmed Musa on the bench in such a match that we needed to win at all cost. These boys being on the bench in the first half gave the Guineans the leeway to frustrate the Eagles in the first half and when they were able to contain the Nigerians in the first half, they had the job half done. They only delivered the killer punch in the

A

second half. Siasia should have thrown all his strongest ammunitions into the fray from the blast of the whistle.

“But do you blame Siasia for featuring Osaze? The same Nigerians who were criticizing him for suspending Osaze are the ones blaming him for fielding him. Imagine what would have happened if he didn’t start Osaze. That would have resulted to Osaze being on the bench” Nevertheless, Ndubuoke believes Siasia deserves a second chance.

“We don’t need to sack Siasia. Don’t forget that we have the World Cup qualifiers coming up soon just as there is another Nations Cup in 2013. For continuity sake, let’s leave Siasia there.

But this time, he has to place more premium on the home-based players.

We didn’t need more than five or six foreign-based in that team. The boys I saw last Saturday lacked commitment.

We now have to insist that the team be built around home-based players.

“I have been involved in the league all season and I can vouch for the quality of players that feature in the local scene. We shouldn’t waste our resources on players who don’t deserve it. Siasia now has to move round the league venues and fish out hungry players who will show more commitment to the national course”, he added.

25

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

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

email:- education@thenationonlineng.com

•Entrance of IMT, Enugu

With the withdrawal of all programmes of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) by the National Board for Technical Education last month, there is uncertainty in the institution.

CHRIS ORJI, who visited the polytechnic last week, reports on how underfunding led the institution to overshoot its approved carrying capacity.

IMT: How underfunding stopped T the beat HE withdrawal of the accreditation of all ND and HND programmes of the Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Enugu, Enugu State, by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), regulatory body for polytechnic/colleges of education is a bitter pill to swallow for the school authorities, teachers and students whose fates now hang in the balance.

Last month, the NBTE axed all programmes offered by IMT for overshooting its carrying capacity.

NBTE also restrained IMT from admitting new students, putting on hold the mobilisation of its graduates for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

The NBTE Executive Secretary Masu‘du Kazaure, who announced the withdrawal at the board’s headquarters in Kaduna, said the move was necessitated by IMT’s “flagrant abuse of approved standards for operating institutions.”

He said since 2005, IMT has been “enmeshed in activities which are in sharp contrast to relevant provisions and prescribed basic minimum standards for HD and HND accreditation.”

Kazaure said IMT produces 15,000 graduates yearly, crowding the NYSC with its over-bloated army of graduate, a development which, he added, compelled the NYSC authorities to petition NBTE for verification and necessary action.

He said the board, during investigation, realised that since 2005, there was a gap between IMT’s enrollment data and graduate turnout when placed side by side NBTE approved carrying capacity for all accredited programmes for the school.

“The Directorate of NYSC has been written and advised to kindly put on hold mobilisation of all IMT, Enugu graduates for NYSC. The Joint Admissions and Matricu-

lation Board is also to stop admission into ND programmes of the institution.

“This action should serve as a deterrent to all the institutions under the regulatory purview of NBTE, who are in the habit of violating the basic academic minimum standard, as well as operating illegal outreach and satellite campuses,” Kazaure added.

However, activities at IMT were in full swing as the students were writing their second semester examinations when The Nation visited the school last week.

Our reporter, who spoke to students, particularly the HND 2 students, who seem to be at the receiving end of the NBTE hammer, said though the axing was bad, yet, it did not jolt them. They expressed

confidence in the management’s ability to sort out the problem with the NBTE before they are ready for NYSC mobilisation.

The reality of the withdrawal is now dawning on the students; nonetheless, they are questioning the rationale for the NBTE’s total rather than partial axing of the college’s programmes.

“Why should they (NBTE) de-accredit all departments? They should have axed those departments with large number of students. Why don’t they conduct their investigation properly. There are some of the departments with average number of students, those students should have been spared,” said a student that pleaded anonymity.

“And why can’t NBTE restrain

those departments with large numbers of students alone from proceeding on their NYSC?” asked another student.

“Their action is as good as closing down the school. We can only hope NBTE realises the implication of its action on us as well as potential students.”

Reacting to the development, the Rector, Prof Edwin Onyeneje, tried to allay the fears of students, describing the withdrawal as “temporary” and not “total closure” of the institution as was being speculated.

Onyeneje told our reporter: “The way they have decided to check it is to have our accreditation withdrawn. So, it is clear that we understand it that it is the accreditation that has been withdrawn not that the institution was shut down or clamped down. That is not true.

Other normal activities are still •Continued on Page 26

• FEMALE IS RUN VALEDICTORIAN - Page 26• ‘NECO IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MASS FAILURE’ - Page 37

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

26

EDUCATION

Another female emerges valedictorian at Redeemer’s varsity

M

ISS Ayomide Oluwadare carted away eight prizes at the convocation of the Redeemer's University, Mowe, Ogun State, on Saturday.

Mis Oluwadare, who graduated with a First Class in Computer Studies with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.96, received the Visitor's prize of N50,000, the ViceChancellor's prize, College prize and the Dean's prize, among others.

In her valedictory speech, she urged her colleagues not to be contented with living, but also use their talents to make life better for others.

She said: ''Rather than going with orthodox ways of existing, life would be better if all understand our purpose, strive so hard to achieve it and make the world a better place, starting with our environment. It is, no doubt, that there are books yet to be written, innovations to be found or transformed, songs yet to be composed, to name a few."

She called for a consolidation of their victories and implored them to learn from their experiences. She also advised her colleagues to build, rather than forget the values they acquired during their undergraduate days.

Miss Oluwadare is not the first female valedictorian of the school’s convocation history. This was also confirmed by the university’s ViceChancellor, Prof Zachariah Adeyewa.

Said Adeyewa: ''We are happy to note that female students have continued to excel more than their male counterparts. In the last two years, the best graduating student has been a female."

Adeyewa said from the initial enrolment figure of 473, the institution’s population now stand at 2,955.

At the event, 341 students gradu-

By Adegunle Olugbamila and Joseph Eshanokpe

ated.

He said the the university alumni are making their marks in their chosen careers. ''Today, the Redeemer's University has produced 13 chartered accountants, 20 marketers and four insurers. Of the 34 graduates who are pursuing higher degrees, only eight are studying abroad and in flying colours. All the graduates were given direct admission for postgraduate studies without recourse to remedial studies. Some of our graduates are already working in reputable organisatins at home and abroad."

To beef up the teaching crew, he said the university has planned to employ its best graduates in the next five years. ''This year, 23 of our best students were appointed graduate assistants and we hope to sponsor all of them for their Masters and doctoral degree programmes. The university has also continued to provide scholarship to numerous students in our bid to promote quality education," he added.

Other achievements of RUN, Adeyewa added, include accreditation of all its courses by the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Accounting programme by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). This week, he further said, the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) will visit RUN to accredit its advertising course in Mass Communication.

He commended the pioneer ViceChancellor, Prof Oyewale Tomori, whose tenure has just ended, for his contributions to the institution founded by The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). He promised to push the vision of the founders which, he said, includes making RUN responsive to the de-

•A cross section of the excited graduates ... on Saturday. Inset: Oluwadare

mands of the 21st Century and one that is reputed for excellence in research, innovation, teaching and staff welfare. He said the movement of the university to its permanent site was his priority.

Adeyewa advised the new graduates to depend on God, be hard working, righteous and excellent. ''Follow the footsteps of your predecessors, who are making us proud in their chosen careers," he counselled.

RUN Pro-Chancellor Prof F. Aboaba also commended Tomori for taking the school to a greater height, saying his seven-year tenure witnessed tremendous improvement in the institution.

RCCG's General Overseer, who is also RUN's Visitor, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, praised the Board of Trustees, the pioneer vice-chancellor and fresh graduates.

Pastor Adeboye, who spoke extempore, advised: ''Don't leave

here with just the certificate; go with the anointing.When you meet challenges, remember what you have been taught. But, also, make your own plans.

'In the moment of crisis, remember God. You are bound to meet crisis. It is the nature of life. It is written in the Bible."

Before praying for them, he reminded them that they are about to start life. ''But I can assure you that tomorrow will be well,'' he assured.

IMT: How underfunding stopped the beat •Continued from Page 25

going on within the institute.”

He, however, explained that the implication of the accreditation being withdrawn is that the admission process for new students would be put on hold until the matter is resolved while those awaiting to be mobilised for NYSC would also be put on hold until the matter is sorted out.

“It is a gradual process because we cannot throw overboard those who are already enrolled in the programmes; and I believe by the time we come to two, three, four years when those of them who had already come in would go, the issue of over enrollment will not be a thing again in IMT,” Onyeneje said.

But the problem appears to have its root in underfunding which started shortly after East Central State was split into Anambra and Imo states, necessitating the need for the latter to have its autonomy.

Established by the then administrator of the defunct East Central State, the late Ajie Ukpabi Asika, soon after the civil war. The IMT, Enugu was structured to function like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States. With that in mind, Asika was able to convince a renowned scholar, Prof Mark Chijioke to return home from the American institute where he was teaching to become the IMT’s first rector.

Chijioke set a high and enviable standard in academic life and character of the students of the institution.

The institution’s fame was informed by the high quality of staff, in addition to proper funding by

the then East Central State government. After the East Central State was split into Anambra and Imo states, the two states continued to fund it until the latter founded its own polytechnic, passing the responsibility of the funding to the former.

From then, the institution began to go through tough times. But when Anambra was split into Anambra and Enugu states, the former stopped funding the school and it became too big for Enugu State alone to finance.

Sources said when the Federal Government wanted to takeover the school, the then military governor on the advice of elders of the state refused. Rather, the elders conceded the College of Education at Eha-Amufu to the Federal Government. That was when Prof Ben Nwabueze held sway as the minister for Education.

“That was a costly blunder by our elders. They wrongly advised the military governor. Had they handed over IMT to the Federal Government then, the prestige and high standards of the school would have still been in place,” a lecturer who pleaded anonymity said: Today, IMT is living in past glory.

The school is too big for the state government to finance from its meagre income. Sources told The Nation that the institution receives a little over N20 million monthly from the government which, according to the source, cannot even take care of staff salaries, let alone overheads.

The poor financing led the management to introduce avenues to jack up the school’s internally-generated revenue.

The authorities increased its en-

rollment figures without recourse to (NBTE) guidelines and the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) Directorate. Sources said while the NBTE admission benchmark for the school is about 2000 yearly, the school will be overshooting its carrying capacity of the NYSC by over 150 percent.

For some time, the NYSC overlooked this trend until the recent change of its director-general. Incidentally or ironically, the new man at the helm of affairs of the NYSC served last at the 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu.

The NYSC petitioned the NBTE that the number of students IMT sends for the service far outnumbers the number allotted it, urging the NBTE to call the management of the school to order.

The Nation further gathered that admitting more than its carrying capacity was because of the financial consideration. The more the students, the more the money realised to run the school. Some departments, especially those of the management sciences, overshot their admissions by over 200 percent.

The institution introduced the Evening Programme (EVP). The EVP students, upon admission, were made to sign an undertaken, that they would not participate in the NYSC on graduation. This they agreed to abide with. But this led to another protest by the students when they got to know that their not taking part in the NYSC scheme after graduation means they are over aged. Most of them are less than 30.

The students took their protest to the Enugu State House of Assembly, which invited the rector

to give an explanation. However, they won the war, and were allowed to participate in the NYSC alongside regular students for some years until this current imbroglio.

“As I said”, Prof Onyeneje continued, “the matter was traced far back before my administration but I suspect that it is because of the circumstances of the moment that led to it. One is the pressure coming from the society, a number of people coming out from secondary school looking for institutions to attend, and IMT is prominently positioned in this part of the country. Being a regional polytechnic,

there is no way you can avoid this pressure.

“Also, as a state polytechnic, the state government finds it very difficult to fully subvent the cost of running because it is capital-intensive. So, to increase internal revenue to complement the effort of government, there is an indirect pressure to take students.

“We have spoken at so many fora of the need for the Federal Government to come to the aid of state polytechnics because we produce manpower for this very nation, no matter the percentage; the states are not all that buoyant to take care of some of these things.”

“Sounds like a public relations move to disguise public university neglect!”

27

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

EDUCATION WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY

Jonathan promises to prioritise education, teachers •Commends Teachers’contribution to national development

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has again promised to pay more attention to education and teachers.

Jonathan said at the President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Award to commemorate the World Teachers Day celebration in Abuja, that top priority would be placed on education and teachers to achieve the Vision 20:2020 and his administration’s Transformation Agenda.

He said the greatness of a nation does not depend on physical structures, but on minds which are moulded by teachers.

Represented by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, President Jonathan stressed that the influence of the teachers on people is deeply rooted and so must be supported to ensure that the educational needs of the future generation is adequately met.

He said: “Let me on behalf of our fellow citizens sincerely express our appreciation and limitless gratitude to our teachers for their immense contributions to nation building.

“As we match towards our transformation journey, we have placed top priority in education and the teachers in this respect. This is for us to make progress and take our part among the community of nations. The importance and intense responsibility of the teaching profession cannot be over emphasized; a teacher’s influence is deeply rooted and reflects on the lives of the people he teaches and must be supported to ensure that the educational needs of our future generation are adequately met.”

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

Jonathan stressed that the theme for this year’s World Teachers’ Day, Teachers for gender equality, was very important and apt, in view of the prevailing gender-related issues affecting education in the country.

He, however, noted that teaching had the distinct advantage of being one of the few professions that had accommodated more females than males in the country. ``In Nigeria today and as far as the teaching profession is concerned, there are more female than male teachers. So, there is no question of gender inequality against women but it is probably against men,” he said.

The President, nonetheless, gave the assurance that his administration was gender-sensitive, saying that this was reflected by the appointment of several women into cabinet and advisory positions in the nation.

On the Girl-Child Education Project, Jonathan said the project had made some feats in girls’enrolment and retention in schools, adding that the project was being scaled up to cover more states with high gender disparity.

He stressed that the project was also addressing issues relating to the inadequate number of female teachers in the schools of beneficiary states via the Female Teachers Scholarship Scheme (FTSS), which entailed scholarship awards to young girls, who were receiving training as teachers in the state colleges of education and promised to collabo-

•Vice-President Namadi Sambo (right) presenting the Best Governor of the Year Award to Cross State Governor Liyel Imoke in Abuja. With them is the Minister of Education, Prof Ruquayyatu Rufa’i.

rate with all state governments to design innovative strategies for training and deployment of female teachers from within states to work particularly in the rural areas where teacher deployment always pose a challenge.

President Goodluck Jonathan also reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to promote the teachers’ welfare and urged the teachers to always strive to achieve excellence.

In her remark, the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, said that her ministry had embarked on the revitalisation of ``Science, Technical and Vocational Education’’ to engender a more vibrant and responsive system for the production

of competent teachers in the field of science and technology.

She called on state governments, the private sector and other stakeholders to contribute to the growth of education and teachers’ training so as to enhance the country’s socioeconomic, political and technological development. ``The acceleration of our sustainable economic growth and development rests squarely on the empowerment of teachers and the enhancement of the teaching profession,” she said.

National President of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, (NUT) Mr Michael Olukoya, called on employers of teachers to implement the national minimum wage and the

‘Blame politicians for unstable for education policies’

P

OLITICIANS have received knocks for the failure of education policies of the Federal Government.

They were accused of being only interested in securing admissions for their children into tertiary institutions.

Speaking at the World Teachers’ Day at Adeyemi College of Education Ondo in Ondo State, a don, Prof.

Akin Aderoba, said the country is being governed by confused leaders, and that this has resulted in a confused nation.

At the event, the Chairman of Education Committee, Federal House of

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

Representatives Hon. Farouk Lawan was honoured with “A Distinguished Leadership in Education Award” Aderoba, who was the chairman of the event, said the stabilisation of education policies was the only way to bring development to the education system.

He said: “I was among the first students who benefitted from the late (Obafemi) Awolowo’s free education and during that period, the country could be proud of types of student it produced because before you could get admission into tertiary institu-

tions, you must be brilliant and serious with your academics.

“During our time, we wrote an examination called Higher School Certificate (HSC) and which was the toughest.You could only move on to the next level when you have passed.

But, when our politicians discovered the system was not favouring their families, they changed the policies to grant admission for their children. Now, this changing of education policies has brought our education system to critical condition.

“Today in Nigeria, many of our graduates are more or less illiterates. Our leaders have killed the

•Members of Nigeria Union of Teachers Cross River State Chapter, during the march-past

technical colleges making it the last hope not too –lucky candidates which should not be so. I believe this is another major reason why unemployment is rampant in the society.

Lawan urged the government to focus on technical and colleges of education institutions, adding that they have more impact on the society than other institutions.

In his address, the college Provost Prof. Idowu Adeyemi, who also urged the government to encourage technical education, added that it was premised on the availability of good and quality education at all levels.

attendant teachers 27.5 per cent allowance to avoid over-heating the industrial space of the country’s education sector’. ``Teachers will stop at nothing and will do everything possible to ensure that the negotiated teachers’ enhanced allowance is preserved and protected at all times,” he said.

Lagos teachers seek allowances payment

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

T

eachers in Lagos State public schools have urged Governor Babatunde Fashola to pay the Teachers’ Special Allowance (TSA).

Some, who spoke with The Nation during the World Teachers Day celebration by the National Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos Wing at the NUT Pavilion, Agidingbi, said the rehabilitation of schools and provision of facilities has brought public schools at par with their private counterparts, which has contributed to boosting their morale.

An excited Mrs Deborah Ajumobi, who teaches at Aiyetoro Primary School, Megbon, Mushin, pledged to give her best to reciprocate the government’s gesture.

“Today is a beautiful day and we thank God for what he has done. I, as a teacher, I am promising Nigeria we will do our best and make the nation great. Things have improved. ‘’Our governor has done great in Lagos. We support him and want him to support us by providing us with housing and car loans,” said Mrs Ajumobi, who is also the NUT Financial Secretary for Mushin, Lagos.

Confirming the changes, Principal of Army Cantonment Secondary School, Ikeja, Mrs Patricia Gbadegesin, said teachers are now enrolling their wards in public schools.

“Our governor is a light to the nation. A lot has improved in the school system. Most of our schools can conveniently and comfortably compete with standard private schools to the extent that teachers are withdrawing their children from private schools to public schools because we know what government has put in these schools,” she said.

Nevertheless, the teachers want to the government to expedite action on the TSA and other issues. Alhaji Hafeez Andoyi, NUT 1st Vice Chairman said teachers expect more.

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

EDUCATION

Akpabio tasks state varsity chancellor on excellence

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OVERNOR Godswill Akpabio of AkwaIbom State, has appealed to Alhaji Najib Hussaini Adamu, the Emir of Kazaure, Jigawa State, to assist in linking Akwa Ibom State University with partners around the world. He is also to engender in staff and students, a commitment to excellence.

Governor Akpabio made the appeal after installing Alhaji Adamu as the pioneer Chancellor of Akwa Ibom University at the University campus at Ikot Akpaden in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of the State. The event was attended by top government officials, academics, politicians, the community leaders and the management of the institution.

He expressed the hope that Alhaji Adamu would deploy his wealth of experience in boosting academic excellence

for the benefit of the institution.

Akpabio said:“To maximise the potential of the university, the government sought and found in him a man with many parts who towers in moral rectitude and accomplishment”.

Chief Akpabio said with the resounding success of the free and compulsory education policy of the state government, there was the need to use Akwa Ibom State University as a means of offering admissions to the army of students hungry for education.

He further said he has approved N2.1 billion “for the academic buildings, lecture rooms, laboratories, offices and hostels as well as the construction of a new Faculty of Management and Social Sciences at the Obio Okpa campus in Oruk Anam Local Government Area.”

Other plans for the university, Akpabio added, include the acquisition of a 50-unit housing estate for Mkpat Enin campus staff accommodation, the expansion of admission to meet National Universities Commission (NUC) admission quota of 800 new students allocated to the institution and the opening of the third campus in Oron.

He told the management

of the institution that he has approved the implementation of the new national salary scale to the university and commended the ViceChancellor, Prof Sunday Peters and the staff, for actualising the vision of the government.

In his response Alhaji Adamu, expressed his appreciation to Governor Akpabio.

He said: “I intend to be fa-

ther of all and I want the cooperation of all staff to help build a virile institution for the best of all,” he said.

He urged the students of the university to pursue their academic goals with all sense of responsibility and looked forward to being a chancellor of a university free of cultism, immorality anddiscrimination.”

Council chair canvasses teacher-community relations

C

ARETAKER Chairman of Afijio Local Government, Oyo State, Mr Oluade Olorode, has stressed the need to make teachers active members of their communities.

Addressing thousands of parents and guardians, who paid him a solidarity visit on the on-going rehabilitation of public primary schools at Jobele, Council headquarters, Mr Olorode said the local government would work on a proposal that would enhance better relationship between teachers and their host communities.

“The proposal will ensure that teachers re-discover their communities, such that will assist them in making teaching as a profession more effective and more socially relevant. It would also facilitate schools in the task of educating the young, fostering the growth of a democratic culture and its positive behaviourial attitudes at the local level, and generallyimproving the so-

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

cial milieu within which our children are reared and grow to adulthood.”

Before now, the situation in public primary schools in the area has forced hundreds of pupils, most of who are in the core rural areas to learn under shady trees and other environments that at in conducive to learning.

At the occasion, which also coincided with the presentation of free exercise books to all pubic primary schools, the Council Chairman pointed out that it is through this love of community that the young can be made to feel a deep and emotional commitment to the country.

“Besides the fact that the love of the community can help minimises the level of social alienation, and reduce incidence of delinquency and crime in the society, strong teacher.

Community relation should put the teacher in a

•Pupils of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos entertaining guests during the school Founder’s Day

much better position to protect his own welfare and interest, since in any dispute with the government, he (teacher) is likely to have a sympathetic community aligned on his side.”

Mr Olorode however, noted that until educational opportunities are provided uniformly for all children in this country, “it will be difficult to ensure that all Nigerians subscribe to the same work ethics, reacts to the same system of reward and penalty, share the same vision for the future of the country, as well as be prepared to work together for the realisation of that vision.”

Firm offers assistance in overseas education

A

NOTHER opportunity awaits potential Nigerians who wish to study overseas. Global Education Study Centre (GESK), a United Kingdom leading educational services and West African official partners of Kaplan International and Holborn College in the UK is out to help their them.

With offshoot in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, among others Jos, it has partners in

the UK, Malaysia, China, Cyprus, Ukraine, France, USA and Canada Prospective candidates, who want to secure a UK visa, can consult the organisation Lagos office or other offices nationwide.

Global Education Study Centre is reputed to be among the most successful visa advisory services in Nigeria, West Africa and an official partner of Kaplan international and

Holborn College in the UK. GESK Director-General Mick Howard, who just attended the African Recruitment Conference in London last week, will be returning to Nigeria this month.

The company’s directors said there are many reasons to choose Global Education Services from our fully trained advisors to the supporting events that it organises to help their potential clients on their journey to a better education and future.

According to information on the organisation’s website, when meeting prospective students, GESK said: “We will assess your application and offer advice on the best education for you. We take into account your education background and finances that are available and we work with publicly founded approved institutions and accredited private college and schools.”

•Gov Akpabio

29

Yoruba unite at Isokan day

Weird world of Ebelebo students

Page 34

Page 31

*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE

0805-450-3104 email: ladycampus@yahoo.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

Jos, the capital of Plateau State, and villages near it have become synonymous with crises. Since 2008, when they were in second year, current graduates from the University of Jos (UNIJOS) did not know peace. The last baptism of fire was an attack on their hostels in August. ESTHER MARK (400-L Mass Communication) reports.

•The UNIJOS main gate.

Farewell crises hit graduating students W

HEN in late August, final year students of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) wrote their last papers and organised a baptism of water and other fun activities to celebrate, little did they know that another crisis awaited them.

It all began on a Monday. Most of the students were through with their exams and, as such, the frenzy that is synonymous with hostels during exam periods had slowed down. Many residents around at this time were final year students who were putting finishing touches to their projects before leaving school.

Others were part-time students who were beginning their exams.

None saw trouble in sight. They were too engrossed in their activities to think any disturbance could occur in their environment. Then it came; and, sadly, without warning.

Though there were rumours of a likely upheaval in town, which had become “normal”, especially around celebrations, none

actually gave it a second thought. At best, it was dismissed as one of those ‘’baseless rumours”. But it seemed the recurring crisis in the state was to give the students a farewell party, one they would not forget in a hurry.

On that day, many had gone to their workplaces and markets. The atmosphere was calm and some part-time students had exams that morning. Some had written theirs while others were about to start. Then, gradually, rumours started making the rounds as police sirens were heard. Gunshots rent the air and before one could put two and two together, it was clear: it had started again.

As usual, chants of “An fara! (they have started)” was the only thing people could hear. Many tried to head back home.

Those who were lucky found cabs and bikes to take them. The “unlucky” ones were trapped in “hostile” areas (places occupied by adherents of a religion different from theirs). Those still on their way to school

•SUG President Dashuwar.

had to retrace their steps; while students waiting for their project supervisors became

supervisors of their lives by looking for ways to escape.

It was hours before normalcy returned. For those in the hostels, there was no worry as that was one “sure haven anytime.”

But that was to change.

