September 01, 2014

2015: APC, PDP, Accord show strength in Oyo NEWS

Page 8

Newspaper of the Year

News Ekiti PDP, govt row over assets P8 Sports Musa’s goals lift Russian club P24 Business Chair: AMCON manages N6tr P6

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

VOL. 9, NO. 2956 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

N150.00

Mixed reactions as N65 ATM charge goes into operation

T •Emefiele

HERE are mixed reactions among Nigerians as the N65 charge on Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transaction begins today.

The remote-on-us ATM transactions as directed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on (other banks ATMs) withdrawal, was cancelled in December 2012 under the leadership of ex-Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,

By Collins Nweze, Finance Correspondent

citing the need to encourage the use of the ATM. Then, it was N100 per withdrawal.

But in the new regime, which begins today, a customer will be debited N65 after three withdrawals from other banks’ ATM. The apex bank and the Bankers Committee have said the decision is in the eco-

nomic interest of the country.

They said the removal of the charges had a negative effect on the cashless policy, adding that today’s take-off of the N65 fee would create competition among banks and lead to better services.

“The wear and tear as well as the frequency of servicing the ATMs has increased significantly. Indeed, some customers were beginning to abuse the use of ATMs

through countless withdrawals. This development has led to increase in cash transactions, which negates the bank’s cashless policy,” the CBN said in a statement.

According to the CBN, if a part of this cost goes unabated, the banks may be forced to reject transactions coming from their customers at other banks’ ATMs, thereby frustrating the inter-operability of payment systems.

Maintaining that running an ATM is expensive and requires economic incentive, an economist and Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismark Rewane, described the reinstatement of the ATM charge as appropriate.

He said the removal of ATM charges was wrong in the first instance, adding Continued on page 4

Ebola virus: Doctor, two others put in isolation •SEE ALSO PAGES 2&3

50 ‘on high risk’ 60 on contact list ‘can’t be traced’ Govt breaching own rule, says APC

T

HREE people – a doctor, a pharmacist and another person – among those who had primary contact with the late Dr. Ikechukwu Sam Enemuo, the first Ebola victim in Rivers State, have been quarantined after showing symptoms of the virus.

The results of their tests are, however, still being awaited. The late doctor Emenuo’s widow, who has tested positive to the virus, is receiving treatment in La-

From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

gos.

Rivers State Commissioner for Health Dr. Sampson Parker broke the news yesterday in an update on the outbreak of Ebola in Port Harcourt, Nigeria’s major oil hub and the second city after Lagos to be hit by the virus in Nigeria.

The late Dr. Enemuo contracted the virus and died on August 22 in Port Harcourt. He became the sixth Nigerian to

Fintiri, nine others gang up against Ribadu, Marwa

15 13 07

EBOLA IN FIGURES •Number of cases so far •Those treated in isolation ward in Lagos •Discharged from hospital

die of the virus after secretly treating a Nigerian official of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Mr. Oluibukun Koye, in

06 02 60

•Deaths from virus infection •Undergoing treatment •Number of untraced contacts in Rivers

a hotel in Port Harcourt.

Koye, who contracted Ebola after having primary contact with the Index case in Nigeria, Liberian-American Patrick

Sawyer, escaped from quarantine in Lagos to Port Harcourt where he was treated by Dr. Enemuo.

Koye is free of the virus, but Dr. Enemuo, Chief Medical Director of Samsteel Hospital in Rumuokoro, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, died of the virus.

He was the third medical doctor to die of the virus.

The commissioner said the doctor and pharmacist started managing Enemuo’s case at his hospital, before he was

moved to Good Hart Hospital, where he died.

Also moved to the quarantine centre, according to the commissioner, is a patient who was on admission at the Good Hart Hospital where Enemuo was admitted until he died.

The commissioner said 50 among the 200 people on the contact tracing list are classified to be high risk; 60 of them could not be reached even on the telephone. Some Continued on page 4

•PDP panel clears acting Adamawa governor

T

From Barnabas Manyam, Yola

EN of the 14 aspirants contesting for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket in the Adamawa State governorship by-election have come together against Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and three others.

The others are former Lagos State Military Administrator Gen. Buba Marwa, ex-Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Executive Secretary Dr. Ahmed Modibo and

?

former governorship candidate Marcus Gundiri.

In the gang-up are Acting Governor Umar Fintiri, Mr. Ahmed Gulak, Awwal WHERE ARE Tukur, James Barka, Sen THE CHIBOK Abubakar Girei, Dr. Idi GIRLS Hong, Aliyu Kama, Umar KIDNAPPED Ardo, Jerry Kumdisi and ON APRIL 15?

Continued on page 4

•WHEN A KILLER VISITS: A girl walks past a slogan painted on a wall reading “Stop Ebola” in Monrovia, Liberia…yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

•SPORTS P23 •CEO P35 •JOBS P37 •MOTORING P39 •POLITICS P45 •FOREIGN P54

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

2

NEWS

•Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi (left) being presented with the new 64-page e-passport by the Comptroller of Immigration in the state, Mr. Innocent Akatu (second left) shortly after at registering for the passport at the state headquarters of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Agodi, Ibadan,...at the weekend. With them are the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Ismail Olalekan Alli (second right) and another Immigration officer.

Ebola…Not q From Nigeria to Liberia and elsewhere, there are new developments on the Ebola disaster, some good, others bad. As Nigeria faces new realities, two doctors in Liberia recover after taking ZMapp and fears of insurance claim trail flights cancelations, writes Asst. Editor OLUKOREDE YISHAU

H

•President, Dangote Group , Aliko Dangote (middle), Group Executive Director, Sales & Marketing,Mr. Knut Ulvmoen and Managing Director, Nasreen Ventures Ltd, Alh. Shehu Abubakar at the Dangote Cement Customers Forum in Kano.

•From left: Category Manager, Dairy, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr. Abiodun Ayodeji; Client Services Director, Proximity Communications Limited, Mrs Florence Olumodimu, Chief Executive Officer, Proximity Communications Limited, Mr Rotimi Olaniyan and Marketing Director, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr. Festus Tettey at the just concluded Onga National Campus Cooking Competition (NCCC) 2014 held at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos.

• Kaduna State Deputy Governor Nuhu Bajoga (left) receiving his new e-passport from Coordinator, Nigeria Immigration Service, Kaduna State Command, Comptroller Nuhu Apang Takung in Kaduna...yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

EALTH Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu was happy to announce that only one patient was still in isolation as a result of the dreaded virus. The development made many feel that eventually Nigeria has caged Ebola and pretty soon, its death knell would sound. Chukwu was, however, cautious and said it was not time for uhuru.

After briefing the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on efforts to contain the deadly disease, the minister said Nigeria is not yet immune to another outbreak.

Chukwu said the virus could still find its way into Nigeria as long as there is any case of Ebola anywhere in the world and there is free movement of persons from country to country.

He said: “Nigeria has been successful in containment of the disease but we have not eliminated the disease. As long as there is any case of Ebola virus anywhere in the world and people are allowed to travel, we are still at risk.

“We are not banning mass gathering and we are not panicking because of the disease. More people have even died from accident than Ebola since the disease came to Nigeria. Ebola is not the greatest killer of Nigerians.

“We don’t want to panic, but we still need to be careful because we are still at risk until the last case is eliminated.

Since, we have one case of Ebola, it is still an epidemic because it is deadlier than other diseases.”

Just a day after Chukwu’s cautious note, it emerged that Ebola had killed another doctor, Dr. Ikechukwu Enemuo, this time in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. The doctor was said to have been infected by a diplomat who had contact with the index patient, the late Patrick Sawyer. The diplomat, Olubukun Koye, was said to have gone to Port Harcourt to seek treatment for ill-health. He returned to Lagos after the government insisted all who had contact with the late Sawyer must be at the isolation centre in Yaba. He is said to have since recovered and back with his family. The doctor was not lucky. He was the owner of “Samsteel Hospital” in Rumuokoro, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, where he worked as the Chief Medical Director until he died on August 22.

With his death, Ebola has gone beyond Lagos. There is panic in Bayelsa and other states close to the Rivers State capital.

Two employees of the late Dr. Enemuo have shown signs of the disease and have been quarantined, Rivers State Commissioner of Health Sampson Parker said yesterday. A patient in “Good Hart” Hospital where Enemuo was admitted until he died has also been quarantined. Results of their samples were being awaited. The attendants at the morgue where the late doctor’s

•The late Sawyer

body was deposited have been placed under watch. The hospitals where the late Enemuo was treated, the Mandate Garden Hotel, Rumudamanya, where he treated his patient, Koye and his residence have been decontaminated.

Dr Enemuo was the sixth victim and the third doctor to die of the virus in the country.

Parker announced the ban on movement of bodies within and outside the state, adding that before any body was moved, the relatives of the diseased must obtain clearance from the Ministry of Health.

Parker said: “Governor Chibuike Amaechi will be meeting all church leaders in the state tomorrow(today).

He will also be meeting with traditional rulers on Tuesday.

“Just as I earlier said, 200 persons that had contacts with the late Enemuo have been traced and put under watch.

We have identified 50 high-risked persons, 60 others that had contacts with him are yet being traced.

“Three patients are at the treatment centre now, a Doctor and pharmacist that worked with the victim at the SamSteel hospital and a lady that was at Good Hart hospital while Dr. Enemuo was there. However, their results are being awaited.

“Enemuo’s widow is still in a stable condition in Lagos. Anyone that had any form of contact with the late Dr. should please come up. Ebola is curable, if diagnosed early, people have survived it and more people will. So, there is no need to run away. It is important that churches close their secret

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

3

NEWS

ot quite farewell to an epidemic

•Graph showing countries with Ebola deaths and cases.

•Map showing Ebola’s spread

admission wards in their various places of worship. Some of them are running into churches and pastors are laying hands on them. It is wrong.

“Movement of bodies within and outside the state must be supervised.

Death certificate must be produced to ascertain the cause of death, and the state Ministry of Health must give approval before anybody is allowed to move.

“The UPTH morgue has been decontaminated. However, all the bodies there must be buried under supervision, especially those that were there at the same time with Dr. Enemuo’s body.”

There was tension among workers and patients of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) Friday, following the news of the pres-

T

ence of the remains of Dr. Enemuo in the hospitals mortuary.

As Nigeria deals with this new reality, Liberia has some good news. The World Health Organisation yesterday announced that two doctors who were treated with the experimental drug ZMapp have recovered and issued certificate of discharge. Three of them received the treatment, but one died last week. The two health workers become the first Africans to survive after taking the experimental drug.

Two American, who contracted the virus in Liberia, have also survived after taking the drug.

Dr. Senga Omeonga and physician assistant Kynda Kobbah were discharged from a Liberian treatment center at the weekend. Both indicated that they will return to work soon.

The WHO said they were received

by Liberian President Ellen JohnsonSirleaf after being discharged. A third person who was infected and treated with ZMapp died last Sunday.

The lethal virus has spread to five countries in West Africa — Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal — during this year’s outbreak. Senegal confirmed its first case of the virus on Friday, one week after closing its border with Guinea, the Senegalese Press Agency reported.

There have been 3,069 probable, confirmed and suspected cases of Ebola in West Africa — more than 40 per cent of which have occurred within the past three weeks, according to the WHO. Some 1,552 of those have died.

It also emerged yesterday that there

are concerns about likely insurance claims from flights cancellations by airlines. London-based insurers are facing claims for cancelled travel and events. Insurers said they are receiving claims relating to the outbreak.

Amanda Lewis, an underwriter at insurer Aegis, said: “The outbreak has caused some isolated event cancellations. Losses are being reported into the London market and I would expect that to gain some momentum.

People’s perception is that it is the whole of Africa. The detail gets lost in the hysteria.”

Lewis added that even when disease is covered, insurance contracts do not generally cover losses caused by the fear of a disease rather than the disease itself. Insurers started excluding disease outbreaks in standard con-

tracts as a result of the SARS epidemic in 2002.

In Senegal, which recorded its first case a few days ago, the WHO said the effort to contain Ebola is “a top priority emergency,”. The government continues tracing everyone who came in contact with a Guinean student who tested positive for the deadly disease in the capital, Dakar. Senegal is the sixth country in Africa with the epidemic. Guinea, Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria are the others.

Senegal, said WHO, faces an “urgent need” for support and supplies including hygiene kits and personal protective equipment for health workers.

“These needs will be met with the fastest possible speed,” the WHO said.

The U.N. agency also provided new information on the movements of the 21-year-old student in the city before he was diagnosed with Ebola.

The student showed up at a hospital in Dakar on August 26 but did not reveal that he had been in contact with other Ebola victims, said Senegalese Health Minister Awa Marie Coll Seck.

He said Senegalese authorities were alerted next day by an epidemiological surveillance team in neighboring Guinea that it had lost track of a person it was monitoring three weeks earlier, and that the person may have crossed into Senegal.

Seck said the student was tracked to the hospital in Dakar and was immediately quarantined, and a test confirmed he had Ebola.

The WHO said the student arrived in Dakar by road on August 20 and stayed with relatives “in the outskirts of the city”, before going to a medical facility on August 23 seeking treatment for fever, diarrhea and vomiting.

He was treated for malaria and continued staying with his relatives before going to the Dakar hospital on August 26.

“Though the investigation is in its early stages, he is not presently known to have traveled elsewhere,” said the WHO. A doctor was quoted yesterday as saying the Guinean student “is doing very well,”.

“This morning when I called the hospital, the doctor told me that the patient had no complaints and that his fever had disappeared,” said Dr. Gallaye Ka in an interview with the private radio station RFM. The WHO believes the epidemic could affect as much as 200,000 people before it will eventually be reined in.

For now, there is no approved rug or vaccine for the dreaded disease.

ZMapp and others are still being tested. While some have survived after using ZMapp, others have died despite taking it.

Countries, such as Canada, are developing vaccines for the disease.

Pharmaceutical companies are reluctant to invest in Ebola drugs because it is the sort of disease that comes once in a while and disappears, a situation which is not good for commercial purpose.

Ebola: NMA urges Fed Govt to police borders, ports

HE Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has urged the Federal Government to police the country’s borders and ports to avert further spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

In a communique at the end of the National Executive Council meeting in Awka, Anambra, yesterday, its national president, Dr Kayode Obembe, commended the federal and Lagos state governments for their response to the health challenge.

He, however, observed that the essential structures and framework for containing the outbreak on a national scale were not yet in place.

The NMA pledged its commitment toward the health of Nigerians, saying that it would join forces with governments and their agencies to prevent

•Unilorin to establish virology complex the spread of EVD to other parts of the country.

It noted that as part of the response to the outbreak, the NMA had put in place a national EVD Response Committee, headed by Prof Michael Asuzu, and similar committees at the state levels.

The body said the controversy that trailed the establishment of the office of the Surgeon-General of the Federation was regrettable.

It said if the office was created, it would have a nationwide structure in place, to promote the enforcement of public health issues and lead the force against emergencies, including the EVD. “The importation of EVD to Nigeria clearly

demonstrates that we are very prone and more at risk really in the Ebola virus as a¸ open to several diplomatic and international travels.

“We therefore call on the FG to police the nation’s borders and ports to avert a further spread of the disease. NEC, therefore, calls on the FG to take steps to further ensure the creation of functional EVD control committees at all levels of government.

“We are deeply concerned that many states are yet to establish reliable isolation facilities and the relative unavailability of Personal Protective Equipment,” it stated.

The University of Ilorin is set to establish a Virology complex to carry out researches on Ebola virus disease (EVD) and how to curtail its spread.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof.

Abdul-Ganiyu Ambali, spoke at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja yesterday.

He said the university recognised its responsibility in conducting researches as well as community development services which was why its senate set up a committee on Ebola recently.

In terms of the community service, Prof.

Ambali said the university published information on Ebola regularly on its website and on its weekly bulletin to educate readers.

4

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

Northwest PDP leaders endorse Jonathan for 2015 •Lamido, Shema absent •Jonathan/Shema posters floods venue

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, SAN (middle) chatting with a young shopper during his visit to the new Apapa Mall at Park Lane, Apapa …yesterday.

PDP appeal panel clears acting Adamawa governor

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Screening Appeal Committee has voided the disqualification of Adamawa State Acting Governor Umar Fintiri.

Consequently, the panel has given him the clearance to participate in the party’s primary election coming up on September 6.

Briefing reporters shortly after the appeal panel sitting at the PDP national secretariat yesterday chairman of the panel, Senator James Manager, affirmed Fintiri’s qualification to participate in the election.

Manager said the Ibrahim Mantu-led screening panel that disqualified the Acting Governor on Saturday committed an error of judgement in arriving at its decision.

The Mantu committee had relied on Section 191 (2) of the Constitution to ease Fintiri out of the race, saying; “Fintiri is not qualified to contest in the primaries because he is not a deputy governor that emerged as acting governor.

“He is a child of circum-

Fintiri, nine others gang up against Ribadu, Marwa Continued from page 1

Dr. Andrawus Sawa.

Eight of the aspirants stormed the party secretariat in Yola yesterday. Fintiri and Dr. Sawa were absent.

Spokesman of the group and former Presidential Adviser Ahmed Gulak said the 10 of them had resolved to come together in the interest of the party and the people.

“We are the only PDP family members; any other person outside is not PDP. Any other person outside the listed persons is not PDP,” Gulak said.

Gulak said they would remain vigilant for today’s ward congress to check any attempt to use non party members as delegates by any person or group.

“Tomorrow (today) is ward congress.

From Yusuf Alli, Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja and Barnabas Manyam, Yola

stance. He is the midwife and should not be the one carrying the pregnancy. He is like a referee who cannot participate in a match.”

But faulting Mantu’s position, Manager said: “We have taken a critical look at the entire gamut of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act

Anybody who brings three delegates from the 226 wards outside the party structure will be resisted,” Gulak warned.

He said they would resist any imposition of candidate from the national leadership of the PDP and the Presidency for the October 11 by- election.

Gulak said they resolved not to allow a stranger to become the standard bearer of the party they laboured for.

Gulak added that they would not recognise Ribadu, Dr. Moddibo, Gen. Marwa and Mr. Gundiri as bonafide members of the party.

He insisted that the group would not allow an outsider to rob them of their right in the house they built.

Continued on page 56

and the PDP Constitution before arriving at our decision.

“The prerequisite for qualification to contest the election, as quoted by the Screening Panel, does not in any way affect the rights of the Acting Governor to contest.

“On the strength of that, we have decided to issue the Acting Governor a provisional clearance certificate to participate in the primary election.

“This decision is based on the facts on ground and not informed by any primordial sentiments. The outcome of our exercise is a unanimous decision by all members of the committee.”

Fintiri appealed his disqualification, arguing that the committee erred in its judgment and that the constitutional provision relied upon

L

EADER of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Northwest geo-political zone yesterday endorsed the candidacy of President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 elections.

They affirmed their support at a meeting attended by Vice President Namadi Sambo in Kaduna.

Party Chairman Adamu Mu’azu, National Organising Secretary Abubakar Mustapha, Zonal Chairman Amb. Adamu Kazaure, Senator Magoro and Sokoto State Deputy Governor Mukhtar Shagari, all attended the meeting.

The Northwest comprising seven states —Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna and Jigawa states has the largest population of voters among the six geo-political zones.

Yesterday’s meeting is believed to be the zone’s response to the ongoing activities orchestrated around

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

President Jonathan’s undisguised but yet to be declared bid for re-election.

The PDP through the NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO) Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) has been holding rallies in geo-political zones in support of the President’s bid.

The rallies have been held in the Southeast, Southwest and Southsouth zones.

Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) did not attend.

House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal was also absent.

Posters of Jonathan/Shema for President/Vice President in 2015 flooded the venue, leading speculation to the rumour that some forces within the party were rooting for dropping of Sambo from the ticket.

Continued on page 56

Mixed reactions as N65 ATM charge goes into operation Continued from page 1

that there was no way a bank could recover its costs and improve on profitability.

But chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Prof. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, kicked against the policy, saying it did not benefit the poor and should be discouraged. “So, the CBN Governor has decreed that ATM transaction shall henceforth attract a charge of N65. Clearly, providers of banking services exist to make profits for their shareholders. But regulatory powers are a public good. There is a legitimate question to be raised here: (how) does this serve the public good?,” he queried.

Odinkalu added: “Nigeria is a country that is heavily under-banked; banking penetra-

Continued on page 56

tion is low; retail banking is poor in many places. For these deficiencies, customers are to be levied what is in effect a financial services tax of N65 on withdrawal. And this in a country in which no bank recorded a loss in the last year.

I do understand ATMs need a back-end. But if the banks are already profitable, why introducing the fee?

“Does anyone know the figures for average trip to a cashpoint per customer per annum? That would give a sense of how much this tax is worth.

“With the level of hardship we have here, how many Nigerians can afford this tax? I would like to get a legal team to review this because there may be room to get the CBN to justify itself under the applicable rules of judicial review,” he said.

Ebola virus: Doctor, two others put in isolation Continued from page 1

of them, he said, are people who had direct contact with the late Dr. Enemuo at his hospital after he contracted the virus.

Parker announced other measures taken by the Rivers State Government to include: banning movement of bodies within and outside the state, bagging of Dr. Enemuo’s body and decontaminating the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital morgue and the attendants placed under watch; a meeting

by Governor Chibuike Amaechi with religious leaders today and traditional rulers tomorrow, to sensitise them and mobilise them on how to educate their followers and subjects on the virus.

The commissioner assured residents of the governments’ readiness to fight the disease in collaboration with the Federal Government’s Ebola Emergency Response team and international agencies and NGOs, including, WHO and Doctors Without Border (MSF).

He warned against unnecessary body contacts and indiscriminate laying of hands on

APC to Nigerians: hold Jonathan responsible if Ebola spreads

T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged Nigerians to hold President Goodluck Jonathan responsible, if the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) spreads further.

The party noted that the President failed to stop is Saturday’s rally in his support in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, despite the warnings from individuals and groups.

In a statement yesterday in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the APC said never before had a President sabotaged his administration’s policy and endangered the lives of his compatriots as Dr Jonathan had done over the EVD. It said the President, who declared a national emergency on Ebola and advised against large gatherings to prevent the spread of the virus, was the first to flout the advice by failing to stop the rally organised by the socalled Transformation Ambassadors of

people by religious leaders.

Parker said: “Anyone that had any form of contact with the late Dr. Enemuo should please come up; Ebola is curable if diagnosed early, people have survived it and more people

By Olamilekan Andu

Nigeria (TAN) in Port Harcourt, a few days after the virus was detected in the city.

This, the APC said, happened when contact-tracing was going on to find those who might have had contact with the doctor who had the disease.

It said: “On the altar of political desperation, President Jonathan put the lives of Nigerians in danger. To realise his ambition for re-election, President Jonathan has shown he is ready to sacrifice as many lives of Nigerians as possible. There goes the President’s statement that his political ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian.

This President simply says what he does not mean.

“As we said in our statement on August 28, calling on President Jonathan to halt the TAN rallies, especially the one in Port Harcourt, could anyone guarantee that none of those who have

will. So, there is no need to run away.

“It is important that churches close their secret admission wards in their various places of worship. Some of them are running into churches and pastors

had contact with the doctor who died of the disease would attend the rally?

That is why we are calling on Nigerians to hold the President responsible, if Ebola spreads more than it has in the country.”

The party noted that after it called for a halt to the TAN rallies, others, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and frontline lawyer, Prof.

Itse Sagay, in a clearly patriotic duty, issued similar calls.

The party said: “In fact, the APC in Rivers described such a rally, most appropriately, as a ‘firing squad against the people’. But because he will rather be re-elected than give a damn over the safety of the same people who voted him into office; because he will rather transmogrify than transform, President Jonathan ignored all the calls and allowed the rally to hold.

This is an unprecedented act of politi-

are laying hands on them, it is wrong even on their and family’s health.

“Movement of bodies within and outside the state must be supervised. Death certificates must be produced to ascertain

Continued on page 56

the cause of death and the state Ministry of Health must give approval before a body is allowed to move.

“The UPTH morgue has been decontaminated. However all the bodies there must be buried

•Dr. Jonathan

under supervision, especially those that were there at the same time with Dr. Enemuo’s.”

Parker said Dr. Enemuo’s body had been bagged and the morgue decontaminated while the attendants have been placed under watch.

Also decontaminated are the hospitals in which the late Enemuo was treated, the Mandate Garden Hotel, Rumudamanya, where he treated his patient, Koye and his residence. Parker said the places are now safe for access by people, but the hospitals are not yet receiving patients.

ADVERT HOTLINES 08023006969, 08052592524

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

5

NEWS

NYSC to deploy screening machines From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

T

•All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun (second left) welcoming the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr James Entwistle, to the party’s secretariat in Abuja. With them are: National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (left); Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Segun Oni (second right) and others in Abuja... at the weekend.

Fed Govt earns $3b from non-oil exports

N

IGERIA'S non-oil exports grew by 15.9 per cent to $3 billion in 2013, a data by the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has shown.

But non-oil exports from the country to other membercountries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stood at $375 million during the period, showing an increase of 20 per cent year-on-year.

The FBN Capital Research, which gave the figures in a report at the weekend, said inflows from the segment of the economy were encouraging.

It said cocoa emerged as the leading non-oil export commodity, earning $759 million.

Nigeria is ranked the world’s fourth largest exporter of cocoa and its by-products.

The Nigeria Export Promotion Council Amendment Decree No. 64 of 1992 was promulgated to enhance the performance of the council by minimising bureaucratic bot-

A

By Collins Nweze

tlenecks and increasing autonomy in dealing with members of the organised private sector (OPS). The council has a governing board drawn from the public and private sectors.

The investment and research firm listed Nigeria, Angola and South Africa as the three leading exporters to the United States in 2013 within the provisions of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

For Nigeria to effectively tap into the segment, the firm said export commodities should meet high standards to compete in the global market.

The NEPC, the firm said, identified 14 key non-traditional products, which offered comparative advantage. Cassava, shea products and potatoes featured on the list.

The report said: "Equally, there are multiple challenges for non-oil exporters. These include infrastructure deficiencies, high costs of produc-

tion and weak logistics. A disturbing obstacle is the bad reputation associated with the products, which has led manufacturers in some segments to brand their goods other than ‘made in Nigeria’."

It said Nigerian cuisine and the film industry (Nollywood) are areas the government intended to promote globally.

Taking a cue from China, which has a strong global presence in the export of its cuisine, the government, the report added, would initially focus on cities, such as London, Houston, Toronto and Johannesburg, which have high Diaspora population.

"We see sustained growth ahead in export diversification due to developments in agribusiness, the cement segment and mining. While substantial oil production losses may have raised the profile of non-oil exports, we should remember that Nigeria's economic model is based on import substitution rather than

export diversification," it said.

The government's focus, the report added, was the creation of employment through import substitution, preferably in the taxpaying formal economy, and the resulting foreign exchange savings from the domestic production of, for example, food crops, vehicles and petroleum products.

Already, the NEPC and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) are exploring new areas of development and promotion of non-oil Export sector.

The council has collaborated with the UNIDO in human capital development with the establishment of leather and leather products Common Facility Centre (CFC) at Aba, Abia State; Kano CFC, on textiles and the Human Capital Development Centre (HCDC) also known as the AGOA Training School in Ikoyi, Lagos.

HE Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Brig.-Gen. Johnson Bamidele Olawumi has said he may deploy screening machines in orientation camps, if the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) continued to spread.

This, he said, would enable the NYSC to detect the health status of corps members and prevent the spread of the EVD among corps members during their stay in the camps.

Olawumi spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital, at the beginning of the NYSC/State Governments’ Collaboration on the Monthly Environmental Sanitation.

The NYSC chief said the scheme had integrated the camps’ clinics into the states’ plan to combat the spread of the EVD. He urged Nigerians to always maintain clean environment and personal hygiene.

Olawumi said relevant government agencies should work together to curtail the spread of the disease, which has killed over 1,000 in West Africa.

The NYSC chief hailed the corps members for their contributions to national development, especially during the last Ekiti and Osun governorship elections.

S

Ebola: Southeast governors hail Fed Govt, states

OUTHEAST governors have hailed the Federal and state governments for containing the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). Rising from a meeting, presided over by its Chairman and Abia State Governor Theodore Orji, the forum also sought a cargo section at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.

Other governors at the meeting were Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi) and Anambra State Dep-

E

Shekarau to open forum

DUCATION Minister Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau will open the National Higher Education Forum 2014 on September 22 in Abuja.

The forum, with the theme: Innovate and Lead, will hold at the International Conference Centre. It is a private sector-driven initiative designed to seek long-term, sustainable solutions to the various challenges facing Nigeria's higher education.

The initiative was articulated by Sojourn Global Services, an idea, innovation and strategy company, in partnership with Tell Communications Limited, the publishers of TELL. Shekarau, who the organisers said has backed the event, would deliver the opening speech and the keynote address at the closing dinner.

Agency educates Lagos residents

Melaye fault Fani-Kayode to comments on Boko Haram sponsors

FORMER member of the House of Representatives, Dino Melaye, has accused a former Aviation Minister, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, of making hasty comments on alleged Boko Haram sponsors.

The activist said Fani-Kayode's accusation that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was allegedly connected with the sect was hasty, indecent and unconscionable.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja, Melaye said: "Mr. FaniKayode's stout defence of an alleged Boko Haram sponsor, as identified by the Goodluck Jonathan administration-appointed negotiator, Stephen Davis, and his attempt to continue pointing fingers at my party, the APC, is hasty, indecent and unconscionable.

"The last time I checked, Mr. Fani-Kayode was not a dulyconstituted independent commission of enquiry to investigate the allegations by the negotiator. One, therefore, wonders how he could so quickly exonerate any of those who were fingered by Dr. Davis purely on the basis of sheer sentiments as well as unbridled hatred for the APC. "What Mr. Fani-Kayode's desperate moves have shown is that the earth-shaking revelation by President Jonathan's negotiator has unnerved his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the administration. It has shown the veracity of the saying that when you point one finger at someone, four others are pointing at you.

T

•Falana urges Fed Govt to prosecute Boko Haram sponsors

By Olamilekan Andu and Bisi Onanuga

"The sponsors of Boko Haram are right within the PDP, as alleged by Dr. Davis, who named former Borno Governor Ali Modu Sheriff and 'a former Chief of Army Staff, who retired in January, rightly sacked by the President'. This has corroborated what the President had said that Boko Haram is right within his administration.

"What one would expect from a government that is keen on finding the true sponsors of Boko Haram and ending the insurgency - instead of playing politics with it - is to support an independent enquiry into the allegation, instead of rushing to shoot it down and casting aspersion on the man who made the revelation on an international television station.

"In the rush to discredit Dr. Davis, the Jonathan administration and its attack dogs have forgotten that the President himself appointed the Australian to negotiate the release of the Chibok schoolgirls, who were abducted by Boko Haram. They have forgotten that of the negotiator had any sympathy, it would be for President Jonathan, who appointed him.

"I am glad that the truth about Boko Haram's sponsors has finally come out. I advise

the Jonathan administration to look inwards, instead of unleashing attack dogs on Dr. Davis and sending spin doctors, some of who will do anything to evade justice over the allegation they face on their own, to the media to try to change the narratives.

"Those who planted Modu Sheriff in the APC, so that they could label the party a Boko Haram sponsor, knew what they were doing. They knew his antecedents. And when the APC decided to frustrate Modu Sheriff and his like out of the party, they should simply have embraced him and accepted that they had finally been hoisted by their own petard.

"Enough of the distracting finger-pointing by the like of the loquacious and truth-twisting Mr. Fani-Kayode. The cat has been let out of the bag!"

Also yesterday Lagos lawyer Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) has urged the Federal Government to prosecute those sponsoring Boko Haram insurgents.

In a statement yesterday in Lagos, Falana advised the government to refer those linked with the insurgency to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for prosecution.

The frontline lawyer said the allegations against them were too weighty to be ignored.

He said: "In view of the gravity of the allegations of crimes against humanity committed by the sponsors of the Boko Haram sect, President Goodluck Jonathan should refer the suspects to the Special Prosecutor of the international Criminal Court.

"Any local investigation conducted by the Federal Government, in the circumstance, may be manipulated by vested political interests."

Falana recalled that the international negotiator, Rev. Stephen Davies, who President Jonathan engaged to dialogue with the Boko Haram sect for the release of the abducted 275 Chibok schoolgirls, revealed the identities of the sponsors of the terrorist organisation.

He said: "In a well publicised televised interview in London last week, the international negotiator said a former Borno State governor, a former chief of Army Staff and a former top official of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) provided funds and other logistics to the nihilist body for the terrorist attacks which have claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent people in the country."

Falana noted that the disclosure was backed with some detailed accounts, which confirmed some infor-

From Chris Oji, Enugu

uty Governor Nkem Okeke.

Through their chairman, the governors told reporters that they would convene a meeting of the elders in the next three weeks to discuss various issues affecting the zone.

They hailed the befitting burial given to former Information Minister, Prof. Dora Akunyili.

The governors promised to pray for the repose of her soul.

•Fani-Kayode

mation with Nigeria's security forces.

The lawyer also recalled that the Amb. Usman Galtimari Committee on Insurgency in the Northeast, which was set up in 2011 by President Jonathan, recommended the prosecution of "some politicians, who sponsored, funded and used the militia groups that later metamorphosed into Boko Haram".

He said: "In a White Paper issued on the report of the committee, the Federal Government accepted the recommendation and directed 'the National Security Adviser (NSA) to coordinate the investigation of the kingpins and sponsors to unravel the individuals and groups that are involved'.

"Although the White Paper was published in May 2012, the directive of the Federal Government has not been carried out till now because the individuals involved are said to be connected to the Presiing

By Amidu Arije

HE Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC) has begun an advocacy on precautions against further outbreak of the Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) and home safety.

Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed, who led the agency’s team to the Eko Club in Surulere, Lagos, for the advocacy programme, warned the residents against spreading rumours about the disease.

He said creating panic would not help anyone in the efforts to contain the disease The commissioner warned that failure to obey the healthy tips about the disease could expose more people in contracting the disease.

Ahmed said: “This is an advocacy and sensitisation drive to let people know the basic things that they can do to ensure safety in their community.”

The commissioner urged the people to follow safety precautions for their wellbeing.

He said: “One of the ways to safety is to follow the basic safety instructions. That is why we are here to let club members know that putting safety signs in the hall will make safety easy, in case of an emergency. The absence of those signs is what causes stampede and death, in case of emergency.”

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

6

NEWS Dangote increases cement supply

By Olamilekan Andu

D

ANGOTE Cement has assured Nigerians that the high price of cement will soon be over.

