The Nation October 17, 2011 by The Nation

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Baba Suwe for CT scan, says NDLEA

Access swallows Intercontinental Bank BUSINESS

Page 11

NEWS – Page 6

•May be released after screening

•New management takes over today

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VOL. 7, NO. 1916 MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

Tambuwal sets rules as Reps opt for N2.5b cars 360 Camry cars for members

O ensure prudence, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal has set new financial rules as the House of Representatives opts for N2.5billion worth of Toyota Camry cars for its 360 members’ oversight functions. The unit price of the highest grade of the car (double cylinders) is said to be N7million going by the official rate adopted to buy the same brand for Senators in the last National Assembly. It was, however, learnt that other brands of the same car could cost between N5.6m (second hand) and N6.5million. Tambuwal is said to have imposed stringent conditions for the purchase of the cars to avert dragging the House leadership’s name in the mud as was the case in the past. Tambuwal also asked members to stay away from the award of contracts relating to the cars and any other item.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

He said the management of the National Assembly, which is the civil service arm, will handle the purchase. The House, it was learnt, split into four groups on whether or not to buy the cars. The groups are those opposed to new cars because of the fiscal challenge facing the country and a N2.8billion car scam that trailed the last House; those in support of new cars; those who wanted members to use buses from the vehicle pool for oversight functions; and those insisting that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) should provide vehicles for members on oversight assignments. After weeks of heated debate, members last week settled for the Camry cars instead of the Peugeot 407 ST Sports cars used by members of the last House. Although the exact number of cars the House will buy is being jealously guarded, it was gathered that it might not be less than 360 translating to a car per head. The Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Alhaji Zakari

•Some of the burnt operational vehicles ... yesterday

Four killed in Gombe police station bombing

N explosion yesterday rocked Gombe State, killing an Inspector of Police and three others. The bombing occurred at the 34 Police Mobile Squadron on Gombe-Dukku road. Fourteen police vehicles were burnt in the explosion. According to sources, some unknown assailants attacked the police armoury and administrative block.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja and Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

The administrative block was razed, and the Inspector burnt beyond recognition. A reliable source said: “The Mobile Squadron is the unit securing Gombe following tension in the state. “Some members of the Squadron Continued on page 59

•An unexploded bomb ... yesterday

Continued on page 4

NLC: subsidy removal a declaration of war

SEE PAGE 4

•Omar

‘List of beneficiaries will shock Nigerians’ •JOBS P17 •SPORT P23 •POLITICS P25 •CITYBEAT P39 •CEO P44

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

NEWS

Smuggling: business to Porous borders, greed and unemployment make Nigeria annually lose billions of naira to smuggling, reports OLUKAYODE THOMAS

ABATUNDE Jimoh, to a lot of people in Idiroko, a border town between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, is known as G-money. The 58-year-old retired solider, who is now a ‘successful businessman’ in Idi-Iroko, is a native of Ajilete, one of the smuggling routes along the border. Jimoh said when he retired from the Army about 15 years ago because the senior officers were jealous of him: “I thought the world had ended.” On the advice of his elder brother, he moved his family from Kaduna to Ajilete and started his new life as a ‘crosser’. He said: “Today when I look back, I always thank the Almighty Allah that I was retired, because today I can call myself a successful man.” What Jimoh called ‘crossing’ or business is the act of smuggling prohibited goods and those that are not prohibited from Benin Republic into Nigeria without paying duties and other levies. He was at a bar in Idiroko last Wednesday evening with his other colleagues, their clients, and their collaborators in the security agencies. They normally meet on Wednesdays to agree on mode of operation for Thursdays. Jimoh revealed that once a deal is struck, his ramshackle Volvo car with tyre raised well above the body is ready for journey to any part of Benin Republic or even Togo. From there, he carries goods to Sango, Iyana-Ipaja or Abule Egba. He said: “I normally carry turkey, textile materials, okrika, wine, illicit gin drinks, used shoes and other consumables, but prefer Turkey because my car can carry about 70 cartons and I charge between N 900 to N 1, 100 per carton, depending on the customer and our closeness. I don’t touch rice because it is too heavy and the car cannot carry many, as for Crossing of cars that is for younger boys, because it is very risky. If I were younger, I could have probably ventured into it, because there is a lot of money in it. But, I am not getting younger. I have many children. It does not make sense at my age to do a business that I am sure of going but not sure of coming home.” The Nation learnt that vehicle smuggling is the most common in Idi-Iroko. Because of its porous border, smugglers easily beat eagle-eyed customs officer using the numerous bush routes. But a car ‘crosser’, who would not reveal his name, claimed there is no difference between smuggling a car and ‘crossing’ turkey. “It is all the same thing, and the most important thing is to reach an agreement with the Customs who are the most important of all the government agents at the border,” he said. The young man revealed that the Customs at the border are two: “the normal officers posted to the border and the Federal Operation or Task Force.’’ He said the Federal Operations officers are very tough. Said he: “Whereas we give the normal Customs patrol N10, 000 to cross a big Jeep, Federal Operation or Task Force men will only collect N20, 000, not a kobo less. At the other check points manned by the police and other security agents, we settle between N1, 000 to N2,000 and there are about 25 checkpoints between Benin Republic and Sango.” He added: “Once the customs say there is no clearance, one must not venture to cross goods, because it could be that their bosses are com-

Nigeria, Benin strenghten security at borders From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

S part of the efforts to curb smuggling and other crimes along the Nigerian and Republic of Benin borders, both countries have agreed to restructure security operations. President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic disclosed this yesterday in Abuja, after holding talks with President Goodluck Jonathan. He said: “You know that if I am here, it concerns issues of partnership between Nigeria and Benin. It is a duty for me to come here to see my brother, President Jonathan from time to time to discuss issues that concern the citizens within our sub region” “Today we discussed about ECOWAS matters and about piracy along our coasts. Today we have a joint cooperation between Nigeria and Benin and I have come to brief the President about the situation concerning this and to thank him for his efforts at ensuring safety along our common borders. “Right now we have established joint border patrols, we call it fire for fire and that is really going on well. Other operations have led to the discovery and retrieval of some cars stolen from Nigeria into Benin Republic and vice versa. “Currently, there is ongoing operation to discourage pirates from our seas and this has so far been very successful and they are working hard to ensure that the issues of piracy, cross border crimes and smuggling of small arms are checked. As a result the attacks on the seas have been reduced drastically, except for some little cases here and there.”

We count on people to curb smuggling, says Customs The Customs Area Comptroller, Seme Area Command, Mr. Sahabi Sadiq, in a written response to The Nation’s questions, said smuggling is dangerous to any economy.

HAT, in your view, is the cost of smuggling to the Nigerian economy? Smuggling is dangerous to any economy because it affects negatively the industrial development, health and security of the nation. It also leads to the loss of the nations revenue as a result of which we work assiduously to suppress smuggling to the barest minimum. Why has smuggling, despite years of concerted efforts, remain insurmountable per se? Smuggling just like stealing and robbery are outlawed in virtually all nations yet, societal deviants seek all means to engage in these anti social vices. Consequently, our goal is to suppress smuggling to the barest minimum with a view to stamping it out. We count on public support to sensitize and enlighten the general public to join us in this struggle for the good of our nation Nigeria and we are not relenting. We seek intelligence i.e useful information that will help us rip it in the bud. Our modest effort thus far from January to September, 2011 has yielded 378 seizures with a duty paid value of N579,823,206.00.

Some prohibited items •African print (printed fabrics) e.g. Nigeria wax, Hollandaise, English Wax, Ankara and similar fabrics, textile fabrics of all types and articles thereof and yarn •Corrugated paper and paper boards and cartons, boxes and cases made from corrugated paper and paper boards, toilet paper, cleaning or facial tissue excluding baby diapers and incotinent pads for adult use •Telephone re-charge cards and vouchers, carpets and rugs of all types, made-up garments and other textile articles, but excluding lace fabrics, georges and other embroidered fabrics •All types of foot wears and bags including suitcases of leather and plastics but excluding safety shoes used in oil industries, hospitals, fire fighting and factories, sports shoes, canvass shoes • Furniture, but excluding baby walkers, laboratory cabinets, height adjustments device, base sledge, seat frames and control mechanism, arm guide and head guides. ing from Abuja or Lagos, or the men of Federal Operation are around, but once they give the green light, you just settle and everybody goes home happy.” He revealed that they always leave in convoy of cars, which can be between 300 to 500 cars. “Normally, an advance party will leave with money and tell the officers at each point, the number of vehicles in the convoy and settle at the first border post. Here, they will give note or sign or password which will

be shown at the other posts.” Though Jimoh neither smuggles cars, nor use the illegal routes, he however confirmed the existence of over 100 illegal routes smugglers use to ferry goods into Nigeria. They include: Iyana-Ile-Oba route through Iyana-Igboso, Ihunbo, Igborodo, Ayetoro village, Akojaga road, Ilashe village, Koko road, Ogosa, Araromi, Tipper garage and Ajegunle. They can also go through Ifohin-Tedo, Ijofin, Ijoun, Ilara and Imeko.

Only natives and those that have been in the business for many years know these routes, especially the Ajegunle and Ogosa routes, as they have many bypasses, said a source. They also revealed that they can link Sango from Idi-Iroko through Iyana-Otta, Oju Ore, Iju, Atan, Ajilete, Ajegunle, Ihunbo, Ilase and Oke Odan and connect Baruwa and Command Secondary School areas, in Ipaja. But Nigeria is not only receiving from Benin Republic and Togo, it is also giving in return. Apart from goods manufactured in Nigeria that are smuggled into these countries, the most ‘crossed’ goods from Nigeria to these countries is refined petroleum products. The ‘Big Boys’ allegedly smuggle trailer-loads of petroleum products, while the ‘Small Boys’ use motorbikes like Vespa to struggles fuel into the countries. A customs officer, who spoke off record, dismissed the claim of the smugglers as arrant nonsense. He said: “ I agree that like every organisations, there are some bad eggs in the Customs who aid and abet smugglers, but to say that all of us and the NCS as corporate body connive with smugglers is nonsense; if we do, how do we meet our revenue target? Do you know how many officers get killed yearly?” He claimed smugglers are succeeding at Idi-Iroko because most of them are natives who know the routes that are not known to officers. He also said they have better arms and ammunitions and that on most occasions, the Customs men retreat when they face smugglers with superior weapons. “Many of them also use powerful juju,” he said. He blamed the natives who he said believe smuggling is their birth right and see Customs officers as men who are trying to take away their means of livelihood. “Even the Chinese and Americans cannot do what we are doing here”’ said the officer. But another Customs officer admitted most officers collude with smugglers because of the Nigerian factor. He claimed that unlike other government officers that generate revenue for the country, Customs officers are poorly paid, and that despite the hazard they face on daily basis, their condition of service is very poor. He said: “Go to NNPC, ask them what they pay a fresh graduate and his condition of service and what they pay a fresh graduate that join the Customs and his condition of service, we are not better than regular civil servants.” For residents of Idi-Iroko, any talk about eradicating smuggling is like taking away their means of livelihood. An agrarian society, many have abandoned hoes and cutlasses to become smugglers. Most of the wealth has rubbed off on the community, with hotels and other businesses springing up. But for the Customs, what the communities are doing is illegal and attempts to either arrest or punish them have led to shoot out and loss of lives. When this reporter advised Jimoh to think about doing any other business, he asked: “Which business does not have risk? This is the only trade I know. It is the business of our fathers. If I had not joined the army, I would have gone far. I only need to protect myself more, I can’t think of any other thing to do.”

We count on people to curb smuggling, says C

HE sight was disturbing. Young men, below 30, were all over the place. It was at the Republic of Benin side of Seme border. The boys were loitering and waiting for the next available customers. Their business: help smugglers transport their goods across the borders either on their motorcycle or their tricycles called ‘Vespa’. A source said: “In fact, to the youths here, life is about money and it is the same for their parents. They push them out to go and make money. That is why you see them in groups. They are like ‘business partners’ on each ‘Vespa’. At the end of the day, they share the proceeds made from the day’s business in helping to move goods from one end of the country to the entrance of the other.” For these boys and others involved in the illegal entry and exit of goods, Tuesdays and Thursdays are like what Sundays and Fridays are to Christians and Muslims. On these days, business and life are beautiful. From about 6.pm last Wednesday, long trucks begin to queue up at the entrance of the Seme border in preparation for leaving to their various destinations. By 12.am the next day, the queue had lengthend that, this reporter lost count. Business activities reached a crescendo accompanied by grid, lock within the border. The air became thick and human traffic got rowdy as they all set

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

NEWS

patrons, crime to law

curb smuggling, says Customs

•PHOTO: Joke Kujenya

QUICK TAKES

• Clockwise from left: A car overloaded with rice by smugglers; motorcycle and tricycle in action at Seme border; Customs ComptrollerGeneral Abdullahi Dikko; and a market in Lagos, where man of the goods on sale are smuggled into the couuntry.

•Human Rights Watch says about 150,000 and 200,000 barrels of oil are stolen and exported from Nigeria daily •World Bank says N750 billion ($5 billion) worth of assorted goods are smuggled into Nigeria through Benin Republic alone every year •This represents about 15 percent of total smuggled goods through that border • Over $400 million (N6 billion) representing about 25 percent of the total current annual revenue collected by the Customs Service is lost through smuggling across the sub-regional borders. •Factors such as high cost of clearing goods at the ports and laxity of enforcement of antismuggling laws encourage smuggling

•Smugglers use tricks such as concealing contrabands in dutiable items •Dutiable items such as refrigerators, tyres, electronics and overaged cars, are used to conceal items like textile materials, used clothes, vegetable oil and wine •The uncontrolled inflationary trend in Nigeria is said to be giving fillip to the smuggling business in Nigeria. •Goods smuggled into the country are mostly assorted wines and spirits, turkey, rice, textile materials, shoes, assorted soaps and vehicles •Smugglers use Vespa brand of motorcycle to load litres of petrol to the neigbouring country • Idiroko border is very porous with atleast 1000 illegal routes by Customs admission.

‘This illicit trade can be stopped by erecting barriers’ Despite years of concerted efforts at curbing the activities of smugglers within and across the Nigerian borders, they continually device new tricks to beat the cocktail of security agencies, reports JOKE KUJENYA who spent two days at the Seme border for the journeys, legal and illegal, ahead. From garments to luxury cars, agricultural produce, home appliances, jewelleries, artificial nails, make-up kits, phones, hair attachments and several other smuggled goods are finding their ways into local markets across the country. Smuggling of prohibited items, mixed with dutiable goods, captures the flow of illegal business at the Seme border. Most of these goods are distributed to markets in Lagos and its environs as well as other parts of the coutry. The goods find their way into the country’s markets despite the heavy presence of security operatives. Last Wednesday night, this reporter recorded about eight check-points between the border and the bridge across the lagoon at Gbaji end of the Badagry Expressway. On the Lagos-bound lane from the border, a ckeckpoint manned by police officers led to many others belonging to the Nigeria Drug Law

Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Port Health Personnel (PHP), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS) among others. At Gbaji, 15 kilometres away from the border, smugglers tropped into expressway from the bush, driving recklessly to evade arrest by security operatives. The neck-breaking speed at which the smugglers drove, made it impossible for the security operatives to apprehend them. The commercial motorcyclists were not left behind. they were on hand to help smugglers ‘clear’ their goods.The cyclists, as the reporter found out, smiled home for their illegal ‘services’ they render to smugglers. A policeman, who also operates a commercial vehicle around the border, explained why law enforcement agencies cannot stopp the outlawed business. He said: “It is often easy to say that Nigerians are corrupt. And I am

not talking of corruption in high places now. I mean corruption at our own level. The basic reason for corruption, as you know, is welfare. All of us along this axis are so impoverished and our efforts at the borders and the wharf are not commensurate with our overall incomes and needs. That is why smugglers misbehave and display their desperation get their goods into the country. “Some of them would even fight it out with us openly that we cannot seize their goods and warn us to stay clear; and you know that we are not armed to match their superior fire power. As such, there are several hazards that we face on the job.” As discovered, not all the goods at the border are either smuggled or contraband items. But smugglers use the dutiable truck loads of goods as conduits to get their contraband items in and out of the country in order to beat the watchful eyes of the combined team of security checks around the borders. One of the reasons smuggling

trives is to evade the high duties paid on each truck load of imported goods. An official said that duties paid on each truck load, range from N6 million to N7 million, depending on the goods. Besides, the high cost, is the haphazard bureaucratic system which makes goods stay longer than expected at the entry points, thereby causing the owners of the goods, losses, in cases of damages or falls in the costs of the imported goods, is also cited as a reason for smuggling. A Nigerian business woman said: “You only need to try importing to discover that all these so-called government people allow smuggling to prevail. The money they pay on their goods is just too much.” An immigration officer at the border said: “Seriously, taxation on importers is the main cause of smuggling in my own view. What the people are made to pay, I think, is outrageous. Let’s just face the fact. If I were in their shoes, I doubt if I can ever continue the business. I feel

for them, believe me. We should know that these die-hard smugglers include illegal immigrants, who encourage in the importation of fake, banned drugs and vehicles which have no clearing documents. So, it is a major cross for the Nigerian government to bear.” A senior customs official, who spoke unofficially with the reporter, spoke about how the trade could be curbed. He said: “The first step to fighting smuggling is to erect ‘barriers’, to prevent unduly high vehicles from plying the roads. “With three of such ‘barriers’ on this Badagry Expressway, the Nigerian government will easily put an end to the sight of such over-loaded vehicles around the border. “I am made to understand that the amount of duties, about N6 million on each of the vehicles carrying the load, is responsible for why the owners make sure that they load all their goods at once. Now, let’s see any truck that would be over-loaded if the ‘barriers’ are on our border roads either at Seme or Idiroko.”

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

NEWS NDIC: Banks report N21b fraud cases

•From left: Airtel Chairman Oba Otudeko; former board member Dr. Alex Otti and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Lamido Sanusi during the send off party for Otti ... at the weekend

HE banking sector reported N21 billion fraud cases last year, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) said in a report. But of the amount, only N11.68 billion cannot be recovered or covered by the insurance bond, the NDIC report of the year ended December 2010, added. The NDIC said the amount represented a drop from that of 2009, which stood at N41.3 billion. The drop, it said, represented a rapid improvement in terms of accountability and transparency in the conduct of banking transactions in the country. The corporation stated that there were 1,532 reported cases compared with 1,764 reported cases of frauds and forgeries in 2009.

By Nduka Chieduna and Collins Nweze

An analysis of the type of frauds and forgeries perpetrated during the review period showed that the commonest were: Automated Teller Machine (ATM) fraud, fraudulent transfers/withdrawals, lodgment of stolen warrants; presentation of forged cheques, suppression of customer deposit, granting of unauthorised credits and loss of money to armed robberies and outright theft. Besides, a total of 357 bank employees were reported to be involved in frauds and forgeries in 2010, a decrease of about 45.58 per cent when compared with the 2009 figure of 656. Of the total, core operation staff such as supervisors, officers, accountants, managers, executive

Tambuwal sets rules as Reps settle for N2.5b cars Continued from page 1

Mohammed, confirmed that the House has settled for Camry cars. He also explained that new financial procedures have been adopted by Tambuwal and the House leadership in line with the House’s legislative agenda. Mohammed said: “Tambuwal said whatever vehicles will be purchased must be handled by the management of the National Assembly and not House Committees. No member of the House shall be part of the process. “The Speaker has also given directive that the tender process must follow the Procurement Act and payment for the

cars and the projects will be effected by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). We will follow due process. “Unlike in the past, the new cars will be the property of the National Assembly and not individual members of the House.” A source in the House, who spoke in confidence, said: “I know each member will be assigned a Toyota Camry car but the units might not be up to 360 like the case with the sixth House. “We weighed all options critically in the last six weeks before deciding to buy Toyota Camry cars for members’ oversight functions. The choice of Toyota Camry was based on

technical advice. “We felt we cannot depend on MDAs that we are to supervise for vehicles to monitor them as it will amount to compromising members. “It will also look clumsy drawing buses from the House Vehicles Pool because committees’ schedule may clash. A considerable number of time will be wasted for members to converge on the National Assembly to board buses for oversight functions.” Another member of the House added: “At the end of the day, we chose to buy Camry Cars for all members but with some conditions attached by the Speaker. “The Speaker has gone

tough on how to go about the purchase of the cars. “Members agreed that we will fund the car project from our outstanding N30billion for capital projects. We will not take a loan to do that. “None of the vehicles will be personally owned by members unlike the situation in the past.” Asked to clarify a few grey areas, a second term member said: “The Toyota Camry cars we are buying for oversight functions are for all members. Each member of the House will be entitled to a car. “It is not a case of two cars per committee; every member will have a Toyota Camry car for oversight functions.”

The source said the oversight cars are different from the personal car which each member can take a separate N7milion loan for. He added: “As I am talking to you, each member is entitled to a personal loan of N7million to buy a car of his choice. “Already, the management of the National Assembly has started deducting this loan gradually from the salaries of members even when some have not accessed it. “Statutorily, every member is entitled to a car loan which can be accessed anytime. This loan is repayable and the deduction of the loan has started upfront from members’ salaries.”

assistants, clerks and cashiers made up 286 persons, thus accounting for about 80.11 per cent. Meanwhile, the NDIC has commenced discussion with Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) to use its platform to dispose some of the risk assets of banks-in-liquidation. To facilitate this, NDIC has completed the segregation of all accounts with outstanding balances of N100 million and above, which would be offloaded to AMCON as soon as it takes off. The NDIC has appointed some debt collection agents to enhance the pace of debt recovery. Also, total cumulative recoveries made by the NDIC in 2010 was N22.79 billion, as against N20.77 billion in 2009, representing an increase of over N2 billion, or about 9.7 per cent. The banking industry capital adequacy ratio deteriorated by 5,92 percentage points from the 10.24 per cent recorded in December 2009 to 4.32 per cent as at December 2010, which is far below the prudential minimum of 10 per cent. “The significant decline could be attributed to the inability of some banks to make adequate provision for their toxic loans as recommended by the CBN/NDIC examiners during the year,” the NDIC said. Consequently, Tier II capital attached declined by 8.47 per cent while Total Qualifying capital recorded a significant decrease of 65.48 per cent over the same period. Also, Primary Capital (Tier1), which is the adjusted shareholders funds, depreciated by over 30 per cent from N448.99 billion reported in 2009 to N312.36 billion as at December 2010.

Planned fuel subsidy removal a declaration of war, says NLC

HE planned removal of subsidy on petroleum products is a declaration of war on Nigerians, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said yesterday. Labour said it would mobolise Nigerians against the Federal Government’s plan to remove the subsidy. At a retreat held in Abuja last week by the Federal Government, the Organised Private Sector (OPS) endorsed the subsidy removal. The phased subsidy withdrawal will begin in January. The government said N1.2 trillion to be saved from the exercise will be used as “safety net” for the masses. Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said the subsidy only benefits a few people to the detriment of generality of Nigerians. NLC acting Secretary General Owei Lekemfa said Labour is planning a series of activities, events and programme to mobilise Nigerians for the rejection of the subsidy. Lakemfa said “the announcement of the plan by President Goodluck Jonathan is a declaration of war on the people of Nigeria.” “We are going to organise a series of activities, events and programmes to get Nigerians ready to resist the policy.” He noted that the NLC is able, willing and capable of leading Nigerians against the policy which he said is designed to further impoverish the people. Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu said the list of the few powerful Nigerians benefiting from the subsidy will shock

My fears over subsidy removal, by Oyedepo

ENOWNED cleric Bishop David Oyedepo yesterday spoke on the planned fuel subsidy removal, warning that its proceeds may be stolen by corrupt public officials. Speaking at the Sunday service of Winners Chapel in Ota, Ogun State, Oyedepo said subsidy removal won’t solve the nation’s problems. He said: “I don’t have a problem with the removal of the subsidy but what will happen to the money that will be made. It will be stolen. My worry is with the thieves in government who steal the money that should From John Ofikhenua, (Abuja), Kelvin Osa-Okubor, Adesoji Adeniyi (Osogbo) and Adekunle Jimoh (Ilorin)

Nigerians, if published. He said government should fix the ailing refineries before removing subsidy. Also yesterday, Senator Bukola Saraki said the federal government will spend N1.5 trillion at the end of this year subsidising petroleum products. Saraki - who moved a motion for the review of the subsidy issue by the senate – said the subdidy should go. But Catholic Bishop Alaba Job, President of Catholic Bishop’s Conference in Nigeria, described the planned subsidy removal as coming at a wrong time. Speaking at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos yesterday, Ekweremadu said subsidy removal should be handled with utmost caution because it involves the living condition of Nigerians. He said government could give notice of a few years before embarking on total withdrawal of subsidy, such that there will

have been used to develop the country.

“Can you imagine a public officer reported to have stolen N57billion? That would have been enough to develop a state,” Oyedepo said. He added: “Stealing is stealing no matter how and where you steal. Either from your mother, your family, your church or government, the act of stealing makes you a thief and it will attract a curse”. He cited the deposed Libyan and Egyptian leaders as persons who appropriated the resources of their countries at the expense of the citizenry.

be sufficient time for government to fix the refineries that are comatose. Ekweremadu also canvassed the exposure of those responsible for the inability to fix the problems in the oil and gas sector. He said they include oil contractors and others holding the nation hostage. He said: “I think it is a very sensitive matter to handle. I agree with you that there is an absolute need for the refineries to be up and running before the subsidy is removed. I think Nigerians also need to be sensitised more about it. “I believe it is a cabal that is holding the entire nation hostage and they need to be exposed. The federal government needs to publish the names of all those who are infringing on this oil, those oil contractors. “I am sure there will be outrage when you see the list and I am sure that will prepare the ground for eventual removal (of subsidy) so that Nigerians will see that it is just a handful of people who are milking us dry and we cannot continue in that manner.

“While Gaddafi is on the run, Mubarak is now facing charges of corruption while in office and had to be taken to court on his sick bed”. Oyedepo decried what he called the “unquenchable quest” for wealth which he said has forced many, in and out of government, to engage in atrocities. He urged Christians to live a sanctified life and avoid exalting the god of money above the almighty God. “People who do this like those in government are involved in idolatry and they stand to be destroyed,” Oyedepo said.

“But, I think in additional to that, we need to also fix our refineries. What I suggest the federal government should do is like give a two to three years notice of the total withdrawal and use that period to get the refineries working and apparently build new ones and then we know that by that time, subsidy is gone. “And as l said, that has to be accompanied by a list of all those who are doing this business so that we will know if actually anything is being imported and then the quantity that is been imported and who benefits from this because sometimes they think that Nigerian don’t believe the story.” He said: “It is better just like when they did the story on the banks, when the federal government wanted to restructure the banks, it was necessary also to publish those who were holding the banks. We need to publish the names of all those who are bringing in this oil products so that Nigerians will know that it is just a few people that are just milking us. “You know because what happens is that in spite of the socalled subsidy, some people still

buy fuel at very exorbitant prices. You know maybe in Lagos and Abuja, the prices are regulated but outside that, even in Bayelsa that produces oil, I believe they don’t sell at regulated price, so we have to do something about that.” Speaking in Ilorin, Saraki said the federal government expended N600billion last year on fuel subsidy and may spend N1.5trillion this year, an amount he described as “even more than the entire capital expenditure.” His words: “Spending N1.5trillion annually on fuel subsidy is not sustainable. Government must however be able to convince Nigerians that removing the subsidy is in their own interest. Government must also make all know that there are tangible benefits to be derived from the withdrawal of fuel subsidy. But this will take a lot of consultation “You ask yourself are there more cars? Are we consuming more fuel than before? If we run a more efficient mechanism, is it possible to keep it at N600billion? At N600 billion is it sustainable? Spending

N1.5trillion on fuel subsidy is suffocating government. “If we are producing through the refinery, the fuel will not cost as much and at that level, you can subsidise, other countries they are comparing Nigeria with are refining their own petroleum products. People are rejecting the proposal as they have lost confidence in the process. They don’t want to know how we got to that mess.” Bishop Job who spoke with reporters in Iwo, Osun State, after the fourth graduation ceremony for 20 students of the Olupona Fish Farming Education Resource Centre (OFFER Centre) said those canvassing the removal of subsidy are justifying their position with a wrong argument. He said in view of security breaches caused by the activities of the Islamic sect Boko Haram, it has now become imperative ever than before for the country to come together through a national conference to review and determine the “essence of our togetherness.” He said: “Threat to our security as a nation and individuals has reached the peak for us to come together and consider our togetherness. We need to speak frankly to one another and get serious as a nation blessed with diverse and huge potentials and prospects wasting away untapped. In Alaska (United States), citizens are paid from the oil found there unlike here in Nigeria with a different story.” The Catholic cleric advocated a bridge of wide gap between the rich and the poor, saying everyone should be asking why the salary system and huge allowances of the political office holders are not reviewed downward.

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THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

NEWS

Libya: Bulldozers raze Gaddafi Bab al-Aziziya compound

ULLDOZERS have begun demolishing the fortress-like Bab alAziziya compound of deposed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in the capital Tripoli. Interim leaders said it was time “to tear down the symbol of tyranny”. For days, anti-Gaddafi forces have tried to crush the last pockets of resistance in Gaddafi’s home town, Sirte. The whereabouts of the fugitive leader are unknown, but a pro-Gaddafi TV station has acknowledged that Col Gaddafi’s son Khamis has been killed. The Facebook account of the Syria-based al-Rai network said he was killed on 29 August in Tarhunah, southeast of Tripoli. The report cannot be confirmed and there have been false reports of the death or capture of senior Gaddafi figures in the past. In Tripoli, senior army officer Ahmad Ghargory said the Bab al-Aziziya area would be turned into a public park. “It’s the revolutionary decision to tear down this symbol of tyranny,” he said. “We were busy with the war, but now we have the space to do this.” Correspondents say local people have already turned a courtyard, from where Col Gaddafi once made fiery speeches, into a weekly pet market. NTC forces are trying to better co-ordinate the often chaotic assault on Sirte The compound was a regular target for Nato air strikes following the UN resolution that allowed a foreign coalition to protect civilians from Libyan government forces. Fighters loyal to the National Transitional Council (NTC)

•Bulldozers razing the compound

Govt claims more control over Bani Walid

IBYA’S new government said it has control of new areas in Bani Walid as the battle rages on for one of the last cities loyal to the ousted ruler. The city center and the northern part of the city are now under government control, said Ali Daeki, a member of the executive crisis committee. Government forces have surrounded the city from all sides, and arrested more than 20 loyalists of former ruler, he said Saturday. Troops loyal to Moammar Gadhafi are now in Dahra, a residential area in the southern part of the city, according to Daeki. Libya’s treasures under threat National Transitional Council fighters also battling forced their way into the area on 23 August during fierce fighting for the capital. In the embattled city of Sirte, NTC troops have so far failed to dislodge a few hundred proGaddafi fighters still holed up

for control in Gadhafi’s hometown of Sirte, and will boost Bani Walid troops as soon as that battle is over, said Abdurahman Bousin, a council spokesman. As the battle for control continues, the U.N. human rights office expressed concern on the number of prisoners in Libya and their treatment. “It could be up to 7,000,” said Mona Rishmawi, a senior official with the group in Geneva, Switzerland. “At this stage, there is no police infrastructure, there is no prison authorities. ... Right now, the Justice Ministry is not fully functional.” “There is allegations and evidence of torture” in the prisons, she said, citing lawyers, clients and human rights groups.

in the centre of the city, vowing to fight to the bitter end. The BBC’s Wyre Davies in Sirte said on Sunday there had been an attempt to co-ordinate the assault with fighters from Misrata in the west told to hold

their positions while troops from Benghazi in the east tried to take ground in the city centre. However, the situation is chaotic and violent, he adds. At one point the BBC team

in Sirte came under heavy sniper fire and a young Libyan nearby was shot dead as they dived for cover. As the fighting continues, the NTC is struggling to exert its authority over the country. There have been reports of widespread looting by fighters around Sirte, with witnesses saying truckloads of stolen goods are being driven away. Reporters from Associated Press TV said they saw trucks loaded with everything from tractors and heavy machinery to rugs, freezers, furniture and other household goods being driven off. A few days ago a gun battle broke out in Tripoli between forces loyal to the NTC and gunmen they say support Col Gaddafi. It was the first serious confrontation in Tripoli since the city fell in August. The fighting started after a demonstration by Gaddafi loyalists

Jackson’s death: Murray’s lawyers take the stand As the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray over the death of Michael Jackson enters its fourth week, it is time for the defence to ‘dismantle’ the prosecution’s case, write Associated Press

HE trial of Michael Jackson’s personal physician will enter a new phase this week, with the doctor’s attorneys trying to counter three weeks of damaging testimony and attempting to show that the singer somehow caused his own death. Lawyers for Dr. Conrad Murray have told jurors that the involuntary manslaughter case will hinge on the science of what killed Jackson in June 2009. They will call their own experts to counter prosecution witnesses who have repeatedly told the panel that Murray was reckless and beyond the fringes of medicine when he administered the anesthetic propofol to help Jackson sleep. The Houston-based cardiologist has pleaded not guilty and his attorneys continue to maintain that Jackson somehow gave himself the fatal dose of medication. They have abandoned the theory that Jackson died after swallowing propofol, but now contend he was killed after taking several pills of the sedative lorazepam and possibly giving himself a shot of propofol after Murray left the singer’s bedroom. Before the defense lays out its case — expected to consist

of 15 witnesses and last until the end of the month — it will have to contend with the government’s final witness, Dr. Steven Shafer. The Columbia University researcher and professor helped write the warnings and directions included with every vial of propofol — warnings a prosecutor said in opening statements that Murray ignored. Defense attorney Nareg Gourjian declined to say Friday who Murray’s team would call to testify, but told the judge they would include police officers, experts and some character witnesses. He was not asked, nor did he mention, whether Murray would testify in his own defense. Prosecution witnesses have acknowledged that only Jackson and Murray know what really happened, but two medical experts testified last week that Murray was grossly negligent. Even if Jackson somehow was able to give himself medication after Murray left the room, the doctor should have been closely monitoring the singer and should have never left any medications within arms’ reach, the doctors said. Ellyn Garofalo, who last year won an acquittal for one of Anna Nicole Smith’s doctors charged with improperly prescribing pain medications, said Murray’s

• Michael Flanagan

team should focus on their expert testimony and not start calling character witnesses. “If they start to call character witnesses, they don’t have a great deal of faith in their defence,” she said. She said the experts should be able to show that the case isn’t as simple as prosecutors have claimed, and that it is filled with “all kinds of shades of gray.” Murray’s attorneys should also try to argue that prosecutors should not be secondguessing medical decisions. “Do we really want the DA’s office making medical deci-

•Dr. Conrad

sions for doctors,” she asked. Murray’s case, she noted, differs in one major respect from the case against her client, who was never accused of causing Smith’s death. Garofalo said Murray’s case will be harder to win, and prosecutors so far have done a solid job of showing that the doctor shouldn’t have been giving Jackson propofol as a sleep aid in the superstar’s bedroom. Murray’s defense strategy also appears to involve calling hostile witnesses, including police officers who prosecutors did not call during their case. The defence scored some

points early in the trial by getting a coroner’s investigator to acknowledge that she moved some evidence around in Jackson’s bedroom before photographing it and that she didn’t keep all her notes. The officers would likely undergo the similar harsh questioning about their decisions. They may also call doctors who previously treated Jackson but have never been formally accused of wrongdoing. They are barred from calling one doctor whose name has been repeatedly mentioned during the trial — Jackson’s longtime dermatologist Dr. Arnold Klein. Murray’s team may also call Jackson’s hairdresser, Karen Faye, who they have said will testify that the singer was distraught at the prospect of performing 50 comeback concerts at London’s O2 arena. Such an account would be in contrast with several other witnesses who said Jackson was excited about the concerts and that his three children would see him perform. The trial, which is entering its fourth week, has moved rapidly, with 33 witnesses so far and both sides presenting more than 250 pieces of evidence. At its current pace, jurors should receive the case next week.

‘Don’t render us homeless’ By Toluwani Eniola

WORRIED by plans to demolish houses in their communities today, residents of Otto-Ilogbo, Otto Rail Line, Otto Central and Ilaje/ Otumara in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area have appealed to the Lagos State Government to change its decision or provide an alternative for them. When The Nation visited the communities over the weekend, there was apprehension as the residents complained that since they received a page notice from the Office of Drainage services, Ministry of Environment, entitled ‘Abatement of Nuisance Notice Under Environmental Sanitation law 2003 : Building shacks on canal right of way’ , the government has not discussed alternative accommodation for them. They said since they have filed a case in the High Court of Lagos restraining the government from going ahead with its decision, the government should maintain its statusquo pending the hearing of the case on November 4. Addressing reporters in Lagos on behalf of the communities, Comrade Agbodemu Musbau, said on October 11, one Mr Remi Yussuff who claimed to be from the Ministry of the Environment led three others to the community and openly said the Lagos State Government Task Force would demolish structures in the community today.

‘Vote ACN on Saturday’ THE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chairmanship candidate for Ikosi Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Engineer Abdul Fatai Oyesanya, has restated his commitment to transform the economy of the council if elected in the local government polls. Oyesanya, who urged the electorate to vote massively for the ACN in the elections, said he joined the race because he has a burning desire to touch peoples’ lives and implement programmes that would aid community development people. The chairmanship aspirant, who was the Executive Secretary of the Local Government Education Authority in Kosofe Local Government Area, said he is better than other candidates because he has good antecedents. He said, having used his position to assist people to be gainful employed, he was ready to do more for the council. He said: “A vote for ACN is a vote for progress. I will never disappoint my constituents. My antecedents speak well for me. Hundreds of people got employed through me and now have means of livelihood. We have given the office a face lift; a lot of infrastructure was also executed. During my tenure, I ensured that all the teachers were promoted as at when due.I want to use my wealth of experience to transform peoples’ lives. If elected into office, we will improve the economic well being of all the people in our LCDA.”

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

NEWS

Baba Suwe for CT Scan, says NDLEA

UNICEF trains nursing students From Chris Oji, Enugu

HE United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with Dieticians Association of Nigeria (DAN), has trained nursing students in 11 schools on infant and young child feeding. According to DAN National President Dr Chika Ndiokwelu, the training would equip the students to provide nutrition education and counseling at pediatric outpatients and infants clinics. Ndiokwelu said: “The professional body has collaborated with UNICEF ‘A’ Field office to train second and third year students of Nursing in seven states.” The third Annual National Scientific Conference of the Association comes up on October 21 -22 in Owerri, Imo State.

‘Support revival of unity schools’

INISTER of State for Education Nyesom Wike has called on Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and corporate bodies to support the Federal Government’s initiative to revive unity schools. He spoke in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the weekend, during his inspection of unity schools. Wike said government alone cannot fund development in the schools. The minister appealed to NGOs and corporate bodies to help equip laboratories and provide books for libraries. He said the libraries are deplorable and cannot promote research amongst students and teachers. The minister said the ministry would recruit English Language and Mathematics teachers to stem the tide of failures in external examinations. He said President Goodluck Jonathan is committed to the revival of education. Wike, however, said Nigerians should not expect instant results because the current investments would take time to come to fruition.

•Omidina

OPULAR Yoruba comedian Babatunde Omidina, aka Baba Suwe, is to undergo CT scan to determine if he carried drugs when he was arrested last week, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said yesterday. NDLEA spokesman Mitchell Ofoyeju said Baba Suwewould be released if the scan reveals nothing. Omidina was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed In-

ternational Airport, Lagos last Thursday after allegedly testing positive to drug ingestion. Ofoyeju said: “We should be able to ascertain things before the week runs out. “We are contemplating a CT scan as it is more detailed. It can only be done in a hospital. “Usually, we only use CT scan when a suspect says he is not sure of the exact number of the wraps he ingested. “CT scan is about N100, 000 per subject. We are exploring other options.” CT scanning—sometimes called CAT scanning—is a non-invasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose

and treat cancer and cardiovascular disease. It provides greater clarity and reveals more details than regular x-ray examinations. CT scanning combines special x-ray equipment with sophisticated computers to produce multiple images or pictures of the inside of the body. According to Ofoyeju, the public is jumping to conclusions while some are criticising the NDLEA because they do not understand how the agency works. He said: “What is happening is that many members of the public do not really know how we work. “In every 10 cases that the airport machine suspects, nine will be positive.

“The x-ray shows patches when there are wraps of cocaine; even if somebody eats akpu or eba, it does not show up as drugs. “From experience, what we are doing is that we are just interdicting drugs. “Some people will not excrete the drugs they ingested the first or second time; we have even had a case where somebody did three excretions in three days without excreting any drug. “ It was on the fourth day that drugs started coming out and the guy had been insulting us . “We told him that we placed him under observation only because the machine suspects him. “All along, he had the sub-

Porous security at National Assembly

ECURITY agents working within the National Assembly complex have warned about the poor security situation in the complex. Most of the X-ray scanning machines are not working, it was discovered. The Nation’s investigations reveal that the main entrance of the House of Representatives New Building is porous as the X-ray machine meant to scan bags, boxes and all other containers has not worked for at least two months. At the back entrance of the central building known as the White House in which the Senate and the House of Representatives are situated, the scanning machines (behind the information cubicle) has not worked for months and stacked against the wall in one

•X-ray scanning machines grounded •’We’re prepared for any threat’ From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

corner are three of such machines which have become unserviceable. Just before the bridge that leads to the Reps New building from the White House, is another non-functional X-ray machine. At the entrance into the Senate New Building is a bigger version of the X-ray machine, which though looks new with its two computer monitors, has not been used for months. Also, the Jadec smartcard identification machines at the three main entrances of the complex have not worked since installation.

“We have written so many times to the management about it and we are tired,” a security agent said. According to him, the only two functional X-ray machines are the ones at the front entrance of the White House and the main entrance to the Senate New Building. “Even the one at the White House entrance is due for servicing. “It may break down anytime from now. I learnt that the company that services the machine comes from Lagos and that they are being owed by the management, so they are refusing to come to service the machines,” he said. But Emeka Okere, who

heads the Sergeants-at-arm department at the National Assembly, said the X-ray machines were not bad but needed maintenance. He said: “As far as I am concerned, all our security equipment are functioning, it is a matter of maintenance which we are always carrying out. “As you can see we are putting in place stringent physical security measures to forestall unwarranted threats. The Vice Chairman, House Committee on Internal Security, Abiodun Balogun, said measures put in place can be described as temporary because they can only get better. “We see these as a stop-gap measure though not in its complete form but we will not relax our security.”

NGF to hold summit in Rivers From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

WELVE governors and officials of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are to meet tomorrow to evolve better public procurement processes to check corruption associated with contract awards and payments. Speakers at the three-day conference in Port Harcourt include the Vice President , World Bank and former head of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Oby Ezekwesili. Others expected are Rivers State Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru; Emeka Eze, Dr Sam Egwu, Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, Rogati Kayani and Bayo Awosemusi and Governor Rotimi Amaechi. The theme is: “Enhancing the effectiveness of government: the role of Public Procurement Reforms”. Governors expected include Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Imo, Kaduna, Niger, Ondo, Sokoto, Delta, FCT and the host state, Rivers.