Soon, gunshots boomed all around the hostel area. This was shocking; but no one stood to ask what went wrong. Students ran in all directions. No one was sure where the gun shots came from. But, clearly, Abuja Hostel (the largest hall of residence) was the target. The off-campus students running to the hostel were dazed when they saw Abuja residents running towards them.

Kehinde Mofelere, a 300-Level Mass Communication, described the confusion thus: “I was around because of my IT and when I ran towards the hostel, I saw students running helter skelter. We had to enter rooms and lock the doors securely. We didn’t know what was happening.”

•Continued on page 31

•Fine Art goes on excursion- PG32 •Student group makes case for MDGs - PG33

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

30

CAMPUS LIFE die. And they killed him.

As a parent, can you begin to comprehend the trauma his 60something-year-old mother went through after that call and ever since?

The last words she heard from her son was: “I don’t think I can make this.”

Nothing can bring Nwosu back, sadly; but a lot can be done to with assuage the pain of his family, especially his aged parents.

Since the Adamawa NYSC brought 08054503104 the corpse back on September 15, no one from there has called or visited (SMS only) the family. Nwosu was buried a week •campuslife@thenationonlineng.net later. Mr. Emeka Obi, the Area Coordinator, NYSC South-East Zone, •ladycampus@yahoo.com represented you at the burial. However, since that September 22, no one from the NYSC has called or visited the family. No one from the Nigerian Army which is your “primary constituency” has called or visited the family. No one from the Federal or Adamawa State government has called or visited the family. No justice, no compensation, no condolence. No nothing.

That is not good enough, and that is the essence of this appeal, sir.

According to the family, the NYSC had promised them a posthumous award for Nwosu who was president of the Catholic Corps members in Adamawa. He also led the CDS group that worked with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency fighting against drug abuse. The principal in the school where he taught also had glowing words to describe him.

But, last Saturday, the family told how they waited in vain for a letter from the NYSC. The •The late Nwosu POP came and went last week, and while many other families welcomed their sons and daughters and the Adamawa NYSC to make the soldiers back home, all the Nwosu family had was the release his body which they had earlier paraded, fresh mound of the grave as reminder that their along with those of others, as Boko Haram son went to serve his fatherland. casualties.

In the wake of the inexplicable targeting of Nwosu was killed even after he had presented corps members, especially the sad case of the his NYSC identity card to the soldiers. They first “NYSC 10” after the April elections, many had shot him in the leg, effectively incapacitating queried the continued relevance of the scheme. him. Were he a criminal indeed, that would While some advocated for the posting of corps have been enough until he appeared in a members to their states or geo-political zones competent court to be tried. But no; not for our of origin, others went as far as calling for its soldiers. After he had told them he was a corps scrapping since the safety of the young member and had produced his ID, they made graduates far away from home can no longer be him call his parents to tell them he was going to guaranteed. Your plan to introduce the “data

Nwosu: Appeal Pushing to NYSC boss, Out Okorie-Affia Ngozi Agbo

S

IR, I start by congratulating you on your recent appointment as the DirectorGeneral of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

In newspaper reports credited to you on assumption, you come across as an officer who hits the ground running. This is welcome news considering that you are taking over at a time corps members, and by extension the noble scheme, are besieged by enormous challenges ranging from rape, kidnapping to outright killing by misdirected psychotics. These are apart from what can now be termed “ordinary, mundane” challenges faced by corps members.

The line on killing brings me to the objective of this appeal. Last week, our CAMPUSLIFE which chronicles activities of undergraduates and corps members, as reported by them (this is one edge we are proud of) – ran as cover story the report of the killing of a serving corps member. Stephen Enyinnaya Onyegbule Nwosu, a 2010/2011 Batch C corps member, was killed by soldiers in Gombi town, Adamawa State, on August 25. Until his death, he was serving in the town as a teacher in one of the secondary schools.

As you are aware, Nwosu’s set passed out last week Tuesday, October 4. Sadly, he was missing in action that day, to borrow a common phrase.

Nwosu’s body, when it was brought back for burial to his parents in Abia State, was riddled with bullets, not one or two gunshots. The soldiers, members of Operation Tsaro, a patrol unit in Adamawa State, claimed Stephen was a member of the Boko Haram sect which robbed a bank on the fateful day.

He had gone to the same bank hours after the robbery to withdraw some money via the ATM. Unknown to him, his six-foot heavily-built frame and small goatee were “clear identification” that he was a criminal.

I learnt it took concerted efforts by the family

formula” to help with the security of the corps members – starting with the 2011/2012 Batch C set - is commendable; same with other initiatives you spoke about. They are good for going forward.

But I urge that something be done to assure the Nwosu family that “Nigeria is not a lawless country; there is law and order here”, as one of Stephen’s elder brothers, Ben, said.

Soldiers on Operation Tsaro in Gombi who killed Nwosu on August 25 are not faceless.

Besides, Stephen’s body was paraded as part of the spoils of war. Even if the soldiers claim he was a criminal, did they have to mutilate his body with bullets?

Based on the reactions we received to the story last week, I know that Nigerians are waiting to see how this case is handled. I believe that for the fact that you have been brought in at this trying time in the life of the NYSC, you have what it takes to restore our faith in the scheme.

Pleading with Epoke I received an SOS from a distraught student of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) last week. He wanted me to plead with the ViceChancellor, Prof James Epoke, to “tamper justice with mercy”. Between then and Monday, I received many more that I lost count.

The students have been at home since August 27, after a “demonstration of craze” (apologies to the late Fela) which left properties worth millions vandalised. They have been invited to resume on October 24, with what they described as stringent conditions. But perhaps none is as worrisome to them as the one that says they will not be allowed into the hostels.

This, the authorities say, is to enable them effect repairs – one of the complaints that triggered the August mayhem.

I had strongly condemned the students’ action in this column, the week after the violence.

But today, I feel constrained to plead with the Epoke administration to allow the students into the hostels. I do not have all the facts available to the authorities but, even at that, I plead that should it be unavoidable that the hostels be closed for a while, let it not be for more than a month.

Dear Prof Epoke, this we (I and your repentant students) plead.

‘Commitment to excellence determines quality of life’

‘Corps members should live by example’

Dayo Ogunyemi is a 400-Level Law student at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. He is on scholarship and a contender in the forthcoming Law Students Society (LSS) election. He speaks to OPEOLUWA SONUGA (200-L Law).

•Dayo

Y

OU are one of the very few Law students on scholarship, how did you get it?

I am supposed to be enjoying the National Merit Scholarship from Total Plc and my state government, Ekiti. It has not been paid but I hope the government is doing something about it. Though one has to study hard to get it, I give God the glory for giving it to me because I do not know that I am the most intelligent.

Mathematics is part of the qualifying exams and there is this presumption that Law students do not like Maths. But for a Law student like me to win the award, I think other Law students can win it. Mathematics should not be a barrier As a contender in the coming elections, what is the LSS of your dreams?

The LSS of my dream is a place where leadership should be conducted to neutralise every anxiety of members. Where leadership sets priorities right; makes the welfare of

Law students compellingly prominent; makes unity in diversity as well as the promises of a better future more real with the fear of God. How do you hope to make this a reality?

At this stage we should leave the stage of dreaming and go to that of goal setting because the difference between a dreamer and a goal setter is a deadline. We should not be afraid of making our integrity a for our endeavours, either politically or academically.

Given my leadership acumen and intellectual capacity and having successfully served in various capacities, I hope to exploit any opportunity of service to redefine the standard in leadership.

What’s are your contribution to LSS? I have contributed to the development of the Faculty of Law. Some people might think that someone like me, considering my academic consciousness, should not get involved in other activities. In my 100-Level, I was awarded the friendliest freshman recognition; in 200-Level, I was made the Director of Press for Magna Curia Chambers. Holding this office, History was made when we erected the first chamber press board in Law Faculty.

Now, I am the Vice-President of Magna Curia Chambers. I was also head of Protocol Sub-Committee, 2011 Orientation Committee and, currently, the secretary, Law Week Committee. All this contributions I credit to the glory of God. How do you balance these with aca-

demics?

I’ve learnt to plan my time properly. I’ve learnt to acclimatize with the situation properly. And I’ve been enjoying God’s favour On a lighter mood, what led to your nickname, Governor Dayo?

I served as the captain of Owena House at the Federal Government College, Ido-Ani, where I had my secondary education. During my tenure, the principal was so impressed with my leadership that he said to me: “You have the potential to become a governor”. My colleagues who heard it started to call me Governor Dayo.

My parents also adopted the name and, since then, it stuck.

What do you have for your fellow Law students, should they vote you into the LSS? I appeal to all Law students both within and outside the country that the undesirable present we endure today began yesterday. Tomorrow begins today. Let’s seize the moment to create today the tomorrow we desire. Now is the time to act.

It’s risky to be indolent because the quality of a man’s life is directly proportional to his commitment to excellence.

What are your hobbies?

I like playing musical instruments.

I can play 17 instruments. I love engaging in mental work in something promising and furnishing. As an Ekiti man, I like pounded yam with goat meat. By virtue of civilisation, I like egg and plantain.

•Rosemary

A

S the Community Liaison Officer (CLO) what are the challenges you face?

There are challenges from various angles, and from the corps members and the NYSC office. But, mostly, from the married women corps members who refuse to obey the rules, for reasons best known to them.

How do you cope with such corps members? And the men too?

I don’t have any problem coping with them. My gender does not matter; what matters is the ability to understand and manage people and at the same time deliver on your job. Anything a man can do, a woman who knows her onion can do better.

What does it takes to be the CLO? Hard work, dedication, determination, self discipline and mutual understanding between you and others. And you must be ready to serve too.

What is your take on the recent increment of corps members’ monthly allowance?

It started like a rumour; then it was confirmed. I am part of those enjoying it today. It is a thing of joy.

Corps members complain of lack of decent accommodation and insecurity. What solution would you give?

Rosemary Osilama is the outgoing Community Liaison Officer (CLO) of corps members in Onitsha North Local Government, Anambra State. She graduated in Business Education (Accounting) from the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. JASPER DADA met her.

Accommodation is one of the greatest challenges faced by corps members.

While the accommodation in some places of primary assignment is nothing to talk about, at other places, it is manageable. The concerned authorities should look into it and do something, because many corps members suffer all sorts of humiliation. On security, the government at all levels must provide maximum security for corps members.

Any advice for corps members?

They should take their service year with all zealousness, and be dedicated also to the community where they must make their impact felt. The best way to do this is through developmental programmes. Corps members should also remember to leave good legacies for those around them to follow. This is living by example, and it is the least we can do as graduates.

What next after this service year?

I look forward to a good employment with a reputable establishment.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

31

CAMPUS LIFE For many students, nightlife on campus can be exciting. In this report, GILBERT ALASA (200-L Foreign Languages) captures the intrigues of nightlife at the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

Weird world of Ebelebo students I

N the mornings, a graveyard silence hangs over Hall 2 Car Park of the University of Benin (UNIBEN). Only the sound of passing vehicles can be heard from a distance. A handful of photographers are there, taking shots of the few students around. At noon, the air is cool and refreshing.

However, as sunset approaches, the scenario becomes rowdy. All roads lead to the many Ebelebo trees that give shade to lovers of fun in front of Hall 2. Soon, students begin to make frantic calls to lovers and friends. The fun has begun. Welcome to the world of UNIBEN Ebelebo students.

From 6:30pm till midnight, the entrance of halls 1 and 2 hosts large crowds. A fresher on campus might mistake these bubbling sights for a prayer session by a dutiful campus fellowship.

To others, the crowds could pass for a political convention as flashy cars are parked everywhere. Bodies are clasped together in the heat of passion; boys and girls hold hands, playing out a pseudo version of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

There are whispers, grins and endless chats between them.

On the somewhat wide fence, a guy could lie on his back on the railing while his partner leans on him. Investigations by CAMPUSLIFE also showed that many “Ebelebites” prefer being under the shade of the trees. Sometimes, the daring ones engage in the unprintable in the open field.

This usually provides a comic relief of sorts for an exhausted student retiring to the hostel after a hectic night class.

A source revealed that a team of security personnel had been drafted to keep an eye on the fun spot to prevent things from getting out of hand.

“But, unfortunately, the security officials usually leave the spot about 11pm. This affords the fun lovers the unfettered freedom

to go wild and crazy,” the source said.

Our correspondent gathered that Hall 2 Car Park is much of an events centre. It is a venue for campus fellowship programmes, parties, film shows, seminars and cultural day celebrations. But its serenity and detachment coupled with the shade offered by the Ebelebo trees have made it a fun spot of choice to many students.

Thus, the term Ebelebo is accepted by students to refer to all the activities engaged by students at Hall 2 Car Park and Love Gutter, especially at night.

Along the open path that stretches to Hall 3, some students usually in groups of twos lay without restraint inside the popular Love Gutter. The occasional presence of snakes and other harmful creatures in the gutters has not deterred them from having their fair share of the fun.

Such fears are jettisoned as “catch the fun while it’s on” is a slogan many hold on to faithfully.

A student of Linguistics and African Languages who pleaded anonymity said: “Ebelebo is the only spot where adults can relax and catch up with their lovers. Of course, you can’t play such pranks in the halls of residence as school authorities frown at it. And so, Ebelebo is a recreation spot to rekindle old flames or build new ones,” A student who identified himself as Young Dangote told this reporter that Love Gutter offers a student ample space to unwind after a day of hectic lectures and activities. After all, “all work and no play makes YD a dull chap,” he enthused. For his girlfriend who was with him when he spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, the busy engagements during the day has made her to embrace Ebelebo as “a place of unwinding in the evenings.”

In some quarters, it is said that there is nothing wrong with unwinding under the Ebelebo or Love Gutter. According to the proponents of this notion, the problem is that of abuse.

This is the view of a 300-Level student of International Studies and Diplomacy, Steven Ukah.

•A well attended performance by musician, MI, at the Hall 2 car park.

•Some students having a good time at the car park.

He said: “Ebelebo spot is just like every other leisure joint on campuses. While some students use the opportunity to improve the quality of their lives through quality networking, many rather engage in negative activities that may truncate their future. I think it’s a game of choice.”

But a 20-Level student of Philosophy thinks otherwise. He believes Ebelebo is the exclusive preserve of unserious students. “I do not think

a serious student who has loads of tasks to accomplish would spend a second of his life at the Love Gutter or Ebelebo. Uneasy, they say, lies the head that wears the crown. If I may ask, why don’t you also go there at night (talking to this reporter)? Because,” he answered, “it’s a waste of your time, my brother.”

Other students who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE urged officials of the security division to “continue to keep tabs on the fun spot so as not to allow things go out of hand.”

Farewell crises hit graduating students •Continued from page 29

Finally, the shootings stopped and students arranged themselves to sleep in groups. While some slept, others kept watch. The male hostels were the preferred choice as the girls would not leave the boys.

Eventually, it took the intervention of the President of the Student Union Government (SUG), Dashuwar Nantok, working with the security chief, to deploy some men to the hostels.

Later, a report came that the security men in the school were shooting because they were told some hoodlums entered the hostels to attack students and so they did that to scare them away, and not as a deliberate attack on students as was earlier reported.

This experience later saw most of the students leaving the hostels as soon as the coast was clear the next day.

Students expressed anger at the situation and gratitude to the SUG president for the prompt response.

Maureen Edeke, one of them, said: “It was one of those moments in which you experience death so close. I never experienced such through my stay at the university

•Abuja Hostel, UNIJOS

and had to put up with that atmosphere that night. Gunshots rent the air and students were just running, while some of the girls were crying. Though the crisis delayed the whole project process, I finally was able to submit my project three weeks later. I just pray nothing of this nature happens again.”

For Joy Kure, from Theatre and Film Arts Department, the memories of choreography and other courses in which they had depicted scenes of such nature on the stage could not help her in real life.

She said: “Because of the crisis,

we were hungry and we had to survive on the little we had. There was no movement and shop owners in the hostels didn’t open for business. So apart from fear, anxiety and insecurity, we had to put up with hunger for some days until things began to normalise. I also could not see my supervisor for two weeks and it was a huge set back for the project. I’m happy though that I was finally able to submit last Friday.”

Shedrack Shitwas is a student of Special Education, said his was psychological as he was in his words,

“allergic to gunshots, which affects my mental retention ability”. This according to him led to the cancellation of some of the work he did.

“While some of my classmates have submitted their completed projects, I am still battling with chapter three; no thanks to the crisis,” he lamented.

Raymond Maisaje, a graduating student from Zoology Department, said he felt the crisis was “a final goodbye package from the town, sending us away from UJ” (as UNIJOS is fondly called by students). He added: “We must thank

God that students were actually on holiday when this happened, as there could have been casualties arising from the confusion and the stampede of many more students running for cover”.

The SUG leader, Dashuwa, however denied the allegation that the gunshots were coming from the hostel. He explained that he had to go out in the rains that night to alert men of the SSS who promptly responded by sending security troops to the hostel.

“I was even beaten in the process by some security me who saw me walking alone in the dark as there was no means of transporting myself to the hostel,” he narrated.

He further decried the rumour that the hostel was the target of the hoodlums. He said: “There was intense shooting in the hostel and men of the SSS overpowered the people from the other end. I later arrived when the SSS were through with their job. They reported to me and I reported to the chief security officer of the university and also the Deputy Vice-Chancellor because the ViceChancellor was out of the country at that time. But all this was because there were shootings from behind the hostel and it sounded like the people doing the shootings were approaching and that’s why students were agitated. No one targeted the students in the hostel but they were all scared of the gunshots they were hearing”.

The university has reopened for a new session, after about one month holiday. But some of the graduated students complained that the delay caused by the incidence in submission of their projects could lead to late release of results and possibly a delay in their call-up for national service.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

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CAMPUS LIFE Club honours CAMPUSLIFE man

Muslim Law students hold lecture

T

B

ROADCAST Oriented Students Association (BOSA) at the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi (AUCHI POLY), Edo State, has honoured Oluwatosin Ajuwon, the CAMPUSLIFE man in the institution.

According to the president of the association, Chris Chikelue, an HND II Mass Communication student, many people have the flair for journalism but run away in order not to be victimised. He said Tosin was honoured for his contribution to the development of the institution through his reports on the weekly CAMPUSLIFE pages, a pullout in The Nation on Thursdays.

Tosin, in HND I Mass Communication, was awarded the “Most Prolific Writer” of the Year at the

•Tosin (left) receiving the award from Chris.

From Olawale Ajetunmobi AUCHI POLY

award night of the association.

Accepting the prize, he dedicated

it to his late mother, Mrs. Felicia Ajuwon, who he said believed in his dream and encouraged him until her death last year.

HE Nigerian Association of Muslim Law Students (NAMLAS), Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) chapter, has held a one-day public lecture in honour of Justice A.Y. Ubangangari (rtd). This coincided with the send off party for final year students of the faculty.

The theme of the lecture was “Islam and terrorism.”

Mallam Al-Bishak, a lecturer in Arts faculty, delivered a paper titled “The role of Islam in sanctification of human lives.”

Al-Bishak said: “Islam is an Arabic word for ‘peace’ while terrorism is the use of violent action to achieve political aims. Islam recognises that life is created by Allah and this is clearly stated in the Holy Qur’an and sup-

From Khadijat Danfulani NSUK

ported with the Hadith of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, that anybody who kills himself or another would be an inhabitant of hell fire. So Islam despises terrorism.”

He said groups such as Al-Qeada, Al–Shabab, and Boko Haram hide under the umbrella of religion to carry out their liberation struggle caused by oppression, poverty and unemployment.

Aisha Abdullahi, in 400-Level Law, said: “The lecture was very interesting and I realised that Islam and terrorism are two different and opposite worlds. Islam is a religion built on peace and it tends to promote peace in the society.”

The Dean of Law, Associate Prof Maxwell Gidado, thanked Justice Ubangangari for his contributions to the growth of the faculty. The ViceChancellor, Prof Shamsudeen Amali, gave the vote of thanks and urged the students to continue to be of good behaviour and avoid vices.

Medical students celebrate government’s inclusion

M

EDICAL students at the Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi, held a dinner last Monday tagged “Eating Together”. It was the initiative of the 400-Level set to celebrate the commencement of their inclusion in the bond scheme by the state government.

The scheme is a contract in which the state government pays the clinical students monthly to aid their education while the students, in turn, are required to work for at least two years for the state after graduation.

At the auditorium of the College

From Msonter Anzaa BSU

of Health Sciences where the dinner was held, the course representative of the organising students, Joseph Mamfe, said the meal was to foster unity and togetherness among students. He advised his colleague not to get carried away by the bond scheme but to also ensure they were bonded to the scheme of heaven.

Innocent Abah, a student, said the evening was a moment of sharing and advised other classes to emulate the set.

Firm donates fans to hostel

R

•Dr. Theodore (right) presenting the keys to the bus to Jeremiah (left).

Niger Delta students honour patron

T

HE Niger Delta Student Union Government (NIDSUG) has honoured its patron, Mr Osmond Adiele, an engineer, who is the director of Education at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

While presenting the award, the association’s National President, Jeremiah Genesis, said the award was a way of rewarding people who contributed to the well being of students.

Genesis described the awardee as a man who has played a fatherly role to the union.

“He answers whenever we call on

•Get bus from NDDC From Emmanuel Shebbs UNICAL

him. He is an understanding father, student-friendly and a lover of education,” he said.

Adiele thanked the students, saying the award would encourage him to do more.

In another development, the NDDC has donated a Hiace Bus to the NIDSUG. Presenting the bus to the union, Dr. Felix Theodore, the

Special Adviser on Students Affairs, acknowledged NIDSUG as the only recognised students’ body from the region.

Genesis, while receiving the bus, expressed appreciation to the body.

He said the donation was a good way of motivating and supporting students’ cause.

“The bus is an encouragement to the union. We have been charged to deliver more because to whom much is given, much is expected”.

Fine Arts goes on excursion

T

HE Fine Arts Students Association (FASA) of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has undertaken what it called an educational tour to some arts destinations.

The first place visited was Arts and Designs at the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi. The students were conducted round the studio and sculptural garden by the dean of the faculty.

They also visited Fine and Applied Department, University of Benin (UNIBEN) and Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma. The students equally stopped at Victor Uwaifo’s studio, where they saw the ancient monster that terrorised Benin Kingdom and the slave ornaments,

•Some of the visitors at UNIBEN. From Opeoluwa Sonuga OAU

among many other pieces.

Emmanuel Abiodun, 200-Level student, said: “The universities are

known for their art works. For instance, OAU is known for painting ceramics, UNIBEN for sculpture and bronze casting while Auchi Poly is also known for sculpture and impressionism.”

ESIDENTS of Angola Hall, a freshman male hostel at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, have taken delivery of 21 ceiling fans donated by the 7Up Bottling Company, Ibadan Plant.

At the occasion were top officials of the school management and the hall’s staff. The students could not hide their joy at seeing the end of a challenge that had plagued the hall for years.

Mr Felix Monye, 7Up’s Marketing Manager, explained what led to the donation: “We believe strongly in identifying with the community where we operate and giving back something. As part of our corporate social responsibil-

From Opeoluwa Sonuga OAU

ity, we believe in catching them young. As the saying goes: “Train up a child the way he should grow and when he grows he will not depart from it.” What we are donating to Angola Hall is in response to their request. We however, found, that the students resident here are the future and the earlier you identify with them, they remain with you throughout life. It’s just our way of identifying with the youth”.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the company, three months ago, donated customised reading chairs to Fajuyi Hall.

Students adopt new constitution

T

HE Lagos State University (LASU) Students’ Union Government (SUG) has held a congress at the S.L. Edu Hall to adopt a new constitution.

In his address, the SUG Speaker, Ganiyu Ibikunle, said: “The congress is summoned for two main reasons; the adoption of the newly amended constitution and to debate the issue of

From Nurudeen Yusuf LASU

the students’ welfare on transportation within the campus.”

After much deliberation, the communiqué drafting committee published the resolution of the congress that the transport fare for students should remain at N10 and the service should be extended to the girls’ hostels.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

33

CAMPUS LIFE

ANUNSA makes case for MDGs

A

•Mr. Ajayi, some other officials and the students at the end of the visit.

Rotaract marks independence with inmates

M

EMBERS of the Rotaract Club at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), marked the nation’s Independence anniversary with prison inmates.

The students gave various gifts

From Dayo Ojerinde AAUA

to the prisoners at the Akure Prisons, Ondo State.

Welcoming the Rotaract team,

the Chief Warder, Mr. Joseph Ajayi, said he was delighted to see young men and women involved in humanitarian services rather than vices.

Club donates to the motherless

STUDENTS’ organisation, All Nigeria United Nations Students and Youth Association (ANUNSA), at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has held its third conference at the Oduduwa Hall.

The conference was tagged “Free and fair election, a platform for the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).”

Its Publicity Secretary, Harrison Ezeh, said the conference was aimed at national development through the realisation of the MDGs. He said: “The essence of the conference was to create a platform for intellectual discussion and also ascertain the strength required for establishing a time appraisal foundation for the realisation of the MDGs.” In his opening address, President of the group Ayoola Ashiru said: “ANUNSA was first established in the University College of Ibadan in 1958, then in the University of Ife in 1962. Since then, it has influenced many lives and it is still in the business of influencing lives. In line with goal seven of the MDGs, ANUNSA will soon embark on an environmental sustainability project.”

One of the speakers, Edmund Obilo, a political analyst and presenter, Splash FM, spoke on the role of the media in the electoral process.

He said: “Don’t blame the goat for climbing the collapsed wall but the wall for falling. The government and the people should be ready to bear

From Samson Ademola OAU, ILE-IFE

the consequences of our actions. You were only ready to vote, but where were you when the marauders wanted to snatch the ballot boxes?”