The company said it had concluded plans to increase its production in three key plants in the country and simplify its distribution network to crash the price and make the products available to Nigerians.

President of Dangote Group Alhaji Aliko Dangote said the company had concluded plans to expand the capacity of its production lines at Obajana, Kogi State; Gboko, Benue State and Ibese, Ogun State, from 19.25 million metric tonnes (MMT) by additional 9 million tonnes by the end of the year.

Dangote also said the expansion would move the production output of the three manufacturing plants to about 28 million tonnes, which would make the company the biggest cement production entity in Africa.

The foremost industrialist said the company’s management would engage the operators of the trucks conveying the products to circulation points across the country to make them available everywhere and to reduce the price.

This method, he said, would ensure an effective and efficient distribution of the company’s products.

On the production of the new 42.5 grade of cement, Dangote said the move was borne out of the quest to prevent further building collapse and its attendant loss of lives.

According to him, the investment in the grade of cement will enable Nigerians to access world-class cement, which would ensure the durability of the houses the cement would be built with.

Dangote explained that before investing in the new grade of cement, companies manufacturing cement in the country were only involved in the production of 32.5 grade of cement, although they had the capacity to step up to the production of the 42.5 grade.

Jonathan for anti-terrorism meeting in Kenya From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will travel to Nairobi today for a meeting of the African Union’s (AU’s) Peace and Security Council, which will begin tomorrow in the Kenyan capital.

A statement yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the meeting is a follow-up to talks by President Jonathan and other African leaders at Pretoria, South Africa, in May, on joint action against terrorism.

Tomorrow’s meeting toorrow will consider the report of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Terrorism and Violent Extremism in Africa.

“Deliberations at the Nairobi summit and the adoption of the African Chairperson’s Report by President Jonathan, President Uhuru Kenyatta (of Kenya) and other participating Heads of State are expected lead to more collaborative actions by Nigeria and other African countries to rid the continent of acts of terrorism and violent extremism,” the statement said.

Disquiet in PDP as NWC member spends millions on choice cars, others

T

HERE is unease in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) over the spending spree of a top member of the party on choice cars for some Emirs and leaders in the North in case the region is opposed for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.

There were speculations that the big shot, who is a member of the National Working Committee (NWC), might be scheming for the Office of the Vice-President to displace the current holder, Namadi Sambo.

But pro-Jonathan forces are not taking things for granted by keeping close tabs on the PDP leader.

P

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that contrary to the posturing of some cabinet members and PDP leaders from the South, not all those working with the President from the North are backing his re-election aspiration.

Some leaders of the PDP from the North are also being suspected of nursing covert plot against Jonathan's second term bid.

It was learnt that the attitude of the said NWC member is causing ripples in the party and within the pro-Jonathan camp.

The top shot is blowing

cash running into millions of Naira to buy choice cars for Emirs.

The bigwig has bought expensive cars, including Mercedes Benz 500, for some traditional rulers in Northwest, Northeast and Northcentral.

It was gathered that the presentation of the cars was not accompanied with any solicitation for support for the President.

The same leader is said to be at loggerheads with some PDP governors from the North over his surreptitious aspiration.

A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: "In spite of the pro-Jonathan ral-

lies in the South for his re-election bid, there are signs that not all the leaders and cabinet members from the North are totally in support of the second term aspiration. They are just tagging along till the right time.

"A few cabinet members approached by the anti-Jonathan elements have said no to such a plot. They however warned the forces behind the plot against it because the President had been fair to all the six geopolitical zones.

"Some of them are hoping that Governor Sule Lamido's presidential project will work to make the presidential primaries competitive.”

Ezekwesili: Chibok girls should be our primary priority

ROTESTERS of the #BringBackOurGirls have said the rescue of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls should be the nation’s primary responsibility and not secondary.

They urged the media not to allow the rescue become a secondary priority of the Federal Government and Nigerians.

The protesters said this might lead to forgetting the girls.

The group said 140 days after the abduction of the schoolgirls, it had moved beyond creating awareness to knowing if anything was being done.

T

•Pro-Jonathan forces keep close tabs on chieftain

From Grace Obike, Abuja

The former Education Minister and leader of the protesters Dr Oby Ezekwesilli said the group wished to capture the power of the press to sustain the need to rescue the girls.

She noted that instead of the government criticising the advocacy and seeing the protesters as enemies, it should see them as an advantage to the growth of the country because citizens were uniting for the growth of the country and an end to terrorism.

She said: “The media must

advocate to avoid the girls becoming a secondary priority for the government or the society.

“One hundred and forty days after the abduction of our daughters, we have moved beyond trying to create an awareness of their abduction to knowing if anything is being done. We wish to capture the power of the press to sustain the fight of the Chibok girls.

“Right now, we have passed the point of the general briefs where the person briefing does not even understand the terminologies involved. The

•Ezekwesili

media need to be more sophisticated in their interactions with the government on the state of terrorism in the country.

Nigeria pays N3.4b monthly to Ajaokuta workers, says AMCON chief

HE Chairman of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Alhaji Kola Belgore, has said nothing is working in Nigeria because of its wastefulness.

He said AMCON was the only establishment that was working with over N6 trillion without a kobo missing.

The former banker decried the collapsed of several industries, firms and banks, which he linked with mismanagement.

Belgore spoke yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at an award ceremony organised by the state chapter of the Alumni Association of the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).

He said the Federal Government was wasting N3.4 bil-

•Corporation working with N6tr

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

lion monthly on Ajaokuta Steel Mill, adding: “That is what we are paying monthly for doing nothing at Ajaokuta.”

The AMCON chief regretted that despite the huge potential of Ajaokuta Steel Mill, it remained unproductive.

He said: “There are 2,500 engines mounted and 6,000 employees. We are paying them every month N3.4 billion.

“I am privileged to be managing AMCON today. It is not noise-making that make people to know youl; it is the output of what you are doing. It is performance. AMCON is the only establishment in Nigeria that has over N6 trillion

that it is working with and not one kobo has missed.

“How we can move the nation forward does not have anything to do with politics.

It is a collective interest. If anybody says he is happy with the current situation in the country, that person is playing the fool. We have become a ridiculed nation in the comity of nations. God endowed Nigeria very well with human and material resources. Yet, we are seriously underperforming.

“Simple ridicule is a nation blessed with petroleum products, yet we are importing fuel, while we are the seventh largest producer in the world.

“If any of you has ever been to Ajaokuta Steel Company,

as an example, and you are a Nigerian patriot, you will shed tears for Nigeria. You will see a gigantic factory without smoke, a factory where we have spent billion of naira.

“I have travelled round the world and I was in the Manufacturing sector. I have not seen a bigger factory than what we have in Ajaokuta.

Yet, it is not producing; nothing is happening and nobody is talking. What kind of country are we? Are we a wasteful country, a country that most people don’t get concerned about what is going on?

“One of the major problems of Nigeria is unemployment.

When all the banks and institutions closed, where will you get jobs for people? We must reverse this trend. Nothing works without planning.”

•Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri (left) demonstrating how to use the hand sanitiser.

With him are: the State Director, NOA, Mr. Vitus Ekeocha (second left) and Chief Godson Obiora, a community leader, during the NOA National Sensitisation Campaign on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and security awareness in Akokwa, Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State...at the weekend

2015: Buhari'll declare ambition soon, says ex-minister From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

A

FORMER Petroleum Resources Minister Umaru Dembo has said former Head of State and a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) General Muhammadu Buhari will declare for next year's presidential race when he returns from his overseas trip.

The former minister dispelled the rumour that Gen. Buhari would not contest the 2015 election but would approve Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for the ticket.

Dembo spoke yesterday in Kaduna at the inauguration of the Isa Ashiru Campaign Team.

The former minister said other presidential aspirants were free to join the race for the APC ticket, adding that whoever emerges winner would be supported by party members.

It was learnt that there had been speculations that Gen. Buhari would leave the ticket for Kwankwaso because he would not contest again, having done so in three previous elections.

Also, the Director-General of the Ashiru Campaign Organisation, Ambassador Sule Buba, has said more Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members would defect to APC in Kaduna State.

But he did not give a specific date this would happen, though he said the defection would be at the right time to "bury the PDP".

Buba said the success of the PDP in the previous elections rested on southern Kaduna, which gave the party block votes.

Mark hails govt for reinstating sacked doctors

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor, Abuja and James Azania, Lokoja

S

ENATE President David Mark expressed appreciation to the Federal Government yesterday for reinstating the 16,000 resident doctors it sacked during their 55-day strike.

Mark intervened in the strike, following the disagreement between the government and the doctors over unpaid arrears on hazard and relativity allowances, among others.

During the strike action, the government sacked the resident doctors and suspended residency training.

The doctors, under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), vowed not to return to work until the government reversed the sack.

Mark pleaded with them to go back to work and gave him the benefit of the doubt to meet the Executive to rethink the sack.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary Paul Mumeh, said the Senate President was happy when he heard that the Federal Government, through the Health Minister Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, had reinstated the resident doctors.

He thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for the gesture.

Mark also hailed the NMA for calling off its strike and directing its members to return to work.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

7

NEWS Osun LP appraises governorship poll

O

By Bola Olajuwon

SUN State Labour Party (LP) has appraised the August 9 governorship election with Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, urging fellow party members not to be discouraged by the outcome.

Akinbade spoke to party’s stakeholders from the 30 local government areas at the weekend in Ogbaagbaa, Ola-Oluwa Local Government area.

He said the future of the party was bright.

“I just want to appeal to our members not be discouraged by the outcome of the August 9 election. We were never disgraced. We fought gallantly and as such, our heads remain unbowed. We are just barely seven months in this party and like you all know, we faced challenges.

“So, I will urge us to be steadfast. Failure is never final; the battle continues,” the former SSG was quoted as saying in a statement by his media aide, Mr. Kayode Oladeji.

He assured that the LP would partake in the 2015 general election, urging members, who have interest in the state assembly seats and the National Assembly, to start preparing in earnest. He promised that the party would support them.

Akinbade debunked the rumour that he was defecting to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

He vowed that he was ready to stay in the LP with a view to rebuilding it to an enviable level.

‘Confab’s proposals ’ll lift Nigeria’

A

DELEGATE at the National Conference and National Coordinator, Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, has said honest implementation of the recommendations of the conference would pave the way for the nation’s rebirth.

Adams, who hailed the conduct of the parley despite initial reservations by some “doubting Thomasses,” advised the National Assembly and the Council of State to be patriotic in considering the recommendations.

“We have had talks over talks in the past; this one is different because of the calibre, passion and the shared vision of the delegates and

By Dada Aladelokun

their leadership who are equally concerned about how to find lasting solutions to the nation’s challenges.

“Therefore, if we are truly committed to moving this nation out of the woods, the stakeholders involved must be dispassionate in their consideration of the over 600 recommendations we arrived at,” he said.

Shedding light on some of the salient recommendations, the OPC chief said: “We have the issue of immunity removal which, if allowed to sail through, would nail the coffin of corruption and looting of public treasury in our land.

Aregbesola faults CBN’s delay of farmers’ incentive O

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has decried alleged delay by the Central Bank in operating Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) for the state’s farmers.

The governor spoke at the weekend at the third anniversary of the Quick Impact Intervention Programme (QIIP)and turning of the sod for the state Soil and Food Laboratory Complex.

He said: “We have embraced the Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), which unfortunately is being unduly delayed. This unproductive delay has its root in the nonoperation of NIRSAL. For our counterpart fund of N300 million in the N600 million QIIP 2, we made available our N9 million NIRSAL Premium for its first year of operation.

“Unfortunately, NIRSAL, which was supposed to be in operation, was not and could not avail the premium and the money had to be returned to our treasury without the supporting benefits we intended to get for our farmers and for which the Cen-

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

tral Bank of Nigeria (CBN) earlier assured us.”

Aregbesola called on the CBN to “speedily” ensure that NIRSAL begins operation before the end of the year.

He said an effectively functional programme as NIRSAL would boost and speed up agric-financing by the financial institutions.

The programme, he said, would encourage financial institutions to support a large number of small and largescale farm-holders and “promote revolvability of loans and build up the necessary wide pool of agric-financing expertise in our economy for consistent and sustainable growth and development of agriculture.”

The governor added that in addition to the loan scheme, QIIP had worked to implement other projects.

“One of them is the Osun Modern Beekeeping, Queen Honey Bee Rearing Project (O-Honey.) We have established a modern apiary with queen bee rearing capacity and extractor – the first in sub-Saharan Africa. It is expected that this will boost production and plant pollina-

tion in the state, specifically at Odo-Otin Local Government Area.

“The focus of the project includes training of unemployed youths in modern beekeeping and queen honey bee rearing, production of honey and wax, distribution of starter package to beginner beekeepers, increasing bee pollination for increase in crop yield and export of honey. Compensation has recently been paid to the land donors at Oyan, and work is ongoing to complete the construction of the factory and the installation of the honey processing equipment.

“Let me also add that programmes like O’REAP (Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Programme), O’REAP Youth Academy, the Osun Broilers OutGrowers’ Production (O’BOPS), the Osun Fisheries Out-Growers’ Production (O’FOPS); the Osun Beef Value Chain project (O’BEEF), and the Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme (O’MEALS) have effectively seen to the empowerment of many of our people,” he said.

Aregbesola added that

through the Osun Agricultural Development Corporation (OSADEC), the government distributed 10 sets of garri processing machines, 10 sets of cassava chips machines and three sets of yam flour processing machines at subsidised prices to interested cooperative groups and other members of the public.

He noted that farmers have also benefitted from highly subsidised fertiliser, solid herbicides, liquid insecticides, solid insecticides, fungicides and other agro chemicals.

On the Soil and Food Laboratory, the governor said the programme would move the state forward in its quest to “become a formidable emporium of food production, food security, and economic growth.

“This momentous initiative is a product of the collaboration between our state and the State of SaxonyAnhalt in Germany. Our German partners designed the complex whose foundation we are laying today.

“When completed, this laboratory will be a key resource for increasing the quantity and quality of food production in the state, as well as provide jobs for some of our unemployed scientists and technologists.”

Amosun gets award

•Amosun

T

HE performance and leadership qualities of Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has been recognised by Egba indigenes in the Diaspora.

It was at the fifth Biennial Convention of The Egba National Association, Incorporated, of United States and Canada.

The event was hosted by the Egba Descendants Association, Dallas, Texas, with the theme, “Celebrating our Heritage.”

The governor received the Award of Excellence “for his outstanding performance, leadership qualities, visionary guidance and dedicated services to the people of Ogun State.”

Amosun, who was represented by his wife, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, urged indigenes in the Diaspora to use the platform to synergise and contribute their quota to the development of the state and Nigeria.

He hailed the association for putting the event together, adding that the recognition, which is the association’s first ever Award For Excellence, would spur him to do more.

Family seeks Osun’s intervention in royal crisis

A

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

RULING house in Iwo, Osun State, Gbaase Royal family, has urged Governor Rauf Aregbesola to allow justice to prevail in the selection of Oluwo.

A contestant from the ruling house, Prince Adewale Abdulrasheed Akanbi, made the appeal in a letter.

He asked the governor to study the history of the selection and installation process and ensure justice.

Akanbi said since the demise of the Oluwo, Oba Asiru Olatubosun Tadese, who died on February 19, 2013, after ruling for 21 years, there had been attempts to manipulate the selection process.

Akanbi said: “We are appealing to the government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to save Iwo. Your government is of God because God was the one that vindicated you over your enemies. You have been a victim of injustice and fraud.

So, please don’t allow that same injustice boat to sail during your tenure.

“Gbaase ruling house has been deprived for over 450 years and most especially, my own family, which is a direct descendant of Olayilumi, has been marginalised and denied the access to my family rights through fraudulent practices for over 650 years after the untimely death of Parin.

•From Right National Council of Elder Member of Nasrul – Lahi- Fathi Society (NASFAT), Alhaji Oladele Soliu, Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and National President Nasrul – Lahi- Fathi Society, Alhaji Sherrif Yussuf during a thanksgiving prayer over Aregbesola’s victory by NASFAT at Mowe, Ogun State...at the weekend

Commission chief warns Fayose not to scrap LCDAs

C

HAIRMAN of Ekiti State Local Government Service (ELGS) Chief Ranti Adebisi has cautioned that any attempt by the incoming administration to scrap the new local council development areas will set it against the people.

Adebisi, in a statement yesterday, noted that the creation of the LCDAs was borne out of the people’s genuine demands for more councils.

He added that they were not created to cause problems for the incoming government.

He said the process of creating the LCDAs preceded the last governorship election, adding that it

would not serve any purpose for anybody to read political meanings to their creation.

The government last month created 19 LCDAs in addition to the 16 councils.

It has also appointed caretaker committees to oversee the affairs of the LCDAs. But the state governorelect, Mr. Ayo Fayose, whose party - the PDP - opposed the creation of the new LCDAs, said his administration would not fund the new councils.

Adebisi noted that the creation of LCDAs would not add any burden to the incoming government as it has not increased the workforce.

Rather, he said the councils’ formation has created more space for career work-

ers at the top echelon of the local government service “Besides, it has further brought government closer to the grassroots and ensure wider participation by the people,” he said.

He stressed that the creation of the LCDAs has met the stipulated procedure as stated in the constitution, adding that Ekiti people should ensure that the desire of the people are met through the new LCDAs Adebisi maintained that council workers are happy with the new LCDAs, which has accounted for the successful take off of the new councils He added that the donation of structures and equipment for the smooth

take off of the LCDAs by communities showed that they were widely accepted.

Adebisi stressed that the communities, whose age long agitation for new councils were met by the Fayemi administration, have been praising the government for meeting their demands.

On the performance of the commission, he said it has restored the confidence of the workers in the APC administration.

He said despite the attempt at instigating the workers against the outgoing government, the commission has served the best interest of the workers and government in ensuring the harmonious relationship between them.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

8

NEWS Ikuforiji advises youths on leadership

Ajimobi hails new e-passport

O

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has hailed the 64-page newly approved international passport as an exercise that epitomises quality service delivery to the people.

He made the remark after he was presented with the 64-page new international passport at the state headquarters of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Agodi, Ibadan, at the weekend.

The governor, who had earlier undergone the necessary process of obtaining the passport, said the new document was of good quality and conformed to international best practices.

He noted that the new passport would accommodate frequent travellers and reduce visits by Nigerians to immigration offices.

The Comptroller of Immigration, Oyo State Command, Mr. Innocent Akatu, said the document would be issued to members of the public at the cost of N20,000, while the 32-page e-passport would continue to be issued to children below 18 years at the cost of N8,750.

Akatu stressed that the elderly, who are above 60 years, would also have the 32-page passport at the cost of N8,750, while people within the age of 18 and 60 would have access to the same document for N15,000.

The newly-introduced document is expected to reduce theft of passport, as the features such as fingerprint and others cannot be falsified based on the scientific fact that two persons cannot have the same fingerprints.

By Oziegbe Okoeki

Ekiti, PDP trade words over property sale

E

KITI State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Governor Kayode Fayemi-led administration at the weekend engaged in war of words over alleged illegal sale of “valuable property.”

It started with the PDP alleging that the state’s property were being sold to some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and cronies of the governor at “give away” prices.

But the Information Commissioner, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo, dismissed the allegation as lacking in “substance, relevance and truth.”

In a statement yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, the PDP Publicity Secretary, Pas-

Police in Oyo, Ondo arrest suspected armed robbers From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan and Damisi Ojo, Akure

O

S

•Edo State Commissioner of Information, Mr Louis Odion(right) receiving a certificate from Mr Bonnie Iwuoha after his conferment with the Fellow of Nigerian Guild of Editors in Katsina...at the weekend

YO and Ondo Police Commands at the weekend separately announced the arrest of some suspected armed robbers in Ibadan and Akure.

The police in Ibadan said “a gang of armed robbers” that was terrorising the residents in the last one month was smashed.

It added that the gang was responsible for the killing of the driver of former Governor Adebayo AlaoAkala’s wife , Mrs. Kemi Alao-Akala , who was shot on May 30 this year.

The deceased driver, identified as Alhaji Alabi Ajikobi, was said to have gone to a bank to cash some money when he was allegedly shot by the suspects.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Okuwobi-Ilobanafor, who spoke with The Nation at the weekend, said the gang of five armed robbers were arrested in Ibadan following an investigation by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Mrs. Okuwobi-Ilobanafor said the investigation paid off with the arrest of the members of the gang and recovery of weapons.

Police in Akure also arrested an armed robber identified as Abraham Haruna and two motorcycle thieves - Monday Gabriel and Segun Olawale.

The command’s Spokesman, Wole Ogodo, who spoke with reporters in Akure, the state capital, said the suspected bandit was arrested after robbing a petrol station in Oba-Ile, Akure North Local Government Area.

The robber, according to Ogodo, was caught with N41,000 and one Techno DI handset while other members of his gang escaped.

He stressed that the manager of the filling station, Adedeji Olarewaju, had earlier hinted that the robbers snatched N151,000 from the pump attendant, Miss Omolorun Comfort.

Ogodo vowed that police would intensify efforts to track down the remaining fleeing suspects.

The police spokesman said two notorious motorcycle thieves, Gabriel and Olawale were also nabbed at Ibuji/Igbaraodo Road by police patrol team at Igbaraoke Police Station.

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

tor Kola Oluwawole, alleged that some top officials in the state’s Housing Corporation and the Directorate of Lands and Planning were involved in the alleged fraud.

The party added that the sale of property included government assets in the state as well as some located in Abuja and Lagos.

It listed the affected properties to include pieces of land and houses at Irewolede Estate Phases I and II, Ado-Ekiti, as well as others at Obasanjo Housing Estate, Ikere Road, Ado-Ekiti.

The PDP said: “Lands at Irewolede and Obasanjo Estates are for Housing Devel-

T

opment Scheme, not site and serviced, with Certificates of Occupancy (Cof O) of the estates already used by the Ekiti State Housing Corporation to apply for N1.5 billion mortgage facility from the Federal Mortgage Bank Of Nigeria (FMBN) out of which less than N1 billion has been approved, waiting for payment to the Ekiti State Housing Corporation.

“Now, a plot of land at Irewolede Phase II and Obasanjo Estate is being sold to Fayemi’s cronies at a very ridiculous price of N200,000, while the houses at Irewolede Phase I are being allocated to political appointees and Fayemi’s cronies at a giveaway price of N6 million instead of the N12 million

placed on the property by official valuer.”

The party noted that government vehicles, both new and fairly used, were being auctioned at prices that could not be justified.

But Ekundayo, in a telephone chat with reporters, stated: “It is not true. They should show proof. I am not aware of such and if they are sure of their fact, they should wait till October 16 when they take over and revoke such properties.

“I don’t think a sensible government could say because it is leaving, it can start selling property of the state.

Such allegation is senseless and unsubstantiated and should not be taken seriously,” he said.

PEAKER of Lagos State House of Assembly Adeyemi Ikuforiji has admonished youths in the country to step up their participation in politics and governance to ensure leadership change.

Ikuforiji, while addressing a group of youths under the banner of National Youth Council of Nigeria who paid him a visit in Ikeja at the weekend, advised them to shun activities that are capable of jeopardising their future and the spirit of the nation.

The national leader of the group, Comrade Deolu George, urged the Speaker to declare his intention to contest for the governorship election in February, 2015.

Ikuforiji, in his response, expressed his gratitude to the youths for reposing confidence in his leadership quality.

He said: “Having worked as number three citizen of this state, approving budgets of nine financial years and overseeing the implementation of policies and laws passed by the House of Assembly, I am convinced that I have all it takes to govern our dear state and take her to the next level. And in due course, I will make my intention known to Lagosians. “ The speaker bemoaned the attitude of youths in leadership succession, urging them to arrest the trend.

“The percentage of the youth taking up leadership positions in the country is abysmally low. If the youths, which possess 60 per cent of the voting power can still remain powerless and be suffering, then you should blame yourselves for self-denials,” he said.

APC, PDP, Accord flex muscle in Oyo over 2015 poll

HE three major political parties in Oyo State have started flexing muscles over 2015 general elections, with each vowing that it would emerge victorious.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC) and Accord yesterday told The Nation in separate interviews that nothing would stop each of them from taking over control of Agodi Government House in the February the election.

Speaking for the Accord, its Publicity Secretary, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, said the fact that the PDP and APC won in Ekiti and Osun states showed that voters in Southwest place more premium on candidates rather than parties.

Adeniran, who faulted suggestions that only the PDP and the APC were the main parties and that the battle looks squarely positioned between them, said: “PDP won in Ekiti and APC won in Osun.

Accord is going to win in Oyo State. Those thinking that the battle is squarely between APC and PDP should know

From Bisi Oladele and Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

that Southwest is not homogeneous as they are thinking because it is not the same set of voters that will vote and it is not the same thing that is happening in all the states.

“Most of them in Ekiti knew from the onset that Fayose was going to win in Ekiti and I can tell you that we knew that Aregebesola was going to win in Osun State. So, we can say that Accord will win in Oyo State.”

Adeniran said those who think that Accord would be pushed to the background were living in illusion, pointing out that Oyo State voters are asking its governorship hopeful, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, to come back as governor.

Also, a chieftain of the PDP and the senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District, Hosea Agbooola, said the voters were tired of the APC gov-

ernment.

He assured that the PDP would replace the former after the next year election.

His words: “You are a living witness to what happened in Osun State. But Oyo State politics is different from that of Osun State. I am assuring you that the people of Oyo State are tired of APC government. They are tired of taking directives from Lagos State. So, I am assuring you that come 2015, PDP will emerge as the governor.”

But the state Chairman of the APC, Chief Akin Oke, rubbished their claims.

He wondered the basis on which either the PDP or Accord would return to power, having squandered the state’s resources and inflicted violence and brigandage on residents during their eight-year reign between 2003 and 2011.

Oke said: “PDP or Senator Ladoja winning election in

Oyo State again? On what basis? Our government outperformed both of them within our three years in office when compared with their eight years in office combined. Is it in the area of security, infrastructural development, urban renewal or what? As far as we are concerned, based on Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s performance, Senator Ladoja’s performance in four years was nil. So was Otunba Alao-Akala, who inflicted violence and gangsterism on the state, among others, in his four-year reign.

“I base my own position on valid yardsticks. PDP is even worse at federal level now so much that they cannot go out and ask for people’s votes based on the performance of the party. What they are now doing is to hide under the name of President Goodluck Jonathan, believing that they can get some sympathy.

“Surely by 2015, we are not just going to contest, but we are going to win the election.”

Fawehinmi scholarship interview

T

HE Gani Fawehinmi yearly scholarship interview for the Southwest zone will hold on September 9, at the Nigerian Publications House, Otunba Jobi Fele Way, Alausa, Ikeja by 10a.m.

HIS year’s edition of Marathon Bible Reading by The A statement by the Chairman and Secretary of the scholarship board, Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) takes off today.

Dr. Dipo Fashina and Ugwuzor Adindu said the interview was Its Deputy Manager, Public Relations, Benjamin decentralised to make it accessible to indigent students for which it was Mordi, said the event is scheduled to take place in Lagos meant. from today to Friday, at 50 centres.

The board stated that 40 students are to benefit in this year’s awards He said the unique feature of the event was that it gives and each of them will receive N100,000. the participants the opportunity to read the Bible aloud in It advised brilliant indigent students in tertiary institutions that are yet their own native languages. to apply to do so.

BSN holds Bible reading

T

9

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

NEWS

Anxiety as police move against anti-Uwazuruike commanders

T

HERE was tension yesterday at Okwe in Onuimo Local Government Area of Imo State, as over 100 armed policemen stormed the headquarters of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), to dislodge the MASSOB commanders.

They had resisted the ejection order of the embattled leader of the group, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, over the

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

•Vandalise MASSOB headquarters

leadership crisis rocking it.

An eyewitness said the operation, which sent residents scampering for safety, began at 6am and lasted for hours.

The source added: “We were woken up by the sound of guns and we scampered for safety, not knowing where the gunshots were coming from.

Later we discovered that po-

licemen were shooting at the MASSOB headquarters.”

Speaking with The Nation, MASSOB Director of Information, Comrade Uchenna Madu, who was purportedly sacked by the MASSOB leader, alleged that the policemen vandalised the MASSOB headquarters in a bid to dislodge the commanders, who were occupying

the secretariat against the directive of Uwazuruike.

He said: “We learnt that the policemen were acting on an order from above to force out the commanders from the headquarters. Uwazuruike lied to the Presidency that we were working with the opposition to frustrate President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election.

“How else can the police explain that Uwazuruike, who was earlier summoned by the command, would suddenly turn round to provide them with tactical support against the commanders, who were agitating for their right and opposing Uwazuruike’s misrule and betrayal.

“But the truth is that we are not against President Jonathan or conspiring with any party to oppose his re-election. We

Okorocha warns monarch against impersonation

I

MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha warned at the weekend, the sacked traditional ruler of Obinugu community in Orlu Local Government, Mr. Cletus Ilomuanya, against impersonation.

He said his dethronement was backed by laws, adding that he would be sanctioned if he violated the laws.

The governor, who said peace returned to the community after the removal of the traditional ruler, contrary to media reports, added that

•Threatens to prosecute collaborators From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

there would be no sacred cow in his administration’s effort to sanitise the state.

His words: “I don’t believe in no-go areas. Any person or institution working against the interest of the state will be dealt with, irrespective of his or her status.”

Speaking during a breakfast meeting with reporters at the Government House, Ow-

erri, Okorocha said: “I don’t know why a dethroned monarch should still be parading himself as a king. If you go to the community today, the people are happy because they are free from the despotic leadership of Ilomuanya and are happy with the government.”

He blamed the former governor, Chief Achike Udenwa, for foisting the dethroned monarch on the community.

The governor said: “Il-

omuanya found his way to the throne because of Udenwa’s weakness. People believe there are institutions that cannot be touched, but it is not so with me.

Ilomuanaya has ceased to be a traditional ruler and should no longer be addressed as such.

“Henceforth, any person addressing him as such will be prosecuted. He reported to the Presidency that I dethroned him because he supported President Goodluck Jonathan.

But I am not bothered by his lies.”

are only insisting that Uwazuruike should render account of how he has managed the resources meant for the struggle.”

Madu said none of the commanders was arrested in the pre-dawn operation.

Confirming the incident, police spokesman Andrew Enwerem said it was in continuation of the manhunt for those involved in the killing of MASSOB members.

‘Obiano not for PDP’ From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

A

CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Pat Ogochukwu Egolum, has debunked a speculation that Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano may join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said the party was intact.

Egolum spoke yesterday in Awka while briefing reporters on the purported defection of the governor to another party.

The politician, who is contesting Anaocha I Constituency next year, said he was in the race because his people were in need of development.

Senator survives assassination attempt From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

T

HE lawmaker representing Abia Central, Senator Nkechi Justina Nwaogu, at the weekend survived an assassination attempt on her and members of her campaign team.

The incident, The Nation learnt, occurred when the only woman in the Abia governorship race was returning to Aba after visiting Eze Enweremadu in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government, whose community held the new yam festival last Friday.

Police deny shooting mourners in Imo From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

I

MO State Police Command described yesterday as unfounded, an allegation that policemen opened fire on a funeral procession at Umuokoto, Umudibia Nekede Autonomous Community in Owerri West Local Government, which resulted in the death of one of the mourners.

It was reported that the youths, who were returning from the mortuary where they had gone to collect a body for burial, were near their destination when trigger-happy policemen met them.

The yet-to-be identified victim was taking part with over 30 other youths in the funeral procession when he was hit by a stray bullet.

Police spokesman Andrew Enwerem said the victim was not shot by their men. He said: “The hospital report of the victims showed that they were not shot with a police gun because the pellets extracted from their bodies were not from police guns. They were apparently shot by armed youths.”

Two killed, 10,000 displaced in Benue •From left: Vice Chairman, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Soboma Ajumogobia; Rev. Agnes Mary Hassan; Guest Speaker/Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Chairman of the occasion/Group Executive, Domestic Bank, Ecobank Group, Mr. Patrick Akinwutan; and President, Catholic Brothers United, Mr. Emmanuel Uwukhor, as Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa was presented an award during the 15th annual lecture of the Catholic Brothers United, at St. Agnes Catholic PHOTOS: ADEJO DAVID Church, Maryland, Lagos.

N10m stolen milk recovered

T

HE police in Ebonyi State at the weekend recovered a stolen truck loaded with milk worth over N10million at Abakpa Main Market in Abakaliki.

The command’s spokesman Chris Anyanwu said the cartons of Peak milk were stolen in Onitsha, Anambra State, by a five-man gang led by Ikechukwu Joseph.

Ikechukwu, 21, a wheel

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakliki

barrow pusher, hails from Ezza North in Ebonyi State.

Other members of the gang include Ayo Adebowale, 21, from Ogun State; Ogwuta Ikechukwu, 21, from Ebonyi and Iruka Lazarus, 35, from Ebonyi.

Anyanwu said when the owner of the goods, Amaobi

Nwachukwu, a businessman, finished loading the truck of milk and was about sending it to the buyers, Ikechukwu contacted a member of his syndicate, Saidu Ibrahim, who dismantled the security gadgets in the truck and drove it.

Ibrahim, a mechanic, who lives at Orefite, Ugwu Abor in Anambra State and an indigene of Itire village in Osun State, was alleged to have moulded

keys and one fitted into the truck.

He drove it to Asaba in Delta State before heading for Abakaliki.

The police spokesman said: “He drove the truck to Asaba and on getting to a lonely road, he told the mastermind of the crime, Ikechukwu, that they would not be safe carrying the goods in the truck.

Anambra: Obiano files cross-appeal at Supreme Court

A

NAMBRA State Governor Willie Obiano has filed a cross-appeal at the Supreme Court, disagreeing with aspects of the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, which ruled in his favour, dismissing four petitions against his election.

Senator Chris Ngige and All

A

•Ngige, APC object Progressives Congress (APC), whose joint appeal in the Enugu Court was dismissed on the same day with three others, had since appealed at the Supreme Court.

The five-man panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Lawal Garba Mohammed, on

July 26 dismissed the petition filed by Senator Ngige and the APC. In the cross-appeal, Obiano, apprehensive of the issue of qualification to contest as governor, is contending that the Appellate Court ought to have held that the only grounds to determine the issue of qualification for elections are those

provided by Secton 177 and 182 of the 1999 Constitution.

However, Senator Ngige and his party are contending through the Tribunal, to the Appeal Court and now the Supreme Court that Obiano is not qualified to contest the governoship election , having ‘submitted a forged document to INEC ‘ as part of his prequalification.