•From left: Managing Director, Urban Development Bank of Nigeria Plc (UDBN) Adekunle Oyinloye; Chairman, UDBN, Lamis Dikko, exchanging signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on supply of mass transit buses with the President, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Peter Esele, at a ceremony in Abuja. Story on Page 56 PHOTO: NAN

China, India named as major fake drugs exporters

HE Director-General of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration control (NAFDAC) has identified China and India as major exporters of fake drugs to Nigeria. Dr. Paul Orhii, who spoke in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, also identified Nigeria as the only country in Africa that regulates its medicines and drugs, and it is the 18th in the world in this regard. Orhii said 70 per cent of the drugs taken in Nigeria were imported from these two countries.

•NAFDAC seeks death penalty for offenders From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

He, however, lauded China and India for the stiff penalties against fake drug offenders and noted with disgust that Nigeria has liberal laws against offenders in spite of the rampant cases of fake drugs. His words: “Seventy per cent of drugs taken in Nigeria are imported from China and India .When it comes to punishment for offenders, Nigeria is the most lenient-

— just N500,000 fine. “But in China and India, death sentence, confiscation of assets and jail terms are meted out to fake drug offenders. “The agency is now demanding for death sentence and confiscation of assets of fake drug offenders in Nigeria.” The NAFDAC DG said with the clampdown on cocaine merchants, most of them now manufacture fake drugs.

“Since I became the DG, I’ve been trying to sanitise the system by carrying out campaigns both on electronic and print media, which has yielded positive results. “The campaigns have reduced the incidence of fake drugs to 40 per cent. “The recently introduced fake drugs detective machine known as “True Scan” has yielded positive result. “Nigeria is the first country to use the machine to detect fake drugs,” Orhii said.

stances in his system and if we had not been persistent, he would have gone. “In every 15 persons that we place on observation, a minimum of 13 turn out to be positive. “One thing I want people to understand is that this period is actually an investigative period; we do not go to press to announce that somebody had been arrested. “However, in Baba Suwe’s case, because he is a celebrity, when people called, we could not deny and we told them he is in our custody but we are still investigating him and conclusions have not been made.”

Saraki: Tribunal to deliver verdict on senatorial poll Oct 26 From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

HE National/House of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, will on October 26 deliver judgement on the petition by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) senatorial candidate, Dr Ibrahim Oloriegbe, against the election of Senator Bukola Saraki of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The Justice Bitrus Sanga-led tribunal reserved judgment after it adopted the final addresses of both parties. The Kwara ACN is challenging the election of Saraki as the Senator representing the Kwara Central, arguing that Oloriegbe polled the highest number of valid votes and should be declared winner. In the 40-page address in response to the first respondent’s address and signed by the counsel to ACN, Mumini Hanafi, the party insisted that many Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) documents showed contradictions in the scores allocated to the PDP and ACN. The party urged the tribunal to nullify the results in areas where documentary evidence showed contradictions, including in Asa Local Government Area, where the party said it proved the allegation of violence, intimidation, inflation of results and threats against the PDP. “The petitioner also proved that there was no collation of results at the local government collation centre in Asa Local Government Area since the collation was done by the Returning Officer and not the Local Government Area Collation Officer, as prescribed by the Electoral Manual 2011,” said the ACN written address adopted by the tribunal. The party described as untenable the PDP contention that ACN called ward supervisory agents, and not polling agents, to substantiate its allegations of non-collation of results, violence and other allegations of irregularities. The ACN’s address drew the attention of tribunal to the Court of Appeal’s judgment in Oyinlola Vs Aregbesola, in which the contention over who can testify in such circumstances was laid to rest. The party said the PDP erroneously cited the Supreme Court judgment in Buhari Vs Obasanjo, in which the apex court held that state party agents were not “officers on the field”.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

NEWS Oshiomhole gets MDGs award EDO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has won the Nigeria Social Enterprise Report and Awards (The SERAsNigeria CSR 2011 Awards) for strides in Education, Healthcare and Infrastructural Development, which constitute the core areas of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Receiving the award at a ceremony held at the MUSON Centre in Lagos at the weekend, Oshiomhole, who got accolades for his laudable projects which has transformed Edo within three years, said “governance is about impacting on the welfare of the people”. He said: “I’m humbled by the award. I’m humbled that our modest contribution in Edo is being appreciated. We need to understand that governance is about the people’s welfare. The masses do not expect a national dinner table where everybody will be invited to come and eat. But they at least expect that government will provide some basic welfare of life”, he said. Reminiscing on how he contested to be governor, Oshiomhole said after leading several strikes and protests as president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, it dawned on him that “you could not change society by protests alone”. “Although it took them 18 months to finish counting the votes” (referring to the titanic battle for the revalidation of his mandate at the courts which took 18 months), “we eventually got on to brass tack”, he said. Earlier, Oshiomhole had received an award for excellent performance from the Etsako 81 Club during the activities marking the 30th anniversary of the club in Lagos.

Tinubu to Fed Govt: review allocation formula before removing fuel subsidy A CTION Congress of Nigeria (ACN) national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday asked the Federal Government to obey the five-year review of revenue allocation formula in line with the Constitution as a pre-condition for removal of oil subsidy. Speaking at the Ekiti State Government House Complex in Ado-Ekiti after attending a church service in honour of Governor Fayemi administration’s one year anniversary, Tinubu said the Federal Government should recognise population migration, population increases and shifts in population constituents that affect responsibility, particularly at the state level. The former governor,

•Govt is subsidising corruption, says Akande From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

who said that interest of the masses should be protected despite any urge on the part of the Federal Government for changes in the economy, noted that “people are the cornerstone of any economic and political policy. If you don’t do that then you are misplacing your priorities”. Tinubu said: “Population migration, population increase, especially in school enrolment, those who were not 18 some years back who

are now graduates and require various facilities, all affect changes in governmental responsibilities. “First of all, you should not put the cart before the horse. The Federal Government will have to determine all of that and submit itself to a new revenue allocation formula before any discussion of subsidy. “I’ve been very, very commited to fiscal responsibility, fiscal federalism and a true political federalism. Is there any year you can remember since the Fourth Republic that a ver-

tical review of the revenue allocation formula has occurred?”, Tinubu asked. ACN’s National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande condemned plans by the Federal Government to withdraw the subsidy. He described the plan as an attempt to “subsidise corruption”. Akande, who described the Federal Government as a government that does not believe in transparency, recalled that right from the outset, some people in government have been feeding fat on oil subsidy. He said instead of remov-

ing oil subsidy, the Federal Government should fix the decadent infrastructure such as roads, water and electricity, rather than inflict pains on the poor masses in the name of subsidy removal and oil deregulation. Akande condemned the Federal Government over last week’s arrest of some editors of The Nation for publishing a letter written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He said: “Even you that are asking me questions could be arrested. The arrest was an indication that government does not believe in transparency” “They talk of subsidy; they are subsidising corruption of the few political office holders, no other thing”, Akande said.

•Fayemi (third left), Chief Akande (third right), Asiwaju Tinubu (second right), Fayemi’s wife Bisi (right) and a member representing Ekiti Central in the House of Representatives Opeyemi Bamidele…yesterday

Why fuel subsidy removal may not favour North, by Senator

HE Federal Government’s plan to remove fuel subsidy may receive opposition from sections of the North, it was learnt at the weekend. Though President Goodluck Jonathan is pushing for the withdrawal of the controversial policy, some opinion leaders from North are said to be battle ready.

PUBLIC NOTICE NANOMEDICINE SOCIETY OF NIGERIA This is to notify the general public that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for Registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES: 1. Prof. Michael Umale Adikwu 2. Prof. Charles Okechukwu Esimone 3. Prof. Winston Soboyejo 4. Dr. Ifeanyi Eric Okoye 5. Dr. Uduma Eke Osonwa 6. Prof. Johnson O. Onah 7. Prof. Karniyus Gamaliel (DG NIPRD) 8. Prof. Maman Mohammed ( DG NITR) 9. Prof. Olusegun Adewoye (DG NASENI) 10. Prof. Bamidele Solomon (DG NABDA) THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To Promote the concept of nanomedicine in Nigeria 2. To develop and transfer capacity in nanomedicine research and development 3. To develop a nanomedicine-based drug delivery platform that will revolutionize treatment of PRDs such as TB, HIV, Malaria, leishmaniasis etc. 4. To develop nanomaterials from tropical biopolymers and other material suitable for nanodrug system for use in the tropic 5. Treating poverty related (PRD) and other diseases plaguing Africa with nanodrug delivery system 6. To provide an avenue for meeting of all stakeholders, and cross-fertilization of ideas aimed at treating poverty related diseases (PRD) and other diseases plaguing Africans with nanodrug delivery systems. 7. To promote the formation of collaborations among health researchers in Nigeria whose r esearches are focused on nanodrug delivery, and with other researchers in other parts of the world. 8. To regularly organize public lectures, workshops, summer schools etc geared towards advancing the overall knowledge about nanomedicines and their applications in Nigeria 9. To serve as a platform for soliciting for funds in the form of grant proposals, free will donantions (charity) and other forms of endowments for the purpose of advancing research, development and theoretical know-how in the area of nanomedicines. 10.To develop and transfer capacity in Nanomedicine Research and Development. Any objection to the registrations should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: Barr. Unogu Ikenna

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

On Thursday, President Jonathan insisted on the withdrawal of the subsidy at a retreat with the private sector on economic development and job creation held at the State House, Abuja. But former Yobe State Gov-

ernor, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, told our correspondent in Abuja at the weekend that the likelihood of the withdrawal hurting ordinary people of the North was not in doubt. Ibrahim, who is Chairman, Senate Committee on Housing, noted that the fact that northerners still enjoy the pump price at N65 per litre

may be too tempting for most of them to back the removal. He noted that removal of fuel subsidy may not have any negative impact in the South owing to the fact that the product is sold at about N250 per litre in some parts of area. The former governor said the removal of subsidy will have “a very negative effect, especially on the ordinary people of the North.” He said: “This issue of subsidy has pros and cons. To remove subsidy is very explosive and political. Ordinary people will suffer particularly from the northern part of

the country where oil is sold at a control price of N65. All over my state (Yobe), you can buy fuel at N65. “But on the other hand, quite a number of our colleagues from the Southern part, especially the Southsouth where oil comes from, have been telling us that except in some few big towns, there is hardly anywhere you get fuel at N65. They say fuel is being sold as much as N250 per litre. “To them, removal of fuel subsidy will have no negative effect, but to us it is going to have a very serious negative effect.”

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

NEWS NAFDAC shuts down 12 bakeries in Ondo

Oyelese, Gbolarumi seek new judge for Akala’s trial

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

HE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down 12 bakeries in Ondo State for producing under unhygienic conditions. The agency, at the weekend, also destroyed hundreds of loaves described as “unfit for human consumption.” NAFDAC head in the state, Debo Agbejimi said nine bakeries were closed down in Owo, two in Isuada and one in Amureile. Agbejimi said the bakeries were baking with unapproved ingredients, such as bromate and potassium, operating in a dirty environment and some were unregistered. He said the bakeries will remain closed until the owners are ready to comply with NAFDAC regulations. Adejimi urged bakers to adhere strictly to the agency’s rules and promote the health of consumers.

Suspected kidnappers of Osogbo businessman arraigned From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

WO suspects, Fawole Abimbola and Peter Tominie, were at the weekend arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, for alleg-

ORMER Minister of Power Elder Wole Oyelese, former Oyo State Deputy Governor Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi and three other persons have petitioned the state’s Chief Judge to reassign the trial of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala and two others to another judge. The petitioners alleged that the current trial judge, Justice Mashood Abass, is a friend to Alao-Akala, and it will be impossible for him to rule without bias. Alao-Akala is currently standing trial for an 11-count charge of awarding contract without budget provision

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

and acquiring properties with the money derived from the illegal act. He was, on Thursday, admitted to bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties in like sum. Akala’s alleged accomplices, Senator Hosea Agboola and Mr. Femi Babalola, were admitted to bail in the sum of N300 million each. Agboola was to produce one surety in like sum, while Babalola was to provide two sureties in like sum.Oyelese and others said

‘An instance of the likely bias is manifest in Justice Abass’s order that the accused persons should be remanded in SSS custody, when other accused persons had always been remanded in Agodi Prisons, Ibadan.’ Abass’s ruling that the accused persons should be

remanded in the custody of the State Security Service (SSS), instead of Agodi Prison, is a confirmation of their fears. The petition reads: “Justice Abass is a man whose neutrality is in doubt, as his friends are the persons standing trial before him. “An instance of the likely bias is manifest in Justice Abass’s order that the accused persons should be remanded in SSS custody, when other accused persons had always been remanded in Agodi Prisons, Ibadan.” The petitioners appealed to the Chief Judge to re-assign the case to another judge.

edly kidnapping a beer distributor, Alhaji Rauf Olaiya, on March 20. According to the charge sheet, between March 20 and April 1, the suspects and others at large kept Olaiya in their custody and collected N10 million as ransom from his before releasing him. The charge sheet stated that while Olaiya was in his captors’ custody, the accused attempted to kill him and threatened his family. The accused pleaded not guilty. Their bail application was not granted by Magistrate Olalekan Ijiyode and the case was adjourned till November 4.

Lagos, NCF advocate environmental protection HE Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), at the weekend, held a walkthrough campaign to increase awareness on the benefits of walking and the need to protecting the environment. The programme, with the theme: “Walk for Nature: Sustaining a Greener Lagos,” is a yearly programme. The walk was from the Lagos State House to Oando filling station in Marina and back to the take-off point. It lasted for over an hour. Dressed in green vests and fez caps, top government functionaries, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and secondary school pupils, in their hundreds, participated in the walk. They were accompanied by a live band. The walk caused temporary traffic, but officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) and Kick against Indiscipline (KAI) were there to ensure order. Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola was represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello. Bello said the repeated abuse of the environment has

By Toluwani Eniola

resulted in climate change and global warming. He said: “The frequency of disasters around the globe has been increasing in an unprecedented manner. It is time for us to rise as individuals and a nation to restore nature through greenery and preserve our environment to avert further disasters. We need to do more to preserve nature so that we can live in peace.” On the advantages of walking, Bello said: “When we walk, we get closer to nature; more vehicles will stay off roads and reduce vehicular emission, which contributes to global warming.” NCF President Chief Phillip Asiodu, represented by Ambassador Hamzat Ahmadu, urged corporate organisations to take environmental issues more seriously. Asiodu said government must include environmental protection in its development plans. He charged community leaders to introduce initiatives on waste management and urged Lagosians to support the state government in maintaining the environment.

Bajomo is Ogun West PDP leader

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun West Senatorial District has appointed Senator Felix Bajomo as its leader. Former Chairman of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Senator Ayo Otegbola was named Grand Patron. Alhaji Aliu Ajibode is Chairman of the Elders Council. The Vice-Chairman is the former Chairman of Yewa South Local Government Area, Hon. Titus Olusoji Eweje. The immediate past Deputy Governor, Alhaja Salmot Badru; Chief

Olalekan Ojo; Chief Babatunde Fadun; Bashorun Bisiriyu Popoola; Hon Deji Adeleye and Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, among others were appointed patrons of the party. The appointments were made yesterday at a meeting of Ogun West PDP leaders in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area. It was attended by chairmen from the five local government areas of AdoOdo Ota, Yewa South, Yewa North, Ipokia and Imeko Afon, as well as chairmen from the 59 wards in the senatorial district.

•From left, Aregbesola; the Olufi of Gbongan Oba Charles Akinola; Dr. Adetoyese Oyeniyi; Commissioner for Agric; Prince Wale Adedoyin; Director of Agric Services, Mr. Dauda Arisekola and others during the tour of Mokore-Sasa Farm Settlement...at the weekend.

Osun farmers get 125 acres of land free

SUN Governor Rauf Aregbesola at the weekend, gave 125 acres of land to 10 farmers, including a woman, Mrs. Janet Arabambi. Aregbesola, accompanied by members of the executive council, handed over the allocation letters to the beneficiaries in Mokore Farm Settlement in Ayedaade Local Government Area. He also revoked the directive of the Ministry of Agriculture requiring farmers to pay N57,500 each to the government as rent and sundry charges. Aregbesola told the farmers to invest the money on their farms.

•Revokes directives on payment of N57,500 From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

The settlement currently has about 410 settlers. The governor said other farm settlements in AgoOwu, Oyere-Aborisade, Oke-Osun, Osogbo, EsaOke, Iwo and Igbaye would benefit from his administration’s policy of Farm Estate Services (FES). He said the FES would provide fertiliser, herbicides, improved seeds, seedlings, schools, communication facilities, access roads, water, hospitals and electricity to encourage farm-

ers. Aregbesola lamented that the coming of the military into governance caused a setback in the agricultural sector. He described as “unacceptable,” a situation where Nigeria spends N600 billion annually on food importation, when local production could be encouraged. Aregbesola said with the incentives his administration plans to give to farmers, city dwellers would soon be tempted to relocate to the rural areas and farm. He said the government

would help farmers transport their produce from Osogbo to Lagos. The Director of Agricultural Services, Mr. Dauda Ajisekola, said the beneficiaries were chosen by the Land Allocation Committee based on proximity to the settlement, evidence of seriousness and gender consideration. About 486 applied to be admitted into the Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Programme (OREAP), which had opened up a virgin land in Mokore Farm Settlement for the planting of arable crops only.

South African firm launches new ditigal tv OUTH African-based media firm at the weekend, launched a new digital television, GOTV, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The event took place at Iyaganku GRA. The company’s General Manager, Mr. Mayo Okunola, said the choice of Ibadan as the first place to launch the product in Africa is unique. He said Ibadan was chosen because the first Premier of the Western Region, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo,

‘The product is the latest Digital Video Broadcast (DVB-T2) technology’ From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

launched Nigeria’s first analogue television there 52 years ago. Okunola said the product

is the latest Digital Video Broadcast (DVB-T2) technology. He said: “It is low cost digital television service, offers the greatest selection of local channels as well as the best international channels. It is made in Africa for Africa. “This launch represents one of the most advanced Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) broadcast system and infrastructure established in Africa and the rest of the world till date. It leapfrogs the outdated T1 sys-

tems, which was used by first movers in the digital migration. “The DVB-T2 technology allows for up to 20 channels per frequency as against the DVB-T1 technology, which only allows 12 channels per frequency. “It offers great family entertainment at affordable prices. Nigerians are now set to benefit from easy access to an increased number of channels with enhanced picture and sound quality synonymous with digital television.”

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

NEWS Don seeks restructuring DON at the Univerof NDDC sity of Port Harcourt

(UNIPORT), Rivers State, Dr. Sunny Mbazie, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to restructure the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in order to adequately address poverty in the region. He said the present structure of the NDDC places more emphasis on physical development than human empowerment. Mbazie spoke to reporters in Port Harcourt, the state capital, yesterday. He said the physical development of the region should be left to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, states and local government councils. Mbazie suggested that NDDC should be restructured to concentrate on attracting investors to the region and promoting farming, education, skills acquisition and award of scholarships. The Development Communication expert said the commission should also be encouraged to support small and medium scale businesses.

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

He said its projects should be executed in such a way that communities in the region would be able to count the number of persons NDDC had empowered. Mbazie lamented that the commission’s empowerment projects concentrated on a few elites. He suggested the establishment of development council in the region, to be chaired by the President. Mbazie proposed that the council should comprise local government councils and states in the Niger Delta, as well as NDDC, River Basin Authority and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. He said the council should be saddled with appraising and ensuring the implementation of the budgets of local councils, states and bodies. Mbazie said the proposal was based on a study of the needs of the people of the region.

Police inspector hit in shoot-out with robbers in Port Harcourt •Hoodlums expend 82 rounds of ammunition •Two robbery suspects set ablaze in Delta

POLICE Inspector in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was yesterday shot in the stomach during a shoot-out with armed robbers. The hoodlums expended 82 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition on the police team, burning the patrol van beyond repairs. The team from Elekahia Divisional Police Station was responding to a distress call that robbers were breaking into a boutique at Rumuomasi,

Warri

owned by a woman simply identified as Helen. The robbers engaged them in a gun battle, shooting the driver of the patrol van, Inspector Daniel, in the stomach. Police spokesman Ben Ugwuegbulam confirmed the incident. He said the patrol van, with registration No. NPF 466, exploded and

the fire was later put out by men of the State Fire Service. Ugwuegbulam said Inspector Daniel is responding to treatment at an undisclosed hospital. He said the police are working towards apprehending the hoodlums. Also, two suspected members of a robbery gang were set ablaze yesterday by a mob in Warri, Delta State. It was learnt that the gang laid siege at the end of Okumagba Avenue and at-

tacked people, who were on their way to morning mass. The hoodlums ran out of luck when some aggrieved youths and commercial motorcyclists fought back. The youths apprehended two members of the gang and set them ablaze. The charred remains of the suspects littered the scene of the incident yesterday afternoon. Police Area Commander in charge of Delta South, Mr. Abutu Yaro, said he was not aware of the incident.

Stakeholders applaud Jonathanon Bebi Airstrip IGERIA’S ratings in the aviation sector received a boost at the weekend, Stakeholders at the

Rotary club donates books HE Rotary Club of Warri, Delta State, has donated 800 school bags and 4,800 notebooks to primary school pupils in Warri South Local Government Area. Pupils of Agbaje Primary School, Ugbuwangue and Isibovbe Primary Schools I & II, Ekurede-Urhobo, as well as Ogiame Primary School A and B in Ekurede-Itsekiri, were some of the

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt, and Shola O’Neil,

beneficiaries. The President of the Club, Emmanuel Ogoru, said the donation is Rotary’s way of contributing to the welfare of mankind. The immediate past president, Andree Edun, spoke on the need to make basic education affordable. Edun advised the pupils to take their studies serious. noting that some of them would by so doing grow to become part of the Rotary family.

weekend praised President Goodluck Jonathan for respecting the decision of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on the closed Bebi Airstrip in Cross River State. A Presidential Retreat was scheduled for Obudu Resort in Cross River State and Bebi Airstrip was to handle the arrival and departure of the President and 300 guests. But the President moved the meeting to Abuja in respect of international standards and recommended practices. The airstrip was shut down recently by NCAA for falling

short of safety standards. The apex regulatory body also set conditions for its reopening, which have not been met. Stakeholders said the President’s action has strengthened the country’s Category 1 status in global aviation. US-based Aviation Consultant John Edema praised the President for “standing on the side of international standards.” Edema said: “This singular act has marked out Jonathan as a man who understands what our country has gained by being favourably rated in

civil aviation and is willing to preserve those gains.” Spokesman, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Alhaji Mohammed Tukur said: “This is a pointer that we must all obey the rules of the game according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.” Another airline executive, who pleaded for anonymity, said by complying with international best practices, the President sent a message to the Nigerian aviation sector that “if he can obey the rules, no one must flout them.”

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Naira to firm up, says Sanusi

HE naira weakness is likely to be temporary and as monetary tightening measures take effect, the local currency should strengthen, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Lamido Sanusi, told Reuters last Friday. The naira slumped to its lowest ever on Monday, just before an emergency CBN meeting where interest rates were hiked far further than analysts expected and several other tightening measures were imposed. The naira initially recovered from the record low of N167.8 to the dollar as the apex bank backed up its interventions by selling over $1 billion into the market in a week, traders said. But trading on the local currency remains volatile with dealers not willing to quote actively. The naira ended the week at N164.05 in the interbank market, far weaker than at the CBN’s auction on Wednesday when the regulator sold $591.67 million at N150 to the dollar “My feeling is, the naira is going to strengthen as measures kick-in,”Sanusi told Reuters in a telephone interview. “What you are seeing this week (last week) is not the long-term trend.” The banking watchdog last Monday raised its benchmark interest rate by 275 basis points to 12 per cent, upped the cash reserve requirement of banks to eight per cent from four per cent and reduced net open positions lenders can hold as reserves to one per cent of shareholders funds, from five per cent. These measures were intended to reduce the quantity of naira in the system and free up dollar supply. It has also said it will not allow petroleum dealers to source dollars at its official window for imports.

The cassava transformation agenda seeks to create a new generation of cassava farmers, oriented towards commercial production and farmers as a busines, and also link them up with reliable demand. -Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina

Yields may rise after rate hike

Intercontinental is Access N Bank’s subsidiary I

NTERCONTINENTAL Bank Plc has become a subsidiary of Access Bank Plc, making it the first rescued bank to complete its recapitalisation. This follows the approval of the shareholders of Access Bank Plc and Intercontinental Bank Plc, sanction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria and the nod of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In a joint statement from Intercontinental Bank and Access Bank, both institutions announced the completion of the recapitalisation of Intercontinental Bank and acquisition of 75 per cent majority interest in Intercontinental Bank by Access Bank Plc. This means that effective from today, Intercontinental Bank, including its assets, liabilities and undertakings, becomes properties of Access Bank Plc. Consequently, on October 14, this year, the retiring Board of Directors of Inter-

• New management takes over today By Collins Nweze

continental Bank Plc reconstituted its membership upon the request of Access Bank. Also, the reconstituted Board of Directors of Intercontinental Bank was announced in which Aigboje Aig-imoukhuede - the incumbent Group Managing Director of Access Bank emerged Chairman; Herbert Wigwe – the Deputy Group Managing Director of Access Bank; Paul Usoro, Taukeme Koroye and Obinna Nwosu were appointed Non-Executive Directors. Ojini Olaghere and Segun Ogbonnewo emerged Executive Directors, while Victor Etuokwu was named Managing Director. The statement also said: “The combined effect of the restoration of the Net Asset

Value (NAV) to zero by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and N50 billion capital injection by Access Bank Plc is that Intercontinental Bank operates as a well-capitalised bank,with shareholders funds of N50 billion and Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) of 24 per cent, well above the 10 per cent regulatory threshold. “We are also pleased to announce that change of control process has been completed and the implementation of the business integration plan. Intercontinental Bank will be merged with Access Bank in the second quarter of 2012. In the interim, Intercontinental Bank will operate as a high performing subsidiary of Access Bank Plc, fulfilling all obli-

gations to customers and other stakeholders. “We are also pleased to announce that change of control processes for Intercontinental’s banking operations within Nigeria have been completed and we are working with host regulators to conclude change of control processes for its international banking subsidiaries,” the statement said. The former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank, Lai Alabi’s last day in office was Friday. Other rescued banks Union Bank of Nigeria Plc; Equitorial Trust Bank, which is being acquired by Sterling Bank Plc and FinBank, that is coalescing with First City Monument Bank Plc, are also expected to fully complete their recapitalisation soon.

CPC raids Abuja market From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

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

IGERIAN bond yields are expected to rise at auction on Wednesday after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) hiked its monetary policy rate last week. The bond market ground to a halt last Friday for the second consecutive day due to extreme volatility as dealers could not agree on the right pricing for long-tenored assets following a hike in the benchmark rate by the apex bank. “Nobody is willing to offer quotes as a result of the price volatility in the market, so the market is effectively shut down again today,” one dealer said. Last Monday, the apex bank hiked its benchmark rate by a higher than expected 275 basis points to 12 per cent to support the local currency. A treasury bill auction on Thursday, which saw yields surge to record levels, added to the volatility on the bond market. The 91-day bill’s yield rose to 15.58 per cent, its highest since 2002, from 10.65 per cent in the secondary market. Those on the 182-day and 364-day bills climbed to 17.39 per cent and 19.35 per cent, from 11.65 per cent and 12.86 per cent. “This means Nigerian short-term yields now rank among the highest in Africa, with the exception of the DRC, Uganda and Sierra Leone,” Samir Gadio, emerging markets strategist at Standard Bank, wrote in a research note.

•Managing Director,Tony Elumelu Foundation, Dr Wiebe Boer and Director, UBA Plc,Mrs. Foluke Abdulrasaq, at an event on The Future of Banking in Nigeria, sponsored by UBA Plc in Lagos.

‘MDAs don’t want to implement 2011 budget’

HE Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has cricised Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) advertising projects in this year’s budget, saying the bodies have no intention of executing them. Addressing reporters in Abuja over the weekend, the Director-General, Emeka Ezeh, said: “Some MDAs advertise for 2011 projects in September/October, the intension is that the MDAs do not want to implement the project,”arguing that the BPP is not stalling budget implementation. “Due process office cannot stall budget implementation. BPP has no authority to stall

• Save N333.8b in six years From Nduka Chiejina, Assistant Editor (Abuja)

projects,” he said. Ezeh maintained that bidders must be given sufficient time to make decisions and appealed to MDAs to be quick with their procurement processes. He said some MDAs do not want to advertise for projects because “they want to use their discretion.” He insisted that the rule of law must be followed. He explained that the procurement process starts when a project is incorporated in the budget, saying

the BPP only analyses and makes recommendations and does not have the authority to award contracts. He said once submissions are made to the National Assembly, MDAs can start their procurement process, but not conclude it, they can then conclude after the budget is passed, he stated. The BPP boss described this fiscal year as peculiar, because of the elections that held in the year, saying it takes the bureau a “maximum of one week to issue certificate of ‘no objection’ if there is no manipulation or petition. Projects can be can-

celled to protect government’s integrity.” He appealed “to all MDAs to promptly forward for FEC considerations all contracts for which a ‘no objection’ certificate have been issued for the sake of prompt execution and the realisation of President Goodluck Jonathan transformation agenda.” Speaking on the achievements of the bureau so far, he said close to N100 billion has been saved by the body between March 2011 and September 2011 from contract reviews, stressing that “more of such savings will be made as the financial year progresses.”

HE Consumer Protec tion Council (CPC) at the weekend raided the Maraba building material market for suspected substandard electricity cables, confiscating rolls of electrical wires worth millions of naira. The task force team was led by Sham Kolo, the Assistant Director Surveillance and Enforcement, CPC, but no arrest was made. The traders, however, complained of unjustifiable harassment. He said: “The Council is in the market to ensure that the fight against substandard products embarked upon by the CPC was not in futility. The Council has nothing in particular against NACACO products, but that the enforcement is on electrical wires and NACACO are more in the market. “We will make sure that every substandard product is eliminated from the market. So, the message is very clear and you can see the level of existence. We have given notice and the information was leaked out, which was why you can see that fake ones were removed from the market because this is not the only market we have gone to and the markets are interlinked.”

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

BUSINESS NEWS Flight Schedule

PHCN apologises over load-shedding

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

LAGOS – BENIN Arik 07.30 Associated 08.30 Aero 10.50 Arik 11.45 Associated 13.00 Aero 14.25 Arik 15.30 Associated 16.00

1. 2. 3. 4.

Arik Aero Arik Aero

1. Arik 2. Aero 1. 2. 3. 4.

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

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

08.30 09.10 11.50 12.45 13.40 15.20 16.30 16.40 08.50 12.40 14.10 17.20 12.15 12.45 09.10 11.00 11.10 16.20

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

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

08.40 08.40 14.55 15.10 17.40

1. 2. 3. 4.

Arik Aero Arik Aero

LAGOS – WARRI 08.15 11.50 11.55 14.55

09.1 12.50 12.55 15.55

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

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

08.50 09.45 09.40 14.00 15.45 19.55

LAGOS – OWERRI 07.20 14.00 16.30

08.30 15.10 17.40

LAGOS – UYO 10.35

11.35

1. Arik 2. Arik 3. Arik 1. Dana 1. IRS 2. Arik

LAGOS – MAIDUGURI 11.15 13.15 15.50 18.00

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

08.00 18.00

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

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

•From right: Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha,welcoming the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Bank Limited (EBL), Ahmed Kuru, when he visited the Government House, Owerri.

Mass transfer of staff imminent in aviation agencies T

HERE are strong indi cations that the Minis try of Aviation is poised to restructure aviation sector. The plan would result in the mass transfer of personnel in the agencies, including the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) and the Accident Investigation Bureau( AIB), in identified areas where there is gap or lopsidedness in personnel. A source in the Ministry of Aviation, who pleaded not to be named, said, the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi, would soon effect the movement of technical and administrative personnel from one agency to another, in a move intended to enhance efficiency. Agencies, the source hinted could be affected, include NCAA, AIB, NAMA, NIMET and FAAN, as well

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

as the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, in Kaduna State. The source said the Minister is passionate about making NCAT one of the leading training colleges of aviation in West Africa. He explained that the rationale in moving key and technical personnel around the agencies, is to remove redundancies and stimulate creativity among managers in line with the transformation agenda of the government. Apart from the movement of key technical personnel, from one

agency to another, the minister, it was learnt, is also poised to block all leakages of revenue in the agencies, especially with revenue generation agencies, such as FAAN and NAMA. It was further hinted that units to be affected are: Finance and Accounts, Commercial Services, Procurement, Administration, consumer services and audit. Also key in the restructuring agenda is a review of existing concession agreements and permits signed by private companies and some of the agencies, including FAAN and NAMA, among others.

Foreign reserves rise to $32.9b

HE nation’s foreign reserves has risen to $32.98 billion. As at October 13, it netted over $2 billion in five days. Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) website showed that as at October 7, the reserves stood at $30.8b after shuttling between $31 billion and $32 billion, on September 26 and October 6. The reserves had risen to $34.9 billion in the middle of August, before it slipped to the current level. The CBN said it is concerned with the sustained low level of the reserves in the face of higher oil output, higher oil exports volume and higher oil prices. Before this reduction, the reserves had stood at $33.73 billion as at July 21, representing an increase of $1.84 billion or 5.77 per cent over the level attained on June 30. Given that the current oil price level may not be sustained in the event of a slowdown in global economic recovery, the CBN said there

• Adds $2b in five days By Collins Nweze

is the urgent need to pursue policies that would foster macro-economic stability, economic diversification as well as encourage foreign capital inflows. Also, the foreign reserves equally stood at $37 billion as at July 4, last year, and were up to $68 billion in August 2008, before the global financial crises impacted negatively on it, according to the apex bank. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) had at, its last meeting, noted that there are concerns about the likely impact of a double dip recession of oil prices on the already declining foreign reserves. Second, there are also concerns about the delay in implementing fundamental economic decisions that would shore up reserves. It is estimated that simply passing the

Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and removing subsidies on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) will add at least US$10 billion to the reserves yearly. According to the CBN, the petroleum subsidy for this year alone is estimated at $6 billion. A substantial part of oil production (about 40 per cent) is in deep offshore wells. Based on the terms agreed in the 1990s when oil price was under $30, royalty from oil wells deeper than 1,000 metres is zero per cent and the nation is paid only 20 per cent of the profit by oil companies after deducting their expenses. As a result, the country has had limited benefits from high oil prices and increasing output, with most of the gains going to multinational oil companies under an inequitable fiscal arrangement.

NAICOM unveils transformation agenda

HE National Insurance Com mission (NAICOM) has set five goals to reposition the industry in the next five years, the Commissioner of Insurance Mr Fola Daniel has said. Daniel, who disclosed this in a meeting with staff of NAICOM in Abuja, according to a statement, said the plan was part of the commission’s drive towards deepening insurance market penetration in Nigeria. Besides, he said there was a need to key into the transformation agenda of the Federal Government. He said the goals, which are to deepen insurance penetration in Nigeria; optimise revenue collection and effective management of

By Chuks Udo Okonta

resources; strengthen insurance institutions, enhance NAICOM’s regulatory capacity and, effective management of stakeholders’ expectations, will be from this year. “The new plan period covers 2011 to 2015. The Commission had in December 2010 developed a three year corporate strategic plan that was expected to lapse in 2013,” he said. Daniel said the readjustments in the 2010 to 2013 strategic plan were necessitated by the need to align the commission’s strategic plan with the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

To effectively align with the goals, staff of the commission have embarked on a retreat to develop the key performance indicators critical to the achievement of the corporate strategic plan of NAICOM. The retreat is also meant to educate and expose the staff to the objectives and direction of the commission and the role expected of each staff towards the attainment of the set goals. It would be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan had directed ministers to develop a four-year strategic plan for their various ministries in tandem with the transformation goal of the Federal Government.

HE management of Power Holding Company of Nige ria (PHCN) has apologised to its customers and stakeholders over load-shedding. In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, the management explained that the experience was due to the proposed shutdown of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Utorogu and Ughelli East Gas Plants, Oben and Ogharefe Gas Plants of Saplet and Pan Ocean for maintenance purpose. PHCN noted that the maintenance has culminated in loss of gas supply of some of its power stations resulting in minimal load shedding in some parts of the country. It added that as soon as gas supply is restored to the stations, the situation will improve considerably. PHCH said: “We wish to sincerely apologise to our valued customers and other stakeholders that the current load-shedding being experienced is as a result of the planned shutdown of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Utorogu and Ughelli East Gas Plants, Oben and Ogharefe Gas Plants of Saplet and Pan Ocean for maintenance purpose. ”The planned maintenance has led to loss of gas supply to some of our power stations resulting in minimal load shedding in some parts of the country. ”We, therefore, appeal to our valued customers and other stakeholders for understanding and support, while assuring that power supply situation will considerably improved once gas supply is restored to these power stations.”

SON floats committee on substandard tyres From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

HE Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has said it is poised to stop the importation of substandard tyres into the country. It has, therefore, set up a committee to advice it on how to enforcement the measure. The committee is to make recommendations on the reduction of importation of tyres, as most manufacturers of tyres that had moved out of the country are ready to return to start production if the environment is improved upon. The Director-General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, who inaugurated the committee at the weekend in Abuja, said the agency will do all in its power to stop importation of substandard tyres as this is the major cause of death on Nigerian roads. He said: “We must ensure, as agents of positive change, to preserve lives instead of allowing people to die ignorantly. Nigeria is at present ready to create a data base for tyres so that counterfeit products will not take over the nation. “The statistics from the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) is that in 2008-2010, tyre was the sixth cause of accident in the country. Right now, Nigeria has zero percent local production for tyres and 100 per cent importation of tyres,” he stressed. Odumodu charged the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) to ensure that every car coming in for registration is registered with new tyres, saying the old tyres should be discarded. He said the committee is to ensure registration of importers of tyres and give advice on how to eradicate used and substandard tyres in Nigeria, adding that SON is ready to partner with the committee to publish names and faces in national newspapers of importers of substandard tyres.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

ISSUES These are not the best of times for players in the aviation industry as the sack carried out by the Federal Government in three agencies — the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria( FAAN), Nigeria Airspace Management Agency ( NAMA) and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology ( NCAT) — continues to unsettle the industry, raising concern that the restructuring intended to reposition the sector could have ripple effects, writes KELVIN OSA- OKUNBOR.

Disquiet as gale of sack rocks aviation

•Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos

HE whirlwind of job erasures blew across the aviation industry penultimate week leaving in its wake, the removal of the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria( FAAN), Mr Richard Aisuebeogun; his counterpart in the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency ( NAMA), Alhaji Ibrahim Auyo and the Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology ( NCAT), Captain Adebayo Araba. The three former chief exceutives, according to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Ms Anne Ita Ene, were sacked as part of efforts by the government to reposition the aviation sector and implement its transformation agenda. They have been replaced by others from within their organisations, laying to rest speculations that the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella OduahOgiemwonyi, was bringing in players outside the industry to manage the sector, which has become the cynosure of all eyes, after she spoke of plans

to effect radical transformation. The new Chief executive officer of FAAN is the former Director of Operations, Mr George Uruesi. His appointment laid to rest speculations that some personnel within the airport authority were bent on ensuring that he won’t succeed his former boss. In NAMA, the former Director of Electronic and Engineering Services, Nnamdi Udoh, is the Acting Managing Director. At the Aviation College, Zaria, the former Head of the Flying School, Captain Chinyere Kalu, was appointed Rector. The gale of sacks is part implementation of the government’s transformation agenda to reposition the sector for efficiency and productivity. In continuation of the reform,

four directors in FAAN were sacked. Those affected are : Ajakaiye Adeniyi, who was in charge of Administration; Mohammed Bello (Environment) and the two women directors: Ms Grace Etomi, Commercial and Business Development and Dr. Azuka Onyia, who was in charge of Finance and Accounts. Two directors, Wendell Emeka Ogunedo, in charge of Security Services, and Saleh Dunoma, who oversees Airport Safety and Engineering Services, were spared. No replacements have been named yet for the sacked directors, causing tension. There are speculations that about 30 more senior personnel are to go and that their disengagement letters

would be distributed soon. While the waiting game continues, lobbyists within and outside the industry are strategising to fill the vacuum created by the disengagements. There is unease among the middle management cadre that the restructuring will be farreaching. Aside FAAN, NAMA and NCAT where the Ministry of Aviation has erased jobs, competent sources hinted that other agencies, including Nigeria Meteorological Agency( NIMET), the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Accident Investigationm Bureau may not be insulated from the reforms. Amid the tension that has enveloped the sector, sources

When there is a new change, people react positively or negatively. But also don’t forget that there is a percentage that makes the louder noise and that is the small percentage, the larger group is busy working and realigning

hinted that about 30 more persons may lose their jobs in some of the agencies as part of the reforms needed to reposition the aviation for efficiency.

Stakeholders’ perspective Although the implications of the sacks have not manifested in the aviation sector, some stakeholders hold the view that it could affect foreign direct investment, which the government has been canvassing in the past few months. They are of the opinion that if there is no stability in the industry, especially as it affects the security of tenure of office of helmsmen the implementation of a master-plan may be a long way off. President of Aviation Roundtable, Captain Dele Ore, said the removal of chief executives may not be the best for the growth and development of the sector. He said until round pegs are placed in round holes in the Ministry of Aviation, there may be no con• Continued on page 16

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

ISSUES

Disquiet as gale of sack rocks aviation • Continued from page 13

crete success for the sector. Ore canvassed the convening of a stakeholders’ summit to fashion out a National Transport Policy, which will be holistic to address the challenge of the aviation sector in the long run. He said such changes, including the removal of chief executive officers of aviation agencies, may not bring about the desired results. He explained that the until the ministry is professionalised, the aviation sector will not witness a new lease of life, saying there must be in place the right administrative and supervisory framework. He stressed that government must take more than a passing interest beyond appointing and disengaging chief executives The National President of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Comrade Safiatu Mohammed, said as much as government reserves the right to effect the disengagement of any chief executive officer at anytime, such changes do not necessarily bring about the desired results, unless there is a corresponding restructuring at the supervisory ministry He explained that it is just a clear case of removing some set of people and appointing others to fill a vacuum.