Obilo further said the press can make and mar an election.

His words: “The newsman has many stories, but he makes you hear what he wants you to hear, provided he has his facts. The Nigerian Press is about the freest and most unregulated in the world. What else do you hear when the press chants free, fair and credible election?”

Another speaker, Ms. Krystal Strong, a post-graduate student at the University of California, delivered a lecture titled “The forgotten MDGs”.

She adduced three reasons for the failure to realise the MDGs. She said: “Despite the huge donations, the MDGs are not realised because the donors forget the political terrain of the nations involved. The political terrain comprises of three aspects namely political will (do the people want those things you want to happen?), political leadership (the government) and youth political participation. I get bothered each time I see nothing reported on the political terrain of nations in UN reports.”

The conference also featured the induction of new members. This was led by Dr. Chijioke Uwasomba, the staff adviser of the group who took the oath.

T

HE Health Awareness Club (HAC) of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, has visited the Erelu Adebayo Children’s Home, a motherless babies’ home in Iyin-Ekiti, where they donated a bag of rice, packets of biscuits and clothing materials.

Its president, Emmanuel Ogunla, said the gesture was to make the children feel loved.

“The motto of our club is ‘Caring for a healthy nation’ and this is just one of the ways we can show how we care.

•The students at the entrance to the home.

From Michael Adebayo ADO POLY

The items donated cannot be effective if not for the love and pas-

sion we have for them. Love is universal and it is the best gift we can ever give.”

Corps members lecture secondary students

T

O ensure secondary school students are committed to reading and writing, the Editorial Community Development Service group of the National Youth Service Corps, Kano State, has lectured the Nasara International Academy’s Press Club members on writing skills.

The proprietor of the school, Dr. Victor Ibrahim, and members of staff received the corps members at the institution’s in Kofar-Kabuga before proceeding to the multi-purpose hall where the event was held.

Many topics including careers, reading culture, public speaking and elements of journalism were taught the students to boost their morale as future journalists.

The corps members urged the students to develop interest in reading newspapers/magazines and listening

•The corps members and some of the secondary school students.

From Nosakhare Uwadiae NYSC KANO

to the radio to enable them keep abreast with developments in their environment.

They were also advised that the pro-

fession is highly demanding and hazardous, with little or no financial reward.

The spokesperson for the group, Miss Omotayo Bakare, said it was determined to carry out its responsibilities creditably.

College sends off new graduates

F

OREMOST television institute, the NTA Television College, Jos, held a convocation for its graduates last week.

The graduating students organised a series of events that included bonfire night, dinner and award night to bid themselves farewell.

In his valedictory remark, the Academic Secretary, Mr. Zakari Yakubu, described the students as prestigious

From Johnpaul Nnamdi TV COLLEGE, JOS

and prayed that they become good ambassadors of the college as they go into the larger society.

The highlights of the award night included musicals and presentation of awards to outstanding students and staff.

The after-party which was held at the

Ruby Garden created an avenue for the graduates to shake off campus stress.

Some of them expressed the desire to make an impact on the outside world.

Asked if he would miss the institution, Kassim Braimah, CAMPUSLIFE correspondent, said: “My answer is no, because life is in stages. I am through with this stage, so I have to forge ahead.”

•A cross section of participants at the conference.

Varsity orientates students

T

HE wish of the 2010/2011 freshmen of the University of Maiduguri finally came true when they were welcomed.

The event, which took place at the El-Kanemi Hall, was attendance by the representative of the Vice-Chancellor, Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof M V U Gaya; chairman of the occasion Prof Frank Carew, deans of faculties, principal officers and Student Union leaders.

Gaya said the purpose of the orientation was to familiarise students with activities and to educate them on life on campus.

The students’ excitement heightened when they were presented with a book titled “Readings in Study Habits and Examination Taking Techniques”.

According to the chairman, the

From Taiwo Isola UNIMAID

book which addresses time management, study, reading and learning skills, use of library and resource materials and examination taking techniques is to help the students have a successful sail.

Mrs. I. Mbahi of the Counselling and Human Development Centre encouraged the students to visit the centre if they need attention and solutions to pressing issues.

She advised them not to take law into their hands. She warned of the danger and risks associated with seeking solutions to their problems from friends as they might get the worst of the bargain.

The orientation ended with closing remarks by the Acting SUG President.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

34

CAMPUS LIFE

Yoruba unite at Isokan Yoruba students at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) held a gathering tagged Isokan - for the unity of all Yoruba speaking people.

OLAWALE AJETUNMOBI and IDRIS AKINPELU (200-Level Business Administration) were there.

I

TS easy-to-learn words and rich cultural heritage are factors that probably give Yoruba language its distinct image as one of the foremost tribes in Africa. In Nigeria, Yoruba is among the three major languages; it is also spoken in some other African countries.

However, just as the tribe boasts of various sub-ethnic groups that are concentrated in the Southwest of Nigeria, there is equally disunity among its people. The strength of its population appears to be its supreme weakness given the internecine wars amongst the people. Perhaps, in a bid to amalgamate the splinter groups of the race and break the jinx of generational disunity, Isokan Omo Yoruba, a campus socio-cultural umbrella for all Yoruba students, has brought dialects in Yoruba land under one aegis.

At a programme held at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Sports Centre and tagged Isokan Day, students of Yoruba extraction in the institution were in their cultural best as they trooped out in Ankara brocade to mark the day. Isokan is a word for unity in Yoruba.

The dignitaries that graced the event included the first civilian governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande; the Director of UNILAG Distance Learning Institute (DLI), Prof Lawal Adefunke; a lecturer, Dr. Abimbola Ayinde; a businessman, Otunba Rasheed Owolabi and popular fuji musician Sulaimon Adekunle Alao, whose stage name is Sule Malaika.

In an exceptional display of Yoruba tradition, Ayangalu band, a cultural troupe from Ibadan, dazzled the audience with high-toned panegyric of

Oduduwa and poetry of the Southwest people. The performance threw the hall into a rowdy session as students and guests rose and danced to the beats from the set traditional talking drums suspended loosely from the shoulders of the troupe members.

In his speech, Alhaji Jakande said Yoruba is ahead of other tribes in Nigeria because of its diversity and richness in culture. “The history of this nation is not complete without the mention of Yoruba patriots such as Herbert Macaulay and Obafemi Awolowo, both of whom were in the fore of the vanguard that fought for Nigeria’s liberation from Britain,” Jakande said, urging all Yoruba sociocultural groups home and abroad to unite in the interest of the people.

He said: “I use this medium to call on Afenifere, Yoruba Unity Congress, Egbe Omo Odua and other factions to come together in the interest of the Yoruba people. If all of us could be under one umbrella, intruders would not find ways to divide us and we will progress together. The unity of Yoruba is not negotiable.” For Yoruba to maintain its identity in culture and education, Jakande said everybody must play his role towards the unity of its nationals.

In an interview with CAMPUSLIFE before mounting the podium for his performance, Malaika noted that the unity of Yoruba remained the task before the Southwest leaders. “If Igbo people say kedu kwanu to themselves, problems would be solved. If any Hausa person says ranka dede in the north, he would be talking about the solution to his predicament. What then

•The Ayangalu dance troupe entertaining at the event.

•Malaika (middle), flanked by some of the students.

is the problem of Yoruba to unite and forge a common front?”

Malaika observed quizzically.

He noted that Yoruba language is phasing out because of the people’s preference for western civilisation.

He said: “When you greet a young man in Yoruba language, he would reply in English. Even when you ask if he listens to Fuji music, he would say he prefers music of American 2pac, 50 Cent, Jay Z and R Kelly. But how many of these foreign artistes can claim to be listening to Fuji mu-

sic, which is our own identity?”

In identifying with the Yoruba, Ibibio and Igbo students were also seen in their cultural attires at the event. Oladimeji Adedoyin, 300Level Business Administration, who doubled as the chairman of the programme planning committee, said: “The indigenous groups of other tribes are very well organised in the campus and given the fact that UNILAG is on Yoruba land, we must not be seen to be in division. This is the motive behind Isokan Day”.

Adenike Obembe, a 500-Level Business Administration student, said: “We have differences in tongue but the origin of our language and culture is the same. We must do everything in our means to engender unity and progress.”

The event ended with fund raising for projects which the students said they were undertaking. Jakande donated an undisclosed amount to the project while the other guests issued cheques.

Members of the Association of Management Technology Students (AMTS) at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), have elected their leaders using an electronic voting system. GERALD NWOKOCHA (Information Management Technology) reports on the significance of the system as well as flaws.

E-voting to the rescue

T

HE Association of Management Technology Students (AMTS), Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), has held its second election since it was established. However, the election has been tagged controversial by many.

This is not withstanding that the conduct was unique in the sense that it was the first time the e-voting system was used in the institution.

Students at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) had blazed the trail last year and earlier this year at their Student Union election.

The software used in FUTO was designed by the students to address some of the flaws observed during the manual voting, such as errors in counting of votes, to reduce the incidence of rigging. It was also proven to be cost effective and timesaving. The e-voting system was also aimed to stop double voting.

In the case of the AMTS election, the accreditation was done manually whereby students who showed their identity cards or school fees receipt were allowed to vote. The ad-hoc committees were mounted at the venue with lists of

•L-R Maxwell, Prof Nzota, Staff Adviser and SUG President, Michael Obiukwu

members of each department that make up the faculty. The system was also designed to show results as soon as one voted.

However, some students have condemned the performance of the e-voting system. Kene Soludo, a 500-Level student of Information Management Technology, said: “There were many errors with the system. The software designer used checkbox instead of radio button in his design. The checkbox allows the voter to select two candidates at once for a post. While that of radio button allows a voter to select only one person at a time. Then, there was no secrecy in the system and the error was so enormous that if Mr. A goes to vote before Mr. B, when it gets to Mr. B’s turn to

vote, He will see the choice of Mr. A and others who have voted before him. This could make Mr. B to decide whom to vote since he has already seen results and the number of votes for individual candidates.

The Independent Student Electoral Commission (ISEC), made up of final year students selected from the five departments in the faculty and a representative of the Dean, conducted the election. Chairman was Maxwell Ajufor, from the Department of Project Management Technology; Oge Amadike, of Information Management Technology, was the Secretary.

Maxwell told our correspondent that his body worked with a budget of N149,700. But not many students seemed

•A student being accredited.

to appreciate the effort as they claim that unpopular candidates emerged winners.

The chairman added that the programme used was developed by one Chima Ezirim, through a marketer, one Chinedum Ibeji. “They went through the Dean who they claimed mandated them not to disclose the nitty gritty to us, to avoid any leakage”.

The forms were sold and the screening exams were written. The screening exam was marked and was scored over 10, with a score of five set as minimum.

Maxwell revealed that after marking and scoring the exam scripts, two persons failed for the posts of Director of Research and Provost with the following scores of 4 and 3 respectively. What

followed afterwards was that the failed candidate for the office of Director of Research went ahead to lobby all ISEC members to be allowed to run.

The parties which ran the election are the PDP, the Coalition, and the Correspondent. It turned out later that five ISEC members were all Coalition party members except the Chairman who initially was neutral but was later observed to belong to the PDP. Thus, the stage was set for bickering and intrigues.

There were cases of impersonation and forging of the signature of the ISEC chairman by his members in other to •Continued on page 36

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

35

CAMPUS LIFE

I

T is with great enthusiasm and soberness that I write this piece which is of uttermost importance to the welfare and growth of our society and the nation at large, especially as Nigeria adds one more year. Today, our land that is watered by the Niger and Benue and located between the sandy wastes and the Gulf of Guinea, washed by the mighty Atlantic, is an arena for the breeding of creatures called the “big daddies”.

They are the leaders who practice a brand of politics that goes beyond the greed for lucre. The evil they commit is never lost; each evil act has a root, and every bit of evil they sow, in time will always bear fruits.

How far you go in life depends on how tender you are with young people, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak. This is because someday in your life you would have gone through all of these stages. This to them is never food for thought. Even the law they operate on does not guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it.

I was moved to tears when a friend and I were denied visa by the Austrian Embassy in Abuja. I could not hold back the tears. This is the same embarrassment many Nigerians get when they intend stepping outside shores of this country. Do these people get the same treatment from our embassies in their countries? The big daddies would answer the big question because they control our affairs both at the national and international arenas. I know as a matter of fact that they do not get the same treatment rather we celebrate their migration to our father land.

The labour of our fore fathers have

“C

ONGRATULATION, you have been offered admission into the University of Ibadan (U.I) (OSCOED) Ilesa visit the school website for more information on registration process”.

This was the message I received on a fateful Friday, I could remember, the joy in my family that day knew no bounds when I broke the news of my admission knowing fully well that I sought admission for years and with the hope of producing a graduate in the next few years. I knew the joy in my family would be the same in other homes were such news were broken.

I resumed my registration process in March, and the session com-

Big destructive daddies been in vain as some people have turned our plans upside down such that other countries now do better than us.

The problem with our country is bad leaders. The crop of leaders we have lacks strength, knowledge and the will to lead us, yet they are still in power. They do not care about our fears, our hopes and our dreams.

They think not about our frustrations, and also about our unfulfilled potential. They are more concerned with the means of exploiting us.

They converted the labour of our parents to their personal farms and earn more money. They tried bringing to our door step agendas that would prolong their stay in office.

Some of them gave cheap testimonies in court and made us look foolish. They killed and murdered our great leaders claiming they were obeying their big daddy’s order. They killed for fun forgetting God’s commandment that “Thou shall not kill”. They move helter skelter from one political party to another to secure their way to the rock house but they fail and would continue to fail.

They came back from prison recently and they were still celebrated by friends and foes that can do worse than they’ve done. They wear white attires and keep white beards and represent our interest among other African countries. They spent few months in government and handed over power after looting our treasury. They celebrated their birth-

days and were referred to as the symbols of peace and unity in the country. They have forgotten the seed of trauma they planted in our life many years ago. Some of them even passed a resolution that $50million should be used to celebrate the birthday of the world president. I laugh because they have misplaced priorities.

This same country and their embassy subject Nigerians to torture of the mind because we want to have a feel of their country. When one of our daddies got to the acclaimed White House for a visit, he said it was a dream come through entering the house rather than discussing issues that would make the country go forward. What a way of saying thank you for the torture melted on his children.

They made our road swallow our flesh all because they have refused to be tarred. Our water and power is now epileptic. They cannot be emulated because they are visionless and would continue to swim in corruption, imperialism and insecurity.

They felt the better ways of campaign during election was by giving us guns and machetes as gifts to steal ballot boxes for them. After the election, they never asked us to return the dangerous materials, and thus, we became master rogues. The big daddies are the destroyers of hope. They smile with a mind that is as treacherous as a rattlesnake.

The last banquet shall be their

children’s blood. They must pay the price if they wish to secure the blessing. They have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose. Happiness to them comes from looting. What a wasteful life.

They act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life when all that they need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about.

Even those who lack the moral justification to whisper among them are screaming on their voices “crucify them” those whose actions and inactions have continued to drag behind, those who have exchanged the future of this country with foreign accounts are among those who christened the new Nigerian generation as an hopeless one.

They have forgotten so soon that class is an aura of confidence, which is being sure without being cocky.

Class has nothing to do with money. Class never runs scared. It is self-disciplined and self-knowledgeable. It is proving you can meet up with the challenges of life.

People like me who try doing everything possible to effect a change in this country have come to realise that, as the saying goes, “if nothing is done about anything, things will remain the way they are”.

To my fellow youths, it is time to rise up to the challenge. Stop asking yourself what Nigeria needs; ask what makes you a unique Ni-

One year, one semester

By Omotola Kehinde omoviq10@yahoo.com

menced with an orientation ceremony, and lectures commenced immediately. Just at the time when I was about to have a taste of what campus life is all about, my joy turned sour. It all started like child’s play but the reality gradually surfaced as the first semester which was to last four months is gradually turning to a year.

The show started when an uni-

dentified student believed to be a 200-Level student of University of Ibadan (UI) affiliated programme, who was among students protesting a hike in their fees, threw a pack of sachet water into a classroom where a lecture was going on. The pack landed on the lecturer and splashed water on him. This threw the class into confusion as students scattered in various directions. The news spread to the school management and it resolved to postpone lectures until students produced the culprit.

Attempts at producing the culprit proved abortive as no one owned up to the crime; none admitted to seeing the “anonymous” student.

Not ready to let go easily, lecturers held on to their guns, refusing to teach all the while. Matters dragged and months passed. This was how we were made to stay back at home for some months; we were however called back in September.

But, even when the wound heals, the scar remains for long. The delays in our academic pursuit can never remain undone, our col-

Committing to progress

By Chinenye Okonkwo okonkwo_chinenye@yahoo.com

I

T has become clear that Nigerians continue to allow their political and religious differences make them live in fear and suspicion. The multiplicity of the Nigerian society reveals her true nature and apparent inherent crises which run in her vein.

Often, this contradicts the faith: “One Nigeria”.

Thus, mindful of her desire to foster peace and unity among individuals irrespective of tribe, creed and to promote peaceful coexistence among people, she needs to renew her consciousness.

Christianity and Islam are the two main religions. Cultural and social forces in the world and in the modern terms are global players. Yet, they have

always lived in war and disharmony. The desired peaceful dialogue between Christians and Muslims is still elusive.

There are still religious crisis in some parts of the world and Nigeria in particular despite our oft-touted modernisation.

Hence, the innumerable lives that have been killed, especially in the Northern part of the country.

Regrettably, 50 years after independence, Nigeria still stumbles in educational uncertainties, incessant strike actions and fee increments, closure of schools for political reasons.

Poor funding is not unconnected with the politicisation of education.

Sadly, the thought of the defenseless corps members who were brutally massacred by the murderous barbarians in some parts of the north have made many hearts to bleed. Worse still, no one has been apprehended for that. The culprits are still walking freely on the streets.

Political thuggery by political parties to suppress opposition in its desperation for power retention fill the political drama. Many lives and properties were lost to the undemocratic show.

Pushing into the future with these memories ache the soul

unceasingly. The past lays the bricks for the present and paves way for the future. But, sometimes, for the sake of the greater good which lies in the future, she can let go the past, even though it might be painful. This is an attitude of progress.

Undoubtedly, over the years conflicts have sprang up between different religious, political and ethnic groups, but need to forget the past and make sincere efforts for the benefit of all.

In this emerging new Nigeria, it is pertinent that all hands should be on deck to support the government to preserve, promote peace, social justice and chart a new course for the nation’s socio-political, economic and educational development In the new Nigeria, oh compatriots, it is time we reflect on our responsiveness to the obligation we owe our great nation. Therefore, we must arise and obey the call in full to serve with hearts of love and faith for one another, not despising the labour of our heroes past and above all pursuing the vision of one nation bound in freedom, peace and unity.

Chinenye, 400-L Education Administration & Planning, UNICAL

By Habeeb Whyte whyte287@gmail.com

gerian. Then go do that; Nigeria needs people who will restore its lost glory. Let us also bear in mind that if we are going to amount to anything, our success does not depend upon the quickness with which we take hold, but upon the everlasting and sanctified doggedness with which we hang on after we have taken hold.

There’s no easy path to glory.

There is no easy road to fame and fortune. Life, however we may view it, is no simple parlour game; but its prizes call for fighting, for endurance, for a rugged disposition that will not quit. This is where our glory lies as the younger generation. Fighting for what is ours is the ultimate glory we can boast of. We are not agents of destruction like the big daddies but agents of change.

Habeeb, 400-Level Law, UNILORIN leagues in other institutions are now in their second semester and yet our fate on when the first semester will end is yet to be determined.

Some of my course mates decided to sit for the last UTME exams and are now in other institutions of learning, as for me I think I have gotten to the final bus stop and I am not ready to sit for another JAMB exam. I just hope to graduate in peace.

This is just a tip of what we pass through as students of OSCOED; I believe more will.

Omotola, 100-L Political ‘Science (Education), OSCOED Campus

UNN celebrates at 51

By Kingsley Amatanweze amatakingsley@yahoo.com

A

S Nigeria celebrated its 51st Independence anniversary, the nation joined the Nsukka community to celebrate one of the oldest institutions of learning - the University of Nigeria (UNN) also known as the den of lion and lionesses.

The nation’s first indigenous university, which turned 51 on October 7, was officially opened on the same date, in 1960. This was six days after the independence.

The chairman of the provincial council then was Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe. Other members included Marion Johnson, Dr. Marguerite Cartwright, Dr. Eldon Lee

Johnson and Dr. Okejiani Okechukwu. There were still others of blessed memories. The school was established with the motto: “Restoring the dignity of man”. Its values were stated as “To seek truth, teach truth, and preserve truth”.

Since its establishment, the university has grown from strength to strength in actualising its philosophy, mission and vision. Therefore the institution has many reasons to celebrate.

She is not only celebrating her years of existence, but also her graduates scattered across the world. They are also prominent in all walks of life and include professors Dora Akunyili and Chukwuma Soludo, among others. UNN’s staff and students were not left behind in the course of the celebration.

The institution, which started with 220 students and 13 members of staff, in 1960, can now boast of students in their thousands; not less than 3,000 academic staff and over 1,200 nonacademic staff, over 88 departments, 14 faculties, two campuses, one teaching hospital, one radio station

(Lion FM), one stadium, an ultra modern library, intranet on campus among other worthy projects.

As many gathered for the grand finale of the celebration at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium (PAA) of the institution, with a public lecture delivered by the Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, not a few were nostalgic and proud of their alma mater.

The occasion was chaired by the former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku. The PAA was filled to capacity and overflowing with staff, students and alumni from far and near.

They all sang with one voice to the UNN anthem: “Hail varsity par excellence our dreams come true/ Hail her and rejoice for the giant awakes”.

For those of us students today, whose parents attended here in the 70s and 80s, it instills in us a sense of history as one cannot but be proud of such a legacy.

Kingsley, 300-Level Metallurgical Engineering, UNN

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

36

CAMPUS LIFE The NTA TV College, Jos, Plateau State, witnessed the second edition of the Legacy Awards Festival. Being a celebration of creativity and excellence in production, it attracted film makers from within and outside the campus.

JOHNPAUL NNAMDI (300-L Television Journalism) reports.

Building a campus community through student-based

C

ORPORATE Social Responsibility (CSR) is the self-regulated policy of a business, to observe and comply with the laws of the land, to initiate actions that will bring about positive development for employees as well as the community at large.

The company of the future manages its employees, environment and the host community. It may likely not cause a deafening applause to key into projects to alleviate environmental degradation, scholarship for the less privileged children, to mention but a few.

But the intrinsic value of this engagement may earn a company what is more than profit.

It is worthy of note that, primarily, businesses are set up for the purpose of making profit and using same for growth, continuity and sustainability. As the world is experiencing tough economic times, what then is the future of CSR, considering the huge cost of achieving one with a phenomenal effect? Of course, the most important element any company would have to consider or accept is still the bottomline.

Let us talk about the need of the moment; helping our educational sector through student based corporate social responsibility. Education is the foundation of every great aspiration. It drives away mediocrity, failure and low selfworth. It brings about a perfect and total integration of a man or woman into the society.

Companies should be ready to use the leverage of education to capture their whole essence. It may be a great deal to help because a single encounter that can become a turning point for many students’ career can be a saving grace for the whole nation.

Truth is, companies do not just exist in the outer space, people and the communities help business to grow in so many ways. If this is a fact, then combined initiative of involving individuals from local community and corporate organizations, bodies, associations or groups from within our society cannot be overemphasised.

For the falling standard of education in our country, it will not be too much for corporations to initiate social responsibilities that are campus based. There is so much to be done to get best

On and Off Campus

By Christopher Dennis marketingcommunication@fidelitybankplc.com 07030106200/08023368374

hires after school.

Companies need to create sensitisation through synergy with campuses. For instance, supporting the science based students is a highly welcome initiative. “Basic science drives technology and technology drives modern economies”.

To secure a better tomorrow for our country and the different businesses we engage in, is to first of all invest in our teeming youths. These are the managers of our future economy.

The better parts of those that will steer our economic wheel are on the campuses. The other parts are on the streets, but if the campuses are attractive and the peace of mind is ensured there, then majority will be there for good.

Campuses should be a model for perfection, an island where mode of living is taught, understood and practiced both in the school community and a life thereafter. There are myriads of issues working against the perceived idea that campuses should be centres of excellence.

If companies want to get the best hires, then partnering with schools or campuses as it were, remains a thing for a positive turning point; donate the best books, engage in beautification of the campus environment, build science laboratories, give scholarship, provide recreation parks, build hostels and more.

No amount is too little when contributing to the campuses. Most times, people ignore sweat equity because they believe cash is everything.

What will it cost people working in the same organization to become volunteers to tame or plant trees on our many campuses? Would it be too much to donate buckets of paints to be used in touching the old and unkempt classroom walls? How can we improve the sports facilities on the campuses?

In sum total, there is no limit to what companies can do to improve the lot of the campuses in our country. Take a chance and be part of this initiative.

By: Christopher Dennis Ekong, Calabar Branch

By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

•Some of the winners at the event.

Honour for creativity

I

T was fun all the way as students converged to honour and celebrate those who have distinguished themselves in the motion picture industry, event was the 2011 Legacy Awards Festival; venue was the grounds of the NTA TV College, Jos, Plateau State.