INEC plans to disenfranchise Igbo, group alleges

GROUP, Ndigbo Unity Forum, has alleged plans by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disenfranchise over two million registered voters in the Southeast.

The president of the forum, Mr. Augustine Chukwudum,

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

told The Nation in Calabar yesterday: “I would like to inform the world that we have discovered that INEC has deliberately, through their inefficiency, planned to disenfranchise many eligible voters in the Southeast.

“Our investigation shows that more than two million voters will be denied their rights to vote because of the deliberate inefficiency by INEC. “After an emergency session, we observed complaints by the Southeast residents that INEC workers tasked with the

conduct of the voter registration, are not enough. Also, we observed that the few INEC workers always display nonchalant attitude towards their duty. We observed that most of the machines used in the registration always break down.”

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

T

WO persons have been killed and 10,000 displaced at Dzev in Shangev-Ya District of Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State by suspected youths from Mbakyaa kindred.

Among the deceased was a woman, who was already bedridden in one of the clinics in the crisis- ridden community and a young man, who was shot in the stomach.

Police spokesman Daniel Ezeala, who confirmed the incident, said peace had been restored, following a stakeholders’ meeting in Adikpo at the weekend.

Govt urged to address dehumanisation From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

T

HE Federal Government and international institutions and organisations have been urged to look into the increasing rate of dehumanisation and unlawful detention of Nigerians at the entry point in Egypt.

A community leader in Lekki-Ajah, Lagos, Chief Taoheed Olakojo Ololade, said in a letter that there was racial discrimination and unjust delay of Nigerians at the entry point in Egypt.

The letter, dated August 28, was written to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and copied the Presidency, Nigeria Ambassador in Egypt, Amnesty International, International Human Right, Egypt Embassy, Egypt Home office, Nigeria Immigration Service and the National Assembly.

Nasarawa clash: Al-Makura appeals for calm From Johnny Danjuma, Lafia

N

ASARAWA State government yesterday appealed for calm.

It admitted that people died in the recent crisis.

About 60 persons were reported to have died in the crisis between the Fulani and Eggon villagers, who accused the former of cattle rustling at Tudun Adabu, a few kilometres from Lafia, the state capital.

Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura said in a broadcast yesterday that inestimable property were destroyed and people were displaced.

He described the incident as unfortunate.

Al-Makura said: “At this juncture, let me, on behalf of the government and people of the state, console the bereaved families. I pray that God will heal those who sustained injuries and replenish those who lost valuables. “Government will do everything to take care of the displaced people.” He urged the people to give peace a chance, to ensure development.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

10

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

How Customs officers attacked us, by LASTMA

O

FFICIALS of the Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA) have accused Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) men of attacking them for impounding a vehicle that contravened traffic laws.

The customsmen, they alleged, invaded their Zone 22 Mile 2 Yard in Lagos.

The vehicle, a Honda Pilot Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), marked EKY 521 CZ, belonging to a senior Customs officer, allegedly drove “one way’ around Coconut area of Mile 2. It was impounded and taken to the LASTMA yard.

Over 20 Customsmen in three patrol vehicle, led by a deputy controller were said to have invaded the LASTMA office.

Zonal head at the Mile 2 yard, Victor Adeyanju said: “The officers who were in uniform stormed the office and demanded the unconditional release of their colleague’s vehicle, but we made them to understand that there is a standard pro-

H

cedure for the release of vehicles that contravene traffic laws in the state. Then, they started beating and dragging our officials on the floor, damaging computers and breaking windows. They threatened not to leave the premises without the contravened vehicle.

“When we stood our ground, the Customs officers started shooting sporadically and held people inside the offices’ hostage while those outside scampered for safety from stray bullet. It took the concerted effort of policemen from the nearby FESTAC Police Station led by the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) Superintendent (SP) Owoh Ifeayin to restore normalcy”.

He said Musiliu Edu, Wensu Idowu and Police Corporal Saliu Isiaka were battered.

While Edu and Isiaka were beaten for recording the act and their phones and camera seized at gunpoint, Idowu was hit in the mouth with a

gun butt, Adeyanju said, adding that they were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

LASTMA’s spokesperson, Bola Ajao confirmed the incident, saying: “The vehicle was apprehended about 9.15am for driving against traffic and taken into the LASTMA yard. An hour after the arrest, a group of Customs officials in a convoy of three patrol vehicles fully armed with automatic rifles and led by an officer who introduced himself as a Deputy Controller, stormed the LASTMA yard and inflicted injuries on officials on sight.

“The Custom Officers, who were arrested by the police, however, escaped on the way to the station but one of their official patrol vehicles was apprehended and taken to the FESTAC Police Station, while the apprehended SUV was deposited at the LASTMA Headquarters.

“The officers who hurriedly left to evade justice left behind evidence such as

•One of the victims after the attack

bullet shells and a name tag belonging to one of the officers, AUDU. A.A.” LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Babatunde Edu decried the attack, saying it was appalling for the officers to brutalise LASTMA officials and prevent them from carrying out their duties.

Edu urged uniformed personnel whether military or para-military to see LASTMA officials as partners in progress.

Efforts to get Custom’s spokesperson Wale Adeniyi to speak on the incident failed as text messages sent to him were not replied.

•The name tag and the bullet recovered at the scene

Group holds songs competition to revive ‘old Lagos’

OW do you revive the Lagos of old where people lived in harmony and kept public infrastructure? A non-political, non-religious group, the Spirit of Lagos (SoL), is aiming to do so through music.

It is staging a songs competition to create what it calls a saner Lagos.

The competition, which begins today, is open to all residents, is aimed at selecting a theme song that will resonate with Lagosians and promote the ideals of a sane Lagos. The contest will end on September 26.

According to the organisation’s Project Director, Niyi Omotoso, who addressed reporters in Lagos, the contest is expected to drive engagement and adoption of SOL’s messages among Lagosians.

“The theme competition was conceived to engage Lagosians and create an opportunity for musical talent to thrive as well as generate thought and conversation around the values of the Spirit of Lagos. The best theme song must, among other things, be new and had never been played in any media platform or performed anywhere prior to the competition; promote

T

By Jude Isiguzo

•From left: Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Transport Education Dr Mariam Masha; Mrs. Badejo-Okusanya and Omotoso at the media parley. PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

By Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

the unique attributes that made Lagos a centre of excellence; inspire social justice, civic responsibility, citizenship and neighbourliness, and must not exceed three minutes,” Omotoso said.

The winning theme song,

he said, must align with the objectives of the Spirit of Lagos’ ‘Change your thinking’ campaign to restore those unique values that in the past, made the city a safe, just, prosperous and neighbourly place to live in and visit.

The winner of the contest, he added, would gain, among other things, a re-

cording contract, opportunity to be considered for SOL ambassadorship, a N500,000 cash prize and a chance to perform the song alongside some notable artistes at the Lagos State Governor’s Ball billed for the third quarter of the year.

“The first and second runners-up in the contest will be rewarded with N200,000 and

Community gets first grassroots fire station

O facilitate quick response to fires in his domain, Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) chairman Olajide Jimoh has built a fire service station.

Opening the facility, Jimoh said the council also provided fire-fighting trucks with a structure to house them and ready water supply among others.

He praised the management of Lagos State Fire Service which, he said, gave the council “absolute cooperation,” especially by training personnel to man the station.

By Emmanuel Oladesu

Jimoh said the need for programmes that would enhance residents’ standard of living informed the decision to build the facility.

Governor Babatunde Fashola lauded the council chief for being the first in the country to build a fire station.

Fashola’s spoke during the passing out of the 17 fire fighters through the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Oyilomo Danmole. He urged other council chiefs to emulate Jimoh to complement government’s efforts to en-

sure safety of citizens and their property.

The Controllers General, Federal Fire Service, Mr. Olusegun Okebiorun, also hailed the “good initiative” of the council, saying that it would be of benefit to the people.

A statement from the Federal Fire Service, Abuja, signed by Assistant Controller (Corporate Service), Mr. Elechi Collins, reads: “This initiative is worthy of emulation and highly commendable because of its importance in the drive towards prevention and other emergencies

in the country… it is a demonstration of good governance.”

Director of Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Razak Idowu Fadipe also praised Jimoh, saying: “I am elated that the Yaba Local council chairman has keyed into the focus of this administration. When the governor first came on board, he observed that we had only eight power stations; he swiftly added five more.

Now two more power stations are currently under construction and will be due for inauguration this year.”

N100,000 cash prizes respectively, while the song with the highest vote will get N500,000 cash reward,” he said.

A panel of judges consisting of performing artistes and record label owners, he explained, would select the winning song, adding that each song would be judged on creativity, originality, message content, balance/ blend and overall acceptability.

Prospective participants, Omotoso said, would have the opportunity to vote for their choice songs on SOL’s facebook page, www.facebook.com/ spiritoflagos, or any of its online media platforms.

Participants, he added, could also send their entries in a CD/DVD to The Spirit of Lagos Song Competition at the following places: PlayHouse, 2 Abieyuwa Amadasun Street, off Oduduwa Way, Ikeja GRA; C&F Porter Novelli, 26A Babatope Bejide Street, Lekki 1 or TBWA at Harold

T

Shodipo Crescent Ikeja GRA. “Contestants are expected to enclose their full names, addresses and phone numbers in their entries as well as like the Spirit of Lagos facebook page before sending in their entries,” he said.

General Counsel to Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Mrs Oyinkan BadejoOkusanya, who was at the parley, expressed government’s willingness to support the project.

She said the administration’s concern of this administration is to ensure an all-round sane Lagos, adding that the government would partner SOL to make the project a success.

“The Spirit of Lagos believes firmly that we must live with a keen sense of ownership of the city by being part of any effort aimed at ensuring that it indeed remains the centre of excellence in all ramifications.

This is in tandem with the fundamental objectives of the current administration,” she added.

Woman dies at 83

HE family of the late Elder Ebenezer Adefarati Daomi of Okia in Oka-Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State has lost its matriarch, Chief Beatrice Wuraola Daomi. She died after a brief illness on July 13 in Lagos. She was 83.

In a statement, one of her children, Olusoji Daomi, a lawyer, said her remains would leave Lagos for her Odemagbe Compound, Okia home on February 6, 2015 for Wakekeep/Service of Songs that would begin by 5pm.

Funeral Service, he said, would hold at 10am the next day at St David’s African Church, Okia, after which interment follows at the church cemetery. Reception, he added, would hold immediately at St David’s Primary School’s Open field opposite the church.

The late Mrs Daomi, was the first Secretary of African Church Women League (Egbe Aya Bishop), Ondo Province (now Ondo/Ekiti State), founded by African Church Primate Olulode. Until her death, she was the Iya Egbe Akorin of St David’s African Church, Okia, the statement added.

•The late Mrs Daomi

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

11

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

Two held for ‘car snatching’

T

WO persons have been arrested by operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos Police Command, for alleged car theft.

They were arrested at Ojuelegba, Lagos Mainland, on August 18, following a tipoff.

The suspects - Musbao Ayinde (25) and Isiaka Afolabi (28) - are from Offa in Kwara State.

Ayinde, a technician resides at 2, Oko Oba Street, Ebute Meta, Lagos Mainland; Isiaka Afolabi (28), washes cars at Costain.

Police sources said the suspects operated around Ifo in Ogun State for about three years, but were caught when they attempted to operate in Lagos.

Two locally made guns were recovered from them.

A source said penultimate Thursday, the suspects hit a victim with gun butt before snatching his car.

“The man passed out and was dumped at a nearby bush where he was found and taken to hospital by passersby. It was at the hospital that he was revived”, the source said.

The victim was said to have taken his case to the Lagos State Commissioner of

C

Civil society bodies tackle HIV/AIDS

T

O reduce the HIV prevalence level from the 5.6 per cent to zero, the Oyo State Agency for the Control of Aids (OYOSACA), has engaged 30 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to provide HIV support services at the local government.

The scheme is under the second World Bank-assisted HIV Programme Development Project (HPDPII).

Members of the OYOSACA

‘

I have only operated around Ifo in Ogun State twice. It was the operation on the Third Mainland Bridge that put us in this trouble. It was greed that made us come to Lagos to rob ... despite the high risk involved

’

By Jude Isiguzo and Ebele Boniface

Police when there was no swift response to his distress call by police in the area.

The Decoy One led by the Officer in Charge of SARS, Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police (SP) swung into action and arrested the suspects with their guns.

Ayinde told The Nation: “We are car snatchers. We used gun to intimidate our victims. We never intended to shoot them.

We prefer to run away than to fire a victim.

•The suspects

‘I found condoms in my wife’s purse’

A

“I have only operated around Ifo in Ogun State twice. It was the operation on the Third Mainland Bridge that put us in this trouble. It was greed that made us come to Lagos State to rob and snatch vehicles despite the high risk involved.”

“I was asked to come and collect money by the buyer of one of the cars we snatched not knowing that he was with the police. When I got there, I was arrested after collecting N150,000 from the buyer,” he said.

Afolabi said: “I became a car snatcher because of my mother’s death and the bad poverty ravaging my family.

My father is alive, but he could not solve the family’s

financial problem.

“It was Ayinde who asked me to follow him to go and collect money for a vehicle sold to one of our buyers. Whe we got there, policemen arrested us. I have operated only three times. In the first operation I got N35,000; the second, I got nothing and from the third, I got N30,000. It was Ayinde’s arrest that led to mine.”

Assistant Police Public Relations Officer, Lelma Kolle, an Assistant Superintendent (ASP), said the suspects were being interrogated as efforts were ongoing to arrest other armed robbery gangs connected to them. He said they would soon be charged to court.

N educationist, Andrew Ekpenyong, has sought the dissolution of his 10-year-old marriage at the Customary Court in Alagbado, a Lagos suburb. He is accusing his wife Blessing, of threatening his life.

He told the court: “She is not caring. She does not treat my relations and I with respect. She often publicly harasses me and she deprives me of seeing my children.

“We got married after eight-month courtship because I cherished her presence. We managed every situation because I thought that living as a couple would be a dream come true.

But I never knew it was for a

He charged participants to be change agents and ensure that introduced what they learnt anywhere they found themselves. “I will urge you not to be frustrated if you met with challenges as you try to implement what you have learnt here, but be persistent and introduce the change,” Ashimi said.

Earlier, PSSDC Director General Mrs. Olubunmi Fabamwo hailed the participants for putting in their best during the training.

Mrs. Fabamwo said policy development, analysis and implementation is a newly designed programme and one of the eight contents designed for civil servants at the grassroots.

She said: “Take away all the good things you have learnt from us here and introduce them at your various offices and local councils to improve service delivery.”

Mrs. Fabamwo presented awards to two of the participants in line with the centre’s tradition. The most outstanding participant award went to the class governor, Mr. Joseph Olufemi Ojo, an engineer at the Badagry Local Government; Mr. Michael Adebisi Opeseyi, an administrative

officer with the Mushin Local Government Area got the punctuality award.

Ojo and Opeseyi praised the facilitators for giving their best during the training, adding that the training would make councils deliver to people at the grassroots. Over 46 participants were at the training

Local govt chiefs urged to work with workers

OUNCIL chairmen in Lagos State have been urged to work with workers to enhance quality service delivery at the grassroots.

The Permanent Secretary in the Office of Local Government Establishment, Training and Pensions (LGETP), Mr. Adewale Ashimi gave the charge at the end of the Public Policy Development, Analysis and Implementation training for senior administration managers of all the 20 councils and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) at the Public Service Staff Development Centre (PSSDC), Magodo, Lagos.

Ashimi said the commission’s efforts to train and equip its workforce for future challenges would be futile, if the chairmen and the management staff do not work together.

He said the commission

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

decided to train the council workers in policy development to enable them key into the overall vision of the government to empower workers in order to drive efficiency of the public service, whether at the local or state government levels.

Ashimi said the commission would link up with the chairmen to ensure that the lessons of the trainings are not lost. “If you want to increase revenue, work with the local government workers; if you want to increase tourism potentials in the state, work with the councils; if you want to grow entrepreneurship, work with the grassroots; government at that level is key to development anywhere in the world and anyone working at the councils must be as effective as possible if they must drive the overall growth potential of the state government,” he said.

•From left (front row): Lagos State Commissioner for Rural Development, Cornelius Ojelabi; Chairman, Community Development Advisory Council (CDAC) in the state, Alhaji Tajudeen Quadri and Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development, Mr. Babatunde Hunpe, with others at the inauguration of the council’s new exco.

PHOTO: NNEKA NWANERI

project led by its Acting Project Manager, Mr Kolawole Bolarinwa, have visited all the project sites of the CSOs. The target beneficiaries of the prevention intervention, Bolarinwa said, were: female sex workers, injecting drug users, highly vulnerable men, in and out of school youths, long-distance truck drivers, farmers and migrant farm workers, pregnant women and the general population.

By Basirat Braimah

short period. The following month, I was shocked to find condoms in my wife’s purse.

When I asked her, she said it was for protection.”

Alleging that she is always ready to stab him over trivial issues, Ekpenyong added: “We have never settled our differences amicably except with the intervention of community leaders. She has no job, but I provide her needs. I wanted to take her to a church for deliverance when the situation became unbearable, but she refused. The last time I slept with her, she excused herself, saying that she wanted to ease herself. I don’t trust her anymore.”

Blessing denied the allegations, saying: “I have only paid him back. I don’t want the marriage anymore, but my children.”

The union is blessed with three children: Richard (8), Regina (5) and Rebecca (1).

The court’s President, Mr Olabode Sekoni, adjourned the case till Thursday.

He ordered Blessing to bring the children to court.

THE NATION MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

12

NEWS •Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi (second left); (from left) his deputy, Prof.

Modupe Adelabu; the groom, Olumide Agboola; the bride, Yeside (daughter of the late former deputy governor, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka); Fayemi’s wife, Bisi; and the wife of the Osun State governor, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola at the wedding of the Agboolas in Lagos...at the weekend.

‘No Ebola case in Cross River’

T

HERE is no case of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Cross River State, Commissioner for Information Akin Ricketts said yesterday.

He was reacting to a rumour in the social media that an EVD patient was being treated at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) Teaching Hospital.

In a statement, Ricketts said: “Consequent upon the unsolicited but unfortunately rife rumour about the existence of an EVD case in Calabar, the government wishes to set the records straight. There is no EVD case in the state.

“This heinous rumour is being peddled in the social media by some unscrupulous facebook users and this has started creating panic among residents.

“Please rest assured that the Ministry of Health, which is coordinating the Cross River Ebola Response Team, the authorities of UNICAL Teaching Hospital

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

and other stakeholders in the health sector have confirmed that there is no Ebola case in Cross River.

“The government urges residents to disregard this rumour and continue to enjoy the prevailing peace and tranquility in the state. We urge residents to go about their daily routine and warn users of the social media to be mindful of the information they spread, as the government will not hesitate to take necessary actions against anyone found involved in the spread of such falsehood.

“Residents are encouraged to observe basic hygiene and precautionary measures stated by the State Ebola Response Team, as this would go a long way in curbing the spread of this disease.

“We assure residents of the government’s commitment to ensure that Cross River remains free of Ebola.”

Ika South residents threaten to sue INEC

T

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

HE people of Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State have accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of trying to disenfranchise them.

The council was excluded from the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). INEC said the council’s voter register was cancelled following the corruption of the electronic database.

The people threatened to sue the commission, if it fails to correct the error “in good time”.

At a town hall meeting in Agbor at the weekend, the people agreed to peacefully protest INEC’s action.

The facilitator of the meeting and Executive Director of the New Dawn Centre for Leadership and Development, Felix Morka, said: “Many people who are eligible to vote could not register because of the time limit and the shoddy arrangement that INEC made in the first registration in Ika South. If INEC wants us to start all over again, it should organise the process in a way that is credible. INEC must provide sufficient time and resources, both technical and human.

“In the past few weeks or so, we have written letters of appeals and spoken the language of request, but we have been compelled to increase our tone.

“We need explanations and demand that they restore our voter register. If for any reason INEC fails to restore the register, it must come to Ika South to conduct a fresh registration, which means adequate time must be allocated.”

Uduaghan condoles with NAN chief

D

ELTA State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has sent his condolences to former presidential spokesman and Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Ima Niboro on the death his mother, Deaconness Agnes Owoma Ukeseh.

In a statement by his Press Secretary, Felix Ofou, Uduaghan said he shared

Niboro’s pain, adding: “I know the pain of losing a beloved mother. I know what Ima Niboro is passing through. My family and the entire Delta State are with him in this moment of grief.”

The governor said the state was delighted with Niboro’s appointment as NAN MD, noting that it was a vote of confidence in him.

Alamieyeseigha is a coward, says Amaechi

R

IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has described former Bayelsa State Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha as a coward.

Amaechi was reacting to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain’s advice that he should “retrace his steps, beg President Goodluck Jonathan and return to PDP”.

The former governor, who was convicted of money laundering and corruption but was pardoned by Jonathan, gave the advice in an interview with New Telegraph at the weekend.

Among other things, Alamieyeseigha said: “I think there is no problem between Amaechi and Jonathan. I think Amaechi should be humble enough to go to the President and say ‘I am sorry’, because he has no place to go.

A child that is not respectful will also not deserve respect from anyone. I have spoken to both of them. Jonathan has no issues. The President of Nigeria is very powerful. I even told Amaechi that the first entity you cannot fight is Almighty God and the second entity is the government (President Jonathan). No matter how you interpret it, nobody can fight the government (Jonathan) success-

•’He said Jonathan should rein in his wife’ fully… Rivers State will never be surrendered to the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

In a statement, Amaechi’s Chief Press Secretary, David Iyofor, said it was sad that the former governor was not bold enough to tell the world what he told him (Amaechi) in private.

Iyofor said: “It is true that Amaechi does not have any personal issue with the President. And yes, when Alamieyeseigha came to the governor to discuss this issue, he said there was not much problem between the president and the governor, but he was not bold enough to say in that interview what he told the governor the problem was. He told Amaechi that he cannot understand why Mr. President cannot rein in, control or manage his wife. For him to go to the press to say something else is, indeed, most cowardly and timid.

“How does one comprehend Alamieyeseigha’s logic or reasons for saying Amaechi should go and beg President Jonathan and retrace his steps?

Please, to where should the governor retrace his steps to?

Back to the PDP? The same

PDP that Amaechi led Rivers people to support and give Mr. President over two million votes at the 2011 elections with nothing to show for it after almost four years! Instead, territories and oil wells belonging to the state are being given to other states.

“Is he saying the governor cannot hold a contrary view from Mr. President on issues based on principles and the interest of Rivers State, because Mr. President is all powerful?

“Alamieyeseigha’s understanding of respect, disrespect and desecration of the Office of the President is warped and, indeed, befuddling. For Alamieyeseigha, what amounts to disrespect and desecration of the Office of the President is Amaechi’s decision to stay with his people, fight for what is theirs and his dogged stubbornness and refusal to cede any part of Rivers State, including its oil wells, to Mr. President’s home state of Bayelsa! For him, the governor’s fight for the interest of Rivers State and its people is tantamount to disrespecting and desecrating the Office of the President. How preposter-

ous!

“Alamieyeseigha says APC will never take Rivers State!

We feel pity for him. It is apparent that he lives in the past and has blindly refused to face reality. APC has since taken over Rivers State. APC is in control in Rivers State and Rivers people are fully with their governor in APC. If deluding himself to think otherwise would make Alamieyeseigha sleep well at night, then he can continue to live in dreamland.

“While we do not begrudge Alamieyeseigha’s political affiliation or his decision to truckle, grovel and genuflect before whoever he so pleases, we demand that he respects Amaechi’s right to choose his political party and associates, and to disagree with anyone on principles and issues that are not in the interest of Rivers State and Rivers people.

“Finally, we state categorically that Alamieyeseigha’s comment against Amaechi in that interview with New Telegraph on Saturday is an undisguised and disgraceful sycophantic voyage that a man of his standing should never have ventured into.”

Bayelsa farmers lose N400m to ‘loan scam’

F

ARMERS in Bayelsa State have accused Mr. Kofi Osademe of

defrauding them of N400 million.

They said Osadame collected the money after convincing them that he was appointed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to disburse N1 billion loan to farmers.

Osademe has been arrested by officials of the Department of State Security (DSS).

Osademe was said to have assembled farmers under “the Lord’s Vineyard Agricultural Transformation Programme” in eight local government areas.

The suspect, who was said to be the chief executive officer of the programme, reportedly collected 25 per cent of the loan requested by each farmer.

Things turned awry when the cheques he issued to some farmers for the loan were dishonoured.

One of the victims, Mrs.

•DSS arrests suspect

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

Preye Joseph, said Osademe kept shifting the date when it was time for the farmers to collect their loans.

She said after some pressure, he issued the dud cheques to them.

Mrs Joseph said: “I paid N250,000 to access N1 million. When the time came to get the loan, he kept saying he was still working on it.

That was the story he told us until out of pressure, he issued the cheques that landed him in the cell.”

Another farmer, Mr. Morris Funpere, said: “Osademe got himself into trouble when he got carried away by the money people were giving him. He thought he could do it and get away with it. I applied for N1 million and when he gave us the cheque, I felt I had won a jackpot.

“But I felt like the world should fall on me when I got

to the bank and discovered there was no money in the account. People can be very wicked. Why would a man do a thing like that to many innocent Bayelsans who are struggling to survive?”

The state Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Amaran Suoyo, said the union was not aware of the development.

A worker in Osademe’s office on Captain Ayeni Road in Yenagoa, who did not want to be named, said the loans were genuine.

The worker said: “Our boss was arrested by the SSS. They said he was issuing fake cheques to people after collecting their money.

What really happened was that the cheques the bank gave us were not enough and we asked for more.

“The bank delayed the delivery of the cheques to us for about three weeks. During the three weeks, we did

not give out the ones we had because we wanted all to be issued at the same time.

“In the fourth week, we decided to give out the once we had and people went to the bank to claim their money. The loan scheme is real. We had an understanding with the CBN to disburse the funds to farmers registered with us.

“Every year, the bank gives out loans to farmers, but in Bayelsa, we don’t get the loan. The government will sit down with its friends and share the money.

“It is the commissioner for agric that is causing this problem for us. He is angry that a private firm could access the loan while he could not.”

DSS State Director Everest Dawa confirmed Osademe’s arrest, saying: “We arrested him based on complaints we received. We are still investigating to get details of the allegation and his involvement. We don’t know how much is involved yet.”

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

13

14

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

15

UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, ILORIN, NIGERIA P.M.B. 1515, ILORIN Website: www.unilorin.edu.ng e-mail: registrar@unilorin.edu.ng Direct line: 0318111781 Fax: +234-(0)31-222561

ACADEMIC STAFF VACANCIES INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ADVERTISEMENT Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for the following vacant positions in the University.

1.

1.

2.

ACADEMIC STAFF Professor Reader

A. i.

FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management ii.

Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development iii. Department of Animal Production iv. Department of Agronomy v.

Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries vi. Department of Crop Protection vii. Department of Home Economics and Food Science viii. Department of Horticulture B. i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii.

FACULTY OF ARTS Department of Arabic Department of English Department of French Department of History and International Studies Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages (Yoruba and Linguistics ) Department of Performing Arts Department of Religions(Christian Studies, Comparative Religious Studies, and Islamic Studies)

C. i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. viii. ix.

FACULTY OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES Department of Anatomy Department of Chemical Pathology & Immunology Department of Haematology Department of Medical Laboratory Science Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology Department of Pathology Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics Department of Physiotherapy Department of Radiography

D. i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. viii. ix. x. xi.

FACULTY OF CLINICAL SCIENCES Department of Anaesthesia Department of Behavioural Sciences Department of Epidemiology & Community Health Department of Medicine Department of Obstetrics &Gynaecology Department of Opthalmology Department of Orthorhinolaryngology Department of Paediatric and Child Health Department of Radiology Department of Surgery Department of Nursing Sciences

E.

FACULTY OF COMMUNICATION & INFORMATION SCIENCES Department of Computer Science Department of Information & Communication Sciences Department of Library and Information Sciences Department of Mass Communication Department of Telecommunication Science

i. ii. iii. iv. v.

F. i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii.

FACULTY OF EDUCATION Department of Arts Education (Arabic, French, Yoruba, Christian Studies, Islamic Studies) Department of Adult and Primary Education Department of Counsellor Education Department of Educational Management Department of Educational Technology Department of Health Promotion and Environmental Health education Department of Social Sciences Education

G. i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. viii.

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department of Biomedical Engineering Department of Chemical Engineering Department of Civil Engineering Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering Department of Metallurgical and Material Engineering Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering

H. i. ii. iii. iv. v.

FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Department of Architecture Department of Quantity Surveying Department of Estate Management Department of Urban and Regional Planning Department of Surveying &Geoinformatics

I. i. ii.

FACULTY OF LAW Department of Business Law Department of Islamic Law

iii. iv. v.

Department of Jurisprudence and International Law Department of Private and Property Law Department of Public Law

J. vi. vii. viii. ix.

FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCE Department of Biochemistry Department of Microbiology Department of Plant Biology Department of Zoology

K. i. ii. iii. iv. v.

FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES Department of Accounting Department of Business Administration Department of Finance Department of Marketing Department of Public administration

L. i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi.

FACULTY OF Department of Department of Department of Biochemistry Department of Department of Department of

M. i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii.

FACULTY OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES Department of Chemistry Department of Geology and Mineral Sciences Department of Geophysics Department of Industrial Chemistry Department of Mathematics Department of Physics Department of Statistics

N. i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi.

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Department of Economics Department of Geography and Environment Management Department of Psychology Department of Political Science Department of Social Work Department of Sociology

O. i. ii. iii.

FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE Department of Veterinary Microbiology Department of Veterinary Physiology & Biochemistry Department of Veterinary Public Health & Preventive Medicine

P.

LIBRARY Deputy University Librarian

PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacy Practice.

Pharmaceutical & Medical Chemistry Pharmaceutical & Microbiology and Pharmaceutics & Industrial Pharmacy Pharmacognosy& Drug Development Pharmacology

Q.

CENTRE FOR PEACE AND STRATEGIC STUDIES (CPSS) Academic Vacancies in the Faculties/Centre and the Corresponding Departments Faculties/Centre Professor Reader A i,ii,iii,iv,v,vi,vii,viii ii,iii,iv,vi B i,iii,v,vi,vii i,ii,iii,iv,v,vi,vii C i,ii,iii,iv,v,vi,viii,ix i,iii,v,vi,vii D i,ii,iii,v,vi,vii,viii,ix,x,xi, i,ii,iii,iv,viii,ix,x,xi E i,ii,iii,iv,v i,ii,iii,iv F i,ii,iii,iv,v,vi,vii i,iii,v,vi,vii G i,ii,iii,iv,v,vi,vii,viii i,iv,v,vi,vii,viii H i,ii,iii,iv,v I ii,iii,iv,v i,ii,iii,iv,v J i,ii,iii ii,iv K i,iii,iv, v i,ii,iii,iv L i,ii,iii,iv,v,vi i, M i,ii,iii,iv,v,vi,vii i,iv,vi,vii N i,ii,iii,v ii,iv,vi O i,ii,iii, P i Q i i For details of the qualifications and method of application, visit the University of Ilorin website at this URL (www.unilorin.edu.ng/ employment/qualifications.doc).

Note that computer literacy is compulsory and the NYSC discharge certificate/certificate of exemption is mandatory.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR THE POSITIONS WITH METHOD OF APPLICATION Computer literacy is required for all positions.

1.

Professor (CONUASS 07): Applicants must be authorities in the relevant field with Ph.D degree or Post-graduate Fellowship specialist in the relevant field (for the College of Health Sciences) from any reputable University/Institution with substantial scholarly publications. Applicants must have had at least TEN years University full-time teaching and research experience with ability to initiate and supervise research projects. Administrative experience will be an advantage.

Successful applicants must be able to give academic and professional leadership in the field.

In addition, the applicant must have spent at least 3 years as Reader and 6 years as Senior Lecturer to qualify for the position of Professor.

2.

Reader (CONUASS 06): Same as for 1 above, except that 8 years of University full-time teaching and research experience is required.

In addition, the applicant must have spent at least 3 years as Senior Lecturer to qualify for the position of Reader.

3.

Deputy University Librarian: CONUASS 06 i.

M.L.S. and evidence of registration with LRCN. Ph.D in Library Science or related field may be an added advantage. ii.

At least twelve (12) years of continuous working experience as a Librarian in a University Library three (3) of which must be as Principal Librarian in Readers Services, Technical Services or Institute Library R A.

SALARIES CONSOLIDATED UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC SALARY SCALE (CONUASS) CONUASS 06 -N3,779,021 N5,015,550 CONUASS 07 -N4,591,149 N6,030963 B. OTHER CONDITIONS Appointment is normally on probation which may be confirmed after two years of satisfactory service. The post is pensionable.

METHOD OF APPLICATION All Applicants are to apply online. In addition, candidates for academic positions are required to submit a set of their credentials and thirty-five (35) copies of their online printed application giving the following information in the order listed below: i.

Full Name: ii.

Post Desired and Department: iii.

Date of Birth: iv.

Place of Birth and State of Origin: v.

Sex vi.

Nationality: vii.

Permanent Home Address: viii. Current Postal Address: ix.

Cell Phone Number: x.

E-mail Address: xi.

Marital Status: xii.

Number of Children with Names and Ages: xiii. Institutions Attended (with dates): xiv. Pure Academic Qualifications (with dates): xv.

Professional Qualifications (with dates): xvi. Scholarship and prizes at University, Secondary or Technical Level only- starting with the latest) xvii. Training Programme Attended (period of training and college, Describe Courses taken starting with the latest ) xviii. Honours, Distinction and Membership of learned professional Societies (starting with the latest) xix. Working Experiences (General and Specific Experiences: Starting with the latest): xx Research interests or Commissioned Projects a.

Completed (Starting with latest) b.

In progress (list) xxi. List of Publication with Details of Title, Publishers, or journals dates and pages (where applicable) xxii. Major Conferences and workshop attended with paper read (starting with the lastest) xxiii. Information on Fellowship, Master’s project and Ph.D Thesis Supervised: (To include the following) (starting with the latest) a.

Title of Thesis b.

Name of student c.

Date/year of Commencement d.

Completed/Ongoing (Anticipated date of Completion) e.

Sole/Collaborative Supervision xxiv. Details of Administrative Experiences xxv Teaching Experiences xxvi. Service to the Community (With status and Date) xxvii. Present Employment, Status, Salary and Employer: xxviii. Extra Curricular Activities: xxix. Names and Addresses of Three Referees (two of whom must be professionals or authorities in relevant fields) it is the duty of the candidate to inform the referees to complete the form sent to the email address provided by them: Only short listed candidates will be acknowledged.