•Mrs. Oduah-Ogiemwonyi

•Udoh

•Uruesi

•Auyo

•Araba

•Aisuebeogun

makes the louder noise and that is the small percentage, the larger group is busy working and realigning. ”So, we will stretch our hands to work with everybody. We all have right and left hand which complement each other. So, even when there is a percentage that doesn’t go along, we will woo them. We will try to use every possible human resource process available to carry everybody along,” he said. Udoh, however, stressed that the greatest challenge in every organisation is its workforce, adding that the management of NAMA would do everything possible to understand the emotional bent of its workers and renew their mind. He said that’s what transformation was all about. “You don’t change the people except you renew their mind and that is what transformation is. When people’s minds are

transformed their attitudes are transformed, the way they eat even transforms because they are notin a hurrying eat the food because there is no more left. But if they know that there is plenty left then, there is no hurry,” he added. On how to move NAMA forward, he said: “It is just a continuation of where my predecessor stopped. I have been part of the management, there is no doubt. Everybody here knows what we have been doing and we will just intensify our efforts.” Udoh said he hoped to see a NAMA in the next 50 years which would have given birth to other companies, stressing that everywhere in the world, organisations deliver new ones and NAMA should not be an exemption. His words:“The NAMA of my dream is a sustainable NAMA in the next 50 years

where my grandchildren can work; which I can consult for; where I can deliver papers. NAMA can midwife other outfits, such as NAMA consulting limited, NAMA training institute, NAMA hotels group, NAMA travels and tours, that is my dream.” Udoh promised to fast-track the completion of many air navigation facilities lined up by the agency, affirming that the completion of the total Very High Frequency (VHF) radio coverage of the airspace will improve safety. On his plans for FAAN, Uruesi said he would revitalise in line with the transformation agenda, pledging to carry all along in achieving the mandate. He said: “We are in a dicey situation. Our dwindling revenue collection presents a serious existential threat to FAAN. We are struggling to pay salaries and meet our basic financial obligations from month to month. We cannot continue like this. We are going to have to change the way we think and act in our business. Our survival as a going concern depends on this,” he told workers at a town hall meeting. Uruesi said he would “vigorously pursue the remodelling of airports being championed by Princess Oduah Ogiemwonyi and give priority attention to the welfare and training of staff to enhance their productivity.

Disquiet in the sector There was disquiet in some of the aviation agencies as most senior staff in the affected agencies remained pensive, wondering when the sack letters or disengagement notices will be issued. According to sources, the impending sack is expected to hit the personnel of some of the agencies where there is overstaffing at the level of directors and general managers. This is coming on the heels of a presidential approval granted the minister to carry out major restructuring of the sector for enhanced efficiency and safety. The source hinted that the criterion to be used for the sack or disengagement of workers is based on the performance indicator index carried out by the ministry to ascertain the calibre of personnel expected to actualise the transformation agenda. It was gathered from a reliable source that plans are afoot to recruit experts with private sector background into the industry to change the face of the industry. In some of the agencies where there is a preponderance of senior staff appointed by some former ministers, the government, it was learnt, may review some of the appointments where it appears there is either duplication or overlapping of functions. Speaking during a chat with reporters, Udoh noted that whenever there is a change in any organisation people react to it either positively or negatively, adding that his focus is to ensure that he works with everybody in peace and harmony. “When there is a new change, people react positively or negatively. But also don’t forget that there is a percentage that

The source hinted that the criterion to be used for the sack or disengagement of workers is based on the performance indicator index carried out by the ministry to ascertain the calibre of personnel expected to actualise the transformation agenda

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

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

• Workers at an interview centre

There is no doubt that good academic qualification enhances job prospects. But companies are asking for more. They are demanding what they call “emotional intelligence” from workers. They want workers to complement intellectual prowess with good conduct, AKINOLA AJIBADE writes.

Good conduct determines job F prospects

IRMS are redefining their employment policies to foster growth. They have stopped recruiting on the basis of academic certificates only. They are asking for the ability to identify, assess, and manage emotions from workers. They want workers who have good human relations, patience and ability to engage in logical debates without picking offence with their colleagues. Other requirements are ability to engage in group discussions, and appreciate superior arguments that will lead to the growth of a company. All these attributes are wrapped up in a concept called “emotional intelligence. The concept is popular in the United States and Europe, among other developed economies. It is gradually being embraced in Nigeria. The concept, which dates back to early

19 th century in Europe, has become an important tool in the hands of employers. Professionals in such climes see emotional intelligence as part of work process. Employers have integrated the concept into their corporate objectives, ensuring that workers abide by it. Multinationals, as a matter of policy, recruit only people with emotional intelligence. In some cases, companies direct recruitment agencies or consulting firms to determine the suitability of persons for jobs through this means. Human resources departments have joined the train. They employ workers that have such qualities. The efforts have paid off, with

many corporations in Europe and United States recording good performance. Nigeria has taken a shot at the concept. In recent times, companies have been making frantic efforts to adopt emotional intelligence as part of their work process. In fact, the concept has become a sing-song in most firms. A look into the recruitment patterns of many organisations corroborated this assertion. Banks, oil and gas and telecoms companies are embracing the concept to encourage growth. They are not only looking for firstclass brains, but want people who can withstand pressure, and are logical in their

reasoning and attitudes. Speaking on the issue, the immediate past Managing Director, Longman Nigeria Plc, Dr. Dan Obidiegwu, said companies are gradually adopting emotional intelligence to record success. Obidiegwu said emotional intelligence is germane, and that no company is ready to take it for granted. He opined that organisations that are recruitment-driven do not only employ on the basis of academic qualifications, adding that companies are interested in having workers who have team spirit and highly intelligent. He said: “Most employers give premium to workers who have the intellectual ability and emotional capacity to ensure growth. They have • Continued on page 18

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

JOBS

Good conduct determines job prospects •Continued from page 17

come to realise that the two attributes are necessary for growth. Workers that do not have it are not employed. Some even ask workers that lack emotional intelligence to leave. It does not create unnecessary crisis. It creates peace for growth.” He urged workers to imbibe such attributes, adding that the labour market was passing through a process of re-engineering. He said no employer was ready to waste money on workers who are not customefriendly. “No matter how good a product is, it cannot sell itself. There must be people who would push the product to the market. Though integrated marketing communication tools, such as advertising and sales promotion, have assisted the growth of brands, the good dispositions of workers is very important,” he said. He said companies are laying emphasis on emotional intelligence to facilitate growth. A lecturer, Lagos State University (LASU), Mr Gbenga Adeoye, said emotional intelligence is a new concept in the corporate world. He said recruitment has taken a new dimension, and that no company was ready to be caught unawares. Adeoye said companies want their workers to have good human relations, patience and ability to hold intellectual debates. He drew a comparison between intelligent quotients (IQ) and emotional intelligence, arguing that a worker may have high intelligent quotient, but may not have

emotional intelligence required to achieve growth in a company. He said: “In most companies now, emphasis is on emotional intelligence. During an interview session, panel awards 70 per cent to emotional intelligence while 30 per cent is given to intelligent quotients. The panel observes your level of maturity and ability to compose yourself in the face of obstacles. The concept is gaining acceptance among companies.” The Consumer Behaviour teacher argued that emotional intelligence is necessary to ascertain how much graduates cherish the university culture. Adeoye said the university culture requires maturity, patience and intellectual abilities to hold group discussions, without creating enmity, adding that employers want their workers to replicate such attributes. He said his days at the Obafemi Awolowo University (then University of Ife) were filled with memories of students holding group discussions that helped build their intellectual capacity. “It is a sense of maturity to engage in intellectual discussions in a company, without creating unnecessary enemies for yourself. You come with your facts and bring it to a logical conclusion. When your ideas or arguments are not accepted, it is a mark of honour and maturity to exchange pleasantries with those who opposed your arguments during meeting,” he added. According to him, workers can only sustain their jobs when they combine good academic

• Minister of Labour Chukwemeka Wogu

• NLC President Abdulwaheed Omar

qualifications and good conducts. Similarly, a bank official who craved anonymity, said most banks are cautious of employing workers who are not marketable. He said banks have reviewed their modes of recruitment to safeguard the interests of their depositors. He said the crisis in banking caused untold damage to the industry, adding that the development made banks to employ people of impeccable character. He said the industry is growth driven, arguing that no bank is ready to employ workers who lack intellectual and emotional ability to withstand pressure.

Emotional intelligence, without doubt, is a good concept capable of bringing the best out of workers. It ensures that people with good ideas are employed in a company to achieve corporate goals. Emotional intelligence has worked in developing countries, implying that it is not new to corporate establishments. Its introduction in Nigeria is a good omen, because it would help in shaping the attitudes of workers. This will benefit workers and companies. But the question is: Will workers embrace the concept, in view of the county’s bad economy?

Mutual Benefits chief is IoD committee chair G

found the Finance and Insurance Expert Limited, a firm of finance, insurance, environmental and management consultants as Managing Partner/Chief Executive Officer in 1992. IoD Nigeria, is an affiliate of the Institute of Directors, United Kingdom. The body has committee on health, education, infrastructure, energy, corporate governance, capital market, among others. Its disciplianary committee looks into cases of misconducts among the members, as well ensures that they comply with the best practices of corporate governance.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

• Ogunbiyi

ROUP Managing Direc tor, Mutual Benefits As surance Plc, Mr Akin Ogunbiyi, has been appointed Chairman, Membership Services Committee of the Institute of Directors (IoD). Ogunbiyi, an accomplished scholar, businessman and insurance practitioner is an alumnus of the prestigious University of Nevarra, Barcelona, Spain; Harvard Business School and Lagos Business School.

He is an associate member of the Chartered Insurance Institute, London and a Chartered Insurance Practitioner. Ogunbiyi had the rare honour of securing the highest number of distinctions in the professional examination in two sittings. Ogunbiyi has been up a long

path in a short time. In his entrepreneurial pursuits, he has taken quite some risks, giving up an impressive and promising career at NICON to go into insurance consultancy- a business hitherto unexplored and without a precedent of success in Nigeria. He went into a partnership to

CAREER MANAGEMENT

EFORE receiving a job offer from an employer, you will typically have a series of interviews. The first interview is a screening interview conducted usually in writing in Nigeria. Screening interviews are brief, usually lasting between 30 to 60 minutes. If the employer is impressed with your performance in the screening interview, you will be invited to a second (and perhaps third or fourth) interview. The second interview is longer, lasting anywhere from two hours to a whole day. It could include a variety of questions, some form of testing, lunch or dinner, a tour, as well as a series of interviews with various employees. You should come away from the second interview with a thorough understanding of the organisation’s culture and environment, job responsibilities, and have enough information to decide on a job offer - if one is extended.

The warm-up Each interview follows a rather predictable pattern of warm-up, information exchange, and wrap-

The structure of a job interview By Olu Oyeniran

up conversations. During the first few minutes of the interview (the warm-up), an employer will be formulating a first, lasting, impression of you. The way you greet the employer, the firmness of your handshake, and the way you are dressed, will all be a part of this initial impression. An interviewer may begin by asking common-ground questions about shared interests, the weather, or your travel to the interview. Some interviewers might start by saying “Tell me about yourself.” This is an opening for you to briefly and concisely describe your background, skills, and interest in the position.

The information exchange The information exchange will be the primary part of the interview. This is when you will be asked the most questions and learn the most about the em-

ployer. In screening interviews, many employers will spend more time describing their opportunities than asking you specific questions. The reverse will be true in second interviews. Interview questions may range from “Why did you choose to pursue a business degree?” to “What are your strengths/weaknesses?” and “What are your long-range career goals?” If you are prepared for the interview, you will be able to emphasise your qualifications effectively as you respond to each question. By practicing for interviews, you will gain confidence and have more polished answers.

The wrap-up Eventually the employer will probably say, “Do you have any questions?” This is your cue that the interview is moving to the wrap-up stage. Always ask questions. This demonstrates your research and interest in the job. Your questions might be direct, logisti-

cal questions such as, “When can I expect to hear from you?” (if that has not been discussed); questions to clarify information the employer has presented; a question regarding the employer’s use of new technology or practices related to the career field; or a question to assess the culture and direction of the organisation such as “Where is this organisation headed in the next five years?” or “Why do you like working for this organisation?” Do not ask specific questions about salary or benefits unless the employer broaches the subject first. The employer may also ask you if you have anything else you would like to add or say. Again, it’s best to have a response. You can use this opportunity to thank the employer for the interview, summarise your qualifications, and reiterate your interest in the position. If you want to add information or emphasise a point made earlier, you can do that, too. This last impression is almost as

important as the first impression and will add to the substance discussed during the information exchange.

The follow-up It is not finished until it is finished. This is much more so in job search situation. First ask during the last stage described if you can contact the employer and the time frame for this. Two, write ‘Thank you’ letter to those involved in interviewing you, especially theman-with-the-power-to-hire-you. This is done within 24hours of the interview, using the opportunity to re-state your case and improve on areas you think you did not handle well during the interview. Followup at least by phone to enquire about the situation after a decent period. You have nothing to lose, but your unemployment!

Olu Oyeniran is the Lead Consultant, EkiniConsult & Assoiciates. Website: www.jobsearchhow.com E-mail: oluoyeniran@yahoo.com Tel 08083843230 (SMS Only).

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

EDITORIAL/OPINION EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

Good riddance FG’s red card to nine agencies to leave the ports long overdue

N what signals a new phase in the reform of the ports sector, the Federal Government last week ordered nine of the 14 agencies out of the ports. Minister of Finance Ngozi OkonjoIweala, who handed out the order which she announced would take effect in two weeks said that henceforth, only the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Nigeria Police and the Port Health are allowed at the ports. Affected by the new directive are the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Nigerian Plant Quarantine Services, the Federal Environmental Pro-

‘The measure is – and that is to put it mildly – long overdue. Corruption and red tape not only add to the cost of doing business, they are at the heart of the lack of competitiveness of the nation’s manufactures. It has been said repeatedly that our ports system enjoys the dubious record of being one of the most user-unfriendly ports in the world’

tection Agency (FEPA) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency. Also excluded from the ports are the Directorate of Naval Intelligence and the two anti-graft bodies – the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Under the new port rules, the Nigeria Customs would invite other agencies only when their services are needed. The minister minced no words about the rationale for the measures: “we must stop the extortion and corruption prevalent in the ports. We are going to reduce the check-points to reduce the cost of doing business in order to achieve faster turnaround time”. The measure is – and that is to put it mildly – long overdue. Corruption and red tape not only add to the cost of doing business, they are at the heart of the lack of competitiveness of the nation’s manufactures. It has been said repeatedly that our ports system enjoys the dubious record of being one of the most user-unfriendly ports in the world. Our unflattering ranking on the annual Doing Business Report – a publication of the World Bank – which measures the ease of doing business across the globe would seem to buttress this. In 2010, Nigeria ranked 134 out of 183 economies; this year, it slipped to 137. Needless to state that port procedures form part of the scores.

The point is – it is hard to think of a strategy to reduce the turnaround time at the ports without reducing the number of agencies that the importers have to deal with – many of which really have nothing to do with the process. The multiplicity of agencies, many of which add no value other than sheer nuisance, makes corruption inevitable. The truth is that the presence of a good number of the agencies currently operating in the ports merely adds to the costs and the daily frustrations borne by the importer. The challenge, in our view, is how to ensure the new measure does not usher in a regime of abdication under which agencies are allowed to pass the buck, particularly when things go wrong. We must say that we do not see what the presence of SON and NAFDAC at the ports would achieve that they cannot achieve outside by collaborating with the agencies inside the ports. In any case, has their presence at the ports stopped the importation of fake or substandard goods into the country? Why must every good entering the country be subject to multiplicity of inspections by different agencies? There is certainly great wisdom in inviting the agencies only when there is absolute need for them. Reducing the number of agencies at the ports is however, only one aspect of the needed reform. How to get the operators to deploy first class infrastructure to aid the turnaround process is another. Leaving the latter undone will inevitably roll back the gains from the latest measure.

Bad deal •Why are the Reps so eager to have Nigerian prisoners from Britain returned home to serve their terms? HE Nigerian parliament, without any public hearing, has shown so much enthusiasm over the plan to transfer Nigerians who are serving prison terms in Britain back home to serve out their terms. The implication of the proposal from the British government is that any Nigerian found guilty and sentenced for an offence in Britain would be transferred to Nigeria, to serve out the terms of imprisonment. The British Prime Minister, David Cameron, who came to Nigeria last July to further lobby for this new bilateral relationship must be gladdened by the speed with which the Nigerian officials are pursuing the project. Presently, there are about 600 Nigerians in British prisons; while there are about 30,000 prisoners in about 360 prisons in Nigeria. Most of the prisons were built when Nigeria was under the British suzerainty and have not been expanded to cope with the increase in the number of inmates. When the issue of whether the overcrowded Nigerian prisons could cope with a further influx of inmates, a Nigerian legislator, Jerry Manwe, was reported to have quipped that the prisons will be able to cope with the influx. To confirm that he is not alone in this line of thought, the Nigeria House of Representatives is said to have passed a bill to actualise this new policy. There is also the strong believe by the British authorities that the Senate would soon concur to the bill; and nobody en-

visages any delay with respect to the presidential assent. Such is the priority that the so- called prison swap deal commands; that even before the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan, it was a priority of the former President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration. While it is difficult to understand the reasons for the haste that the Nigerian officials have attached to the new bilateral relationship, one indisputable fact is that, a term in Nigerian prison could be a death sentence. According to the Prison Fellowship, an international organisation, “the prisoners are kept in prisons as a corrective measure, but in many cases they come out more hardened than before they went in”. This indictment may actually be an understatement, considering what happens to those who have served in the country’s prisons; as many of them come out of prisons psychologically and physically deformed. Poor feeding allowance, poor medical facilities and attention, inhuman and degrading prison environment, despondent but sometimes corrupt and inefficient officials and processes, all conspire to make a prison sentence in Nigeria almost a rites of passage to death. But all this will differ if the prisoner is wealthy and well connected and is willing to pay for his comfort in prison. In such instance, the common believe is that the prisoner is allowed several liberties,

including but not limited to a conjugal family life. In the face of infrastructure challenges, a wealthy prisoner may be allowed to pay for a generator for his use and for the use of the senior prisons officials. In some instances, the prisoner is allowed to go home in the evening, to come back the next day. With the post-haste arrangement being put in place now, many commentators will also quickly conclude that the corrupt Nigerian officials are eager to put the law in place, so that they could be repatriated to serve in comfort, whenever the international criminal justice system in Britain catches up with them. Our position is that people convicted in Britain should be made to serve their sentences there.

‘With the post-haste arrangement, many commentators will wager that the corrupt Nigerian officials are eager to put the law in place, so that they could be repatriated to serve in comfort, whenever the international criminal justice system in Britain catches up with them.’

No jobs bill, and no ideas

T was all predicted, but the unanimous decision by Senate Republicans on Tuesday to filibuster and thus kill President

Obama’s jobs bill was still a breathtaking act of economic vandalism. There are 14 million people out of work, wages are falling, poverty is rising, and a second recession may be blowing in, but not a single Republican would even allow debate on a sound plan to cut middleclass taxes and increase public-works spending. The bill the Republicans shot down is not a panacea, but independent economists say it would have a significant and swift effect on the current stagnation. Macroeconomic Advisers, whose forecasts are often used by the Federal Reserve, said it could raise economic growth by 1.25 percentage points and create 1.3 million jobs in 2012. Moody’s Analytics estimated new growth at 2 percentage points and 1.9 million jobs. Those economists say that Republican ideas for increasing growth would have no measurable effects in the next year. The Republicans offer no actual economic plans, only tired slogans about cutting regulations and spending, and ending health care reform. The party seems content to run out the clock on Mr. Obama’s term while doing very little. On Tuesday, Mr. Obama’s campaign manager, Jim Messina, accused Republicans of trying to “suffocate the economy” in hopes that the pain would work to their political advantage. They are doing little to refute that charge. Their lack of serious ideas was on full display in both the Senate and the presidential debate on Tuesday night in New Hampshire. The debate was ostensibly about the economy, but when the freshest and most-talked-about idea is Herman Cain’s ridiculous “9-9-9” tax plan, it is clear that the economy they were debating is not the one Americans are forced to live in. Mr. Cain — whose rise in the polls says everything you need to know about the amateur-hour decline of his party — wants to replace all federal taxes with a 9 percent levy on corporate income, personal income and sales. As Bruce Bartlett, an economist who has worked in Republican administrations, recently wrote in The Times, it is a formula designed to cut taxes for the rich and increase them for the poor, raising the deficit and doing nothing for growth. The other candidates were no less vacuous. Mitt Romney offered an ash heap of used ideas, saying he would push a balanced-budget amendment, cut back on regulations, and go chest to chest with China on trade. Rick Perry, when he could be stirred to speak, vowed to somehow put 1.2 million people to work in the energy industry, as if the whole country were Texas and drills could pop up on every block. Republican candidates fear the Tea Party too much to acknowledge that economists are solidly behind government intervention to awaken growth. The jobs bill rejected by Republican leaders will now be reintroduced piece by piece, and Republicans are not likely to go along with much more than an extension of the payroll tax cut (which is opposed by Mr. Romney). But at least the record is increasingly clear who is advocating real ideas and who is selling an empty vessel. – New York Times

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THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

EDITORIAL/OPINION

IR: One of the enduring and ambiguous legacies of Nigeria’s development history is the premium on “Grammar Education” and paper qualifications as spring-boards for socio-economic mobility. In spite of growing ‘graduate’ unemployment, tertiary education admissions and turn-out has remained skewed towards the so-called liberal arts and social sciences – with adverse consequences for our youths, economy and society at large. But as the pressure mounts in long unemployment queues, youth restiveness and insecurity in the land, there is growing awareness of the place of vocational and technical education in youth empowerment. The Anambra State initiative and experience need to be shared here. The Anambra State Youth Re-Orientation and Empowerment Programme [ANSYREP] – christened ANAMBRA RE-BIRTH — is a collaborative effort of the State Government and a few civil society organisations, which took off effectively in October 2010. Phase 1 focused on attitudinal change in the youths, inspirational & motivational presentations, the realities of today’s existence and interactive sessions. Thus grounded, the youths were invited to the second phase of the programme, which was implemented in August and September. With emphases on skill acquisition and enterprise management, activities were conducted over a period of one week in each of the State’s three Senatorial zones – with centres at Awka [Central], Onitsha [North] and Nnewi [South]. Trainers were selected and screened for over 25 skill areas. Thus chosen, they were assigned trainees according to specialties of their choice. The skill areas include computer assembly and repairs,

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Anambra’s initiative in skills training [software] application, interior decoration, photography and videography, dressmaking, bead making, GSM repairs, confectioneries, hairdressing and salon establishment, welding, P.O.P. production, tile production, fish farming, poultry development, wine production, among others. Among the telling features of ANSYREP Phase two was a daily monitoring exercise by a team of professionals with cognate experi-

ence in youth empowerment issues. In-between also, were unscheduled visits to training sessions by the programme co-ordinator and spotchecks by representatives of the state government. Perhaps the icing on the cake was the exhibition of products/work done by three best trainees in every skill class. Similar to what occurred in Phase 1, participants were given meals and transport fares as welfare support.

As a complement to the programme, the state Ministry of Youth and Sports invited unemployed youths of the state to register their details with their local government headquarters. The statistics would be stored in a data bank as a basis for planning to empower them. Anambra RE-BIRTH aims to develop practical skills, attitudes and habits that render the youths creative, innovative and resourceful.

• Onukwugha Osuji, Lagos

Tinubu: honour well deserved

IR: The enigmatic leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is by every indication, a veritable icon, who reminds one of the allegory of the elephant and the blind men, which I believe is popular enough for one not to belabour. One is here referring to his multidimensional personality and abundant talents, which single him out of the crowd and unfold a legend of uncommon class and stature. A political general, and tactician, Tinubu is also a humanist, orator, philosopher, visionary leader, administrative wizard and a born manager of men and resources. It is against this background that one cannot but commend the governing council of Fountain University , Osogbo, for the recent conferment of Honorary Doctorate in Administration on him. Indeed, Tinubu’s greatness can only be properly grasped when one

considers the gargantuan hurdles that were strewn on his way, and the incredible height of success, he has been able to attain, inspite of the daunting odds. One remembers the second tenure of his administration, when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, deliberately withheld the local government money accruable to Lagos State from the federation account. The vision of the power octopus of that time was that by starving the Tinubu administration of the much needed fund, the multifarious development projects envisioned to transform the state, will not only be aborted, but even salaries of the local government workers will remain unpaid. The end point of their scheming, was to create a leeway for the PDP, to make a dominant foray into the governance of Lagos State . It was however a tribute to his remarkable administrative acumen that he was able to rise above the

Income Tax Act, 2004? Can you simultaneously approbate and reprobate? Is it possible for Governor Amosun to change a federal law, or to change any law for that matter? Does Ogun NLC know that the Personal Income Tax Act, 2004 is a federal law? What is more, Ogun NLC is asking a government that has just marked 100 days in office and inherited a staggering debt of N80 billion to manufacture money to pay “leave bonuses from September, 2009 to April, 2011, Co-operative/Union Deductions for February, March and April, 2011 and gratuity arrears to retirees”, all inher-

ited from the government of Gbenga Daniel, who interestingly is standing trial for allegedly stealing and embezzling N58 billion of tax-payers’ money. Very well. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. The government of Ogun must immediately apply the no-work-no-pay rule in the first instance. Then it should, as the employer, issue an ultimatum for the workers to return to their duties, failure of which they risk losing their jobs. The alternative is for Governor Amosun to betray his Oath of Office by breaking a federal law or setting up a money printing company to satisfy the appetites of the

situation, to bequeath a legacy that was to usher a significant watershed towards the evolution of modern Lagos. As a born manager of men and resources, it is a historical fact that the discovery of our indefatigable action governor, Barrister Babatunde Fashola, was creditable to no less a person than Asiwaju Tinubu. It is therefore right and proper to infer that the remarkable success being celebrated today about Fashola’s governance of Lagos State is not only creditable to Fashola, but also to Asiwaju, who in the first place, discovered him and gave him the opportunity to show case his talent. But on this, it need be stated that Fashola’s discovery is not just an isolated case, but rather in tune with Asiwaju’s propensity not only to attract the best crop of talents, but also to motivate them to give their best.

Amosun should not give in to striking Ogun workers

IR: Permit me a space in your widely read newspaper to comment on the seven-day warning strike declared on October 12 by Ogun State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress. The demands of Ogun NLC are the most ridiculous in the history of labour agitation in Nigeria, and I think the civil servants are taking liberty for licence in Ogun State. How can the civil servants in Ogun on the one hand demand the full implementation of the Minimum Wage Act, 2010 - which the state government has implemented, with even an increase - and on the other hand demand the nonimplementation of the Personal

Happily, there is increasing awareness of vocational and technical training as not only means of livelihood, but significant props for micro, small and medium enterprises [MSMEs], which are critical success factors for meaningful and sustainable development of Nigeria. The Federal Government and states have something to glean from the Anambra experience. In the same vein, corporate bodies, wealthy individuals, communities and public-spirited civil society organizations are urged to lend their support to this effective means of empowering our teeming youth populations across the country.

union members. They had the opportunity to force Otunba Gbenga Daniel to pay them their dues they did not. Now, they want to destabilize a government that is just settling down. The state government should not portray itself as being weak. Governor Amosun should act without further delay. There are over 60,000 indigenes waiting to replace those who illegally abandoned their duty posts. Democracy is about freedom but it is also about responsibility. Ogun NLC cannot accept freedom and reject responsibility. • Ikechukwu James, Owerri,, Imo State

The fact that the ACN was able to extend its tentacles from its hold only in Lagos State, to mount a progressive dominion over the entire South-West, including Edo State, is indeed a tribute to the organizational wizardry of this rare gem. There is equally no gainsaying the fact that this sterling quality supplies the reason for the discovery of such distinguished personages like Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, among others. It is unfortunate that a prophet is without honour in his own country. On this, it is utterly disheartening to note the unabating war of bitterness and bad blood being mounted by the very kinsmen of this political incarnate of Awo, who felt threatened and overshadowed by his soaring fame and influence. The regrettable aspect of it is that this bunch of spent forces who has outlived their usefulness and only wallow in the imaginary illusion of old glory are the same people who are always quick in priding themselves as progressives. Ironically, these are also the same people who are always quick in lamenting the state of disunity among Yorubas and are ever always confessing their utmost concern to find a solution. What a lamentable paradox. I say kudos for a deserved honorary doctorate to the administrative genius, superb organizer, and iconic motivator and manager of men and resources. For Asiwaju, it is forward ever and backward never, until your eventual realization of a vision of a virile and progressive Nigeria . • Kunle Ademoye Lagos.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

EDITORIAL/OPINION

HE inspiration for this write-up came from the furore that the N30.666bn special approval for the national identity card project has elicited in the media. It is with a view to offering informed insights into why the Federal Government, as a matter of urgency, needs the unified national identity management system. The reason for the perennial failures in this all important project is rooted in the fact that wrong strategies have been adopted for the project. More often than not, various administrations always looked for short-cut for the development of the required infrastructure for the card project and even shorter ways for the population of the resultant national identity database. For instance, in the last exercise, Nigerians were mandated to queue up to be registered for the national identity cards within few weeks. In the end, only 52 million Nigerians were enrolled into that database in 2003 and only 36 million were validated to be correct entries. Why did the nation abandon the project mid-way? Why has the project contractor shut down the system since October 2008? Despite millions of US dollars spent on human capacity building, why is it that no one in DNCR/NIMC is able to turn on the systems since they were shut down over three years ago? In its search for solution to the problem, the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, ensured that the National Identity Management Commission Act 2007 was passed by the fifth National Assembly. The President assented to the Act on May 25, 2007, some few days to the end of his tenure Among other things, the Act empowers the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to take over the assets and liabilities of the defunct Department of Civic National Registration (DNCR), harmonize all the citizen’s biometric databases across the federation. Empowered by this Act and the report of the Presidential Committee on the Harmonization of Citizen Biometric Databases, the NIMC broadly divided the project into two, namely: the front-end processing and back-end processing. The commission also opted to leverage the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model for the front-end processing while the backend processing was to be funded by the federal government. Two separate international tenders were floated for the two segments of the project. After the selection exercise, two frontend partners and one back-end partner emerged. It took NIMC almost three years to execute contractual agreement with the front-end partners and since the agreement was signed over a year and a half ago, it seems neither of the two front-end partners has been able to fulfill its contractual obligations. It is disturbing that as simple as it may sound, neither of the front-end partners has been able to develop a reliable enrollment application. Unlike the situation with front-end processing, workers of the commission said the back-end partner has delivered on the assigned job to the admiration of every stakeholder that witnessed the demonstration of the project. As a result of that, NIMC felt that it would be helpful for the back-end partner to bail it out of the logjam. As a matter of fact, the vendor was contracted by NIMC and they were negotiating the details of the contractual agreement before the announcement of the of the N30.066bn for the Unified National Identity Management

MUST thank the African Voice newspapers, United Kingdom, the organisers of this ceremony, the 16th Annual African Film and Arts Awards a.k.a Afro Hollywood 2011, for the honour of this invitation as the special guest of honour. The theme of this year’s award, ‘Tourism in Osun and the film industry’ highlights the development agenda of our administration, since tourism is a major sector through which we are working to develop the economy of the state of Osun. This for us is an important intersection. The precursor to the film industry of course is the Yoruba travelling theatre group. The pioneers were Hubert Ogunde, Akin Ogungbe, Adeyemi Afolayan, Moses Adejumo and others. They were the first to produce film on celluloid and I understand they were also the pioneers of home video before it became a national phenomenon. The state of Osun is specially blessed, being the cradle of the legends of the Arts, Culture and Entertainment. Titans like Oyin Adejobi, Moses Adejumo, Ojo Ladipo, Ola Omonitan, Kareem Adepoju and Twin Seven-Seven are thespians from the state. Drama mainly is for entertainment. Cinemas and theatres provide opportunity to unwind – relax and be entertained. It is also a place for social interaction. The content i.e. the plays, playlets and dramas, beyond entertainment, educate and inform. They are also means for social mobilisation. In a globalised era, they are means for diplomatic projection and cultural domination. Almost everybody who has never been to the United States has a conception of the country based on its projection by Hollywood, the American film industry. The global rush to the United States, evident in long queues at American embassies all over the world, derives mainly from the assault on the subconscious, using mainly the weapons of Hollywood films. For this reason, the Nigerian film industry must be conscious of the content of its films. From celluloid to betamax video and now digital video, film production has witnessed significant technological development, although, compared to Hollywood, there is still room for improvement; what is imperative now is the content. At a time, an obsession in Yoruba film was exchange of incantations between two persons, one representing good, and the other evil. Now it is satanic rituals and killing through remote means with themes largely devoted to the activities of witches and wizards. Although the message really is the conflict between the forces of good and evil in which good ultimately triumphs over evil, this message has been drowned by the imageries of competing ritualists. For the Yoruba films, I will ask that themes be devoted to ‘Omoluabi’, the quintessential virtuous person. Conscious efforts should be made to project the Yoruba persona as virtuous, industrious, scholarly, stickler for truth and integrity

Another look at the national ID card project By Felix Alade System by the executive council of the federation. Everybody was at loss as to how the NIMC arrived at that figure and what it will use the money for. Does it mean that the PPP Model is dead? Or will the government use the taxpayers’ money to finance a project for the private sector to reap the dividends? NIMC should be more forthcoming in what the money would be used for. Instead of castigating the identity management system, it is important to find out what has been responsible for the gross ineptitude at the NIMC. . Are the managers there capable of delivering on the provisions of the National Identity Management Commission Act 2007? Another pertinent question that should be asked is whether NIMC is being effectively supervised or not. This becomes imperative because the commission has been shifting the date of launch of the all-important programme for almost two years now. Again, it should be noted that there is no year, in the last four years that the commission spends less than five billion naira on its running cost. One would like to know what they have been doing as a commission. It is a welcome development that the House of Representatives, has put a stop order on the disbursement of fund to NIMC pending when its joint committee concludes investigation on happenings in the commission since 2001. The joint committee should find out what is responsible for the failure of the front-end partners to deliver on their contractual obligations. If it is then found out that the selected vendors lack technical and financial capability and capacity to deliver on the contract, relevant exit clauses in the agreement could then be invoked. It is important to note that about a billion naira of taxpayer money was spent on paying damages for an untidy manner of handling agreement between the federal government and a former contractor to the same identity card project. It is instructive to note that same contractor is dramatis personae in the new project. If the application of the national identity management system is properly understood, everybody would like to see to the successful implementation of the project. In an environment like ours that lack proper street addressing system, and very poor record keeping, the system would then be the only reliable point of contact between the state and the citizen. There have been various cases of falsification of ages, particularly in the Civil Service. There are issues of ghost workers in both the state and federal civil service. The federal government reported saving billions of naira on salaries and wages when it introduced the biometric-based Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) in some ministries. Due to lack of central biometric database, the government spends, annually, hundreds of millions of naira on the verification of its pensioners. Consumer credit scheme is yet to properly pick up in Nige-

The great intersection By Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and triumphant over opposition and obstacle without necessarily making it look as if this can only be achieved through metaphysical means obtained from witchdoctors and parapsychologists. Rather, the films should project the triumph of the indomitable human spirit hedged on by reason, wisdom and the power of the intellect. It will earn you more respect in the eyes of the world. This is because every film released projects the identity of the culture of the filmmaker. Our films, in the eyes of the world, reflect who we are. We must be careful then about what we project about ourselves. My second concern is about how we record and reflect the reality in our society, especially politics and big business. There are so many intrigues, conspiracies and abuse of power by those in authority that should also be reflected in the films. Many of you are aware of my political odyssey; how I won an election but my mandate was stolen and it took me almost four years to reclaim it. In between, several attempts were made to eliminate me and my supporters while our state was placed under a siege. I was subjected to all kinds of persecution. My aged mother suffered vicarious liability on my behalf and had to flee from her home of many decades. She is not a politician. Her offence was giving birth to me. This is not unique to me, but a constant experience of several of our compatriots who are struggling against evil in the quest to redeem our government from despots and desperadoes. When our films capture this experience, artistes will also be acting as watchdogs on the government and society. My third concern is on how to develop our tourism potentials through films. As you are all aware, Osun State is where it all began. The state is home to many indigenous towns and villages that boast of existence of more than 500 years. Many of them are more than 1,000 years old. This comes with a rich culture, history, monuments, artefacts and legends. At least, 63 tourist attractions and monuments have been identified in Osun State. As we are all aware, the Osun Grove has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. There are at least 13 exotic sites in Ile-Ife, 11 in Ijesaland and 15 in Osogbo. These are ideal locations for shooting films. The Erin-Ijesa Waterfall alone is a grand beauty of nature that can compare with other natural formations in any part of the world.

ria largely due to lack of proper means of identification. The Credit Bureau companies are struggling to properly profile borrowers across the 24 banks in Nigeria. Interestingly, there is no unified means of identification across the banks. That is, each bank keeps separate database of its customers. Considering the issues raised above and many more as Section 27 of the NIMC Act 2007 stipulates, it will be erroneous to classify the National Identity Management System as needless. It takes thorough understanding of the civic registration system and what it takes to build one to appreciate the fact that it will be erroneous to build such an all-important database from any of the existing biometric databases. Granted that tens of billions of naira was spent on the INEC’s voter’s register, the commission did not have civic registration system in mind when designing its database and the enrollment application to populate the database. As such, just about 10 fields were captured per individual. Again, Open Source Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) deployed by the commission is not known to be the top range in the industry. Furthermore, the photographs of voters taken are not International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)-compliant. Taking those three points together, the voters’ database cannot be used as a civic registration database. The just concluded SIM cad registration is a laudable effort. However, the registration is also fraught with multiple registrations and many registrations by proxy. Again, the photographs taken were not ICAO-compliant. Fewer data were captured of the individuals that came up for registration. Again Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has not come up with the consolidation strategy for all the data captured across the federation. Therefore, the SIM Card database cannot form the basis for building the civic registration database. Despite recent upgrade of the infrastructure at the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the driver’s license database would not be that comprehensive to form the basis for the civic registration database. Agreed, FRSC has deployed an Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) but a pertinent question to be asked is: did FRSC have civic registration system in mind when its database and enrollment application were being designed? If the answer is negative, then that database cannot not form basis for the civic registration system that could be used to produce a general multi-purpose card that could be used as a travel document. We should all imbibe the attitude of doing the right thing and doing thing right. Therefore, we should try as much as we can, to break away from the old ways of always finding short-cut to success. We should encourage the government to build a system that lasts and will take Nigeria out of the almost four decades of national identity management conundrum. • Alade, a retired civil servant, lives in Ado Ekiti

Locations are important in film-making. In Hollywood, most of the scenes are shot in studios that have been designed to give the impression of a particular environment. Others are shot in exact locations to portray specific environment. Locations have therefore become a subset industry of the film industry. Mexico and countries in Eastern Europe have cashed in on this, offering cheap labour, background actors and exotic sceneries for film producers. We can do two things with this. One, it will help promote these sites as tourist attractions and drive tourists to them. Secondly, it will project the best of us to the outside world. The beautiful endowments of nature in our land, if well projected to the outside world, will portray our land as beautiful and help to erase the memory of the past that has cast us in ugly lights. We are taking tourism to new heights and we want the film-makers to be part of this endeavour. We will give you all necessary support and incentives. Let me congratulate the winners of the Afro Hollywood Awards 2011. I charge not to rest on your oars but seek innovation and improve on your performance in order to be able to add more value to your vocation through entertainment, information and education as projected in your films. I thank you for your attention. •Aregbesola, Governor , Osun State delivered the speech at the 16th Annual African Film and Arts Awards aka Afro Hollywood 2011, held at the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Osogbo, on Sunday October 9

‘For the Yoruba films, I will ask that themes be devoted to ‘Omoluabi’, the quintessential virtuous person. Conscious efforts should be made to project the Yoruba persona as virtuous, industrious, scholarly, stickler for truth and integrity and triumphant over opposition and obstacle without necessarily making it look as if this can only be achieved through metaphysical means obtained from witchdoctors and parapsychologists’

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

EDITORIAL/OPINION

AD the Obasanjo administration taken very seriously the recommendations of the National Political Reforms Conference, the recent threat by Southeast governors to pull out of the impending constitutional amendment process would not have arisen. The conference, floated at the heat of the crises generated by the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election had among others recommended the creation of an additional state in the South-east to bring the zone at par with others. It was responding to the incongruity and injustice in a situation where four of the zones had six states, the North-west seven while the South-east zone trailed behind with only five states. The National Assembly during the last lap of the administration of Obasanjo was on the verge of redressing this monumental imbalance. But when it feared that proceeding with the constitutional amendment process could give that regime the chance of realizing its self-serving agenda of tenure extension, it was compelled to throw out the entire process. With that, the desire of the zone for the equalization of the states’ structure was aborted. But the matter came up again last week when South-east governors met and resolved to work against the coming constitutional amendment unless they have assurances that at least one additional state will be given to the zone. The frustration of the governors can be understood. It is also good a thing that for the first time, the governors seem to have taken a very strong position on this festering injustice. Incidentally, this harm has had the net effect of keeping their people down within the nation’s scheme of affairs for too long. It is hazy however, how the position of the governors could really influence the constitutional amendment process or bring about the relief sought. This is because with or without their states, the amendment process could still scale through. Five states out of 36 are of little significance in satisfying the conditions for any amendment process. In other words, even if the South-east opts out of the amendment process, it will have no impact. But then, they would have put their people out of reckoning in influencing the discussions that would shape any eventual amendment. So the heuristic value of the position of the governors is not as much in its capacity to stall the constitutional amendment process, as in drawing attention to the monumental injustice their people have

Emeka OMEIHE 08058105720 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

South-east’s new state

been systematically subjected to. They seem to be saying that their patience is running out in a country where their people have been reduced to hewers of wood and drawers of water on account of official neglect or hate. They seem to be saying very unambiguously too that they can no longer find justification for this systematic marginalization or stand it any further. They are saying they want a country based on equity and social justice; a country where the constituent units have equal opportunities; a country where the creative potentials of the citizens are not circumscribed by statism, religion or ethnicity. That in my mind is the attention the governors want to draw by their position. In a country where revenue sharing is largely based on the equality of states; where there is quota or its variant called federal character in appointments to federal positions and admission into higher institutions, such a disparity had wrought an unjustifiable injustice on people of the area. Ironically, this sordid situation cannot be justified on any known credible parameter except that people of the area had no representation in the commanding heights of the military when that arbitrary exercise was being done. Coming from a military that was still nursing the grudges of the last civil war, it was not surprising that every effort was made to reduce a dominant ethnic group into a minority. Its consequence has been the miserable situation where the presence of the zone is only felt in the informal sectors of our economy. The impression one gets in the face of this inexplicable treatment is that the people are paying

reprisals for their role in the last civil war. It is therefore time for us to allay these fears by taking a very decisive step in giving the South-east an additional state. That will not only enhance the chances of their children gaining admission into federal institutions but give the area visibility in the nation’s legislature. Enhancing the admission chances of the zone in federal institutions is vital given that over the years, the zone has successively been providing the highest number of candidates in the WAEC, NECO and the UME examinations. Imo State for instance, has always been leading other states of the federation in these. Its implication is that the chances of applicants from that state are very limited when quota and federal character are considered. An additional state, will no doubt, substantially address this. It is good a thing that the governors appear more determined to have the envisaged state come into fruition this time around. In this regard, they must avoid the mistakes of the past regarding which areas of the zone best qualifies to benefit from the new state. They must be guided by credible evidence on the ground to avoid a situation where some of their colleagues in the past, became avoidable distractions in the quest for compromise. We have before now, seen very self serving dispositions in the manner the issue was handled such that had the frightening prospects of vitiating the collective desires of the people. This time around, we expect reason, maturity and sound judgment to prevail. A situation where some of them were busy proposing hamlets as states in order to sabotage

very qualified and popular demands detracts substantially from the seriousness the matter demands. Issues to consider would include population, size, school enrolment, number of local governments, affinity, and geographical contiguity. The capacity of the new state to survive on its own should also be a serious consideration. So also should the history of state creation in the zone come in very handy. At present, there are many agitations by groups seeking a new state of their own in the country. This should not be a cause for concern. The fact that at least a zone in the country has seven states would suggest that if we are really talking of parity, then the South-east ought to get two more states while those that have six will get an additional one. Some people have before now, expressed reservations on the capacity of a civilian regime to create a new state. Foremost among them was Senator Jubril Aminu who said sometime ago that only the military can create new states. This view was corroborated by the then deputy Senate leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba. As unpopular as these views were then, they represented the thinking of some people on the matter. Though these views may have been informed by the stringent conditions for state creation as contained in the 1999 constitution, it is defeatist to conclude that an exercise in state creation is nigh impossible in a civilian regime. It is not. At any rate, why do we have elected representatives if they cannot tinker with the laws of the land to give them a human face? The National Assembly should move decisively to redress some of the imbalances in our federal structure by creating new states. The raging agitations from across the country should instruct that it is high time we responded to the feelings, yearnings and aspirations of our people for self determination.