The festival, which is mainly an all-student affair, attracted film makers from the National Film Institute (NFI), the University of Jos (UNIJOS), as well as the NTA TV College. The event, which lasted two days, had a preview session where entries were screened. The second day witnessed the award ceremony. Although several entries were submitted into different categories such as Documentary, Short Film, Advert, Drama, Photojournalism and News report, the awards cuts across Best Screenplay, Best Photojournalist, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Videographer, Best Presenter, Best Picture, Best Documentary, Best Advert, Best Editor and Best Group Project.

The jury, which had film maker, Dr Dul Johnson, as chairman, made it known that the criteria for choosing the best were based on storyline, editing technique, communicative aspect and camera work.

Highlights of the festival included musical performances and the presentation of awards.

A particular entry, “An fara” (They have started)

by Chinedu Iregbum, bagged four awards - Best Actor, Best Videographer, Best Editor and Best

Director.

A girl, Faith Thomas, who got an award last year, was the Best Reporter for this year.

Eleven out of the 17 awards went to NFI. The Registrar of TV College Mrs. Hadiza Lawal, was given an award of excellence.

In his remarks, the Rector, Dr. Ayo Fasan, thanked the organisers who despite the lean resources and circumstances tried to see that the festival did not fail. Speaking through his representative, Pastor Dele Oke, he promised that next year’s festival will be celebrated in a grander style and will compete with international film festivals around the world. This, he said, largely depends on the seriousness of the students.

However, the co-coordinator of the festival, Alpha Vyapbong, a 400-Level student of Television Journalism, expressed dismay over this year’s festival saying “we expected more entries this year, but it was not met. We had over 35 entries last year but this year just about 28”.

He, however, thanked those who contributed in making the event worthwhile.

Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, Idi Nasir, who was the biggest winner, last year, said he opted out because he wanted to give others a chance so it could be more competitive.

This year’s winners who spoke to our correspondent, expressed happiness as well as gratitude to the organisers. One said it showed “my efforts are not in vain. “

E-voting to the rescue •Continued from page 34

victimise him. They held meetings and also released press releases many times with a fake signature which they claimed was signed by the chairman. The matter became so serious that petitions started flying about. The members started writing petition against the chairman calling for his removal. But the letter did not carry weight and so was dropped.

The election which was planned to take only three hours to be conducted as the software designer earlier said, took two days. Many 100-Level students who came to vote did not have matriculation numbers; as a result they could not vote since the electronic system used matriculation numbers as the access code. This led to the manual generation of registration numbers to help generate the pin for students to vote. The election on that second day commenced at about 2.15pm with just one laptop because there was a problem with the data base not being able to be installed into the other laptops. In the next three hours just about 60 persons voted.

In a statement by the ISEC secretary, Oge Amadike, she said that the e-voting system was a success except for little flops. She also countered

the claim by most people that the signature of Maxwell Ajufor was signed. She said when Maxwell refused to attend meetings and sign press releases, it was then delegated to Prince Charles to sign on behalf of the chairman.

At the end, the following were announced as winners of the election. Harrisson Success of Financial Management Technology (President), Chidinma Onuorah of Transport Management Technology (Vice-President), Ayobami Osungbade of Project Management Technology (Secretary-General), George Egbeke of Project Management Technology (Assistant Secretary-General), Ihuoma Obinna of Information Management Technology IMT (Financial Secretary), Arinze Anebue, also of IMT (Director of Information), Jessica Okoye of Marinetime Management Technology (Treasurer), Chidiebere Nweke (Director of Sport), and Ifeanyi Duru (Provost).

Meanwhile, the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr. Remy Uche, wants the electronic voting system for SUG elections. He already requested the ISEC chairman, Maxwell, to join hands with his team and recommend the best way forward.

37

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

EDUCATION

‘NECO is not responsible for mass failure’ In 1999, when the National Examinations Council (NECO) was carved out of the defunct National Board for Examination Measurement (NBEM), many hailed the move as one directed at checkmating the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). Ten years on, has NECO lived up to expectations? In this interview with JIDE ORINTUNSIN in Minna, its Registrar, Prof Promise Nwachukwu Okpala, answers this question and others on the activities and challenges of the council.

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HE National Examinations Council (NECO) has over the years had its fair share of challenges. How have you been able to tackle them?

We came on board at a critical point in the life of the council, but our modest achievements have been made possible by the contributions and commitment of the work force.

The first step we took in this direction was a review of the vision, mission and core value of the Council to bring it in line with global trends in educational assessment as well as in tandem with the NECO mandate. Although there were pockets of resistance to our initiative, we applied ourselves to it, by ensuring that all the changes introduced were vigorously pursued and achieved in line with the belief and determination that the provision of a valid and reliable assessment of students’ performance is the only way to ensure that stakeholders in education can begin to see examination as a means of restructuring and reviving the educational system.

What is your take on the persistent mass failure in exams conducted

by NECO over the years?

The mass failure witnessed over the years has been a source of concern. This development is a reflection of the state of the educational system. At NECO, we are also concerned, but the Council should not and cannot be held responsible. The good news is that the federal and some state governments and other stakeholders have taken some bold steps at addressing and improving the situation, but the fact is that, we have to be patient before we can see the result. Our expectations of turnaround cannot be achieved immediately because change in the behavioural pattern of children takes time.

All stakeholders must go to the drawing board to proffer lasting solution to the continuous mass failure; above all, there must be an improved and qualitative teaching and learning input to our school system.

The solution, indeed, will require a process of improved input.

But some are blaming this mass failure on NECO’s syllabus and its inability to monitor compliance

with the approved syllabus by schools?

In as much as NECO has an approved and standard syllabus, strict compliance with it rests in the hands of each school to ensure that the syllabus is covered in terms of teaching. It is not proper for any external examiner to go into schools to analyse how they are teaching their students, for the same examiner is to conduct and oversee the marking of answer sheets of students who sat for the examination based on the syllabus the examiner prepared.

As the Registrar/ chief executive officer of the Council, how do you ensure the credibility of its examinations?

The council came up with some innovations. One of such steps was the declaration and demonstration of our zero tolerance to examination malpractice with the introduction of highly customised answer scripts that make it impossible for candidates to smuggle worked answer scripts into the examination halls. Under the arrangement, answer scripts for a given subject are usable for that paper only.

This has grossly helped us to checkmate candidates who indulge in smuggling in answer scripts into examination halls. Culprits are easily

apprehended, because the papers have identification marks that the candidate would not recognise, but known only to the appropriate officials of the council.

Also, recently, the council successfully introduced the Biometric Data Verification (BDV) machines in the conduct of our various examinations.

This has placed the council ahead of other examination bodies in the country.

The BDV was adopted to utterly eliminate impersonation or identity theft from registered candidates for our examinations. The system, which we test-ran during the justconcluded school-based June/July Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) was another profound statement of our zero-tolerance for impersonation. With the BDV only duly registered candidate, who can be identified through his/her finger prints, iris scan or other features, can write our examinations. It may interest you to know that council efforts in this regards recently yielded dividends with arrest of three persons who were arraigned on a fourcount charge of examination malpractices and subsequently sentenced to six months imprisonment

by Federal High Court in Calabar,

‘The mass failure witnessed over the years has been a source of concern. This development is a reflection of the state of the educational system.

At NECO, we are also concerned, but the Council should not and cannot be held responsible’

•Prof Okpala

the Cross River State capital.

What are your challenges?

Aside from the challenge of constantly ensuring the credibility of our examinations, the council is faced with some daunting challenges, which nearly crippled the activities of the country’s first indigenous examination body. Initially, when we came on board, we were faced with the problem of moving to our permanent site. This was almost marred by some myriads of challenges, such as power, as the complex was not connected to the national grid, while lack of water in the area posed another challenge, but we had to brave it and we took a bold step and moved in.

Another problem is that of vehicles for transporting our examinations materials. Above all, the council needs more funds to enable it to attend to the myriads of challenges to function effectively. Despite all these daunting challenges, we have continued to forge ahead and today, NECO has become an oasis, in the desert meeting the needs of the Nigerian child and the dream of its founding fathers.

Bali Poly gets rector

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has okayed Dr Saidu Umaru Jen as the Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Bali, Taraba State.

The appointment was conveyed to him by the Minister of Education, Prof Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i.

In a letter with reference number: HME/FME19/XXI/40, she said: “The appointment is for a term of four

years, in the first instance with effect from September 7, 2011. The terms and condition of service including remunerations and fringe benefits shall be as approved for Rectors of federal polytechnics.”

Jen, who was born in 1957 in Jen in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State, has a doctorate in Industrial Technical Education

Atungwu is director A Director has been appointed for the University’s CommunityBased Farming Scheme(COBFAS).

He is Dr. Joe Jeremiah Atungwu, of the Department of Crop Protection, College of Plant Science and Crop Production (COLPLANT).

According to a statement by the Acting Registrar, Mrs. Christiana Kuforiji, the appointment of the alumnus of the University, was okayed by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun.

The appointment, which took effect from September, 19, this year will be for two years. It is in recognition of Atungwu’s capability in providing leadership and making positive contributions to the development of the University.

Atungwu was until his appointment, the Deputy Dean of Students Affairs and Chairman, Management Committee on Transportation (MANCOT).

UNAAB, firm to sign MoU on farming THE Managements of Sojitz Global Trading Nigeria Limited and the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB) are to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), for the establishment of a commercial aquaculture farm in Nigeria.

Part of the aim is to raise the Pangasius species of cat fish for domestic consumption and export.

Speaking at the parley between the two managements, the representative of the company that has its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Mr Yo Suzuki, said the Pangasius fish has its major processing industry in Vietnam, adding that the fish is 10 times of commercial value than the tilapia.

According to Mr Suzuki, “European Union provides the major global market for the Pangasi per cent in importation”.

The immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof Segun Lagoke, reiterated the need for research before embarking on a large scale production of the specie, stating that “appropriate study and clear vision is essential for its commercialisation.”

Varsity gets two DVCs

•Dr Jen

•From left: Prof. Godwin Onu Rector, Fed.Poly, Oko, Anambra State Prof. H.G. Jagadeesh (VC, Sharda University, Noida, India) and Dr. S.K. Mishra, Director, Research and Technology Development Department, Sharda University during an MoU signing ceremony in India.

UNAAB FILE

from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He has been acting rector since 2008. He also acted in same capacity at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa State between October 2006 and December 2008.

He was Deputy Rector between September 2005 and October 2007 and the Director, Centre for Technology Entrepreneurship and Community Empowerment of the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi between October 2007 and December 2008.

The Rector, who has written several publications, seminar or conference papers, holds positions in many professional bodies including: Fellow, Nigerian Association of Technologist in Engineering; Fellow, Institute of Registered Administrative Managers; and Fellow, Association of Business Specialists and Entrepreneurs.

A member of the League of Researchers, he is married and has five children.

THE Governing Council has approved the appointment of the University’s new Deputy ViceChancellors.

They are Prof Toyin Ayodele Arowolo (Academics) and Prof Felix Kolawole Salako (Development).

In a statement by the Acting Registrar and Secretary to Council, Mrs. Christiana Kuforiji, the Council, at its meeting on Friday, September, 23, this year, approved the appointments.

According to her, the appointments, which took effect from September, 19, are for two years,each.

She reiterated that the DVC (Academics) will be responsible to the Vice-Chancellor for academic matters, in policy, development, administration and review, among others.

It would be recalled that the Senate of the University, had at a special meeting, on Thursday, September 15, 2011, elected the two deputy vice-chancellors, while it also recommended their elections for Council’s nod.

38

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

EDUCATION ACE FILE

SCHOLARSHIP

Provost calls for re-dedication THE Provost of the Adeyemi College of Education, Prof Adeyemi Idowu, has charged all lecturers of the college to rededicate themselves to the “great commission of providing education to their pupils and students.”

He made this call during the World Teachers’ Day celebration at the college.

“Teachers like the goldsmith, are saddled with the responsibility of moulding and refining the ‘raw material’ at the different levels- nursery/primary, secondary and tertiary- into finished products or professionals that are fit and capable of managing the different sectors of the economy”.

He, however, noted that they must not lose sight of the enormous responsibility of being a teacher.

He urged them to take stock and reflect soberly on the kind of teachers they are in the past one year.

College qualifies for games ACE has qualified for the Nigeria College of Education Games (NICEGA) that will hold in Omuku, Port Harcourt.

The College contingent sponsored by the management to the NICEGA preliminaries held at Ila-Orangun emerged winners in all the games they participated in.

The Chairman, Sport Committee, Mr Sulaiman Raji, disclosed this during the opening of the Wembley Soccer competition at the College.

The Deputy Provost, Dr Olufemi Olajuyigbe, declared open the competition, which was aimed at discovering latent football talents for the ACE intercollegiate games.

The management sponsored the soccer competition as part of its the Student Week.

APPROACHING DEADLINES Scholarship for Graduate or Undergraduate students funded by William C. Bailey Memorial and Edward K. Rice in USA Study Subject(s):Any Course Level:Graduate or Undergraduate Scholarship Provider: Post Tensioning Institute Scholarship can be taken at: USA Eligibility: -Fulltime student during entire scholarship year in the U.S. or Canada -Graduate or Undergraduate Students with a minimum of 3 years completed coursework -Study area in the area of concrete structures with an emphasis on structural design, materials, construction, or any combination thereof with a clear focus on posttensioning design and application. Graduate research in post‐tensioned concrete design and application will be considered.

-Student must have a minimum 3.0 GPA in a bachelor’s or master’s program from an institution of higher education which is accredited by the responsible regional or national agency -All applicants must be proficient in the English language. If English is not your native language, a written statement must be attached to this application attesting to this proficiency.

Scholarship Open for International Students: No Scholarship Description: The William C. Bailey Memorial Scholarship was established in 2008 in honor of Mr. Bailey’s exceptional contributions to the post-tensioning industry. Mr. Bailey, deceased, was a Fellow of PTI and was an active member over his 30-plus year career in the post-tensioning industry. He served as PTI President in 1993 -1994 and also served as Chairman of the Unbonded Tendon Committee. Funding has been provided by many of his peers and long-time friends in the industry. The Edward K. Rice Scholarship was established in 2010. Mr Rice is the Chairman of CTS Cement Manufacturing Corporation. He has been intimately involved with the development of prestressed concrete, and is a pioneer of posttensioned concrete in the U.S. In 2005, he was elected as one of PTI’s Legends of Post-Tensioning for his outstanding contributions to the industry over the years. The William C. Bailey Memorial and the Edward K. How to Apply: Online Scholarship Application Deadline: November 1, 2011 Read more: 2012 William C. Bailey Memorial and Edward K. Rice Scholarship Programs, USA : College Scholarships, PhD Scholarships, Postdoctoral, Graduate International Scholarships Fellowships http://scholarship-positions.com CIES offers Fully- Funded Scholarship for a FIFA/CIES Sports Management programme 2012-2013 Study Subject(s): Sports Management Course Level: Master’s Scholarship Provider: CIES Scholarship can be taken at: Switzerland Eligibility: -Have completed a full course of university study – this can be in any discipline – and successfully obtained your degree by the application date; Have an excellent command of English, written, spoken and comprehension– the course is taught exclusively in English and your Final Project must be written in English (see the application form for more

details); Have some previous professional experience; - Have an international outlook; -Be able to demonstrate some level of involvement/interest in sport; -Be motivated and determined to succeed; -Be flexible and able to meet the challenges of the course; -Have an extensive general knowledge and culture; - Be a team player.

Scholarship Open for International Students: Yes Scholarship Description: This scholarship is awarded by CIES with the objective of strengthening the links between the students of the FIFA/CIES International University Network Programme and the FIFA Master. It also aims at reinforcing the feeling of belonging of the Programme alumni within the CIES community. The Scholarship, to the amount of CHF 45,000, is intended to cover the registration costs for the FIFA Master as well as all or part of the living expenses (in particular accommodation, travel expenses, etc.) of the beneficiary linked to his/her participation in the FIFA Master. The successful beneficiary will be selected on the recommendation, and at the discretion of, the FIFA Master Executive Board. Only one scholarship will be awarded each year.

How to Apply: Online Scholarship Application Deadline: January 20, 2012 Read more: FIFA Master Scholarship Programme for FIFA/CIES International University Network Alumni, 2012 : College Scholarships, PhD Scholarships, Postdoctoral, Graduate International Scholarships Fellowships http://scholarship-positions.com 2012 Scholarship for International Students for PhD and Master’s Studies at Pavement Engineering Laboratory, Sejong University, South Korea Scholarship for International Students for PhD and Master’s Studies at Pavement Engineering Laboratory, South Korea Study Subject(s): Civil/Transportation(Pavement) engineering Course Level: PhD and Masters Scholarship Provider: Sejong University Scholarship can be taken at: South Korea Eligibility: Bachelor’s and Master’s degree holding candidates with strong academic background from civil/ material engineering are encouraged to apply. Related work experience will be advantageous. University requires scores from one of the English proficiency tests (IELTS – 5.5; TOEFL (IBT) – 80).

Scholarship Open for International Students: Yes Scholarship Description: Scholarship Description: Scholarships are available for research programs in pavement engineering leading to Ph.D. (3.5- 4 years), M.S. + Ph.D. (4.5 years combined course) and M.S. (2 years). The programs are research based and require publishing of research results in top academic journals. Selected candidates will be involved in government funded research projects. Candidates will receive full tuition fee waiver and salary (Approx. $900~1000 per month for PhD study; $600 per month for Master’s Programme). Sejong University is one of the leading private universities in Korea.

How to Apply: Online Scholarship Application Deadline: November 18, 2011 for 2012 Spring semester

‘Women participation crucial to development’

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IFE of Ekiti State Governor and Chairman, Ekiti Development Foundation, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, has advised women to assert themselves by putting up programmes that would move the state forward.

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado Ekiti

Erelu Fayemi, who gave the charge at an event organised by the Women in Technical Education and Employment (WITED), Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti

chapter, urged them to influence their colleagues in the rural areas.

She commended members of the group for embarking on programmes that would boost the development of the state. Mrs

•Pupils of Ikeja Grammar School, Ikeja, posing with their trophy after emerging first at the Yoruba Quiz Competition organised by the Oodua People’s Congress at Etal Hall, Oregun Lagos...on Monday

Fayemi said she believed in gender empowerment to raise the voice and status of women in the state and elsewhere.

A representative of the Rector, Mrs. Taiwo Akande, said the event was held for women in technical education to meet and brainstorm on the cause of women education.

Akande noted that the group is set to increase women’s access to science and technology and promote greater participation of women scientists in the development of their countries.

“We urge you to start this from the scratch by focusing on scientific education of the girl-child,” Akande said.

In her address, Co-ordinator of WITED in Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Dr. Cecelia Adebayo, said the polytechnic chapter of the body has carried out several programmes.

One of such, she added, include “visits to secondary schools to give encouraging advice to girl-children about science education, as we believe the girl-child is crucial and central to national development, organising of science quiz and award of prices”, among others.

In another address, Prof Ahbor Dolly Ighoroje, vice-president, Organisation for Women in Science for Developing World (OWSD), Africa Region,

•Mrs Fayemi

emphasised on the essence of women working twice as hard as they currently do to overcome common impediments against women in a male-dominated system, particularly in African societies and “balance work/family life appropriately.”

39

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

EDUCATION WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY

‘Education hub will attract world-class varsities’ ACK of regard for education as a major foreign exchange spinner is a reason Nigeria and other African countries are not competing favourably with more developed countries.

Speaking at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos where he made presentations, Executive Director, Africa Programme, China-Europe International Business School (CEIBS), Prof Kwaku Atuahene-Gima, said Nigeria needs to adopt a business-like approach to education to attract world-class universities to set up campuses in the country – like has been done by the United Arab Emirates and Singapore.

He explained that if the government would invest in infrastructure to create an education hub similar to an industrial park and invite world-class institutions to set up, Nigerians will not see the need to travel abroad in pursuit of foreign qualifications.

He said: “African governments don’t consider education as a business. If you go to Australia, Singapore, UK, US, education is huge business. In Australia, education is the third highest foreign exchange earner. In Africa, governments run schools and run them down. We should learn from them. Singapore created an education hub and everybody is going there. They have proposed it to Ghana.

L

•Prof Akintunde Cole-Onitiri presenting a plaque to Vice-Principal, Special Duties, King’s College, Lagos, Mr Amos Akinpelu, a recipient of the ‘Most Outstanding Management Staff member of theYear at the school premises.

Kwankwaso decries rot in education

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HE Kano State Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, has lamented the sorry state of the state’s education system. “I weep each time I think about the decay in our schools,” Kwankwaso said.

Kwankwaso, who spoke in Kano at the opening of the World Teachers’ Day Celebration, said the lack of concern on the part of stakeholders, including parents and the government, has brought about a downward trend in the state educational standard.

Kwankwanso, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, stated that the relevant stakeholders have not shown sufficient commitment to the ad-

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

vancement of the education sector in the state.

He said it is disheartening to know that over 74 per cent of teachers in primary and secondary schools are unqualified, a situation he noted, is partly responsible for the falling standard of education in the state.

“I shed tears whenever I think of the problems in our school system.

We seem not to be concerned. The parents are not concerned. The teachers, due to economic hardship, are discouraged and therefore not concerned, the authorities are not also concerned, and we have seen that over the years.

“The government alone cannot solve the problem in our schools.

There is need for attitudinal change among all of us.”

According to him, two basic factors, bordering on quantity and quality, militate against the smooth operation of the state education system.

He said the quantity aspect has to do with the enormous enrolment of pupils in schools, while at the same time several other pupils are yet to get enrolled into schools.

He, therefore, called on stakeholders, including parents, teachers and corporate organisations to show concern and collaborate with the government towards redeeming state education.

NUT chair seeks regular promotion

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HE Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Agege Chapter, Lagos State, Comrade Olatunde Ajakore, has called on the government to ensure the regular promotion for primary school teachers. He said this during the World Teachers Day organised by the Agege chapter and held at Government College, Agege.

Ajakore lamented that teachers have not been receiving promotion on time.

Jakore said the union has been able to meet the needs of teachers.

“As part of our programmes for the teachers in this chapter, they

By Seun Olalude

were given opportunity to buy a car or bus and the loan would be deducted for five years from their salaries. We partner with Suzuki Motors to make this a reality and they are permitted to make their choice.

Many things have been done for our teachers, such as sale of deep freezers, laptops, motorcycles and many other items. We will continue to see to their needs.”

The union inaugurated its permanent secretariat, which was constructed by the executives to celebrate the event.

The Agege, Education Secretary, Mr Olamilekan Majiyagbe, assured teachers that their request would be looked into.

“Your request which was presented by the state NUT Chairman, Comrade Idowu to the Lagos State Government, will be looked into.

The State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) is also working for us. On our part, let us also assist,” he said.

He urged teachers to stop complaining.

Majiyagbe commended the union for making the welfare of her members a priority.

•Prof Atuahene-Gima

“In Nigeria, the government could create an education hub, develop infrastructure – good roads, security, others – and invite the top universities to set up campuses there – just like a knowledge park. The moment they come, because they are top universities, people don’t want to go abroad anymore. They can stay in Nigeria and get their degrees.”

Given the large population of Nigerians seeking quality tertiary educationqualifications, Atuahene-Gima said such venture would be successful. The Professor of Marketing and Innovation Management said already in the African campus of CEIBS located in Accra, Ghana, Nigeria has the largest population of students in each cohort of its Executive MBA (EMBA) programme – save for the first. When the school started in 2009, there were 15 Nigerians among the 40 pioneer students. In the second cohort, there were 22, and 25 in the third.

Atuaheme-Gima said the advantage of running the programme in Africa is reduced cost to the students - an inference to the gains of creating an education hub. Unlike those who run the CEIBS programme in China and pay $80,000, Nigerians and other Africans pay $35,000 running the programme from Accra – inclusive of return airfare tickets to and from Accra for the entire duration, plus return ticket to Shanghai and accommodation while there for the two weeks required to round up the programme.

In terms of quality, AtuahemeGima said African executives who take part in the programme are exposed to the same stringent admissions requirement (eight years experience – five in managerial position, a degree or professional qualification, pass admission tests and interviews, and letter of recommendation), get taught by top flight faculties of the business school that is rated among the top 50 in the world, are exposed to research, participant learning, real-life case studies, experiential and exploratory learning that help them to apply innovative solutions to everyday business problems.

Institute gets N30m for HND accreditation

E

• Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole acknowledging greetings from some teachers in Abuja.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

DO State Government has approved N30million for the state College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi to get accreditation for its Higher National Diploma (HND) by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

The money is for the procurement of 14 ploughs, refurbishment of farm tractors and other broken down machinery in the institution and also to help it improve on its extension services to farmers across the state.

State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Abdul Oroh who, disclosed this in a press statement, said if the school gets the accreditation, its graduates would be mobilised for the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) programme.

Oroh disclosed that for the first time in 28 years, 10 veterinary doctors were employed by his minis-

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

try to complement the only three veterinary doctors that will soon be retiring from service.

He said Governor Adams Oshiomhole has also approved N4.5 million to nurse 45,000 oil palm seedlings to be sold to farmers in the state at subsidised rate to guarantee food security and income for farmers.

Oroh said: “We want to see an increase in the production of cocoa from 51,000 tons to 150,000 tons by 2015 and double the production of oil palm, cashew, cassava and to introduce the cultivation of sesame and jatropha for economic viability.”