CLOSING DATE: Only printed online application for Academic position are to the forwarded to the Registrar, University of Ilorin, P.M.B 1515, Ilorin not later than six weeks from the date of this publication.

MR. E. D. OBAFEMI

Registrar and Secretary to Council

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

16

LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY BADAGRY EXPRESSWAY, OJO

Website: www.lasu.edu.ng

Email: vice-chancellor@lasu.edu.ng

SECOND 2014/2015 POST UTME SCREENING (100 LEVEL) CANDIDATES 1. APPLICATION Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for the Lagos State University 2014/2015 Post UTME Screening Tests, for candidates seeking admission via UTME (100 level). These screening tests are mandatory requirements for entry into Lagos State University.

2. ELIGIBILITY: (i) Candidates that have scored a minimum of 180 marks are eligible to participate in the Post-UTME Screening Tests. In addition, candidates must be at least 16 years of age.

NOTE: Students who want to change to LASU are eligible to apply also. (ii) Candidates of Lagos State origin, for 100 & 200 levels will be required (if admitted) to prove their claims before the Independent Indigeneship Verification Committee (IIVC) set up by the Lagos State University. (iii) Candidates should note that ONLY the accredited courses listed below are available for the 2014/2015 Academic Session.

3.

METHOD OF APPLICATION

S/N

FACULTY

DEPARTMENT

1.

ARTS

-

Yoruba & Communication Arts English Arabic French Christian Religious Studies Islamic Religious Studies History & International Studies Philosophy Music Theatre Arts Portuguese / English

-

Arabic Education CRS Education Islamic Studies Education English Education French Education History & International Studies Education Yoruba Education Biology Education Chemistry Education Mathematics Education Physics Education Physical & Health Education Health Education Computer Science Education Educational Technology Business Education Accounting Education Educational Management Geography Education Economics Education Political Science Education

2.

EDUCATION

3.

MANAGEMENT SCIENCES

-

Public Administration Marketing Banking & Finance Management Technology Industrial Relations and Personnel Management Insurance

4.

SCIENCE

-

Botany Chemistry Fisheries & Aquatic Biology Mathematics Physics Zoology Computer Science

5.

SOCIAL SCIENCES

-

Geography & Planning Psychology Political Science Sociology

-

Transport

6.

SCHOOL OF TRANSPORT

7.

A. 1.

ENGINEERING

-

Mechanical Engineering Electronics & Computer Engineering Chemical and Polymer Engineering

ONLINE PAYMENT Prospective students will visit putme.lasu.edu.ng and select MAKE PAYMENT option in the drop down list at the top, to make the required payment of N2,000 for the 2014/2015 LASU Post UTME screening exercise.

The prospective student would be required to submit the following: a) JAMB Registration Number; b) Surname, First name, Middle name, and c) Email Address and telephone number (both must be active and personal to the applicant) 2.

Click on PROCEED 3.

On the next page, a TRANSACTION ID to be used for PAYMENT would be displayed. The candidate should copy this TRANSACTION ID and proceed for PAYMENT at http://www.quickteller.com/lasu 4. (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi)

On http://www.quickteller.com/lasu page, Click on PAY Enter your email address, GSM number Also enter the Transaction ID copied in step 3 above Proceed to enter details of your ATM card Click Process payment Print your Payment receipt from the screen. A transaction message will be sent to your email and GSM, hence the need to use your personal E-mail address and GSM number.

B. 1.

POST UTME REGISTRATION After successful payment for LASU 2014/2015 Post UTME screening exercise, return to putme.lasu.edu.ng and select CONTINUE REGISTRATION option in the drop down list at the top.

Prospective candidates should enter the required details (JAMB Registration Number, Surname and Mode of Entry – UME or DE).

Click on PROCEED button to load the Registration Form.

2.

3.

Each applicant is expected to complete the registration form by providing the following information.

• Candidates will be required to upload a scanned copy of their passport size photograph (File Size: Not more than 20KB; File format: JPEG [i.e. ‘.jpg’]).

Application for change of passport photograph by the candidates given provisional admission shall NOT be allowed. This same passport photograph, uploaded by such candidates, will be used on their degree certificates.

• ONLY ONE CHOICE OF COURSE OF STUDY IS ALLOWED • Carefully study the agreement form. If you agree to the stated terms, click on the ‘I agree’ button on the left-hand side of the page.

Note: If you do not agree to the stated terms you will not be permitted to go beyond this point. Please read and understand the terms before registering.

• Fill in all required details contained on the online registration form. Confirm THAT DETAILS ARE ACCURATE then click FINISH. To make changes, before you click finish, you may click on the Edit button.

• Candidates must possess five (5) O’ Level credits in subjects relevant to their desired course of study at not more than two sittings.

• Credit in English Language is compulsory for admission into all courses in Lagos State University.

• Candidates awaiting the result of NABTEB, WAEC (May/June) and NECO (June/July) 2014, are eligible to apply. Note that any examination taken after July 2014 shall not be accepted.

• Make sure you print your Registration Form/Slip as this serves as your entry ticket into the screening hall.

• Candidate should know that both payment and registration would end two (2) weeks before the advertised date of the Screening Test.

• Candidate should visit www.putme.lasu.edu.ng a week before the advertised date of the Screening Test to check the Sitting Arrangement and reprint the Registration Slip.

Registration for the payment of application fee for the 2nd Post UTME Screening starts from Friday, 27 th August, 2014 and registration closes on Tuesday, 23 rd September, 2014.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY BADAGRY EXPRESSWAY, OJO

Website: www.lasu.edu.ng Email: vice-chancellor@lasu.edu.ng

SECOND 2014/2015 POST UTME SCREENING (100 LEVEL) CANDIDATES

SCREENING TIME - TABLE DATE OF EXAMINATION: THURSDAY, 25TH SEPTEMBER, 2014 VENUE: LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, MAIN CAMPUS, BADAGRY EXPRESSWAY OJO. DATE, TIME AND VENUE APPLY TO UTME CANDIDATES

ONLY ADVERTISED COURSES WILL BE EXAMINED. The detailed results of the screening tests shall be published on the LASU website: www.lasu.edu.ng on Saturday, 27th September, 2014.

SIGNED LEWIS. O. A. A REGISTRAR

17

18

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

NEWS

‘Airlines run down competitors’ Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace Limited, Allen Onyema, believes banks should lower interest rates for airlines to grow the industry. He spoke to KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR, also explaining his interest to run an airline, a hugely capital-intensive business, which many have fled from.

C

OMMERCIAL banks should lower their interest rates to single digits to enable indigenous airlines operators access more funds to buy aircraft and run the airlines.

This, according to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, is how these firms can grow.

Onyema said the reduction has become imperative because airlines require more time to repay their loans, because of low returns on investment .

He urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to put commercial banks in a strong position to finance high capital intensive airline projects.

Speaking in Lagos at the weekend on plans by the carrier to begin operations, Onyema said Air Peace is patterned along the model of South West Airlines in the United States.

He accused the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN ) of with holding land to intending airlines interested in building aircraft maintenance hangar in some airports nationwide.

Onyeama said, rather than allocate land to serious operators, FAAN has been allocating land to people who are not ready to develop them for aviation development .

He said: ”The new minister should direct FAAN to allocate land to committed investors in the aviation sector to enable them set up aircraft maintenance facility. That will assist the development of the sector.

“If FAAN is skeptical about our capacity to utilise the land, they should ask for our feasibility and bankable evidence on how we intend to develop the facility. We have banks that can finance the projects .

“The new minister should talk to FAAN to release land and we are ready to give evidence of finance. I do not think it is good for airlines to be carrying out aircraft maintenance at the ramp. It is not enough. Even the Air Force facility is not enough.

There are airlines that want to have their own hangar.”

The airline, he said, would run a ‘ lean ‘ operation to remain profitable.

He denied insinuations on the ownership of Air Peace.

Onyema said: ” These insinuations are unfounded. Neither President Goodluck Jonathan or members of his cabinet or my friend, Kingsley Kuku, has anything to do with the funding of Air Peace. The insinuation in the public domain is unfortunate and misleading. It is being peddled by people who either have political scores to settle or operators who are afraid of our entrance into the aviation sector . “ I get very angry when people throw up such insinuations that even Mr Timi Alaibe or anybody they know is my friend that is in or was in government is giving me funds to run an airline.

“They even throw up names I have never met before. They even mentioned the name of the President’s wife, Mrs Patience Jonathan .

“I have never met her . I have also never met President Jonathan in person. I am very sure people doing all these are doing it for political undertones . I am sure too that some competitors are scared of Air Peace, so they could do anything to bring me down .

“We are prepared for those who are poised to malign our reputation in print or any permanent form.

Very soon, they will make my day in court.”

‘I have discovered that there is so much enmity among operators in the airline industry . There is a lot of devilish competition among airlines’ He said Air Peace has taken delivery of five aircraft, as part of efforts to acquire the Air Operators Certificate( AOC) from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

Onyema said soon Air Peace would take delivery of additional two aircraft to bring its fleet to seven to enable it serve both primary and secondary airports.

He urged the Federal Government to install air field lighting facilities at all airports to ensure 24hours operations.

The Air Peace boss said his company has trained over 40 pilots, who were sent to the CAE Academy in the United Kingdom for further training to enhance their flight proficiency .

He said the aviation industry needs more investment and canvassed cooperation among domestic carriers to make them stronger and more competitive .

Onyema said Air Peace would sign interline and codeshare agreements with competent carriers to give passengers the best.

He said many domestic carriers have failed because the owners lack sound business practices and integrity, affirming that commercial banks would only be comfortable giving money to business people who they do could trust.

He said previous attempts by government to package intervention for domestic carriers have been abused, as the funds were misapplied .

On the problem of aviation fuel, Onyema said many independent fuel markets were reluctant to sell fuel to domestic operators because of indebtedness.

He canvassed the cash-based transaction model for purchase of aviation fuel, such that the marketers would not run info cash flow problems.

He said rather than pulling down one another local carriers should forge a common front to attract more people to travel by air.

He said there are not enough airlines in Nigeria to cater for the over 170 million people, out of which a paltry five per cent travel by air .

He urged Minister of Aviation Osita Chidoka to consult widely with airline operators and other stakeholders on the fundamental areas requiring attention.

He said if Chidoka does not consult widely, he may not be able to address the myriad of challenges affecting the sector .

Onyema said Air Peace would

continue to invest in indigenous professionals, including pilots and aircraft engineers, who if well motivated could outshine their counterparts from any part of the world.

On high operating charges by aviation authorities , Onyema said:” Government and the people of Nigeria should start asking questions: why do Nigerian airlines go extinct? Airlines go into extinction very easily in Nigeria. And there are so many factors.

Above all, the current administration should be commended for giving the airports a facelift .

“Credit must also go to government for the waiver on import duties and charges it granted domestic airlines for their aircraft and spare parts .

“That has assisted airlines to save huge sums of money,that would now be deployed into maintenance of their aircraft.

“But, a lot more could be done by government to assist domestic operators .

“Government should not only support start up airlines, but the existing carriers because airport and air navigation charges are too many. Five per cent to this agency five per cent to the other. The bulk of the revenue accruing from ticket sales goes back to aviation agencies as payment for charges.

“Under this kind of arrangement, no airline can break even, let alone run profitably or recover their operating costs. If the airlines cannot recover their costs, that means they are incurring losses and ultimately they close shop.

The negative of an airline closing up is that there will be job losers, which gives rise to insecurity.

“I am calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to direct aviation agencies to reduce airport and other air navigation charges for domestic carriers to enable them keep their business afloat .

“The current administration has done well for aviation, but government should remove the double and high airport charges that have become prohibitive.

“If an airline is paying out over ten to fifteen per cent of its revenue as airport charges, where will the operator get money for aircraft insurance and maintenance , aviation fuel and other issues it must attend to? Where will the airline now get money to pay its overhead costs? So, the prohibitive charges should be far away, they belong to the past.”

Onyema bemoaned negative practices in the industry where operators engage in de- marketing to pull down would be competitors.

He said :” I have discovered that there is so much enmity among operators in the airline industry . There is a lot of devilish competition among airlines. A lot of people are scared when they see a new entrant coming into the sector. That should not be the case. The more airlines we have the better it is to serve the entire industry .

“Imagine Nigeria, a country of over 170 million people, should have as many airlines as possible. Less than five per cent of this population travel by air.

‘

These insinuations are unfounded. Neither President Goodluck Jonathan or members of his cabinet or my friend, Kingsley Kuku, has anything to do with the funding of Air Peace.

The insinuation in the public domain is unfortunate and misleading. It is being peddled by people who either have political scores to settle or operators who are afraid of our entrance into the aviation sector

’

•Onyema

“This is not good enough, because the awareness has not being created . With more airlines on board, if the competition is healthy , we should encourage more people to fly so that everybody have a hand on the pie.

“What airlines are doing now is trying to cut corners , running competitors down and other forms of de -marketing , and engaging in pulling down syndrome is devilish. It does not help any operator, because what comes round goes round. “ In Air Peace, what we want to bring to the industry is peace and love. We started that already . I have always been excited anytime I see a new operator coming on stream.

“I was happy and congratulated AZMAN Air, when they started operations , even Discovery Air, I was happy when they started . I am not happy to see any airline go down. We need to support one another . Air Peace is open for partnership, for any constructive advice that would help the airline to do well. “ Domestic airlines should cooperate , nothing wrong in doing codeshare, cooperate with one another. That is the way to go.

“If your airplane has a problem, you can ask another airline to help fly your passengers. The bane of airline growth in Nigeria is the devilish competition among operators .”

Speaking further on how banks could assist domestic, operators, Onyema said :” If airlines are properly run, they could become money spinning businesses , and the banks would be in a good position to gain from that through huge cash inflow that would be generated .

“The truth of the matter is that integrity is in short supply in Nigerian business environment.

That is the main reason why many Nigerian banks are skeptical to give out money to fund aviation projects, because they see it as turbulent .

“The banks should look inwards and see how they could protect themselves . In the case of my airline, I sign off my planes as collateral with others collateral as guarantee if I am unable to pay back the money I took from the bank.

“Before any bank could give money to any airline airline operator, he has to look at the background of the person deeply .

“Where is he coming from?

Can we trust him? The banks that gave Air Peace considered all these seriously. The bank gave me a moratorium . The banks can extend this to other airlines to restore confidence. The problem

with Nigerian airline operators is they borrow money and run away .

They divert the money .

“Banks should come in to assist Nigerian airline operators, after they have carefully studied them that they have integrity to pay back the money given. Assurance that the money would not be diverted into any other venture is very important.

The banks should lower their interest rates. At the same time, we also have to consider rate at which the banks are getting their deposit.

“In this respect, the Central Bank of Nigeria has a role to play . This implies that the Central Bank of Nigeria must lower their with holding deposit with the commercial banks to enable them achieve the interest rate to benefitting airlines.”

On the module to be used by the airline , he said: ” We are bringing a whole world of difference with Air Peace . One of the driving modules for Air Peace will be safety . This is a key ingredient fir running a successful airline anywhere in the world.

“One of the motivating factors that pushed me into investing in aviation in Nigeria is to change the face of air travel , with priority on safety, which has become imperative in view of the spate of air crashes that occurred many years ago .

“Going further, we are going to model Air Peace after the operational model used by South West Airlines in the United States. We want to do something unique in air travel . We want to fly from Warri to Port Harcourt , from Abuja to the smaller airports . We are using very strong Boeing jets , to see flight from Benin to Port Hsrcourt, Kebbi to Abuja . The whole idea is to bring peace to the country . In Air Peace , we are not driven by profit, but to create jobs for Nigerians by ensuring qualified indigenous professionals are engaged .

“That is what we want to do. Air Peace wants to open up the entire country’s air link by going beyond the traditional point of flying from Lagos to Abuja, Port Harcourt and a few other routes.

“We want to have a good operations that would be profitable, we would not cut corners, we would get it right, we do not want to cut lives. We intend to run an airline that passengers would feel safe and secured and have peace. We intend to run a ‘ lean ‘ operation that would be profitable .

“South West Airlines in America that we are copying their model is very profitable .

We are planning to bring in a new style of doing the business.

“We hear that aviation business is very turbulent , but with a lean operation, we would survive and open up the entire country to bring in peace and link up all the airports.”

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

19

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

From ‘YEAA’ to ‘TAN’

Waiver bonanza goes on

•List of latest beneficiaries shows nothing has changed

I

F Nigerians needed proof that the import duty racket was alive and well, the latest report showing the Federal Government as granting N25.8 billion in waivers over a five-month period this year should be proof enough. Indeed, if it seems any consolation that this may not come close to the preceding three-year (2011-13) an average of N478 billion yearly, the return appearance of some companies on the beneficiaries’ list would seem a measure of how very little has changed in terms of the attitudes which underlie the administration of the waiver regime.

Obviously, old habits die hard. For, how else can one explain the case of Globe Motors said to have got a waiver of N991 million for the import of the 290 cars used for the World Economic Forum in Africa?

In 2012, it was Coscharis Motors securing the same largesse for the 200 exotic cars it supplied for the 7th African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) summit in Abuja.

Another incongruity on the list was the FCT administration said to have received waivers to import “specialised items such as customs made carpets, timber dining chairs” for the presidential banquet hall.

Compare this with Borno State government said to have got N984.79 million waivers for agricultural machineries.

With such notable examples, Nigerians cannot but wonder if indeed anything has changed.

The examples highlighted above obviously illustrate what is oftentimes the dis-

junction between objectives as advertised by government and the specific application of the policy. But then, there is even a more worrisome dimension which the government continues to act as if to wish it away either because it is too embarrassed to admit, or it has no defence to offer – the discrepancy between the Nigeria Customs Service cumulative waivers record of N1.4 trillion for the period 2011-13 and the finance minister’s version of N170 billion for the same period.

That discrepancy, till date, has not been satisfactorily explained. Indeed, the suggestion is that the minister has since moved on, hence her boast in her ‘new’ regime of “a sector-wide waiver to provide specific incentives for some strategic and job-creating sectors” as against the ancien regime “when waivers were granted to individual businesses, which resulted in rent-seeking behaviours and an uneven playing field for other businesses”.

We do not accept that the best way to drive public policy is to ignore the past or simply dismiss it as gone forever. And who says that same ignoble past would not be repeated at great costs to the economy? Nigerians obviously deserve the benefit of knowing the factors responsible for the discrepancy and who the beneficiaries are.

At a more fundamental level, we believe the challenge goes beyond merely stating that the waivers would serve the public cause. We have no doubt that it

could, if and when strategically applied.

Just as we understand that there would never be shortage of good intentions behind every public policy; the challenge is how to measure their specific impacts in terms of employment generation and the various linkages to the economy.

This is where the Federal Government has more work to do. It goes beyond the routine of making the names of beneficiaries of the duty waivers public. As important as that is, it is also our view that the process is best served when the beneficiaries are challenged to demonstrate how the waivers they enjoyed have impacted on the economy in specific areas of capacity enhancement, employment creation, and in equitable pricing as against being another line item on the company’s bottom-line.

‘It goes beyond the routine of making the names of beneficiaries of the duty waivers public. As important as that is, it is also our view that the process is best served when the beneficiaries are challenged to demonstrate how the waivers they enjoyed have impacted on the economy in specific areas of capacity enhancement, employment creation, and in equitable pricing as against being another line item on the company’s bottom-line’

Degrading desertion •Nigerians are yet to be told the true story of our soldiers’ ‘tactical manoeuvre’ in Cameroon

B

OKO Haram, the terroristic Islamist guerrilla force that has tormented the country since 2009, may have finally succeeded in exposing the underbelly of the military in the long-running counterterrorism campaign. A British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) report of the defection of 480 Nigerian soldiers to Cameroon, a neighbouring country in the West African sub-region, made a laughingstock of the military, and it will take a comprehensive effort to redeem its battered image.

It is a telling testimony to the complete embarrassment of the military that it tried to give a spin to the outrageous incident.

This is how the Director of Defence Information, Major-Gen. Chris Olubolade, explained the inexplicable move, which observers have perhaps correctly described as “desertion”: ”The Nigerian troops that were found in Cameroon was as a result of a sustained battle between the troops and the terrorists around the borders with

‘In connection with the battle against Boko Haram, the country has already witnessed a mutiny; and more recently, it experienced the spectacular absurdity of protests by soldiers’ wives who threatened to stop their husbands from performing official counter-terrorism duties because they were allegedly ill-equipped and ill-motivated. There is no doubt that this unhelpful backdrop cannot positively contribute to crushing the Boko Haram insurgency’

Cameroon, which saw the Nigerian troops charging through the borders in a tactical manoeuvre.”

It is instructive that Olubolade’s statement was perhaps believably contradicted by an eye-witness account presented by Agence France Presse (AFP). The news agency quoted Basuma Mohammed, a civilian resident of Gamboru-Ngala in Borno State, as saying: “But hours after the attack, a bigger number of the Boko Haram gunmen arrived from the other side of the town and engaged the soldiers who could not stand their superior force and had to join us in running into Cameroon.”

Although a statement by the Defence Headquarters said the soldiers have returned from Cameroon, and that “they are in high spirits with all their weapons and equipment intact,” this cannot constitute a closure to the disgraceful episode. It is appropriate to thoroughly probe and deal with the paradoxical flight of soldiers from a theatre of war, particularly because of the wrong signals this may send to other members of the military machine, which should literally be a war machine.

Sadly and deserving of sober reflection, the latest aberrancy represents yet another departure from normalcy in a chain of scandalous manifestations in the anti-terror war.

In connection with the battle against Boko Haram, the country has already witnessed a mutiny; and more recently, it experienced the spectacular absurdity of protests by soldiers’ wives who threatened to stop their husbands from performing official counterterrorism duties because they were allegedly ill-equipped and ill-motivated.

There is no doubt that this unhelpful backdrop cannot positively contribute to crushing the Boko Haram insurgency. On the

contrary, the conditions are such that will more likely undermine the desired objective of achieving victory over the insurgents. In the light of the highlighted flaws in the conduct of the campaign, it is logical and useful to ask fundamental questions, especially relating to the funding of the military operation and the implications for combat-readiness as well as for welfare and morale issues. The question must be asked and addressed: How was the $14 billion allegedly voted for security, defence and the police between 2010 and 2014 spent?

Regrettably, allegations of corruption and diversion of official funds into private pockets may explain how things got to this pass. It is, therefore, reasonable to locate the sorry demonstration of unprofessionalism by the deserters in the context of the uninspiring leadership of the military authorities and the government. It may well be that poor leadership has not only created alienation in the military, but has also encouraged a self-defeating lack of self-belief among the soldiers.

Furthermore, and this is equally important even if not directly connected with counter-terrorism, it is undeniable that the military has been unjustifiably and counterproductively exposed to politically motivated non-military operations, such as performing police duties during elections; and the result is a critical and disturbing distraction from military essence.

It cannot be overemphasised that the military needs to learn the right lessons from this degrading experience and get its act together in the greater interest of the country.

M

ANY years ago it was YEAA ( Youths Earnestly Ask for Abacha (YEAA) chaperoned by one Daniel Kanu. Today, there is a Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria. Whilst the former tried to give a pseudoveneer of pressure by youths for the late maximum ruler to change from military head of state to civilian president, the latter is organising rallies with the intent of getting 10 million signatures from youths to convince the current president to run for election in 2015. The latest of the nation-wide rallies was held in the Port Harcourt Liberation Stadium on Saturday August 30.

The losers in these charade are the real youths; certainly not the ‘pseudo youths’ who ride on the crest of youth platforms to make cash and fame.

It is also clear that the pseudo-youth groups do not understand the basic indices for measuring performance. It is not surprising to hear them say that the president is “such a nice man”, even when leaders the world over are judged by their actions and not by their intentions or friendly mien.

This development is not surprising— what we practice in Nigeria is a crony democracy.

Presidential aspirants and others hardly barnstorm the country (in the ideal sense) to listen to challenges . They give Nigerians the impression of being goaded to serve.

Why is it that when the time comes to choose a candidate, most party members follow the ‘herd instinct’ to endorse one candidate without ideological opposition? Is this what democracy all about or could it be that they were persuaded by backhanders or coercions?

Michel Platini the EUFA President recently submitted that he won’t fight Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency, in an election next May, though he still hopes somebody will.

“Now is not my time, not yet, I hope that somebody will oppose Mr. Blatter ...To bring ideas and want to change things and not just be sheep who always say yes,” Platini said., Where are the ‘somebodies’ in our political parties, ready to take up the challenge to push us towards real democracy, egalitarianism bereft of bigotry?

Real democracy gives validity, trustworthiness and establishes the strength of the chosen.

The opposite shows that they are out of favour, weak and terrified of their challengers.

TAN’s senior manager submitted before the rally on a feature radio programme that governments in times gone by have not been as attentive to the needs of Nigerians like the current one even when underprivileged Nigerians are suffering, as never before from power failures, to unsafe streets and neighborhoods, to many ills (ad infinitum) that space won’t allow.

We hope TAN will be all over the place many years from now unlike YEAA with no relevance today to support candidates from other sections of the country with impressive programmes: a difficult proposition for loyalty in Nigeria is not a stable commodity to be counted on for ever.”

•Simon Abah Port-Harcourt

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh

• Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina

• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •General Manager (Abuja Press) Kehinde Olowu •AGM (PH Press) Tunde Olasogba

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness •Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) •Press Manager Yomi Odunuga Udensi Chikaodi •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Legal Counsel John Unachukwu •Group Business Editor Simeon Ebulu • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye •Group Sports Editor Ade Ojeikere •Acting Manager (sales) •Editorial Page Editor Olaribigbe Bello Sanya Oni

20

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

CARTOON & LETTERS

S

IR; Nigeria has many sides – the good, the bad and the ugly.

Let’s start from the positive side.

Nigeria has oil and gas in abundance. There are large mineral deposits varied across the country. Nigeria is a vast landmass and everywhere you go is fertile ground. In addition, Nigeria’s climate is one of the finest in the world. Nature is kind to us.

Nigeria, with a population of nearly 170 million, is Africa’s most populous country. Most of our youths are unemployed and majority of Nigerians live below the poverty line. Despite Nigeria’s many troubles, Nigerians are fascinating and law abiding except for a few bad ones who take undue advantage of our misfortunes.

According to official statistics, our economy has grown steadily at an average of about seven percent in the past decade. Today, Nigeria has Africa’s largest GDP and also the 26th largest economy in the world.

Government says it is making efforts to rebuild and maintain national infrastructure, as well as transform Nigeria into an attractive destination for foreign investment.

We are like a farmer who planted 100 yam seeds but lied it was 200.

If we are lucky we might harvest some 100 yam tubers, but then so will we reap 100 heaps of lies.

The 1999 constitution is an offshoot of Nigeria’s root problem.

The document stands on a false premise “We the people” and appears to be immune to change. So far, every effort made to right the wrong hasn’t changed anything.

Common sense dictates that a pyramid stands on its base and not on its apex. It defies logic, therefore, that Nigeria stands upside down.

Why should a community be denied ownership and control of its resources? Ours is one that robs Peter to pay Paul; a system that pools and shares unjustly. Maybe we should pool our brains as well and give to those who don’t have, or our talents to individuals who have refused to develop their brains!

The yoking together of the state and religion is chief among many contraptions that have continued to spill our blood, and bring inconsolable sorrows upon us. Any people with odd sorts of unequal yokes can never prosper.

There are three ‘arms of govern-

EDITOR’S MAIL BAG

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

Nigeria: The good, bad and the ugly ment’ – corruption, bad leadership, and a dysfunctional system. Corruption and bad leadership are close allies. Each fuels and protects the other in an infinite loop. At the centre of the loop is the system that breeds bad leaders, leading to a selfpropagating and self-sustaining series of crises.

It doesn’t cost a fortune to solve most of our problems. It might cost $470 million to install CCTV cameras but it doesn’t cost that much to make them work. They do as they like and beg others to do the right things forgetting that they govern a system that is hostile to thinking the right thoughts. After every attack, they console us that terrorism is a global scourge. They are quick to remind us that even the United

S

States is affected. But they will not inform us that America is honestly on top of the situation. They will never tell us about places around the world that are fascinatingly peaceful. They expect us to be patriotic but when we speak truth in love they bully us to keep quiet. They detest the voice of reason but enjoy the cacophony of sycophancy.

Yes, we have problems, big problems. But the problems are not the problem. The real problem is we are busy chasing shadows. President Goodluck Jonathan, at the inauguration of the National Conference, had told the delegates to be at liberty to discuss all our problems except one. Unfortunately, most of the problems deliberated upon are mere symptoms of a terminal ailment.

When the president defined a nogo area, those that understand Nigeria’s downward trajectory would have known from the outset that the conference was a journey to nowhere. To the advocates of one Nigeria at all costs, negotiating a peaceful coexistence is tantamount to discussing Nigeria’s break-up.

They bark, arrogantly, that Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable, as if Nigeria is their personal estate.

They boast, foolishly, that Nigeria will never disintegrate, as if they know tomorrow. Incidentally, they are largely responsible for bringing the country to the brink.

These days, we are struggling with a battalion of carry-overs from the past. Today’s troubles are gushing in fast and furious, faster than

On Abuja’s land swap policy

IR; When Senator Bala Mohammed was appointed Minister in April 2010, he told FCT residents that the issue of infrastructural development was dear to his heart. He promised that comprehensive development of the city in terms of basic infrastructure will be his key focus. He also spoke of how he would achieve this in both the city centre and the satellite towns.

It wasn’t long after the minister settled to the job that it dawned on him the enormity of the task of developing Abuja’s‘ infrastructure. As Nigerians trooped into the city in their thousands, demand for basic amenities like road networks, water supply, electricity and other infrastructure rose geometrically; on the other hand, the supply of revenue for these projects remained static with the usual budgetary allocation and other vague sources of fund like the internally generated revenue.

Four years into his administration as FCT Minister, opinions remain divided over what he has really been

able to achieve. But one certainly cannot take away the fact that Senator Mohammed has been able to bring to fore some innovations like the land swap policy that pundits are now hailing as the magic wand that has the potential to actually unlock Abuja’s development.

In the reasoning of the minister, efforts to develop Abuja have not been so pleasant because previous administrations did not give the issue of infrastructural development the desired attention. As it were, previous ministers were allocating plots of land to Nigerians without due consideration for infrastructure and this meant that the allottees merely kept these land titles in their briefcases unsure of what to do with it. Of course, the absence of infrastructure did not also help matters as you do not expect one to go and develop a plot of land in a forest somewhere without consideration for access road, security, electricity and water supply.

This was why the minister came up with the the innovative land swap policy whereby investors

with the financial and technical capacity would invest in the infrastructural development and then take land in return as a substitute to the money invested.

The investors are expected to develop these districts in line with the master plan and in line with the model of other districts developed.

So far, the FCT administration has succeeded in introducing this model in such new districts of Katampe, Jahi, Wuye, Maitama extension, Goodluck District and Kagini. These six districts are currently witnessing unprecedented development and transformation which has never happened before in the Federal Capital Territory.

As the minister stated recently, this approach to infrastructural development is expected to attract foreign direct investments to the tune of N3.2 trillion, which is quite commendable, being the first of its kind in the entire West African region.

•Danladi Akilu, Durumi II District, Abuja

we can grapple with. Tomorrow’s problems (brand new) can’t wait to come. We may choose to continue to lament our woes until the centre can no longer hold. Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s before-it-istoo-late warning sounds louder today. It would take someone who sees beyond tomorrow to convince some of us that it is not already too late. Nigeria is bleeding, and may God have mercy on our souls.

•John Adebisi Abuja

CBN and ATM charges

S

IR; For many Nigerians, it was big relief when the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was asked to proceed on compulsory leave owing to his numerous draconian monetary policies. Among these were the introduction of N5,000 notes which would have brought about inflation; the limit on daily withdrawal from one’s account; the three percent and five percents charges respectively on extra withdrawal on either saving or corporate account.

Then also was his failure to compel financial institutions to close their operating units at the National Assembly after it was discovered that they serve as looting avenue for the lawmakers, and his selection of few bank owners for punishment in the name of cleansing the banking sector of corrupt practices to mention a few.

Many Nigerians were in estactic mood on hearing that someone from the banking sector, Godwin Emefiele had been chosen to head the apex bank believing that he knows where the shoe pinches. Now, not only has he deviated from the main economic issues of the day, he has started badly by re-introducing the ATM charges and charges on the use of the Point-of-Sale machine. This horrendous policy can still be corrected before it is too late. How long will Nigerians continue to pay for the service we do not enjoy?

• Kayode Adebayo Wuse II, Abuja

21

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

I

COMMENTS

N the context of the reality that words have denotative value, it is worth contemplating the import of a particular letter of commendation and its remarkable testimonial quality. It was written by the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, and the recipient was Akinwunmi Ambode who had retired voluntarily after a 27-year career in the civil service, including stints as the Accountant- General of Lagos State from 2006 and 2012, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, and AuditorGeneral for Local Government. This background is striking because it highlights Ambode, who left to pursue other dreams, as probably the most experienced individual in terms of familiarity with the state civil service operations to seek the position of governor since Lagos State was created in 1967.

Fashola reportedly wrote: “I write on behalf of the people of Lagos to commend your high sense of dedication, selflessness and integrity which you brought to bear on the civil service. I wish to specifically remark that working closely with you has been of tremendous mutual benefit, particularly in the present administration.” He continued: “You have displayed high sense of professionalism and have been a good team player, guided by the philosophy of a true public officer, who must place himself last while rendering service to the public. We are convinced that your brilliance and zeal will make you excel in your future endeavours.”

Who wouldn’t be proud of such a glowing portrayal?

Unsurprisingly, Ambode, 51, the Chief Executive Officer of Brandsmiths Consulting, made a passing reference to the characterisation at his May 15 book launch at the Civic Centre, Lagos. The presentation of two books, Public Sector Accounting by Ambode, and his biography, The Art of Selfless Service by Marina Osoba, provided a fitting forum for him to bask in the glory of his recognition. “The letter of commendation by Fashola is my gold medal for public

‘As Fashola prepares to leave the stage next year, the state deserves an exemplary successor who will be focused on excellence in office informed by a mastery of wealth creation and a humanitarian orientation... A square peg in a round hole would most likely reshape the hole; and it would then require far more effort to recreate a round hole’

S

INCE Abia State came into being 23 years ago, it has become the norm to celebrate the birth of God’s Own State by the government and the people. This annual event which falls on August 27, has assumed a larger context since the inception of the present democratic dispensation.