‘The fact that at least a zone in the country has seven states would suggest that if we are really talking of parity, then the South-east ought to get two more states while those that have six will get an additional one’

VIEW FROM THE FOREIGN PRESS

HEN you see spontaneous social protests erupting from Tunisia to Tel Aviv to Wall Street, it’s clear that something is happening globally that needs defining. There are two unified theories out there that intrigue me. One says this is the start of “The Great Disruption.” The other says that this is all part of “The Big Shift.” You decide. Paul Gilding, the Australian environmentalist and author of the book “The Great Disruption,” argues that these demonstrations are a sign that the current growth-obsessed capitalist system is reaching its financial and ecological limits. “I look at the world as an integrated system, so I don’t see these protests, or the debt crisis, or inequality, or the economy, or the climate going weird, in isolation — I see our system in the painful process of breaking down,” which is what he means by the Great Disruption, said Gilding. “Our system of economic growth, of ineffective democracy, of overloading planet earth — our system — is eating itself alive. Occupy Wall Street is like the kid in the fairy story saying what everyone knows but is afraid to say: the emperor has no clothes. The system is broken. Think about

“Our system of economic growth, of ineffective democracy, of overloading planet earth — our system — is eating itself alive. Occupy Wall Street is like the kid in the fairy story saying what everyone knows but is afraid to say: the emperor has no clothes. The system is broken.

Something’s happening here By Thomas L. Friedman the promise of global market capitalism. If we let the system work, if we let the rich get richer, if we let corporations focus on profit, if we let pollution go unpriced and unchecked, then we will all be better off. It may not be equally distributed, but the poor will get less poor, those who work hard will get jobs, those who study hard will get better jobs and we’ll have enough wealth to fix the environment. “What we now have — most extremely in the U.S. but pretty much everywhere — is the mother of all broken promises,” Gilding adds. “Yes, the rich are getting richer and the corporations are making profits — with their executives richly rewarded. But, meanwhile, the people are getting worse off — drowning in housing debt and/or tuition debt — many who worked hard are unemployed; many who studied hard are unable to get good work; the environment is getting more and more damaged; and people are realizing their kids will be even worse off than they are. This particular round of protests may build or may not, but what will not go away is the broad coalition of those to whom the system lied and who have now woken up. It’s not just the environmentalists, or the poor, or the unemployed. It’s most people, including the highly educated middle class, who are feeling the results of a system that saw all the growth of the last three decades go to the top 1 percent.” Not so fast, says John Hagel III, who is the co-chairman of the Center for the Edge at Deloitte, along with John Seely Brown. In their recent book, “The Power of Pull,” they suggest that we’re in the early stages of a “Big Shift,” precipitated by the merg-

ing of globalization and the Information Technology Revolution. In the early stages, we experience this Big Shift as mounting pressure, deteriorating performance and growing stress because we continue to operate with institutions and practices that are increasingly dysfunctional — so the eruption of protest movements is no surprise. Yet, the Big Shift also unleashes a huge global flow of ideas, innovations, new collaborative possibilities and new market opportunities. This flow is constantly getting richer and faster. Today, they argue, tapping the global flow becomes the key to productivity, growth and prosperity. But to tap this flow effectively, every country, company and individual needs to be constantly growing their talents. “We are living in a world where flow will prevail and topple any obstacles in its way,” says Hagel. “As flow gains momentum, it undermines the precious knowledge stocks that in the past gave us security and wealth. It calls on us to learn faster by working together and to pull out of ourselves more of our true potential, both individually and collectively. It excites us with the possibilities that can only be realized by participating in a broader range of flows. That is the essence of the Big Shift.” Yes, corporations now have access to more cheap software, robots, automation, labor and genius than ever. So holding a job takes more talent. But the flip side is that individuals — individuals — anywhere can now access the flow to take online courses at Stanford from a village in Africa, to start a new company with customers everywhere or to collaborate with people anywhere. We have more big problems than ever and more problem-

solvers than ever. So there you have it: Two master narratives — one threat-based, one opportunitybased, but both involving seismic changes. Gilding is actually an optimist at heart. He believes that while the Great Disruption is inevitable, humanity is best in a crisis, and, once it all hits, we will rise to the occasion and produce transformational economic and social change (using tools of the Big Shift). Hagel is also an optimist. He knows the Great Disruption may be barreling down on us, but he believes that the Big Shift has also created a world where more people than ever have the tools, talents and potential to head it off. My heart is with Hagel, but my head says that you ignore Gilding at your peril. You decide. – New York Times

‘But the flip side is that individuals — individuals — anywhere can now access the flow to take online courses at Stanford from a village in Africa, to start a new company with customers everywhere or to collaborate with people anywhere. We have more big problems than ever and more problem-solvers than ever’

Nation Monday, October 17, 2011

PAGE 23

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

NATION SPORT

GOVERNOR'S CUP LAGOS TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP

Owubokiri backs Siasia

LOC declares competition free for fans F

HE Local Organising Committe, (LOC) of the Governor's Cup Lagos Tennis Championship, has called on Nigerians to come out and watch some exciting tennis action in the ongoing ITF tournament at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan. The first leg of the sponsored tournament enters its Main Draws on Monday with tennis stars across the world and some top Nigerian players fighting for honour and the prize money of $15,000 for the men's category and $25,000 for the women's event. Tournament Director of the competition, Prince 'Wale Oladunjoye said that Nigerians and most especially Lagos should come out in their numbers to the venue to watch the daily action. "The 11th edition of the Governor's Cup is going. It's free and the LOC

By Innocent Amomoh and Stella Bamawo has put in place good organisation for tennis lovers to enjoy themselves throughout the two weeks tourney. The championship has been a veritable platform for the world emerging stars to showcase their talent and this year is promising to produce fireworks judging from the calibre of stars playing in the competition. "Nigerians should come out to watch exciting tennis action moreso that it's free because elsewhere they are to pay. This is happening at our backyard. Nigerians should come to the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan to watch mordern tennis free." The competition is sposnored by Etisalat, FCMB and other co sponsors like Julius Berger, Naston Eng. Ltd, CCECC Nig Ltd, Seg-Mahsen Nig Ltd, HFP Eng. Ltd and a lot of individuals.

Angel hails Agbonlahor's form

UAN Pablo Angel admits that he never quite knew whether Gabby Agbonlahor would turn into the established player he is today despite having ‘‘all the attributes of a superstar’’. The former Villa striker left the Midlands for the US in 2007 – the year Agbonlahor became a regular first team player. When the Columbian left for pastures new, he never thought the Bodymoor Heath Academy graduate would turn out to be a direct replacement for him. But he has been pleasantly surprised by his development into a lethal Premier League striker and reckons

•Agbonlahor

there is even more from him to come. “I do remember him from my time at Villa but he was only a young player who made his debut when I was there,” said Angel. “It was hard to tell whether he would make it. “He had everything to make him a superstar, most of all the one tool that is extremely important in the modern game, which is his speed. “But he was still young and at the end of the day it was up to him. “It was hard to tell whether he was going to be a world class player or not. “He started to become more involved with Martin O’Neill and he has now developed into a more mature player. “What I have seen in him this year is very encouraging. “I’m sure he would have been disappointed with having the season he had last year. “Now he has something to prove. He’ll want to be back in the England frame and he’ll want to give himself the chance to be the player he wants to be.” Agbonlahor has started the season at a blistering pace and has flourished under Alex McLeish. Last year was frustrating for him as Gerard Houllier preferred him out wide, yet his game seems to improve when he is played in a more central role. The Erdington-born star turned 25 on Friday and is no longer in the ‘‘youngster with potential’’ bracket.

Ameobi snatches late draw for Newcastle

HOLA Ameobi came off the bench to net a last-gasp equaliser as Newcastle maintained their unbeaten start in a dramatic 2-2 draw with Tottenham at St James' Park. Alan Pardew's men have now gone eight games without defeat to leave them flying high in fourth in the Premier League, while Spurs' could not prevent their four-game winning streak coming to an end. Harry Redknapp's visitors had opened the scoring late in the first half when Steven Taylor appeared to bring down Emmanuel Adebayor inside the box and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Rafael van der Vaart made no mistake in converting the spot-kick, sending Toon goalkeeper Tim Krul the wrong way to put Spurs in the lead. Demba Ba pulled the hosts level, poking home a sublime Jonas Gutierrez cross soon after the restart, but Tottenham appeared to have finished the job 20 minutes later when substitute Jermain Defoe turned on

Scott Parker's pass on the edge of the area and smashed a left-footed shot home. However, Ameobi was the hero of the afternoon for the home side as fellow substitute Hatem Ben Arfa played him in to fire home the decisive equaliser.

•Ameobi

ORMER Nigeria international, Richard Owubokiri has thrown his weight behind under-fire Super Eagles' coach, Samson Siasia. Siasia’s future as Nigeria’s manager is in jeopardy following his failure to steer the Super Eagles to a place at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. However, Owubokiri who made 23 appearances for Nigeria between 1982 and 1992, believes easing Siasia out would be a wrong move. “He should stay. I don’t think the whole thing was his (Siasia’s) fault and until we get Nigerian football organised, we shall always be having the same problems,” Owubokiri told SuperSport.com. The 50-year-old who also played professionally in Brazil, France, Portugal and Qatar also made an attempt to compare the present era of the Super Eagles and his time at the national set up. “We had great players during my time at the national team with quality (players) everywhere. “The present bunch is not too bad and I like Mikel (John Obi) very much; he has been doing well,” Owubokiri stated. The player who enjoyed the highlight of his career between 1991 and 1994 at Portuguese side, Boavista revealed that the city still holds a special place in his heart. “It (Boavista) will hold a special place in my heart. “When I scored 30 goals in a single season, I won the golden boot award. “If I go to restaurants today in Boavista, they don’t let me pay (for the food) and in malls and shops, it’s the same; the people continue to remember what I did for them and that means a lot to me,” he added.

WEST BROOM 2—0 WOLVES

Osaze scores again A

FTER a dissapointing outing for Nigeria in the African Cup of Nations qualificationa match against Guinea, Nigeria's striker, Peter Osaze

Odemwingie has returned to his goalscoring form, coming up from the bench to claimed the second goal in a 2-0 win over local rivals Wolves. The victory which is the first at home

since the commencement of the season was facilitated by the first goal coming from the boots of Chris Brunt and the Nigerian star, Odemwingie in the Black Country derby.

Dream Team tackles 3SC in friendly

IGERIA’s Olympic team, Dream Team V, will engage NPL side, Shooting Stars in a test game on Wednesday in Ibadan. A friendly against Shuttle FC was cancelled Saturday at the last instance due to the late arrival of the Lagos team, officials said. “They were expected to arrive by 8.30am for the friendly but they came when the match should have been over. So, the match couldn’t hold again,” said Dream Team media Officer, Arafat Aliu. There are now 39 players in the Dream Team training camp after nine players were dropped on Thursday. The three foreign-based stars already in camp are goalkeeper Dele Ajiboye, Ganiyu Oseni and Sope Ahmed. Coach Austin Eguavoen is expected to jet out to Europe this week to discuss with the managers of some of his players ahead of next month’s final 2012 Olympic qualifiers in Morocco. Nigeria are drawn in Group B along with new hosts Morocco, Senegal and Algeria. Meanwhile, youth international Chimieze Mbah was on Friday

decamped by officials of the team after he attempted to go on trials in Denmark without his club’s consent. Mbah lasted only 24 hours in camp before he was asked to return to his club Warri Wolves. Spokesperson of the Nigeria Olympic team Arafat Aliu explained that “even though Mbah sustained a slight knock on his ankle, the injury was not the reason for his decamping.” “The player approached officials of the team requesting to travel to Cotonou to get visa on a Sunday but upon investigation by the team Secretary, Shola Ogunnowo, it was discovered that Mbah had not reported to his club since his arrival from the U20 World Cup in Colombia and wanted to use the Dream Team camp as a guise to proceed on a trial in Denmark, which his club Warri

Wolves had kicked against.” Mbah reported to camp at about 3.26pm on Thursday, trained once and requested to leave camp on Friday to obtain a Danish Visa in Cotonou on Saturday. However, he was asked to return immediately to Warri Wolves on Friday afternoon with same information communicated to the club. Meanwhile, Shooting Stars striker Gbolahan Salami and Dolphin star Austin Festus have both reported to the team’s camp. Still being expected are Osas Okoro (Heartland), Usman Amoda (Enyimba) and Theophilus Afelokhia (Kano Pillars). The Dream Team V will play their first friendly game since resuming camp in Ibadan against Shuttle Sports Club International of Lagos, Saturday morning at the Lekan Salami Stadium.

Akwa Ibom stands still for Airforce Games

BOUT 1000 Airforce personnel are expected to compete in the 2011 Nigerian Air Force Games slated for Uyo, Akwa Ibom state. According to the Chief of Administration of the Nigeria Airforce, Air Vice Marshal A.I. Kure, 22 sporting events would be competed for. Addressing the media on the games in Abuja on Thursday, the Air officer said three of the events namely chess, darts and scrabble would be conducted on non-scoring basis. While the remaining 19 are medal winning events "the medal winning events include cross crountry, shooting, tug of war, athletics, boxing, wrestling, weightlifting, football, badminton, basketball, swimming, judo, golf, handball,

By Innocent Amomoh

quick succession through in form Striker Chukwuendu Ugochukwu in the 30th and 31st minutes respectively.Chukwuendu’s Hattrick will be the second hattrick in the Lagos Junior League this season. The Half ended with the Sports City boys going into the dressing room with their heads bowed. They returned in the second half, reorganized with number 4 jersey, Usman Shuaib coming on to fortify the faulty defence. Their reorganization soon paid off as when Shakiru Keshinro, doning the number 9 jersey pulled one back half way into the second half but it was too late as the match ended 3-2 in favour of the Ultimate Strikers of Onigbongbo.

From Tunde Liadi and Florence Israel in Aba Ojobo who was always there to the rescue for the home team and his efforts ensured that he emerged the Most valuable Player of the encounter. All the efforts of Enyimba in the second half could not yield any result leading to Nigeria suffering the third heart attack within one week after that of the Super Eagles last weekend. Chief Felix Anyasi of Enyimba blames the loss on the technical crew saying the match was lost within the first fifteen minutes."The impression is that our team did not live up to expectation.it was a faulty start that caused us the game and am sure the coaches should accept the blame because we gave them all the free hand that the needed. It was totally a faulty start".

NATIONS CUP:

Investigate Eagles’ failure, Saraki urges government

HE Senator representing Kwara central senatorial district, Dr Bukola Saraki has urged the federal government to probe the causes of the Super Eagles non qualification for the next year’s nation cup. Saraki, the immediate past governor of Kwara state and sports enthusiast told reporters at the weekend in Ilorin, the state capital. He bemoaned the Super Eagles’ dismal performance in the qualifying matches which has culminated in their not qualifying for the competition. The former governor said issues at hand goes beyond merely heaping the blames on coach Samson Siasia, insisting that the nation’s football administration needed surgical operation. He opined that the problem with the national team stemmed from the poor organisation of the local league, even as he condemned the management‘s over

IGERIAN goalkeeper Bassey Akpan has signed a two-year contract with V-League side Hoang Anh Gia Lai. Nigeria’s national football team goalkeeper Bassey Akpan on Thursday signed a one-year contract with V-League side Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL). Bassey Akpan, who is 27 years old and stands 1.86 meters tall, won the Under-17 African Football Championship in 2001 and he and his team took the silver medal at the Under-17 World Cup contest the same

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin reliance on international players for major tournaments. He stressed, “the Super Eagles squad should be made up of 80 percent local players and 20 percent international players. Our failure to qualify for the Nations Cup goes beyond blaming the Coach. It is all about management, the NFF. It is something that really needs surgical operation. The local league is done haphazardly. We must have a very viable local league to make impact n international and continental competitions.” Saraki who said that even without a coach, the Super Eagles ought to have qualified for the Nations Cup pointed out that “we should set up a committee to determine what went wrong. It goes beyond sacking the coach. I would have expected that even without a coach Nigeria should have qualified.”

George Akpabio, nine others decamped

EN more players where at the weekend decamped by the Dream team V chief coach Austin Eguavoen. The players include, Leke James (Julius Berger), Ebenezer Odunlani (first bank) Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri wolves) and Solomon Emudi. Other are Amusa Adewole (Wikki Tourist) Omotayo Adebogun (South Africa) Shope Hameed ( Vietnam) George Akpabio (Plateau United) Brendam Chukwudi (Rangers) and Obiozor Christian ( 3SC). According to Media officer of the Olympic Eagles, Arafat Aliu, there are 29 players in camp following the arrival of Promise James and Abdulsamiu Laide both of Bukola Babes. Still being expected is Osas Okoro of Heartland and Theophilus Afelokai of Kano Pillars.

•Eguavoen

•Signs 2-year deal with Hoang Anh Gia Lai year. In 2010, he was in Nigeria’s national team that won the West African Football Union trophy and Akpan himself won the “tournament’s best player” title. In 2009, he was a member of the Nigerian club Bayelsa United that won the Nigeria Premier League championship. A year later, he played for Nigerian club Heartland, which finished second

Imoke charges Obudu LOC •As Preparation Hots Up For Nov 28 Race

LAGOS JUNIOR LEAGUE HE Ultimate Strikers Football Club of Onigbongbo yesterday played host to Sports City Football Club of Surulere at the Legacy Pitch, National Stadium, defeating them by 3-2. The match which kicked off 9am saw proceedings starting on a cautious note with both teams testing each other with long penetrating passes and show of skills. The Ultimate Strikers were the more ambitious of both team as they opened their goal account with Chukwuendu Ugochukwu wearing the number 9 jersey scoring in the 12th minute. Their opponent however leveled scores in the 22nd minute through their diminutive frontliner Ojo Adebowale. Few minutes later, Ultimate Strikers again capitalised on some poor defensive work to slot in two goal in

YDAD Casablanca of Morocco humbled Enyimba in international in the second leg of the CAF Champions League semi finals played in Aba on Sunday with a goaless draw match which denied the People's Elephant the ticket to the finals of this year's tournament. The tension soaked encounter had Wydad put Enyimba on its feet by an 11th minue shot that missed the net by whiskers. Enyimba not having a specific game plan had fallen prey to the Wydad game plan by taking to the fast game that the visitors introduced thereby having a disorganized first half. The visitors with an iron bar defence and a biting attack went on to pressure their hosts into some blunders that could have caused more trouble for the team, thanks to Markson

AHEAD 8 NATION TOURNEY

Bassey Akpan joins Vietnam club

From Patrick Ngwaogu and Andrew Abah, Port-Harcourt squash, table tennis and tennis". He said besides the desire to build fitness among personnel, the list of selected sports shows that the NAF attaches much premium to developing mental capacity of officers. Air Vice Marshal Kure said that the games would be held concurrently in Calabar Cross River State and Uyo, Akwa Ibom starting from 29 October to 5 November. He said that the games is intended to prepare the Nigerian Air Force for the next Armed Forces and Security Agencies games coming up next year. This year's game is tagged "Harmony through Sports"which was chosen as a way to promote internal cohesion and national integration.

Ultimate Strikers pip Sports City FC 3-2

Defeat will pile further pressure on Wolves' boss Mick McCarthy - who has now seen his side suffer five consecutive losses in the Premier League - wiping out the memory of the Molineux club's bright start to the season. Any hope the visitors had of ending their terrible run of form at the home of their rivals suffered an early blow, as Chris Brunt handed West Brom the lead after just eight minutes. The Northern Ireland international ran on to Billy Jones' cut-back before smashing a powerful shot into the roof of the net, much to the delight of the Hawthorns crowd. Despite threatening occasionally, with Kevin Doyle and Roger Johnson going closest, Wolves could find no way back into the match. It was then left to substitute Odemwingie to wrap up the points for the home side, just three minutes after he came off the bench. The Nigerian arrowed a low finish into the corner after Paul Scharner had found his team-mate with a classy backheel. The result lifted the Baggies into mid-table while Wolves remain just a point above the relegation zone.

Enyimba out of Champions League

•Haruna

ROSS River state Governor,Senator Liyel Imoke has urged the Local Organising Committee for the 7th Obudu international mountain race and the 3rd African Nations mountain running championships to surpass the already high standard set for the competition. Gov Imoke made this plea last Tuesday when he visited the Obudu Ranch Resort in Obudu for an on-thespot assessment of facilities for the two-in-one race which has been adjudged as the best organised and highest paying mountain race in the world. Patrick Ugbe,the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Orientation,who was on the entourage revealed that Senator Imoke was impressed with the state of the facilities at the Ranch including the ultra-modern Bedi airstrip which is reputed as one of the best airstrips in the country. “The Governor also inspected the Bedi Airstrip and was pleased with

the modern equipments installed at the airstrip.His Excellency knows one of the most difficult tasks a pilot has to perform is to achieve a smooth and safe landing and has the airstrip fitted with the latest landing aids which will help pilots find the correct landing course and to make landing safer'',revealed Ugbe,adding that the Governor's plane actually landed at the airstrip to the admiration of the people of Obudu. Ugbe further revealed that this year’s event will be bigger interms of its technical organisation. 'The athletes are likely to run a little more because the LOC,in conjuction with the world mountain running association is making plans to increase the lenght of the course to make it inline with the standard used at the world mountain running championships'',he said. Ugbe added that the LOC has been told that the course must not contain any dangerous sections and that it must be marked throughout such that complete strangers to the courses can follow without difficulty.

at the 2010 African Champions League. Akpan also won Nigeria’s National Football Cup with Heartland after they beat Enyimba 1-0 in the final match on September 25. In the 2011 season, Akpan played a total 30 matches for Heartland in Nigeria’s Premier League. HAGL have also signed a two-year contract with Nigerian striker Oyiboaga Moses Orhie who is 24 years old and 1.90 meters tall. The 2007-08 V-League champions have also signed a one-year contract with Korean coach Choi Yoon Gyum.

•Bassey Akpan

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Politics in a third world setting is not only dynamic, but volatile. While the contending political parties in Akwa Ibom State are still trying to sort out who actually won the April governorship poll, the people of Eket are already looking forward to the next general elections. They insist that the next governor must come from the senatorial zone. Correspondent KAZEEM IBRAHYM, presents the silent contenders.

Eket leaders insist on power shift in Akwa Ibom • Relics of the violence that tore through the state before the elections.

T is already six months since the general elections were held. In Akwa Ibom, the battle is not yet over. But, the people of Eket are contending that it is their turn to occupy the governorship seat next time. The ACN and others had gone to the election tribunal and Appeal Court sittings in Calabar, the Cross River State capital. Their petitions were dismissed on technical grounds. They have not given up as the new Electoral Act allows them appeal to the Supreme Court. Now, political calculations are ongoing by members of the PDP ahead of the 2015 governorship elections. A number of candidates are beginning to show interest in the race. The aspirants include deputy governor to Akpabio, Nsima Ekere, the current Secretary to the State Government, Umana Umana, the state Deputy Chairman of PDP, Bishop Sam Akpan, the erstwhile state PDP chairman and current chairman, Local Government Service Commission; Otu Ita Toyo, and a Port Harcourtbased medical practitioner, Dr. Samuel Udonsak. There are suggestions that a vibrant member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh who represents the Eket Federal constituency is in the race. This may be the at root of the proxy war between him and Akpabio. Apart from Umana who hails from Nsit Ubium Local Government Area under Uyo Senatorial District, the other likely candidates are from Eket Senatorial District. For instance, Ekere is from the Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency in Eket Senatorial District, Akpan is from Eket Federal Constituency in Eket Senatorial District,Toyo is from Oron Federal Constituency in Eket Senatorial district while Udonsak hails from Eket Federal Constituency, under Eket Senatorial district. Eyiboh is also from Eket. Over the years, the political structure in the state has been based on a zoning arrangement. The powerful bloc at the centre had always been the people of the Uyo Senatorial District (Akwa Ibom North East), the Ibibio ethnic group, the acclaimed majority group in the state. Other ethnic groups are Ikot Ekpene Senatorial

District (Akwa Ibom North West), the Annang ethnic group, and Eket Senatorial District Akwa Ibom South). In 1999, Obong Victor Attah, an Ibibio man from Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Uyo Senatorial District, emerged as the governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. He served two terms from 1999 to 2007. To satisfy the zoning arrangement, he picked his deputy from Ikot Ekpene District in the person of Chris Ekpenyong, an Annang man, from Obot Akara Local Government Area. Ekpenyong only served one term of four years with Attah. During the heat of the campaign for Attah’s re-election he picked another deputy, Sir Michael Udofia, an Annang from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district. To complete the zoning formula, the chairmanship seat of the PDP was zoned to Eket Senatorial District and Joe Ating, an Oron man, emerged as the chairman. He served as chairman from 1999 to 2003. Later, the late Tony Imeyin, an Oron took over from Ating from 2003 to 2006. Later, Otu Ita Toyo, an Oron stepped in as the chairman of the party. He was chairman when Akpabio emerged as winner of the 2007 poll in the state. After the election, he was appointed chairman of Akwa Ibom Property and Investment Company (APICO). Political pundits say Toyo’s interest in contesting the 2015 is justified on the ground that it is the turn of Eket to produce the next governor. Many believe that since he played a big role in the emergence Akpabio in 2007 and most of the PDP structures in the state are also believed to be loyal to him, he is a force to reckon with in 2015. The governorship ambition of Toyo ahead of 2015 may however

•Eyiboh

hit the rock because of his pronouncement while serving as the Chairman of the party in 2007/ 2008. He had canvassed for minimum of Higher National Diploma (HND) for anyone aspiring for the chairmanship position and National Diploma (ND) for Councillor, saying the party would not give the party ticket to anyone that had not acquired such level of education. A statement he later withdrew when the heat came up on it. To many, he may be seen as a man that cannot keep to his words. Also in 2007, analysts aver that he worked against the emergence of an Oron son, Nelson Effiong who was aspiring for the Eket Senatorial seat then. Instead, Toyo worked for Senator Eme Ufot Ekaette, the wife of the former Sec-

• Ekere

retary to the Government of the Federation, Obong Ufot Ekaette. In 2015, Toyo would have the likes of Larry Esin, the governorship candidate of Congress for Progressive Change in the last election and other heavyweights to contend with. Away from Toyo, another person that may likely be a force to contend with in the 2015 governorship race is the current Secretary to State Government, Obong Umana Umana. He rose through the ranks in the state Civil Service to become the Permanent Secretary in the Budget Office. During the administration of erstwhile governor Attah, Umana was the Commissioner for Finance. In Akpabio’s administration, he was appointed as the SSG. A man,

‘One man who may be the game changer in the new power play is Hon. Eseme Eyiboh. He was considered very close to Akpabio until the January primaries split their ranks. The sagacity of this secondterm Representative was put to the test recently when the Federal High Court pronounced him the authentic winner of the PDP primary and thus the party’s candidate in the federal constituency poll’

whom many believe to be the stabilising factor in Akpabio’s administration due to his wealth of experience and intellectual acumen, is no doubt a man to watch in 2015. Event watchers say Umana has already floated some political structures, like the Umana Okon Umana People’s Assembly and the UOU Frontiers, for his 2015 governorship ambition. While some are saying it is too early to do so, others believe as a politician, the earlier the better in terms of winning the soul of the people. If the zoning principle is to be adhered to in 2015, it may work against Umana since he is from Uyo Senatorial district and the governorship slot may likely be go to Eket. Umana has the likes of Senator Effiong Bob (from his local government area) and Senator James Udoedehe, from his zone to contend with analysis are also of the view that erstwhile governor Attah may likely dim the political light of Umana’s ambition. The Deputy to Akpabio, Nsima Ekere may likely indicate interest in the race. An Ibibio from Edem Aya clan in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, Ekere’s political journey began in 2003 when he contested the House of Representatives seat for Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency against Berband Udoh, who was gunning for the seat the second term. Ekere won the primary and was announced by the party, but the PDP had an agreement to return all the lawmakers to the National Assembly in order to protect former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s second term bid. In 2003, Ekere’s political ambition hit the rock. defected to ANPP, contested the election and lost to Bernnard Udoh of the PDP. After the election, he quietly returned to his estate management business. Between 2003 and 2007, he found his way back to PDP. He came to the political front again in 2007 to contest the same position. He pitched his political camp with the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Obong Ufot Ekaette, an Onna from Eket district. Both Ekere and Ekaette are from same zone. In 2007, when the governorship • Continued on page 26

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

POLITICS It is almost one year since the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) replaced the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as ruling party in Osun State. Hon. Oguntola Toogun, who represented Iwo in Federal Constituency in the Third Republic is now one of the leaders of ACN in the state. He spoke with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE on the challenges of leadership in the state.

ACN has no match in Osun, says Toogun

S a former lawmaker, how would you assess the quality of lawmaking in Nigeria

now? The quality of lawmaking in the country has improved; improved in the sense that, if we look at the number of years of our democratic process compared to that of the United States of America, I would say we have fared relatively well considering the number of years the military had ruled the country. It will not also be completely right to say it is Uhuru yet for our legislative process. Things are actually changing in terms of the quality of our legislative representation. Gone is the era when it was business as usual. One will also want to advocate for qualitative representation from various constituencies and unlike the executive arm of government, there is no term limit. In the USA, you have legislators of over three decades; experience counts a lot in legislative processes; but here in Nigeria, it is not so. I would like to see the red and green chambers of the assembly filled with members who are vast in the act of law making, enough of situation where at every session, lawmakers will have to undergo the process of legislative procedure for close to two years, and having learn for two years and the third year he or she is settling down in the act of law making; election comes up the fourth year and the guy is not returned. The investment on his training in the act of legislative process will have gone down the drain. I would strongly advocate for the legislative arms of governments in Nigeria to allow for continuity in that arm of government in all tiers of our government, for the quality of law making, and laws would be able to rub shoulders with what is obtainable in the so called advanced countries. The Nigeria Federal system is believed to be problematic; don’t you think it is time the country rose to the task of reviewing our laws to create an improved, true federal system? The question about true federalism is one that had dragged for a very long time without a concrete solution. In all honesty, the laws must be reviewed to allow for a true federal system of government, a system where there is autonomy and independence. What we have now is not a true federalism, in a true Federal system of government; every constituent unit is independ-

• Toogun

ent and autonomous of one another. The state government must be independent and autonomous, what we have in Nigeria today to me is partial federal system of government, where states, let alone local governments are not independent, one can say without fault that the system is not right; it’s either you are cold or hot. What happened in Lagos State under the administration of the former governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, when additional Local Government Development Areas were created in Lagos State and the funds that legitimately belonged to the state were withheld by the Federal government for close to two years, was an aberration? The federal government under a true federal system of government which suggests that every unit is autonomous and independent would be overstepping its bound by wanting to be an authority over states. There is no doubt that the time is rife for the country to review our laws to create a perfect federal system of government as it’s the case in other Federalism. As a chieftain of the ACN, what would you say has changed since your party took over from PDP? There is no way you are going to compare an aircraft with a car, comparing the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) inglorious administration with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is like that of a car and aircraft in terms of movement. It has never been heard of in the history of the country where in one sweep, twenty thousand (20,000) people are being employed at once, the National

Youth Service Corp (NYSC) which has a national outlook; started with about 5 thousand youth from various tertiary institutions across the country. The administration of ACN in Osun State, under the leadership of Rauf Aregbesola having come on board on the 27th of November, 2010 within its 100 days in office employed 20 thousand youths across the state under the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (O-YES). The governor, with the understanding that Osun state is agrarian, swept off dust of the feet of farmers in the state by disbursing loans of over N156 million to various farmers’ associations. The inauguration of the state’s new comprehensive environmental sanitation programme is another plus; the sanitation exercise was flagged off 23 rd of June, 2011, with market sanitation exercise to ensure cleanliness of the entire state. Governor Aregbesola ensured that the programme was enforced to the letter in all 30 local government areas of the state. Major rivers in the state were dredged at the cost of over 180 million to avert the disaster that befell the state under the last administration. The mid regional market that will make the state a hub of business activities is nearing completion. The O-REAP, O-TOUR and many other achievements in 10 months show that you cannot compare a car with an aircraft. There had been allegations against the ACN government over delay in taking certain actions. For instance; the delay witnessed in the appointments of commissioners. How would you justify the delay? I think by now people should stop asking this question, because the governor at different fora had explained the rationale behind the delay which even till date, the opposition has not been able to fault. Beside the hostile disposition of the House of Assembly, the governor mentioned the economic condition of the state which was not encouraging, the state was busy working on how to refinance the burdensome loan the previous administration obtained; having commissioners and special advisers at that time will be adding to the burden of the financial state of Osun. Aregbesola was just being creative in his handling of the affairs of the state and I believe the commendations of all and sundry and not condemnations.

•National Leader of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, being heralded to the party’s campaign rally at Ikorodu, on Friday. PHOTO: OMOSEHIM MOSES

Eket leaders plot take over from Akpabio • Continued from page 25

election was polarising the state, Ekere joined forces with those clamouring for power shift from Uyo district to Eket district, a situation, which made him to jettison his House of Representatives ambition and later joined the governorship race. He contested the election with 57 other aspirants when Governor Akpabio emerged as the winner. Dissatisfied with the emergence of Akpabio, Attah drew the battle line with his political godson (Akpabio). The aggrieved aspirants later formed Forum of 2007 PDP governorship aspirants. The forum demanded among others, that another re-run primaries should be held in the state, saying the party’s primaries was rigged in favour of Akpabio. As a result of the development, Akpabio ran to former SGF (Ekaette) to protect his ticket from being taken away by Governor Attah. Ekaette in turn took Akpabio to former President Obasanjo, who in turn assured him that his ticket would not be taken away by the powers that be. To satisfy the political appetite of Ekaette, an accord was reached between him and Akpabio which produced Ekere, Ekaette’s political-son as Akpabio’s running mate in 2007. Before the election, the PDP reconciliation committee headed by Chief Tony Anenih, brokered a peace accord which gave governor Attah the opportunity to nominate deputy to Akpabio, thus abandoning Ekere. Attah nominated his Commissioner for Information, Patrick Ekpotu, to be Akpabio’s running mate. Ekpotu’s emergence was to give the Ibibios, the largest ethnic group in the state, a place in the Akpabio administration. Akpabio later compensated Ekere by appointing him chairman of the Akwa Ibom Investment Promotion Company (AKIIPOC). He stayed in AKIIPOC till the expiration of Akpabio’s first term in office. Both Ekpotu and Ekere are from Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency. In 2011, Akpabio dropped Ekpotu as his running mate on the premise that he was not part of the initial arrangement. The governor picked his original running mate since 2003, Ekere, as deputy governor. Pundits say zoning may likely work in favour of Ekere in 2015 if it is adhered to by the PDP, since he is from Eket Senatorial District. Another advantage to Ekere’s political chest is that he is in the good book of governor if only the relationship doesn’t turn sour in the build-up to 2015. The fears in many quarters are that he (Ekere) may face stiff opposition from people like Bernard Udoh, Patrick Ekpotu, and Senator Udoma Udo Udoma. Analysts say that his slim philanthropic gesture which is only limited to his political associates may likely work against him in 2015 governorship ambition. Another man from Eket Senatorial district that has been in the forefront of power shift is Bishop Sam Akpan. He hails from Onna local government area. Akpan is the International Coordinator of Akwa Ibom Peoples’ Forum (AKPF). His group was among those that worked for the emergence of Akpabio as governor in 2007. After the emergence of Akpabio

as governor in 2007, Akpan was compensated with the position of Special Adviser to the governor on Political and Legislative Affairs. He used his group to introduce consensus in the state’s politics. Today, council chairmen are said to be loyal to him for the gesture. In the process, he was becoming more powerful and spreading his political tentacles, a situation which many believed was not in the best interest of the governor, he was dropped as SA and later compensated with the position of State Deputy chairman of PDP. He contested 2011 PDP primaries for Eket Senatorial District but later stepped down for Senator Helen Esuene. Another factor that may dim his political aspiration is that he doesn’t have the firm grip of the political structure in his local government area, as the party recently engaged him in a media war. Pundits also believe that Akpan would have the likes of Senator Eme Ufot Ekaette and other heavyweights to contend with. Although, not much could be ascribed to his years of political evolution, Dr. Samuel Udonsak, an Eket, has been at the forefront of the clamour for power shift from Uyo to Eket. In 2003, he contested the governorship primaries on the platform of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) but lost to Dr. Ime Umanah, for whom he later became a running mate at the poll. In 2007, he contested the governorship poll along with other 57 aspirants on the platform of PDP but lost to Akpabio. He later became the Secretary of the ‘2007 PDP governorship aspirants’ forum’. For the 2015 poll, zoning may work in favour Udonsak though he has not held any political position in his years of political participation. The Rivers State-based medical practitioner may likely face strong opposition from people like Nsima Ekere, Otu Ita Eyo, Bishop Akpan and Larry Esin, all from same Eket Senatorial district. One man who may be the game changer in the new power play is Hon. Eseme Eyiboh. He was considered very close to Akpabio until the January primaries split their ranks. The sagacity of this second-term Representative was put to the test recently when the Federal High Court pronounced him the authentic winner of the PDP primary and thus the party’s candidate in the federal constituency poll. He proved his worth by getting the HOR leadership to endorse his re-entry to the House. The battle is still on as his opponent, Bassey DanAbia, is pursuing his appeal with the full backing of the governor. Many believe that if he could defeat Akpabio now, he could repeat the feat in the near future. He is a man of the people because of his many projects. In all, the emergence of any candidate under the platform of PDP for the 2015 governorship election will largely depend on the governor, zoning principle and public acceptance of the person. As we wait to see if the precedence of zoning will be followed by the party in producing who succeeds Akpabio, it is the thinking of many that Eket Senatorial District should be allowed to take over the mantle of leadership since Uyo held the seat of power for eight years.