A letter by the Deputy Director, Programmes Support Division of the NBTE, Mrs Grace MakeriYahaya, indicated that the accreditation and verification visit to the school would take place in the second week of December.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

40

EDUCATION EDUTALK Mr President, create an education hub RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law degree by the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in Accra last Saturday. I watched the ceremony on TV on Sunday during which he thanked Ghana for providing education for a large number of Nigerians. He described Ghana as an education hub in West Africa.

Now, I hope Mr President returned to Nigeria thinking of how to transform this country into the education hub of Sub Saharan Africa because we are in desperate need of it.

With not less than half a million candidates not gaining admission yearly, it is not enough for him to thank Ghana for absorbing a few of them but seek ways to train our young ones within, and reduce capital flight and brain drain.

Nigerian students and their parents are spending billions of dollars in tuition in foreign universities in Europe, United States, Asia and Australia. Educating international students is providing huge revenue for these countries.

A Ghanaian Professor, Kwaku Atuahene-Gima spoke about the lack of regard for education by African governments at an event in Lagos last Thursday. He said while countries like the United Kingdom, United States, Singapore, Dubai and Australia have succeeded in earning billions from education, governments in Africa run schools down.

Since it will take us eons to make the investments and commitment to build world-class universities, he suggested that we simply emulate the likes of Singapore and Dubai which have created education hubs.

To do this, all our government needs do is provide the land, put structures in place, develop infrastructure – roads, electricity, water, provide security, then woo worldclass universities to start their campuses on the facility. Singapore is already selling the idea to Ghana, to show its viability. I know if Ghana buys into it, and a hub is created there, many Nigerians will flock there to attend such institutions. (On the African Programme of the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) that Prof Atuahene-Gima heads, Nigerians are the largest number of students he recruits for the Executive MBA programme). But that is not what we want. We want such initiative here, on our own soil.

with

P

•Prof Aderomu (middle holding the plaque), Mr Oladele (5th right) and some MBA students at the event

Universities urged to boost entrepreneurship programmes

U

NIVERSITIES’ authorities have been advised to ensure that their entrepreneurship lecturers are qualified as directed by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

They are also enjoined to provide entrepreneurship programmes with good laboratories.

A former Vice-Chancellor, Novena University, Delta State, Prof Olusola Aderounmu gave the advice during the Lagos State University (LASU) MBA Entrepreneurship Seminar at LASU, Ojo. His words: “The problem with the entrepreneurship programmes in the universities is that one, the lecturers, who are supposed to teach these students in entrepreneurship are not yet adequately trained for that exercise. ‘’Two, the entrepreneurship laboratories and practical centres in virtually all the universities are yet to be put in place. The best approach is for the universities to set up laboratories for the different entrepreneurial training programmes that they have. ‘’Universities should also send their students during the long vacation to established industries and corporations that would assist the universities to train these students in the practical aspect because it is not just good enough to teach the theory alone, the practical is also ideal.”

Prof Olusola lauded the Federal Government for establishming the Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Lagos to assist students with good feasibility studies.

The don insisted that until Nigeria implements the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recommendation that 26 per cent of her Gross National Product be dedicated to education, technological

By Adegunle Olugbamila

and entrepreneurial development will continue to remain a mirage.

“The inadequate funding has thus weakened the education base to the extent that we have not been able to take a note at the missing link in the education system in Nigeria - her inability to produce in recent years world-class graduates and the failure to link the curricula with the world of work, or better still, entrepreneurship training. ‘’The only rational course for the nation is to turn is to revisit the purpose of education in nation building. This is why many countries have given it a pride of place as reflected in the way their education systems are being handled because of the belief that education will, ultimately, lead to self-reliance, job creation, security and economic growth and development.”

He noted that before and after independence up till the late ‘80s, Nigeria had a robust economy with an edge over some Asian countries, such as Malaysia, Singapore and China. He blamed the Nigerian economy, which nosedived later, on poor leadership.

Against this background, the don called on Federal Ministry of Education to develop a leadership

programme that would be taught to would-be leaders while still in school to educate them on leadership. He advocated the establishment of the National Institute for Leadership Training to offer training to public office holders, as well as an Entrepreneurship Commission similar to the NUC, to monitor and fortify all entrepreneurship programmes.

The convener of the seminar, Mr Rotimi Oladele, who also teaches Entrepreneurship Corporate Governance, at LASU, told said the event was meant to remind the postgraduate students, who are business managers, that it is the small and medium enterprises that would drive the economy.

“We should all stop complaining about how bad Nigeria is, especially the private sector, and realise that small and medium enterprises will run the economy. If we must succeed as business people and as managers and if the Nigerian economy must succeed, we must drive SMEs rightly. We must have diversified education. It is important that we use our hands, legs, eyes, and other parts of our body and collaboration among ourselves to bring out businesses. Every body must have additional value,” Oladele added.

‘The problem with the entrepreneurship programmes in the universities is that one, the lecturers, who are supposed to teach these students in entrepreneurship are not yet adequately trained for that exercise. Two, the entrepreneurship laboratories and practical centres in virtually all the universities are yet to be put in place’

Four Corps members to repeat service in Imo

N

OT fewer than four out of 1200 corps members of the 2011 Batch C’ of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who served in Imo State, are to repeat their mandatory one year service for working against the rules of the NYSC scheme.

The Director, NYSC, Imo State, Mrs. Chinwe Chukwu, made this known during the passing out parade of the Batch C’ corps members at the Dan Anyiam Sports Stadium Owerri, the Imo State capital.

From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

At the event, the Director gave letters of recognition to 24 corps members.

Mrs. Chukwu called for the partnership of the local government councils in the state with the NYSC to impact meaningfully on the scheme.

Some of the corps members, who spoke to The Nation, were full of joy for passing out after one year of meritorious service to the nation.

Kofoworola

Belo-Osagie Kofosagie@yahoo.com 08054503077 (SMS only)

Many foreign universities send representatives to Nigeria yearly to recruit students from education fairs. I am positive they will not be averse to starting something in Nigeria, knowing that we have the market. We have enough people who hunger for quality education.

This project will benefit us in so many ways. Many of the students who go to study abroad cannot really afford it and put their families under serious financial strain to fund their education. If such institutions start programmes in Nigeria, many of those that would have gone abroad, will remain as what they are looking for in Sokoto will now be in their sokoto. This would reduce tuition cost, cut travel, accommodation, and feeding expenses – and definitely reduce the hassles/embarrassment that embassies subject our people to in the name of visas. Usually, such programmes are concluded in the host institutions, so our students will still get to travel abroad. In such situations, I am sure the visa application process would be less tedious as the institutions can guarantee they are students.

Since the institutions coming would be interested in maintaining their rankings, they would send the best of faculties here to ensure things are done right. It could serve as an opportunity for some of our best brains working there to come back home. When they come, our local tertiary institutions will benefit from their presence as there would be cross-fertilization of ideas. Our own universities will also learn from best practices brought nearer home, so we can expect the presence of these world-class institutions on our own soil would help the growth of our own. Need I talk about its contribution to the economy? It will boost employment and provide platforms for new businesses to grow. Mr President, what are we waiting for?

Still on Parental role vs. govt investments The Education Secretary of Agege Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), Hon Olalekan Majiyagbe took me up on my claim that public schools do not settle down to work early in a new term. He said all primary schools in Agege not only started classes on the first day of school last month, but also conducted tests for the pupils. He said inspectors were assigned to go round each school to ensure that academic activities started in earnest during the first week of the term and invited me to go round and see for myself.

I am delighted to hear that a revolution is taking place in our public schools. If this is not the case in the other 19 LGEAs in Lagos State, then Education Secretaries need to emulate what is happening in Agege and replicate in the schools under their care. I definitely will be going round to see things for myself.

From my Inbox

•Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha

Re: Parental role vs. govt investments (Thursday, October 06, 2011) Good evening, I thank you for the interest in education growth.

But I beg to disagree that students be “forced” to pass 50 per cent in Maths and English to be promoted. The culture of coercion has not helped us. Students’ individual cognitive abilities and interest should be the watchword. Fifty per cent in either (subject) is better. This is the culture in advanced countries.

Warm regards, Peter, UNIBEN.

42

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

43

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The house of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto, seat of the Caliphate, had remained united in the last four years as it consolidated its influence at the last polls. However, a few months to the next governorship election in the state, the cohesion of the party seems under threat as Governor Aliyu Wamakko is gunning for a second term while Senator Umar Gada seeks a change. ADAMU SULEIMAN reports.

2012: Intra-party friction hits Sokoto PDP W

HO wins the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket to run for the governorship election scheduled for next year in Sokoto State? Attempt at answering the poser is already heating up the state, thus causing political muscle flexing between continuity and change in the.

The unfolding intra-party rivalry has precipitated a friction that is seen as an unhealthy prelude to what may turn out to be an unfair poll in the coming election in the Caliphate, particularly for the ruling party.

Of course, the ruling party, which holds the nerve of governance at the centre and in the state, is expected to set example of peaceful campaigns and tolerance in accordance with the rule of law, despite mounting opposition.

Just last week, Fresh Democratic Party (FDP) added to the array of opposition parties in the Caliphate when it concluded its primaries, with Alhaji Mu’azu Abubakar picking the party’s ticket.

The medium-scale business man and immediate past state chairman of FDP is said to share same Sokoto Central Senatorial District with sitting Governor Wamakko, but Abubakar may not be seen as political threat to the governor who still has an advantage of popularity.

Now, political intrigues and manipulations are rocking the party ahead of what promises to be the most celebrated contest for the state’s number one seat. And the opposition parties gunning to occupy the Sokoto Government House next year are not leaving things to chance.

Speaking shortly after his victory, the party’s governorship candidate had said he joined the race to fast-track rapid development by ensuring remarkable changes in all respects across the state.

“I have a dream for the state and I want to guarantee our people of their hope and integrity for the prosperity of the state,” he had assured.

Besides, for sure, it is a political titanic clash of luck, hope and victory between Wamakko and Senator Abubakar Umar Gada who is an old member of the Sokoto PDP. There are indications that more aspirants from the PDP are likely to unveil themselves. Recently, Hon. Umar Bature, Ahmed Muhammed Gusau and Ahmed Dasuki, son of deposed Sultan Dasuki, were hotly speculated in the Caliphate. Although, he is trying to settle down for the big contest on a rough political terrain, Gada seems determined and focused.

He has vowed not to leave any stone unturned as he is said to be silently working on his plans with growing support especially from the old members of the party, even from outside the state.

Although, Wamakko had over the years built his

L

AGOS State Information and Strategy Commissioner Lateef Ibirogba has reassured Lagosians of adequate security, stressing that Fashola Administration would not relent in maintaining a peaceful atmosphere conducive to peaceful living and smooth business operation.

He asked alarmists to desist from peddling rumours about the infiltration of kidnappers into the Centre of Excellence, adding that the government would build on its achievement in the sector by fortifying and re-invigorating the security apparatus of the state for greater efficiency.

Ibirogba told reporters in Lagos that the Security Trust Fund set up by the administration would not relent in providing police formations with base stations, patrol vehicles and other gargets. He also said that the Emergency Unit, which the numbers: “767 and “112” would continue to be helpful in nipping crime in the bud, advising people to master the number.

The commissioner however,

• Wamakko political strength and spread through functional and responsive machinery, perhaps, in anticipation of future political challenges, he is not insulated from political stress.

The reversal of the sanctions on civil servants left behind for his government by his predecessor, Attahiru Bafarawa, has further endeared him to score some levels of acceptance as he gave the workers opportunities to regain their working status.

Wamakko had promptly directed the payment of the controversial three steps cut to all civil servants and supported same with car, motorcycle and furniture loans to middle and top-level workers. He also initiated laudable loan schemes for farmers and business men and women as well guaranteed payments with terminal moratorium at no interest cost, especially those traders caught in the 2006 Sokoto central market inferno. It is a move capable of advancing more support for him.

Also, he has a foundation, ‘Aliyu Magatakarda Foundation’, which promotes various programmes and youth-oriented

schemes in skills and knowledge development as well as philanthropic gestures in form of charity and support for the indigent.

Gada on the other hand, quickly set up a campaign organisation, Senator Abuabkar Umar Gada Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation, to further consolidate his ambition. Revelations have it that Gada is currently recording improved support as it was gathered that political anxiety, tension and suspicion have set in since the news of his perfections broke out in the caliphate, especially within the PDP. However, not much is being heard of the major opposition parties as they are yet to hit the track towards promoting the spirit of political hard tackle at this stage which the ruling PDP is glaringly noticed for.

Besides, Wamakko seems not to be resting on his oars, but rather, he is making efforts at scuttling any attempt to jeopardise his dream just as he tries to bridge the widely speculated gap between issues and interests. He is also working on his alleged fast-declining reputation.

This has recently precipitated the use of instruments of power to suppress any challenger especially within the PDP as alleged.

Gada’s gubernatorial campaign organisation has raised the alarm against the government of the day in the state for alleged violent threat and intimidation as well as using judicial organs and those presiding over same to cripple the aspiration of the former Senator.

The spark of the open political hostility, division and hatred by aspirants within the PDP took the stage in full swing with provocative signals resulting in alleged removal of Senator Gada’s posters by Wamakko’s aides.

However, the security of lives and property in the state appears a significant source of concern at this point in time in the caliphate in view of the growing political tremor. The situation, many believe, calls for the prompt action by the law-enforcement and security agencies to have proactive surveillance in view of the challenges ahead A source which wants an end to Wamakko’s reign said: “Rather than being weakened, it has further strengthened our resolve to restore our historically established moral values that are systematically being destroyed. No amount of intimida-

tion and abuse of apparatus of state will make us slow down our move to flush out this leadership.”

Accordingly, pundits view the situation not only as political eyesore which is detrimental to sane politics, but a setback to the ruling PDP on one hand, while on the other hand, it will give a vantage opportunity for main opposition parties to have a smooth sail at clinching the state’s governorship seat.

In a recent release entitled ‘Wamakko’s Use of Apparatuses of State to Subvert Healthy and Legitimate Democratic Competition,’ Alhaji Muhammad Wadata Usman Gwiwa, ProtemSecretary of Umar Gada Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation said supporters of senator Gada had further observed that the use of political thugs to harass and intimidate them had become a dastardly and condemnable option by the state government.

It alleged that “it was recorded in Kware, Achida , Wurno, Sokoto metropolis among others.’’

Recalling a recent experience, Gwiwa said: “One of our supporters, Mallam Faruk Kware was attacked and his vehicle smashed by a pro-Wamakko thug and complaint was lodged before the divisional police station in Kware, but the victim was arrested and charged to court for over-speeding and subsequently remanded in prison custody while the attackers were freed.”

He further declared: “The use of Sharia Court judges for political reasons is an attempt to ridicule and compromise our judiciary against its established reputation and integrity.

He maintained in the release that “Wamakko’s fear of his challenger (Gada) prompted him to resort to an unacceptable intolerance but which has further jeopardised his government’s dwindling image’’ He added that no individual has the monopoly of violence, saying: “There is no gainsaying the fact that violence begets violence.

Government’s resolve to use thuggery and violence will be resisted by our competent and patriotic security agencies whose constitutional responsibility is the maintenance of law and order at all times.”

However, Wamakko believes strongly that his performance will see him through the election favourably as, according to him, all the allegations against him are baseless. But the question of who laughs last will be answered in a few months away.

‘Lagos govt up to security challenge’

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor

stressed that security is a joint responsibility involving the government and Lagosians, urging residents to be vigilant and patriotic.

He said: “Lagos is a peaceful place.

It is the only place you find 18 million people living peacefully and more are still trooping in on daily basis. It is because the state is peaceful. Government is not resting to ensure that people live and succeed here.

“Our investment on security is increasing. We are investing in security equippment. It is the wish of the government that people live here in security, peace of mind and harmony. No other state has invested in security like Lagos, where we have marine boats, helicopters and ammunition and patrol vehicles. Our Rapid Response Service (RRS) is fully

equipped to effectively combat crime.

“We are also developing our people so that they would not go into crime. We are employing a lot of youths and strengthening our vocational centres. The influx of people to Lagos is growing, yet the crime level cannot be compared to Jos, Bauchi and Bornu. Lagos accommodates all ethnic nationalities and there is no ethnoreligious crisis. When Ogun was sacked by robbers, it was Lagos banks that financed the state. Crime may not be totally eradicated, but we are up to the security challenge”.

Ibirogba, who warned men of unruly behaviours to stay away from Lagos, declared that “Lagos has no place for kidnappers”. He added: “That we have nipped that singular case in the bud showed that we are at alert. Lagos is safe and crime cannot be condoned here”.

The commissioner thanked Lagosians who have been furnishing

information, urging them to sustain this tempo of cooperation and patriotism. He assured that the identity of givers of sensitive information capable of assisting the state to surmount the security challenge.

Ibirogba said: “Government is pro=active and there is no substitute to security of life and property. There is no place for criminals in Lagos and we will not allow molestation and harassment of innocent people. The law will catch up with criminals and only people who want to do legitimate business has no cause to fear.

The commissioner also said that gone were the days when the state was under the siege of miscreants called ‘are boys’, adding that government has made concerted efforts to discourage thuggery and rehabilitate the youths. He stressed: “Emphasis in now on prevention rather than cure. The people you once referred to as area boys are now productively

• Ibirogba

engaged. We are expanding the horizon of formal and informal education and skill development. This underscores government’s commitment to social welfare; education, health, housing, environment. We are converting people into formidable assets”.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

45

THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

‘Essential fatty acids can promote health’ T

HE Chief Executive Officer, SeaDock Nigeria Limited, Sam Ayeni, has said Omega3 is of benefit to the body.

He, however, said it is dangerous to consume to much of the drug.

“The evidence for the comprehensive benefits of increased fish oil consumption is not as clear-cut as supporters of the notion suggest.

Insufficient attention has been paid to individual studies and meta-analyses that fail to establish a benefit to health of omega-3 fatty acids,” he said.

He pointed out that some fats heal. They include essential foundational fats, which are unprocessed. “These foundational fats support lubrication of the system and the health of all the cells in your body. Examples are flax seed oil, sunflower oil, olive oil, sesame oil, coconut oil, evening primrose oil, avocado; fish oils, nuts, such as almonds and hazelnuts and seeds, such as pumpkin and sunflower.

He also said there are fats that kill because “processed fats are destroyed through cooking at temperatures above 118 degrees F. They are toxic to the body. The dangers of processed fats include poor circulation, high blood pressure, excess congestion and poor elimination. These fats include margarine and animal fats, such

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

as butter, cheese, eggs, milk, vegetable oils, shortening and deep fried foods.”

He said consumers need not be confused in choosing the right fats.

“The Harvard University School of Public Health has issued a report stating that trans-fatty acids cause more human health problems than do saturated fats. Transfatty acids are found in margarines and shortenings, and in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, breads, cakes, cookies, crackers, soup mixes and many other common foods.

“There are, on the other hand, good essential fats that increase metabolic rate, help in body fat loss, increase energy levels and athletic performance, shorten fatigue recovery time after exertion and make skin soft and beautiful.

Udo’s Oil™ does all that and more.

Just ask Tyra Banks. The high fashion model and American television personality has raved about the beauty benefits of Udo’s Oil. “Scientific research has determined that the human body needs a steady supply of foundational fats to improve digestion, lower high blood fats (triglycerides), decrease inflammation and pain, and minimise the risk of cardiovascular problems. Udo’s Oils provide you with your daily require-

• Udo’s oil

• Ayeni

ment of essential Fatty Acids. Just one tablespoon a day for each 50 pounds you weigh. Use in salads, soups, stews, yogurt, beverages and pour over your favourite hot and cold foods. Do not use for cooking”, he said.

Ayeni said essential fatty acids are important to healthy living because EFAs help to prevent leaky intestines that can lead to allergies, inflammation and auto-immune problems.Besides,

creating smooth, velvety skin, EFAs help alleviate acne, psoriasis and eczema.In the cardiovascular system, fatty acids are required to transport cholesterol, lower triglycerides, make platelets less sticky and lower blood pressure.

“Fatty acids elevate mood and improve our ability to deal with stress. High stress levels promote water retention, inflammation, blood clot formation and high

blood pressure. Fatty acids stabilise the heartbeat, lowering the risk of heart problems. Overweight people benefit from fatty acids because their kidneys expel less water.

“In the immune system, these foundational fats protect DNA from damage and provide nutritional support the cardiovascular system. Essential fatty acids help decrease inflammation, increase energy, stamina and speed the recovery times after strenuous workouts. EFAs are involved in transporting minerals through the body. These foundational fats are important to brain health and function. During pregnancy, the unborn child draws from its mother’s stores of the essential fats required for the growth and development of its brain,” Ayeni added.

On Udo’s Oil 3-6-9 Blend, he said: “Udo’s Oil 3-6-9 Blend is a special blend of carefully chosen, natural, unrefined, EFA-rich oils.

It contains oils from fresh, certified organic flax, sunflower, sesame, and evening primrose seeds as well as oils from coconut, rice germ and oat germ, providing ‘minor’ ingredients with major health benefits. This oil blend has added non-GMO soy lecithin, which improves oil digestion and provides the building materials for healthy cell membranes.”

Don advocates integration of herbal medicine into PHC

T

• National Coordinator, Bio-Resources Development and Conservation Programme (BDCP), Prof Elijah Sokomba and Director-General, Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), Dr Tamuno Okujagu, at a press conference on herbal festival tagged Herbfest 2011, in Lagos.

‘How to prepare magnetised water’

A

N EXPERT, Cyril Omisande has said there is much to benefit from magnetotherapy, one can actually prepare magnetised water.

Dr Omisande, Consultant Magneto Therapist and Head of the Department, Magnet Therapy, the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Abuja said the method of preparing of the healing water is as simple as it is effective. All that is required is a pair of ferrite magnets and clean drinkable water.

According to him, there are two ways of magnetising water depending on the size or type of the magnet.

“For the small pair of magnets (800 gauss), just measure 50cl quantity of water in a plastic or glass

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

container and immerse the pair of magnets into the water, cover it and allow it to remain in the water for a minimum of 12 hours so that it can fully discharge its healing properties into the water, that is, from 7: 00 pm to 7: 00 am; after which it would be ready for consumption.

This should be done repeatedly twice daily so that 50cl of water can be taken twice daily.

“The second way of preparing magnetised water with a high strength magnet (2000-3000 gauss) is by filling a four-litre keg with drinkable water and placing the magnets beside the keg of water (south pole one side, north the other side) and allowing it to stay for 12 hours. This can be taken by the fam-

ily because of its quantity.”

On the dosage, he said one should drink 50cl of magnetised water about three times daily. It is important to note that magnetised water will keep its properties for a maximum of three days.”

“Water can be magnetised in plastic or glass container. The container used for the magnetised water should be placed on a plastic or wood. It should not be placed near metal object or floor because they may also cause the magnetisation of the water. Do not refrigerate or boil already magnetised water. Do not place magnets close to any electronics or wristwatches. Magnet therapy is not magical and not spiritual but purely a physical and scientific therapy,” he said.

HE Federal Government has been urged to incorporate herbal medicine into its Primary Health Care (PHC) programme.

According to the Head, Department of Pharmacognocy, University of Lagos, Prof Olukemi Odukoya, herbal medicine can be used as preventive medicine under the PHC system.

Odukoya spoke to reporters on the Eight Trade Promotion Fair for Health and Lifestyle, Goods and Services tagged TPF 2011. The theme is: Developing products to international standards for international and local acceptability.

She said herbal medicine is a community-based social method of treatment for the people because the practitioners dwell among them and they can walk up to them to access care. Regrettably, herbal medicine has become a class affair.

But, it should be the medicine of the people, she added.

Odukoya said herbs doses, which usually are liquid, should not be confused with that of orthodox medicine, because they could be metabolised and excreted if taken in excess. “So, there is no adverse reaction like those of orthodox medicine which has great toxicity and can cause organ damage. Herbs are taken either in the morning or at night before sleep doesn’t have negative effect, but it may take between two and three weeks to cure.

But we usually tell people to take herbs as dietary item,” she said.

Head, Kellow West Africa Nigeria Limited, Ms Olukemi Ilori, said the fair would foster regional integration in West Africa and deepen intra-African trade. “It is a fair with a focus to develop our products in the

By Wale Adepoju health and lifestyle sector to international standards according to best global practices (BGP). It would also provide a unique platform for medium, small and micro business to showcase their skills and maximise their potentials,” she added.

Ilori said producers would market their products and use the opportunity to improve on their products and skills and identify incredible business partners and network for growth.

She said though the made-in-Nigeria goods are of high quality, they are poorly packaged, adding that inappropriate marketing skills and inadequate finance have been identified as the main cause of the poor packaging.

“Other factors include lack of knowledge about branding, inability to network and batter for cost reduction also add to the problem,” she added.

Ilori said exhibitors were drawn from 20 professions, such as complementary and alternative medicine, agriculture and food products, clothes and textiles, footwear and fashion accessories.

According to her, the fair has been promoting the economic growth of the country and West Africa subregion and facilitate an avenue for the improvement and promotion of made in Nigeria goods and services.

Others are encouraging the upgrade and preservation of indigenous technology while at the same time trying to reduce the rates of its loss and also serve as a rallying point for critical agencies to interact with business, the public and other stakeholders in the sector.

46

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

NATURAL HEALTH

Nigeria coming up with own tradomedicines H

URRAH!. Nigeria’s slumbering traditional medicine (NTM) is about to arise and take its rightful place in the world. Arising means the Federal Government is backing large-scale production of four popular herbs for national mass consumption. Taking its rightful place in the world means pushing these Nigerian herbs into the world market for a reasonable share of the world’s ever growing plant medicine market which has hit about $80 billion yearly.