This is because the event has gone beyond an occasion for parade, pomp and pageantry to a period for stock taking in the developmental efforts of the state.Before Abia became a reality, the founding fathers had already put in place the developmental architecture of the state.

Their dreams and vision centred on making Abia the first among equals in the achievement of human development.

This dream was not far-fetched given that Abia is a state well endowed with human resources fired by creativity, resourcefulness and resilience. Indeed, the vision of the founding fathers was that if the human capital was adequately harnessed, Abia would become a state of abundant opportunities for its citizens.There is no denying the fact that the dreams have not been fully realized, largely because the past administrations, both military and civilian had not followed the charted course of development. But today things have changed for the better.

With the coming of Chief T.A. Orji as governor, the state has been redirected from the course of rudderless journey to purposeful developmental journey. That is why in this year’s Abia Day celebration, the usual lamentation about the slow pace of development was absent. Rather the people are now in high spirits to continue the journey to greatness.The attainment of the present developmental achievements did not come out of the blues.

It took the wisdom of a well-focused leader who deviated from the worn out path and a personal decision of leaving a legacy for posterity. T.A. Orji inherited a state devoid of any foundation for development. He set out, first of all, to lay the foundation on which his own administration and successive ones could build on. While it may sound absurd that for over two decades Abia government was operating on temporary structures, the truth is that the Government House and the Secretariat are temporary structures, a rented structure made available by a patriotic and enthusiastic citizen immediately the state was created.

As Abians celebrate the 23rd anniversary of their dear state, they can afford to wear broad smiles and point to tangible infrastructures that define a state in full motion for development. Governor Orji has built a modern secretariat hence Abia workers now have a conducive office environment that inspires creativity and hard work just as the new Government House is fast reaching completion. Today, the state is also in good stead to host big conferences with the coming of an ultra modern International Conference Centre.

It is not for nothing that the projects being executed by Governor T.A. Orji have been christened Legacy Projects.

These are projects that would outlive his administration and sustained for posterity. These are projects that would enhance and sustain the internally generated revenue of the

‘Gold medal for public service’ service,” Ambode said at the event.

Of course, the letter may be inadequate to catapult him to the high political office of governor which he seeks; nevertheless, it is a sufficient pointer to his competence.

Indeed, the writer of the letter himself also deserves commendation. There is no doubt that Fashola was in a position to know and evaluate Ambode’s contribution, and it is to his credit that he was straightforward in his depiction of Ambode’s worth. He could have chosen to downplay the man’s role and his observed performance, especially given the fact that the letter’s commendatory content could always be quoted to advance the recipient’s interest. A self-absorbed autotheistic leader would not have written in such a manner about someone else; and such leaders abound who go about with a destructive mentality. So, Fashola deserves respect for his demonstration of disinterestedness.

Did Fashola have an idea of Ambode’s ambition to succeed him as governor? Was the song of praise calculated to help him achieve his aspiration through an implied endorsement?

Or it just didn’t matter to Fashola what Ambode’s next move might be after leaving the civil service, and however he might exploit the laudatory comments for self-advancement.

It is interesting that Ambode, a would-be governor and a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on August 21 presented a paper titled “Public Finance: Probity and Accountability” during a two-day workshop organised by the Lagos State Government and the Lagos Business School at the Pan-African University, Lagos. He spoke to 300 youths from tertiary educational institutions across the state, and told them: “If we take the concept of resource generation,

allocation and distribution into cognisance and apply the principles of good governance, we will achieve economic growth and development.”

He was on familiar turf. Ambode is credited with designing a system that increased the state’s revenue generation from N600 million to N10 billion. A related excerpt from his biography is illustrative of his expertise: “In a popular business newspaper, Business Day, of Tuesday 2nd July 2013, it was reported that Fiscal Management in Lagos State had surpassed that of the Federal Government and internally generated revenue from taxes has touched the 75% mark in stark contrast to the Federal Government’s 20%. Also, the paper further stated that Lagos State makes up to 20% of total Nigerian GDP and 40% of non-oil GDP.” The narrative continued: “All these gains from the smallest state geographically (that is in terms of size) showing that Lagos State which is without any of the rich mineral resources that other states have in abundance can think outside the box and create wealth using what little it has and building on its commercial base. These great strides are particularly noted to have happened in the last six years (2006-2012) during which Akin headed the State Treasury Office (STO).”

The importance of wealth creation to “the authoritative allocation of values” cannot be overemphasised; and it may well be good luck for the state to have a governor whose competency in this critical sphere has been established beyond any iota of contradiction.

However, the megacity would require more than a mechanistic attention to figures; and it would appear that Ambode also has a humanistic appeal. Such a fusion is not always available in the power ring. Ambode’s definition of leadership is enlightening, although it could be said that words are never enough and would always need the potency of demonstrativeness. He said: “A true leader sees his work as selfless service towards a higher purpose. A true leader should be judged by what he has not – ego, arrogance and self-interest.”

Demonstrable commitment to good governance and ability to deliver what the people yearn for should rank among the uppermost qualifications for the type of progressive leadership that would benefit the state at this juncture. As Fashola prepares to leave the stage next year, the state deserves an exemplary successor who will be focused on excellence in office informed by a mastery of wealth creation and a humanitarian orientation.

The question of who should rule remains fundamental in the society’s search for leaders who have not only the capacity to make a difference but also the enthusiasm to do so; and it is always agonising whenever the wrong individual emerges and works against good governance. A square peg in a round hole would most likely reshape the hole; and it would then require far more effort to recreate a round hole.

Reflections on Abia at 23

By Charles Ajunwa state and enhance the standard of living of citizens, including those in the rural areas where rural roads are springing up. For the first time in the history of Abia, the hitherto static capital city, Umuahia, has started expanding in all directions. It is rapidly growing with new infrastructure thereby shedding its old toga of a glorified village.

The movement of the Umuahia Main Market to a new site at Ubani Ibeku on the northern flank of the capital city has decongested the city centre and created a new settlement.

Umuahia has also expanded eastwards with the relocation of the former Timber Market to a modern Industrial Market at Azueke Ibeku and southwards with the new Spare Parts Market at Ohiya that replaced the old one at the city centre. The relocation of the markets has added to the environmental cleanliness and aesthetic beauty of the capital city.

The zeal with which the governor tackled the infrastructure deficit he met when he came on board underscores the feelings that Abia was in a hurry to take off in its flight to development having been dragging along. But in putting in place the needed infrastructure the governor centred everything on people. That is why he prioritized health and security in his development agenda since no matter the level of infrastructural development, if the people are not healthy enough they would not enjoy the facilities and if their lives and property are not secured good roads would make no meaning to them.

The revolution in health infrastructure is rooted in the rural areas where over 710 modern health centres have been built across the state and equipped with some designated as referral health centres.At the secondary level of healthcare, nine general hospitals have been built and well equipped to take care of the health needs of the citizens that could not be handled at the health centres. Governor Orji has further expanded the accessibility of citizens to quality health care services by building tertiary health care institutions of international standard. His aim is to stem the tide of health tourism that has constituted a major source of capital flight in Nigeria.

To this end, three Specialist Hospitals and Diagnostic Centres were built in Umuahia and Aba where such complicated diseases like renal and heart problems are diagnosed and treated. Abia also boasts of ultra modern dialysis and eye centres, which are part of the huge medical complexes at Umuahia.On security, Abia State now ranks among the most peaceful and safest states to live and do business in Nigeria.

This feat was not achieved by wishful thinking. It took the courage and commitment of a governor who knew that dividends of democracy are for the living to wrest Abia from insecurity of the past years. As the chief security officer of the state, the governor has not spared any available resources in assisting all the security agencies including the Army, Navy,

Police, Department of State Security (DSS), National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), among others. Indeed his strategy in matters of security has become a reference point for other governors. Governor Orji has this strong belief that no amount of resources invested on the security agencies is a waste because the peace dividends, is unquantifiable.

At 23 Abia State is now witnessing an unprecedented job creation and empowerment programmes that has contributed in making the state a haven of peace and security. Under the youth empowerment programme of the administration, thousands of youths have been empowered to go into transport businesses, others trained in various vocational skills and equipped to make their own living while a sustainable scholarship scheme have been put in place for those in tertiary institutions. Abia women have also been adequately accommodated in the empowerment programme as many of them are beneficiaries of loan schemes to engage in smallscale business ventures.

The massive investment in education which has resulted in transformation of schools is a measure of the importance the present administration attaches to sustainable human capital development, which the state is well endowed with.In the Abia State of today, the self-esteem of citizens is very high because the government encourages creativity and blossoming of talents. Abians express their God-given talents in many forms and bring honour to the state and nation. It is on record that Abia is the only state in Nigeria presently sponsoring three football clubs in different levels of professional football.

Enyimba International Football Club and Abia Warriors Football Club play in the Nigerian Premier League (NPL) while Abia Comet is in the National Professional league.

This is because the governor not only loves sports but also provides the avenue for youths to channel their energy and talents into positive ventures. The investment is paying off handsomely. As Abia looks ahead after 23 years, the founding fathers, both living and dead, can for the first time ease a sigh of relief that their dreams for the state they fought for its creation is living up to expectations.

• Ajunwa is the Chief Press Secretary to Abia State Governor

‘The massive investment in education which has resulted in transformation of schools is a measure of the importance the present administration attaches to sustainable human capital development, which the state is well endowed with’

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

22

COMMENTS

T

HE capacity of Nigerian armed forces to contain the Boko Haram challenge has been a recurring decimal in any assessment of the raging insurgency in the country. Before now, some reservations have been expressed on the morale and quality of armament available to the military to grapple with the complexities and sophistication of the war against terror.

Matters were not remedied by the suspected complicity of some religious and political elite in sustaining the battle. Issues have been raised about the source of funding for the insurgents with suspicion that Boko Haram cannot thrive in its current magnitude and lethal form without local collaborators. The issue has raised so much concern that President Jonathan had to approach the National Assembly to grant him approval for US$1 billion loan to fight insurgency. The loan option has in turn, generated some criticisms especially from the opposition. But, even when the loan is secured and our soldiers provided with the best of arms and ammunitions, their efforts may still come to naught in the face of the unmitigated sabotage from local accomplices.

Before now, Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima had raised issues on the low morale and obsolete equipment at the disposal of our soldiers. He had warned that if the battle is to be won, our soldiers must be better equipped and trained for the new challenges that go with fighting terrorism.

Then, Kashim had come under the heavy fire of the government for what was largely regarded as unguarded utterances in such a delicate and sensitive war.

But within the last one week or so, a number of events have taken place in very quick succession to once again elevate this matter to the bar of public opinion.

‘Unless we unmask these local sponsors together with their sources of funding, the fears raised by Senator George Sekibo that the nation faces “threat of disintegration” may turn out a self-fulfilling prophesy’

A

Emeka OMEIHE 08112662675 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

Our military in terror war There was the controversy on the purported defection to Cameroon of 480 soldiers fighting the insurgents in the north-east border of the country. Initial media reports had it as outright defection, ostensibly after citing such a large number of our soldiers weary and without arms within the Cameroonian territory.

But the Defence Headquarters DHQ quickly came out to clarify the matter. It claimed the 480 soldiers “strayed” into Cameroon while making a “tactical manoeuvre”.

If the clarification from DHQ conveyed the impression that the soldiers faced no mortal threat and that tactical manoeuvre was a normal military strategy, feelers from that country gave a contrary view. The Cameroonian radio had reported that the insurgents made two attempts to attack the soldiers where they were camped but were repelled by that country’s armed forces. It also said that our soldiers were escorted back into Nigeria by Cameroonian soldiers which provided them food, medicine and fuel on the directive of their president.

Whatever value tactical manoeuvre holds for the military, such an exercise had the net effect of exposing the 480 soldiers to grave risk such that they had to depend on the goodwill of Cameroon to survive. Its outcome was a desperation and helplessness on the part of the soldiers. Our soldiers straying into Cameroonian territory says a lot about the on-going war against terrorism. We shall return to this later.

If the incident in Cameroon is not enough cause for worry, recent revelations by an international negotiator on terrorism Dr. Stephen Davies have thrown gloomy insights

DAZED nation; a traumatized people, and a routed security forces. That is how the Boko Haram insurgents have left us – in utter despondency. Nigeria has held a history of honour in the face of daunting challenges; from the civil war, to the twin civil wars that almost broke up the West African countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone. Nigerian soldiers were once the toast and darling of the people for bravery and gallantry in peacekeeping and internal security operations. It was unquestionably the role of the Nigerian contingents in the Economic Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) forces in Liberia and Sierra Leone that changed the tide of the operation and forced the rebels to embrace peace. Sierra Leone today, remains about the only United Nations success story in peacekeeping, thanks to the courage displayed by Nigerian soldiers and political leadership. Today, besides being the most populous black nation on planet earth, there is nothing inspiring to look forward to in leadership both at national and institutional levels. Lately, the Nigerian military has become an albatross in theatres of operations at home and abroad. At home, the life of ordinary Nigerian is dominated by fear.

Nigerians now sleep with two eyes open for fear of armed bandits; fear of being killed or kidnapped by cult members who operate in broad daylight in full glare of the Nigeria Police. There is fear of political assassination, fear of economic survival, fear of Ebola and the fear of Boko Haram terrorists. The only secure places and people are government offices and officials. This is because all security paraphernalia and state resources are mobilized for personal safety of officials to the detriment of security for the larger society. For the common man, the only safe place is the graveyard. Even the graveyard sometimes is not safe enough as ritualists violate the graves and take body parts for charms of all sorts. Rather than tackle the security problems bringing the country to the edges and precipice, we are foisted with security theatrics by erecting road blocks on every access road and concrete slabs where citizens are daily tortured in unbearable traffic.

Our leaders do not experience it because they do not travel the same road with the common man and when they have the misfortune once in a while, they travel against traffic with their retinue of “kill and go” security squads who clear the road with siren. Whenever they watch footages of local news items of pain and agony at the traffic gridlocks on our roads, they assume that it is a political campaign against the government. They care less about the plight of the ordinary Nigerians who really drive our economy.

Entering the Federal Capital Territory from Nassarawa axis is a living hell for commuters. Most workers in the FCT who are resident in the suburbs and satellite towns in Karu of Nassarawa State wake up as early as 4 O’clock in the early hours to go to work. They remain in traffic sometimes for up to four hours held up at the ubiquitous military checkpoints.

The chaotic traffic, unknown to us, is a greater security risk in

into the nation’s capacity to tame the monster. Davies who was said to have been deeply involved in negotiating the release of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls must have shocked the world when he revealed that politicians constituted the primary source of funding to the terror group and the only way to stop kidnapping was to arrest the sponsors of Boko Haram.

Hear him, “That makes it easier in some ways as they can be arrested, but of course the onus of proof is high and many are in the opposition, so if the president (Goodluck Jonathan) moves against them, he would be accused of trying to rig the election due next year. So I think this will run through to the election unabated. These politicians think that if they win power they can turn these terrorists off but this has mutated” he stated.

He went further to assert that it is no longer a case of Muslim purifying by killing off Christians. “They are just killing indiscriminately and I would say it is almost beyond the control of the political sponsors now”.

Much of the issues raised here are not really new as they tally with some of the accusations levied and suspicions traded on the Boko Haram menace. But now they are being highlighted by a foreigner whose knowledge of the Boko Haram dynamics is not in doubt, the complexity of the matter can be better appreciated. What this means is that any thought of winning the war against terrorism before the coming elections is nothing but an exercise in wishful thinking. Not with the signals typified by the tactical manoeuvre that left as much as 480 soldiers helpless within the Cameroonian territory.

The war is now very complex and elections may have to be fought and won irrespective of whatever dimension the war assumes in the days ahead. It comes with serious implications for the states that have been the hotbed of these acts of insurgency. How such states will fare during elections in the face of their insecure environment is bound to turn out another issue of contention.

More importantly, Davies disclosure further exposed the hypocrisy of such groups as the Northern Elders Forum NEF which had a fortnight ago, issued an ultimatum to Jonathan to end the insurgency by the end of October or forfeit his right to seek election in 2015. In this column, we had deprecated the ultimatum not only because it is unrealistic and impracticable but because of its glaring incongruity in liking Jonathan’s right to seek election with the winning of the war against terrorism. They do not and cannot go together. We also raised serious suspicion on the motive of those making the demand especially their role in the whole saga.

Now that we have been told by a foreigner with deep knowledge of the workings of the terror cell that politicians are sponsors of the group, is it surprising that we have been receiving discordant tunes on the matter from the very section of the country worse hit by the debilitating onslaught. It also tallies with the very complex dimension which the battle has assumed in recent times such that 480 soldiers had to find themselves in Cameroonian territory helpless courtesy of tactical manoeuvre or mistake.

There is definitely more to the insurgency than we are being made to believe. Unless we unmask these local sponsors together with their sources of funding, the fears raised by Senator George Sekibo that the nation faces “threat of disintegration” may turn out a selffulfilling prophesy. Sekibo who is also the Senate committee chairman on defence, brought the stark reality of the war closer when he stated that our military are overstretched, under-funded and equipped with obsolete equipment.

One other issue that holds the ace in this war is the role of the Cameroonian authorities. Davies spoke copiously of the escapades of the insurgents within that territory including the dropping off and subsequent recapture of 60 Chibok girls in a botched negotiation deal. When this is juxtaposed with the encounter of the 480 soldiers in that country, the stark reality of the challenge is brought closer home.

Agony of insecurity

By Mike Kebonkwu itself because should there be any attack with explosives devices, God forbid, it will be more catastrophic with attendant inferno that could follow. If we consider it a serious business to fight insurgency, we should take the fight to the insurgents and terrorists rather than the histrionics of security planting of roadblocks and barricade everywhere and waste needed manpower.

Securing Abuja, the seat of power does not by any shred of imagination translate to security of the country and its people.

The number of roadblocks on our roads across the country and the needless hardship occasioned by the delays they cause is only a demonstration of lack of imagination in tackling our security challenges. The method chosen by the government and the security forces to deal with the insurgency calls to question the theoretical doctrine of our security template.

Nigerians must face the reality if we are to combat successfully the current insecurity in the country. The stories and reactions coming from the government and security forces about what is being done to contain the terrorists is not only misleading but appears to be serving us tissues of lies.

It is unimaginative to go into a theatre of operations without correct analysis of the situation. One was startled when on assumption of office, the Chief of Defence Staff told Nigerians and indeed the whole world that insurgency in Nigeria would be over in three months. That audacious statement would not have been the thought of a military tactician or a strategist.

That declaration was a tall order achievable only through voodoo and certainly not scientific military operations. A more worrisome dimension to the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents is the regular briefing from the Defence spokesman who reels out every plan and tactical manoeuvre they are employing in an ongoing military operation. Sadly, his recent claim that it was a tactical manoeuvre when over 400 soldiers strayed or found themselves marooned in Cameroon in the heat of battle with the insurgents was a lamentable tragedy of fighting force in the 21st Century. This is where silence would have been golden.

The Inspector General of Police was more circumspect when he told the world that the insurgents were better armed and in greater number than his men after they were routed and about 27 of them kidnapped. Perhaps one would add – better discipline and commitment of course. They allegedly came with sophisticated Armoured Personnel Carriers, and trucks mounted with General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) which to him the police does not have in its inventory. This incident

happened in Gwoza, a place with high level of security threat.

The same general area covered by the state of emergency and fully under the security forces. Where did the insurgents come from? Certainly, the insurgents drove through some routes and did not materialize like spirits into the Police Training College.

The Military High Command has told us that they will soon take delivery of military equipment and hardware to deal with the Boko Haram terrorists. If this is true, it obviously shows we are the most unserious people on earth in relation with the security of life and territorial integrity of our country. The full-scale onslaught by the Boko Haram is over five years old, to be conservative and if we are just expecting delivery of procured military supplies, it shows lack of commitment by those concerned. In any case, materiel not backed up with well-trained, disciplined, and motivated personnel to drive the equipment will certainly not reverse the tide against the terrorists.

Tactical military manoeuvres in an ongoing theatre of operations should not be for media hype. Strategic operational plans should be on the need to know and not for the public.

The voluble reaction of the security spokesmen in the face of the fight against the Boko Haram terrorists is simply running verbal diarrhoea.

We do not have to militarise the entire population before we can win the war against terrorism. Today, every government agency beside the military and the Nigerian Police wants to carry arms with no limitation to scale. From the Department of State Security (DSS) National Security and Civil Defence Corps, Immigrations, Customs, Boys Scout just name it; want to bear arms and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) and drive these weapons recklessly and offensively in the worse of traditions.

Certainly, we are not helpless in the face of the current insecurity in Nigeria. The government should live up to its responsibility and devise creative ways of dealing with terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria. We should muster the political will and act with patriotic fervour rather sectarian interest.

There should be total and complete overhauling of the security forces. For the military, training and discipline should be the watch word. There should be less meddlesomeness and interference into military affairs by politicians in government and the armed forces should truly professionalize. We can not afford to invest so much in Defence and live in a state of insecurity. Roadblocks are not the answer to insurgency but simple intelligence and commitment could serve better.

• Kebonkwu is a lawyer with Bamidele Aturu and Co, Abuja

25

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

CEO

I SSUES

The great national carrier debate - P. 29 News Briefing Fed Govt to commercialise FHA THE Federal Government has started the commercialisation of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) to reposition it, its Acting Managing Director, David Kpue, has said.

–Page 26

Bidding for international routes canvassed AN aviation expert has urged the Federal Government to adopt an open bidding system for foreign carrier wishing to operate on international routes, arguing that this will bring about a level playing field for in the industry.

–Page 26

Operators, others barred from using contract workers PENSION operators, including Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), Pension Fund Custodian (PFCs) and Closed Pension Fund Administrators (CPFA) have been barred from using contract workers in critical positions in their operations.

–Page 34

Sovereign Wealth Funds are managed conservatively.

They don’t borrow money the way banks do, so you can’t compare this business to banking business. This business does not expose itself to that kind of risk. It is not the same thing as private equity •Managing Director/CEO, NSI A, Uche Orji

‘Why govt should pay N50b electricity subsidy’ - P. 35

Govt upgrades farmers' e-wallet to banking card T

O boost its Agricultural Transforma tion Agenda (ATA), the Federal Government has upgraded the e-wallet system used by farmers to get farming input.

The Nation gatherd that the government is taking the decision to strenghten its reforms in the agricultural sector.

A Presidency source said: "We are upgrading the ewallet to the National Agricultural Initiative system, so that each card that a farmer has will become a banking card with no fixed amount, for loans, they can save money, they can do insurance, they can transfer money, get anything they want.This will totally change the face of farming in Nigeria."

Though the e-wallet system has been considered to be a success, it was further revealed that the initiative "has faced challenges of poor network in rural areas. In order to address this challenge, the Ministry of Agriculture is working with the

From Nduka Chiejina, Abuja

UK government particularly DFID to introduce a new technology called TAP (Touch And Pay) which allows us to use near e-communication technology to support farmers to have access to their farm inputs even at home where there are no networks at all".

It was also gathered that the government "is trying to harmonise this with National Identity Management Commission's (NIMC) e-card programme," adding that all they (farmers) have to do is “take their e-card to the input retailer, tap their cards on the Android phone of the retailer and all information on government allocation of seeds and fertiliser and mechanisation support made available only a few days ago will show up on that application in that particular village."

The Ministry of Agriculture has developed Nigeria's first National Database for Farmers with over 14 million farm-

ers registered with identification cards. This farmers' ID cards are also being upgraded into full national biometric cards (e-Cards).

The source said: "We are already migrating 10.5 million farmers out of the 14 million farmers that we have registered in the e-wallet into this NIMC integrated system.

“With e-wallet system, we are reaching farmers with subsidised farming resources over 14 million have redeemed improved seeds and fertilizers since 2012."

The Managing Director, Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe, said the bank has "spent a lot of time over the last two years or more, working on this project (e-card) with NIMC. I don’t know what the financial numbers are but we have supported the government by providing facilities where they can work across the country. They are using our premises, they are using our applications."

Partnering with the Federal Government on the e-card initiative, he said: This "means a lot not just to Access Bank but for the entire banking industry.

ID schemes solves a lot of problems. First, it solves the problem of identifying your customers, KYC, (Know Your Customer). It helps in reducing the negative biases we have about Nigeria, just because we have no identity cards, so anybody from anywhere can claim to be a Nigerian."

Wigwe added that the e-card "will also reduce some of the security challenges that we have as a country because you can truly identify everybody and thereby determine who comes from which country or not.

“We are coming from a situation where there was no proper identification. You have fake drivers’ licences and all that.

Now because this card is biometric in nature if your name is Herbert Wigwe, you cannot change that name because my thumb print and finger prints are on it. So, if there is fraud, you can trace who the person is and where he is."

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil Cocoa

-$117.4/barrel -$2,686.35/metric ton

Coffee

- ¢132.70/pound

Cotton

- ¢95.17pound

Gold Sugar

-$1,396.9/troy -$163/lb RATES

Inflation

-8.2%

Treasury Bills -10.58%(91d)

• From left: General Manager, Listings Sales and Retention, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mrs. Taba Peterside; Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Oscar Onyema; Group Managing Director, Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) Plc, Mr. Paul Gbededo; and Chief Finance Officer, Mr. Jacques Vauthler, at the presentation of the company’s Facts Behind the Figures at the Exchange in Lagos.

Ship owners owe banks $3b

Maximum lending -30% Prime lending

-15.87%

Savings rate

-3%

91-day NTB

-15%

Time Deposit

-5.49%

MPR

-12%

Foreign Reserve

$38.4b

FOREX CFA

-0.2958

EUR

-206.9

£

-242.1

$

-156

¥

-1.9179

SDR

-238

RIYAL

-40.472

I

NDIGENOUS shipping firms are owing banks a whopping $3billion, the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA) has said.

The group said the inclusion of the waivers clause in the Cabotage Act has added to their problems as it has boxed them into a disadvantaged corner. They, therefore, urged the Federal Government to expunge the clause from the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act (Cabotage Act of 2013).

The group said the removal of the waiver clause would improve the business of indigenous shipowners.

Its Chairman, Chief Isaac Jolapamo, told The Nation

• Seek removal of waiver clause

By Oluwakemi Dauda

that about 50 per cent of indigenous shipping firms have been thrown out of business due to poor implementation of the Cabotage Law. He said NISA made the same appeal at the stakeholders’ meeting they held with the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar on policy guidelines for the granting of ministerial waivers under the Cabotage Law. “The removal will help to address the plight of indigenous ship owners whose businesses have been dam-

aged,” Jolapamo said, adding that it was sad that indigenous ship owners were not doing well in spite of the fact that they started maritime business in the country.

Its Secretary, Capt. Niyi Labinjo, also called for the removal of the waiver clause, arguing that their members were owing banks several billions of naira.

The waiver clause, according to Labinjo, has been made more important by the government at the detriment of implementation of the Cabotage Law itself.

“I am alarmed at the kind

of vessels that are granted waiver in Nigeria. Instead of giving waivers to specialised vessels in consonance with the dreams of the initiators of the Act, we end up giving waivers to anchor handling and tankers, which the Act did not envisage for waiver.

“In other climes, they do not leave the administration of waiver to be handled by busy government officials, rather an all-inclusive exercise where applications were received by the agency concerned and forwarded to the stakeholders who do the needful and make recommendations to the implementing agency, which now carry out the recommended action,” Labinjo said.

CAC: Deadline on online registration stays

By Toba Agboola

T

HE Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has restated its commitment to the October 1 online registration deadline despite challenges and attempt at sabotaging the programme.

Its Registrar-General, Alhaji Bello Mahmud, said the commission would take steps to configure a new system that would ensure that the deadline is met.

He blamed the problems that saw clients failing to access its platform on technical challenges. He said the agency was working hard to resolve the issues and assured customers that the service had not been scrapped as had been insinuated in some quarters.

He said the issues had been resolved, adding the platform was back online for customers that wanted to register their business.

He said: “With a timeline of October 1, 2014 already set for the development of a new on-line registration system, the disruption in its services would be addressed very soon.

“We wish to state unequivocally that the 24-hour business registration procedure launched in 2012 by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment is functional and serviceable to the satisfaction of our clients.”

He said the problems faced by the commission on the platform were information and communication technology (ICT) challenges that were common in developing economies.

He called on stakeholders in the economy to embrace the code of corporate governance.

He said an effective code of corporate governance would create a suitable environment for business growth as well as improve the overall interest of business objectives. He expressed the commitment of the commission in nation building, adding that the CAC was institutionalising an annual corporate citizens’ award intended to stimulate a solid foundation for enterprise and proper business ethics.

The Registrar-General urged major players and stakeholders in the economy to embrace the code of corporate governance to ensure great integrity and rapid business growth.

According to him, the corporate citizens’ award would promote the culture of good corporate governance in the Nigerian environment by recognising corporate citizens who have conducted their affairs in compliance with statutory requirements and best practices of corporate governance.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

26

BUSINESS NEWS

Fed Govt to commercialise FHA A

T

HE Federal Govern ment has started the commercialisation of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) to reposition it, its Acting Managing Director, David Kpue, has said.

C o n s e q u e n t l y , stakeholders would be engaged to run FHA to enable it stand on its feet.

Kpue believes that when this is done, it will go a long way in addressing the needs of Nigerians who want their own houses.

He said the FHA has delivered 40, 000 housing units.

According to him, the Authority has deployed various strategies in ensuring that housing problem become a thing of the past in the country.

He listed such channels of

By Muyiwa Lucas

house delivery by the FHA to include direct construction, entering into public-private partnership (PPP) with estate developers as well as exploring cooperative and social housing avenues, adding that it has continued to encourage and promote housing regeneration.

Kpue said the FHA planned to develop new estates and towns in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where plans have reached an advanced stage for an estate in Zuba, which will accommodate 1, 200 houses.

Also, the FHA is completing a process that will berth an estate or a new town in Gwari, which will deliver up to 20, 000 housing units, and

also a new town in Kwali.

Already, profiling of the off-takers has been concluded, while the Authority has concludeed plans with the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) so that it can pay the relevant compensations to those that would be affected by the exercise and then commence the delivery process.

The FHA boss said the agency was in discussion with Nigerian Traders Association, Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), among others. These efforts are geared towards ameliorating the pressing housing problems in Abuja.

Beyond the FCT, he revealed that the FHA is also into PPP in other states to deliver houses, an effort

that has delivered 1, 753 units across the country.

And to further boost the PPP, the FHA boss said the agency is also trying to streamline the would-be funding partners who can come in to assist in delivering the housing programmes.

“The FHA has faced a lot of challenges but we are moving forward. A new FHA will work towards providing affordable and accessible houses because the consensus we had in the past is that most of these houses were not easily taken up by Nigerians but by profiling our off takers, we were able to service the needs of those who want the houses and the type they want,” Kpue said.

• From left: Group Head, North Central, FirstBank, Baba A. Wakili; MD, AB Ramis BDC Ltd, Alhaji Muktar Nayaya; and Group Executive, Retail Banking (North, FirstBank, Abdullahi M. Ibrahim at the FirstBank’s SMEConnect Seminar in Jos, Plateau State.

Expert seeks open bidding for international routes

A

N aviation expert Mr Taiwo Adenekan has urged the Federal Government to adopt an open bidding system for foreign carrier wishing to operate on international routes, arguing that this will bring about a level playing field for in the industry.

Adenekan said bidding for major international routes for international airlines that have the capacity to operate them and make returns to Nigerian government after some years should be explored.

He said the bid option had become imperative because of the impunity with which the government has been granting additional flight

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

frequencies to foreign carriers without corresponding financial benefit.

Adenekan said the money to be raised from the bid process should be invested in setting up a national carrier that should be professionally run with foreign technical partners adding that until government goes ahead to review the 78 bilateral air agreements it has entered, Nigeria would not make enough gains from the deal.

He said the bid option is more lucrative than the pittance foreign airlines pay as royalties.

Adenekan, who is the Chief Executive Officer of

PDT Consulting, explained that Nigeria should try as much as possible to protect its domestic carriers from bigger foreign airlines who easily capitalise on various air treaties.

He expressed disappointment at the government’s generosity in granting both extra frequencies and entry points to foreign airlines at the detriment of domestic carriers.

He said: “We have multiple entries in this country. Ticket sales by foreign airlines alone for last year ran into billions of naira. So, multiple entries give more money to the foreign airlines at the detriment of the domestic air-

lines.”

He said of the 78 bilateral air services agreement Nigeria signed with many countries and their carriers, only 12 are reciprocated. He said it is unprofitable for the government to grant multiple entry points for foreign carriers into the country when such countries do not grant indigenous carriers such leverage in their country.

Adenekan said the air agreements Nigeria signed are skewed in favour of foreign carriers. He pointed out that the multiple entry points granted foreign carriers would contribute to the demise of many indigenous carriers.

NPA completes due diligence on Lekki Port

L

EKKI Port, Nigeria's first ever-privat-pub lic partnership, has received a major boost with the recent conclusion of the due diligence required by one of its key investors, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), putting it on a firm footing to see it become operational by 2018.

With this development, the much-anticipated funding from shareholders expected to fuel rapid construction of the Lekki Port will be ploughed into the project, so that the next phase of development can commence in earnest.

The deep seaport is a $1.5

billion public-private partnership (PPP) project between the Federal Government (represented by the Nigerian Ports Authority), the Lagos State government and the Tolaram Group. A Shareholder’s Agreement to this effect was signed in December 2012 among the three parties.

LASG’s equity and that of the Tolaram Group are in place, while NPA is in the process of making its equity contribution into the project. It is standard procedure for due diligence to be conducted by shareholders before infusion of equity into a project. NPA has carried out and concluded its due diligence

on the project through a credible auditor, KPMG, to ensure accountability, transparency and value for money of the project, which is essential and crucial to a project of this magnitude. The NPA on its part has also gotten its Federal government budget approved by the House of Assembly.

Chief Finance Officer, Lekki Port, Mr. Sandeep Parasramka, while shedding light on major developments, particularly as it concerns the company’s drive in ensuring that Lekki port becomes operational by 2018, said: “Apart from getting the concession from NPA to build Lekki Port, Tolaram has put together leading global

consultants, such as Standard Chartered Bank, the Louis Berger Group Inc., Delta Marine Consultants, BMT Asia Pacific, TBA Netherlands, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Pte Ltd and GMaps, following which the EPC contractor, China Harbour Engineering Company (one of the foremost builders of ports with a track record of delivering projects on time), has been appointed to build the port and the container terminal has been subconcessioned to International Container Terminal Services, Inc, Philippines, a leader in the container terminal operations with a footprint across the globe.’’