EDUCATION Lawmaker flags off bursary programme Lagos

Ogun to partner Turkey on projects

Club screens eye patients, donates glasses

Lagos

MONDAY OCTOBER 17, 2011 T is a bold move to relieve low income earners in the country, especially those in the Southwest. Osun State is seeking to reduce the rising cost of food items, and also make it unnecessary for residents of cities bordering Osogbo, its capital, to travel to Lagos for bulk purchase of manufactured goods. Under the plan, farm produce will be better preserved, thus almost virtually eliminating scarcity. This will stabilise food prices and make it easier for low income earners to feed themselves and their families. This is part of the intended outcome of an audacious project being put together by the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola administration, which has the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) as the key driver. The project is driven by the state’s intention to transform its capital city into a major economic hub in the Southwest. Working with the NRC, Osun State is seeking to ensure easy, safe and cheap haulage of manufactured goods to Osogbo, while bulk fresh farm produce is also moved from the city to Lagos. Under the project code-named: O-Hub (Osun Mid-regional Hyper Market), the state government will provide warehousing facilities for manufactured goods and fresh farm produce, modern marketing facilities, vehicle terminals, including trailer parks, among others, in Osogbo. These facilities are intended to receive manufactured goods brought into the state capital by rail which buyers from surrounding states and cities could easily buy. Also, farm produce from the state’s various agriculture programmes would be transported to the Lagos market, from Osogbo, using the rail transport system. Chairman, Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) and head of O-Hub implementation team, Femi Ifaturoti revealed this while speaking at the Ewekoro factory of Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc, Ogun State. The event was the flag-off of the cement haulage arrangement between NRC and Lafarge, signalling the reintroduction of haulage services by the corporation. Transport Minister, Idris Umar applauded Lafarge’s resort to the rail system as an alternative to road for the haulage of its products. “It is a known fact that rail transport is very crucial to any nation’s economy as it has no rival in the volume of people and goods it could convey. “I have no doubt in my mind that this singular collaborative effort between NRC and WAPCO Cement would adequately meet the growing demand for cement across the coun-

ASSISTANCE

HEALTH

Ogun

Page 27

Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

•From left: Chaperon, Ifaturoti, Shuni and Sijuwade

Osun moves to cut food prices Partners NRC to enhance bulk haulage of farm produce By Eric Ikhilae

try,” he said. He was represented by the chairman, NRC Board of Directors, Ladan Shuni. Managing Director, NRC, Mr Adeseyi Sijuwade, expressed delight over his corporation’s successful reintroduction of freight service, with Lafarge as its first major customer. He said the partnership between both companies resulted in the recent haulage of 600 metric tons of cement weekly to Ijoko and 150

metric tons to Agege (both in Lagos). Sijuwade said the flag-off signified the official commencement of a weekly haulage of 750 metric tons from Lafarge’s Ewekoro factory to Ibadan, Oyo State. This development, he said, would be followed by a weekly movement of 600 metric tons each to Osogbo and Ilorin before month-end. He said under the arrangement, a total of 2700 metric tons would be hauled weekly before the end of October, with prospect of dou-

bling the capacity to over 5,000 metric tons on the completion of the on-going track rehabilitation on the Jebba to Kano stretch of the rail line by year-end. Sijuwade said the corporation was aware of the growing demand for rail services. He noted that the services were being constrained by the ongoing rail track rehabilitation. “I believe Nigerians will very soon expe•Continued on Page 28

Edo lights up 29 communities

•Governor Oshiomhole

OY has swept through no less than 29 communities in Edo State, following the installation of electricity in them. The communities were connected to the national electricity grid through the effort of the Adams Ohiomhole administration. The information was given by the state Commissioner for Energy and Water Resources, Mr. Calistus Ojeabu. The Commissioner also said 90 transformers and 90 feeder pillars have been purchased by the state government to boost socio-economic activities in the communities. Ojeabu disclosed this when he appeared

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

before the State House of Assembly to brief the lawmakers on activities of his ministry. He expalined that the transformers and feeder pillars were purchased at the sum of N312.8million. Ojeabu stated that of the N1.1billion that was allocated to the ministry in the 2011 budget, only N542.6million, representing about 47.8% performance was released to it. He said retirements and death of trained

personnel are factors militating factors against the performance of the ministry. He said, the sum of N10, 6.1620 was generated as IGR between January and September while the sum of N2. 235 million for capital budget inclusive of N1.5 million which was given to Rapid Response Agency, RRA. Economic activities are expected to pick up in those 29 communities now lit up. Residents will easily find work for themselves. Some of those likely to be easily engaged are tomato and pepper millers, barbers, hairdressers and vulcanisers.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

Council chief promises to tackle unemployment

S the date for the local government election in Lagos State draws nearer, the chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, has promised to provide 100 jobs in each of the three years he will spend in officeif re-elected. Mr Bamigbetan, who is the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chairmanship candidate in Ejigbo LCDA , and also seeking a second term mandate from the people, made the promise during his thank you tour of the 67 community development associations and 42 trade associations in the council area. The chairman explained to members of the CDAs and trade associations that his administration in the next political dispensation will collaborate with various industries and companies as part of their social responsibilities. He assured the people that his administration will send qualified youths in Ejigbo, who are unemployed to fill their vacancies. He make this initiative a priority as •Continued from Page 27 rience a vibrant rail transport system when work is completed,” he said. He expressed optimism that the success achieved with the Lafarge project would be emulated by other manufacturing concerns. Sijuwade said that the NRC would take delivery of 20 tank-wagons this month for lifting of petroleum products. He said that the wagons were being imported from China. Ifaturoti, who represented Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, said the NRC’s arrangement with Lafarge was coming at a time his state was working the O-Hub project to be built around the rail transport system. “We took a closer look and realized that Osogbo is centrally located in the within the region. It used to be a vibrant commercial hub in the region. Over time, it lost that status. We also know for a fact, that road transportation has been an obvious disappointment particularly, in the commercial life Nigerians. “So, the governor said, why don’t we find a way of reviving the rail transport system in view of its immense benefits? So, we entered into an agreement with the NRC to ensure

AGOS State House of Assembly member, Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola, (Ikorodu Constituency II), has donated cash and educational facilities infrastructure to 12 prospective tertiary students who excelled in their senior secondary school certificate examination. It was part of activities marking her 50th birthday. Eminent leaders of Ikorodu Division, including former Deputy Governor Abiodun Ogunleye, former Education Commissioner Olorunfunmi Basorun, state legisla-

By Duro Babayemi

a way of reducing the high rate of unemployment in the council area Other promises made by Bamigbetan during the tour includes, the rehabilitation of 10 major roads in the area.He said 30 roads will be given facelift and would construct EjigboAjao link bridge, to serve as an alternative exit and entry route for motorists. This, according to the chairaman, would reduce traffic gridlock often experienced by the people of the environment. He said the link bridge project has already been approved by the Lagos State government. He also promised that his administration would launch a jetty that will transport residents of the area from Oke -Afa canal to Lagos Island, thereby serving as an alternative means of transportation for the people. Addressing members of the Nigerian Union of Tailors (Ejigbo chapter), Bamigbetan expressed his appreciation tothe group for

•Hon Bamigbetan (standing); Mrs Adejoke Olaniyi member, NUT Ejigbo chapter (left); Mr Adekunle Shittu, member NUT Ejigbo chapter (second left) and Mr Johnson Olaoye, chairman, Professional Marketers Association, Ejigbo chapter their support, particularly on the collaboration between the association and the council on the free uniform scheme for public pri-

Osun moves to cut food prices cheap and efficient haulage of manufactured goods from Lagos to Osogbo and for onward distribution to other cities around it, particularly in Oyo and Kwara states. “We have also realised that fresh farm produce, which would result from our massive food production project, would easily be moved to Lagos to satisfy the ever hungry Lagos food market. As far back a 2007, our research showed that most of the food items consumed in Lagos are brought in from other states. “We have decided to tap into that market. And to achieve this, we must ensure that fresh farm produce are moved into Lagos on time and in large quantity. That is why we are partnering with the NRC,” he said. Ifaturoti said an aspect of the project include the state’s plan to provide logistic supports and warehousing facilities in Osogbo for manufacturing companies in Lagos, who will bring their products into Osogbo by rail and later distribute to surrounding cities by road. “Part of the plan will include that we bear the freight cost, through our partnership with the NRC. Our intention is to reawaken the

commercial life of Osogbo by transforming it into the commercial hub of the region. “By this, we will not only be lifting the economic life of the state, we would provide jobs and investment opportunities for our people,” he said. The Project director of Lafarge, Guy Chaperon said his company’s resort to rail transport was informed by its desire to make cement available in all parts of country. “Lafarge Cement WAPCO is committed to making cement available to Nigerians at all times; this is why this partnership is very important to us. It is an initiative that will go a long way to help decongest our roads and satisfy the yearning of Nigerians for alternative and effective transportation system. “Apart from the opportunity of reaching our far distance customers in the north, the haulage by train will also help to reduce the traffic congestions on our roads. We are optimistic that the use of rail transport will help to ensure that cement gets to the final users in a safe, reliable and faster way.”

mary schools in the LCDA, which was a success. He said: “With your support, our government was able to set a record in Lagos State as the first local government to provide free uniform for 4,200 pupils of its nine public primary schools, just 37 days after assumption of office in December 2008. The chairman added that his administration was the first to award such a contract of sewing school uniform to a register trade association, as against the usual practice of awarding contract to established companies or individuals. He assured the tailors that the free uniform scheme will be sustained during his second term in office. To this end, he appealed to the association and other associations in the council area to mobilise their members to come out and vote for ACN candidates on the date of the local government election in Ejigbo LCDA. He also extended the appeal to all eligible voters in the LCDA, through the 67 CDAs, to come out en-masse and vote for him and the six councillorship candidates representing the six political wards of the LCDA . On the entourage of Mr Bamigbetan during the tour was his vice-chairmanship candidate, Hon Monsurudeen Bello-Obe, the six councillorships candidates and members of his executive cabinet.

Lawmaker flags off bursary programme By Emmanuel Oladesu

tor Hon. Sunai Agunbiade, Dr Felix Kalesamwo, High Chief Onasanya Duduyemi, and Alhaji Jelili Abubakar hailed her kind gesture, urging other indigenes to emulate her. The chairman of the occasion, Hon. Saheed Ibikunle, advised par-

ents and students to reflect on the nature of the country’s economy, urging the students to embrace handiworks along with their academic programmes. An official of the state Scholarship Board, Mrs Oluwakemi Kalesanwo, also told parents and indigent students at the ceremony, which held at the Civil Service Model College Hall, Igbogbo, that the Fashola ad-

•Chairman, Eti-Osa East Local Council Development Area, Alhaji Owolabi Yisa (second left) assisted by his wife, Hajia Khadijat to receive Community Service Award from Mr Felix Igiebor at the council secretariat, Sangotedo, Lagos. PHOTO: TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

ministration has not abrogated scholarship and bursary awards in Lagos State. She said: “Although overseas scholarship has been put on hold, local scholarship can be given after taking the examinations. Indigent students from Lagos would be interviewed in Abuja and Lagos this month for the scholarship”. Kalesamwo congratulated Mrs Akinsola for complementing the efforts of government and enjoined the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the academic opportunities available to them at all times. The legislator explained the motivation for instituting the programmes, saying that she wanted to restore the diminishing confidence of people in public schools. Akinsola said: “I am a teacher and I have passion for education. I know what the state government is doing to make the state a model in education. As long as God gives me strength, this programme will be sustained. More is still coming. “Public school has been written off. But at Apapa, where I was a teacher, the chairman, Hon. Ayodeji

Joseph, used to organised a quiz competition for private and public secondary schools and public schools came first. Public schools are working under Fashola”. Turning to the beneficiaries, the lawmaker said: “Don’t look at the award. Look at the spirit behind it and strive for excellence”. Mrs Akinsola also admonished the students to learn trades as they continue to study, stressing that no knowledge is lost. She added: “I have a child in LASU studying science. He can paint. He studied painting by helping painters at work. Another one, a Mathematics student, can manage Nokia phone. I have another one, who has two degrees, and she is a make-up artist. Before, I used to sew my dress. So, I advise parents to encourage their children to learn handwork”. Akinsola thanked the school principals in Ikorodu Division for their commitment and implored them to remain diligent at work. Some of the beneficiaries are Adeniyi deborah, Dauda Adijat, Serafat Adetunji, Olusanya Adepeju and Sarafa Adekunle.

THE NATION

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

HE Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri has dismissed the appeal filed by the candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Mr Chima Akuzie challenging the election of Hon Barr Simeon Iwunze as member representing Isiala Mbano State Constituency in Imo State House of Assembly. The Court, in a unanimous judgment read by Justice Uwa, held that there was no document before it to show that Akuzie filed any appeal against the judgment of the lower tribunal which upheld the election of Hon Iwunze of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). According to the court, the Appeal by Akuzie was addressed to the Governorship and House of Assembly election tribunal as against “In the Court of Appeal Holding in Owerri”. It further held that even when Akuzie counsels sought to amend

Appeal court upholds lawmaker’s election From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

the error through a motion, they failed to attach what was being amended and the fresh Notice of Appeal as properly addressed, and therefore succeeded in having nothing before the Court. It accordingly dismissed the Appeal and upheld the election of Hon

Iwunze. The governorship and House of Election Petition Tribunal had earlier dismissed Akuzie’s case for not complying with the provision of the relevant sections of the Electoral Act and upheld the victory of Hon Simeon Iwunze as the validly elected member representing Isiala Mbano State Constituency in Imo House of Assembly.

With this victory, I am now primed to serve my people more than ever before. I thank all my constituents for their undiluted support and the confidence they have in my ability to serve them

Although the Appeal Court judgment was delivered in the night, celebration erupted in various parts of the constituency, hailing the confirmation of Hon Iwunze as the authentic Isiala Mbano representative. Addressing a mammoth crowd of supporters that besieged his home, Hon Iwunze who is a two-term member of the House thanked them for their solidarity and support. Hon Iwunze who is the House Committee Chairman on Judiciary, commended the Judiciary for the timely disposal of election petition cases before it to give ample time for winners to concentrate on the job of serving the people. He said the Appeal Court Justices were courageous and fair and

Monarchs urge development of Ijebu land

O fast-track development and economic empowerment of rural folks, a traditional ruler, Alaporu of Ilaporu in Ijebu-North Local Government, Ogun State, Oba Jimoh Adebamiro has appealed to all Ijebu people to invest in the

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

development of the land. Adebamiro said the government alone cannot develop all the towns and villages in Ijebuland and urged the well-to-do to come

Ijebuland would be more developed if her sons and daughters could come home toestablish industries in the town

HE New District 404B Governor, Lions International, Dr. Ayoade Adesokan has enjoined individuals, the well-off, and corporate bodies to assist in improving the fortunes of the less privileged in the society. Adesokan said members of the public should complement government’s efforts in its bid to make life more meaningful for all. He also urged the leaders to partner effectively with his organisation and others to evolve a better society. Adesokan spoke at the palace of the traditional ruler of Somolu, Lagos, Oba Kassim Bashua where the Lions Club new district held a free eye test and eyeglass distribution to residents. The District Governor pleaded with everyone, especially traditional rulers and others in authority, to assist Rotary International and the people to rid the society and the nation of such unfortunate diseases as blindness, malaria fever and polio. They were also urged to devote their time, treasures and talents to improve lives. Appreciating the gesture of the organistion, the Kabiyesi of Somolu Kingdom, pledged moral and financial commitments to the cause of the organisation. He urged Nigerians, especially Somolu residents and other Lagosians to screen their eyes against immediate or instalmental blindness. “Since eyes constitute the bedrock of human activities, it is therefore very pertinent to accord them a very high premium through regular check-ups at little or no cost at all, to prevent blindess,” he said. The monarch extolled the contributions of the organsiation and others to the uplift of the Nige-

together for the development of Ijebu communities through the establishment of small and medium scale industries (SMEs). Oba Adebamiro gave the advice at the inauguration of an ultra-modern event centre, Royal Marquee, in Ijebu-Ode, the traditional headquarters of Ijebuland. “I am glad to witness the commissioning of this ultra modern event centre,” the monarch said. “It is a plus to the development of Ijebuland and it would improve and increase the economic activities in the town. “Ijebuland would be more developed if her sons and daughters could come home to estab-

lish industries in the town.” Also, the Magunshe of IjebuMushin, Oba Joseph Fakoya, said the establishment of the event centre would provide job opportunities for the unemployed youths and avenue for recreation even as he urged other fortunate Ijebu people to follow suit. The Managing Director of the centre, Mr. Adetola Adesanya, said the Centre was designed to boost the tourism and entertainment potentials of Ijebu-Ode. “Ijebuland is noted for social events and that is why the edifice was put in place to let the Ijebu sons and daughters know that what they are looking for abroad is around them at home,” he said.

praised them for rekindling people’s confidence in the judiciary. Hon Iwunze who is also a former chairman of Isiala Mbano local government area praised his team of lawyers led by Chief Ken Njemanze (SAN) for a wonderful job well done. He said the judgment has once again affirmed that he remains the people’s choice, and pledged his commitment to continue to serve the people diligently and efficiently. He said he was also relieved that the distractions associated with election litigations were now over, noting that he was now free to concentrate on the job given to him by the people. “With this victory, I am now primed to serve my people more than ever before. I thank all my constituents for their undiluted support and the confidence they have in my ability to serve them”, he said. On allegations by some of his opponents that he was warning up to contest the House of Representatives seat in 2011, Hon Iwunze said his current preoccupation was to serve out his mandate successfully. According to him, “It is important for me to do the job that I am doing which is to serve my people as a state legislator. But I must point out that it is the people who decide the fate of any politician”. “I am happy that this is the third time my people are giving me mandate to serve them because they trust and have confidence in my ability to deliver. It is always good to give mandate to somebody who can defend it”, he said.

Club screens eye patients, donates glasses

•Executive members of the District 404B, Lions International, with some Somolu residents

rian society and pleaded with them not to rest on their oars until the nation is rid of such dreadful diseases. Some of the beneficiaries included Mr. Ganiyu Oluyede, a stock broker, Ms Mariam Laguda, an SS II pupil of Eva Adelaja Secondary Grammar School, Bariga, Lagos, and Ms Oyindamola Obadare. An SS II pupil of Nigeria Army Command School, Ipaja, Lagos, who benefited from the gesture, ex-

pressed her profound gratitude to the organisation and charged Nigerians to compliment their efforts, positively at all times. They stressed the need for regular check-ups as the best prevention against blindness. Highlights of the event included the presentation of recommended eyeglasses to eye patients At the event were a WHO consultant and several other dignitaries.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

Aregbesola laments poor access to rural areas O

Govt approves construction of low cost houses

•Fashola

AGOS State Governor, Mr.Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has approved the construction of more low cost housing estates, so as to effectively tackle the challenges of accommodation in the state. Governor Fashola revealed this while inaugurating 72 units three-bedroom Elegant Court housing estate, Ikota, saying construction will begin on the new scheme at the end of the rainy season.The housing units were delivered under state Public Private Partnership (PPP) with Cortex Limited. He said the solution to the nation’s housing deficit does not lie with the state government alone, but the coming together of all stakeholders

Ogun seeks partnership with Turkey on projects

GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has expressed the readiness of the state to partner with ‘nations of like minds’ on developmental issues. He spoke in Abuja when he hosted the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria Ali Rifat Koksal at Ogun State Governor’s Lodge. The governor also called on intending business investors to consider the establishment of an industrial park in the state, assuring that his administration is determined to create conducive atmosphere for them. He also said the government is expecting more investors to come to Ogun State because the state has the potentials; the land, the resources and the number to be a friendly business destination. He, therefore, expressed hope that the people of his home state will be better off with the coming of investors, given the kind of assurances receieved from the Turkish Ambassador that the partnership will also

Ogun From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

cover capacity building especially for people who have the opportunity to be trained.”What we want to do is to partner with so many investors across various nations. But we discover that Turkey has this prowess in Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), in agriculture and even in commerce. I remember when I was in the Senate. I have been there about five times. “They are good in this export free trade zone. So we want to partner with them to come home and see what they can do in the area of agriculture. We want to tap from their knowledge and skills. And most importantly not just agriculture alone, we want a value chain. All those have been presented to us. It’s not just growing. When we grow, we want to process as well; we want to create wealth for our people.

‘Grassroots governance needs more strength’

NLESS public office holders ensure that the fruits of governance are made available to the grassroots people, the essence of democracy will remain elusive to most Nigerians. This was the contention of Mr. Aramide Adegbite, national coordinator of the Network for Developmental Governance (NDG) in the week while calling for more attention to grassroots development in the country. He, therefore, made a passionate appeal to the federal and state governments to imbibe the spirit behind the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s creation of 37 Local Government Development Areas (LCDAs) out of the 20 councils in Lagos State. “When the 37 LCDAs were created by Asiwaju Tinubu, those who are politically naïve and myopic moved against the development. But armed with his belief in grassroots development, Asiwaju held tenaciously to his mission. Today, we can all see what the LCDAs have done with people’s mandate, which underpins the fact that

Lagos By Dada Aladelokun

governance must get to the local level,” Adegbite said. Adegbite, who is also a grassroots political mobiliser and member of ACN in Ojokoro LCDA of the state, averred that for governance to make its real impact in the country, the Federal Government must borrow a leaf from Tinubu’s vision and follow it up to the letter. On the forthcoming council election in the state, the politician said: “I don’t think any other party will have the liver to challenge ACN at the poll in view of the party’s giant strides in the state both at state and local government levels. I’m doubly sure that Lagos people want the sustenance of the current culture of service-oriented governance in the state. So, the coast is clear for the party.”

Lagos

By Miriam Ndikanwu

from the state government to the Federal Government and particularly the private sector. The governor described the new housing scheme built on 1.9 hectares of land, as the visible results of the partnership that exists between the government and entrepreneurs who want to do legitimate business of building houses to be sold to the middle and upper strata of our society where there is a clear market demand. He said while the government provides the land for the project, the developer provides the funding, adding that the profit that the government would make from this partnership will be invested in the Lagos Homes Project to fund the Social Housing Scheme. Governor Fashola listed other benefits associated with the partnership to include the employment opportunities created by Cortex Limited for 25 permanent employees, sub contractors who supplied the building materials, the 1,500 men and women who worked on the site to build the houses and the vendors who sold food, water and many other things during the construction period of 30 months.

•From left: Mrs. Folasade Ogunnaike, International Coordinator, Entrepreneurship Promotions Academy; Dr. Adebola Olubanjo, representative of Lagos State Deputy Governor; Mrs. Risikat Akiyode and CEO Entrepreneurship Promotions Academy, Mrs. Kenny Olubanjo at the Entrepreneurship Conference, Exhibition and Awards programme organised by Entrepreneurship Promotions Academy at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos

Youths pledge peace, cooperation

LATED by the location of a multi-billion naira shipyard project in Odioma community in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, youths of the community have assured the

From Isaac Ombe-Yenagoa

company of peace during its operations in the area. The assurance came through their president, Mr. Kalango Seimokuma ,head of the United Odioma Youths, who assured the firm handling the project, Hyco Construction Company, that the people of the community would “continue to accommodate, cooperate and live harmoniously with members of staff of the firm to ensure hitch-free operation in the area”. Seimokuma also disclosed that the community has resolved to go against anyone who would want to foment trouble, or delay the early •From left: Chairman, Ilaje Local Government Area, Mr Banji Okunomo, the Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Akinruntan completion of the Obateru and Ondo State representative in the immediate past Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, project. Dr Benson Enikuemehin, during a security meeting at the council headquarters, Igbokoda Reacting to discordant statements credited to some youths from a neighbouring community on the project, the youth leader stated that the project is important to Odioma community, stressing “as such, we the youth and chiefs of EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) Odioma had been calm in the midst of several chairmanship candidate for Ikoyi unwarranted provocation on our people”. Obalende Local Council By Musa Odoshimokhe He recalled that “Odioma had been victim of Development Area (LCDA), Mr Ibrahim Obanikoro, has promised to work in One of such ways of doing so is to run an invasion by government and neighbouring partnership with both the Lagos State and administration that is open. We will sit with communities in the past, and now that the Federal government to develop the stakeholders at round table at all times, find time community is on the verge of re-building, we have to attend residents’ association meetings in order been law abiding and have refused to respond to council if elected to office. He said: “I want to say we thank God to know what they are passing through with a all sorts of provocation on our land and people in order to promote peace that could foster today for our governor, Babatunde view to addressing them.” development in our domain”. As part of strategy to re-position the council, Fashola, he has demonstrated he is really The youth lauded Governor Timipre Sylva for interested in the development of people he said that regular seminar was equally citing the project on their land, and declared that and not party. I believe that if I am elected important in order to purge the area of crime. contrary to insinuations, “the land had never been as the chairman of the council my He stressed that through the effort youth will be under dispute, even the elders in the Brass relationship with the governor will be educated by those who have excelled in their own communities are aware that there is no dispute vocations. cordial.” over the land, especially as a result of the Peace “Seminars will be organised to update the skills Charter of 1918, 1923 and 1945”. The PDP candidate, who said he had of artisans by inviting those who have made been adopted as the flag-bearer for the forth coming council polls, harped on the their mark to tell them their success story. We need to look beyond party line to will keep them contribute meaningfully to the busy because development of the area. when they are He said: “I am sure we will be able to busy, the less work together through collaboration so they get that we can move the state forward. The involved in state is bigger than any individual so the crime. I know THE Integrity Youths Movement of interest of the state must supersede any there is a Lagos Nigeria (IYM), a non-governmental other narrow interest and all hands must State Micro organisation has lined up activities to be on deck to achieve this.” F i n a n c e celebrate the heroes that won the South Obanikoro stated that Scheme which west to the fold of the progressives, its communication,an important ingredient we are going President, Dr Tayo Komolafe, has said. of development, would receive a to tap into and He said a documentation on the activities of those who championed the ‘broom tremendous attention as it would quicken create jobs for revolution’ will be unveiled in Abuja and advancement of the society. lacking such those who the Southwest where the people now enjoy society could hardly make progress hence need to stand the dividends of democracy. he will run an open door administration on their own, He said: “These heroes of ‘broom that will embrace all segment of society. having studied revolution’ largely belong to the Action “Where there is good communication the success Congress of Nigeria (ACN). They have things faster and in the right story of brought smiles to million of faces in the direction,progress is achieved with ease. others.” • Obanikoro region.”

Aspirant promises open administration

Lagos

SUN Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has called for a comprehensive intervention to create access to the rural areas through out the country. The governor told a team of World Bank officials that as a matter of urgency, access to rural areas should be created not only to enhance social life but as a way of boosting massive food production. Aregbesola told the delegation which also comprised representatives of National Planning Commission on the Joint World Bank/French Development Agency Mission on Rural Access and Mobility Stating that lack of access to rural areas remains a major threat to the successful implementation of agricultural programmes, the governor said whatever intervention the World Bank and French Development Agency has in stock would still require a conscious effort of the governments at all levels to ensure rural areas are transformed to boost production and check drift to urban centres. “We never knew when campaigning that

Osun

we would get this kind of support from you. But we were very clear in our minds in our commitment to promoting unequaled, unrivaled and unprecedented massive food production. “Our agricultural programme is targeted at the fact that food shortage, hunger should be banished from our land. But the greatest challenge to agricultural production here is access to mobility.” The governor regretted that an unacceptable percentage of agricultural products fail to make their ways to the markets because of poor access roads, adding this was why his administration has embarked on an aggressive programme of opening up the rural roads under the Osun Rural Enterprises and Agricultural Programme (OREAP). Aregbesola also allayed fears expressed by

the World Bank team over poor maintenance culture, adding that maintaining all roads constructed under the RAMP programme would not be a problem as the state government already has a conscious programme to maintain state’s infrastructure.

NGO sensitises women on relationships

HE Legal Resource Group of the Awesome Treasures Foundation, an NGO dedicated to women excellence had an interactive session recently on the growing trend of abuse in Lagos. It was a forum to educate women and the younger ones alike vulnerable to attacks from abusive men and the society at large, sensitising them on how to avoid rape, abusive relationships as the society gets more violent and the women are at the mercy of such attacks. The head of the resource group, Mrs Helen Thompson , opened the session by offering an all encompassing definition of abuse and how to recognise an abusive relationship. She said: “Women do not need to die in silence any longer in the face of gross

Lagos By Kehinde Falode

physical and emotional abuse. We need to support one another by being our brother’s keeper.” Some of the participants at the interactive session spoke candidly about their specific experiences and this galvanised more women to speak out and seek help. It is generally believed that people identify more with stories they can relate with and feel the other person’s pains. One of the discussants, Mrs. Chiadi Ndu, a psychologist, listed a series of questions to help women recognise if they were in abusive

Chief Okoya honoured by LASU staff

ALL it a reunion or a show of appreciation and you are on still on course. It was the kind of encounter long expected after the turbulent times as members of the Senior Staff of Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) Lagos State University (LASU) chapter, paid a courtesy visit and also presented award to the university’s Chancellor, Chief Molade Okoya Thomas at his Vitoria Island office. Represented by SSANU executives led by its chairman Ms Agnes Olufunmi Sessi, Mr Ososanya Adeyemi (Vice); Mr Okegbuan Larry (secretary); Mrs Olusoga Motunrayo (financial secretary); Mr Adagun Muyideen (PRO); and Mrs Awosika Tolulope (treasurer), the group was warmly welcomed into Chief Okoya’s office with smiles. For some years, SSANU and other unions ASUU, NASU and NAAT were immersed in a long running battle with the university management over what the unions described as the dictatorial style of the management led by former ViceChancellor Prof Lateef Akanni Hussein.

By Adegunle Olugbamila

At the heat of the crisis, all efforts by all stakeholders including the Governing Council, Lagos State government and Chief Okoya Thomas to quell the crisis proved abortive. However, like a leader who must concede to his subjects in order to attain a truce, Chief Okoya Thomas played a prominent role in eventually achieving a resolutions among the unions including SSANU, meeting most of the unions’ demands, and compelling them to go back to work after countless months of strikes which grounded activities at LASU. “We have come to show our appreciation to you sir;” said Sessi. “After the crisis which grounded LASU for almost two years, you actually played a good role with the government which resolved the crisis and the strikes. “We had since last year been back to work while everything has been moving on unhindered since then. We thought we should reward people like you who facilitated peace, and saved the university from crashing. We appreciate the part you played. You have, for many years, been indeed a role model many Nigerians wish to emulate.

Briefly

NGO honours heroes of ‘broom revolution’

• From right: Action Congress of Nigeria, Lagos State Vice-Chairman, Abiodun Adeseye; Chairman, Itire-Ikate LCDA, Hon Hakeem Bamgbola; Eze Ndigbo of Surulere, Dr Edwin Obi and Prince Charles Ekundayo during the presentation of Bamgbola as the party’s candidate for council election at Ijesha, Lagos.

•Aregbesola

• Chief Okoya Thomas (middle) with Ms Sessi (third from right) and other executive members of SSANU presenting the award

relationships and these include: What is my anxiety level? Do I know what I like and dislike? Am I scared in my home? Mrs. Ndu encouraged women to be true to themselves by identifying their situation, confronting and conquering it. Women who had survived abusive relationships shared from their experience on how to stop further abuse or get out of abusive relationships altogether. “It is unfortunate that the laws that ought to protect women from abuse are not being implemented in this part of the world. I believe this is due to the failure of the Nigerian legal system in general to provide victims with the necessary assistance and protect women who chose to flee from abusive relationships. We need more pragmatic support like the formation of strong pressure groups through collaborative effort to create more awareness and bring about the much needed change”, one of the participants remarked.

Minister invites traditional medicine practitioner By Jude Isiguzo

HE Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu has invited a traditional medicine practitioner, Dr Harts Ugochukwu to come and verify his claims that he can cure the dreaded HIV/ AIDS disease and also to assist the government in curbing the menace of HIV/AIDS In a letter of invitation, from the Department of Public Health National AIDS/STDs Control Programme (NASCP) dated September 30, 2011, signed by the National Coordinator, HIV/AIDS Division, Dr Emeka Asadu, he stated that the attention of the minister has been drawn to his recent interview with a national daily claiming that he has cured over 40,000 patients infected with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. Dr Asadu stated that Dr Harts claim has generated a lot of interest in the ministry and among stakeholders in the HIV community. He said since the discovery of cure for HIV/ AIDS was a hope that the entire country shares, every step in that direction would be welcomed and encouraged by the ministry. “In this light, we wish to invite you to a meeting to discuss your claims and every other action necessary to verify it.” Reacting to the invitation, Dr Harts said it was a welcome development as he has been shouting for over 10 years that he has the cure to HIV/AIDS, but no individual or organisation had done something to verify his claim. Thanking the minister for inviting him, the tradomedical doctor said he would soon honour the invitation and would not disappoint Nigerians. According to him, after verifying his claims, Nigerians would benefit a lot as international community would soon be coming to Nigeria to get healings from HIV/AIDS and other diseases. He said the government would benefit from his medicine as it will boost the economy and create employment if he is assisted in expanding his trado-medical clinic.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

Council residents root for chairman

ORDS of commendation have come the way of chairman of Lekki Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Lagos Hon. Raheem Olaiya. Traditional rulers, community chiefs and youths of the LCDA praised him for what they called his efforts to develop their communities. They said he constructed a network of roads, drainages and provided other social amenities within one year in office. The praise came during a protest by some members of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) at the party secretariat over alleged imposition of a candidate on the LCDA by a faction of the party. According to the protesters, the communities are satisfied with the performance of the current chairman, Hon. Raheem Olaiya, and will want him back for a second term. The monarch, Baale of Obitedo Idasho community, Lekki, who led the protest told Newsextra: “We are here to appeal to our dear national and state party leaders to help us because (someone) is imposing his relatives on us. He has even started campaigning for him. The LCDA doesn’t want him to take us for a ride. “We want the incumbent chairman to be given a second term ticket. Hon Olaiya has helped our communities in various ways; he gave us drinking water, sent our children for scholarship, he gave our youths employment opportunities, our communities are crime-free now, he organised series of vocational training for them, he gave some youths motorcycles, he has started giving the people above 65 years monthly allowance, he provides medical centre… “What we have today is a dif-

•The protesting youths By Paul Oluwakoya

ferent Lekki council area. The chairman has succeeded in roads construction that link the rural communities, good drainages, he has given new face lift to the council secretariat, he gave our children scholarships, the gild of elders in the council now have better welfare packages, the aged in our mist now receive monthly allowances, everybody in our communities is having a share in is governance.” Chief Ilesanmi Omotayo jagun oba of Lekki land who was also at the protest added that there was no water problem in their community “because of Hon.

Olaiya bought five 5.5KV generators as alternative electric power supply for the bore-holes he provided for us in our communities.” He added that they have made their grievance know to the state party chairman Hon Henry Oladele Ajomalen “We have just submitted a letter to the office of the state party chairman Hon Henry Oladele Ajomalen which contained an appeal for the REelection of the incumbent chairman Hon. Raheem Olaiya and their disapproval of Dr. Tola Kasali’s imposition of his brothers as the party’s flag bearer for the coming chairmanship polls.” Similarly, the youth leader who addressed himself as Fatayi

Aspirant promises better representation

OUNCILLORSHIP candidate in Ward D of Mushin Local Government Area under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Saheed Ninalowo, has said that his ward would witness massive infrastructural development if elected Ninalowo lamented lack of local government project in the area since the inception of the present

People should not look at party’s affiliation again but the personality. They should ask themselves, can this person represent us and fight for the interest of the people

By Osas Roberts

administration. He attributed lack of developmental programme in Mushin to the reason Lagosians feel residents of Mushin are touts. He promised to initiate empowerment programmes if elected. “I am looking at empowerment programme for the youth which has never been done before. People see us as touts in our area when they hear of Mushin. It is high time we proved them wrong. We are intellectuals, ” he said. He said residents of the council had been denied dividends of democracy for long and that to tackle this, the youths in the area started an initiative to empower themselves. He assured women in the community that they will now reap the dividends of democracy. “There are a lot of dividends which our area has been denied for so many years. People keep complaining we don’t have this, we don’t have that. It is time to rewrite the history of our area,” he added. Ninalowo, who have National Diploma in Estate Management from Yaba College of Technology

•Ninalowo (YABATECH), urged the electorate to come out enmasse and vote for him. “People should not look at party’s affiliation again but the personality. They should ask themselves, can this person represent us and fight for the interest of the people? One party has been ruling us in the area and we have been denied our dividends that are supposed to come to the area, but now, we are asking for change,” he said.

The chairman has succeeded in roads construction that link the rural communities, good drainages, he has given new face lift to the council secretariat, he gave our children scholarships Dinadu said the youth of the community want Hon. Olaiya for second term “because, of the road construction he did, the community schools he renovated, the various water projects he commissioned, lots of scholarship for

students, He is sponsoring 25 students that are less privilege but patriotic to the community to Lagos state University to study. He registered 100 students for O’ level examination. We do not enjoy all these in the last tenure.”

NGO to hold youth conference

S part of the effort toward preparing today youth on the process of peace and nation building, a non government organisation, New Era Educational and Charitable Support Foundation, Nigeria has concluded plans to stage its 3rd Annual International Conference on Youth and Interfaith Communication holding on the 27th -29th, October, 2011 at the Conference Hall of the RockField Motel, Jos, Nigeria. The Executive Director of the New Era Educational and Charitable Support Foundation, Emmanuel Ivorgba made this known in an interview with Newsextra last week in Lagos. The programme tagged: Building a Common Future through Interfaith Dialogue, Mutual Understanding and the Golden Rule” will bring together youths, government agencies, policy makers which is poised towards providing mechanism for Nigerian faith based organizations and individuals to be effectively engaged in the generation of religion-inspired conceptions and practices of development that ultimately result in social, economic, cultural and spiritual prosperity of the citizens Ivorgba said: “our world today more than ever before, is faced

By Adeola Ogunlade

with the challenge of overcoming the “faith divide” and the global citizenship divide in order to build the bridge of all bridges, the interreligious and international bridge that connects all humanity to God. He noted that the conference will create and promote interfaith collaboration and build bridges of trust, friendship and partnership among religiously diverse youth and provide a platform for local, national, regional and international collaboration. Ivorgba asserted that the conference will be practical and rich with inspiration, international experience, and how-to, face-toface workshops as 100 youth interfaith participants will return home stronger with new partners and modern tools of communication for your homes, schools, and neighborhoods to heal cities, Nigeria.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

The NDE was ready to partner with interested public and private organisations and individuals to promote training and resettlement of the unemployed in Enugu State

NDE trains sex workers, unemployed

HE National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has said that it lays emphasis on post resettlement of graduates of its various training schemes in order to create micro and small business enterprises and to prevent the beneficiaries from falling back into the unemployment market. These reasons were stated by the Director-General of the NDE Mallam Abubakar Mohammed on the occasion of disbursement of resettlement equipment to 200 beneficiaries of the Directorate School-on-Wheels (SOW) scheme in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State. The SOW training was a collaboration between the NDE and Udenu Local Government under the leadership of Dr. Godwin Ejike Abonyi. Under the scheme, the fully equipped mobile workshop designed for vocational training in rural areas trained 500 unemployed youths in trades such as GSM repairs, catering, computer appreciation, tye and dye, bead and soap making. The beneficiaries were unemployed youths, sex workers, widows and physically challenged persons mobilised by the Udenu Local Government Council under

HE Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, has intervened in the crisis between Agip Oil Companmy Ltd and some communities in Delta State to find lasting solutions. Many surrounding communities including Kenlogbene, Elagbene, Kalafigbene, Ekemtagbene, Abiborgbene, Ekogbene, Egrangbene, Ekorogbene, Opuapele, Orugbene have pro-

•Some of the beneficiaries From Chris Oji, Enugu

its empowerment programme. Mallam Abubakar Mohammed, who was represented by the NDE Director for Southeast zone, Mr. Kunle Obayan, called on other stakeholders in the state especially the chairmen of the other 16 local government councils in the state as well as legislators to key into the schemes of the directorate in order to empower the unemployed through skills acquisition and resettlement. In his address at the event, Abonyi said that training and resettlement of vulnerable persons by the council is the first-phase

of a planned training and resettlement of unskilled and unemployed indigenes of the area under a programme arrangement between the Udenu Local Government Council and the NDE. He said that the NDE and the Udenu Local Government is already working out the empowerment of vulnerable persons and other target groups in subsequent training circles. The NDE State Coordinator for Enugu State, Mr Nnamdi Asomugha, said that the SOW training which was sponsored by the Udenu Local Government began on November 20, 2010 and was rounded up on March 7, 2011.

Asomugha said that the scheme has been lauded by Governor Sullivan Chime who was impressed by the products made by the beneficiaries during their training. He said that the NDE has three skills centres under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) projects. The coordinator said that the MDGs centres are located at Igbo Eze North, Aninri and Agbani in Kanu West Council areas are currently training 300 youths in GSM repairs, autotronics, welding, cosmetology and computer maintenance. Asomugha said that in addition to the three MDGs centres, a

total of 200 unemployed youths are undergoing skills acquisition training under the Basic Skills Acquisition Training Scheme (SATS) at various training centres in the state. He said that the NDE was ready to partner with interested public and private organisations and individuals to promote training and resettlement of the unemployed in Enugu State. ‘Presently we are embarking on the training of 50 widows selected by a faith-based agencyEmeralds Professional Women Ministry- in skilss such as hairdressing, soap making, shoe/bag making bakery etc’ , Asomugha said.

Minister wades into Agip, Delta communities’ crisis From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

tested and prevented Agip Oil Company to continue its project at the Gbragbene Deep ‘A’location. While the Agip project is only located in Gbragbene community,

all the other surrounding communities are asking for compensation as they are claiming ownership of part of the project land. The communities are also seeking for compensation for pollution of their drinking water resulting from the dredging being carried out along most of the communities link-

ing the project site. After listening to Agip and representatives of the communities , the minister immediately set up a technical committee comprising three representatives of the communities, two Ministry of Niger Delta officials and a representative of Agip Oil company to tackle the issue. The minister said: “I am not happy that some of you are going to court. We can sit down and discuss all these. Development cannot come if you keep fighting. What we need to do is to have a road map on how to tackle these issues one after the other. “Whatever compensation you are expecting cannot be the same for

all the communities. The well is only being drilled in one community; the dredging too cannot pass through all the communities. So you can’t have the same compensation. I am going to set up a small technical committee to agree on the road map,” he added Speaking on behalf of the Managing Director of Agip Oil Company Ltd, Mr. Babatope Olaleye, disclosed that 22 communities are claiming ownership of a five hectares of land where the project is located. “We are planning to start work on the site and whatever position is reached with the communities, we will keep to it as a socially sensitive organisation,” he stated

Anxiety as NURTW prepares for election

•Chairman, Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area, Hon Hakeem Bamgbola and his wife, Alhaja Ashabi during the flag-off of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) campaign

NXIETY rises in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, as the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) warms up for leadership change via election in the next couple of weeks. Newsextra gathered that fears are rife in the violatile union that non members who have vested interest in the transporters’ affairs might politicise the NURTW Leadership change process to achieve their selfish purpose. But the State Secretary, Comrade Adeyemi Raymond, assured that adequate measures have been put in place to enhance peaceful transition, adding every member is eligible to contest for any office in

Stories from Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

line with the directive of the national President, Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin. “We emphasise that the council had put necessary machinery in place to ensure the success of the election and we implore members of the public to disregard any rumoured report of crisis within the union,” Raymond said in a statement. He advised members against engaging in actions that could hinder peaceful election of new executive council, stressing they should equally be “wary of allowing non - members to politicise the union’s election process.”

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

CITYBEATS THE NATION

E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

Lagosians take stock ahead W of council poll HEN residents queued under the sun three years ago to cast their votes for their representatives in the 20 local governments and 37 development councils of Lagos State, they did so with a lot of expectations that the dividends of democracy would be delivered to them before the expiration of the tenures. But, barely one week to the end of their tenures, the electorate is faced with the hard decision of electing new representatives and retaining some old ones. CityBeats investigations showed that from the Island to the Mainland, there are many neglected pressing community needs. In most places visited, the roads are

By Jude Isiguzo, Toluwani Eniola and Paul Oluwakoya

bad.There are no drainages.There is also the problem of poor environmental management. Residents of Ogundimu Street, Otto, Ebute-Metta, Lagos, are living in pains as the road leading to the street is not accessible because of poor drainage and poorly constructed road. The road has been in that deplorable state for many years. The road leading to Otto Primary

Health Centre, the only one that serves over five communities in the area, is also an eyesore, making it impossible for the sick to get medical attention. The health centre is an island of a sort as it is surrounded by swamp. This reporter found it hard to get to it. Stones and woods were placed on the swampy ground to enable people to pass through. A resident, Mr Joel Gandonu, said: "We constituted a five-man committee to report the issue to the council but we were told that this

road had been done.But how can that be true when we are the ones living here. Even these gutters were constructed by the residents. When it rains, to pass through here is always a problem.This road was motorable. It is no longer accessible. A community leader, Mohammed Olabode, said the bad state of the road makes residents to take a longer route through Akinlolu Street to get to their homes. Olabode, who is the Secretary, Ogundimu Street Residents Association, showed a copy of the letter the body sent to the council to CityBeats. It was dated March 8, 2010. "Since last year, nothing has been done," he said.

The Act of Apostle The Street, off Makoko road has road , Ebutte -Metta, Lagos, a council road, caused is worse. Many minor passers-by were seen accidents using the uncompleted gutters as their walkways. Grasses have taken over the flooded road. Besides, there is a huge refuse dump begging for cleaning. Mr Claudius Akintimehin, the former CDA Chairman of Ayetero Orioke, told CityBeats that the construction of the road was embarked upon by the Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) but the project was stopped because an engineer with the firm constructing the road died. "We have sent an SOS to the chairman to help us fill it with sand but we did not get a reply. This road

•SEE PAGE 40

•Ogundimu Street. Inset: An incompleted drainage at Akinbode Olateju St, Mushin

Food outlet launched THE number of fast food outlets operating in Lagos has swelled up, with the launch of D. Glorious Kitchen. The outlet offers African and English delicacies to customers, as well as outdoor services. It also serves as an avenue for birthdays, weddings and other social events. It’s Chairman, Mr Tunji Ausi, said there are competitive prices for people who want to use the outlet for events. Speaking during the launch of the company, Ausi said the needs of various customers would be met at the outlet. He said he established the company to redefine food business, by providing quality services. Ausi said: “I have been visiting food centres for a very long time, and each time I do, I always observe that most of the foods are not fresh.”

Jonathan to open Lagos Trade Fair THE Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)has said President Goodluck Jonathan will declare this years’s Lagos International Trade Fair open. The week long fair with the theme: Increasing competiveness of Nigerian products in global markets, will be opened on November 4. Addressing reporters on the event, the Vice President and Chairman, Trade Promotion Board of LCCI, Alhaji Remi Bello, said the Chambers’ theme for the year was a demonstration of its readiness to motivate public-private sector collaboration towards providing an enabling environment for business to thrive and to encourage local industrial operators to improve on quality.