Destiny has positioned Hajia Zainab Shariff - as the arrow head of this NTM revolution in which MORINGA OLOIFERA and ARTEMISIA, also known as wormwood, are star products.

Zainab, a pharmacist used to be assistant director at the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja. There, she was like fish – in and out of water. She believed passionately in herbal medicine, and did not hide her interests from the Establishment. In fact, she produced her own herbs, which she displayed at many exhibitions, one of which was attended by Mr. I. A. Lawal, of I.A. Lawal Enterprises, a forwarding company. He linked her with me at The Guardian Newspaper. Zainab associated with the National Council of Physician of Natural Medicine (NCPNM) of which I was and still is, a member, under the leadership of Bishop Magnus Atilade. The NCPNM was to play a major role during the Olusegun Obasanjo Administration in efforts to make his government pass the Nigerian Traditional Medicine Bill into law.

That law was demanded of all countries by the World Health Organisation, and later, the African Union, as an important step in the movement of the world health delivery from sick care to health care. In sick care, pharmaceutical companies produce poisonous inorganic drug medicines, which suppress disease with sometimes debilitating side effects. In health care, these same companies or some others, produce food supplements, which prevent health break-down, and, where this has occurred, arm the body’s organic healing system with organic natural substances in concentrated form which enable its challenge and, sometimes, reverse the disorder naturally. The World’s Health Organisation thought health of the world people was not improving significantly despite advances in technology and that plants still appeared cortical to world health, with about 80 per cent of the world population depending on them. On this account many countries, including Nigeria, signed a treaty 11 years ago to integrate TM into their national health delivery systems by August 31 last year. Nigeria woefully failed to do this. To do this requires the passage of the Nigerian Traditional Medicine Law. The law will provide for: •Registration of NTM practitioners nationwide •Establishment of a Nigeria Traditional Medicine Institute •Regulation of the practice through a Council •Government funded research into efficacy of the folk medicine and necessary clinical trails •Incorporation of TM products which make the mark into the National Essential medicine list to be prescribed by orthodox and TM part timers in hospitals.

Zaniab helped the NCPNM gain President Obasanjo’s attention. He set up a committee to produce Nigerian herbs. But servants hijacked the process and the Nigerian “factor” destroyed it. How, for goodness sake, this column once wondered, would the committee require N100 Million for its members to travel abroad to learn how India and China are now leading exporters of. TM, and to travel round Nigeria before they would discover which herbs to package into a Nigerian herbs series? In that column, I wondered if they hadn’t heard that both the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and FIIRO (Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, researched lemon grass, an old Nigerian remedy for malaria, and found that its water infusion killed malaria parasites in the blood. Hadn’t they heard, also, that, in Igbo tradition, women who had just had babies, were given utazi in pepper soup to help with lactation and to help restore their bodies, quickly, to pre-pregnancy form? Why couldn’t we have bitter leaf tea in tea bags when we know it helps drop blood sugar and check hypertension? Why can we not have marigold tea to benefit from its lutein in and zeazanthin, anti-oxidants which are richly stocked in the lens of the eye where they help to prevent cataract, a major cause of blindness in Nigeria. Why did we have to wait for an Englishman, who read these arguments on the internet, saw business in them, came to Odogbolu, in Ogun State, to organise unemployed women to produce lemon grass on sustainable basis, buy it off them for his factory on Billings Way, Ikeja, Lagos from where he now makes Dara Dara brand lemon grass tea sold nationwide.

Oh Nigeria!

Well, thank goodness, all of that is becoming history now.

Zainab went to television day and night in the north, popularising herbs in that part of the country and coming occasionally to the south. She gained the attention of President Yar’Adua’s government. And, today, she is the Managing Director of the Nigeria Medicinal Plants Production Company which is supervised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and is responsible for promoting commercialization of medicinal plants. The company is set for the launch of four products: •Artemisia tea •Artemisia plus •Morigvite tea, and •Motivate powder Moringa Oloifera I knew of the medicinal and nutritional uses of this plant at the Accra A – SNAPP conference of 2002. A – SNAPP is a conglomeration of efforts in Africa and America backed by universities and the United States Development Agency (USDA) to promote new uses of agriculture which, on sustainable basis, would usher into the world new organic, medicinal plant products. Mr Olajuwon Okubena, who makes Jobelyn, backed by The Comet newspaper, facilitated Nigerian presence, which turned out to be the biggest single – nation attendance. Jobelyn turned up as

star product of the conference, followed by a Ghanaian antimalarial herbal formula made by a medical doctor, now of blessed memory. The Ghanaian economy was so depressed at that time that, as an index of poverty, thousands of young Ghanaian girls invaded Nigeria’s prostitution market to earn a living. This doctor was frustrated in his practice because Ghana hadn’t the cash to import western pharmaceutical anti-malarial drugs. He studied popular herbs prescribed by Ghanaian herbalists and, soon, came up with phytolaria. Unfortunately, he died before this formula went through clinical trial which, today, has made it the treatment of choice for malaria in Ghana. So passionate have Ghanaians become about PHYTOLARIA that the government came under public criticism a few years ago for deciding to spend money on treated mosquito nets, a gift from the Bush Presidency. Haruna Attah, leading advocacy for phytolaria, said while the nets would protect against mosquito bites indoors people bitten outdoor could only be protected by Phytolaria, which comes in tea bags. The Accra 2002 A – SNAPP conference saw the East Africans, especially Kenyans, come with mosquito repellant candles made from the leaves of neem (dogonyaro) tree. Neem leaf powder sprinkled in the corners of a room drove rats and cockroaches away. I discovered on my own later that even the fresh leaves did that as well. A pity it is that, under the pressure of the news last weekend, that Nigeria was now going to make a headway in this $80 billion yearly market, I couldn’t locate my A – SNAPP conference papers on Moringa Oloifera. I am comforted, however, by the company of Prof. L. S. Gills. He is, in my view, one of those unsung people who have made immense contributions to the progress of Nigeria in his own field. An Indian born 71 years ago, he has university degrees in Botany, Zoology and Chemistry. At various times a researcher in India, the United States and Canada, Professor Gills came to the University of Benin, Nigeria, in 1976 with more than 200 scientific papers behind him. His work in Nigeria produced the book ETHNOMEDICAL USES OF PLANTS IN NIGERIA. That’s what keeps me company, sort of, as I write on Moringa Oloifera, which grows as well in Nigeria as it does in the rest of Africa, Latin America and Asia.

Prof Gills gives us the local Nigerian names of this plant.

• YORUBA… ewe ile, ewe igbale, idagba manoye. I often hear many Yoruba pronounce ewe igbale as in broom stick, igbale…d m d Moringa, I am sorry, is not from the leaves of broomstick.

The igbale is pronounced…d d d. I am told this igbale means a sacred place, and the leaves of Moringa are used to sweep it, hence the name ewe igbale. I may be wrong, though • HAUSA… Zogakigandi, bagaruwar maka • IGBO… okweoyibe I yield the floor to Prof Gills for a while. He says: “Roof bark contains alkaloids moringine, moringinine, benil, moringic acid, athonin, spirochin, ptergospemin, Gum-resin Lmyrosin, K-myronate, ptergospemin, rhamnose. Seed contains fixed oil and fatty acids, leaves rich in minerals, protein and vitamins”.

For the lay person, Prof Gills adds: “The decoction of the juice expressed from the leaf is prescribed as a remedy for catarrhal diseases, and as an emetic and anathematic. A poultice of the leaves is applied to wounds, boils and swellings. The leaves are applied hot to the scrotum in hydrocell. The bark of the stem is acrid, stimulant, diuretic and antiscorbutic. The decoctim of the stem bark is given as a cardiac stimulant in asthma and cough. As an abortififacient, it is introduced in the womb to dialate the mouth.

“The decoction of the root and the stem bark is used as antiscorbutic and is also applied externally as anti-irritant. A poultice of the bark of the root is used to ferment inflamed parts. The juice of the fresh root is a remedy for earache; for dental caries, a few drops of the juice are placed in the cavity of the tooth. A powder of the root bark is used as snuff in headache and earache.

“The fruits either taken raw or cooked as vegetable is prescribed in treating diseases of the liver and the pancreas. The seed oil is applied locally to treat acute goiter and rheumatism and is a good remedy for hysteria and scurby. Seeds are administered in venereal diseases and ascites due to enlargement of the liver and spleen. The bark excudes a gum, is taken with honey for relief of headache, and the fried gum is eaten for relief of windiness and diarrhea. A mixture of the gum and palm oil is used for relief of toothache and earache. A pessary made of the

e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com

gum diabetes the uterus and acts as abortifacient. The flowers juice is diuretic, anthelmintic, carminative and antispasmodic. It is drink with milk”.

I REMEMBER the Accra A – SNAPP Conference emphasising Moringa Oloifera as a nutrition enhancer and suggesting that the leaf powder be added to the meals of infants and aging people in particular. From research Moringa is credited with • 7 times more Vitamin C than orange • 4 times more Vitamin A than carrot • 4 times more Calcium than milk • 3 times more Potassium than potatoes • 2 times more Protein than yoghurt The Indians call Moringa drumstick and have used it for centuries in their Ayurvedic medicine. It would be surprising if they don’t. For centuries, hyenas troubled Indian settlements until someone came up with the idea that Moringa Oloifera tree scares hyenas. So, from village to village, Moringa was planted and, indeed, the hyenas fled! It is a powerful reminder that something is always a match or detervent to something else in this wonderful Creation. Just as a snake is killed almost instantly when kerosene touches its skin, I have witnessed soldier ants, menacing as they are, disappear at the sniff of wood ash.

Compounds in the leaves, pods and other parts of Moringa Oloifera tree have been found to produce such pharmacological effects as make them useful in the treatment of disease such as: • high blood pressure • high blood cholesterol • both types of diabetes • gout (and arthritis) • gastric ulcer and indigestion • genital herpes • alzhamer’s, and • lupus Moringa Oloifera, is antioxidant and useful in bacterial and fungal infections, inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis, asthma and kidney disease. Its use in traditional medicine is extending towards HIV/AIDS therapy. Proceedings of a 2002 HIV/AIDS conference in Barcelonia, Spain, for example, recommended that Moringa be “considered as an alternative treatment to boost immune system of HIV patients in Africa”. The justification for this, according to the conference, is that Moringa prevents immune system breakdown under malnutrition. Many people make the mistake of believing HIV is contracted only from sexual relationship. Dr. F. Batmanghelidj has shown in his prime books, YOUR BODY’S MANY CRIES FOR WATER and YOU’RE NOT SICK, YOU’RE ONLY THIRSTY, that gross deficiency of certain essential amino acids and Zinc can cause the DNA to crumble and exhibit HIV-like symptoms. He cited experiments in which, in the test table, he added these fatty acids and Zinc to HIV cells and, over time, they reverted to normal, healthy cells! Consequently, Spirulina, the plant algae rich in all 23 amino acids, was prescribed as a dietary supplement in HIV therapy. As many people cannot afford foods rich in all the 23 amino acids, Moringa, with its rich protein content, may very well join Spirulina in this armoury.

Chicken and Moringa

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HAT is sauce for the goose, they say, is sauce for the gander. If chickens do well on Moringa, why not hu mans? I have just read of the findings of an exciting East African research. Corn was becoming too expensive for poultry feed, and someone came up with the idea of replacing it with cassava peel, plentiful but essentially carbonhydrate, and thrown away. Some researchers decided to protenise cassava peel with Moringa and watch the results in chicken layers. Researchers T. S. Olugbemi, S. K. Mutayob and F. P. Lekule collaborating at the University of Agriculture, Morogara, Tanzania, worked with 80 layer birds aged 65 weeks, using Moringa as 10 per cent in the composite feed in a double-blind placebo experiment in which other animals had regular feed.

The results were astounding in terms of (1) length and width of eggs produced (2) egg component, (3) egg weight and (4) egg yolk colour.

The birds ate more than hitherto, produced bigger eggs with stronger shell and deeper yolk color. And the consumers preferred them more on terms of (1) taste (2) aroma and (3) yolk colour, which was either deeper yellow or deeper orange.

This colour is evidence of the presence of the carotenoid beta carotene which chicken pick up from plant consumption. Poultry birds are deprived this privilege in their cages and, so, don’t produce fine yolk in their eggs. Poultry farmers got round this, first, by adding beta carotene extracts to the feed. But when this became expensive, they substituted with chemical dyes, with poorer taste and aroma and the capacity to cause cancers, being dyes!

Moringa Plantations Hajia Zainab Shariff has a whale of a job on her hands. She says the launch of the four Nigerian herbs will be preceeded by a publicity campaign. I suggest that include encouraging plantation farming of Moringa through contract farming in all parts of the country, to ensure sustainability, create jobs and grow another stream of income for poverty – stricken Nigerians. Being a pharmacist, I am certain Hajia will favour channelling the products through pharmacies. But pharmacies don’t prescribe.

The surest way to get to consumer in my view is through doctors and NTMPs. Currently, I get my family’s supplies from Ghana, where Moringa supply is high. I understand, from the internet, there are some Nigerian growers in Kano and pockets in all parts of Nigeria.

Hajia, make this a truly Nigerian Traditional Medicine (NTM) revolution. I can see the hands of destiny in all of this.

Tel: 08034004247, 07025077303

THE NATION THURSDAY,OCTOBER 13, 2011

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e-Business To connect more people, particularly rural and un-served individuals to broadband Internet in the next five years will require the formulation of new and appropriate policies and a regulatory framework, as well as investing adequately in broadband infrastructure. Absence of these basics, experts argue, will leave the dream unattainable, reports ADLINE ATILI

Experts make case for policy to drive broadband S TAKEHOLDERS are unanimous in their call for effective policies and a regulatory framework to drive broadband access.

Broadband, according to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), describes Internet connections that range from five to 2,000 times faster than earlier Internet dial-up technologies. However, the term broadband does not refer to either a certain speed or a specific service. Broadband combines connection capacity (bandwidth) and speed.

According to ITU, “Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in particular, broadband networks offer perhaps the greatest opportunity ever, to make rapid and profound advancements in global, social, and economic development.” To ITU, not only does broadband deliver benefits across every sector of society; it also helps promote social and economic development, and will be key in helping us get the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) back on track.

Here in Nigeria , the Federal Government and ICT industry stakeholders have been called upon to, among other recommendations, enact an effective policy to promote broadband access and provide a conducive environment to enhance broadband investments.

This was part of resolutions of a broadband summit organised in Lagos recently by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON).

In his keynote address, Executive ViceChairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Eugene Juwah, said broadband represents huge opportunities for social and economic progress of any nation or people.

He said broadband network and service have brought transformation to businesses and markets, significant wealth, economic growth, empowerment of individuals, organisations and communities; arguing that these define how equipped businesses, people, communities and institutions will be visible when given access to broadband.

He said structured proliferation of fibre infrastructure across the country is vital for delivery of true broadband services.

Juwah said the global revolution towards adopting a more efficient broadband access has led to the deployment of fibre networks worldwide. Fibre networks, he argued, are more cost effective, have a higher carrying capacity than copper or wireless networks, have greater transmission speed and provide better quality experience for Internet users who increasingly demand video and file sharing.

He said for Nigeria to realise its goal of becoming one of the 20 largest economies in the world by the year 2020, it is essential that the government takes advantage of the broadband revolution sweeping across the world, by addressing fibre deployment challenges and positioning the country as an e-economy, capable of providing unlimited access to the world and global resources.

He said access to broadband defines how equipped businesses, people, communities and institutions are able to participate in today’s digital and smart global economy.

He said: “Broadband access to the Internet is creating a revolution in how services are delivered, industrial processes are managed and researches are carried out.

“It facilitates the delivery of more effective health care and banking, services, better education, smoother and more transparent governance, sustainable environment, more efficient transportation, national security, as well as smarter and more economical energy supplies.”

•Submarine cables boost broadband connectivity

He, however, lamented, that fibre deployment in the country is plagued with constraints, such as administrative procedures for securing rights of way, urban and regional planning, complexity of roles within the system and other related local issues. He said NCC is exploring the Open Access model to tackle these challenges and ensure effective deployment of national fibre networks that will provide an even platform for service providers and enhance the achievement of the nation’s eeconomy goals.

Also speaking, the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Phase 3 Telecom, Olusola Teniola, said the Open Access model will help broadband operators reduce Capital Expenditure (CAPEX), control Operational Expenditure (OPEX) and increase chances of new investments in infrastructure. He said it will help release spectrum suitable for sustainable broadband deployment.

The CEO, MainOne Cable Company, Ms Funke Opeke, while commending investments in fibre optics cables in the country, said there is need for Nigerians to feel the impact of what has been done through further penetration of broadband services in Nigeria . She noted Nigerians demand faster speed, lower price and an improved quality service.

She stated that there are critical policy imperatives to increasing broadband penetration in Nigeria which, if not addressed, would impact negatively on the nation’s development objectives.

According to her, there is an urgent need to develop and implement a national broadband policy in Nigeria with the support of the new ICT ministry and the policy needs to: Create demand and drive promotion strategies by allowing government intervene in market creation and facilitation by promoting broadband adoption and use; make broadband access and services more attractive and accessible to users by helping to lower prices and encouraging the diffusion of access devices such as computers; establish an enabling environment for competition and investment

by removing market entry barriers.

She summed up the broadband policy imperative for Nigeria thus: Set ambitious goals for broadband penetration, devise and actively implement strategies to achieve, for example, 40 per cent penetration nationwide and enable interconnection of educational institutions, especially from secondary to university level.

In a goodwill message, Senator Olugbenga Obadara of the National Assembly identified electricity as a critical barrier to driving broadband penetration in the country.

He assured that the National Assembly would work with the Ministry of Power to achieve 12 hours of uninterrupted power supply across the country by 2013. He canvassed for appropriate pricing and improvement of quality of Internet services to further broadband penetration and adoption.

In a paper on forecast on broadband investments in the country, Chairman, MainOne Cable Company, Mr Fola Adeola said broadband investment in Nigeria is highly feasible. He called on the Federal Government to implement policy reforms in key sectors of the economy to engender investor confidence and drive growth of the economy.

Adeola said investors will remain wary until they see political certainty and policy reforms in areas of dependencies such as power, security, ICT infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, education, preparedness of the workforce for skilled jobs, improved financial and capital market structures.

According to him, despite reports that Nigeria is forecast to lead global economic growth in the next decade, the impressive positive footprint gained in terms of the attractiveness of the market to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has been eroding since 2009, till date.

He noted that between 2009 and 2010, 60 per cent decline in Foreign Direct Investment to Nigeria was recorded, with total FDI standing

at $2.3 billion for the year 2010. This, he said, has been attributed to several sociopolitical and economic factors including failure of critical infrastructure, growing public insecurity and slow pace of core ICT development, technological innovation and unimpressive investment in infrastructure growth.

Adeola said if these factors are addressed, investor confidence will be renewed due to the investment potentials that are driven by the country’s growing population and strong human capital resources, and a high return on investment profile.

He maintained that going by reports, broadband would be a key driver of commerce and economic development, thus a veritable Foreign Direct Investment tool for the economy.

He said: “Future investment growth in the country would rely on investments in pervasive deployment of ICT infrastructure, particularly those that support the mass distribution of innovative broadband services critical to improved efficiency and overall productivity in public and private enterprises.

“Broadband, therefore, represents a new frontier for investment in the economy in the next decade. In this new dispensation, enterprises in Nigeria will need to deploy ICT technologies and solutions dependent on broadband services quite rapidly to remain globally relevant. Diverse investment opportunities will, therefore, continue to exist in broadband infrastructure, services and products, medium and content, among others.”

He recommended establishment of an appropriate broadband policy that will lead to a favourable operating environment for investors and encourage service uptake to drive further investments in this direction.

Research Manager at Balancing Act, UK , Mrs Isabelle Gross, said even though more than 20 national links have been developed in the country in the last four years, they are not enough. She said metropolitan rings need to be built out to provide more capacity to a growing number of mobile Internet users and redundancy.

Mrs Gross said there has to be greater focus on universal access policies from some governments and effective coordination between governments, regulators and operators.

She said: “Bringing voice and data services to more Nigerians is not just about putting a BlackBerry smartphone in their hands. The foundations of future services will need to be built by creating a resilient fibre infrastructure.

Nigeria’s major telecom operators and infrastructure providers have already rolled out thousands of kilometres of fibre links across the country.”

She noted that untapped investment opportunities remain in building missing infrastructure links in improving resilience and redundancy and providing more competitive services, especially in rural and underserved areas of the country.

Mrs Gross explained the reason for neglect of the rural areas: ”The failure of rural access to telephony and data services is largely as a result of a combination of two main factors: the telecom operators have mainly been focusing on urban areas which are easier to reach and offer greater revenue opportunities; the telecom regulators have lacked or have failed in implementing effective universal service policies and programmes.”

She advised that to reach this segment of the population, conducive and pro-active regulatory environment should be put in place to encourage development of business models that make rural telephony services a viable business.

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THE NATION THURSDAY,OCTOBER 13, 2011

e-Business Zinox to inaugurate assembling plant

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•A traditional ruler in Ozoro, Delta State, Chief Omu Abor (third from right), presenting certificate of franchise to run a Glo Zone shop to a franchisee, Mrs Evelyn Ekperi (second left). With them are Globacom’s Head of Midwest Territory, Mr Samuel Ibrahim; Glo Zone Coordinator, Customer Care Process and Training, Mr Kenneth Ndulaka; resident of the community, Mrs Agnes Iyede; President-General of Ozoro Progressive Union, Mr Afemare Oro and Globacom’s Delta State Manager, Lucky Akponovwe, on Wednesday.

INOX Technologies, manufacturers of Zinox Computers, have concluded plans to install one of Africa’s largest computer assembling plants in the country. It is to serve as a major Information Technology manufacturing platform from which the rest of Africa would be served.

According to the company, the design for the digital plant was concluded a few years back but shipment to Nigeria was stopped due to poor power supply.

While addressing the media in Lagos to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the brand, Managing Director, Mr Mukoro Emomine said installation of the plant would be concluded in February, 2012.

He said over the last 10 years, the company has justified its corporate existence as a leading ICT firm in Africa by intervening in critical national and international projects. “Yes we are in a tough terrain, but as pioneers we have proven Nigerians can do it.”

The company also launched three notebook laptops designed to promote technology growth in Nigeria.

How broadband speed T boosts GDP, by study

NEW report has shown that broadband speed increases an economy’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 0.3 per cent.

The report is the result of a study conducted jointly by Ericsson, leading provider of technology services to telecom operators, Arthur D. Little and Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden in 33 OECD countries. OECD stands for Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. It consists of 30 countries that are high-income, and considered developed.

A 0.3 per cent GDP growth in the OECD region is equivalent to $126 billion. This corresponds to more than one seventh of the average annual OECD growth rate in the last decade.

According to a statement by Ericsson, the study also shows that additional doublings of speed can yield growth in excess of 0.3 per cent (for example, quadrupling of speed equals 0.6 per cent GDP growth stimulus).

Both broadband availability and speed are strong drivers in an economy. Last year, Ericsson and

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Stories by Adline Atili Arthur D. Little concluded that for every 10 percentage point increase in broadband penetration, GDP increases by one per cent.

They argue that this growth stems from a combination of direct, indirect and induced effects.

Direct and indirect effects provide a short to medium term stimulus to the economy.

The induced effect, which includes the creation of new services and businesses, is the most sustainable dimension and could represent as much as one third of the mentioned GDP growth.

“Broadband has the power to spur economic growth by creating efficiency for society, businesses and consumers,” Head of Business Unit Networks, Ericsson, Johan Wibergh said. “It opens up possibilities for more advanced online services, smarter utility services, telecommuting and telepresence.

In health care, for instance, we expect that mobile applications will be used by 500 million people.”

During a keynote speech at Broadband World Forum 2011 in Paris , Wibergh said: “We expect a

huge increase from the current estimate of around one billion people with broadband access to about five billion in 2016, most of whom will have mobile broadband. Connectivity and broadband are just a starting point for new ways of innovating, collaborating and socialising.”

Director at Arthur D. Little, Erik Almqvist said: “Until now there has been an absence of hard facts investigating the effects of broadband speed on the economy. This unique empirical study may help governments and other decisions makers in society make more correct tradeoffs and policy choices.”

Professor at Chalmers University of Technology, Erik Bohlin noted: “These results have been derived using rigorous scientific methods where the directions of causality, data quality and significance levels have been appropriately tested. The results of this study support governmental policies that recognise and promote the importance of broadband.”

“This study is the first of its kind in that it quantifies the economic impact of increases in broadband speed in a comprehensive scientific method using publicly available data.”

Firm launches 4G wireless service

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N Internet Service Provider, Spectranet, has launched the latest Fourth Generation (4G) wireless broadband service in Nigeria.

According to the company, the service, Spectranet 4G will provide cutting edge wireless broadband services to residential, small and medium enterprises and corporate organisations.

The service, operating on the 2.3 GHz frequency and the most advanced 16 E WiMAX technology, facilitates fast, reliable Internet access. WiMAX is a telecommunications technology that enables the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access as an alternative to cable.

Chairman of the company and Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu 1 said compared to some other technologies which are fixed access, Spectranet wireless broadband service will provide portability, delivered on retail friendly frequency to facilitate better signal penetration and stable service.