N industrialist and the Group Chief Execu tive of Origin Group Limited, Prince S.J Samuel, has urged the Federal Government to intervene in the plight of hunters who may have been adversely affected in the wake of the Ebola virus outbreak that has put the consumption of bush meat on hold.

Prince Samuel said if no step was taken to address the plight of the hunters, whose main source of livelihood is hunting, it would lead to their inability to fend for their families and send their children to school.

He said many states would suffer the consequence, arguing that the hunters cut across many states.

He said: “These hunters do basically this business, what do we do about them, I am concerned and worried because that is the only source of their livelihood, that is the only way they send their children to school, that is how they feed their family.

“There’s need therefore for government to quickly come up with a policy statement on the issue to address the plight of the hunters.”

He argued that it is a known fact how Ebola came into Nigeria. “It came through somebody in the city,” he said, stating that the primary source of bush meat is the villages. According to him, agreed that the viruses that transmit these disease are in the air and can easily be transmitted through animals, but how many of the people infected are in the bushes and the villages? He said many of those infected are in the cities.

He admitted that government has done well in the manner the Ebola infection has been handled so far, but stressed that there was an economic dimension to the situation to which government must address itself.

H e s a i d : “ The go v e r n ment has done well in the containment of the situation, but the other economic effect on the agric sector is where I stand that we should do something, and nobody is looking at

Industrialist urges protection for hunters, farmers over Ebola

• Samuel

By Simeon Ebulu

it. It’s unfortunate and painful. The challenge we would have is the stigma that will go to the people who rear these things and to the product they sell, may not be quantifiable and measured for many years to come, even after the epidemic is gone.

“That is why I think government should devote more effort and resources educating people about the bush meat thing and categorise it. For me the challenge is that most of the meat we eat today is bush meat, including some of our cows.”

Samuel said there is need for government to be distinctive on its classification on bush meat, so that people’s businesses are not unwittingly destroyed.

“For me, I believe that there should be a sort of categorisation, more education and treading on the path of caution, so that we don’t destroy the businesses we are trying to build,” he said, adding that people have obtained loans to start some of these businesses.

‘Genetically modified organisms harmful’

T

HE Federal Government has been urged to tighten import control to curb the importation of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in agricultural products to avoid contaminating farming soil, protect farmers and ensure safety of consumers.

This is informed by the understanding that there are potential side effects associated with the use of GMO materials while evidence of their benefits is not conclusive.

The Dean Faculty, Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Prof Abiodun Adeloye, said the measure became necessary because of reports linking GMOs with animal and human challenge.

He noted that tightening control over GMOs in agricultural products, raw materials and foodstuffs was important to prevent the spread of diseases which cannot be explained.

According to him, government should conduct checks on agricultural crops for the presence of GMOs and

By Daniel Essiet

test the products to ensure they don’t contain engineered elements that can cause serious health problems.

He said the position should remain for as long as there is inconclusive scientific and economic debate about the scientific and economic benefits of GMOs. He said prospective importers would need to show authorities certificates from country of origin of the imports, indicating that the material being imported is GMO free and that the country does not produce GMOs. Adeloye urged regulatory bodies to issue permits for importation of products that may contain GMOs. According to him, the government should not ignore repeated warnings by its own scientists and allow untested genetically modified (GM) crops into the environment and food supply.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

27

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

28

BUSINESS AFRICA

Superior picture quality our trademark, says LG

L

G Electronics has said the display market is highly competitive and superior picture quality remains the hallmark of its products.

In a statement, the electronics maker said research and development (R&D) made in the quest to improve picture quality find their way into a wide range of its products, adding that while technology is intended to make lives simpler, anyone who has gone shopping for a new television will realise that the abundance of choices available can make choosing the right TV almost impossible.

It said the television market changes extremely rapidly, and it can be difficult for the everyday consumer to stay abreast of all the new lingo and acronyms being used to describe what were once fairly straightforward machines.

“At the moment, the lion’s share of the television market today still belongs to LED and LCD TVs. These use light-emitting diodes to light up the LCD screen and offer the widest array of price points, sizes and features. LCD TVs still exhibit imperfections when displaying rapid motion, as in sports, and because of the nature of the technology, the color black is represented by dark grey. ‘’Promised for several years and now finally making inroads into the largescreen TV market are OLED sets,” the firm explained, adding that using organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) sets can light up each picture element individually, without the need for the separate light source that LCDs require. It said this translates into a much brighter, more colourful picture, stressing that because OLED TVs don’t require backlighting, they can be made much thinner, as well. “Unfortunately, consumers still need to wait some time before regional infrastructure is in place capable of broadcasting with enough definition to capitalise on the potential of 4K Ultra HD. Though broadcasts are still unavailable in 4K Ultra HD, innovative movie studios tie ups have looked to release content that takes full

advantage of 4K Ultra HD screens. LG’s strategic tie up with Netflix is an innovative example of bridging this gap effectively,” it said LG said the consensus among most analysts is that widespread adoption for 4K Ultra HD TVs will be contingent upon greater affordability and a wider range of available programming, recalling that at this year’s IFA, it had an opportunity to highlight the connectivity between its 4K Ultra HD smart TVs and Android- based smartphones which allows users to control the experience and source content using their smartphones.

It said its acquisition of WebOS will also be a crucial differentiator. Like perhaps no other line of TVs being made today, OLED screens possess an instant “Wow” factor that creates a powerful first impression on consumers. Made with flexible materials, OLED screens allow for TVs to sport a slight concave curve, leading to a more immersive viewing experience. However, if viewers want to change the shape of the television, than the simple press of a button on the remote control remolds the TV into the traditional flat surface that users may be more accustomed to. OLED screens are not only razor-thin, but are also capable of picture quality that far outpaces traditional LED screens. LG remains one of OLED technology chief innovators, and is at the forefront of the opportunity that it presents to deliver flexible displays.

While OLED technology is still in its early days, with engineers and developers still to fully leverage the quality of OLED pixel technology in large televisions, the format has made a notable impact in picture quality improvement in smaller screens. The ability to master this advanced technology has prompted several competitors to bow out of the OLED market, meaning LG stands alone as the clear leader in product innovation. This has left the company an excellent opportunity to capitalise and gain a dominant market share.

Last year, LG was proud to unveil the

G Flex; the world’s first curved smartphone. By contouring the phone to match facial curve, the G Flex was able to show that curved screens are more than just a marketing gimmick.

The phone was very well received by tech bloggers, who touted the curvature of the screen as an effective way to make the phone’s massive 6 inch screen more accessible.

The increased prominence of smaller screens doesn’t mean that engineers have stopped working on large displays. To the contrary, LG has produced mesmerizing and immersive curved displays ranging all the way up to the 105-inch 4K ULTRA HD TV. By pushing the boundaries of what was previously thought possible with curved displays, LG is making strides in curved screens of all sizes. With each passing year, LG’s curved screen TVs become more affordable and take on a wider range of functions.

Dozens of other firms are looking for ways to unseat LG as the largest display maker in the world. However, LG’s focus on research and development continues to pay dividends by allowing for a variety of diverse options to be implemented in LG’s product lineup.

The improvements made in display technology over the past decade can make the HD TVs of old seem antiquated. But the nature of technological innovation means that companies wishing to thrive must always be looking at what the future holds.

While 3D TV was enthusiastically received in tech circles, the public has not yet adopted it with the zeal that industry insiders had predicted. LG is improving its 3D viewing technology to create a more immersive viewing experience and to drive down unit cost.

3D TV remains the most convincing on TVs that are over 50 inches, but LG hopes to create a variety of 3D screens

•From left: Coordinating Chairman, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) Southwest Zone, Mrs. Elemanya Ebila; former president, Dr. Samuel Nzekwe; President, Sakirudeen Labode and his wife, Taibat, during the presidential dinner in honour of Labode in Lagos.

In defence of new ATM charge

T

HE remote-on-us automated teller machine (ATM) withdrawal charge of N65 just introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), from today, is to ensure better services for customers, increase healthy competition amongst banks, reduce wear and tear on the ATM machines, so that they can serve the customers longer, and checkmate increase in cash transaction, which negates the cash-less policy.

These are the reasons behind the introduction of N65 remote-on-us ATM charges, which will only be charged after the third remote-on-us ATM withdrawal in a month according to the apex bank.

Remote-on-us withdrawal is the case when a card holder goes to the ATM of a bank other than his bank to withdraw cash.

By Kunle Ayeni

This charging of fee on interbank network, a global best practice, is a widely acceptable practice globally and it is used to pay the cost for the remuneration of the switches, ATM monitoring and fit-notes processing. Not charging of this fee is already causing discouragement to banks and this poses a threat to financial interoperability.

To address this and as a responsible apex bank, the Godwin Emefiele-led CBN in meeting his regime’s objective of entrenching macroeconomic stability and engendering economic development in Nigeria, came up with this policy.

According to the CBN Director, Corporate Communications Department, Mr. Ibrahim Mu’azu, between 2012 and this year, when the review was done, it was discovered that unexpected wear

and tear on the machines caused by incessant withdrawals have created a huge cost burden for banks and it was becoming discouraging to them.

This unintended consequences made the CBN to take the latest decision and it should be pointed out that even at the charge of N65, the banks have forgone their income of N35 that they made in old N100 per remote-on-us withdrawal apart from bearing N65 each on the first three remote-on-us withdrawals in a month, as a form of service to their customers in this new policy.

It is obvious that the policy of outright cancellation of the charge had resulted in substantial cost burden incurred by banks in defraying the cost for the service.

And it should be stressed that the initial policy of N100 is on every remoteon-us ATM withdrawal, while the new

Air Peace appoints first female MD

A

IR Peace has appointed Oluwatoyin Olajide as its new managing director.

Olajide is the first female managing director of the new airline.

The graduate of Chemical Engineering from the University of Lagos also studied at the Cranfield University in the United Kingdom .

Prior to her appointment, she was head of the Safety Department, chief operating officer and acting managing director.

She is bringing on boardmany years of experience in banking, aviation, marketing, among others.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Air Peace, Allen Onyeama, said her vast experience and exposure in the sector would put her in good stead to run airline that is poised to revolutionise the industry.

Onyeama said the management team of Air Peace led by Olajide would offer the best module to deliver service driven air transportation in Nigeria.

He said: " She is a dynamic, self-motivated and competent young lady, who is assertive, result-oriented with problem solving skills.

“Highly organised and accustomed to being involved within fast pace environments, trustworthy and an amazing team player.

“She is attentive to details, assertive, value-focused, and investigative, with good grasp of technological solutions.

Ability to rapidly accommodate various concepts , which would enable her to be an asset, adding value and contributes to organisational development."

Olajide is a Federal Aviation Administration licensed aircraft dispatcher,

•LTV

that can be enjoyed anywhere. By bringing the experience and knowledge of the entire LG family together, the company was recently able to recently unveil its world-first flexible display.

Combining the research and ingenuity from the diverse branches of the LG Corporation from LG Chemical to LG Display the company was able to break boundaries and create a prototype with truly limitless potential.

•Mrs Olajide

with vast exposure and training in risk management , aviation safety management system, aircraft maintenance inspection and allied fields.

She has served as Quality Assurance Inspector at Bellview Airlines.

At Air Peace , she handled the overall management activities concerning the standards required by law.

policy is free on the first three made in any calendar month as the customer only pays from the fourth remote-onus withdrawal and that the issuing bank does not make any thing. But by going to other ATMs to make withdrawal, the customer incurs cost of N65, which goes to the switches and the owner of the ATM that the customer used.

Nevertheless, a customer can still withdraw 10 or more times on ATM in a month free provided such withdrawals are done on the ATMs of his bank.

Consequently, the charge is not punitive as banks cannot fully bear the burden of a cost that is outside of their operations; and getting customers to use their own banks’ ATMs, which is free, no matter number of times the customers withdrawal in a day or a month, promotes financial discipline.

Also, there are many advantages in this new policy that the customers, banks and the economy will benefit from. These include: Check excess uses of ATM and remove the associated cost, which will ensure that customers do not incur unnecessary costs; consolidate financial inclusion as the policy aims to ensure that customers are appropriately charged and not indirectly charged; encourage financial discipline from the customer by watching his cost; encourage savings, as no customers will be indirectly charged. This will increase the capacity of the number one economy in Africa to increase his capital formation, which will help not only the entrepreneurs but all customers in particular long term; increase the financial intermediation capacity of banks in economic promotion; work towards the much anticipated and needed reduction in interest rate, which will empower entrepreneurs to create more jobs for the economy, thereby meeting the job creation goal of the new CBN governor and improve the country’s growth and development; indirectly reduce the risk of ATM transaction and

negate threats to financial system stability, financial inclusion, cashless policy and systemic risk in the industry.

Othes are increase healthy competition amongst banks in deploying more ATM machines for the benefits of their customers in order to guide against customer porting, which will in the medium to long term, meet the CBN Governor’s mission of a people-centred central bank; provision of the platform to reduce financial tightening in the system as cost of operation becomes low, which will be in tandem with the CBN’s core mandate of ensuring monetary and price stability and a sound financial system and customers engagement in remote-on-us withdrawal three times monthly at no extra cost, which means that the use of other banks’ ATMs is not cancelled, only that frivolous remoteon-us withdrawals are discouraged but could still be done only that the customer will bear the cost rather than his bank after all, the customer is the one collecting money from where he did not keep it.

Expectedly, there are positions against this policy as Centre for Social Justice through his Lead Director, Mr. Eze Onyekpere, said there is no justification for the new policy and that it would unduly burden bank customers, discourage the unbanked from using the banking system and also negate the cashless policy.These positions have obviously been defeated by the above details.

For instance, the Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, a frontline economist, said: “It makes a lot of sense to return the charges for the ATM as you cannot keep your money with Bank A and always keep collecting it from Bank B; that will be a case of working for John Bull and collecting salary from Afamako company.’’

•Ayeni, an economist and public commentator, writes from Kano.

29

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

ISSUES

•Arik Air ... Nigerian flag carrier

Should Nigeria have a national carrier? Yes, say some aviation experts; no, others argue, citing the liquidation of Nigeria Airways in May 2003.

As it were, the national carriers of other countries have taken over the local aviation business, leaving domestic airlines with virtually nothing. MUYIWA LUCAS examines the arguments for and against creating a national carrier.

•Ehiopian Airline ... doing ‘good business’ in Nigeria

The great national carrier debate T

HE wide-bodied Boeing aircraft took off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos. It shot powerfully into the night sky with 100 passengers on board. Addis Ababa, the home country of the Airline was the first port of call. On the tail of this elegant bird is the legend: Ethiopian Airlines. Set up in the early 1990s, the airline has grown into an enviable global aviation brand.

But, it is not the only foreign national carrier that has found the Nigerian route a veritable source of revenue because of the huge passenger traffic. Others such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airline (another British airline), Royal Dutch KLM, Delta Airline, South African Airways, Emirates Airline, are exploiting the huge potential of the aviation market.

The liquidation of the Nigeria Airways opened the door for these airlines to come in. The Nigeria Airways crashed because of mismanagement, inefficiency, corruption and greed. Since then, the country’s airline industry has been on a steady decline. This, perhaps, among other factors, led to the clamour for the re-establishment of a national carrier.

The agitation reached a crescendo during the tenure of the former Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, who hinted of setting up another national carrier. Princess Oduah

promised that the dream would be actualised during President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure.

Princess Oduah explained that the country would have three national flag carriers that will be owned by all Nigerians, run and managed efficiently by professionals to get the commercial and economic benefits from it, if the market potentials of the country is well harnessed.

This would provide the country a second chance to restore the lost position it held in international aviation fostered in the days of the now liquidated Nigeria Airways.

Although the dream did not come to fruition during Oduah’s tenure, for the umpteenth time, the calls have found their way back into the consciousness of the public. And the reasons appear quite compelling considering that both

national pride and economics are at stake. For instance, the several Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) and ‘Open Skies’ policy agreement inspired by the United States (US) government favours national carriers and offers countries with well developed and efficiently managed international airlines, including a national carrier- a lucrative source of revenue.

However, the absence of a national carrier has resulted in the designation of some privatelyowned indigenous airlines as ‘national carriers’ for taking advantage of BASA and other international aviation agreements and policies.

These airlines include Bellview, Arik Air, Virgin Nigeria, and Air Nigeria. Sadly, of these four airlines, only Arik Air is still operating.

Bellview after its 2005 air crash in Lisa village,

‘

Rather than embark on a national carrier journey, the concept of a national flag carrier should be adopted. There should be a distinction between a national carrier and a national flag carrier.

’

Ifo, Ogun state, has not been able to continue in business, though it metamorphosed into First Nation Airline. Virgin Nigeria, an airline formed in partnership with British business mogul, Richard Branson, has become history as a result of Federal Government’s policy reversals. Air Nigeria, coming from the ashes of the defunct Virgin Atlantic, has also been grounded less than one year after it was bought by the business mogul, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim.

Ibrahim, while announcing the stoppage of the airline’s operation, had promised to return the airline as a more viable entity in nine months.

However, two years after, Air Nigeria is yet to return to the skies.

The argument has, however, been that existing domestic airlines should be strengthened and made national flag carriers, instead of the government establishing any airline under any form or guise. Experts have warned of a repeat of the incidents around the defunct Virgin Nigeria Airways (VNA) agreement, which was also touted as a national carrier. This initiative of designating private airlines seems not to have achieved the purpose of a national carrier. A number of reasons account for this. For instance, lack of adequate funding remains a major constraint for airlines, making operational efficiency impossible for their.

Yakubu Dati, General Manager, corporate • Continued on page 30

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

30

ISSUES

The great national carrier debate •Continued from page 29

communications, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), argues that though financial or operational problems are not peculiar to private airlines, the situation has been further compounded by the capital-intensive nature of the business. Therefore, he says if for any reason, a private airline which was serving as a national carrier collapses, the government would lose a lot of revenue from operating its lucrative international routes which are covered by various bilateral agreements.

Besides, he reckons that the government would be left with two choices of either pumping in money to the private airline to resuscitate it, or set up its own airline to fill the vacuum, in the event of such designated private airline collapsing. Hence, he says, various national governments have been involved in aviation for decades. Dati’s argument may not be faulted going by experiences in some Western markets, where state-owned and private–owned airlines do fail or run into financial turbulence.

Examples include Alitalia, the Italian stateowned airline which failed; Luftansa, which has had financial problems in the past, American Airlines; North West airlines which went under.

“The economic collapse of several indigenous airlines and wobbly finances of many existing ones again re-emphasise the need for a national carrier. The issue is not if there is a need for a national carrier, but what form it should take.

The former aviation minister, Princess Oduah, made it very clear that she wants a vibrant aviation industry in Nigeria. She was not only talking about recreating a national carrier; she reiterated plan by the Aviation ministry to look into the problems hampering the growth of private indigenous airlines in the country and see how to assist them. Because the industry can only be vibrant in the country if there are several strong players, not just one or two,” Dati said.

He listed some of the gaps that having a national carrier would fill to include stopping the financial hemorrhage from the loss of revenue by government from the lucrative international routes covered by BASA, and also positioning the country to benefit from the ‘Open Skies’ regime with the US- an agreement that has remained lopsided due to the lack of a strong national carrier and other strong Nigerian airlines plying international routes.

The Chief Consultant and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Belujane Konzult, a firm of aviation consultants, Mr. Chris Aligbe, said a national carrier is an old concept where the government owns 100 per cent or majority equity in an airline, thus making it to control it in terms of policy formulation, implementation and management as was the case with the liquidated Nigeria Airways. Aligbe said rather than embark on a national carrier journey, the concept of a national flag carrier should be adopted. Therefore, he explained that there should be a distinction between a national carrier and a national flag carrier.

For him, the defunct VNA arrangement did not represent a national flag carrier as Nigerians were made to believe because the Virgin Group, owned by Mr. Branson owned 49 per cent equity in the airline, managing, supplying equipment and doing everything else to run the airline, and in the long run, the remaining 51 per cent equity held by Nigerians did not make any meaning. He said to have an efficient national flag carrier, a model in the form of that operated by the Ethiopian Airways and Kenyan Airways, are a perfect example of national flag carriers. This is because the government’s equity in Kenya Airways, for instance, is about 23 per cent, KLM, as foreign technical partner to the airline, has 26 per cent equity, while the balnace is owned by the citizens.

Also, British Airways (BA) is owned almost 100 per cent by the British citizens, and therefore it fills the gap of a national carrier or entity by being designated as the national flag car-

•Tukur

•Aligbe

rier; and because it is owned by the nationals, the equity can be traded on. This is a sharp contrast from Virgin Atlantic Airline (VAA), owned

by Mr. Branson, who holds a controlling share of 71 per cent, while Singapore Airline holds about 29 per cent of the VAA share. By implication, it means that until an airline gets to that point that it is substantially owned by the country’s citizens, then it cannot be designated as a national flag carrier.

“This is why VAA is called a British flag carrier and not a national flag carrier because of the ownership structure; its shares are not in the open market,” Aligbe explained. The same, he said, was applicable to Arik Air, which is owned by an individual. At best, the airline for now can only pass for a Nigerian flag carrier, and not a national flag carrier since it is not owned by the citizens. Experts in the industry explained that the designation of an airline as a national flag carrier is of tremendous benefit, especially when it flies on the international route. This is because the status bestows a ‘sovereign cover’ on the airline, which is required as an international operator, because with that, the extent of meting out a shabby treatment for the airline is reduced.

Stakeholders in the industry have also called for caution should government finally bow to the national carrier pressure. They advised that in whatever form, government must not have more than 10 per cent equity in the national carrier. This equity, they suggested, should be managed by the ministry of finance incorporated or the aviation ministry, while the remaining 90 per cent equity should be taken by technical partners, Nigerian citizens, individual or corporate bodies. Aligbe is of the opinion that this strategic model, if adopted, has immense benefit for the country and the local industry. One of these is that the airfare regime will become competitive, which will lead to other factors like improved service delivery. It will also reduce capital flight, which is very huge in the airline sector.

The former assistant secretary, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Alhaji Mohammed Tukur, however said rather than government establishing a national carrier, the problems of the industry should be addressed. For him, government should find a way of ensuring that domestic operators are on sound footing by deliberately putting in place policies that will protect them. Tukur, like Olumide Ohunayo, an aviation consultant, is livid that government signed blindly the open skies agreement, which he reckons has further crippled the domestic operators. Ohunayo and Tukur both castigated the open skies agreement signed by the country, saying it was done at a time when the country did not have airlines that were capable of operating efficiently. Besides, it has remained a great disservice to the domestic carriers considering

that foreign airlines now fly to multiple points in the country.

For instance, on November 6, last year, the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) and the Federal Ministry of Aviation were said to have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to increase the number of weekly flights between the two countries.

In the MoU, Ethiopian Airlines would fly 31 weekly flights to Nigeria from a previous 18. The airline, which serves 76 international destinations, including 45 in Africa was said to have been given the nod to operate a frequency of seven passenger flights and three cargo flights a week into the ancient city of Kano. Ethiopian Airline flies into Abuja, Lagos, and Enugu. Though the MoU also stated that one Nigerian airline would be allowed to fly the same frequency of flights to Ethiopia, no Nigerian airline plies that route.

Tukur said there should have been an alliance between domestic and foreign airlines for local flight connections upon arrival in Lagos or Abuja, to other destinations, as this would invariably grow the capacity of domestic airline operators. “But we opened our skies and allowed foreign airlines to take over everything, and for this reason, foreign airlines don’t look at domestic airlines as partners. America will never allow such a thing in their country,” he said.

Indeed, Ohunayo observed that countries the world over have protected their carriers by not engaging in reckless slots allocation, frequencies and most importantly commercial agreements. For instance, the South Africans have refused to sign the open skies with the Americans, same with Russia, China, Hong Kong, Mexico and some other countries. Brazil, he explained, though signed the open skies pact, the full implementation is scheduled for 2015. For China it’s the American labour unions, not the Chinese that are resisting the open skies agreement because of perceived job losses and cheap wages that will accompany the agreement. Japan, India, Australia, Switzerland and EU with bigger economy and obviously stronger industry, signed the open skies after Nigeria did, using strong negotiating tactics that ensured commercial valves were sealed for their carriers.

The Philippines government through its central bank introduced financial instruments that made transfer of ticket sales less flexible; the foreign airlines grumbled and reduced frequencies while on the other hand San Miguel Inc is adding a $1 billion investment to its flag carrier, Philippines Airlines, for the purchase of a sizeable number of aircrafts. Philippine is a CAT- 2 certified country, and has flight restriction into Europe, yet it was able to protect its flag carrier to attract such investment.

‘

The argument has however been that existing domestic airlines should be strengthened and made national flag carriers, instead of government establishing any airline under any form or guise.

’

•Dati

To remedy the situation, experts say that instead of forming another national carrier, which will end up as a failed project, domestic airlines should be positioned to be in international alliances.Tukur warns that the country is enclosed by airlines that have grown larger than their national size because they have gone into alliances and have become transnational airlines, such as Air France. “So we have moved from national airline to transnational, yet, in their own countries, they are the national flag carriers, but because of the arrangement they, they have so enlarged their size; the economy of scales that arise from this are incredible,” Tukur said.

For instance, he explained that due to their large fleet size and expanded operational base, these airlines do not pay the same price for aviation fuel, as they get very considerable concession on price. This is because they are able to approach the multinational oil producers and marketers and negotiate at with them aviation fuel price and what they pay, taking advantage of their huge fleet size that are juicy for the oil marketers. Ethiopian Airline, Kenyan Airline, South African Airline, are all members of alliances, and this has exploded their market through alliance relationships, huge booking networks, insurance premium, amongst others. “Our own airlines are disadvantaged in this area and they cry everyday. That is why our people here will continue to have high cost of operation,” Tukur said.

This submission may not be faulted. Statistics from the Belujane Konzult boss show that up to 40 per cent of the passengers flying on the Lagos-London route are going beyond the place and only 60 per cent stop in London. Of this, BA carried 96, 000 passengers in 2012, Arik carried 60, 000, and VAA carried slightly over 70, 000 passengers. Therefore, because Arik Air cannot fly from London to another country, it loses out significantly in terms of revenue; hence, the need for Nigerian airlines to expand their operations because once they can fly beyond point to point, then its good for them.

The government, it is further suggested, should enforce the “Fly Nigeria Act” starting from its officials to ensure that at least, money coming from government should go to Nigerian airlines. Government officials must use indigenous airlines going to their destination. To ensure corporate bodies and multinationals fly indigenous airlines, it is being advocated that the use of an indigenous airline should be made tax deductible. This means that it is only when such companies comply with the fly Nigeria act that their expenditure on travels should be free of tax, otherwise, the company must be made to pay tax on travel expenditure.

“The government money is sovereign money that belongs to all Nigerians so it should be spent to help Nigerian airlines; it’s like the local content agenda, so that we would not be encouraging capital flight. Corporate bodies will not be forced but when it comes to tax relief, then their compliance with the fly Nigeria act should be used and if they are found guilty, then they should not be granted any of such,” Aligbe canvassed.

The search for a national carrier may be gathering momentum. But the question is; Do we really need a national carrier at this stage when our domestic carriers are almost in comatose, begging for viable policies to bring them back solidly on their feet?

31

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

MONEYLINK

ANAN chief urges accountants on integrity

T

HE President, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Sakirudeen Labode has challenged accountants on the need to exhibit integrity and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

Speaking in Lagos at the Presidential Dinner organised in his honour by the South West Zone of ANAN, he said such virtues will boost perception of accountants locally and internationally.

He said the economy will also benefit from the role of accountants, when their jobs are done professionally.

Labode said ANAN is giving priority to technical capacity building of its members to boost transparency and accountability in the economy. He said accountants need better knowledge and technical ca-

Stories by Collins Nweze

pacity to do deliver quality and professional services on the job.

The ANAN chief noted that the association had fulfilled its national and international obligations, particularly in International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), Financial Reporting Council (FRC) among others.

The group also embarked on a rigorous campaign against corruption and championed the whistleblowing campaign.

He appealed to members of the association to be upright and show reciprocal gratitude to their employers. “The nation has supported ANAN and we must show gratitude for that support. The government and the citizens of Nigeria stood by us,’’ he said.

The ANAN Chief said the body is currently exporting accounting knowledge to key African countries. “We went global and there is a prize to pay for it. ANAN’s position in the global arena is being redefined,’’ he said.

The ANAN president explained that at the end of the year, the association would become a full member of the IFAC. He said Chinese and other languages would soon be added to the syllabus of the Nigerian College of Accountancy (NCA), Jos, the training arm of the association, apart from French presently being thought in the college.

Also speaking at the event, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State urged accountants to be acquainted with International Public Sector Accounting Standards

Ecobank unveils Giant Prize Give Away promo

Sterling gets PCI recertification

T

HE Council of Payment Card Industry (PCI) has recertified Sterling Bank Plc barely one year after it was certified by the council.

The bank said the feat is in recognition of its compliance with standard practice in cards management implementation of all security controls to protect cardholders’ information.

The bank’s Group Head, Strategy & Communications, Shina Atilola disclosed to newsmen in Lagos that the recertification of the bank by PCI’s Council is a testimony of the its resolve to adequately protect information about its customers from going into wrong hands.

He explained that Sterling Bank as a responsible financial institution has put in place the right mechanisms to ensure non-disclosure of information about customers to un-

authorized persons and ensure that information is not compromised at any point in time adding that the bank will continue to uphold the tenet of confidentiality, integrity and availability in the handling of information of its customers.

He said the bank has deployed tools to improve the security of information about our customers and the Bank, and create security awareness among internal and external customers on how to secure their information.

He however advised organizations in the country as well as individuals to protect information about them carefully to avoid the use of such information for criminal activity. According to him, Nigerians must continue to see the need to dimension the risks associated with information leakages and avoid treating sensitive information with levity.

(IPSAS), adding that accountants are expected to be good record keepers of internally generated revenue.

Ajimobi ,who was represented by the state Director of Finance and Accounts, Olaojo Adeniyi, said the dinner held in honour of an Labode was well deserved because of his immense contributions to the accounting profession.

Also, the Coordinating Chairman of the South West Zone of ANAN, Mrs Elemanya Ebilah said, Labode is creditably discharging his responsibilities to the association and the country.

She said the Southwest zone of ANAN comprises of Ikeja, Lagos Mainland, Shomolu, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo branches in six states.

E

COBANK Nigeria has allotted cash prizes worth over N10 million to winners that would emerge in its new deposit promo titled “Giant Prize Give Away” Promotion for current and savings accounts holders.

The promotion, which commences next month and runs till February 2015, gives participating customers the opportunity to win cash prizes and other rewards at both bi-monthly regional draws and grand draws.

Announcing the promotion in Lagos, Deputy Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Tony Okpanachi, said the lender decided to run this second edition of the promo following the success and testimonials recorded in the previous edition.

He noted that feedback from customers was positive and impressive, adding that, the promo is also the bank’s contribution towards the financial in-

clusion strategy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Okpanachi explained that to ensure many customers benefit from the various prizes, the promo has been segmented into two categories. Under category one, new and existing customers need to make fresh deposits of N10, 000 into their currents or savings accounts and leave it for 60 days to qualify for the bi-monthly regional draw in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja.

Depositing multiples of N10, 000 gives the customer more chances of winning.

Maintaining a minimum of N10, 000 for 180 days qualifies the customer for the grand draw in February, 2015.

For the category two, new and existing customers should make fresh deposits of N50, 000 into their current or savings accounts and leave it for at least 60 days to qualify for the bi-monthly regional draw in Lagos Port Harcourt and Abuja.

Offer Price

AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FIDELITY NIGFUND • UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

168.45 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.69 1.39 1,676.09 1,125.49 120.87 121.16 1.67 1.2564 1.2237 0.9034 1,0739

Bid Price 167.01 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.69 1.33 1,676.09 1,124.68 120.02 120.30 120.30 1.2475 1.2237 0.8857 1.0739

SYMBOL

CHANGE

Foreign Reserves Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

1.90

2.08

9.47

WAPIC

0.75

0.79

5.33

OANDO

26.15

27.45

4.97

1.03

1.08

154.73

155.73

$110.44

Pounds Sterling

256.465

258.1225

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N17.2 trillion

Swiss Franc

168.8455

169.9367

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

Yen

1.4876

1.4975

CFA

0.294

0.314

234.7445

236.2616

Yuan/Renminbi

25.1466

25.31

1.37

1.42

3.65

16.40

16.90

3.05

PORTPAINT

5.10

5.25

2.94

UBA

7.44

7.60

2.15

LOSERS AS AT 28-08-14

CHANGE

NPFMCRFBK

1.05

1.00

-4.76

STERLNBANK

2.37

2.26

-4.64

ETERNA

3.90

3.72

-4.62

MBENEFIT

0.54

0.52

-3.70

VONO

US Dollar

4.85 4.00

C/PRICE

$39.6b

205.4857

3.80

O/PRICE

Selling (N)

204.1662

0.52

SYMBOL

Buying (N)

Euro

15.04

ETI

Currency

N15.9 trillion.

0.50

MAYBAKER

16.5%

NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

Tenor

WAUA

Rate (%)

Rate (%)

Overnight (O/N)

10.500

10.500

Riyal

41.2558

41.5225

1M

12.175

12.101

SDR

235.0039

236.5227

3M

13.328

13.225

6M

14.296

14.-85

FOREX RATES

1.09

1.05

-3.67

67.10

65.05

-3.06

R-DAS ($/N)

157.29

157.29

RTBRISCOE

0.89

0.87

-2.25

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

162.75

DANGFLOUR

7.16

7.00

-2.23

SKYEBANK

2.95

2.90

-1.69

Parallel ($/N)

167.50

167.50

MANSARD

2.54

2.50

-1.57

CONOIL

Amount Sold in ($) 346.43m 398.77m 349.67m

Money Supply (M2)

14.49

FBNH

Amount Offered in ($) 350m 400m 350m

CBN EXCHANGE RATES August 26, 2014

12.0%

PREMBREW

INTENEGINS

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Monetary Policy Rate

C/PRICE

COSTAIN

Transaction Dates 27/08/2014 25/08/2014 20/08/2014

8.3%

O/PRICE

•UBA CEO Phillips Oduoza

RETAIL DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (RDAS)

Inflation: July

GAINERS AS AT 28-08-14

U

NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has introduced an online payments and collections platform tagged U-bills.

A statement from the bank said, the product would boost e-commerce in Africa. The lender said the online payment platform has been enabled in all the 19 countries where it has operations.

It explained that U-bills, is a collection and bill payments platform that allows sellers to collect payments online or on their mobile devices like tablets and smart phones. It also provides a one-stop platform for customers to make payments for goods and services on their mobile phones, tablets or personal computers as long as they have an internet connection on the devices.