Youths pledge support for council chief PARTY leaders and youths of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area(LCDA) have pledged their support for the reelection of the council Chairman, Hon Hakeem Bamgbola. Led by the Women leader, Alhaja Bisi Salami and Femi Ogunsanwo, the Youth leader, the group hailed Bamgbola for his achievements in office. They said the council boss has justified the confidence reposed in him by the party and people of the council. They added that the council chief has performed creditably well, especially in education, primary health care, good welfare package for the people, road network and peace within Itire -Ikate community.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

CITYBEATS Lagosians take stock ahead of council poll

A portion of the road on Omidiji Street in Otto

•The road leading to Otto Primary Health Centre

• Link road between Otto Central and Otto/Ilogbo extension

•Continued from page 39 has caused minor accidents because many people fall into the gutters. Assuming this gutter had been covered with concrete slabs, people will not fall. Whenever we see the chairman, we always discuss it with him. "We also need the government to help us evacuate the heap of refuse in this place to avert an environmental problem. We plead for immediate intervention. Comrade Agbodemu Ishola, Publicity Secretary, Lagos State Marginalised Community Forum (LAMCOFOR), berated the council for embarking on projects that can't stand the test of time. "This is my 42 years of living in Yaba and Ebutte Metta. The local government has failed the people. If you look at our community, there is no development. Most of the roads done by past government have deteriorated. "Where I reside at Otto-Ilogbo extension area of Apapa Road is far from development. I am the CDA chairman of that community. We have sent letters and complaints to my immediate community. Despite the agitation, no single project was done in my community. "The Otto Primary Health Centre built by the Lagos Mainland Local Government chairman has no good medical facilities; even the road leading to the centre is not motorable. How will people convey themselves there. Landlords in the community have also written to the chairman but no response. The boreholes were not done properly.” In Ikeja, the story is not different as many community roads are in deplorable states. The end of Oba Akinjobi Road opposite Ghana Embassy is very bad. Efforts by the residents drew the attention of the Ikeja Local Government which repaired the road not too long ago, but the job was poorly done. In less than three months, the road became worse than before. Oba Ladejobi Street, in Ikeja GRA, is an eyesore. The street hosts three security and government agencies , but it is not accessible. .According to a senior police officer, who spoke with CityBeats on the condition of anonymity, the street hosts the senior officers'

The Otto Primary Health Centre built by the Lagos Mainland Local Government chairman has no good medical facilities; even the road leading to the centre is not motorable

‘

’

quarter of the Lagos State Police Command is. Over 1,000 officers including Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), Area Commanders (AC) and the mobile force commanders reside there. Investigation also revealed that the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, and the Aide de Camp (ADC) of state governors were picked from the quarters. The headquarters of National Human Right Commission (NHRC) and National Agency for the Prohibition in Trafficking of Persons (NAPTIP) is also on the street. The source said: "The road is not more than 400 metres and shouldn't be difficult for the government to do. The fact that these police officers,who sacrifice a lot to serve the country live there should, naturally, draw the attention of the government. Policemen can be called upon at any time if there is distress in any part of the state. Does the local government chairman want our officials and private cars to be damaged . "What is their problem with that road? It has been there for over four years and nothing has been done. Fajuyi Street is not different.This is where the police headquarter is located. The road is in a terrible condition. There is no drainage in Ikeja GRA so whenever it rains, all the streets are flooded. Now that it is glaring that this local government administration has failed in its responsibility, the incoming one should live up to its

ROADS IN BAD SHAPE IN SOME COUNCILS •Link road between Otto central and Otto/Ilogbo extension •Abandoned drain work beside Olotto Palace •Portion of bad road on Omidiji Street in Otto •Esugbayi street to the Otto PHC Clinic •Frontage of Otto PHC Clinic • Part of Ogundimu Street • Part of Akinlolu Street, Ebute-Metta •Oba Ganiyu Odesanya road (formerly Bridge road) •Wright street, Adekunle in Yaba LCDA • Old Akute Road, Iju-Ishaga •Obawole Estate road •Yaya Abatan-College Road • Mufutau Shobola road • Iyanu-Ibiye Estate Road, Badagry Express Way •Act of Apostle Street Off Makoko Road, Ebute-Metta •Oba Ladejobi Street Ikeja. •Akinbode Olateju, Mushin. •February 27 Road, Ejigbo Association St, Ilamoshe Estate, Jakande Road • Incomplete project in Ipaja/Ayobo

1. Fire and Safety Services Control Room Phone Nos: 01-7944929; 080-33235892; 080-33235890; 08023321770; 080-56374036.

2. Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Lagos Zonal Command Phone No: 080-77690200; 01-7742771 Sector Commander Phone No: 080-776909201; 01-2881304 FRSC Emergency No: 070-022553772

EMERGENCY LINES 3. LASTMA Emergency Numbers: 080-75005411; 080-60152462 080-23111742; 080-29728371 080-23909364; 080-77551000 01-7904983

4. KAI Brigade Phone Nos: 080-23036632; 0805-5284914 Head office Phone Nos: 01-4703325; 01-7743026 5. Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Phone Nos: 070-55350249; 070-35068242 080-79279349; 080-63299264 070-55462708; 080-65154338

responsibility. At Akinbode Olateju Community in , Mushin, under the Odiolowo/ Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA), efficient drainage system has been the most pressing need of the community.The only drainage has remain incompleted for many years. The gutter had been in deplorable state since 2006 when government officials last visited the project. The gutter , which is clogged with debris , has constituted health threat to residents. The Chairman of Olateju Community Development Area CDA Mr. Ajayi Felix, told CityBeats that the community has made countless calls in the last three years to the government for help but these yielded no attention. The residents said the incumbent LCDA chairman, Aremo Adeyemi Alli has not fulfilled his promise to construct the drainages. “This area needs unrgent intervention.The council needs to clear the drainage system and complete the project. A resident , who identified herself as Iya-Ijebu , said residents in the area have been enduring the unpleasant odour oozing from the gutter. When the Action Congress Nigeria( ACN) dropped Mr Demola Doherty , who was eyeing a second term ticket of the party Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government , many residents heaved a sigh of relieve. Reason: many alleged that Doherty was a non performer. Many of the residents said they would have voted against the party if Doherty has been re-presented by the party. Many of the roads were in a very terrible stage, with residents almost swearing that most of these roads were worse than he met them three years ago. "Doherty, who pledged to repair at least three roads per month across the council, and boasted that he would have repaired at least 108 roads at the end of his tenure, had barely scratched the surface as the curtain falls on his regime. At the last count, hardly could you point to 15 roads that the man constructed in three years, with the same number of drainage. With that abysmal failure, his failure to clinch the ticket is a tragedy foreknown," a top chieftain of the party told CityBeats last week. A market women leader, who preferred not to be mentioned, said it was painful that Doherty could not provide a market in the council. "All that we saw all through the 36 months were promises. He was long on promises and short on delivering them," she told CityBeats. A notable human rights lawyer and resident of the council, who also declined to be mentioned, described Doherty as a weak chairman. "The man did nothing in this council, you cannot even count on his words.. The case of Ipaja-Ayobo Road is not different from other craterlittered Lagos roads in the sense that, just before the last general elections, the government erected huge sign posts at some points on the road, announcing the award of contract for the road's rehabilitation. The commencement of the contract execution dated May,2011 is also indicated, on the sign posts erected at the Mosalashi Bus Stop and Abesan estate main gate. But nothing has being done.

767 or email: rapidresponsesquad@yahoo.com 6. Health Services – LASAMBUS Ambulance Services Phone Nos: 01-4979844; 01-4979866; 01-4979899; 01-4979888; 01-2637853-4; 080-33057916; 080-33051918-9; 080-29000003-5.

"We are all the same. I go to the field with the maximum illusion of a little child who enjoys what he does, not to create conflicts”

Monday, October 17,2011

•van Persie

Suarez 'upset' by Evra’s race claims

Liverpool forward Luis Suarez refuting allegations of racial abuse my Manchester United player, Patrice Evra during their last meeting at Anfield.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

THE CEO

‘Why clients patronise quacks’ The growth of insurance is being hindered by poor infrastructure and low disposable income of most Nigerians. In this interview, the President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Dr. Wole Adetimehin, sheds light on the challenges and what insurers are doing to reposition their operations. CHUKS UDO OKONTA and AKINOLA AJIBADE met him.

OW much impact did the last recapitalisation have on industry? The industry has improved, compared to what we had before the recapitalisation. Companies have become more robust going by their capital base. The capacity to underwrite big businesses is in place and the response of insurers to needs has improved to a great extent. So, out there, people have felt the impact of the recapitalisation; the reform was timely and helped the industry’s growth. You will appreciate that out there, we hardly have people complaining of delays in settlement of claims any more. I think insurers have gone beyond just being liberal, they now rise up to their obligations on time. What else should be done to move the industry forward?

• Adetimehin

Moving the industry forward can be seen from two perspectives. One from the professional angle - from our end as a training institute, saddled with the responsibility of training would-be professionals and setting standards. So, more than ever before, we are building on our efforts, by going a little further to ensure that people are well trained and better equipped for the business. We should be seen as getting people better equipped in terms of their technical expertise. We are not leaving anything to chance, which is one of the essence of developing our college which will be charged with the responsibility of turning out professionals, so that in future, in any industry, institution, you will find an insurance professional to talk to and seek advice from in an appropriate man-

PHOTO: CHUKS UDO OKONTA

ner all the time. How do you hope to achieve this? We are joining forces with other stakeholders to get government to build infrastructure that will propel the growth of the economy. When the economy is growing, all other sectors will grow simultaneously. This, probably, is what accounts for the slow pace of growth in the sector, as the economy is not growing fast enough. It is the function of the growth of the economy that would determine what should be the living wage, how people are being paid, what level of diposable income they have from which they can buy insurance. So, we are joining stakeholders such as the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), financial services sector, real sector and others, to impress

on government that it is high time something drastic was done to develop infrastructure that would propel the growth of the economy. How far has the institute’s 5,000 graduates’ integration initiative fared? The drive to catch 5,000 young graduates was not meant for employment purpose. The drive was meant to mobilise people into the professional fold. First, they have to acquire the required skills that will make them professionals and useful before we can start talking of employment. That, indeed, is the essence of our college. We are making remarkable progress. Within the next two years, the college would have gone full blast in terms of admitting prospective students and turning out trained professionals.

How can the menace of unethical practices be checked? I think we are blowing the issue of unethical practices out of proportion. In any trade or practice, there are bad eggs. I can tell you, globally, there are organs that are set up to discipline erring members. So, insurance cannot be an exception. Take the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), it has disciplinary procedure. They send out their inspectors from time to time to ensure that people operate in accordance with laid-down guidelines. We have our disciplinary organ too. When reports are made to us, the Disciplinary Committee of Council would summon the offenders and necessary action is taken. At the Nigerian Insurers • Continued on page 45

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

THE CEO

‘Why clients patronise quacks’ • Continued from page 44

Association (NIA) level, recently, they commissioned an ombudsman panel, headed by Justice George Oguntade. It abounds all over the place and, I believe, out there, all operators are conscious of the obligations under contract, such that very little or no complaint come from customers. What are the signs the industry will achieve its N1 trillion premium income by next year? This is a function of many fundamentals. Are the right infrastructure in place? How is the growth of the economy? What have we done on the energy crisis? What have we done to reduce unemployment? These are some of the parameters on which the growth of the economy would rely. Not just insurance alone. If we are talking of N1 trillion, yes, it could be a big target. But, in reality, it cannot be achieved in one day. We have to address these fundamentals. I believe the government is doing something along these lines. If the government improves on the infrastructure, the economy will improve. We have seen appreciable growth in the premium income and service delivery of many companies that have released their results. What is your take on the Market Development and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI)? NAICOM came out with this bold initiative that would enable the sector to contribute more to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This initiative has been launched and a lot of campaigns is going on. The rest is left to the operators to tap into and take advantage of it. There is no Act of parliament which anybody should be waiting for again. It is left to operators to develop marketing strategies, while NAICOM, the initiator, will give the necessary support. I believe NAICOM has created the path for everybody to fall in line and take advantage of this good initiative. I want to commend NAICOM for the bold initiative. A lot more is expected from operators, because by doing this, the insuring public would benefit as their lives and properties will be covered. From our institute, we have been canvassing people to take advantage of the initiative. How can the industry be repositioned?

Current developments in the country call for our collaborative effort to reposition the profession and the industry. We are not unmindful of the perception of the insurance profession by the public in our peculiar environment. No doubt, the less than optimal perception of insurance practitioners and the industry needs to be corrected and this we are determined to do. No doubt, the profession is not immune to the vagaries of the economic and political challenges in Nigeria and harsh business environment that has become a big threat to businesses. Going by the current developments, it is high time all practitioners rose to this common challenge by charting a common destiny. How are operators repositioning their businesses to allign with the initiative? When it comes to awareness, it can never be enough. There are initiatives that would promote the acceptability of our products, but insurance is a long-term business. We are talking of a lot of people contributing into a pool which is used to settle a claimant. More importantly, I am an advocate of improved lifestyle for the working populace of this nation where people could be seen to be earning a living wage that would leave enough disposable income for them to buy insurance. Let us be frank with ourselves, we need to do quite more in developing our economy. When more people are employed, the demand for goods and services will increase. We need to address the fundamentals. Nigerians are industrious,

they are not indolent. When things begin to work as expected, we would rival the Japan of this world. What is CIIN doing to enhance the sector’s development? The CIIN has continued to gauge the pulse of development in the financial services sector, especially the global financial realities which have made the vulnerability of the developed economies, including ours obvious. We will, therefore, remain resolute on the enthronement of the code of good corporate governance and best practice. This we will pursue through the continuing deployment of our training and retraining modules to keep insurance managers abreast of the global dictates of good business governance. Are operators keying into the opportunities provided by the local content policy? It is a gradual process. When it started our participation was low, but it has improved. Now, many insurers are underwriting oil and gas. In the short run, the portfolio of most operators may not be large, but over time as they build reserves, they will increase their stakes. The capital base of companies in Nigeria is reasonably large, more than what you would find on this continent. Even in Europe and America, our capital base is larger than most firms. The facts remain that we are not doing enough business with it. That is why some of the operators have to move to the west coast. How are you dealing with quacks?

‘Current developments in the country call for our collaborative effort to reposition the profession and the industry. We are not unmindful of the perception of the insurance profession by the public in our peculiar environment’

• Adetimehin

I would say the issue of quacks can be likened to fake products in pharmaceutical and some other sectors. Why do we have quacks? Every thing boils down to the state of our economy. When there is enough for every body to do, quack, fakes would disappear. Because many people cannot afford to buy insurance since they do not have much of disposable income, the tendency is that you would see some people trying to cut corners. The regulator has taken a bold step to deal with the menace and under the NIA, they are coming up with a comprehensive data and are working with the various security agencies to get rid of fake documents. Is the industry getting the needed attention from the government? Government is set up to make laws and enforce them. We are to join hands with government to ensure that the laws are obeyed. To enhance our relationship with the government, we are working on an initiative – Insurance and Governmental Relations Programme of Activities (IGRP) that will objectively promote insurance awareness among the three tiers of government.

‘Nigeria’s business environment hostile’ Many investors have come to see Nigeria as a desert in terms of investment because of epileptic power supply. In this interview with AMIDU ARIJE, a member of the Institute of Directors (IoD), Chief Uche Edom, bemoans the prostrate economy. Rail The rail system worldwide has proven to be one of the effective means of movement of goods and services. So, the importance of an efficient railway system in Nigeria cannot be overemphasised. It is sad that after the 50th celebration of our independence, we are yet to have an efficient railway system. The infrastructure are dilapidated despite the billions of naira and dollars said to have been spent on purchasing trains. Yet, we still see old locomotives. The road networks are bad and a better rail system is what this country needs. • Edom

Nationalisation of banks

HE nationalsation of some banks is a healthy development. Although, it has its pitfalls because the former shareholders lost their stakes. As it is, there is stability in the sector, which is good for the economy. We know the sad experiences that we had during the banking crisis in the early 90s. Many people lost their life savings; I am sure that led to this proactive measure by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to save depositors from that agony. We are looking forward to a robust economy, seeing the banks supporting businesses, particularly small scale ones, because that is the engine of economic growth of any nation. Banks should also support the agricultural sector, manufacturing; and by and large, we foresee enormous growth for this country in the nearest future. With good banks, more money will be available, thereby growing and stabilising the economy.

Foreigners’ domination of construction sector It is a pity that the government does not have confidence in its people. The construction industry is very large and part of the problem we have, as a nation, is decay in infrastructure. The much any Nigerian would ask are good roads for effective movement. Because of the handicap we have in the rail system, 98 per cent of goods pass through the roads, resulting in a heavy impact on the life span of the roads. So, in the construction sector, indigenous

companies are not faring well.

What is responsible? It is because of apathy on the part of government towards indigenous contractors. There are professionals in the sector. Nigeria has competent civil engineers, instead of empowering and encouraging them government prefers foreigners. Some of them have not been tested. A lot of them are not core engineers. It is because of their skin that the contracts are awarded to them. Once they come here, they are given an edge over Nigerians. Ninety per cent of construction services are given to foreign companies, when there are indigenous companies that have equal capacity and competence to deliver some of the projects. Therefore, the indigenous companies are not getting a fair share of what they should be doing in Nigeria.

Energy supply Energy is the driving force behind the economy of any country. In advanced countries, there is hardly anything you can do without electricity. The trains, heating system, manufacturing industries are powered

‘Many companies have left Nigeria because of poor electricity supply. You practically have to power yourself before you can do anything in Nigeria. That has practically turned off investors because no entrepreneur wants to set up a business and end up within a couple of years.’

by electricity. Many industries in Nigeria have gone comatose due to lack of electricity supply. Entrepreneurs are not encouraged to set up industries any more in Nigeria. In fact, many companies have left Nigeria because of poor electricity supply. You practically have to power yourself before you can do anything in Nigeria. That has practically turned off investors because no entrepreneur wants to set up a business and end up within a couple of years. So, the importance of energy is very crucial, and this country must address it quickly. Sixty per cent of the operating cost of a manufacturer in Nigeria today is on generation of power. The operating environment in Nigeria is very hostile.

Insecurity It is appalling that the security situation is getting out of hand. In the past, we hardly hear of the spate of bombings, kidnappings, armed robbery, killings and disturbances in Nigeria today. As an entrepreneur, I am not even sure of what would happen in the country tomorrow. It is important that the government and the security agencies nip the problems in the bud before they get out of hand.

How to make Nigeria work I know this country has great potentials, huge population and natural resources. What is left is just to tap them. Despite the security problems that we have, you still see foreigners trooping in everyday. Of course, the Local Content Policy Bill that has just been passed in the House of Representatives is a plus on the part of the present government. This country has people that can do the job, but due to political considerations, a few unqualified ones are given the job and they fail to deliver.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

PERSONAL FINANCE

Email: taofad2000@yahoo.co.uk

Investor’s Worth

An editor’s portfolio of interests

OST people may not remember the journalistic background of Otunba Adekunle Ojora, one of Nigeria’s most outstanding investors and entrepreneurs. But Ojora studied and pursued a career in journalism. A graduate of Journalism from the London Polytechnic, Otunba Ojora had worked as an assistant editor at BBC London and later in the Nigeria Broadcasting Service. He resigned from the Federal Civil Service in 1961 and pitched tent with the UAC of Nigeria (UACN) as a public relations manager. He rose to the enviable position of the second Nigerian to be appointed a director. From this point, Ojora has risen over the decades to become one of Nigeria’s corporate icons and astute investors. In 1971, he became the first Nigerian to be appointed chairman of a multi-national oil company, AGIP Nigeria Limited. An investor with diverse interests, Ojora has equity stakes in several companies across several sectors of the economy including oil and gas, food and beverages, insurance, office equipment, pharmaceutical, real estate and financial sectors. With significant stakes in several quoted companies, Ojora has shown shrewd investment management skills with diversification across asset classes and within a class of asset, diversification across several sectors. His interests in quoted and

unquoted equities as well as investments in real estate and other private concerns have ensured that he sustains his profile as one of the leading lights of the investment community. Ojora holds the largest single shares among the directors of Seven-Up Bottling Company. With a seven-digit shareholding, he is one of the 20 shareholders with the largest stakes in the soft drink bottling company. He also holds significant equity stake in NCR Nigeria Plc, a quoted computer and office equipment, which he chairs the Board of Directors. Both NCR and Seven-Up Bottling Company hold leading positions in their sectors. NCR is the highest-priced computer and office equipment company while Seven-Up Bottling Company is the third highest-priced stock in the elite food and beverages sector. Both companies are valued at more than N31 billion. Ojora is also known to have equity stakes in Ecobank Nigeria among other financial stocks. Ojora had interests in several other unquoted companies including Sadelmi Nigeria Limited, Gearheart West Africa Limited, Dresser Manufacturing Company Limited, Flopetrol Nigeria Limited, Associated Pharmaceutical Products Limited, Avon Products Nigeria Limited, Nigeria Hardwares Industries, Lagos Investment Limited, Ivory Products Limited, Ikoyi Estates Development Limited, Niger Link Industries, Capi-

•Ojora

tal Trust Brokers and Evans Brothers Nigeria Limited. Ojora holds numerous positions of honour in local, bilateral and national business associations. He has served on the Councils of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Nigerian Association of Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Nigeria-British Chamber of Commerce. A member of Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), British Institute of Management and British Institute of Public Relations, Ojora is also a Fellow of British Institute of Directors and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations. He has also many traditional titles and honorary awards. He became the Otunba of Lagos in 1979 and Lisa of Ile-Ife in 1981. In 1982, he was honoured with the national award of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR).

Ask a Broker

HIS appears to be the season for rights issue. With rights issues by many companies, it is important for shareholders to understand how they can optimise their rights. Rights issue statutorily entitles every shareholder to benefit from the supplementary offer. As such, rights, or shares being offered under rights issue, are pre-allotted to shareholders on the basis of their shareholdings. But with the understanding that not all shareholders may be

What is renunciation? interested or be in position to take up their allotted shares, the company making the issue provides shareholders with a window to reject their allocations. This is technically called renunciation, simply meaning that the shareholder renounces his entitlement for other to take up. A letter of renunciation is usually attached to rights document for partial or full

renunciation. Partial renunciation occurs where the shareholder picks up a part of his allotment while full renunciation gives up the entire allotment. With the window of opportunity provided by trading in rights on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), shareholders can trade their rights, which are usually priced at discount, at premium on the secondary market.

Ways and Means

Advantages of mortgage finance

RECENT SURVEY of themiddle class found that most Nigerians do own their homes. The survey not only indicated a huge home ownership gap but it also unearthed the acute lack of knowledge and interest in alternative housing finance other than self finance. According to the survey, nearly two-third, of respondents lived in leased or rented accommodation, a finding that could be generalised for the Nigerian population. Nearly half of the survey sample had no immediate plan to move house, 18 per cent were planning to move to a newly completed self-owned apartment while eight per cent were planning to move to another rented apartment. Investing in real estate is the biggest investment of most of the respondents. When asked what investments they planned in the next 12 months, 19 per cent cited starting a business while 17 per cent and 15 per cent chose investing in land and purchasing real estate property.

However, the survey found that 84 per cent of Nigerians have never applied for a loan and worse still, between 75 and 80 per cent of respondents had no intention of applying for a loan in the short to medium term. Given the low disposable income range of most Nigerians, realising their dreams of selfowned homes have increasingly become difficult. Housing is a capital intensive project that often time requires life-long savings to achieve. But with innovative financial products, low-income newcomers and existing homeowners can rest under their own roofs as well as build a good portfolio of real estate investments. One of these financial products is the Stanbic IBTC Bank home loans, a three-variety bouquet that meets the requirements of a just-starter as well as an avid property magnate. The first of the three varieties is the mortgage finance for already completed house with valid titles. The second variety known as equity release allows a property owner to borrow on the back of his prop-

Effecting changes in shareholder’s details (2)

erty so that he can buy or build another one. Under the plan, Stanbic IBTC Bank gives as much as 80 per cent of the recent valuation of the house to enable the owner build or buy another house. Besides, a house owner can use his house to borrow for other non-real estate businesses, subject to a ceiling to be determined by the bank. The third product under the Stanbic IBTC Bank Home Loans known as off plan building loan provides mortgage finance to anyone that wants to buy a house under construction. With a deposit of 20 per cent of the cost of the project, the bank will provide the balance of 80 per cent to complete the project. During the construction phase, the beneficiary will only pay interest on the loan and upon completion of the project; the outstanding balance will be converted into mortgage finance under the first product. The bank only requires a proof of status as an employee or self-employed person with traceable cash flow for anyone to benefit from these products.

HANGE of signature: The signature is a major foolproof security in the shareholding mechanism designed to safeguard the ownership. As such, the request for a change of signature usually goes through a strenuous confirmation process before the new signature is superimposed on the old one. To effect a change of signature, the shareholder will write a duly signed letter requesting for change of signature to the Registrar and particularly specify the old signature and the new signature. On receiving the letter, the Registrar will confirm the authenticity of the signature on the letter by scrupulously comparing it with the one in the register of members. In the event of any slight doubt as to the regularity or genuineness of the signature, the Registrar will request the shareholder to provide banker confirmations of the old and new signature. However, with the Know Your Customer (KYC) rule at the stock market, which mandates stockbrokers to keep vital details of their clients, a duly endorsed photocopy of the KYC form may be accepted in place of banker confirmation. To hasten and ease the process of confirmation, shareholder may attach the KYC form or banker confirmation of the signatures to the letter for the change of signature. Consolidation of accounts: Every shareholding is registered in an account, which is usually indicated in the share certificate and other subsequent documents such as dividend warrants. Due to a number of reasons, a shareholder may end up with several accounts relating to his shareholding in a company. It is advisable to consolidate the accounts for effective portfolio management. To consolidate shares’ accounts, the shareholder will write a duly-signed letter requesting for consolidation of the accounts. The letter must outline the accounts to be consolidated and the preferred account to be retained. The Registrar may also use his discretion to consolidate the accounts into one of the accounts where the shareholder did not specify. The Registrar will subject the letter to usual verification process and if satisfied about its authenticity, consolidate the accounts as required. Change of e-dividend account: Beside the traditional dividend warrant, the stock market now operates direct electronic transfer of dividends to specified shareholders’ bank accounts. The Registrar usually makes available the E-Dividend Mandate Forms to shareholders to authorise the Registrar to directly credit their bank accounts. Once the mandate form is filled, signed and deposited at the Registrar’s office, it becomes a binding authority and it requires another authorisation to effect any change in the mandate. The process for change of e-dividend account is largely similar to other changes. The shareholder will write a duly signed letter to

By Taofik Salako

the Registrar requesting for the change of e-dividend account. He will obtain and fill a new mandate form and attach this to the letter. Upon confirmation of the signature, the Registrar will effect the change and subsequently post all dividends to the new account. Change of details of a deceased: Changing the details of a living shareholder is usually easier since he can physically present his documents. However, one of the most difficult relationship problems between shareholders and registrars is the issue of change of name and authorities including signature and mandates of a deceased to that of an administrator or beneficiaries. With the high emotion that usually traces death in this part of the world, demand for professional requirements on the part of the registrar, who necessarily should symphatise with the deceased’s relatives but must be emotionally detached, and the general expectations of the bereaved persons that the magnitude of their loss should weigh in on official protocols and circumvent the process usually create a fertile ground for discontent. More importantly, the nature of death in this clime compounds the problem. Death is usually sudden, even at the good old age of eighty and above. It mostly meets the victim without any written will, disjointed financial plan and with several often-conflicting verbal and written wishes, which many may not stand test of legality or known to counterparts. Registrars, pension officials and insurers among others are often confronted with several indications of separate next of kin and beneficiaries in documents relating to the same deal, without renunciation of earlier appointment. The corruption of the African communal family system by the nucleus-centric western system befuddles the process, with death usually a source of many difficult, sometime irreconcilables, differences between the parties. Religions also throw many issues into the melee. Most religions recognise the rights of dependants including identified extended family members to benefit from the assets of a deceased. Religious documents including marriage and birth certificates are tenable as legal evidence in the Nigerian law system and as such religious beliefs may form part of legal intricacies in deciding the assets of a deceased that died intestate. Besides, poor knowledge of stock market processes, even among so-called professionals, and the emerging nature of the Nigerian capital market (less than 10 per cent of Nigerian population are investing in the capital market and lesser percentage are enlightened about the process) further make the process cumbersome. Thus a combination of grief, emotion, greed and ignorance makes the process of changing

the authorities of a deceased tedious. But changing the shareholder’s details of a deceased, with written will or intestate, can be as easy and quick like any other knowledge-driven process in the stock market. We will discuss the easier of the two states of death, where the deceased left a will, first and then outlined steps necessary in the event of intestate. The major task in changing the shareholder’s details of a deceased that left a will is the proof of that will as authentic by competent court of law. This is technically referred to as probate. Probate is used both for the testing process as well as the official copy of a will with the certificate of its having been proved. Section 148 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (Cama) 1990 states that: the production to a company of any document which is by law sufficient of probate of the will, or letters of administration of the estate, or confirmation as executors, of a deceased person having been granted to some person, shall be accepted by the company as sufficient evidence of the grant, notwithstanding anything in its articles to the contrary. With the presence of the probate, the entire transfer process becomes a lot easier. Alongside the Photostat of the probate, the claimant will additionally provide the following documents to the registrar: Photostat of dearth certificate, banker confirmation of specimen signature(s) of the claimant(s), which usually includes passport photos, CSCS statement of account and or all original share certificates, Photostat of newspaper obituary when available, and a covering letter stating the request and confirming all documents attached and the current address of the claimant(s). The main function of the registrar in this case, like in any other process, is to subject all documents to exacting test of veracity. The registrar may request for the originals of all documents for sighting and it is also legally advisable to formally confirm the probate from the court of origination. A registrar may charge cost for the confirmation of the probate. This varies from institution to institution as well as locations. The registrar may also request the physical presence of the claimant(s). In-house, the confirmation process of the registrar starts from checking that the probate certificate bears necessary details including the name and particulars of the court of origination, the full name of the deceased, the date of death, names of the claimant(s), the date on the probate certificate, list of the shares related to the probate and more importantly, the seal of the court and the signature of the Registrar. Where the registrar has proved correctness of all details and authenticity of all documents, the shares are there and then transferred to claimant(s), who thereof can exercise all authorities on them.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

CAPITAL MARKET AllShareIndex down by 3.38%

CTIVITIES at the Exchange experienced bearish return last week as market index, namely the All Share Index (ALSI) fell by 3.38 per cent. The decrease was ever expected as the European debt crisis still hits harder on capital markets worldwide. The bullish return a fortnight ago is said to be temporary as prices of stocks still dwindled across stocks during the week. Overall market performance determinants; that is, the Market Capitalisation,All share Index and the braIndex® dropped by 3.98 per cent, 3.38 per cent and 2.41 per cent as against the rise recorded a fortnight ago. Banking sector claimed 60 per cent of the total volume of transaction that exchanged hands at the stock market last week. Contribution shows that traders exchanged 0.47 billion units’worth N2.93 billion in 6,942 deals as against 0.65 billion units valued at N3.86 billion in 8,538 deals a fortnight ago. This pointed out that the banking stocks were passively traded at the exchange compared to 66 per cent the penultimate week, returns on banking volume rose by two per cent and the value of money spent on banking stocks stood at 45.46 per cent. The Insurance sector occupied the first runner-up with 37.14 million units worth N 21.12 million in 246 deals. On average evaluation, the Insurance sub-sector accounted for approximately 5.40 per cent of the total activity and 0.33 per cent of the total funds invested at the Exchange during the week under review. Transactional volume shows that Food, Beverages and Tobacco subsector’s performance improved by 0.12 per cent last week. The total weekly value of stocks in this subsector stood at N925.68 million. Shares of Fidelity Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, and First Bank of Nigeria Plc were the toast of investors as they were actively traded in terms of volume and total investment. The Market capitalisation which measures the share price movement rose from N 6.42 trillion a fortnight ago to N 6.53 trillion last week; the All Share Index also increased to 20,507.18 from 20,145.24, representing a 1.79 per cent rise on weekly assessment.Apparently, the braIndex® also rose by 1.68 per cent. All the three market indicators rose last week showing that overall activities in terms of volume and fund invested decrease noticeably. The improvement in returns on both benchmarks was greater than one per cent. On a year-to-date basis, both benchmarks - the NSE All-Share Index and the braIndex® - showed losses of 8.45 per cent and 8.03 per cent. Stock Market Sectoral Performance Investors in the stocks of Fidelity Bank Plc exchanged 96.27 million units in 231 deals worth N 195.40 million. The average number of deals remained well over 77 deals per day during the week. United Bank for Africa Plc was second with 86.39 million shares worth N 356.33 million. In the Insurance sub-sector, AIICO Insurance Company Plc led with 10.46 million shares worth N6.04 million. The sectoral volume amounted to almost 37.14 million units and constituted over 5.40 per cent of the sector’s trading volume. Companies Appraisal Fidelity Bank Plc is the most active company in the Banking subsector with 96.27 million units, followed by the United Bank for Af-

Table 1: A Five-Day Moving Average Data of the Market Indices Change(%)

Market Capitalisation (%)

All-Share

Average Weekly Depth

(2.12)

(1.80)

(1.35)

Year To Date (YTD)

(8.43)

(8.45)

(8.03)

Month To Date (MTD) Week To Date(WTD)

(6.21) (3.98)

(6.27) (3.38)

(5.67) (2.41)

Values

Market Cap(trillion Naira)

All-Share Index

braIndex®

As of closing on October 13, 2011

6.27

19, 812.33

12.95

Source: NSE & bra Limited Table 2: Stock Market Summary Statistics for the week ending Oct. 13, 2011. Period Market Capitalisation (Trillion) 06/10/2011 6.53 07/10/2011 6.44 10/10/2011 6.41 11/10/2011 6.35 12/10/2011 6.32 13/10/2011 6.27 Source: NSE & Bra Limited

All-Share Index (Base Points) 20,507.18 20,225.02 20,106.08 20,012.07 19,925.97 19,812.33

braIndex® (Base Points) 13.27 13.11 13.17 13.14 13.02 12.95

Table 3: Statistics on Weekly Sectoral Contribution Sectors Banking Automobile and Tyre Food, Beverages and Tobacco Petroleum Marketing Insurance Source: bra Limited

% of Total Trading Net Worth 45.46% 0.45% 14.33% 11.30% 0.32%

Trading Net Worth(in Naira Millions ) 2,935.39 29.09 925.68 730.24 21.12

Figure 1a: The All Share Index and braIndex® Performance at a Glance

Source: BRA Computation

rica Plc. United Bank for Africa Plc been the first runner up closed the week at N356.33 million in 851 deals. Among the most active companies in the Insurance sub-sector were Aiico Insurance Plc, Guinea Insurance Plc, International Energy Insurance Plc, Goldlink Insurance Plc and Continental ReInsurance Plc. In the Insurance Industry, AIICO Insurance Plc claimed to be the most active company in the sector. The Autonobile and Tyre Industry was also active in terms of the market value.

Guaranty Trust Plc, Dunlop Plc and RT Briscoe Plc were some of the most active stocks in the sub-sector. Last week, shareholders of Diamond Bank Plc, Bagco Plc, Dangote Flour Mills Plc, WAPCO Plc and Nestle Nigeria Plc saw the value of their investments earning profit less than four percent while investors in Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, UAC of Nigeria Plc, Ashaka Cement Plc and Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc made less than five per cent loss daily. Points to note: The weekly stock market analysis reports the position of the out-

look of the stock of the companies listed on the Exchange and the aggregate market. The NSE closed the 41st trading week on a bearish note on weekly assessment. Activities show clearly that the bearish may continue in the coming week. Historical analysis of trading volume shows that in the new week, the Banking, Insurance and Food, Beverages and Tobacco stocks are likely to continue to be the toast of investors. Disclaimer This report has been prepared for information purposes only and for

private use. Whilst reasonable care had been taken in its production, bra Limited does not guarantee the correctness of its contents nor does the company accept liability for any loss arising from a reliance on its contents. Kindly note that our suggested recommendations and other tactical actions are based on bra Limited best estimates which are guided by generally available information and our Proprietary Tools. This is not an invitation or a solicitation to deal in any stocks and we do not guarantee the future outcome of such recommendation.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

CAPITAL MARKET Bond and Money Market Review

HE money market transaction continues its bearish trend, with bond prices declining throughout the week, a problem which raised concentric reactions among investors last week. The bearish returns continued as market index decreased by 4.40 per cent and capitalisation fell by 4.41 per cent to stand at N1.73 trillion down from a value of N1.81 trillion recorded in the penultimate week. There is a drop of 0.64 per cent in value on daily evaluation. A fortnight ago, the market depreciated noticeably by 0.40 per cent showing the magnitude of the continuous bearish return. The weekly depression was as a result of the decrease in prices of all short and long term instruments, which serves as the major driving force of the overall market performance. One can see that investors are selling their stake in the market to finance the foreign exchange demand. The Federal Goverment of Nigeria (FGN) bond Index began the week at 1,497.60 and closed at 1,431.64 points, falling by 6,596 basis points in support of the sharp drop of 614 basis points a fortnight ago. It ended the week at 1,431.64 points. Average index stayed at 1,461.61 points, compared to 1,499.05 points the previous week. The 30-day and 60-day and 90-day indices rose by 0.92 per cen, 0.79 per cent and 0.79 per cent to claim 17.50 per cent, 17.70 per cen and 18.00 per cent. The volume of market transaction decreased from N1.81 trillion to N1.73 trillion, while the index, on the other side, close at 1,431.64 points, as it started the week with 1,497.60 points. Market capitalisation closed with N 1.73 trillion to end last week transaction as against N 1.81 trillion observed in the penultimate week, the daily changes in the index decreased slightly to close the weekly observation. Index movement represents a noticeable decrease in the market performance supported by the changes on daily examination as it also decreased slightly due to drop in price of some short and long term instruments for foreign exchange financing, these price changes in cited instruments are the major drivers of the market performance a fortnight ago. Among the 15 traded bonds, almost all of the traded bonds have their price decline while some have their price remain unchanged throughout the last week trading. Surprisingly, the prices of short term instruments witnessed depreciation during the trading week. The top price losers was the 20-year bond, 15 per cen FGN November ember 2028, which depreciated by N15.36 to close at 101.44. However, the five-year bond, 10.50 per cent FGN Mar 2018 which also decline by N3.43 to end the week at 94.05. Figure 1 illustrates the year-to-date change in the bra FGN bond Index. The bra FGN bond index is a market value weighted index and is designed to measure the performance of the Nigerian investment-grade fixed income market. Although the index stabilised during most of January and February as shown, it recorded a sharp drop in March as investor outlook turned negative in the bond market in anticipation of elections. The FGN index recorded its biggest decline (108 points) in March losing roughly seven per cen of its value. We observe the stabilisation of the declining trend in April and a gradual recovery in May and June. July follows this recovery trend with index values reaching their March levels. The index stabilised in August closing at 1,512 points on August 26 compared to 1,517 points on July 30. Besides the sharp drop witnessed in Aug 23 to about 1504.4 points, the index sustained its up rise which peaked at 1,525.26 points at September 22. However, the index closed the month at 1503.74. Last week, the Central Bank of Ni-

Bond Market faces prices’decline Table 4: Key Statistics of Market’s Stock Performance as at Oct. 13, 2011 S/N

Company Name

Share Price Gain (‘N)

% of Shares’ Gain by Investors

TOP FIVE GAINERS BY PRICE 01

Diamond Bank Plc

3.39

3.35%

BAGCO Plc

1.90

2.70%

Dangote Flour Mills Plc

6.49

2.20%

WAPCO Plc

40.00

1.26%

Nestle Nigeria Plc

401.00

0.12%

U. A.C of Nigeria Plc

29.80

-4.94%

Julius Berger Nigeria Plc

44.81

-4.98%

Ashaka Cement Plc

14.65

-4.87%

Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc

57.00

-2.58%

Unilever Nigeria Plc

27.00

-1.81%

TOP FIVE LOSERS BY PRICE 01

Source: NSE and bra Limited Indicator Turnover Value Deals FGN Bond Index Market Capitalization Index Weekly Returns (%) Index Year-to-Date Returns (%) 1-Month Returns (%) 3-Month Returns (%) 12-Month Returns (%)

CurrentWeek 197.8 million N160.43 billion 1,301 1,431.64 N1.73 trillion (4.47) 5.23 0.48 4.13 2.97

PreviousWeek 192.8 million N157.84 billion 1,296 1,497.60 N1.81trillion (0.54) 5.30 0.55 4.43 3.89

% Change 2.59 1.64 (4.41) (4.40) (5.01) (0.07) (0.07) (0.30) (0.92) (0.07)

Source: BRA Figure 1: FGN Bond Index

Source: FMDA

Figure 2: Nigerian T-bill Primary Market Auctions

Primary Market Auction

Source: Financial Markets Dealers Association geria (CBN) sold foreign exchange worth $400 million to authorised dealers at the Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) window as against $400 million a fortnight ago. The dealers had demanded $591.66 million before the auction while the actual amount offered stood at $400 million. The over-the-counter bond market notched up by 2.59 per cent last week, yielding N160.43 billion with a turnover of 197.8 million units in 1,301 deals. The amount compared favourably with the N157.84 billion invested on 192.8 million units in

1,296 deals a fortnight ago. The activity was boosted by the 20year bond, due in July 2030 with 10 per cent coupon rate. It traded 41.95 million units valued at N31.30 billion in 316 deals. This was followed by the threeyear bond, 5.5 per cent FGN February 2013, which traded 33.55 million units valued at N30.04 billion in 281 deals. Sixteen of the available 34 FGN bonds were traded during the week, compared with 12 the previous week. In the NTB Primary Market, there two new issues of NTBs with five and 10 years maturities with annual true yields

of 11.27 and 11.53.These rates are slightly above the previous month’s bond auction with true yield of 11.21 for five years issue and 11.44 yields on the 10 years’ issue. However, we observe that the real interest rate on Nigerian seven years’Treasury bill was negative because it was below the current inflation rate. Such observation, if persistent, could discourage both domestic and foreign investors. Notably, the real interest rate on one year Treasury bills auctioned in Ghana was positive, over 11 per cent, which is above their inflation rate of 8.41 per cent.

Nigerian Yield Curves In terms of FGN bonds, there was only one issue with a maturity date three years for a total amount of N25billion. The bond whose yield was 10.5 per cent trades below the observed yield on the same tenor bond issued last month (10.75 per cent). The decrease in FGN bond yield within the period suggests an increase in demand for FGN government debt. Figure 22 shows the volume of the NTB and FGN bond Auctions in Primary Market.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

LABOUR

Textile workers call for revival of industries

EXTILE workers have called on the Federal Government to revive shut down mills to create more jobs . The workers, under the aegis of National Union of Textiles Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), also appealed for sustenance of the ailing ones to save jobs. The call was made at the 23rd annual education conference of the union. General Secretary of the union, Comrade Isa Aremu, faulted President Jonathan’s claim that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is growing at about 17 per cent, as he wondered who drives the growth. Aremu said since the growth does not affect Nigerians in terms of jobs creation and employment, then there is no growth. He expressed apprehension over the growing rate of unemployment as he recalled how 195,000 people turned up for the Nigeria Immigration’s call for jobs placement meant for 3,000 people. He commended the state governors who are already implementing the new minimum wage.