Speaking at the launch of the service, Managing Director of the company, Chief Ezekiel Fatoye said: “Today, penetration of broadband in Nigeria is still low compared to the world Internet average.

“Spectranet has come to address the broadband challenge in Nigeria to complement the Federal Government’s vision of using Internet to realise the Millennium Development Goals and the Vision 20:2020.

“With Spectranet Internet service, you can surf Websites, download mails, download videos, music, podcasts, shop online, play games, and exchange heavy files, watch movies and much more at true broadband speeds.”

The company’s Chief Operating Officer, Rajiv Rao noted that Spectranet broadband services come with easy deployment and wide choice of tariff plans to suit individual customer need.

“For the home solutions, we have Download + which offers you unlimited Internet download during the night. Home Plan brings fast and reliable Internet service direct to your home. Business Plan helps you control your Internet usage post-office hours.

“Allwayzz helps you stay connected to the Internet always with a maximum download cap of 9GB a month.

“Our enterprise solutions are de-

signed to provide state-of-the-art broadband data services to enterprises.”

According to Rao, Spectranet has partnered with Huawei for its network infrastructure and Tata Communications, MainOne and Glo 1 for bandwidth needs.

Globacom backs Ofala festival

HE Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe has kicked off the 2011 edition of Globacom-sponsored Ofala festival in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Reputed as the biggest traditional festival in the Southeast, Ofala is a cultural event marking the climax of New Yam celebrations in Igbo land. The three-day event is usually celebrated annually in the second week of October.

The opening ceremony on Tuesday was attended by Governor, Peter Obi, traditional rulers of other towns in Anambra and other states of the Southeast.

In a statement, Chief Operating Officer(COO) of Globacom, Mr Mohamed Jameel, said the company took over sponsorship of the festival following the signing of a three-year

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They are: the Zinox Whizkid Professional, a mini notebook designed for the educational sector with content aimed at addressing poor performance in certificate examinations; the Zinox Legacy, a notebook designed as a souvenir, wrapped in a national symbol and running on a 2.0GHz, 2MB RAM and 320GB; and the Zinox Prestige, a notebook for professionals running on Intel Core i7 processors, with 4 MB RAM, and 500GB hard disk.

He said the notebooks are designed to give something back to every Nigerian.

Emomine noted that the company had adopted a more robust distribution strategy for the Computerise Nigeria Project, a Zinox initiative aimed at ensuring that underserved areas in the country are connected.

He stated that the project would operate shops close to rural neighbourhoods to make affordable and subsidised digital systems available to rural communities; assuring that 10 new shops would be opened before the end of the year.

Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) between the company and the Onitsha monarch in July this year. The festival was flagged off with the launch of a special Ofala SIM card which offers lowest call rate in the market.

Jameel said as part of the sponsorship agreement, Globacom will donate a block of classrooms at the Metropolitan College in Onitsha.

Jameel said there would be raffle draws for prizes such as a brand new Toyota Corolla car, Apple IPads, BlackBerry phones and laptops.

He added that as part of activities to make the occasion memorable, a royal banquet, musical concert and commissioning of Glo CSR projects and Glo Zones will be held.

Starcomms unveils service

TARCOMMS PLC has introduced a value-added service that will help its new customers who are migrating from other networks to notify their old contacts automatically about their new Starcomms number.

Tagged, I don move, the service enables Starcomms customers to receive calls made to their old numbers by their contacts with their Starcomms phones while at the same time sending information to the callers that the customers now has a new number. The company said this will ensure that the customer does not lose valuable contacts or miss important calls as a result of their migration to the Starcomms network.

Product Manager, Value-Added Services, Starcomms, Arthur Onwuegbuzie, said: “Lately, we have been inundated with enquiries by our new customers concerned about contacts who may not yet know they have new Starcomms numbers.

“We, therefore, devised a method

that will eliminate the stress of manually notifying contacts of change of number. We believe this will go a long way in making their experience with Starcomms unique and satisfactory. Customer service is on of the hallmarks of our business.”

“To use this service, the customer will need to register by sending SMS reg+space+old number (reg 08012345678) to a short code 31131.

“Once the registration is done, the customer will be informed about ‘I don move’ and will be instructed to do a call divert/forward to a Starcomms magic number 07028422222. The subscription for I don move is valid for one month and it is free of charge.

“After the first subscription, the customer can re-subscribe to the service so that if there are still some contacts that are yet to get the notifications, they can get them. Each subscriber is entitled to only one SMS per day.”

ISPON stakes N1m on software competition IHE Institute of Software Clubs in Nigerian universities.

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Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) has staked N1million in cash, Information Technology tools and materials to the top winner of the National Software Innovation Cup (NASOFT), in order to refocus the mindset of Nigerian youths from consumption to innovative ICT activities.

According to President of the institute, Dr Chris Uwaje, arrangements have been concluded to stage the competition in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

Following extensive interactions with university students and leadership of the National Association of Computer Science Students (NACOSS), ISPON rolled out strategies for the establishment of Software Development

This is expected to serve as foundation for building the collaborative communities and connections to the larger stakeholder ecosystem that are pivotal to the emergence of a sustainable knowledge culture and capability for software development.

More than 32 universities across the country including Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and the University of Lagos have applied for registration.

Uwaje explained that the competition is informed by the need to anchor Nigeria’s aspirations for global competitiveness in the Knowledge Economy on capacity building.

“The National Software Competition aims to harness the potential skills of young and intelligent

minds in Nigerian tertiary institutions. The programme is established to uncover indigenous software development talents and make them ready for entrepreneurship and global competitiveness in ICT. “With 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population under 30 years of age, we believe that the Vision 20:2020 is realisable only by accelerated efforts to build and unlock the innovative capabilities of these youths. They have propelled Nigeria in four years, into the 10th largest Internet user in the world.”

He said ISPON has released guidelines for the competition scheduled for October 28th, 2011 at the Tinapa Business Resort, Calabar, with the Cross River State Government as Chief Host.

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EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 12-10-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name CAPITAL OIL PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 13,500 6,750.00 13,500 6,750.00

AGRICULTURE/AGRO-ALLIED Company Name PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 16 16

Quotation(N) 7.33

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 52,251 369,134.02 52,251 369,134.02

Quotation(N) 1.95 5.80

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 5,000 10,200.00 403,136 2,342,362.77 408,136 2,352,562.77

Quotation(N) 0.50 1.65

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 16,172,581 8,086,290.50 300,297 497,927.15 16,472,878 8,584,217.65

Quotation(N) 5.20 3.28 2.40 4.00 1.77 9.00 12.10 9.20 4.68 1.41 3.95 0.69 0.72 12.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 24,170,228 125,596,952.67 1,434,847 4,704,016.43 544,236 1,309,428.20 1,348,840 5,380,702.20 10,719,915 19,032,866.88 15,400,642 138,489,629.40 16,006,120 194,592,216.79 2,757,904 25,412,905.34 1,942,661 8,856,377.01 389,909 555,949.85 16,079,962 64,286,658.11 110,000 75,900.00 1,115,711 785,386.20 10,345,487 123,159,284.88 102,366,462 712,238,273.96

Quotation(N) 4.24 205.00 5.76 85.01

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 600 2,418.00 1,067,743 217,787,334.15 475,970 2,608,315.60 5,807,734 493,483,627.46 7,352,047 713,881,695.21

AIR SERVICES Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 39 40

AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 17 19 BANKING

Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC SKYE BANK PLC. STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 88 46 17 31 105 576 443 47 74 13 179 2 13 242 1,876 BREWERIES

Company Name CHAMPION BREWERIES PLC GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 80 25 180 286

BUILDING MATERIALS Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 56 11 17 25 109

Quotation(N) 15.40 6.60 96.00 39.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 485,531 7,522,462.66 305,000 2,013,010.00 23,074 2,200,758.02 139,325 5,513,051.94 952,930 17,249,282.62

Quotation(N) 9.36 19.90 1.09 0.71

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 400 3,605.00 281,726 5,643,905.40 32,000 34,564.40 1,768,500 1,255,635.00 2,082,626 6,937,709.80

CHEMICAL & PAINTS Company Name BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC DN MEYER PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 21 5 4 32

Investors dump equities as index slips below 20,000 points

No of Deals 9 9

Quotation(N) 2.31

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 601,500 1,388,165.00 601,500 1,388,165.00

COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT Company Name OMATEK VENTURES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 35,764 17,882.00 35,764 17,882.00

Quotation(N) 1.90 6.19 30.55 0.76 31.35 27.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 10,000 18,100.00 98,451 609,411.69 3,722,449 109,267,957.80 3,824,000 2,857,009.12 524,973 15,949,918.22 329,293 8,874,380.56 8,509,166 137,576,777.39

CONGLOMERATES Company Name A. G. LEVENTIS (NIGERIA) PLC JOHN HOLT PLC PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 41 57 72 81 253 CONSTRUCTION

Company Name JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC MULTIVERSE PLC ROADS NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 8 1 1 10

Quotation(N) 47.16 0.50 5.63

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 14,915 704,851.84 5,000 2,500.00 50,000 281,500.00 69,915 988,851.84

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name CUTIX PLC INTERLINKED TECHNOLOGIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 10 1 11

Quotation(N) 1.90 4.90

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 656,000 1,349,105.20 200 932.00 656,200 1,350,037.20

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC NORTHERN NIGERIA FLOUR MILLS PLC UTC NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 16 22 94 80 45 14 16 49 1 2 339

Quotation(N) 48.00 14.00 6.35 6.80 58.51 3.00 4.18 400.50 21.48 0.50

Quantity Traded Value 52,510 232,917 1,154,552 4,843,129 211,480 117,260 534,497 47,177 49,000 800 7,243,322

of Shares (N) 2,512,977.03 3,230,002.50 7,417,116.85 32,290,471.57 12,377,938.73 339,274.10 2,234,207.46 18,842,426.95 1,004,500.00 400.00 80,249,315.19

Quotation(N) 0.90 1.09 27.00 2.99 1.18

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 58,200 54,636.00 128,385 134,021.40 44,028 1,129,318.20 70,000 199,980.00 413,687 464,137.85 714,300 1,982,093.45

Quotation(N) 2.27

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,472,727 5,662,361.59 2,472,727 5,662,361.59

HEALTHCARE Company Name EVANS MEDICALPLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 7 10 9 11 41

HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name IKEJA HOTEL PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 66 66

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name B. O. C. GASES NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 8 10

Quotation(N) 6.95 38.51 5.95

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,209 8,475.09 920 33,662.80 58,500 334,440.00 60,629 376,577.89

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name CHAMS PLC STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 2 3

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 10 5.00 8,300 4,150.00 8,310 4,155.00

Quotation(N) 0.60 1.05 2.30 0.52 1.16 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,578,241 970,267.10 70,773,000 73,604,250.00 2,768,700 6,654,020.00 281,800 146,536.00 294,163 341,639.08 55,532 27,766.00

rian stock market so far this year at negative 30 per cent.

Market analysts said Monday’s increase in the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from 9.25 per cent to 12 per cent by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has triggered aggressive portfolio rebalancing, which tilt mostly in favour of fixed-income securities.

They said although the third quarter earnings reports, which are expected to trickle from the fourth week of this month, might enhance the prospects of equities, the combination of high fixedincome rates, cluster of yearend festivals and general investors’ apathy might continue to hold back market recovery.

The adverse impact of monetary management decisions appeared to have also whittled expected boost from the banks’ business combinations, which were technically concluded on September 30.

Most banks were among the losers.

Flour Mills of Nigeria topped the losers’ list with a loss of 149 kobo to close at N58.51. Ashaka Cement followed with a loss of 77 kobo to close at N15.40. Cement Company of Northern Ni-

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 12-10-11 LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. STACO INSURANCE PLC UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 36 5 10 2 7 1

3 1 3 1 1 2 2 74

0.50 0.50 0.50 1.43 0.50 0.50 0.50

81,200 300 110,522 500 300 32,935 56,000 76,033,193

40,600.00 150.00 55,261.00 715.00 150.00 16,467.50 28,000.00 81,885,821.68

Quotation(N) 0.94

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 6,000 5,880.00 6,000 5,880.00

Quotation(N) 0.78

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 6,544,500 5,108,934.88 6,544,500 5,108,934.88

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,500 750.00 1,500 750.00

LEASING Company Name C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 MARITIME

Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 74 74

Company Name AFROMEDIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2

MEDIA

MORTGAGE COMPANIES Company Name ABBEY BUILDING SOCIETY PLC RESORT SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 2

Quotation(N) 1.44 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,000 1,440.00 1,000 500.00 2,000 1,940.00

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Company Name CRUSADER NIGERIA PLC. NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 9 12

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.87

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 166,365 83,182.50 44,525 38,736.75 210,890 121,919.25

Quotation(N) 6.25 1.85 12.71 2.92

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 53,000 331,250.00 536,865 1,011,050.57 835 10,086.80 300 834.00 591,000 1,353,221.37

PACKAGING Company Name AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS PLC. NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC BETA GLASS CO. PLC STUDIO PRESS (NIGERIA) PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 29 2 1 34

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Company Name CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. FORTE OIL PLC MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 14 11 37 15 156 9 242

Quotation(N) 35.00 4.81 9.12 140.00 25.00 200.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 14,947 506,293.04 195,500 893,435.00 126,402 1,162,865.11 16,105 2,157,190.80 1,889,917 47,298,962.10 9,350 1,816,617.21 2,252,221 53,835,363.26

PRINTING & PUBLISHING Company Name UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 8 8

Quotation(N) 3.80

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 348,606 1,332,202.80 348,606 1,332,202.80

Quotation(N) 13.45

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 372,525 4,989,931.20 372,525 4,989,931.20

Quotation(N) 0.93

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 65,286 60,715.98 65,286 60,715.98

REAL ESTATE Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 28 28 TEXTILES

Company Name UNITED NIGERIAN TEXTILES PLC Sector Totals

INSURANCE Company Name AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC.

geria lost 34 kobo to close at N6.60. John Holt and Avon Crowncaps dropped 32 kobo each to close at N6.19 and N6.25 respectively. Guaranty Trust Bank lost 28 kobo to close at N12.10. National Salt Company of Nigeria declined by 22 kobo to N4.18, while United Bank for Africa and Dangote Sugar Refinery lost 20 kobo each to close at N3.95 and N6.80 respectively.

However, Guinness Nigeria rallied forward with a gain of 550 kobo to close at N205, PZ Cussons Nigeria gathered 55 kobo to close at N30.55, while Roads Nigeria added 26 kobo to close at N5.63. Stanbic IBTC gained 16 kobo to close at N9.20 while Red Star Express improved by 11 kobo to close at N2.31 per share.

Total turnover stood at 237.08 million shares valued at N1.85 billion in 3,637 deals.

Banking sector retained its traditional most active sector with a turnover of 102.37 million shares valued at N712.24 million in 1,876 deals. Insurance sector placed second with 76.03 million shares valued at N81.89 million in 74 deals, while the automobile and tyre sector ranked third with 16.47 million shares valued at N8.58 million in 19 deals.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

THREE out of every four stocks that had price changes at the stock market yesterday ended on the downside as upsurge in open sale orders pressured the stock market downward to a new low.

Open sale order is simply a sale mandate authorising the stockbroker to sell irrespective of the market situation.

In a bearish market, open sale order may worsen market situation as stockbrokers jostle to sell even at lowest prices.

Pricing at the Nigerian stock market floats within a five per cent maximum daily change band, which implies that a stock can drop or gain as much as five per cent of the opening price.

With 30 decliners to 10 advancers, the All Share Index (ASI), the benchmark index at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and Nigeria’s country index, slipped below the 20,000 points to 19,925.97 points as against its opening index of 20,012.07 points.

Aggregate market capitalisation of all equities dropped from N6.356 trillion to N6.328 trillion, representing a decline of 0.44 per cent.

The year-to-date return at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) worsened to -19.56 per cent, which placed real return on investment at the Nige-

No of Deals 3 3

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals 27 27

Quotation(N) 11.80

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 547,973 6,251,871.95 547,973 6,251,871.95

3,630

237,048,357

1,846,164,394.95

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

55

MONEY LINK

Naira firms as CBN intervenes

T

HE naira firmed sharply against the greenback yesterday after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) pumped dollars into the market and cleared all forex demand at its bi-weekly auction, signalling its determination to support the local currency.

The CBN sold all the $591.67 million demanded at N150 to the United States dollar at the auction, a rate not seen since July, compared to $400 million sold at N156.91 at its previous auction on Monday.

The apex bank also intervened in the interbank market on Tuesday, selling $200 million at N153 to the dollar to some banks, tampering demand at the auction, dealers told Reuters.

CBN officials were not immediately available for comment.

“The Central Bank needs to show it can sustain the support for the naira by meeting demand at subsequent auctions, in view of the declining foreign reserves,” one dealer said.

The naira closed at N157.10 against the greenback at the interbank,firming from Tuesday’s close of N158.90 and up six per cent from the record low of N167.8 reached before the CBN imposed several monetary tightening measures at an emergency meeting on Monday.

The naira traded around N153.30 shortly after results of the auction were announced but remains volatile.

The naira’s decline steepened this month after the CBN broke its rule of only selling dollars in the N145.5154.5 range at its bi-weekly currency auctions - a system designed to stabilise forex trading.

After selling dollars outside the weakest boundary at three auctions running, it returned within the

said on Monday that raising interest rates and tightening other areas of monetary policy would soon result in higher forex reserves. But for now the trend continues to be declining reserves, despite high oil prices and production.

Currency dealers attribute recent declines in the nation’s foreign reserves to the surge in dollar demand at the Central Bank’s biweekly auctions.

The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is expected to sell around $700 million to some lenders this week, further strengthen the local currency at the interbank, dealer say.

The central bank has in the past

attributed elevated dollar demand at its auction to speculation and recently limited the net open interest of banks to one per cent from five per cent as part of moves to curb demand and support the naira.

Analysts have criticised the new open limit restriction, arguing that it could almost shut down the interbank market, with banks unable to take position in the dollars.

“Dollar demand still remains high which could constrain the ability of the Central Bank to continuously fill the market, especially as reserves declined to a multi-year low of $30.9 billion on October 7,” said Samir Gadio, Standard Bank’s emerging markets strategist.

“The loose fiscal stance, combined

funds transfers and grow their net worth in Nigeria. The mortgage financing element of FirstDiaspora, will offer Nigerians in the Diaspora a platform that facilitates outright purchase opportunities in the real estate sector.

The Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, said the bank will extend its tradition of excellent serv-

ices to the Diaspora market by leveraging on its vast experience in handling overseas financial transactions.

Mrs. Ani-Mumuney, said Diaspora customers would have access to the bank’s financial advisory services, real time banking, reliable internet banking, mortgage facilities and wide branch network across the nation.

“FirstBank, in line with our pedi-

• Foreign reserves fall to $30.86b

By Collins Nweze

channel on Wednesday as the regulator looked to capitalise on this week’s measures.

The Central Bank hiked its benchmark interest rate by 275 basis points to 12 per cent on Monday, far higher than analysts expected. But the regulator’s bold actions to support the naira have a cost.

Nigeria’s foreign reserves stood at $30.86 billion on October 7, declining to multi-year lows, without reflecting dollars sold this week. It stood at $34.84 billion a year ago.

CBN Governor Lamido Sanusi

F

IRST Bank has launched a suite of products specially designed to cater to various finance related needs and projects of Nigerians in the Diaspora.

The products under the FirstDiaspora bouquet, will enable Nigerians domiciled overseas maintain operative accounts, finance investments in real estate in Nigeria, transact domestic and international

A

fund those projects that they plan to implement in the future, saying the bank would continue to support the customers always.

The Amayanabo of Nembe and one time Military Governor of the old Rivers State, Chief Alfred Diette-Spiff, commended Skye Bank for its innovation as well as for empowering members of the public through its products and services.

He advised members of the public to do business with the bank to win

prize of N1 million. Several other customers won items ranging from air conditioners, LCD television sets, generators and i-phones among others.

Welcoming the customers to the event, the bank’s Executive Director, South-South/Retail Banking, Mrs Ibiye Ekong, said the promo was a way of rewarding the bank’s loyal customers in the region.

Ekong further explained that the promo was initiated to inculcate the savings culture in people so they could

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

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 12-10-11 SYMBOL REDSTAREX ROADS UNTL NEIMETH GUINNESS CONTINSURE RTBRISCOE PZ IBTC NB

O/PRICE 2.20 5.37 0.89 1.13 199.50 1.03 1.62 30.00 9.04 85.00

C/PRICE 2.31 5,63 0.93 1.18 205.00 1.05 1.65 30.55 9.20 85.01

CHANGE 0.11 0.26 0.04 0.05 5.50 0.02 0.03 0.55 0.16 0.01

LOSER AS AT 12-10-11 SYMBOL NASCON CUTIX JOHNHOLT CCNN JAPAULOIL AVONCROWN UBA ASHAKACEM ECOBANK AIICO

O/PRICE 4.40 2.00 6.51 6.94 0.82 6.57 4.15 16.17 2.52 0.63

C/PRICE 4.18 1.90 6.19 6.60 0.78 6.25 3.95 15.40 2.40 0.60

Amount

Offered ($) Demanded ($)

MANAGED FUNDS

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

fantastic prizes.

The bank’s General Manager, Retail Banking, Mrs Arinola Kola-Daisi, urged those that have not embraced the promo to do so immediately by opening a savings account with a minimum balance of N25, 000 for a month.

To qualify for the star prize of Toyota Prado jeep at the end of the promo, she said, account holders must have a minimum of N50, 000 in their accounts for six months that the promo will last.

DATA BANK

Amount N

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

gree for providing reliable financial solutions, is set to bring value to the Diaspora market with FirstDiaspora.

A lot of research and planning has gone into the design of FirstDiaspora and we are confident that we will make a refreshing impact that will give Nigerians in the Diaspora robust platforms for realising their financial needs and growing their investment profiles,” she said.

Businesswoman wins Skye Bank promo car

BENIN based woman, Mrs Augusta Obeahon, has won the Toyota Corolla star prize at the South-South zonal draws of the Skye Bank Plc’s savers promo held in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

The star prize draw was the climax of the event which attracted customers of the bank from the six states that constitute the region.

Similarly, a Port Harcourt based lady and a customer of the bank’s Garrison Branch, Port Harcourt, won the cash

Tenor

OBB Rate Call Rate

with the possibility of lower oil prices in 2012, will also pose a threat to the US dollar/naira outlook,” he said.

FirstBank targets Diaspora market with specialised products

FGN BONDS

NIDF NESF

•CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi Lamido

Amount

Exchange

Sold ($)

Rate (N)

Date

450m

452.7m

450m

150.8

08-8-11

250m

313.5m

250m

150.8

03-8-11

400m

443m

400m

150.7

01-8-11

EXHANGE RATE 26-08-11 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD

147.6000

149.7100

150.7100

-2.11

NGN GBP

239.4810

244.0123

245.6422

-2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

Bureau de Change 152.0000 (S/N)

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

Parallel Market

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N)

10-10-11 N6.4126tr 21,106.08

11-10-11 N6.356tr 20,012.07

% Change -0.86% -0.47%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

(S/N)

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Aug ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.75%

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% 9.4%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 117.91 100.28 0.77 1.02 0.91 1,639.36 8.24 1.39 1.87 7,202.39 193.00

9.08 1.00 117.73 99.71 0.74 1.02 0.90 1,634.12 7.84 1.33 1.80 6,990.76 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED

CHANGE 0.22 0.10 0.32 0.34 0.04 0.32 0.20 0.77 0.124 0.03

• STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 24 Aug, 2011 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 26, Aug, 2011 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 July, 2011

07, Aug, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

56

NEWS ‘Anti-Fayose elements are enemies of PDP’

F

•Oyo State Governor’s wife Mrs Florence Ajimobi (right) presenting a cash gift to one of the beneficiaries during the flag off of Widowhood and Aged Support Programme at Lagelu Local Government, Ibadan.

Anambra workers suspend strike

A

NAMBRA State workers yesterday suspended their three- week old industrial action.

The strike reportedly paralysed socio-economic activities.

The suspension of the strike followed an agreement reached by the state government and Labour.

A technical committee had been set up by the government and Labour to work out modalities of the

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

agreement. The committee has two-weeks to complete its assignment.

According to the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Comrade Patrick Obianyo,workers would embark on strike if the government fails to meet their demands in three weeks.

Chairman of the government negotiating team and Secretary to the State

Government(SSG) Paul Odenigbo said the state government would abide by the agreement.

The technical committee comprises NLC Chairman in the state Patrick Obianyo,Trade Union Congress (TUC) Secretary Kingsley Bassey and a member of the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC).

The government team was led by Odenigbo; Head of Service (HOS),Chidi Ezeoke, among others.

ORMER local government chairmen in Ekiti State have described those opposed to the return of former Governor Ayo Fayose to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as enemies of the party.

Speaking under the aegis of the Forum of Past Local Government Chairmen, Ekiti State (2004-2007), the group condemned a statement credited to “Ekiti Patrotic Front” and its leader, Yomi Ayorinde, for describing Fayose’s bid to return to the PDP as shameful.

A statement in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, by Chairman of the forum, Toba Daramola, noted that no genuine PDP member would oppose the return of the former governor to the party since the PDP was uniting its members.

The statement said Fayose and former Governor Segun Oni have agreed on reconciliation of defected members of

Marshal for burial CHIEF Marshal Olatunde Akinrele is dead. He died on October 1. He is survived by children and grandchildren, among whom are Adewale, Adedapo, Ajoke, Sola and Yemisi AKinrele. Burial arrangements as announced by the family.

the party, adding that it would be wrong of any member to oppose the move.