“The uniqueness of the U-Bills platform is that it is a single payment gateway where all forms of remittances to different merchants can be made. It is not a single-merchant platform. All merchants can register on U-Bills to receive payments for goods and services. Also, anyone can go online and register to make payments for goods and services bought” the bank’s Divisional Head, e-banking Yinka Adedeji said.

DATA BANK

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

UBA inaugurates e-payment portal

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

Rates

T-bills - 91

10.00

T-bills - 182

10.07

T-bills - 364

10.22

Bond - 3yrs

11.37

Bond - 5yrs

11.41

Bond - 7yrs

11.86

32

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 30-08-14

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 30-08-14

Guinness Nigeria may report lower profit HERE are indications that Guinness Nigeria Plc may report lower profit for the immediate past year as directors of the company meet this Thursday to review the audited accounts and report of the company.

Regulatory filing obtained at the weekend showed that the board of Guinness Nigeria would meet on Thursday to review and approve the audited accounts of the company. The company will subsequently submit the earnings report for the year ended June 30, 2014 to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for onward distribution to the investing public on or before September 8, 2014.

The meeting will also consider appropriate dividend to be recommended by the directors. There are however indications that the company’s bottom-line may be constrained by high costs of sales and finances, a trend that had dogged the brewer’s performance in the earlier period.

Guinness Nigeria had reported 11.4 per cent decline in turnover for the nine months ended March 31, 2014. Even though, the company’s management had expressed optimism that its performance will improve in the last quarter of its financial year, it is expected that

T

•New brands drive sales

By Taofik Salako, Capital Market Editor

the trend will affect the full year results.

Guinness Nigeria recorded a turnover of N78 billion in the third quarter. The report for the nine-month period ended March 31, 2014 showed that the company recorded profit before tax of N7.82 billion and profit after tax of N5.94 billion during the period. This translated into earnings per share of N3.95.

In the corresponding period ended March 31, 2013, Guinness Nigeria had recorded turnover of N11.23 billion and pre and post tax profits N7.76 billion and N5.07 billion. Earnings per share was N5.07.

In a review of the third quarter report, managing director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Seni Adetu, had noted that in spite of the positive contributions from strategic innovations like Orijin Bitters, Snapp and Satzenbrau to net sales, high finance costs in an increasing interest rate environment negatively impacted overall profitability.

The company confirmed that the sale of its innovation brands like Orijin Bitters, Snapp, Alvaro, Satzenbrau and Orijin Ready to drink were still up for the

second consecutive quarter.

Adetu observed that the business is upbeat because the impressive performance of recently introduced innovation brands will be a big boost for Guinness Nigeria’s future performance.

“That the best sales news is from innovation brands is cheering because the investment committed to its development is stimulating growth. This will ensure value creation for our shareholders in no distant future.

The management and board of Guinness Nigeria Plc remain confident in our range of leading brands, our continued focus on distribution and our investment in our brands and people to deliver long term growth for the business,” Adetu said.

According to him, the company will continue to invest in its brand portfolio and optimization of market logistics, expecting that these and other initiatives will lead to improved revenues and overall performance.

In 2011, the brewer announced an investment of N52 billion in its business to expand production and route to market infrastructure for its premium and innovation brands.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

33

Taxation Taxation of contract and direct labour procurement of MDAS (2)

T

HE Financial Regulations, 2009, stipulates: i. The government contracts are made in accordance with the ordinary law of contract through offer by one party and acceptance by the other. ii. The Public Procurement Act, 2007(PPA) provides detailed requirements and guidelines for procurement contracts in respect of goods and services in the public sector i.e.

Ministries, extra-Ministerial offices, other arms of Government iii. (A) The Public Procurement Act applies to all procurements made by the following Federal Government Agencies, viz:(a) All Ministries, extra-Ministerial offices, other arms of Government; and (b) All agencies of government that derive at least 35% of their operational funds through appropriation from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

(B) The Act does not apply to procurements of special goods, works and services involving national security unless the express approval of the President has been first sought and obtained. iv. All procurement contracts by all Ministries, extra-Ministerial offices, and other arms of government shall be executed in a manner that shall be prescribed and allowed by the Bureau for Public Procurements. v. All bidders in a contract for public procurement must show proof of eligibility for the award of the contract. They must prove the following amongst others, viz: (a) They possess the necessary technical qualification (b) They possess the machinery, equipment and manpower for the job; (c) They have the legal capacity to enter into the contract i.e. they are not under a receivership nor are they insolvent; (d) They are not tax evaders; and (e) None of their directors has been convicted in respect of any offence! Crime involving fraud, financial misappropriation or falsification of records. vi. Persons who have been involved in the preparation of procurement proceedings shall not qualify to bid for the procurement either as a main contractor or sub-contractor. vii. Advances of non-personal character shall be authorized by the Minister of Finance, except advances created under the authority of Financial Regulation 2524 or advances of up to N50,000 approved by the Accounting Officer. Applications for Non-Personal Advance must state the reason for the advance, the method of clearance and the person to be held responsible for clearing the advance. viii. In the disbursement of funds for Non-Personal Advance for project/Special Programmes, the leader of the project/Special programmes shall’ be the Accounting Officer and shall approve all payments, while an Accountant of an appropriate grade shall be attached to each project/special programmes and have responsibility for the disbursements as well as retirements of the Non-Personal Advances.

By the content of Accountant General for the Federation’s circular on the operation of year 2009 General imprest warrant, the following became applicable: i. All Accounting officers in the three arms of government, including ministries, extra-ministerial offices and agencies, are authorised to approve funds to eligible imprest holders. ii. The limit of reimbursable imprests shall be as follows: Designation of imprest holder limit of reimbursable imprest N Hon. Minister Permanent Secretary/Director General - 300,000.00 Director 200,000.00 Head of Unit or Branch in States - 100,000.00 Or any other imprest Holder - 60,000.00 iii. The frequency of reimbursement of any standing imprest shall normally be once in a quarter and shall not exceed twice in a quarter where the need arises.

‘Where, for example, there is a written contractual sale of goods or materials by the government or a trading concern to another, the payment for the transaction will be subject to withholding tax at five per cent. Similarly, where there is no written contract but through an arrangement, a government or company places an order for purchase from another company, such a transaction must also attract withholding tax at five per cent’

iv. All accounting officers and officers controlling expenditure are to ensure that all local procurement of stores and services costing above N200,000 shall be made only through award of contracts.

Source deductions and the tax laws By the content of FIRS Circular No 9801 of 1998, it is explicit that all types of contract payment, whether on oral or written contract will attract Tax deduction. Where, for example, there is a written contractual sale of goods or materials by the government or a trading concern to another, the payment for the transaction will be subject to withholding tax at five per cent. Similarly, where there is no written contract but through an arrangement, a government or company places an order for purchase from another company, such a transaction must also attract withholding tax at five per cent. Therefore, on the whole, it must be understood that as long as a contract can be read into the actions of two or more persons or companies/enterprises, such transaction must attract withholding tax at five per cent.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service Establishment Act 2007 in: i. Section 25 (2) states: The Service may, with the approval of the Minister by Instrument published in the Federal Gazette, appoint any Government Agency to collect revenue pursuant to the power of the Service under subsection (1) of this section. ii. Section 24 states that the Accountant-General of the Federation shall have power to deduct at source, from the budgetary allocation, un-remitted taxes due from any Ministry or Government Agency and shall not later than 30 days therefore transfer such deductions to the Service. iii. Section 40 of FIRS Establishment Act 2007 provides that; Any person who is being obliged to deduct any tax under this Act or the taxes listed in the First Schedule to this Act, but fails to deduct, or having deducted fails to pay to the Service within 30 days from the date the amount was deducted or duty to deduct arose, commits an offence and shall, upon conviction, be liable to pay the tax withheld or not remitted in addition to a penalty of 10 per cent of the tax not remitted per annum and interest at the prevailing Central Bank of Nigeria Re-discount rate and imprisonment for a period of not more than three years.

By the provision of the Companies Income Tax [Rates etc, of Tax Deduction at Source (Withholding Tax)] Regulations of 1995 i. Persons qualified to deduct tax at source include body, corporate, and unincorporated, a government Ministry, Department and Agency, a local Government, a Statutory body, a public authority and any other Institution, Organization, Establishment and Enterprises which operates Pay-As-You-Earn scheme. ii. A deduction made from any payment shall not be regarded as an additional cost of the contract to be in the contract price but as Tax due on the payment. iii. A person who deducts tax from a payment shall, when the payment is credited or paid, whichever is earlier, submit to the relevant officer of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the evidence of remittance made to the designated branch of the collecting bank of the Tax deducted. iv. Payments from which tax is to be deducted and the rate as follows:WHT Rate for CompaniesWHT Rate for Individual Dividend, interest & Rent 10% Royalties 15% Commissions, Consultancy, Technical &Mgt 10% Construction 5% Contract of Supplies 5% Director’ Fees 10%

10% 15% 5% 5% 5% 10%

v. Withholding Tax deduction at source covers:- All aspects of building, construction and related services.

- All types of contract and agency arrangement, other than outright sale and purchase of goods and property in the ordinary course of business.

- Consultancy, Technical and Professional services - Management services - Commissions - Interest and Royalty - Rent and Dividend The Value Added Tax Act, CAP VI LFN 2004 states: i. Every Government Ministry, Statutory body, or other Agency of Government shall register as agent of the Board for the purpose of collection of Tax under the VAT Act. ii. Every contractor transacting business with Government Ministry, Statutory body and other agency of the Federal, State and Local Government shall produce evidence of registration with the Board as a condition for obtaining contract. iii. Every Government Ministry, Statutory body, or other Agency of Government shall, at the time of making payment to the contractor remit the Tax charged on the contract to the nearest Tax Office. The remission shall be accompanied with a schedule showing the name and address of the contractor, invoice number, gross amount of invoice, amount of Tax and

• Acting Executive Chairman, FIRS, Alhaji Kabir Mohammed Mashi month of return. iv. Value Added Tax is a tax on consumption of VAT able good and services as consumers of goods and services, ministries, parastatals and other agencies of Government pay VAT on their consumption in addition to the contract price of the item consumed by them. v. Rate of Tax for VAT: 5% for all VAT able items of goods and services, except for Zero rated goods and services where they are specifically exempt by the VAT Decree. vi. Payment for contract of supply of Vat able goods and services will suffer deduction of VAT. vii. Payment for contract of supply of non VAT able goods or services will not suffer VAT deduction. viii. Goodsexempt area. All medical and pharmaceutical products. b. Basic food items c. Books and educational materials d. Baby products e. Plant, machinery and goods imported for use in the export processing zone or free trade zone. (provided that 100% production of such company is for export otherwise tax shall accrue proportionately on the profits of the company f. All exports g. Plant, machinery and equipment purchased for utilization of gas in downstream petroleum operations. h. Tractors, ploughs and agricultural implements purchased for agricultural purposes. ix. Services Exempt are: a. Medical services b. Services rendered by community Banks, People Banks and Mortgageinstitutions. c. Plays and performances conducted by educational institutions as part of learning d. All exported services x. Zero Rated Goods and Services area. Non-oil exports b. Goods and services purchased by diplomats c. Goods and services purchased for use in humanitarian donor funded projects. (Humanitarian donor funded projects undertaken by Non-Governmental Organizations and Religious and Social clubs or Societies recognized by law whose activity is not for profit and in the public interest.)

‘All procurement contracts by all Ministries, extra-Ministerial offices, and other arms of government shall be executed in a manner that shall be prescribed and allowed by the Bureau for Public Procurements’

34

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS INSURANCE

PenCom bars operators, others from using contract workers

P

ENSION operators including Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), Pension Fund Custodian (PFCs) and Closed Pension Fund Administrators (CPFA) have been barred from using contract workers in critical positions in their operations.

Consequently, the Commission

Stories by Omobola Tolu-Kusimo

has given all licensed operators that have outsourced or contract workers on their pay roll in the affected functions, a transition period of six months, from August 20, to convert their employment to permanent status or replace them

with permanent workers.

A circular obtained by The Nation issued to the operators by PenCom through its Head, Surveillance Department, Mohammad Datti, contained this.

In the circular, PenCom identified the functions as pension administration; benefit administra-

tion; fund management and accounting; settlement; safe keeping; contribution collection, administration and information, and communication technology.

The Commission lamented that it has observed an increase in the use of outsourced workers from third parties to perform critical functions in pension administration and management as well as custodian services, adding that these workers were often not properly trained while their conditions of service remained poor.

The circular read: “The risks inherent in this arrangement had already started manifesting, as there are several cases of fraudulent activities involving these outsourced

staff.

“It would be recalled that, when the pension reform was conceptualised, the only function allowed to be outsourced was sales and marketing to be performed by sales agents.

“While the commission recognises the fact that every business venture should strive for efficiency and be mindful of overhead expenses, the commission will not allow the situation to be to the detriment of the pension system and services to be delivered to contributors.”

PenCom however said the operators were at liberty to engage outsourced workers for sales and marketing functions only.

CIIN holds forum

T

•From left: ARIAN President, Gbadebo Olamerun; Publicity Secretary, Daniel Onobume; Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Health Services, Hon. Hodewu Suuru Avoseh and his aide at the event.

IEI pays N616.1m claims

I

NTERNATIONAL Energy Insurance Plc has paid N616.1million claims to its customers at the end of the first half of this year, its Managing Director , Mrs. Roseline Ekeng, has said.

She said the payment was a demonstration of the firm’s resolve to meet its obligations to its customers.

She said the claims paid are categorised into Motor, Fire, General Accident, Marine Cargo, Marine Hull, Bond, Oil & Gas, Industrial All

Risks, Public Liability and Aviation.

According to her, the prompt response also indicated its resolve to always act in line with its core values of proficiency, integrity, innovation, dependability and friendliness.

She said: “Transparency and reliability are the most enduring values to earn customer trust, and these are the values that IEI anchors its business principles upon. Today’s business environment requires more ethical standards.

“In paying these claims during

the first six months of this year, IEI has demonstrated to its clients that it is a company that cares for their welfare consistent with its equity statement. The company boasts of having the most technical and experienced energy underwriting unit in Nigeria. The company has also created a micro insurance desk in order to tap into the market development initiatives introduced and enforced by the regulatory body, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).”

Union Assurance to unveil new owners soon

U

NION Assurance Company Limited will soon unveil its new owners, its Managing Director, Godwin Odah, has said.

Odah, who made this known at the Monthly Members Evening of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) in Lagos, said the revelation would be as soon as the approvals were obtained.

Speaking on its parent company’s (Union Bank) divestment plan, he said following the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) directives on universal banking, the bank is in the final stage of complying with the requirement by divesting its 93 per cent shareholding in Union Assurance.

He said the company has been able to reduce its dependence on revenue from Union Bank Plc significantly from about 75 per cent in 2008 to 15 per cent to date.

He said by way of numbers, the firm’s income from the brokers channel has grown from 12 per cent in 2009 to over 55 per cent.

According to him, the management has also steered the company through the difficult years of the CBN’s intervention in the bank spanning from 2009 to 2012.

Odah added that the firm has di-

versified its income base by deepening focus on opportunities outside the Union Bank Group by building credibility with brokers; aggressive expansion of Union Assurance foot prints of life retail with over 1,350 agents across the country and 24 fullfledged branches and six representative offices, among others.

According to him, the company has however earmarked key strategic initiatives frunning from this year through 2018.

He said these include the creation of a micro-insurance model that will enable it leverage affinity groups thereby achieving a lower acquisition cost for this important segment.

He said: “We intend to participate in large transactions, particularly in the energy and power sectors, where the firm would seek to partner with big lenders such as FirstBank, Union Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank and Standard Chartered Bank.’’

Odah further said the firm will improve its brand visibility and awareness among the young and upwardly mobile middle class while service and product innovation will enable it deliver.

He said: “We also aim to develop bespoke products that meet our cli-

ents’ risk and business demands; target segments within the emerging affluent markets; enlarge our retail force from 1,400 to at least 2,000 this year; create an online store with an improved business process that enables us deliver our products seamlessly across multi channels group and affinity lines. We will also deepen our relationship with the top tier brokers. Because of the complex nature of insurance, we will continue to play a major role in the industry, particularly in the commercial segment of our business.

“The company will also effectively leverage extensive branch network, to strengthen our growth in the retail and public sector, particularly among the growing states of Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers; improve on our employee knowledge, skill and ability and build capacity and technical competence in the big ticket businesses such as oil and gas, power, telecom.”

He said this year and next year promise to produce interesting and exciting performance for the company as it transits through these phases.

HE Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) is set to hold this year’s edition of its professional forum.

In a statement, it said the event, which is scheduled for between September 10 and 13, has as theme: The insurance industry: New trends, new strategies.

Its Head, Corporate Communications, Mr. Joseph Obah, said the theme aptly captures the posteconomy rebasing in the insurance environment in terms of new product trends and strategies of harnessing the perceived opportunities.

He said speakers to address the forum topics are Commissioner for Insurance, National Insur-

ance Commission, Fola Daniel; Deputy Commissioner for Insurance, George Onakhena; Managing Director, Niger Insurance Plc, Dauda Adedeji; Group Managing Director, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi; Managing Director, Financial Institute Training Centre, Dr. Lucy Newman and Managing Director, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, Eddie Efekoha.

The CIIN President, Mr. Bola Temowo, said the financial inclusion strategy might top the agenda in view of the human capital realignment imperatives for driving the financial inclusion products, such as micro insurance and Takaful.

Agents sensitise clients on Ebola

I

NSURANCE agents have embarked on Ebola Awareness Trek to sensitise drivers, conductors, and artisans on precautionary measures in ensuring the prevention and eradication of the deadly Ebola disease.

The walk, which started from some streets of Lagos to the state House of Assembly, was organised by the Association of Registered Insurance Agents of Nigeria (ARIAN).

ARIAN National President, Gbadebo Olamerun, said they had meetings with drivers, conductors, and artisans and gave them gloves and sanitisers.

According to him, they believe that these groups of people have regular contacts with people every day.

He said they urged them to wear gloves and use sanitisers to prevent the virus from contacting their bodies.

The ARIAN boss observed that the government had

expressed its intentions to give life cover to volunteers who treat the Ebola patients.

He said that government was introducing insurance for them, but that insurance is not medicine after death. ‘’They don’t provide insurance when there is eventuality, you get insurance before the eventuality happens,” he said.

He enlightened that regular washing of hands with soap and water can prevent the ebola virus infection from having any effect on a person’s health.

Olemerun also said people should imbibe the attitude of protecting their lives and properties with insurance and not wait until they are sick or suffer a loss.

Stressing the relevance of insurance, he said it contributes to economies of developed countries, regretting that the reverse was the case in Nigeria.

Mansard opens centres

M

ANSARD Insurance has opened two new Welcome Centres in Enugu and Uyo in Enugu and Akwa Ibom states.

In a statement by its General Manager, Corporate Commumications, Taiwo Adeleye, the centres would provide an opportunity for its customers to purchase its products and services in life, non-life and health insurance.

It said customers may also receive after sales services at the centres.

The Uyo centre opened following the opening of the Mansard Welcome Centre in Enugu

by the Special Adviser to the Commissioner of Youth & Sports, Akwa Ibom State, Ese Umoh.

The welcome Centre in Uyo is meant to serve customers and prospects.

At the unveiling event, the commissioner appreciated the management of the firm for coming to Uyo, to empower the youths and also increase the awareness and benefits of risk management in the state.

The ceremony was followed by an awareness walk to sensitise the residents of the town on the usefulness of insurance.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

35

THE CEO Over the years, power has been Nigeria’s major challenge. Even the distribution companies, which acquired the assets of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), have not been able to do much more than six months after their coming.

But, all hope is not lost, according to Chairman of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Mr Sam Amadi.

Amadi in this with JOHN OFIKHENUA submits that things will change when the Federal Government pays the N50 billion electricity subsidy.

W

HAT is delaying the declaration of Transition Electricity Market (TEM)?

The Transition Electricity Market is not a magic bullet. It is a process-based event, that means that you have to look at what stage of the market we are; you look at the environment and the market situation. So, initially, the assumption was that once the new owners come on board, the TEM will be declared immediately. But that is wrong because the business rule contains some conditions precedent to the declaration of the emergence of the TEM. And those conditions, 14 of them as at November, when the new owners took over about two or three of them, were still outstanding, namely: the appointment of the Dispute Resolution Councillor, Optimisation of the System Operators ( SO) network and Market Operator (MO) settlement systems were all still outstanding, and now all these are largely in place. The Communication System has come to a point when the operators can rely on it. The market system is of such standard that we can predictably trade electricity. Also, the regulator and operators to consider gas supply, which was not really a market rule condition precedent. But we considered it very important too because of the gas problem we needed to have gas certainty. This month, a lot of work is being done to ensure certainty. NERC demanded that before we can declare TEM, we need to be sure of the volume of gas that is coming so that we don’t have so much variation in capacity projection. Because if we say we are going to have between 3,000MW and 5,000MW, we must be sure that we can do that minimum

•Amadi

‘Why govt should pay N50b electricity subsidy’ all time; down time or up time. The commission is getting set and we are sure we can easily advise any time from October as good for TEM. Then the minister has to look at it and make a declaration.

What impact will the increase in gas price and the payment of N25billion have on gas supply?

The policy has not had an impact because it has not been operationalised. The gas price was not declared by the inter-ministerial team in that conference. The increase in the price of gas has been the work of the working group that NERC set up that was interfacing with the industry for some time. What happened was that in the cause of inter-ministerial engagement, some issues were identified as critical drivers for an increased gas to power supply.

The next issue is that we are going to meet with the CEOs of the gas companies to sign a commitment to increase capacity. In the last one week, we have been working on establishing the real debt profile. And the CBN has also started discussing with the Bankers’ Committee and the bankers will create a process by which the payment can happen. In the next one or two weeks, the payments will be made and then the com-

mitment will be extracted and a new contractive framework that will commit the gas supplier to clear enforceable commitment to deliver has molecules will be firmed-up and signed up.

What happened that day was a trigger and since then several meetings have been held and first, the pricing aspect is concluded; two, debt is about to be signed off and paid in a matter of days or weeks, while the new contract framework will be fully agreed upon and that will put the framework in total good shape.

On December 1, the Multi- Year Tariff Order (MYTO) will be due for review.

How will the change in price of gas affect the review?

It will have influence because this was done contingent on the review. We are already doing that. There is a review going.

We are reviewing the Muti-Year Tariff Order based on the submissions of the companies. We did process review studies which were validated. Part of the agreement was that after the losses, the commission should review the tariff assuming there is any discrepancies and how it will be addressed. What we are doing in terms of gas is timely because it is happening

‘Sometimes, one of the problems with a country dealing with issues in the public is that people are not even educated and we use words to brand issues and cause more confusion’

when it will be mirrored into the review process that is ongoing. It will be part of the review. If we have reset the gas price, then that will be the price we will use for the review.

Analysts said this is just the best time to release the N50billion electricity subsidy fund. What do you say to this?

Electricity subsidy fund was supposed to run-off by June this year. What we are talking about is the backlog of debt that the government has not paid. There is an advocacy on that. We are not building our model on that N50 billion, but if it comes, it will be handy. It means that it will further reduce the tariff that consumers are supposed to pay going forward because we are going to add it back into it. There are several budgetary, fiscal policies to go through but it will be ideal for government to pay because government made the commitment. It is not good that the government turns out to be the defaulting partner in this business because consumers are paying their bills and government needs to take out to pay a particular percentage which translates to the subsidy. The market expects that government will still pay for the arrears of this fund. They are now in arrears and going forward, they are not subsidies. They are arrears of subsidies that are not paid. The government ought to pay for what it committed to so that it can help to take away some of the shortfalls and improve the financial viability of this electricity market. But we are also putting out contingency plans assuming the government does not pay the arrears so that we •Continued on page 36

36

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

THE CEO

‘Why govt should pay N50b electricity subsidy’ •Continued from page 35

must keep the electricity market solvent and strong with or without the subsidy.

But the subsidy arrears, if paid, will reduce greatly, the impact of the review.

Does NERC have the technical expertise to regulate the electricity industry?

The question doesn’t arise because there is mysticism around it. What is technical regulation? Regulation means the things that deal with the entire components of the market, and NERC has been doing that since 2006. The grid code that is the heart of technical regulation is in place. The distribution code that regulates the distribution part of the business is there. It has been put in place over five years ago. The grid code that specifies and regulates the metering is there. We have the safety and health code, so what is technical regulation? Sometimes, one of the problems with a country dealing with issues in the public is that people are not even educated and we use words to brand issues and cause more confusion. Technical regulation is like any other regulation. It is making rules and laws. We have social regulations, if you are going to regulate social behaviour, if you are going to regulate health and safety. All regulations in the world are both technical and commercial. There is no debate whether NERC has technical ability; NERC has all and nobody has faulted the technical aspect of its work.

They are world-class and they are attested to by World Bank. What we want to seek is for people to do the diagnostic review; go and look at the regulations made and then diagonise them and say they are defective.

That is what the argument should be. If people say we don’t have technical regulation that is what we have been doing for the past years. We have engineers for safety and standards department. Some of them are fellows. Where will you get these fellows to do this technical regulations. Are they avatars from the moon or somewhere?

Here in NERC we have Fellows of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). We have people who were working in the defunct PHCN. They were transferred here. We have engineers. We even advertised for inspectors who are engineering Fellows.

There is no argument about it. What we have been doing since 2006 is technical and commercial regulations and when you do consumer protection, you are doing social regulations. When we are doing MYTO, we are doing technical and commercial regulation. We do grid code, distribution code, metering code, health and safety code.

NERC has been doing that, it has not been found wanting on any way.

Following the commencement of operations by the private owners, what percentage of metering gap have they bridged?

Also, there are allegations that they deliberately refused to provide meters because they benefit more from estimated billing.

What is your reaction to this?

Well, people can assume that if estimated billing is haphazard, it is an incentive to estimate than to meter. But bear in mind that it is an assumption that could be false because it is estimated without any degree of accuracy; and this may be a disincentive to pay bills. Any wise decision company would rather meter their customers than to conclude that they can take liberty with outrageous billing. That is an assumption that those people are making. But the truth is that the new owners may not have done a lot in metering because they are also waiting for TEM. They are also waiting for tariff review because their argument has always been that there are discrepancies. But beyond that, there are metering plans and some of them are reviewing their metering plans. And some DISCOs have done some significant metering since November 1. Some of them have not done significant metering. But what we want to do is that part of what the MYTO says is that when the new owners come, they will validate their loss status and then they will come to the commission and enter into another agreement based on their business plans. In a sense, most of these business plans have been put in some kind of limbo because the condition precedent to the effectiveness have not been there. These are: the conclusion of loss studies; tariff review and the declaration of TEM when their full contracts are in place. Yes, many of them may not have done a lot on metering but our people are still validating their claims

• Amadi

‘It is not good that the government turns out to be the defaulting partner in this business because consumers are paying their bills and government needs to take out to pay a particular percentage which translates to the subsidy’

•Amadi

and send to us. But the critical thing is that those that have not done enough have a long way to go. It means they have to double. They will have to look at their monthly metering plans and they have to double their commitments in the following months.

You once complained that the DISCOs were not remitting their revenue to the market operator. Has this changed?

There is significant improvement. We just reviewed the last up to June and we saw improvement. At our last meeting, we increased the benchmark for some DISCOs, such as Eko, who has done very well. There is improvement and we are even taking the higher commitment. We are also being pragmatic. That was also why we did the book review. We have finished it and that was how we saw that some of the

DISCOs, in spite of the revenue problem, were able to have some significant amount of money with them after the remittance, which means they can still remit more.

Beyond the remittance, we are also going to push them to make investment in Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and operations.

This means they have to invest in metering and provide meters for the reliability.

We conducted a short audit, which has given us scientific an empirical view of how much revenue comes to them. And then we can benchmark them on how much they should be paying as their bills and how much they should distribute in network to enhance reliability of service.

What is the benchmark for the ones you have adjusted?

The Market and Rates department is doing that. They are doing the analysis and they will give it back to us, and we are expected to approve.

Has NERC prosecuted any one for violating its regulations?

Well, electricity market is not based on prosecution. It is based on financial fines.

What has happened is that when people breach the rules, we write to them and they come and explain their position. You hardly find a market where the regulators prosecute people. Violations are not usually criminal but regulatory breaches; they are penalised by commercial fine. And that is why we have finalised the enforcement regulation that are articulate and how we can go about commercial fines.

Does NERC regulate the power from generating plants? For example, if you buy a private lister generator, do you regulate it.

If your generating power is more than one megawatt you have to take a license.

Private people like Dangote have our license. We license them and we also carry out technical and environment assessment and regulation on them, and they are now selling to people. We are not regulating them like we are regulating distribution companies or generating companies, but we license them and ensure they operate by the technical and safety standard largely. They are not selling to people, we are not going to regulate as we regulate distribution companies or generating companies.

Has the operation of the power sector in any way reduced the importation of generator into Nigeria?

I assume that if generation improves more and people have more access to grid power they will reduce their generating service. I was with the minister who showed me a text from a customer, who reported that he has had uninterrupted power supply for the week. And that he has just tested the generator just to warm it. He has no cause to put it on, but he does once in a while. To that person the rate of depreciation of his generator will be less and in the next two to three years he may not have to replace his generator. Since generator is not what people buy every time, the improvement may not affect the importation of generators. But once you buy, you may not change it in the next three to four years. What happens is if power increases, the generator market will go down.

You said a company made a presentation to you on how to use compressed gas for power generation. How far have you gone on it?

These are options of new technologies, it has to do with companies, IPP operators, who will like to develop and I am sure those people will be discussing with them. Their impact will not be immediate.

They are new technologies that are incentives for IPPs instead of doing gas plants , especially embedded generations who will want to do small solutions and the company is discussing with a few of them. And it will be more evidence based-process to make a decision by those companies.

The commission resolved that if a customer experiences power outage for 15 days cumulatively, the DISCO would forgo its fixed charge for that month. How has the policy been implemented?

The policy was challenged by the DISCO and the companies issued their own counter argument and there was a public hearing where consumers and private owner participated and made their views known.

The commission is considering it and we will soon announce a decision on that.

37

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS JOBS

• NSE Trading floor

Better skills, brighter prospects In a highly competitive employment market like Nigeria’s, having additional professional skills will enhance job seekers’prospects. Human resources experts believe the human capital development programme of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) will create more jobs in the financial services industry and beyond, reports TAOFIK SALAKO.

W

ITH its eyes on the millions of unemployed and under-employed graduates and undergraduates, the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) is enhancing its professional diploma programme to make it more accessible and relevant to the needs of the market.

Established by the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers Act 105 of 1992, the CIS is charged with determining the standard of knowledge and skill expected to be attained by those seeking to operate in the capital market.

By this mandate, the institute provides training for professionals in stockbroking, securities and investment, fund and portfolio management among others. The CIS Professional Diploma in Securities and Investment is designed to provide graduates and undergraduates with skills that will enable them to function in back-office functions and marketing services across the financial services industry.

The CIS Professional Diploma in Securities and Investment Programme takes students through a curriculum that includes basic finance, financial and securities laws, financial institutions and products and services, operating challenges, emerging trends, macroeconomic issues, corporate analysis and evaluations, primary and secondary markets transactions and rules and regulations among others.

To broaden the Diploma and make it more accessible to Nigerians, the CIS has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Anabel Leadership Academy Limited. The deal aims at mobilising 150,000 young graduates in the year to enroll for the CIS Professional Diploma in Securities and Investment Examination.The target will gradually pick up yearly to some one million certified professionals over the years.

Under the MoU, the academy would deploy its membership and mobilisation strategies in enlisting qualified young Nigerians seeking a career in the capital and financial market to benefit from this initiative.

Under the arrangement, the professional diploma examination, which is done twice per year would be done monthly for the next one year from this month. The students would be exposed to fundamental knowledge of a wide spectrum of financial products in the securities market, pension, insurance and oil and gas among others. The enhancement of the programme is part of the cardinal initiatives of the new President of the CIS, Mr. Albert Okumagba.

Okumagba, an astute market operator and pragmatist, said the institute is undertaking a comprehensive re-positioning of its programmes noting that one of the cardinal objectives is to grow the membership base and widen the scope of capacity building through creation of platform for impacting knowledge and skills that can provide job opportunities.

According to him, upon completion, the students would be awarded CIS Professional Diploma in Securities and Investment to operate as back-office staff for capital market operators and regulators while those who

aspire for higher certification could enroll for the institute’s professional examinations and become chartered.

Opening up the marketplace The CIS Professional Diploma in Securities and Investment Examination is designed in such a way to provide adequate theoretical and practical knowledge and skills to every student and as such it is accessible to graduates and students of finance-related courses and those without finance background. The Diploma also serves as a crossover for non-finance professionals who may want to make career in the financial services industry.

Besides, it provides a veritable foundation for holders to pursue professional certification as stockbrokers, by progressing from the Diploma programme to the Associate Chartered Stockbroker (ACS) examination. The ACS makes exemptions •Continued on page 38

38

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

JOBS •Continued from page 37

for some papers for students with relevant finance background. The Diploma students can undergo tutorial for the examination at CISdesignated training centres or choose to study on their own.

Chief Executive Officer, Anabel Group, Nicholas Okoye, described the agreement as a great initiative to develop a financial inclusion master plan for the young Nigerians.

According to him, it would lead to development of manpower for the economy and create jobs for thousands of young people.

He added that many of the qualified youths would be supported to set up their own financial planning houses in communities across Nigeria.

According to him, the programme will provide the foot soldiers needed for the nation’s financial inclusion strategy, which is being promoted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Nicholas expressed delight that this private sector led initiative which is ultimately designed not just to create new jobs but also to support the mobilisation of savings all over Nigeria, would not only have a multiplier effect on the overall development of Nigeria’s financial markets, but it will equally provide a positive boost to the growth of the economy in the medium and long term.

Nigerian certification, continental opportunities The financial services industry is a growing market and this presents enormous opportunities for holders of professional certificates.

From the primary issuance of shares to secondary selling and buying of shares to pension, mutual funds, insurance, trusteeship, estate management and general financial planning among others, there is still huge headroom for growth. Managing Director, Capital Assets Limited, Mr. Ariyo Olushekun, presents a descriptive illustration of the opportunities in the market.

According to him, there are about five million investors in the capital market, including those investors with multiple accounts.