Stories by Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

Aremu called for an education forum for governors on the implementation of the minimum wage as some of them do not understand what it is all about. Director-General of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Mr Olusegun Oshinowo, disagreed with the government’s official unemployment rate of 15 per cent, saying it is between 30 and 35 per cent. He said unemployment is a big concern to employers than government, and so called for policy formulation that would keep people employed. “When the health of a business takes a negative turn , the first casualty is the worker. You can’t talk of workers without a workplace, and you can’t talk of employment without an enterprise… more than ever before, labour and employers should always find an avenue to meet and chart the way forward for workers. He also call for adequate security for businesses in the country. “Survival of the government is a function of the real sector. As

•Textile Union President, Reginald Agulana, flanked by Raji (left) and Aremu

long as there is peace in the Niger Delta, government will survive.” Representative of Lagos State Governor, Mr Wale Raji , a Permanent Secretary, said job creation is one of the cardinal programmes of the state government.

He said Lagos has developed three enterprise zones, and the state will continue to create employment for the people. He, however, commended government for the Textile Intervention Fund, through which he said

the United Nigeria Textile Ltd. (UNTL) has been revived and has employed 1,500 workers. He added that Supatex, another dead textile mill is preparing to come back, also through the assistance of the textile intervention fund.

PERESSA decries telecoms sector indifference to unionisation

•NLC President Abdulwaheed Omar

HE Precision, Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association (PERESSA), Engineer Joseph Rotimi has decried the intolerance for trade un-

ions of some corporate organisations. Members of the association are to be drawn from workers involved in the management of base stations, masts erection and other related services in the telecom sector. He, however, said that efforts to get these workers unionised, however, had been a very tall task as managements seemed indifferent to the course. The union said there were plans to dialogue with the employers on the issue. “We will make them understand we are partners in progress, and enlighten them on the erroneous belief that when workers of an organisation are unionised, they take advantage of that to foment trouble. “We believe so much in the dictum that says ‘’united we stand”,

said PERESSA President Joseph Rotimi. Rotimi charged employers to embrace unionisation, adding that they should not forget that through trade union activities most problems within organisations can be resolved amicably. His words: “The managements that are opposed to unionisation are those who exploit, dehumanise and intimidate their workers. It is funny that workers whom they see as threat and outspoken are either given some money or discouraged to drop the idea. I advise such workers not to be deceived into believing that managements have their interest at heart. They will only use and drop them. We have seen such cases before.” Rotimi called on the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity to wade into the situation to ensure industrial harmony.

Rotimi also lamented the influx of foreigners coupled with the way and manner they (expatriates) undertake jobs that Nigerians can do. “Racial discrimination is still very prominent in our sector. Foreign artisans and exconvicts take over jobs from Nigerians. Most times when they come in they are taught by Nigerian engineers, yet they earn huge salaries and allowances whereas their teachers (Nigerians) are given peanuts,” he stressed. He said what surprised him most was that there were laws meant to check expatriate quota but unfortunately they appeared not to be enforced, giving room for various abuses. He charged the Ministry of Labour to rise up to its responsibilities. He said, the ministry was not doing enough to address the plight of workers. “The ministry is very slow. I expected it to enforce that aspect of the law that prohibits the foreigners from

taking over jobs that Nigerians cannot undertake.’ Another factor militating against unionism, said Rotimi, was management’s ploy to incite workers against themselves. According to him, in some companies, when you attain the post of Assistant Manager you automatically cease to belong to the union. “For us, such staff can be a financial member as whatever negotiation agreed upon will be applied to them and management as well. He said though managements do not participate in union activities but whatever agreement was reached with it as far as workers’ welfare was concerned it, automatically partakes of it. PERESSA urged the government to put a ban on importation, saying the influx of foreign goods had also contributed to the challenges of the industrial sector.

‘Withhold assent to National Health Bill’

HE Federal Government has been told not to approve the National Health Bill (NHB) because of alleged lopsideness. The advice was given by the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (NHWUN). The union accused doctors of dominating areas of importance in the health sector and that assenting to the Bill would further give doctors an edge over other health workers. In a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, dated September 27, 2011, and signed by the President and General Secretary of the union, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and Marcus Omokhuale, the union faulted its exclusion from the membership of the National Council on Health. The labour leaders praised the president for his sensitivity to the voice of Nigerians on key policy issues, especially as packaged in the transformation agenda. The letter stated that their position on the bill was that it was lopsided and should be sent back to the National Assembly for the review of sections that would make it holistic in projecting the needs and aspirations of all members of the health team and Nigerians.

The union recalled some contextual matters relating to the historical background and development of the health bill. Wabba said former Minister of Health, Dr. Eyitayo Lambo, anchored the policy-formulation process that eventually formed the first draft of the bill because of the domination of the medical doctors since 1985, a privilege created by late Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti through Decree No. 10 of 1985, which placed a ceiling on the career prospects of other health professionals and ended their ascensions to directorate positions. They, however, claim that this is a development that has affected efficiency in the sector. If this development (implementation of National Health Bill) is not checked, it might deepen the crises in the sector and give Nigeria poor rating across the world, he added. The union noted the contradictory sections to existing statutory laws in the country which was against government’s transformation agenda and the spirit of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG). The letter reads in part: “Section I, sub-section (i), states thus: “There

is hereby established law for the Federation, the National Health system, which shall define and provide a frame work for standards and regulation of health services. “Our position here is that: The health sector is made up of multiprofessional groups having statutory regulatory bodies (councils and boards) charged with specific responsibilities of defining and providing regulatory standards for the professional practice of each of the groups. The extant laws of the country make these statutory functions that of the National Council on Establishment, as advisory body on matters that relate to Schemes of Service. The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and its state counterparts discharge the responsibilities of setting out the rights and duties of healthcare providers and health workers; whereas the National Council on Health and the Federal Ministry of Health and Establishments are end users. “Section 8 (1) states: There is hereby established, a body to be known as the National Tertiary Hospitals Commission -. Sub section (2) goes further: The commission shall consist of Executive

Chairman, who shall be a medical doctor.” This is obviously derogatory and discriminatory, when a law makes position exclusive for a class of people in a system that has multi-professional groups. This is ultra-vires and against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” MHWUN stated that the commission was administrative and by arrogating the headship of various administrative positions in the health sector exclusively to the medical doctors, adding that it further leaves one in doubt about the sincerity of the bill. The union went down history lane by recalling what obtains in some parts of the world. It sees nothing wrong in other professions besides medicine directing the affairs of the Health ministry. “Permit us to mention what is the prevailing international practice: In the US – the Secretary of Department of Health and Human services is headed by Kathleen Sebelins; she was the former Governor of Kansas State and holds a Bachelors Degree in Arts and a Masters in Public Administration. “In the UK – the Department of Health is headed by a secretary of State of the rank of cabinet Minis-

•Health Minister Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu

ter, Rt. Honourable Andy Burnham MP. He holds a Masters of Arts (MA) in English language. “In Japan – Akira Nongatsma Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare – is not a medical doctor. “In India – Ghulam Azai holds an M.Sc degree in Zoology. Botswana as well, which is rated the best in health care delivery by W.H.O has an accountant as the Minister. She succeeded Mrs. Motsumi, a nurse.”

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

LABOUR boss TUC canvasses NNPC’s unbundling MRA receives award T T

HE Trade Union Congress (TUC) has said unbundling of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) will solve the nation’s fuel problems. In an interview with The Nation, President-General of TUC, Comrade Peter Esele, said the unbundling will solve 50 per cent of the petroleum products’ problems because proper business would be run from the companies that would emerge from it. “We are saying, unbundle NNPC. It is the more you look, the less you see. Until you unbundle NNPC, to make it run like a business, it will be difficult to get results. If they take care of NNPC, that will take care of 50 per cent of Nigeria’s fuel problem. If you talk about gas to power, it is from NNPC. You cannot even have power without the NNPC being run the way it should be. “Now we are saying unbundle NNPC. It is laughable when you hear the Senate President complain that there are too many Petroleum Industry Bills (PIB) in circulation. It is disturbing and it speaks volume of who we are as a people. Are they saying that the social network between the Presidency and the Senate President has been compromised that the Presidency cannot send the new PIB to the Senate President, that the Senate President would say before Nigerians that there are too many PIB Bills in circulation, that they don’t even know which one is around now? Esele also lamented the ill-timing of the proposed subsidy removal. He said it should have been done a long time ago when the price of crude dropped to $40 per barrel, adding that TUC is in full support of deregulation. He said: “When you look at the whole chain of events, with Yar’Adua, we had a plan. I went to them, deregulate, it was $40 per barrel. But the short-sightedness didn’t make them do it. They said they wanted to recoup whatever they expended. By the time the president got wind of that, he wasn’t happy about it that they didn’t deregulate at that time. “It should have been done when they started the ring-fence with

HE Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Mr Edetaen Ojo, has been rewarded for his role in the passage of the Freedom of Information Act early this year and his campaign for access to information across Africa. An award was conferred on him at the recent Pan African Conference on Access to Information (PACAI) in Cape Town, South Africa. Mr Labaran Maku, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Communication, presented the award to him on behalf of the conference organisers at an awards night and reception attended by about 1,000 delegates from all over the world.

Prison service promotes 33

•From left: Salako, Esele and former President, Sanni Adeshina Lasisi Stories by Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

Tanimu Yakubu, who was the Economic Adviser to the President. And we were able to channel the key areas where there were challenges. I would have carried placard, if Nigerians wanted to blame me, I would say, “yes, we have to deregulate, if we have a plan that we can go to bed with, unfortunately with all the body language and all the way they are going about it, I am not having as much confidence anymore. And if we get this thing wrong, with the height of unemployment and insecurity in the land, I wish everybody the best.” He said all the talk and assurances by successive governments

to channel deregulation proceeds to address infrastructure do not add up. “They are saying they want to provide infrastructure. This is what we’ve been hearing all these years. Yar’Adua said he wanted to ring- fence what will come in from the subsidy. Up till this moment, the President and the governors are not telling us how they are going to ring-fence this money. Ringfencing means they are going to know how much will be coming in from the subsidy removal. “When you get this money, what are you going to use it for? Is it going to be for sharing at the end of every month? he asked. And we cannot track the money.

‘When you look at the whole chain of events, with YarAdua, we had a plan. I went to them, deregulate, it was $40 per barrel. But the shortsightedness didn’t make them do it. They said they wanted to recoup whatever they expended. By the time the president got wind of that, he wasn’t happy about it that they didn’t deregulate at that time’

We cannot do Value for Money (VFM) audit for every money that is expended by the government. They want to compare us with the United States. Every cent that is expended by the American President is tracked.” “If they deregulate with the way they are going, and they don’t put their house in order, this roof will fall on everybody. Why I am saying that is, it is not a matter of Peter Esele, it is not about NLC or TUC, it is about Nigerians. If you can pay N150, you would only be complaining in your bedroom. Don’t expect that we are the ones that will always put our feet on the ground. The majority of us can also pay the N150, but the bottom line is that we have to look at the economy from a composite perspective.” The TUC President, however, maintained that deregulation is a good policy provided it is handled well. “What TUC has always said is that there are conditions that must be put in place. I saw the National Economic Council meeting resolution, supporting it and the body language of the governors makes me want to cry, because the body language was that we can go to hell, they are going to do what they want to do.”

HE Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) in Enugu State has promoted no fewer than 33 officers to different cadres. Decorating the newly promoted officers last Thursday in Enugu, the Acting Controller of Prisons in the state, Mr Ifeanyi Iwobi, urged them to take advantage of their elevation to enhance their productivity. Iwobi expressed delight that the Federal Government had enhanced the welfare of the staff as well as facilities in the prison. “ The pay in the prison service is very fine. People are rushing to join the prison service because of the good pay. “ Our Comptroller-General is doing very fine. A lot of improvement has happened in terms of accommodation and equipment for work,’’ he said. Some of the decorated officers expressed gratitude to the service for promoting them and promised to be more dedicated. Mrs Victoria Okoisu, who was promoted to Assistant Controller of Prisons (ACP), commended the president for keeping to his pledge on the 35 per cent affirmative action. According to her, by promoting women in the service, the president has matched action with promises.

NUBIFIE president, treasurer removed •‘Our removal is illegal’

HE President and Treasurer of the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE), Mr Ade Martins Odigie and the Treasurer, Peter Ighegue, have been relieved of their posts. They were removed at an emergency domestic meeting at the union’s national secretariat in Lagos. The secretary of the union, Olusegun Ola was directed to proceed on compulsory leave. Odigie was elected in January following the impeachment of former President Hassan Adeleke. NUBIFIE Acting President Comrade Peter Okafor told reporters that Odigie did not act according to the mandate given him. Okafor said the officers were given fair hearing before their removal through the Independent Probe Committee set up by the union but they allegedly refused to appear before the panel. “In line with our constitution and the usual resolve of the union to give

fair hearing to any erring officer, an Independent Probe Committee was set up to unravel the facts... “The Committee has since done its work, but while in the process of the Committee’s work, the affected officers were invited to either come and shed more light in the face of emerging facts or defend themselves against such facts. Unfortunately, they refused to appear before the committee that was duly constituted by a constitutional organ of the union and in line with the requirement of the union’s constitution.” Okafor listed the officers’ alleged offence to include: •Failure of the general secretary and president to call for regular constitutional organs meeting. •Trip to Geneva without approval. •Frivolous and unproductive trips. •Taking certain actions without approval by the National Administrative Council (NAC). •Operating ... without the union’s approval. •Operating ... in an imprudent man-

•Okafor (middle) and others singing after the meeting.

ner. •Non-rendition of report on the delegates’ conference ... as required by the constitution, and •Purchase of vehicles without due process. Thirty-seven officers signed the minutes of the meeting.

Reacting, Odigie said his removal was uncontitutional and unacceptable because it was carried out by only the National Administrative Council (NAC) members in Lagos. He said: “That is why we have been carrying on. We held our NEC meeting in Lokoja on Wednesday, out of

the 16 state councils that we have, 13 were in attendance. “The president and general secretary are to summon a meeting according to our contititution, so there was no meeting before they removed us.”

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 14-10-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 7 7

Quotation(N) 7.33

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 86,000 638,100.00 86,000 638,100.00

Quotation(N) 1.95 5.80

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 52,691 107,212.90 136,237 800,342.05 188,928 907,554.95

Quotation(N) 0.50 1.70

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,056,577 528,288.50 195,567 336,376.25 1,252,144 864,664.75

Quotation(N) 5.00 3.23 2.25 4.00 1.79 9.10 12.60 9.30 4.72 1.31 3.58 0.68 0.66 11.87

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 53,832,904 259,705,364.90 5,659,500 18,282,750.60 182,871 417,140.40 2,843,591 11,375,672.50 6,030,800 10,699,532.64 45,246,067 408,120,281.27 40,446,371 482,472,992.68 7,377,691 68,605,290.60 1,226,034 5,678,396.48 1,303,331 1,673,432.28 44,958,667 160,985,529.79 6,334,811 4,049,978.91 590,280 391,393.20 59,772,618 694,632,310.60 275,805,536 2,127,090,066.85

Quotation(N) 205.00 5.76 86.01

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,261,413 257,527,859.69 54,245 297,262.60 2,901,593 248,496,104.12 4,217,251 506,321,226.41

Quotation(N) 14.00 5.96 96.00 40.01

Quantity Traded Value 743,785 103,870 50,954 1,586,254 2,484,863

Quotation(N) 9.36 18.91 5.11

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,769 25,917.84 324,129 6,220,493.54 2,000 9,720.00 328,898 6,256,131.38

AIR SERVICES Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 5 27 32

AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 19 22 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 156 20 17 42 63 704 524 32 61 27 173 35 15 551 2,420 BREWERIES

Company Name GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 82 6 128 216 BUILDING MATERIALS

Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 63 6 22 33 124

of Shares (N) 10,372,738.42 619,093.20 4,886,373.63 64,139,037.06 80,017,242.31

CHEMICAL & PAINTS Company Name BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 6 35 1 42

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 11 11

Quotation(N) 2.22

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 505,000 1,119,990.00 505,000 1,119,990.00

Quotation(N) 1.90 30.55 0.70 29.80 27.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 8,224 14,885.44 242,667 7,204,300.93 3,269,700 2,288,790.00 259,565 7,416,990.45 222,600 5,860,416.67 4,002,756 22,785,383.49

CONGLOMERATES Company Name A. G. LEVENTIS (NIGERIA) PLC PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 7 42 22 48 44 163 CONSTRUCTION

Company Name JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC ROADS NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 16 1 17

Quotation(N) 42.57 5.63

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 183,372 7,815,555.94 265 1,566.15 183,637 7,817,122.09

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name CUTIX PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 9 9

Quotation(N) 1.90

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 118,244 215,309.04 118,244 215,309.04

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 P. S. MANDRIDES PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC TANTALIZERS PLC UTC NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 37 61 42 58 12 1 1 24 48 1 1 289

Quotation(N) 48.00 14.00 6.49 6.50 58.50 2.75 5.66 1.62 4.18 400.50 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,308 105,244.80 135,474 1,849,805.77 368,953 2,388,596.99 1,008,072 6,585,389.10 1,486,809 86,958,323.65 339,000 928,519.04 100 566.00 1,000 1,540.00 387,018 1,599,760.86 541,943 217,074,435.55 2,000 1,000.00 700 350.00 4,273,377 317,493,531.76

Quotation(N) 5.31 0.90 1.04 27.00 2.99 1.29 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 800 4,040.00 82,425 74,638.50 194,391 196,317.09 36,262 934,607.80 29,462 85,191.80 174,421 221,927.60 1,000 500.00 518,761 1,517,222.79

Quotation(N) 7.40 2.26

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 115,000 848,750.00 4,094,966 8,598,297.96 4,209,966 9,447,047.96

HEALTHCARE Company Name EKOCORP PLC EVANS MEDICALPLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 7 5 10 9 17 1 50

HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name CAPITAL HOTEL PLC IKEJA HOTEL PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 48 52

Investors increase stakes on equities T

URNOVER at the Nige rian stock market in creased significantly last week as investors positioned in equities ahead of the third quarter earnings’ reports and dividend outlook for several companies. Turnover volume and value by 45 per cent and 55.5 per cent respectively was recorded during the week although the pricing trend continued to fluctuate between a streak of gains and longer stretch of losses. Investors staked N11.48 billion on 1.31 billion shares in 18,940 deals last week, as against a turnover of 840.85 million shares valued at N7.91 billion traded in 17,983 deals in the previous week. The increase in turnover was driven by several deals targeted at low-priced stocks, even as investors consolidated positions in recovering banking stocks. Banking sector accounted for about 63 per cent of turnover volume with 821.35 million shares worth N6.36 billion in 10,404 deals. Activities in the banking

No of Deals 14 1 2 14 31

Quotation(N) 11.15 6.95 0.50 5.95

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 14-10-11 LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. OASIS INSURANCE PLC SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 60,000 30,000.00 60,000 30,000.00

INSURANCE Company Name AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC GREAT NIGERIA INSURANCE COMPANY PLC GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC GUINEA INSURANCE PLC.

No of Deals 33 14 5 1 5 15 1

Quotation(N) 0.57 1.09 2.23 0.50 0.55 1.16 0.50

1 3 2 1 6 1 1 2 3 94

0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

500 260,000 2,940 1,940 2,773,790 4,400 10,000 100,000 3,200,000 16,775,160

250.00 130,000.00 1,470.00 970.00 1,386,895.00 2,200.00 5,000.00 50,000.00 1,600,000.00 13,341,400.55

Quotation(N) 0.77

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 3,316,190 2,566,220.70 3,316,190 2,566,220.70

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 10,000 5,000.00 10,000 5,000.00

MARITIME Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 53 53

Company Name AFROMEDIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1

MEDIA

MORTGAGE COMPANIES Company Name ABBEY BUILDING SOCIETY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1

Quotation(N) 1.44

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 500 685.00 500 685.00

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Company Name NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1

Quotation(N) 0.87

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 475 413.25 475 413.25

Quotation(N) 1.90 2.92 13.28

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 471,955 863,105.06 1,000 2,780.00 1,000 12,620.00 473,955 878,505.06

PACKAGING Company Name NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC STUDIO PRESS (NIGERIA) PLC. GREIF NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 21 1 1 23

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Company Name MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. FORTE OIL PLC MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 9 7 9 26 14 195 10 270

Quotation(N) 63.86 35.00 4.57 9.12 140.00 25.00 200.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 5,792 359,210.38 112,502.50 3,370 152,753 698,081.21 1,486,601 13,560,160.58 4,472 600,769.25 1,987,640 49,764,914.62 3,518 673,530.44 3,644,146 65,769,168.98

PRINTING & PUBLISHING Company Name ACADEMY PRESS PLC. UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 13 15

Quotation(N) 2.47 3.80

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 3,000 7,050.00 205,074 752,116.82 208,074 759,166.82

Quotation(N) 13.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 175,275 2,286,090.00 175,275 2,286,090.00

REAL ESTATE Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 15 15

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 55,031 583,328.60 3,000 20,730.00 5,100 2,550.00 187,876 1,079,943.44 251,007 1,686,552.04

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name CHAMS PLC Sector Totals

sector was largely driven by transactions in the shares of United Bank for Africa Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc, which altogether accounted for 620.42 million shares, representing 75.54 per cent and 47.51 per cent of the sectoral and total volume respectively. The market pricing trend remained negative although upsurge in demand orders during the last trading session rallied the closing market position to positive. On week-by-week basis, the benchmark index at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) depreciated by 355.17 points or 1.8 per cent to close at 19,869.85. Consequently, aggregate market capitalisation of all equities also dipped to N6.297 trillion. All other sectoral indices also closed on the negative with the NSE-30 Index depreciating by 1.5 per cent to close at 880.67. The NSE

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION INDUSTRIES PLC B. O. C. GASES NIGERIA PLC FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

Food & Beverage Index depreciated by 10.21 points to close at 631.77, the NSE Banking Index depreciated by 5.77 points to close at 281.05, the NSE Insurance Index depreciated by 0.37 points to close at 143.88, while the NSE Oil & Gas Index depreciated by 1.94 points to close at 234.63. The overtly bearish market was indicated by 49 to 15 proportion of losers to gainers last week. Guinness Nigeria Plc led on the price losers’ table with a loss of N5 to close at N205. Julius Berger Nigeria Plc followed with a loss of N4.59 to close at N42.57 per share. On the other hand, Nigerian Breweries Plc led the handful of gainers with a gain of N4.01 to close at N86.01. PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc followed with a gain of 55 kobo to close at N30.55 per share. Most analysts have said third quarter earnings reports might mitigate the unyielding recession at the stock market, although the market might still largely tilt towards negative.

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 683,147 391,006.06 6,061,035 6,289,025.60 14,000 31,220.00 1,000,000 500,000.00 92,191 50,179.32 2,570,217 2,902,684.57 1,000 500.00

Company Name UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRU Sector Totals

No of Deals 8 8

Quotation(N) 50.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 161,000 8,050,000.00 161,000 8,050,000.00

ROAD TRANSPORTATION Company Name ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 3

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 70,871 35,435.50 70,871 35,435.50

Quotation(N) 0.97

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 55,611 53,942.67 55,611 53,942.67

TEXTILES Company Name UNITED NIGERIAN TEXTILES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 3

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals 14 14

Quotation(N) 11.68

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 240,377 2,770,994.13 240,377 2,770,994.13

3,987

323,618,002

3,180,724,168.48

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

MONEY LINK

CBN partners E-PPAN on cashless initiative Stories by Collins Nweze and Adline Atili

HEAD of the cash with drawal limit set by the Cen tral Bank of Nigeria and billed to commence in Lagos as a pilot scheme in January next year, the apex bank, in collaboration with the Electronic Payment Providers Association of Nigeria (EPPAN), has begun intensive faceto-face awareness campaign for residents of Lagos State. The CBN, said as from June 1 next year, daily cumulative free cash withdrawals and lodgments by individual and corporate customers

would not exceed a maximum ceiling of N150, 000 and N1million respectively. The move, the apex bank said, is expected to reduce the amount of currency outside the banking system by discouraging the use of cash in transactions. However, the CBN said the pilot exercise would kick off in Lagos starting from January next year, and has thus considered the need to create adequate awareness ahead of its implementation,

especially among the grassroots ¯a major step in ushering in the scheme, tagged, Cashless Lagos. E-PPAN, acting on behalf of the CBN, has been going round major market clusters in Lagos metropolis to educate traders on the new CBN policy. Already, E-PPAN has carried out intensive awareness campaign at Ile Epo Market, along Lagos Abeokuta Express Way; Jakande Market at Ketu in Ikosi/Isheri Local Council Development Area and Ojuwoye Market in Mushin. This month, E-PPAN is taking the cashless campaign to Agege Market

at Oju Irin in Agege Pen Cinema and Katangowa Market, along LagosAbeokuta Express Way . Speaking at the campaign, Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, E-PPAN, Mrs Onajite Regha, said the objective of the campaign as to keep traders and other people at the grassroots abreast of how the Cashless Lagos scheme would affect their business activities. Mrs Regha, said the challenges of high volume of cash usage include robbery, high cost of processing by every entity across the value chain, revenue leakage arising from significant handling of cash and inefficient treasury management due to the nature of cash processing, among others. She stressed that the CBN introduced the initiative to address these challenges. “We are educating the market people on the Cashless Lagos scheme, coming up in January next year. “We want to educate them

Oshionmole, Fidelity, others win SERA Awards

ORPORATE Nigeria was at the weekend celebrated as various corporations operating in the economy who have distinguished themselves in the area of giving back to the society were recognised. The occasion was the fifth edition of the Social Enterprise Reporting Awards (SERAs) held at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos. The Awards celebrate individuals and organisations with outstanding performance in corporate social responsibility. Edo State Governor, Adams Oshionmole, was given a recognition award for his performance in the areas of health, education and women empowerment, which are considered critical elements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Receiving the award, the Governor, who was very emotional, remarked that he was challenged by the recognition to do more. According to him, he owed it to not only the people of Edo State, but also the entire people of Nigeria,

to perform well in office, since he had spent much of his life-time as a labour leader criticizing governments for not doing well. Fidelity Bank Plc won the Most Voted Company award, which is a measure of the popularity and acceptance of their Corporate Social Respeonsibility (CSR) programmes. The bank itself donated a CSR Reporting Award in memory of Tunmise Adekunle, the late Branding Editor of This Day newspaper. The Award was won by Goddy Ofose of Daily Independent newspaper. Coca Cola System in Nigeria won the Environmental Sustainability award for their recycling of the coke PET bottles. Oil giants, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria and Chevron were also recognised, Shell as the Most Innovative Company in CSR, while Chevron was for supporting Income and Wealth Generation in the communities where they do business. The yearly award is organised by Tru-Contact Limited, in asso-

ciation with Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Lagos Chapter. Speaking, Dr. Ken Egbas, Managing Director of Tru-Contact remarked that beyond making profit, corporations must consider it important to plough back into society from where they derive their profit. He said that issues like the environment and poverty can no longer be ignored by corporations. Other reputable organisations recognised at include mobile telecommunications giants, MTN and Etisalat; First Bank and GT Bank in the banking category, British American Tobacco Company of Nigeria (BATN), and Proctor & Gamble (P&G) in the fast-moving consumer goods area. In the Foundations, Chike Okoli Foundation and TY Danjuma Foundation also received recognition awards for pioneering efforts as providers of funds to not-forprofit organisations.

HE Minister of Finance and Head of Economic Team, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, will be delivering the lead paper entitled “Infrastructural Transformation & Sound Financial Management for Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria” at the 41st Annual Accountants’ Conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) today. The conference whose theme is “The Dawn of Transformation: Embracing Change and Seizing Opportunities”, will end on Friday this week. The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will on Tuesday, join other dignitaries at the conference. ICAN President,

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount

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) Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 14-14-11 SYMBOL NEIMETH CONTINSURE NASCON IKEJAHOTEL VITAFOAM UNTL GUARANTY UNITYBNK FLOURMILL GOLDINSURE

O/PRICE 1.23 1.04 3.99 2.16 5.70 0.93 12.10 0.66 57.00 0.54

C/PRICE 1.29 1.09 4.18 2.26 5.95 0.97 12.60 0.68 58.50 0.55

CHANGE 0.06 0.05 0.19 0.10 0.25 0.04 0.50 0.02 1.50 0.01

LOSER AS AT 14-10-11 SYMBOL JBERGER ETERNAOIL CAP CCNN UBA DIAMONDBNK ASHAKACEM WEMABANK TRANSCORP ECOBANK

O/PRICE 44.81 4.81 19.90 6.27 3.76 3.39 14.65 0.69 0.73 2.34

C/PRICE 42.57 4.57 18.91 5.96 3.58 3.23 14.00 0.66 0.70 2.25

Amount

Offered ($) Demanded ($)

MANAGED FUNDS

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Professor Francis Ojaide, would deliver the keynote address. “This year’s conference is a definite step towards making a significant impact on governance process both in the private and public sectors,” Ojaide, said in a statement, adding that Nigeria is facing serious infrastructural challenges which have continued to impact negatively on the nation’s economy and the well-being of its citizens. “ If the prosperity of businesses is to translate into the prosperity of the nation, there must necessarily be infrastructural transformation which will drive economic growth and development for the benefit of the citizenry,” he stated.

DATA BANK

Tenor

OBB Rate Call Rate

that there are better alternatives to cash which many people are not aware of; that these alternatives bring convenience to users and that they help users have a relationship with the financial institutions, giving them more opportunities to access financial products,” Mrs Regha, said.

Jonathan, Okonjo-Iweala for infrastructure, finance conference

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)

13-09-11 N6.7026tr 21,018.52

14-09-11 N6.760tr 21,199.16

% Change -0.87% -0.86%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

(S/N)

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Aug ’11

MPR

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 1.00 117.88 100.28 0.77 1.02 0.91 1,639.36 8.24 1.39 1.87 7,085.51 193.00

9.08 1.00 117.70 99.71 0.74 1.02 0.90 1,634.12 7.84 1.33 1.80 7,880.94 191.08

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 2.24 0.24 0.99 0.31 0.18 0.16 0.65 0.03 0.03 0.09

• 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

P/Court

8.0833

Movement

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

NEWS Bank allocates N5b mass transit loans to NLC, TUC URBAN Development Bank of Nigeria (UDBN) Plc has allocated 50 per cent of its N10 billion Public Mass Transit Revolving Loan scheme to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) members, its chairman Alhaji Lamis Dikko has said. Speaking at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the bank and TUC at the bank’s headquarters, Alhaji Dikko said that N2.3 billion of the allocation would go to TUC for procurement of buses for intra-state and inter-state commuter services. The chairman explained that the Federal Government established the mass transit loan scheme last year to ameliorate the sufferings of the masses through a more comfortable road transportation system. According to him, the interest rate on the mass transit loan scheme will be five per cent per annum. Alhaji Dikko said the scheme will also, through the TUC, generate more than 1,100 new employments. In his own speech, the Managing Director of UDBN, Mr. Adekunle Oyinloye, said that the bank had disbursed about eight billion naira to road transporters under the scheme in the last one year and expressed satisfaction with the repayment rate. Mr. Oyinloye said that the bank was happy to partner with the TUC to improve the lots of the workers and assured that it would be willing to collaborate with them in the execution of their planned housing scheme for their members. The Managing Director reiterated the capacity of UDBN, as the nation’s premier infrastructure bank, to assist the Federal Government in arresting infrastructural decay toward achievement of all set millennium development goals. He said the bank was convinced that the mass transit scheme will enhance mass job creation, skill and technology transfer; increased economic activities around plied routes and reduction in hardship daily experienced by commuters.

Night of royal anointing for Oshiomhole By John Osasuyi

•Oshiomhole

O sooner had he uttered the statement than the entire Banquet Hall erupted tonight in a standing ovation. The Master of Ceremony had only invited Chief B. U. Edebiri to make a toast, but got more than he ostensibly bargained for. After a long speech spiced with rib-cracking anecdotes, the highly respected Esogban of Bini Kingdom made what was thought another weighty royal endorsement of Governor Adams Oshiomhole for the 2012 governorship contest in Edo State: ‘Finally, let me put on record for the sake of emphasis that the people of Edo South are not in a hurry to replace Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for the coming governorship election because of his current wonderful developmental efforts in Benin City and the entire Edo State.’ Though Chief Edebiri did not mention names in his moving speech, the innuendo was certainly too poignant to be confused. By that, no one was in doubt, in case any had existed, on where the sympathy of the Bini royal establishment lays vis-àvis the coming governorship election, particularly against the backdrop of a whispering campaign being mounted by some elements in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that only ‘a proper Bini man’ (from Edo South) should be

voted that day. Apparently goaded by the nodding response from the audience, including music icon, Sir Victor Uwaifo, the Esogban of Bini Kingdom continued: ‘When we say we will support a Bini man, we also mean anyone who has genuine love of Bini Kingdom at heart which is what the comrade governor has demonstrated in the last three years with the massive infrastructural development of Benin City. He has come to repair what a Bini man destroyed.’ As the approving claps intensified amid cat-calls, not even the chief host himself, Comrade Oshiomhole, could resist the urge to join the likes of Comrade Abdulwahab Omar (president of Nigeria Labour Congress) on the high table and the entire house in giving Chief Edebiri a resounding applause. Indeed, the occasion was a gala night hosted by the Edo State Government in honour of the leadership of the NLC who came to the acclaimed ‘Heartbeat of the nation’ for a three-day retreat of the National Administrative Council (NAC is the highest organ of NLC). Dateline: October 13. For the occasion, the highceilinged Banquet Hall in the Government House was filled to capacity. The rollcall included the leadership of the state House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Honorable Uyi Igbe; members of the state executive council; director of SSS; state commissioner of police; officials of the state branch of NLC and some notable faces from Nollywood like Alex Osifo. Indeed, it was more than a gala night. Perhaps, it is correct to say the event turned out to be more of a night of tributes for Comrade Oshiomhole, whose exertions in Edo, often described as monumental, have continued to receive plaudits from within and outside the state. Beside the Esogban of Bini Kingdom, another notable chief at the occasion was Chief Nosakhare Isekure, the Chief Priest of Bini Kingdom . He was similarly effusive

‘Well, I want to ask Edo people if they would be willing to lend Oshiomhole to Nigeria by the time he completes his second term to reenact the transformation work he has done in Edo State at a national level’ in praising Oshiomhole for ‘turning the fortunes of Benin City and entire Edo State around in the last three years.’ As a mark of appreciation, the outspoken Chief Priest of Bini Kingdom disclosed a personal initiative to stage an exhibition to herald the third anniversary of the Oshiomhole in the coming days. In his words, Edo State had not been blessed with a visionary and committed leader in recent history until Oshiomhole came on board three years ago. So, ecstatic was the feeling that pervaded the hall that night that, when introduced, the legendary ‘guitar boy’ (Sir Uwaifo) broke into an impromptu rendition of his evergreen song ‘Jeromi’, to the clapping pleasure of the audience. In the middle, he creatively adapted a line, ‘Ei guo na ven, Jeromi’, to ‘Ei guo na ven, Oshiomhole’. The applause got more rapturous. However, keen observers were not taken aback by the open endorsement of Oshiomhole by the two senior Bini chiefs. They only seemed to have echoed sentiments expressed the previous day by the Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa, when the NLC president had led the NAC members on a courtesy call to the palace. Having been ushered into the palace, Comrade Omar had announced that their mission was to thank the monarch for the unqualified support he has accorded ‘one

of our own’, without which ‘he would not have had the presence of mind and the will’ to provide effective leadership for a state as sophisticated as Edo State . Responding, the Benin monarch had not minced words in saluting the NLC for its leadership training and in producing a worthy ambassador who, according to him, has made impressive marks in Edo State as governor in the last three years. A statement taken by Omar and his team to mean a royal blank cheque for Oshiomhole come July 14. When it was his turn to speak at the gala night, chairman of the state branch of NLC, Comrade Emmanuel Ademoku, would set the tone for the national president by announcing that ‘All the workers of Edo State have already endorsed Comrade Oshiomhole for second term come next year’ and shall go all out to mobilise the entire state to ensure that is achieved. Expectedly, Comrade Omar put the icing on the cake presented by Ademoku by declaring emphatically that ‘There is no vacancy in Edo Government House come 2012’ . He reported that he and his team were quite impressed with not only the quantity but also the quality of projects they inspected earlier in the day within Benin City . His words: ‘We saw many schools reconstructed with ultra-modern structures. We saw world-class roads under construction. For me, I found the new Siloko road most instructive. You know those days when we used to come to Benin for NLC meetings, that road was impassable. Of course, that is where you have the Teachers House which was made almost inaccessible. But the story has changed today. You could now drive smoothly on that road.’ For this, the NLC president expressed pride ‘because Comrade Oshiomhole has proved that labour leaders are not only good at agitating but also good at using political power for the good of the greater majority. It has been confirmed that being in Edo , you have not in any way disappointed Labour. So, it is a thing of pride today that nobody would say what they were say-

ing two years ago. ‘As far as we are concerned, we at the NLC are already looking forward to your inauguration for a second term of office come November 12, 2012 . And I can assure you that we shall mobilise seriously all Nigerian workers to be part of it because you have been a worthy ambassador of the Labour.’ The NLC president observed that Comrade Oshiomhole enjoys the widest popularity in Edo today: ‘You know, I was surprised to hear even kids of four or five-yearold shouting his name. Ask any kid in Edo today who may not answer another question correctly, but once you asked him ‘‘Do you know who this person is?’’, and he would say ‘‘Oshiomhole!’’. I think that tells you a lot about his popularity and how he has positively affected the lives of the ordinary people in this state.’ The NLC leader elicited more laughter when he announced he wanted the Edo people to do him a favour. ‘What is it?’, someone roared back from the gallery. ‘Well, I want to ask Edo people if they would be willing to lend Oshiomhole to Nigeria by the time he completes his second term to re-enact the transformation work he has done in Edo State at a national level,’ Omar teased, to which the audience responded with another round of applause. The high point of the night was when the comrade governor got up to make a response. Expectedly, Oshiomhole, a gifted orator, did not disappoint. He thanked Omar and his team for their support and solidarity, starting from when he had to fight for the retrieval of his ‘stolen’ mandate through the court between 2007 and 2008. He identified the labour movement as the institution that prepared him for political leadership and taught him to believe that nothing is more noble than fighting for the common man. He promised never to rest on his oars so that the Labour would continue to be proud of him. •Osasuyi is a Benin-based journalist.

E-Eleven gets exco E-ELEVEN, a group of prominent Ekiti indigenes committed to promoting development, indigenous capacity building and communal values in Ekiti State has elected new executives to steer its leadership for the next two years. Mr Femi Ajiniran is the Chairman while Mr Femi Ayeni is the Vice-Chairman. Others are Mr A Ogundipe (Secretary), Prince A Adeleke (Ass. Secretary), Mr Sanmi Omiata ( Public Relations Officer).Hon N Fabikun (Social Secretary), Mr Sola Alabi ( Treasurer), Dr Segun Ajibola ( Auditor) and Mr T Adebayo (Chief Whip). Ajiniran , in his acceptance speech, promised to take the group to greater height.

•Otunba Michael Abayomi Ogunnusi and his wife – bride’s parent (left), groom’s parent - Mr and Mrs Omorhirhi Augustine Obaro (right) and the couple, Ibironke and Madiake after their wedding at the Amasing Grace Villa, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State…at the weekend. PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

NEWS

Stop transfer of non-indigenes, Abia told F

ATHER Ben Ogu of St. P a u l , E g b e l u Umuhu,Enyiogugu in Aboh Aboh Mbaise Local Government of Imo State yesterday urged Southeast governors and the Ndigbo to prevail on Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State to rescind his administration’s decision on non-indegenes. The state had resolved to transfer non-indigenes in its civil service to their home state to enable it pay the minimum wage. The cleric, who addressed reporters,called on the governors to stop Orji from passing through the arports in their respective states until he rescinds his decision. “We have a dumb leadership in Igboland. The Ohaneze is not as proactive as the Afenifere in Yoruba land. I had expected the governors of the South east to call on the Abia State governor to rescind the decision. I had expected Alex Ekwueme to call the governor to order. If the governor of Abia State succeeds , then he should be sanctioned from using or passing through the airports in other Southeast states”, he said. According to him , the

•No going back, says govt From Ugochukwu Eke and Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

sacking of non-indigenes in Abia would affect national unity. He urged those affected to reject the sack letters from the state government and challenge the constitutionality of the unpopular decision decision in the court. A member of the Board of Trustees [BoT] of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] Benjamin Apugo also advised the state government to rescind its decision. Apugo described the redeployment of non-indigenes as a bad omen, adding that other states might retaliate. Addressing reporters in Umuahia, Apugo said the Abians living in other states have been living in fear following the development. Apugo said: “As a true Nigerian, I do not support the disengagement of services of non-indigenes working in our state. This is because most of them were born here, em-

ployed in our civil service”. He said those being transferred have contributed to the development of the state. Apugo advised the state government to rescind the decision. “We should not make the mistakes other states have made when they sent back Abia indigenes working in their states, we should teach them how to live together”. The PDP chief urged the state government to imbibe the culture of living together, adding that, “it is a shame that our daughters who are married to non-indigenes are asked to leave the state with their husbands. But the women are supposed to have dual citizenship”. But the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Don Ubani, has reiterated the resolve of the state government not to reverse its policy on the transfer of the services of non-indigenes to their states of origin.

Imo NDDC nomination: Stakeholders fault Okorocha •Say governor unfair to Izombe

MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha has drawn the flak over his nominees into the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC). The Izombe Community is complaining that the list is lopsided. It claimed that it is marginalised while the Oguta community is favoured. Some youths, under the aegis of Imo Youth Congress(IYC), condemned the list. The congress President, Robinson Nwokocha, said justice must be done on the

SSS petitioned over assassination attempt From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

A COMMUNITY leader in Awka South Local Government of Anambra State Osita Obi has petitioned the State Security Service (SSS) over threats to his life by sspected gunmen. He called for the intervention of the security agency. THe treatment, according to a statement, followed the announcement of Obi as the President-General of Umuawulu Town Union (UTU) shortly after an election was conducted. SSS Director, Alex Okehi, confirmed the petition. He said his command was on top of the situation, adding that the state governor had been notified. Secretary-General of the union, Cyril Eziofor, said the failure of the Leonard Uchendu-led group to present qualification certificate was responsible for the crisis. He alleged there was no screening before the exercise, a decision was taken by the community that those elected should forward their qualifications to the returning officer Peter Nwafor.

matter. It said: “We have seen the list. The first person on it is an Egbema man . Egbema has had their own share twice.The next person is from Oguta town and Oguta has also been represented severally. In fact, the immediate past Imo representative is from Oguta town. The next is from Osemoto, still in Oguta. Osemoto has no oil deposit. This is unfair. Governor Okorocha is taking very unpopular steps”. International Co-ordinator of Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta Consultative Forum, Dr. Chukwudi Igboezuo said his Izombe man has not been appointed into NDDC since it was established. He described the list as unrealistic. “In Imo State, there are four core oil producing commu-

•Okorocha

nities, namely : Oguta, Izombe, Ohaji and Egbema,” he said. He said Izombe is being marginalised because the community does not have people to speak for it, adding: “We believe in Justice. This injustice must stop. I am not an Izombe man, but I believe in justice, because what goes around comes around.”