The statement reads: “We are very doubtful of the official existence of Ekiti Patrotic Front but we in the forum are not doubtful that this baseless and unwarranted publication was sponsored from the enemies of the party, which is least expected at this crucial time when all hands must be on the deck to unite the party for future challenges.”

It added that Fayose and Oni are brothers who have contributed to the development of the PDP in Ekiti State

at different times.

The statement added: “We must let Yomi Ayorinde and his group know that no political crime was committed by Fayose to warrant his leaving the PDP for another party, since examples abound within the party at state and national levels. Fayose, through hard work, perseverance and commitment to the PDP when he was governor, like Oni, contributed immensely to the party. The records are there.”

He said members of the forum supported Fayose’s and others return to the PDP, adding that they were ready for their reconciliation.

Igbo celebrate New Yam festival

T

HE Igbo community in Lagos will celebrate the annual New Yam festival (Irinji) on November 5, leader of the community Eze Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu (Ony Ndu Ndigbo I of Lagos) has said.

Nwachukwu said: “This year’s New Yam (Irinji) festival will be used to showcase the unique and rich cultural

heritage of Igbo residents in Lagos. Ndigbo sons and daughters in Lagos are in joyous mood for the occasion.”

Dignitaries expected at the event include: Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State, his deputy, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, among others.

Firms hold workshop

By Uyoatta Eshiet OME safety firms will hold a workshop to brainstorm on ways of responding to incidents, classified as ‘High Level Hazardous Material’ (HAZMAT).

FCI International Limited and the Federal Fire Service have invited Kelvin Thorp of the British Fire Service for the HAZMAT and Risk Assessment workshop.

According to a statement by FCI International spokesman, Olumide Garuba, the workshop will hold from October 24 to 27 in Calabar.It is aimed at educating safety personnel on the recommended practice for emergency response to fire and rescue situations resulting from terror attack.

The statement said the workshop would help create greater awareness of the risk associated with terror incidents and prepare responders and rescuers, who may be ordinary safety officers. It will also train fire and rescue professionals on the best approach to handling such incidents.

S

Foundation marks day

T

HE Asaba Shehu Yar’Adya Foundation (ASYF) has visited the Old People’s Home in Yaba, Lagos,as part of activities marking the International Day of Older Persons. The Foundation donated welfare items to the senior citizens.

President of the Foundation,

Hajiya Asabe Shehu Yar’Adua, urged individuals, corporate organisations and governments to assist the elders.

The Foundation donated customised T-shirts, customised mugs, toiletries, soaps, detergents, among others, to the old people.

Forte Oil pays N6.3b to disengaged workers

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

F

ORTE Oil Plc, formerly African Petroleum Plc, has earmarked about N2.5 billion to pay about 100 of its staff that were sacked recently. The sack, according to the company, was part of restructuring for growth and competition.

Last year, the company paid N3.8 billion as severance package to disengaged staff bringing the total money spent on the exercise to N6.3 billion.

The company, in a statement said it is working mutually with the National Union o f Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) in paying out about N2.5billion as severance packages to staff affected by this phase of reorganisation.

The company said it paid out N3.821,109,778.87 last year, bringing to N6.321 109 77887.00, the total sum paid as severance package in two years.

Book launch

A

FORMER head teacher of Titcombe College, Egbe, Kogi State and former lecturer, University of Ilorin, Dr Job Adewunmi, will be honoured with a Book Launch/ Biography on October 15.

The day also marks his 70th birthday and 41st marriage anniversary.

The public presentation/ launching of the biography will take place at 2nd ECWA Church Auditorium, Amilegbe, Ilorin, Kwara State.

The book is written by Gem Communications Resources, a Lagos publishing and media consultancy outfit. The book is edited by Yemi Adebisi.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

57

NEWS

Sylva writes CJN over tenure elongation suit B AYELSA State Governor Timipre Sylva has objected to the invitation extended to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) as amicus curie (Friend of the court) in an appeal filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Commission is challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which upheld the decision of an Abuja Federal High Court extending the tenure of five governors beyond May 29, this year.

The beneficiaries are Ibrahim Idris (Kogi), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa), Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto) and Liyel Imoke (Cross River).

The Supreme Court last week reportedly invited a former Attorney- General of the Federation (AGF), Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN); a renowned constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) and Adoke.

But, in a letter written by counsel to Bayelsa State, Chief Ladi Williams (SAN) to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, the state drew the CJN’s attention to the fact that the AGF was a respond-

•Urges President to shut out Adoke From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

ent in the appeal.

It argued that a party to a case could not be an amicus in the same case.

“The law as it stands is that a respondent which the AGF is in this matter has no other role to play in an appeal, but to support the decision which has been appealed from.

“As a respondent therefore, unless the AGF has cross-appealed or filed a respondent’s notice in respect of the decision, his role on this appeal is nothing but to support the decision of the Court of Appeal in question.”

The state said that the AGF has no role to play in the appeal other than to support the decision of the Court of Appeal.

Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court had in his consolidated judgment, ruled that the tenure of the governors started in 2008 when they took a fresh oath of allegiance and oath of office after their victories in the rerun elections conduct-

ed by INEC. The rerun elections were conducted by INEC after the Appeal Courts nullified their victories in the April 14, 2007 general elections.

The Judge held that since the 2007 elections were nullified and set aside by competent courts, the oaths of office and allegiance subscribed to by the governors had been nullified.

Following the judgment, which was upheld by the Court of Appeal panel of five Justices chaired by Justice Muhammad Garuba, governorship elections did not hold in the five states, on April 26 this year.

The INEC subsequently fixed governorship election in Kogi State for April 4, 2012; Adamawa- April 30, 2012; Bayelsa- May 27, 2012; Sokoto- May 28, 2012 and CrossRiver for August 27, 2012.

By the provision of Section 180(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the Governor of a state shall vacate office at the expiration of four years from the date when he took the oath of allegiance and oath of office.

Ex-militants own up to oil installation explosions

F

ORMER militants in the Niger Delta’s third phase of Amnesty have claimed responsibility over recent explosions in some oil installations in Bayelsa State.

They said their action was in protest of the non-inclusion of their names in the amnesty programme of the government.

The former militants were apparently reacting to a statement by the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Amnesty, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, that there wouldn’t be a third phase of amnesty and that anyone caught breaching the peace and agitating for a third phase of amnesty would be treated as a criminal.

From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

In a statement in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, by Chairman of the ex-militants, Gen. Kaithy Sese (aka Nomukeme) and the Secretary, Gen. Tonye Bobo (aka Sir T), the ex-militants said: “We, the agitators of the third phase of Federal Government Amnesty Programme, hereby claim responsibility for the recent attacks on oil facilities in Bayela State.

“As we had warned, if relevant authorities refuse to do something urgent about our plight and frustration, and having complied with the directives of peaceful disarmament process, we would bring down the crude oil production

in Nigeria’s Delta Region.”

Areas attacked by the former militants include Agip Main Link Pipeline in Southern Ijaw area; Tereke Obama Flow Station, also operated by Agip and Shell’s Well Head linking Bayelsa and Rivers states.

The ex-militants warned that they would continue their agitation for proper documentation, rehabilitation, reintegration and empowerment, which have been extended to other militants in the region.

“Nigerians should not underrate our commitment to this struggle for equity, justice and rapid development of the Niger Delta region,” the statement added.

Senate committees to unmask fuel subsidy mafia A

MOTION to unmask beneficiaries of the controversial N1.2 trillion fuel subsidy was yesterday passed by the Senate.

The upper legislative chamber, which gave a tacit support for the proposed removal of the subsidy paid by the Federal Government, however, mandated three of its committees to determine the propriety of continuing or discarding the policy.

Senate President David Mark noted that the question on whether to retain fuel subsidy or not was topical across the country.

He acknowledged the existence of a cartel within the petroleum industry.

“Like a mafia, whatever they do is exclusive to them.

We do not know what they do in the sector,” Mark noted.

He urged the committees to find out how much had been spent on fuel subsidy and determine whether the policy was still relevant. He described the motion as timely.

Mark praised Senator

From Onyedi Ojiabor, and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

Bukola Saraki, who moved the motion.

The committees are Petroleum (Downstream), Appropriation and Finance.

The resolution followed a motion by Senator Saraki (Kwara Central) and 14 others entitled: “Investigation into the current fuel subsidy management.”

The motion was characterised by outpouring of emotions against the way and manner the fuel subsidy scheme was being managed.

Most of the Senators said the fuel subsidy scheme has out-lived its usefulness and should be discontinued.

In his lead debate, Saraki contended that if the current rate of expenditure of fuel subsidy was allowed to continue, some N1.2 trillion would have been spent by one agency of government as at December 2011.

The amount, he said, would exceed the total capital budget of N1.1 trillion for the 2011 fiscal year.

He urged the Senate to note that the Federal Government operates a fuel subsidy scheme with the purpose of making petroleum products available and cushion the effect of the true market prices of petroleum products on the populace.

He noted that the scheme has been a long-standing government palliative action to help the masses.

Saraki stressed the need to make the scheme more transparent, corruption free and competitive within an appropriate legislative framework and in compliance with the Appropriation Act. The Chairman of Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Enyinnaya Abaribe said that the country needs to decide whether to continue with fuel subsidy or not.

THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

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FOREIGN NEWS

Swiss to release dictators’ stashed loot

S

WITZERLAND is trying to help the new authorities of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya recover 770 million Swiss francs ($850 million) in frozen assets linked to their ousted leaders, but the process could take years, a senior Swiss official said yesterday.

Separately, the neutral Alpine country, aligning itself with European Union sanctions on Syria, has blocked 45 million francs tied to President Bashar al-Assad and his regime, said Valentin Zellweger, head of international law at the foreign ministry.

The Swiss federal cabinet moved swiftly at the start of the Arab spring in January and February, blocking suspicious funds stashed in Swiss coffers to ensure they were not moved or used to fund Muammar Gaddafi’s armed attacks on his people, he said.

Seized assets currently include 300 million francs linked to the deposed Libyan leader, 410 million Swiss francs tied to former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak,

and 60 million francs to former Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, he said.

Switzerland has already unfrozen 385 million francs and made them available to the new Libyan authorities for the Libyan National Oil Company and Libya Investment Authority, he added.

“The main objective remains quick restitution of funds to Tunisia and Egypt.

We are putting all of our efforts into contributing all we can,” Zellweger told a news conference.

But 25 years of experience tracing illicit Swiss funds of dictators, including Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines and Sani Abacha of Nigeria, has shown that lawyers can lodge appeals all the way up to the highest Swiss court, he said.

One-third of the $1.5 billion in assets held offshore by Middle Eastern and African rulers is in Switzerland, some of it illegally obtained, according to the Swiss-based research firm MyPrivateBanking.

Alleged N25b fraud: EFCC arrests Senator, contractor A

S former Oyo State governor Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala faces 11-count charge in the State High Court, Ibadan today, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday night arrested Senator Hosea Agboola (also known as Alleluya), who served as a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs under the embattled helmsman.

Also picked up last night was a contractor-friend of the ex-governor, Femi Babalola, an engineer.

Both Agboola and Babalola handled most projects executed by AlaoAkala’s administration.

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

Investigation showed that while Agboola was arrested in Abuja, Babalola was seized in Lagos by EFCC operatives.

The duo last night joined Alao-Akala and ex-Ogun State governor Gbenga Daniel in the EFCC custody in Ikoyi, Lagos, preparatory to their arraignment in Ibadan and Abeokuta today.

A top EFCC source said: “While ex-commissioner Agboola was central to the alleged mismanagement of local government account, Babalola was rated as the

first- choice contractor of the Alao-Akala administration.

“We are arraigning the two suspects with AlaoAkala before the Oyo State High Court on Tuesday (tomorrow). We will move them to Ibadan from Lagos.

“Akala and his accomplices will be prosecuted by Mallam Ustaz Yunus (SAN) and Mr. Godwin Obla Esqr.

“We have also beefed up security in Ibadan and Abeokuta where the two exgovernors will face trial to avoid any mob action.”

Contacted at about 10pm yesterday, EFCC spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi

said: “We have flown all the suspects to Lagos. We also arrested Senator Agboola and Engineer Femi Babalola who will be tried alongside ex-governor Akala.”

Out of the N25 billion allegedly mismanaged by Alao-Akala, one of the issues includes alleged deduction of N8.2 billion from the Excess Crude Funds of the 33 local government areas in the state to finance 155kilometer road projects.

Each of the 33 council areas was forced to raise N250 million for the special road projects.

About five-kilometre road was to be constructed in each of the 33 local government areas at N250 million.

Switzerland has tightened money-laundering laws in recent years and requires the country’s 7,000 financial institutions to enforce “know your customer” rules, Zellweger said. These also cover socalled “politically-exposed persons” or PEPs, the Swiss term encompassing leaders, ministers and military brass.

“In terms of money restituted globally by all financial centres, of the total 4-5 billion francs estimated by the World Bank, one-third comes from Swiss banks. It’s an objective fact, Switzerland is the country that has restituted the most money and this is recognised by a growing number of experts,” Zellweger said.

“Switzerland is a leader in this domain.”

“Swiss banks can of course have relations with ‘politically exposed persons’. If Madame (German Chancellor Angela) Merkel came to a bank and asked to open an account, she would be considered a PEP but the bank would have an obligation of due diligence, to review the profile of Madame Merkel regularly.”

“Endemic Corruption” Swiss authorities last week formally accepted a request from Tunisia for judicial assistance in recovering 60 million francs after rejecting the initial request as insufficient.

“Several days ago the Swiss federal justice office accepted the request for assistance from Tunisia. We hope it will bear fruit as quickly as possible. It is an important step that we haven’t crossed yet with Egypt, where there is cooperation but for the bulk of its case we’re not there yet,” Zellweger said.

“Endemic corruption, the Tunisian system that is being discovered now, clearly resembles a certain form of criminal organisation, to line the pockets of people in power,” he said.

Switzerland has sent financial and legal experts to fledging democracies in North Africa and the Middle East to establish a “relationship of confidence” and help their authorities unlock the web of financial transactions, he said.

NEWS

Some of the charges •Continued from page 1 Particulars of offence: Otunba Justus Olugbenga Daniel on or about April 8, 2010 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court whilst being the Executive Governor of Ogun State fraudulently converted an aggregate sum of $2,000,000[two million US dollars] property of Ogun State government being part of the funds deposited in the Ogun State government domiciliary account with First City Monument Bank which you used to acquire shares of Glanvill Enthoven & Company [Nigeria]Limited.

Count3: Stealing contrary to section 390[4][f] of the Criminal Code Law Cap 29, Laws of Ogun State 1978.

Particulars of offence: Otunba Justus Olugbenga Daniel on or about April 8, 2010 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court whilst being the Executive Governor of Ogun State fraudulently converted the sum of $1,000,000[One million US dollars] property of Ogun State government being part of the funds deposited in the Ogun State government domiciliary account with First City Monument Bank which you used to acquire shares of 21st Century Technology Limited.

Count 4: Fraudulent conversion by a Trustee contrary to section 434 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 29, Laws of Ogun State 1978.

Particulars of offence: Otunba Justus Olugbenga Daniel on or before April 2004 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court whilst being the Executive Governor of Ogun State and a Trustee of government land in Ogun State for the benefit of the people and the government of Ogun State pursuant to provisions of the Land Use Act, with intent to defraud, convert the judges’ Quarters at GRA Shagamu to your private use by building your personal house known Asoludero Court, GRA, Shagamu, Ogun State and which property you acquired in the name of Blue Chapel Limited, a company where you have interest which is not authorised by the Trust.

Count 5: Fraudulent conversion by a Trustee contrary to section 434 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 29, Laws of Ogun State, 1978.

Particulars of offence: Otunba Justus Olugbenga Daniel on or before April 2004 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court whilst being the Executive Governor of Ogun State and a Trustee of government land in Ogun State for the benefit of the people and the government of Ogun State pursuant to provisions of the Land Use Act, with intent to defraud, convert the judges’ Quarters at Ijebu – Ode to the use of Conference Hotels Limited, a company where you have interest which is not authorised by the Trust.

Count6: Fraudulent conversion by a Trustee contrary to section 434 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 29, Laws of Ogun State 1978.

Particulars of offence: Otunba Justus Olugbenga Daniel on or before September 13, April 2006 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court whilst being the Executive Governor of Ogun State and a Trustee of government land in Ogun State for the benefit of the people and the government of Ogun State pursuant to provisions of the Land Use Act, with intent to defraud, converted 2.11 hectares of land situate within Secretariat Complex along IBB Boulevard, Abeokuta, Ogun State, to the use of Golf Place Resort Hotels Limited, a company where you have interest which is not authorised by the Trust.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

‘The citizens would have publicly demanded to know the Inspectors-General of Police (IGPs) that worked with and benefited from Rambo’s criminal siege on the nation while his robbery escapades lasted’

MOBOLAJI SANUSI

VOL. 7, NO.1,912

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

•This is a paper delivered at the All Nigeria Editors’ Conference of the Nigerian Guid of Editors in Benin, Edo State, on September 23.

DAPO FAFOWORA

FROM THE SUMMIT

•Continued from September 30

Consequences of internal colonialism and tribal politics Among the major negative consequences of ethnic politics in Nigeria are the following; i.

ii.

iii.

iv. v.

dapo.fafowora@thenationonlineng.net

The ethnic factor in Nigerian politics

political tension and instability, as the various ethnic groups jostle for power and economic dominance at the centre, state, and local levels lack of accountability in governance as the tribal leaders fan the embers of ethnic competition to conceal their lack of commitment to good governance and the democratic process massive public corruption at all levels in the quest for personal and tribal economic power and influence. There is no universality of values among the various ethnic groups as so much is at stake in the competition for power. This accounts for the lack of commitment among the politicians to the fight against public corruption that is now pervasive in Nigeria. electoral malpractices to keep the ruling ethnic group in power at all costs. the use of state sponsored force to keep a ruling ethnic group in power regardless of its unpopularity.

Mainstream Politics Since 1999, when the military finally stepped down from power following massive public opposition to military rule, there has been a resurgence of ethnic politics and competition for power in Nigeria. In 1999, a civilian democratically elected President, Olusegun Obasanjo, took over power on the sponsorship of the Northern politicians and military. He contested he contested and won the elections as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It was a smart move by the northern elite, including the military, as it had been agreed by the ruling party, the PDP, and Obasanjo himself that he would be succeeded by a northern candidate after two terms in office. He was widely considered a northern protégé, and his sponsorship was regarded as compensation to the Yoruba for the cavalier manner in which the military under the administration of General Babaginda had annulled the election in June, 1993, of Chief Moshood Abiola as the President of Nigeria.

In that presidential election Obasanjo was rejected by his own people, the Yoruba, but won with overwhelming northern and eastern votes, including the so-called minorities.

•Map of Nigeria

In a way, the support of the minorities in the East for Obasanjo was a continuation of the old politics in Nigeria in which the ethnic minorities voted for the Party that they believed would best serve their political and economic interests. It was strategic. In Nigeria, this phenomenon is referred to as joining the political mainstream to ensure that the dividends of electoral victory are shared by the ethnic minorities. But this is not usually the case as joining the so-called political mainstream does not necessarily ensure that the reward of electoral victory would percolate down. In 2003, the presidential elections were so blatantly rigged that the main opposition party, the Alliance for Democracy (AD), lost all the five states it won in 1999, except Lagos. As in 1999, the ethnic minorities either voted massively for Obasanjo, or were fraudulently recorded as having done so.

RIPPLES PETROL IMPORTATION COSTS NIGERIA $10B YEARLY -News

Just think about this...the ESKIMOS importing ICE

In 2007, and in accordance with the zoning agreement in the PDP, Yar’Adua succeeded Obasanjo predictably and the voting pattern remained basically unchanged. In fact, Obasanjo had wanted an extension of his tenure in breach of the zoning principle to which he was supposed to be committed. Yar’adua would have remained in power until 2015 but died in harness regrettably in 2010. His death was to cause a major transformation of Nigerian politics. For the first time in Nigeria’s political history, Goodluck Jonathan, a little known and self-effacing politician from an assertive ethnic group, the Ijaw, succeeded Yar’Adua as president. Yar’Adua’s sudden and premature death made nonsense of zoning. But this development was totally unexpected and would not have occurred but for the untimely death of Yar’Adua. In fact, the northern elite (Atiku and Babangida) opposed the candidature of Jonathan very fiercely and few gave him any chance of winning either his party’s nomination or the presidential election itself. Against all odds, he won the elections by a wide margin.

Does this political development mark the end of the zoning formula in Nigerian elections? Can the feat be repeated in future, in the next presidential elections? We can only speculate as the next elections are not due until 2015. The probability is that Jonathan will run again. But he will have to contend with fierce northern opposition. It is said that a day in politics is a long time during which much can change. Ethnic politics has not changed. What has changed is the strategy of the ethnic groups in supporting the ruling party to enable them share in the spoils of office. Nigerian politics is still being conducted on the basis of ethnicity, rather than ideology. But ethnic politics can have some advantages in terms of keeping the executive in check as he has to balance the interests of the various ethnic groups if he is to win their support. This could enhance stability in the polity as it would be difficult to ignore the demands of the ethnic groups for

HARDBALL

B

EYOND the controversy over whether Gen Muhammadu Buhari was indicted by the Dr Sheikh Lemuled Panel on 2011 Election Violence and Civil Disturbances, as many newspapers claimed, or whether he was exonerated, as the general’s supporters believed, is not as important as something else that is in fact more weighty and more intellectually robust about the report. That something else is the warning the panel gave about an impending revolution that could be triggered if the alienation fuelling the periodic disturbances all over the country was allowed to fester. It is not clear whether the panel went beyond its brief by deeply intellectualising the post-election violence that rocked parts of the North. Whether it did or didn’t, the panel has done the government a world of good by drawing attention to the dangers the country faces now and in the future. Does the government see what the Lemu panel saw? The White Paper on the panel report will tell us.

Most newspapers that reported the presentation of the Lemu panel report focused es-

A window into Lemu Panel report sentially on the Buhari indictment angle, an indictment supposedly based on the panel’s finding that the former Head of State’s views on vote protection were probably misconstrued by his supporters and others to wreak havoc on the larger populace. Whether anyone has the power to prevent his views from being misconstrued is another thing entirely. However, the panel was helpfully frank enough to assess various factors that predisposed the post-election period to violence. When the panel zeroed in on how government’s inaction had paralysed the economy and made life hellish for the ordinary people, it was obvious that much more than Buhari’s statements, the panel felt government’s dereliction of its responsibility could be a catalyst for future revolt, and was probably much more to blame for the April

political accountability for too long.

The ethnic groups from the South have been pressing for fiscal federalism. That would mean control over their oil resources and the creation of more states. These are complex political and economic issues the outcome of which is by no means certain as it will require a lot of political wheeling and dealing to resolve. How about the issue of zoning? Is it still in force in the PDP, the ruling party?

How will this play out in 2015 when the next presidential elections are due? Will the ethnic minorities embrace and support a northern candidate in 2015? I doubt it. Having tasted power for the first time ever, it is unlikely that the eastern ethnic groups will give it up willingly, or without a fight. There is too much at stake for them.

The role of the Nigerian media Let me conclude this paper by examining the role of the Nigerian press in the developing political drama. There can be no doubt that the Nigerian media, particularly the newspapers, has acquitted itself creditably over the years by playing a positive role in the political development of Nigeria. It was in the vanguard of the struggle against British colonial rule in Nigeria. Many Nigerian journalists were sent off to jail for taking a stand against British rule in Nigeria. The most prominent of those convicted and jailed was the late Chief Anthony Enahoro, then a young editor at the West African Pilot owned then by Dr. Azikiwe. The Nigerian press was also strongly opposed to military rule in Nigeria during which many papers were closed and leading journalists jailed by the military rulers. Even under civilian democratic rule the media has faced hard times with some journalists being man handled by security agents under the prompting of the so-called political leaders. It has a tradition of which it can be immensely proud.

But there have also been occasions when some Nigerian journalists have tended to fan tribal embers by writing provocative and scurrilous reports reflecting tribal tendencies and views. This is to be expected to some extent in a situation where the newspapers are owned by governments or politicians whose main interest is in having their own views prevail. Nigerian journalists have a duty to use their discretion in drawing a line between what is professionally acceptable and what is not. Here the Nigerian Guild of Editors has a responsibility to ensure that the best professional ethics and standards of journalism are adhered to by its members.

I thank you for your attention.

•Concluded • For comments, send SMS to 08054503031

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above post-election violence.

It was, therefore, amusing to the discerning that President Goodluck Jonathan vowed to implement the panel’s recommendation even if heaven were to fall. What could have accounted for the president’s enthusiasm?

Could it be the supposed Buhari indictment, which is music to the ears of the Peoples Democratic Party? Or was it the call by Lemu that all previous panels’ reports and recommendations on violence in many parts of the North be revisited in order not to further stoke impunity? Surely, it could not be the panel’s indictment of the government over its indefensible attitude towards infrastructural development and maintenance. The president needn’t talk of falling heavens if he did not fear taking simple and effective actions to curb the country’s drift towards the precipice. This column’s readers must, therefore, be advised to hedge their bets when considering whether Jonathan will act on Buhari’s provocative pre-election statements, poor infrastructure, and mothballed panels’ recommendations. In fact, better not to bet at all.

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025,Oshodi, Lagos.

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