NUT condemns alleged seizure of teachers’ salaries

HE Ebonyi State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has urged Governor Martin Elechi to call to order Local Government Education Secretaries for allegedly withholding its members teacher’s salaries. The union said the teachers have not been paid for months because they were alleged to have voted for a particular partyduring the April polls. Chairman of the Union, Joseph Nweke, described the seizure of the teachers’ salaries in Ezza North and South Local Governments as fraudulent and unfortunate. He said: “It has come to our knowledge the consistent seizure of salaries of teachers, especially in Ezza North/South Local Governments of the state by Local Government Education Secretaries for months on the frivolous allegation that

From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki

such teachers voted for a particular party in the last general election. “Such action is unfortunate, regrettable, fraudulent and uncalled for. “We urge Governor Martin Elechi to urgently call the Education Secretaries to order. In Nigeria today, there is freedom of association. During the April general election, people were asked to vote according to their conscience. So, why should that of teachers be different? They voted according to their conscience and they should not be punished for voting a candidate of their choice”. The union warned that it would protect the interest of its members. He directed the affected teachers to send their complaints to the union for necessary action.

24 killed, 16 injured in Yobe accidents •Six die in Lagos road crash •139 in Ondo

HE Yobe Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has said 24 persons were killed and 16 injured in two accidents on the Potiskum-Maiduguri and Potiskum-Fika Road in the last two weeks. The Sector Commandant, Mr Stephen Maituzumah, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu, the state capital, that the accidents occurred between October 2 and last Thursday. He said on October 2, 14 people died in an accident involving an articulated vehicle with registration number LA 345 SG and a Toyota Carina with registration number YB 764 GSH. Four persons were also injured in the incident which occurred at Sabon-Gari Bukar village on the PotiskumDamaturu road. Maitaizuma said 10 persons were killed in another accident at Nahunta village on Thursday on the Potiskum-Fika road. The incident involved the collision of an articulated vehicle with registration number XA477FKY, a Toyota car marked FXB485KTG and a 504 Peugeot station wagon with registration number AT644NSR. “We have received report of another accident at Bamairi Village on Damaturu-Gashua road on Friday, but no death was recorded,” Maituzumah said. He lamented the increasing rate of accidents on the Potiskum–Damaturu road, saying it was due to reckless overtaking and excessive

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

speeding on the highway now under construction. To reduce the rate of accidents, he said the command has begun the enlightenment of motorists, especially drivers of commercial vehicles. Maituzumah said: “We met with transport workers, VIO and the police in order to assist in enforcing traffic rules.” He also said the command had introduced special patrol on the highways to curb excessive speeding and reckless overtaking, adding that some offenders had been arrested. The FRSC commandant identified lack of patrol vehicles, communications gadgets and office accommodation as factors militating against effective operations in the command. He urged local governments to support the activities of road marshals. Six people died yesterday in Oke Afo, near Badagry, Lagos State, when a car driven by a Customs officer veered off the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Assistant Road Commander Hussein Haruna told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the deceased were three men, including a policeman, and three women who were selling drinks by the road. He said the yet-to-be identified Customs officer had been arrested by the police. Haruna said the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the Badagry Gen-

•FRSC chief Osita Chidoka

eral Hospital mortuary. Eyewitnesses said the Customs officer was heading for Badagry when the accident occurred. In Ondo, 139 passengers died in 172 road traffic crashes between January and July. The State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission(FRSC), John Bekinbo Meheux, made this known at the opening of the ember month road safety campaign in Akure. He said about 619 passengers were injured in road mishaps within the same period. Meheux noted that the rate atwhich road mishaps claim lives is more alarming than the dreaded HIV/AIDS and malaria. The commander said the Owo/ Akure Road recorded the highest number of road accidents in the first half of the year while the bad state of Benin /Ore has made travelling a nightmare. Meheux lamented that virtually all the federal roads in Ondo State were in poor condition which needs urgent attention from the Federal Government. He advised drivers to be more cautious while driving during ember months, stressing that most road mishaps are caused by reckless driving.

Kaduna, ACN trade words over court order on councils’ committees

ADUNA State and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) are quarrelling over the government’s alleged disobedience of a court order on the composition of Interim Management Committees for the 23 local government areas. The ACN said the government’s alleged action amounts to contempt of court, for which Governor Patrick Yakowa could be impeached; the government urged the opposition to “first remove the log in its eyes” before criticising the government. The government said since the ACN operates Interim Management Committees in states under its control, it should first call for the dissolution of such committees in Edo, Ekiti and Ogun before asking Kaduna to do the same. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government said it was appealing the judgment that declared the councils as illegal. In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mordecai Ibrahim, the ACN said: “Governor Yakowa has continued to retain and patronise the illegal Interim Management Committees. As a government, which prides itself to respect the rule of law and

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

has benefited from it, especially from the recent ruling of the Election Petition Tribunal, which upheld his election as governor in the April 2011 election, the governor cannot pick and choose which judgment he should obey or not to obey. “If he decides to obey the judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal, he must also obey the judgment of Kaduna State High Court. The appointment of Interim Management Committees for the 23 local governments in Kaduna State is an illegality and is a contravention of the Constitution which is an impeachable offence.” In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Media and Publicity, Reuben Buhari, the government said the government was appealing against the judgment the ACN complained of. The statement reads: “The attention of the Kaduna State Government has been drawn to a funny but misinformed press release issued by the Kaduna State Publicity Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). “For the avoidance of doubt, it is pertinent to say that, dissatisfied with that

judgment of the High Court and in line with the rule of law, has taken steps to appeal against that decision, because it is our view that the decision of the High Court is a misinterpretation of the relevant constitutional provisions which puts the issue of the Local Government Administration under the purview of the state. “The Local Government Administration Law of Kaduna State, the subject of the suit, is a product of Section 7 of the Constitution. This law, by Section 14 (5) (b), provides that at the conclusion of the tenure of an elected council, where it becomes impossible or impracticable to conduct election to fill the vacant seats, the House of Assembly may, by resolution, approve the establishment of Transitional Management Committee to oversee the affairs of the council pending the conduct of election. Emphasis is placed on the words “pending the conduct of elections… “The statement by the ACN is an invitation to anarchy, which this administration has sworn to prevent. The ACN must not import words into the constitutional provisions, for nowhere is the word “MUST” used in Section 7 of the Constitution.”

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

FOREIGN NEWS Liberia opposition Tubman backs runoff

NE of the main contenders in Liberia’s presidential poll, Winston Tubman, has told the BBC he is prepared to take part in any secondround run-off vote. Mr Tubman was speaking a day after Liberia’s opposition parties - including that of Mr Tubman - said firstround counting was fraudulent. Partial first-round results give President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf a slight lead over Mr Tubman. Mrs Sirleaf’s party had said she will take part in a runoff, even unopposed. The chairman of the Liberian National Election Commission (NEC), James Fromayan, has rejected any accusations of electoral fraud. Mr Tubman told the BBC’s Newshour programme: “We will participate in the run-off because we believe that the figures as they have emerged do not allow for anyone to win the first round. “Therefore the focus must be on the second round and so we are beginning to rally our people.” Earlier, Liberian opposition parties called on their supporters to join a rally on Sunday in protest against the presidential election, although it was not clear where or when it might take place. Latest results published by the election commission, with 80% of the votes counted, put Mrs Sirleaf on 44.6% of the vote, while Mr Tubman polled 31.4% and former warlord Prince Johnson had 11.2%. On Saturday, opposition parties - including those of Mr Tubman and Mr Johnson - said they could offer photographs and witnesses to back their claims that the NEC had manipulated votecounting in favour of President Sirleaf.

Martin Luther King finally honoured in Washington after 43 years

ENS of thousands of people, mainly African Americans, from all over the US gathered at the National Mall in the centre of the capital under a cloudless autumn sky to see the official dedication of the memorial to Martin Luther King Jr. “We honour this man because he had faith in us,” President Barack Obama told the crowd. “That is why he is on this mall, because he saw what we might become.” Obama said that the monument marked “a black preacher, of no official rank or title, who somehow gave voice to our deepest dreams and our most lasting ideals; a man who stirred our conscience and thereby made our union more perfect”. The nine-metre statue of King, hewn from a huge block of granite, is the first monument to a non-

president or a black person on the mall or surrounding parks. It stands on Washington’s tidal basin, close to the Lincoln memorial where King made his famous “I have a dream” speech on 28 August 1963. The dedication was meant to have taken place on the anniversary of that day this August, but Hurricane Irene put paid to that. Obama paid tribute to King’s famous address, saying that without it “we might not have had the courage to have come as far as we have”. The speech inspired the memorial’s design, particularly the line: “With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope”. Visitors to the monument pass through two massive jagged blocks – the mountain

of despair – before they come to the statue of King, his arms crossed, that represents the stone of hope. It was designed by artist Lei Yixin, the subject of one of the most heated controversies surrounding the monument. Black artists, many of whom struggle to find commissions, asked why the job had been given to a Chinese sculptor, with the work carving out the granite largely carried out in China. There was also controversy over the inscription: “I was a drum major for justice, peace, and righteousness.” That is a boiled down version of comments made by King at his Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta two months before he was assassinated: “If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice.” Maya Angelou, the African American author and poet,

ridiculed the bastardised quotation, saying that “it makes Dr Martin Luther King look like an arrogant twit”. The ceremony brought together several of King’s close relatives, including his sister Christine King Farris and his youngest child Bernice King. John Lewis, the only surviving speaker of the ten including King who addressed the 1968 March on Washington, also gave a speech on Sunday. Attendees emphasised both King’s historic role and the importance of his message today. Al Sharpton, the Harlem-based activist, said: “This is not a monument of times past, this is not a memorial to someone who has passed into history, this is a marker for the fight for justice today and a projection of the fight for justice in the future.”

•Anti govt protesters running away after shot...yesterday

Four killed in Gombe police station bombing Mobile were also assigned to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for Goje’s impending trial. “It is too early to ascertain why the Mobile Squadron was the target of hoodlums. “But following intelligence reports, security agencies have been placed on the alert about possible attack of some targets.” By last night, investigation had begun into the matter. The Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police in charge of Adamawa, Gombe and Taraba Mr. John Moronike confirmed the incident. Moronike, who spoke with reporters shortly after inspecting the scene, said “minimal damage was done to the squadron armoury while the administrative block was burnt down.” He explained that a special squad of the Police Bomb Disposal Unit was on top of the situation. The AIG appealed to the

THE International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has arrived in Ivory Coast to investigate the country’s post-election violence. Mr Moreno-Ocampo will meet victims as well as government and opposition representatives during his visit. About 3,000 people were killed and 500,000 displaced in months of unrest following the November 2010 poll. Forces loyal to both President Alassane Ouattara, and his rival, Laurent Gbagbo, have been accused of abuses. Mr Ouattara took power in early May following a fivemonth stand-off with Mr Gbagbo, who had refused to accept defeat. Mr Moreno-Ocampo said he “thanked the government for the invitation” to make the visit, after meeting Prime Minister Guillaume Soro on his arrival.

US sends troops to Uganda to fight LRA rebels LRA rebels

NEWS Continued from page 1

ICC prosecutor arrives in Ivory Coast

public to provide the police with information on the attack and the hide-out of the fleeing criminals. The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said: “We will not be deterred, we are going ahead with the arraignment of Goje. “Additional security has been provided to make Goje’s arraignment hitch-free.” A soldier and a community leader were also killed in Plateau and Borno states. Suspected members of the radical Islamic, Boko Haram sect were said to have shot dead a community official in Maiduguri, Borno State. Police commissioner Simeone Midenda said yesterday that the suspected gunmen killed the head of the Borno state Vigilante Association on Saturday night. The association works with the police to provide security. On Friday, Midenda said two suspected Boko Haram members also shot dead a policeman in Maiduguri. He said the police were investigating but have made no arrests.

A member of the Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crises, code named Operation Safe Haven, Sgt. Baba Wuya, was killed in Ali Kazaure area of Plateau State by unknown persons. A source said the late Wuya was on duty at 9pm when about 15 youths, who pretended to be his friends, attacked him with knives. The source said: “When the Hausa militants approached him, they started hailing him and pretended to appreciate his good work. But when the sergeant relaxed, thinking they were not harmful, one of them grabbed his rifle and the rest attacked him with knives on his neck, chest, back and stomach. “Before the soldier realised that he was under attack, he had been overpowered and could neither repel the attack nor call for help.” The late Wuya was a guard commander and was on patrol during the attack. It was learnt that before his colleagues could know what was going on, the attackers had disappeared and left the soldier in his pool of blood.

The STF commander was said to have ordered the immediate withdrawal of soldiers from the area to avoid a reprisal attack. In their place, more mobile policemen were deployed in the area to maintain peace. The government has expressed displeasure over the attack and condoled with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Chief of Army staff (COAS), the STF commander and the bereaved family. Reacting, Jang’s special adviser on media, Pam Ayuba, said: “This a barbaric act and is highly condemnable especially such attack on the STF members that have been having sleepless night to ensure peace return to the state” In a statement in Jos, the STF said: “A soldier serving with the STF was macheted to death by unidentified persons on Lasisi Street, in Ali Kazaure, Jos. “The rifle of the STF man was carted away by his attackers. “The soldier, Sgt. Wuya, was on his way to check one of his guard posts when the incident occurred. The sol-

dier was murdered in cold blood, ostensibly by the same people he was trying to protect. His murder borders on criminality and that is why his rifle, which is the target of the attackers, was carted away. This weapon will in turn be used to perpetrate crimes on innocent citizens of Jos and its environs. “The STF wishes to use this opportunity to draw the attention of Plateau State residents that any individual or group of persons who are bent on fomenting trouble with the sole aim of truncating the prevailing peace of the state, is not welcome. Any information that will help in unravelling this case will be highly appreciated. “Residents of Jos should go about their normal businesses as the STF and other law enforcement agencies are on top of the situation to unravel those behind the dastardly act.” The STF urged the public against flashing its distress numbers but asked them for assistance during any emergency.

NITED States President Barack Obama has said he is sending about 100 soldiers to Uganda to help regional forces battle the notorious Lord’s Resistance Army. Although combatequipped, the troops would be providing information and advice “to partner nation forces”, Mr Obama wrote in a letter to US Congress. A small group is already in Uganda, and the troops could later be deployed in other central African nations. The LRA is blamed for mass murder, rape and kidnapping in the region. “I have authorised a small number of combat-equipped US forces to deploy to central Africa to provide assistance to regional forces that are working toward the removal of (LRA leader) Joseph Kony from the battlefield,” Mr Obama wrote on Friday. But he stressed that “although the US forces are combat-equipped... they will not themselves engage LRA forces unless necessary for self-defence”. Mr Obama did not provide any details about the deployment duration, but a US military spokesman later told the BBC that the “forces are prepared to stay as long as necessary to enable regional security forces to carry on independently”. The deployment follows recent US legislation to help disarm the LRA and bring its leader to justice. The theory is, our correspondent adds, that without Joseph Kony, the movement will collapse from within. Senator John McCain said Central Africa would be more stable if the threat of the LRA “under the sadistic leadership of Joseph Kony,” would be “diminished”. But Mr McCain, a longserving senator, former veteran and Mr Obama’s opponent in the 2008 presidential election, expressed “regret” that the president did not consult with Congress on the decision to sent troops to Uganda.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE: SPECIAL FOCUS ON MEN OF INTEGRIT Y INTEGRITY

“I will make Ekiti State University a first class University” Prof. Adelowo

is appointment as the acting ViceChancellor of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State was greeted with surprise. It betrayed the expectation of many because Professor Emmanuel Adelowo who is steering the wheel of leadership of EKSU, a merger of state owned varsities in the Fountain of Knowledge, had not met the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi before his appointment. His antecedents as a university administrator, and his passion for quality university education is yielding good result for EKSU with the aggressive plans his administration launched to tackle the myriads of problems facing the university and lift it to a world standard. EKSU is a merger of the University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD) , University of Education, Ikere-Ekiti (TUNEDIK) and the University of Science and Technology, Ifaki-Ekiti (USTI). The merger is a follow up to a recommendation of the Ekiti State Education Summit held in May. Adelowo, who was the acting Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD), recently spoke on sundry issues such as his background, the state of education in the country and his plans for EKSU. Although not many are aware of the background of Professor Emmanuel Adelowo, a peep into his background revealed that he went through tortuous journey as a youth. Hear him : “I was born in a local area of Ibadan in Oyo State. My farther was a farmer; my mother was a petty trader. Both are late. I started my elementary education in the village school called St Paul Primary School; Oyedeji in Lagalu Local Government Area of Oyo State.I completed my primary school in 1955 when Obafemi Awolowo introduced free primary education. This is why I can’t forget Awolowo. If not for the free education he introduced, I would not have become what I am today.I completed secondary school in 1960 when Nigeria had its independence from the British colonial masters. My achievements are tied to important dates in history. “In 1961, I was supposed to go to secondary school but my father was not ready to send me there for lack of money. My uncle spoke to my father about my admission and he told him to send m e to school if he had the money.So I resigned to fate. But fortunately that year, a secondary school was established in my village and I enrolled there. I was a well known debtor I must confess. I was supposed to have finished the previous year but I dropped out of school for lack of money. And before I could look for money to pay for the exam in the final year, time had gone because I was told to pay 10 pounds. Through the help of the headmaster who said I could write the exam and pay later, I was able to complete my education. On his emergence as the Vice-Chancellor, Adelowo is full of praises to the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, for considering him for the job, having applied to so many universities for the Vice-Chancellorship position without success. His words: “I did not expect this appointment. I had resigned to fate. I tried like Abraham Lincoln of America to be appointed the VC of some universities, but I was not picked for the job. I applied for the Vice-Chancellor job for three times. I was also at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) where 40 of us applied. I was among the five short listed. Because I didn’t know anybody in Abuja, I was not selected. I want to thank Governor Fayemi used by God to remove my reproach. He appointed me without even knowing me. When I was invited to the Governor’s office, he asked me, ‘who are you?’ and I moved back. He asked me, have I met you

Prof. Adelowo

before? I said no. He has been supporting me since then and the institution has been witnessing progress. Worried by the standard of education in the country, Adelowo decried the performance of students in the country which he attributed to poverty and illiteracy of many parents. “The performance of students is a consequence of poverty. When there is no money you would not be well fed, no clothing, the parents are not taking care of them, they cannot afford to buy you all the necessary text books, make you comfortable and afford all other prerequisite for the challenges of academic, then your performance will be poor. You can be hungry and think of other things. Then another thing is their background. Some parents are not well brought up. Some parents are terrible, not disciplined, they bought certificate for them, they employ mercensory to sit and write exam for them so how could they excel in their examination. So this is another thing that is affecting the performance of students. So when people say it is the standard of education that is falling, I will say no. It is not falling, it is the performance that is falling. The professor of religious studies said the inability of Nigeria to follow the UNESCO standard on funding of the education sector is not helping matter. The professor however holds a contrary belief that the standard of education has fallen in the country.To him, it is the performance of students that has changed. “Let us go back to the era of our fathers. Standard six in those days can be compared to the graduates of these days. So I should not say it is the standard that is falling. It is the performance of the students that is falling. The curricular and the syllabi are there, they have not changed. It is the same. “First, to improve the situation, I want to advise the President to fund the educational sector. The presidency should set up a committee to look at what obtains in America and Britain and replicate the ideas at home. We need to revamp the teacher training colleges that have been closed down.” Adelowo’s priorities for EKSU are numerous. He said accommodation, security, infrastructure, admission, revenue generation; academic disciplines which are pressing challenges of the institution would soon be tackled with the cooperation the varsity is getting from the state government. He said: “When you talk of a university, it should be a place for quality education, for well-baked graduates. To make EKSU a first class one, I want to see to the capacity building of both staff and students. And to be able to achieve all of these and to make it a first class university, the issue of utility-the provision of water, light and good environment are key issues. We are making sure there is stable electricity on

campus. Presently we are working on what we call ‘dedicated power-line’ because for some time now, electricity supply has been poor in Ado-Ekiti. Besides, plans are in the works to accommodate both staff and students on campus. The governor has given his words on this. With regard to security, we are working to have what is called perimeter fencing. “The issue of admission is another important focus. The post-UME is good but we want to extend our surveillance on admission beyond that. We want prospective students to submit their testimonial to know their antecedence to curb cultism and vices. Another priority is to bring parent near students on campus. I want to introduce Teacher-Parent Forum because parents should be able to know the state of their children.“ “We also want to introduce ICT programmes to solev many problems We want the staff and students to be ICT compliant. With the introduction of ICT programme, we would be able to have all information about students in a data.Through the ICT, we would be able to have our result on time “I also want to address student matters with regard to their status in campus. Some of them would not be in campus and register until it is examination period. Some of them do not have matriculation number. Is that not a joke of the century? Some of them do no pay their school fees until it is examination period. “Besides, I also want to introduce and intensify a mock accreditation team. We have what is called programme accreditation and institutional accreditation usually done by the National University Commission (NUC).The mock accreditation team would do internal assessment before the arrival of NUC. Another lofty plan of his administration is to establish a skill acquisition centre in the university to prepare graduates for self-employment. According to Adelowo, the skill acquisition centre is in line with the ideal of the National University Commission (NUC) to ensure that universities produce job creators rather than job seekers. Hear him : “The establishment of a skill centre in EKSU is timely owing to raging unemployment. In addition to their normal academic programme whether in medicine, accountancy, business administration, chemistry or physics, you will pass through the centre to learn one trade or the other. “In trying to achieve of these, the most challenges thing is the issue of fund. If the fund is available the most foolish man can accomplish all of these in a shortwhile. Though apart from fund, there must be some expertise on the part of the leader. When you talk of priority, if you misplace your priority, you waste your money. There are certain things I’m itching to do here also, when I get the money. One of such things is water. Water is very important. I want it to be here for 24 hours. Water should be in the various offices, in the health centres, in the laboratory and in every strategic point in the school. Water is very close to live. Light IS needed by both students and staff and payment of their dues as at when due. On how the varsity would achieve the plans despite its lean resources, Adelowo explained that the university has launched an aggressive Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) plans to complement government funding. Hear him: “In Ekiti, we have a lot of mountains; we can invest in the quarry business. We can bring a lot together for roads and bridges. The dean of management sciences has been entrusted with this responsibility. We also want to start the pure bottle water business and an international school. A Proposal for this will be sent to the council very soon. We also want to go into commercial farming, to be

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE: SPECIAL FOCUS ON MEN OF INTEGRIT Y INTEGRITY run through Operate and Transfer model. Though agriculture is capital intensive we are looking for someone who can help us under PPP or POP.Besides, we would encourage our faculties

and departments to establish a binding centre where students can bind their projects. On what would he love to be remembered for, Adelowo said: “ That I have been able to give capacity

building for both staff and students. I want to be remembered for the fact that I upgraded this university in terms of facilities, infrastructure and the beauty of the university.

“I will transform the University and lift it to world class standard” Prof. Shamsudeen Amali

hen he was appointed as the ViceChancellor of the Nassarawa State University Keffi,(NSUK) on January 2010, Prof Shamsudeen Amali, had a dream: to transform the university and lift it to a world-class standard. NSUK, which started off from the scratch, has faced dearth of infrastructure and staffing over the years. Another peculiar problem is accommodation which created many problems for staff and students. But twenty months after his appointment, despite critical financial challenges that stood against the plans of his administration, the story has changed. The Vice-Chancellor, within the short frame of time, has turned the situation around. Amali, who was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, recently presented his score card to The Nation. He reiterated his plans to tackle other lingering challenges in the university. The institution under his leadership was able to attract fund from the Education Trust Fund . This is currently being used for many ongoing projects such as the Faculties of Administration, Social Sciences and Arts Lecture Theatre. Amali, who identified funding as major challenges of the institution, said: “We are happy to say that much has been achieved despite the odds. One is the successful ordering and strengthening of the examination and results system. We have also been able to attract private

Prof. Shamsudeen Amali partnerships, grants and investments in areas of hostel development, road network and landscaping. “Others include the rehabilitation of the Fish Farm in the faculty of Agriculture at Kantsakuwa, Lafia. We also engaged the services of more visiting professors to strengthen the postgraduate and undergraduate prohgrammes. “We also got the help of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to build massive school of postgraduate studies building which is in the pipeline. Others include the equipped ultra modern medical centre, massive overhaul of toilets and drainages in the existing hostels.

“We have also facilitated the admission of NSUK into the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) and the Association of African Universities (AAU).This has opened cooperation, exchange and collaboration opportunities with 800 universities in Africa. “We also secured the ETF Scholarship Grant for five academic staff and got sponsorship for 10 academic staff for a workshop on research methodology We succeeded in Attracting special intervention fund from Education Trust Fund amounting to N500,000 000. “The university would therefore not rest on its oars at ensuring that the construction of new students’ hostel must see the light of the day no matter the odds and the cost. I am therefore happy to report that with the signing of Memorandum of Understand (MoU) and other instrument between the university and our partners, more hostels will be provided. “I am assuring our teeming students population that the management is not unaware of the difficulties they are facing as a result of shortage of accommodation facilities within the campuses “The same song of joy will go down the line to the point of comprehensively addressing other critical need areas such as additional befitting staff offices, continuous aggressive library development, timely provision of research grants and high quality teaching.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

SPORT EXTRA

Hodgson:WearebehindOsaze R

OY Hodgson praised match-winning substitute Peter Odemwingie following West Brom’s 2-0 derby win over Wolves on Sunday. Hosts West Brom led the clash at home to local rivals Wolves thanks to Chris Brunt’s strike in the seventh minute at the Hawthorns. But they needed Odemwingie to make sure of victory with the Nigeria international plundering the second goal two minutes after coming on as a substitute. “It will give Peter a big lift,” West Brom manager Hodgson said. “He was terrific when he came on.” “I was preparing for the game with Somen (Tchoyi) because I didn’t think Peter was going to be fully fit and that turned out to be the right decision.” “He’s a very good player and it’s important for him to realise we are all behind him and it (pressure to score) is not on his shoulders.” “We have Shane Long now, Somen, Chris Brunt, good

players to keep us going and provide the ammunition.” West Brom’s second win of the season and first at home lifts them up to 12th in the English Premier League table. “It was a very important game and it was excellent to get our first home win of the season,” Hodgson said. “It was also important to get

our third clean sheet from eight games. That’s more than the two for the whole of last season.” “If we keep three clean sheets every eight, we’ll be fine.” Wolves boss Mick McCarthy blamed his team’s fifth consecutive league defeat on poor finishing. “I could say they were

clinical as they had two good finishes and we didn’t,” he said. “We started well but being the best team for seven minutes is no good if you then concede. It could have been avoided.” “The second goal knocked the stuffing out of us. We had enough chances but we weren’t clinical.”

CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FALLOUT

R E S U LT S

England - Premier League Liverpool 1 - 1 Manchester U. Manchester C. 4 - 1 Aston Villa Norwich C. 3 - 1 Swansea C. QPR 1 - 1 Blackburn R. Stoke C. 2 - 0 Fulham Wigan 1 - 3 Bolton W. Chelsea 3 - 1 Everton West Brom 2 - 0 Wolves Arsenal 2 - 1 Sunderland Newcastle U. 2 - 2 Tottenham H. Italy - Serie A Catania 2 - 1 Inter Milan AC Milan 3 - 0 Palermo Napoli 1 - 2 Parma Cesena 0 - 0 Fiorentina Atalanta 0 - 0 Udinese Cagliari 0 - 0 Siena Chievo 0 - 0 Juventus Genoa 0 - 0 Lecce Novara 0 - 2 Bologna Spain - Primera Division Getafe 0 - 0 Villarreal Mallorca 1 - 1 Valencia Real Madrid 4 - 1 Real Betis Barcelona 3 - 0 R. Santander Granada 0 - 0 Atl. Madrid Rayo Vallecano 0 - 1 Espanyol Zaragoza 2 - 0 R. Sociedad Levante 3 - 0 Malaga Germany - Bundesliga I. Werder Bremen 0 - 2 B. Dortmund Bayern Munich 4 - 0 Hertha BSC Mainz 0 - 1 Augsburg M’gladbach 2 - 2 Leverkusen Stuttgart 2 - 0 Hoffenheim Wolfsburg 2 - 1 Nurnberg Schalke 1 - 2 Kaiserslautern Freiburg 1 - 2 Hamburger FC Cologne 2 - 0 Hannover France - Ligue 1 Auxerre 1 - 3 Lille Brest 1 - 1 Caen E.T. Gaillar 1 - 2 Saint-Etienne Lyon 3 - 1 Nancy Montpellier 5 - 3 Dijon Toulouse 0 - 0 Marseille Nice 3 - 0 Bordeaux Ajaccio 1 - 3 Paris S.G. Valenciennes 3 - 0 Sochaux

EAL MADRID boss Jose Mourinho has insisted he won’t give Cristiano Ronaldo any special treatment despite the winger’s hectic schedule for club and country. With Real battling for La Liga and one of the favourites for the Champions League, Mourninho could be tempted to treat the former Manchester United winger, who is battling a hip injury, with kid gloves. But the ex-Chelsea boss said: “An injury can happen

just by slipping on the stairs. These things are out of our control. But he’s fine and I will play him.” Ronaldo, 26, also faces a twoleg Euro 2012 play-off clash for Portugal against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mourinho added: “Obviously to play in a playoff game is tough. If you are carrying a niggle, it’s even more demanding.” “It’s one of those things that require you to use all your strength and ability.”

We came to qualify — Wydad coach Sanusi kicks off Bankers

ITCHEL Decastel of Wydad Casablanca was full of smiles after his side denied Enyimba International of Nigeria the ticket to this year’s CAF Champions league finals.Speaking in a post match conference, the coach who said he got a crucial 1-0 a forthnight ago stated that his club actually came to Nigeria to pick the final ticket which they actually got.”We came to Enyimba in Aba for qualification. We were positive and we had a good game and we achieved

From Tunde Liadi and Florence Israel in Aba qualification.”We are happy we have the qualification today and we are preparing for the game against Esperance du Tunisia.”Congratulating his opponents, the coach tumbed them up for a good performance in the championship.”Enyimba is a good team. They hard fourteen points in the group stage qualification. Aside that, the

Enyimba team has a good defence and a good goal keeper and it was a good game”.” Weknow that it is difficult to win here because the Enyimba team is very good but now we are sure of the qualification”, he said.Wydad held Enyimba of Nigeria to a goalless draw in Aba to qualify for the final on a one nill aggregate in the presence of some of the bigwigs of the Nigeria Football Federation including, the President Aminu Maigari and the NPL boss, Victor Baribote.

Chelseahas done‘nothingspecial’saysAVB NDRE Villas-Boas insists Chelsea have done “nothing special” despite

No special treatment for Ronaldo —Mourinho

maintaining their 100 per cent home record since the Portuguese’s summer appointment as manager. Chelsea’s Daniel Sturridge scores the opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match at Stamford Bridge against Everton. The Blues emphatically ended their Everton hoodoo with a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge, taking full advantage of Manchester United’s

lunchtime draw at Liverpool and staying within three points of new leaders Manchester City. Villas-Boas said: “We have done nothing else than our responsibilities in winning the games that we have won at home. We have not done anything special. “We just have to continue to win until we find a position of comfort at the top of the Premier League,

because that’s what we want.” Daniel Sturridge increased his England call-up stock by claiming Chelsea’s first goal in their straightforward victory over the dogged Toffees. Additional strikes from captain John Terry and Ramires sealed the home side’s first victory over the visitors at the Bridge since 2006.

•Chelsea's Nigerian midfielder John Mikel Obi (L) vies with Everton's Australian midfielder Tim Cahill (R) during the English Premier League football match

Football Championship

HE second edition of the Bankers Football Championship was officially declared open by the head of competition of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Mohammed Sanusi last Saturday at the FIFA goal project at package B of the National Stadium Abuja with defending Championsby Unity Bank Plc pipping debutants Fortis micro finance bank by a lone goal The highly entertaining match watched by a mammoth crowd saw both team fighting for early control of the midfield, the before Unity Bank broke the deadlock in the 45th minute through Hamisu Haruna whose cracking shot sailed into the net from a scramble

outside the box The second half saw a display of skills from both teams with Fortis pressing Unity bank but unfortunately they could not convert all their chances. The capacity crowd had a lot to cheer for as both dug at each other from kick off till the final kick of the match. In the another match, Fidelity Bank whitewashed Ecobank 4-0 to lead the group B of the competition which is being played on a round robin basis with the two top team from each of the two groups qualifying for the semi final of the championship Handsome individual and team prizes await winners at the end of the championship slated for November 18.

Scouts arrive Ibadan for FRENAGE Soccer Summit

OREIGN scouts from English Premier League (EPL) who arrived Nigeria over the weekend via Air France, have landed in Ibadan for FRENAGE Soccer Summit scheduled to formally commence today, Monday inside Adekunle Fajuyi military Cantonment’s football pitch, Ojoo Ibadan. NationSport learnt that the maiden Soccer event designed to give young players opportunities of listening to tips that will aid their soccer career from technocrats and exinternationals. While invited scouts Abdulatif Alnassar and David Ongorok

By Innocent Amomoh from Progression Soccer Academy will pick exceptional ones for instant trials and some for further grooming, through a scholarship scheme in UK based Soccer Academy. FRENAGE boss, Oluwole Ololade told sports journalists in Ibadan over the weekend that dignitaries expected to grace the opening include former Falcon Coach, Joseph Ladipo, Dr. Felix Owolabi, Member of 1989 Nigeria U-20 ‘Daman miracle’ squad, Dimeji Lawal, Ibadan Football Association Chairman, Alahji Banji Akintayo, 3SC Technical Adviser, Coach Fatai Amoo and hosts of others.

www.thenationonlineng.net

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

T is no longer morning in the Jonathan presidency. Many are beginning to mourn. We are seeing arbitrariness everywhere, from Salami to fuel subsidy to gangster-like arrest of The Nation journalists. He is also poohpoohing federal practice and due process, beginning from his home state Bayelsa. This is how famous dictatorships began. The dictators had the genesis of softness. Some are even asking the inevitable question. Is this the Jonathan they voted in, the man with the hat that cast a shadow over a tame face, the vote seeker with the inevitable biography of a shoeless foot? This man who claimed not to be a lion, or a pharaoh or the hectoring profile of a Nebuchadnezzar may be something even more sinister. The puzzle to many is that he did not tell us who he was. I asked him the question in a recent article, and I think he has revealed what he is: a serpent. But a serpent is not always bad, and that is why it is worshipped in many mythologies. In fact, some mythologies associated it with wisdom and, at worst, cunning. Generally, it is an animal carrying the symbol of life and death. So, why is Jonathan better described as a serpent? It is because the serpent is a sly and sneaky beast. It works with disguises and camouflages. And in the end, when it strikes, you may not even see it. You only know that a deadly thing has happened to you and you have to seek help and redemption. Jesus told his disciples “Be wise as a serpent but harmless as a dove.” So the serpent can be harmful, though wise. This president is no dove. He is a serpent. The snake could do good but when bad, it is often definitive and ruthlessly efficient. Jonathan is using the method of a snake, but not its wisdom. It applies its ominous cunning. In contemporary narratives, the snake is no metaphor associated with nobility. That was the first thought to come to mind when I recast the arrest of seven members of staff of The Nation. The police parked their vehicles outside, stormed the premises and arrested some key editors. They did not find them, and they decided to pick anyone they could hold. In obeying the orders of their boss, IGP Ringim, they parodied the Bible in not appearing before their bosses empty. They brought the gift of seven persons, five editors, a correspondent and chief security officer. They did that without a warrant. That in itself was a travesty of democracy and due process. Then they locked them up for more than 24 hours, which was another infraction of the law. I understand some of them were holed in among common criminals and were subjected to initiation rites. Moral folly. Six were released later, and Yusuf Alli, the enterprising journalist, perhaps the best of his generation in scooping stories about the maggoty underside of officialdom, was still held. They said they wanted to charge him with forgery, sedition and defamation. Less than 24 hours later, Jonathan and his men developed cold feet. They let him go. Later, Jonathan’s PR machine

RIPPLES FASHOLA OPPOSES BID TO LEGALISE PROSTITUTION–News

Oh! my God... this SELF EMPLOYMENT bid?

VOL.7, NO. 1,916

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchsam@yahoo.com 08054501081(sms only) •Winner, Informed Commentary 2009 (D.A.M.E) •Columnist of the Year 2009 (NMMA)

President Jonathan, apologise now

‘

He is not a lion, so he is not the leonine Excellency, or his Excellency the pharaoh. Rather he is “His Excellency the Snake.” •Jonathan

let it out through news channels that it was Jonathan’s benevolent intervention that compelled Ringim, Adoke and the other cohorts from pinning Alli down in prison and with charges. All of these would have been amusing if they were not serious. First, the impression the presidency wants us to believe is that the only bad guys were Ringim and Adoke. The Attorney General and the Inspector General of Police are villains already, even before the show of shame with The Nation staff. They have no biography of innocence. But to make Jonathan seem innocent and away from this treacherous folly reinforces my characterisation of him as a snake. He worked through the disguises of the policeman and his chief legal counsel. That is the camouflage of the snake. When things turned awry, he wanted to be the nice guy. So does it mean Jonathan never knew about the arrests? Everybody knew about it, includ-

T is unlikely we’ll ever be done with committees. The love affair between Nigeria and her committees, like the affair between the inextricable tweedledee and tweedeldum, will go on and on and on. The latest eruption of rule by panels has just been given vent by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Dahiru Musdapher, freshly installed, angry with the low esteem of the judiciary, and determined to change its fame and fortune. He has constituted a 28-man committee to perform that onerous task of revamping the image of the judiciary battered by needless controversy. The panel is headed by Justice Muhammed Uwais, the same justice who chaired the panel on electoral reform, a reform the government arrested midstream. There is hardly a panel set up in Nigeria that did not have competent and notable personalities. The electoral reform panel was star-studded; the various panels on the Jos crisis were no pushovers; and the Justice Kayode Esho panel of many years back did brilliantly. The new Uwais panel constituted only last week is no exception. It is in fact five star-studded. There is no doubt that the jurists tasked with looking for ways of repairing the damage done to the

‘

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

TOMORROW IN THE NATION

‘The Nigerian press faced down the Lugard threat from the very beginning in 1914. It is not about to chicken out now: even if the Presidency, in a purportedly democratic order, makes itself captive to a private citizen’s bully tactics.’

ing outside the country. I placed a call from Vienna, Austria, at the World Editors Forum to Victor Ifijeh, the Managing Director of The Nation. It was just a routine call. He fed me in on the story, hours after it happened. I was to attend a session on Wikileaks, and I told the editors and media managers who attended from around the world about what had just happened. Naomi Hunt of The International Press institute frantically got in touch with me. But before then, a senior advisor at The Knight Foundation of the United States walked up to me to express horror. “That is bad for democracy,” he said. A member of the panel observed that he was surprised that it could happen in Nigeria since only recently a top official received a standing ovation after President Jonathan signed the Freedom of Information Act. The Vienna-based IPI issued a scathing condemnation of the move, so did an official of the Committee to Protect

OLAKUNLE ABIMBOLA

Journalists, also in the U.S. It was painful to see my country go through this, but that is the epistolary consequence of the Jonathan presidency. Before long, the internet buzzed with the story. This was before the newspapers reported the incident the next day. So how could Jonathan not have heard? If he did not, then we have a deaf presidency. It also means he is not in charge of the Attorney General or the Inspector General of Police. Ringim has been his man since his governor days in Bayelsa, and Jonathan is at work now causing havoc with the federal system intervening in the politics there through Ringim and his associates. Yet, he has plenty to do in the centre where he stumbles from one project to another. Let us not forget the genesis of the story. It is the letter former President Obasanjo wrote to President Jonathan, asking him to fire some government agency heads. So Obj now tells Jonathan what to do, and on his behalf he subverted the rule of law, freedom of the press and common decency. President Obasanjo never locked up journalists in his eight years in power even though he showed no courtesy or respect to editors. How has Jonathan become worse than his master? He has not even answered queries about whether he received Obj’s letter. This serpentine style is a pattern with Jonathan. He first seemed to have nothing to do with tenure elongation until he had to come out to say it was not even six years but seven. He seemed not interested in the issue of subsidy making it seem like the governors’ project until he had to come out and now pursues it through law makers. He seemed uninterested in the Salami saga until he appended his signature to the National Judicial Council recommendation. As a close associate of his told me while he was still vice president, Jonathan never admits he did anything to hurt anyone. Rather he would tell the victim, “if you look at the matter deeply, you would discover it is not my fault.” That is the nature of the snake. It is humble enough not to take credit for anything wrong. It sheds its skin instanta and makes itself the aggrieved. If the president did not know about the arrests, he should do two things. One, he should issue a letter of reprimand to both the Attorney General and the Inspector General of Police. This letter should not be hidden and have somebody pass it on to our staff. It should be made public, and let also read the responses of the two culprits. Two, the presidency should offer unreserved apologies to The Nation and the staff arrested. After all that, he should pay compensation for the harassment to the journalists and the disruption of business in The Nation. If he does not do all of these, it means he was behind everything and acted like a snake. He is not a lion, so he is not the leonine Excellency, or his Excellency the pharaoh. Rather he is “His Excellency the Snake.”

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

CJN’s judicial reform panel

committees to resemble their country. Since in spite of brilliant committees Nigeria is yet to move forward, it may be time to begin to take a fresh look at what the real problem of the country is. Why, for instance, did the Katsina-Alu/Salami dispute get out of hand? The answer is clearly not as complex as many fear. The main problem with Nigeria is that too many people are appointed into positions of great responsibility but lack the character to defend those positions. They are afraid to do what is right; they are scared of the truth; they are mortified by the consequences to their skin of defending what is just. If the justices of the National Judicial Council (NJC), itself a product of the Esho panel, had stuck to the truth when the dispute between the then CJN and PCA broke out, not caring whose ox was gored, it is doubtful whether a committee would today be constituted to repair the damaged image. Committees are okay, and the men appointed to them have unimpeachable integrity, but character is the crying need of the moment, character that combines courage with wisdom, character that is blind to positions and status and friendship.

image of the judiciary, particularly as a result of the noisome dispute between the immediate past CJN, Aloysius Katsina-Alu, and the suspended President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Ayo Salami, will do a spectacular job. But lest our hopes soar beyond the clouds, it must not be forgotten that the Esho panel couldn’t have done a greater job, and yet its recommendations were, well, acknowledged and filed away for a long time until Uwais took office. The new Uwais panel will do well and also recommend excellent and far-reaching measures to get the judiciary back into good reckoning. The CJN, knowing he has limited time to clean up the judiciary, will probably implement as many of the suggestions as he can manage. But, and this is where tweedledee and tweedledum come in, Nigerians will have to make up their minds whether they want the country to resemble their committees or the

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