When multiple accounts are taken into consideration, the number of investors may be about four million, adding that the market needs people who will be able to market securities and investment serv-

Better skills, brighter prospects

• Ms Oteh

• Okumagba

• Olushekun

ices to people in the hinterland.

The knowledge and participation in most financial instruments use in personal financial planning such as shares, bonds, mutual funds, insurance, certificate of deposits, bank accounts, personal trusts and real estate remain low.

For instance, only 200,000 Nigerians of a total population of about 170 million participate in mutual funds, otherwise known as collective investment schemes.

Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Arunma Oteh, said short-term course in financial planning can make several graduates to be able to earn their living and reduce the excruciating search for salaried jobs.

According to her, training and working as financial planner is a viable source of livelihood as investing and personal financial planning are critical. Besides, the skills can also come handy in every day dealings.

“Today, we have no fewer than 200,000 who are leveraging into CIS funds to save and invest. There is clearly room for more to be done.

We have about $1 billion of funds under management; that is very small for a country of 167 million people. So the potential is enormous,” Oteh said.

Besides working as full-time employees with financial services industry, holders of the CIS Diploma can also function independently as advisors and marketers of financial products and services in collaboration with financial services

firms.

The preeminence of CIS as the foremost stockbroking institute in the West African region also opens up opportunities for the Diploma holders to seek for opportunities within the region. It ha been designated as training faculty for the West African Capital Market Integration (WACMI) programme, in order to harmonise the professional trainings and certifications across the region and ensure that other countries meet up with the higher standards of the Nigerian market.

The programme seeks to integrate the securities exchanges in Nigeria-Nigerian Stock Exchange; Ghana-Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), Sierra Leone-Sierra Leone Stock Exchange and the bloc of eight francophone countries under the Bourse Regionale des Valuers Mobilieres (BRVM). Countries under BRVM include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali,

Niger, Senegal and Togo.

WACMI entails listing, trading and settlement rules that allow capital market operators and investors to trade across the markets. Any firm with primary listing in any of the country will also be able to raise capital across the markets. It is part of the regional integration programme of Ecowas and fits into other initiatives under the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI).

While there are four subsisting Exchanges in the region, the integration is designed for the countries in the region as investors in countries without Exchanges can access the integrated market through the qualified licensed brokers in countries that have exchanges.

Without any barrier, Nigeriabased brokers can trade on Tullow Oil Plc- the oil exploration company listed on the GSE or BICC on the BRVM while brokers from

Ghana and Senegal and other BRVM countries can trade from their home locations on Nestle Nigeria and other listed companies on the NSE. The integration of the capital markets of West African countries would not only open up immense opportunities for corporate and national developments, it would offer a larger marketplace for capital market operators and marketers of financial services products and services. For those wellarmed with professional certifications, such as the CIS Diploma, their skills will set them apart as the regional market evolves. That is where the long-term opportunity lies.

The services industry thrives on both academic and professional knowledge. While the universities and similar tertiary institutions focus on imbuing the graduates with the fundamental theoretical knowledge necessary for beyondthe-surface understanding of the subject, the various professional institutes provide postgraduate training and certification that bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical work environment.

This explains why professional institutes, such as the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) and Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), grant exemptions for some foundational theoretical papers to students with relevant university education without losing the value attached to their professional certifications.

In financial services industry, professional certificates carry much weight since the employers are part of the various institutes that set the training and examination and grant the final certification.

Most have located the significance of professional certificates in the dynamism of the training to include up-to-date and evolving developments in the local and global environments.

Kasapreko gets first Nigerian MD

K

• Nwaobie

ASAPREKO Nigeria Limited, makers of ALOMO BITTERS, has appointed Mr. Richard Nwaobie as its first Nigerian Managing Director.

Nwaobie, a highly experienced and versatile corporate player, was until recently the firm’s Sales and Marketing Director.

He takes over from Mr. Jose Roque, a French, who has retired

from the company after years of meritorious service.

Industry watchers expressed a strong opinion that by Nwaobie’s appointment, Kasapreko Nigeria has acknowledged the acceptance and growth potential of its product in the market as well as confirmed that ALOMO BITTERS has, indeed, come to stay in the country’s beverage industry.

CAREER MANAGEMENT

Resume for govt jobs needs transferable skills

I

N these times of economic instability, nothing is more ben eficial for most companies than to hire efficient people with a large set of varying skills. These people are those who are flexible and wellrounded to carry on and coordinate multiple tasks.

Government offices, such as private companies, are on the lookout for these special types of employees. Because federal funds are restricted and limited, they would always make it a point to maximise and spend these funds on people who are worth the money and time of the organisation.

They want someone who not just know the specific job, but someone who has the abilities and values to accomplish many types of duties and the knowledge necessary to realise different goals.

That being said, it is then very necessary that a resume for government jobs includes relevant and general abilities that are valuable across a multitude of jobs and industries.

By Olu Oyeniran

Unlike before when jobs are suggestively the same to develop specialisation and expertise, this time around, what most employers require are the existence of what we call “transferable skills.”

What are transferable skills?

Transferable skills are basically those acquired abilities that are beneficial and pertinent to varous jobs and industries. They may have been gained from previous employments, school, past trainings, or even from a personal experience at home or with friends.

Among the most common examples of transferable skills are “selfmotivation,” “communication,” “creativity,” “problem-solving skills,” “leadership,” “flexibility,” “time management,” and “customer service orientation.”

Transferable skills and their appeal to government offices Besides the fact that most government institutions want to economise human resources through the employment of a well-rounded and highly skilled staff, these government bodies require exemplaryskilled applicants.

These are the applicants who have strong rational and technical skills and likewise the expertise to communicate with others and work effectively with a group of people., most especially that more than 100 applicants battle for a single spot, there is nothing more effective than to evaluate people based on what they could do and what they could offer compared to other applicants.

Amplifying transferable skills in resume for govt

jobs Though transferable skills are somewhat applicable in almost any type of jobs, applicants should still be wary of the particular skills that are best suited to a given profession. Basically, they need to check on the particular job opening, assess the skills and requirements needed in those open posts, and apply the greatest skills that best match the prerequisites.

For example, a person who is to apply as an account representative should not amplify merely his/her experience in clerical works or her background in administrative duties and computer activities. Instead, he/she should apply transferable skills and focus on magnifying her experience through the use of such qualities.

For instance, to intensify her experience in administrative duties, she may write about her customer service and interpersonal skills experienced, which were best applied

to her involvement with a large variety of personalities and management levels.

She may also boast of her effective time management skills as evidenced by the multiple tasks she was able to manage simultaneously on her previous employment.

To sum up, resume for government jobs no longer stands as a basic enumeration of all the jobs held within the last few years or so.

What is more vital in today’s time is the edge of one applicant over another.

For this, it is advised to apply necessary and relevant transferable skills on the resume and amplify them on each task accomplished for every employment.

•Oyeniran is Lead Consultant, EkiniConsult & Associates. He can be reached on Jobsearchhow.com.ng Tel 08083843230 (SMS Only).

39

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

BUSINESS MOTORING

Here comes Nigerian-made Nissan Patrol •Nissan Patrol

The new Nissan Patrol assembled in Nigeria by Stallion Nissan Motors Nigeria is the Nissan’s latest Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). It is packed with the most technologically imbued gadgets that wields significant quality and performance, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO.

C

AR buffs waiting to catch a glimpse of the latest Nissan Patrol would have every reason to celebrate the quantum of transformation in one of the best-known and longest established nameplates on the 4WD (four-wheel drive) globe Now redesigned with an unprecedented zest and ergonomics, the more than six decades old nameplate has returned with a futuristic look that stands out for its unique combination of the most recent technologies and new design DNA. Assembled in Nigeria by Stallion NMN plant in Lagos, the new Y62 Patrol as it is fondly called, epitomises Nissan’s tagline: ‘Innovation that excites.’

The new Patrol adapts to the needs of consumers by breaking away from its ‘proper offroader’ status to become urbane-friendly Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) with far more refined proposition that offers a dramatically improved ride quality and fuel economy than its predecessor.

Compared with Toyota’s Land Cruiser, the new Patrol offers substantial ground clearance of 283mm which is 58mm greater and the Patrol matches competition’s maximum wading depth of 700mm, but breathes through the leftside guard vent, simplifying the fitment of an aftermarket snorkel.

Naturally aspirated, the Y62 Patrol comes equipped with a big V8 engine that delivers 298kw of power and 560Nm of torque - 90 per cent of which is available from just 1,600 rpm that makes 0-100 km/h sprint in just 6.6 seconds.

According to Nissan, the Patrol engine is undeniably a driver’s delight with an advanced seven-speed automatic transmission and sophisticated and electronically controlled allmode 4X4 system.

Mr Amit Sharma, Stallion Nissan Motors Nigeria (NMN) Head of Sales and Marketing, attested to the Patrol’s expediency, saying: “the new Y62 Patrol isn’t the previous workhorse but a technologically savvy SUV imbued with all the practicality of a luxury sedan.

“And just as the new Patrol easily conquers a long uphill task with its exceptionally modified V8 torque, so does its multi-mode grip compensates for rocks and loose sand when driven on rough roads and in deep water,”

Sharma explained.

He said the new vehicle is undoubtedly one of Nissan’s most revolutionary designs ever in the Patrol’s 62-year history and it incorporates the most innovative highest quality, and highest value luxury SUV in Nissan history.

The Patrol SUV is certainly a fun to drive. It offers four terrain options: Sand, Snow, Rock and On-road - at the touch of a button. This feature makes it unique in its segment as competition does not offer this feature.

At city speeds and crawling around off-road, the broad spread of ratios is perfectly matched to the smooth delivery of torque from the 5.6litre V8 while on the highway, the Patrol lopes along at 110km/h with the engine seemingly only a tick above idle. And when stoked, it responds with a throaty induction-snarl matched by impressive acceleration, particularly when overtaking.

In a world’s first, the Patrol employs advanced HBMC (Hydraulic Body Motion Control) System with 4-wheel independent suspension that works with the chassis and body frame to give the vehicle superb stability on rugged and sandy terrain, while also delivering comfortable ride in the city. This has greatly enhanced the vehicle’s 3500kg towing capacity that could be employed in towing a luxury cruise boat around town.

Features

Standard in both variants of the Nissan Patrol range are Bluetooth phone and audio streaming; large format front DVD player; a 2GB hard drive music server with 13 speakers; USB and iPod connectivity; steering wheel audio controls; intelligent key access; eight-way power assisted driver’s seat; drive computer, three-zone climate control, front, side and curtain airbags with active front headrests. In addition are around view camera, 600ml cool box with dual side openings. The Patrol LE however gets separate seven-inch DVD screens in the rear of the front seat headrests with power operated tailgate.

Compared to its luxury rivals, the new Patrol has much off-road capability. And in crowded motor parks, one can be rest assured it won’t bump into other cars with dedicated parking aids such as a reversing camera, all-

• Interior

round parking sensors and a 360 degree around-view monitor. This again is a unique feature, which gives absolute peace of mind.

Interior

The Patrol is one of the largest cars in the luxury SUV category. It’s bigger in all exterior dimensions when compared to competition.

There are plenty of interior space and comfort levels that you can expect including wood grain finishes, and up-market dash layout and high quality finishes. The Patrol is also functional. With all three rows of seats occupied, there is still 550 litres of storage space and when the second and third row seats are folded, the new Patrol can provide 3100 litres with a virtually flat floor.

Driving

The big V8 engine is beautifully quiet and smooth on the road especially in an ideal long-distance journey, where one needs to transport up to eight occupants. And at highway speeds, the Patrol’s excellent wind and tyre noise insulation is apparent. No doubt, the Patrol is generally quiet and refined. The

Patrol is in spite of this enhanced by Nissan’s new Hydraulic Body Motion Control on the suspensions to reduce body roll and give an exceptional ride comfort for the driver and passengers. You only need to sit in the rear seats to feel the comfort level compared to competition due to most ergonomically sitting posture in which one is comfortable even on long distance drives due to the thigh and back support provided by the Zero gravity seats.

Suffice to say the Patrol is absolutely unique in all attributes and totally unmatched by competition. These offerings make it a class above the rest of the SUV’S in its class in technology, comfort and luxury.

President Goodluck Jonathan acknowledged the beauty and adroitness of the madein-Nigeria Y62 Patrol when he, in company of some government officials, took delivery of the Patrol in Abuja.

He said: “I’m quite happy that Nissan has demonstrated the reality of exporting cars from Nigeria is possible which suggests we can soon as a nation export vehicles to other parts of the world.”

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

40

MOTORING

Jeep Cherokee SRT still dazzling E

ARLY this year, Jeep - the legendary off-road and sports utility vehicle, had its Grand 2014 Cherokee SRT launched in Nigeria by Weststar Associates Ltd, the authorised general distributor of Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge/Ram in Nigeria in collaboration with one of its dealers - M-B Automobile Services Ltd. The event ushered the brand, with the leading SRT into the auto industry.

Enhanced lighting, front fascia and wheels are the first exterior design elements noticed on the new Grand Cherokee SRT, making it distinctively aggressive and athletically stylish. Blackened bi-xenon headlamps give the SRT an intimidating look by day, and a signature LED treatment broadcasts its presence by night.

The interior of the Grand Cherokee SRT is an amazing blend of fabric and hide, style and function that inspires confidence in every move one makes. Style, functionality and authenticity were the main ingredients used during the interior design process of the new jeep.

Stories by Tajudeen Adebanjo

The SRT comes with an eightspeed transmission that delivers 470 horsepower (351 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 465 lb.-ft. (630 N•m) of torque at 4,300 rpm power from the 6.4-litre HEMI engine via an electronic automatic mode, or through redesigned steering-wheel paddle controls. The new package delivers improved acceleration of 100 km per hour in 4.8 seconds with quicker shift speeds.

Fuel Saver Technology deactivates four cylinders when full power is not required.

There is also the famous ‘Launch’ control button in the SRT. Its main function is to allow for maximum acceleration and traction off the line. It is located behind the new T-handle shifter on the centre console and a redesigned SRT-exclusive three-spoke steering wheel.

The steering wheel consists of more ergonomically efficient paddle shifters, which feature a host of comfort, convenience and connectivity controls e.g. Uconnect Access with voice activation. Available Green-Edge tech-

•Jeep Cherokee SRT

nology from Harman Kardon provides SRT vehicle owners an audio system as precise as the cars they drive. Its Green-Edge employs efficient speaker and amplifier engineering to improve sound quality while diminishing energy consumption.

Jeep Grand Cherokee other attractive features include: the Selec-

Track system which provides drivers with the ability to dial in precise driving settings.

Numerous SRT-specific components give the Grand Cherokee SRT a distinct handling advantage, and a large number of available shift maps allow more customised responses available than ever before; plus the one-

touch Liftgate which delivers improved customer convenience, and features a new SRT badge. The lift gate is operated electronically with the push of a button, and standard four-inch dual exhaust tips integrated into the lower fascia, deliver the throaty exhaust note the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT enthusiasts expect.

Kia to build $1b plant in Mexico

K

• Stallion Motors Managing Director Mr Parvir Singh (2nd left); Managing Director BKG Exhibitions/Chairman Organising Committee, 16th Abuja International Motor Fair, Mr Ifeanyi Agwu; BKG Exhibitions Head Marketing Operations Miss Franca Igwe and Stallion Group, Head Media and Marketing Mr Santosh Kumar during BKG Exhibitions’ executives visit to Stallion Motors Headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos.

IA Motors Corporation has signed an investment deal with the Mexican government to build a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Monterrey, northeastern state of Nuevo León.

The signing held at the Technological Museum of the Electricity Federal Commission (MUTEC) in Mexico City. It was attended by top executives of Kia Motors, led by Hyoung-Keun (Hank) Lee, Vice Chairman of Kia Motors Corp.

Mexican President, Enrique Peña Nieto, and Governor, State of Nuevo León, Rodrigo Medina de la Cruz also attended .

Construction on the Kia Motors Mexico plant is scheduled to begin this month. When completed in the first half of 2016, it will boast of a yearly production capacity of 300,000 vehicles, thereby boosting

Kia’s total global manufacturing capacity to 3.37 million vehicles, including 1.69 million vehicles at domestic Korean plants and 1.68 million at overseas plants. Kia plans to produce a range of yet-tobe confirmed compact models at the new plant.

Representing an investment of about US$1billion by Kia Motors, the new, highly automated manufacturing plant will be situated on a 500-hectare (53.8 million square foot) site that will also be home to numerous supplier companies’ facilities.

As one of the world’s fastest growing automakers, Kia Motors has been evaluating various options for entering new overseas markets to secure future growth for the brand. With its strong growth forecasts for new vehicle demand, Mexico was chosen as

20 for Ranger Odyssey Challenge

A

FTER three days of intense Boot Camp training and evaluation, 17 South African finalists have emerged for the epic 12-day 2,500 km Ranger Odyssey in Namibia.

Forty contestants arrived at De Rust, Ford’s 4x4 training centre at Hartbeespoort Dam, penultimate Friday after being chosen from over 8 000 online entries and 1, 600 candidates who completed the finals.

The contestants were given comprehensive training on 4x4 driving and vehicle recovery techniques, and this was followed by their first outings in 10 identical Ford Ranger 3.2 XLT Double Cab 4x4 Automatics on the steep 25 and 33-degree gradients.

T

HE Range Rover Evoque has won three more awards, taking its global haul of accolades to a total of 161 in just over three years.

Already widely acclaimed by journalists, critics and owners, the most recent successes have come from the readers of key global titles. In one recent survey, the Evoque scored 94 per cent when participants were asked to rate their cars’ audio and entertainment systems as well as other technology, such as phone connectivity and the user-friendliness of onboard computers.

Director, Land Rover Programmes, Murray Dietsch, said: “To be recognised by magazine readers is a great honour. It confirms the success

Day two began with a hike to the base camp and a session of convoy driving. Next was punishing trail run with a series of challenging obstacles that required a high level of teamwork. It also put each contestant’s physical and mental endurance as well as inter-personal communication under scrutiny.

Undoubtedly the most arduous task of all for the off-road novices was the teeth-clenching 4x4 trail that often had the Ford Ranger straddling deep dongas with just two wheels touching the ground.

However, under the expert guidance of the De Rust instructors, and the exceptional capabilities of the Ranger, everyone made it through the obstacles with amazement and excitement.

In line with the tough 2 500 km route laid out for Ranger Odyssey in north western Namibia’s rugged Kaokaland, vehicle maintenance and preparation also formed a crucial part of the Boot Camp training schedule. Aside from regular vehicle checks, the contestants were tasked with preparing the fleet of Odyssey Rangers for the expedition.

The final day kicked off at subzero temperatures and focused on the final assessments and scoring by the judges. The panel included three contestants from last year’s Ranger Odyssey alongside the De Rust crew.

Ford Marketing Manager, Gavin Golightly, said: “The Ranger Odyssey is bigger, better and much

tougher than last year, yet the 40 high-calibre Boot Camp contestants impressed us throughout the weekend, they showed tenacity and enthusiasm under even the most challenging conditions, and it was an exceptionally tough task for the panel to choose the 17 South African finalists.”

For the year, the Ranger Odyssey will incorporate three contestants from Sub-Saharan Africa, including one each from Angola, Nigeria and Mozambique – each of which were selected by the respective Ford distributors in those countries.

“We have a superb group of 20 diverse and enthusiastic individuals that have been chosen based on merit, and embody the true spirit of the Odyssey,” he said.

the site for Kia’s next overseas plant given that it is one of the few remaining major markets of the world in which Kia does not have a sales presence.

For Korean automakers to competitively enter the Mexican market, the establishment of local production facilities is pivotal as Mexico imposes high tariffs on imported cars from Korea. Moreover, Mexico is wellknown for its skilled, low-cost labour force and numerous free trade agreements (such as NAFTA) with about 40 countries.

Meanwhile, Kia expects the Mexico plant to play a major role in alleviating global supply issues thanks to its strategic geographic location.

Namely, its proximity to the USA will enable the company to better address the ongoing supply shortage situation that has arisen due to the dramatic growth of the Kia brand in the US market. Furthermore, Kia plans to utilise the plant as a foundation for strengthening the brand’s sales presence throughout the entire Central and South America region while freeing up supply from Kia’s domestic plants to address supply shortage issues in other regions of the world.

Lee said: “All of us at Kia Motors are proud to signal in a new era for the brand with the announcement of our first manufacturing plant in Mexico. We are committed to producing world-class quality vehicles here in Mexico that feature industry-leading styling and high-tech convenience and safety features that customers have come to expect from Kia, while making significant contributions to both the economic growth of the State of Nuevo León and the future development of the Mexican automotive industry.”

Range Rover Evoque gets more awards of our efforts in building a unique premium SUV that buyers find truly desirable. Land Rover has raised the standard of in-car technology to classleading levels.”

The Range Rover Evoque includes a suite of customer focused in-car technologies and safety features with some dedicated purely to off-road capability.

The 4x4i system monitors the vehicle dynamics continuously, providing illustrated information through the infotainment display on the centre console. In addition to this, the Land Rover off-road navigation system provides a comprehensive aid

to driving in unmapped areas.

Land Rover Wade Sensing™ uses sensors in the door mirrors to provide the driver with information when driving through water, which is particularly beneficial when visibility is poor and at night. A visual display and warning chimes alert the driver as the water level rises around the vehicle. Maximum wading depth for the Evoque is 500mm.

Surround Cameras improve visibility and driver awareness using five digital cameras, discreetly placed around the vehicle, providing a near 360-degree, real-time view of the surrounding area.

Blind Spot Monitoring uses sidemounted radar sensors to survey potential blind spots behind or either side of the vehicle, whilst Closing Vehicle Sensing detects vehicles which are closing quickly from behind and could cause a threat during a lane change manoeuvre. Drivers are alerted by a rapid flashing of the Blind Spot warning light in the corresponding door mirror helping to improve awareness for faster reactions.

Reverse Traffic Detection is an additional enhancement to these systems and monitors traffic approaching from either side of the vehicle during a reversing manoeuvre (e.g.

reversing out of a parking space). If a hazard is detected, the driver is swiftly informed via both audible and visual warnings.

The ECO-Drive feature provides a continuous flow of information and feedback via the 8-inch touchscreen, including instantaneous fuel consumption readings, historical data comparisons as well as tips on improving driving styles.

Since its launch in 2011, the Range Rover Evoque has won 161 international awards for its combination of leading-edge design, striking interior craftsmanship, in car technology and off-road capability.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

43

44

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

POLITICS

45

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Eyes are on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as next year’s general elections draw near. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines past mistakes and pitfalls, which the commission must avoid in its bid to restore the sanctity of the ballot box.

A

S Nigerians prepare for next year’s general elections, concern is mounting the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC)’s ability to conduct credible elections.

Many believe that the agency had the opportunity to fine-tune its strategies in recent governorship elections. But, there are conflicting views about the performance of the Professor Attahiru Jega-led commission.

In Ekiti and Osun polls, the commission may not have done badly. Local and foreign observers described said the polls were free and fair. However, INEC’s performance in Ekiti and Osun was a sharp contrastwith the exercise in Ondo, Edo and Anambra states, which were marred by irregularities. The irregularities included the omission of names from the voters’ register, the late arrival of polling officers and materials, and the inflation of voters’ register with fake names. Also, INEC officials allegedly colluded with fraudulent politicians to rig polls.

Jega acknowledged that the commission’s officials bungled the Anambra poll. His words: “We regretted that the commission ended up shattering the expectations of Nigerians. There were many matters arising in the conduct of the election. And there is no doubt that the INEC’s operational performance in that election has not met with the expectations of Nigerians. We regret shattering the expectations of Nigerians, but we did our best under very difficult circumstances to have free and fair elections.”

Analysts said the INEC was conscious of the damage done to its credibility by these shortcomings. Thus, ahead of Ekiti and Osun polls, it went back to the drawing board. In the two states, the agency tried to rectify the mistakes.

At a forum in Lagos, Jega submitted that the Osun election was the best organised by the INEC under his leadership. He said the commission would not relent in its efforts to improve on subsequent elections, starting with the Adamawa by-election in October. He said, although INEC has less than three months to prepare for it, it will live up to expectation.

In retrospect, INEC seems to have fared better under Jega. Before he assume the reins in 2010, stakeholders have agonised over the fate of democracy, owing to failed elections.

Politicians who were rigged out have expressed frustration and disenchantment. In their view, the ballot box was under a siege.

However, there was a respite in 2011. Observers pointed out that the polls were better than previous ones. Gradually, public confidence was being restored.

As next year’s elections draw near, eyes are on the commission. This is the last assignemt he will have to perform during his tenure, unless he is re-appointed. The question is: has INEC learned from past mistakes?

Jega has promised that the commission would be unbiased. He said the image of INEC will not be dented by poor performance. He also said that bad eggs in the agency would be weeded away. The challenge is how to marry expectation with reality.

Electoral reforms In 2007, many people cried foul over the fraud that marred the general elections. The late President Umaru Yar’Adua later admintted that the election was severely flawed. Nigerians started to clamour for electoral reforms. Jega, who took over from Prof.

Maurice Iwu, was a member of the Electoral Reforms Committee led by Justice Mohammed Uwais. The committee, which was set up

by Yar’Adua, made far reaching recommendations. But, some of them were ignored by the government. For instance, the committee recommended that the INEC funding and the appointment of its chairman should not be done by the President. The goal was to ensure the independence of the commission.

In his first year in office, Jega introduced measures to improve the electoral process.

These include the introduction of a new biometric register of voters, a re-modified open ballot system, Improved standards in the production of sensitive electoral materials, serial numbering and colour-coding of ballot papers and result sheets, and security coding of ballot

• Voters during election.

Mistakes INEC must avoid in 2015 boxes, a new framework for result collation, the pasting of results at polling units and collation centres and new method for the recruitment of ad-hoc staff.

The INEC Chairman attributed the relatively credible election of 2011 to these measures.

Since then, the commission, according to him, has been reflecting on modalities for successful polls. “Many reviews have been conducted involving INEC staff, security agencies, development partners, the media and political parties. As part of that review, an independent committee of experts was appointed to review the 2011 voter registration and the general election. The purpose was to critically review both processes and advise the commission on how future elections could be improved beyond our modest achievements in 2011,” he said.

Preparations for 2015 polls Good elections require adequate planning.

Ahead of next year’s elections, INEC had taken some measures. One of them is the consolidation and duplication of the biometric register of voters. Through this measure, the voter’s register is more credible that what was used in 2011. Also, INEC has begun the issuance of Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) to prospective voters. Jega has also disclosed that card readers would be used for the next year’s elections to ensure 100 per cent verification and authentication.

The commission has made recommendations for the improvement of the Electoral Act and the constitution,to the National Assembly.

Jega said the commission has rolled out a phased programme of continuous voter registration nationwide. He said the commis-

sion has embarked on the review of electoral constituencies and the creation of additional polling units; designed an election risk management tool with support from the African Union (AU) and the International Idea. He said these methods would enable the commission to gather information about risk factors associated with elections. “With the tool, INEC will be able to analyse them and deploy effective measures to contain or mitigate those factors towards ensuring peaceful and violence-free elections,” he added.

The Convener of the Nigeria Voters’ Assembly (VOTAS), Comrade Moshood Erubami, commended Jega for the innovation. But, he observed that the implementation of new ideas is the main challenge.

Erubami said the continuous registration of voters has not been successful, pointing out that many prospective were not being registered.

He added: “The preparation was not adequate. The logistic provided were also inadequate. The machines were not functioning. The number of those who wanted to register overwhelmed the personnel deployed for the exercise. Although Jega meant well by evolving new ideas, but, when they get to the field, they are overwhelmed.”

Challenges To experts, it is difficult to attain perfection in the course of preparation for elections. But, what is important is the capacity to deal with challenges as they arise. Jega said INEC harbours no illusion that its preparations are perfect or that it has accounted for all the issues that could pose challenges .

‘As next year’s elections draw near, eyes are on the commission. This is the last assignemt he will have to perform during his tenure, unless he is re-appointed. The question is: has INEC learned from past mistakes’

He said the commission is learning on daily basis and working assiduously to improve the quality of elections.

Ahead of next year’s polls, Jega has identified four major challenges. These are:funding, insecurity, the attitude of the political class and inactive citizenry.

Insecurity To many people, election is like another war. A lot of heat is generated by the periodic contest. The pre-election violence has led to the death of many politicians and their supporters and innocent citizens. The INEC boss said security threats now characterise the electoral process. He cited physical attacks on electoral staff and facilities, the latest being cyber attacks targeting the INEC’s data base, especially the register of voters.

He was silent on how to curtail the vice.

Funding Funding is also a major challenge. Electioneering is a long process, with each stage requiring adequate funding by the government. Usually, it is either the electoral body is starved of fund or the fund was not released at the right time, thereby causing a setback for its preparation and implementation.

In preparing for the next election, Jega said the commission will work hard to make the exercise more cost-effective to give Nigerians better value for their money. According to him, the cost of election per voter, based on international standard, is enormous. “We project that for the 2015 elections, this would further come down by almost $1 from $8.8 in 2011 to $7.9, representing almost a 10 per cent drop,” he stressed.

On funding, Jega said government agencies were very supportive in 2011, adding that INEC has no reason to believe that it will be different in next year’s polls.

Former Senate Minority Leader Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora said the funding of INEC should come under the First Line • Continued on page 46

THE NATION MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

46

POLITICS ANAMBRA 2015 The relationship between Governor Willie Obiano and his predecessor, Peter Obi, is not cordial as it used to be.

NWANOSIKE ONU traces the genesis of the crisis between the political godfather and his successor.

Obiano, Obi: The parting of ways

T

HE duo were best of friends. No third party could come between them. They loved one another.

There was mutual trust and political collaboration.

Before the governorship election in Anambra State, Governor Willy Obiano and his predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi, were like siamen twins.

But, shortly after the poll, there was a crack on the wall of brotherhood.

Today, discord has displaced mutual understanding. The two Fidelity Bank executives have parted ways. Gone were the days when the former Chairman of the bank and his former chief executive saw eyes to eyes. To many All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) chieftains, the turn of events is worrisome.

What is the source of the quarel?

Party sources disclosed that Obi is not comfortable with how his bossom friend is handling the affairs of the state. It is believed that Obiano has started to assert his authority as governor, without consultation with his godfather.

The preparation for the next election is also a bone of contention. The governor, said a source, is anointing some aspirants for the parliamentary elections. It seems that Obi has objected to the ambition of some of the aspirants. For instance, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs has been endorsed for the senatorial election in Anambra North District. But, Obiano has thrown his weight behind another contender, Senator Alphonsus Igbeke.

Besides, a source in Awka told The Nation that a cabinet reshuffle is in the offing. The objective, according to the source, is to get rid of those imposed on the governor by Obi. “Obiano has now resolved that he would not be intimidated or used by any godfather and hence, his decision to be his own man. This is coming after the governor had scaled the litigation at the Appeal Court, Enugu, where his victory at the poll was being challenged.

“Major political offices were allocated to those loyal to Obi. Also, the Secretary to Government, who was appoined by Obi, Oselloka Obaeze, has been retained. The governor wants to bring in his men,” added the source.

Party chieftains believe that Obi has

‘Obi is not comfortable with how his bossom friend is handling the affairs of the state. It is believed that Obiano has started to assert his authority as governor, without consultation with his godfather. The preparation for the next election is also a bone of contention.

The governor, said a source, is anointing some aspirants for the parliamentary elections. It seems that Obi has objected to the ambition of some of the aspirants’ • Obiano

• Umeh

resigned as the APGA Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, owing to the feud. In a statement by his media aide, Valentine Obienyem, the former governor said that he resigned due to family pressures and the nonratification of the position by the party.

Obi also has another axe to grind with Obiano. He is not happy that the governor has recognised the factional National Chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh. He has complained that the governor has accorded him more respect and privileges.

Obi;s supporters have also alleged that the governor is not using the resourcers of the state judiciously. But, the governor’s camp, has fired back, saying that the predecessor is jealous of his successor. “The truth is that Obi is not comfortable with the feats achieved by Obiano within the short time. Obi is afraid that Obiano’s name

will soon be on the lips of everybody, with the rate he is going with the construction of three fly-over bridges in Awka”, said an APGA chieftain.

Many believe that the feud may further polarise and destabilise the APGA. Already, the party is factionalised, with two factional national chairmen locked in a battle of supremacy. Also, some key party leaders have scores to settle with Obi. While in office, there were allegations that he took some crucial decisions without consultation with stakeholders. But, since he ran a prudent government, he was popular.

Thus, the party leaders could not challenge him to a duel.

Obi actually installed Obiano as his successor. He had warmed himself to the people by his achievements.

Shortly before he left office, he worked

independent of the executive. The none release of funds to the INEC is a breach of law,” he added.

militarisation of Ekiti and Osun elections before was ochestrated to intimidate, harass and prevent voters from performing their voting rights. for candidates of their choice. He berated security officials for their lack of neutrality. He made a reference to the statement credited to the spokeswoman of the State Security Service (SSS), Mrs Marlyn Ogar, that whenever the APC loses election, there would be bomb attacks, but when it wins, there will be none. He said the utterance by a security personnel was dangerous for democracy.

A lawyer, Tunji Obafemi, said the primary source of the intra-party crisis is lack of internal democracy, resulting from lack of commitment to party rules. He said the way out is for the parties to have clear rules and procedures for selecting candidates and resolving contentious arising from shadow polls to the satisfaction of all their members.

Obafemi observed that, during electioneering campaigns, the use of language is indecorous, encouraging supporters to follow suit

• Obi

hard to record more feats. Ahead of the elections, he distributed sports utility vehicles (SUVs) to churches, hospitals, monarchs and other stakeholders. Thus, when he introduced Obiano as his anointed candidate, the stakeholders did not raise eye brow.

However, when Obi left office, a searchlight was beamed on his government. People at the grassroots grumbled over the handling of local government administration. They said the former governor should explain how his government administerd council funds to the tune of N380 billion.

A party source said that Obiano was not happy with how Obi hurriedly organised local government elections, barely two months to the end of his tenure. For 12 years, no council poll was conducted in the state.

Since the cold war started, some APGA National Assembly members had defected from the party to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

However, a chieftain, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, who represents Ogbaru Constituency in the House of Representatives, said that Obi was not behind the gale of defections. He explained that the legislators left for reasons best known to them.

Umeh and other party leaders have waded into the feud behind the two gladiators. A source said: “The two gladiators are very important. They have played critical roles in the growth and development of the party. Therefore, they must work together for the success of the party in the next year’s election. That is why the chairman has called for a truce.

They will be reconciled.”

Mistakes INEC must avoid in 2015

Attitude of the political class

• Prof. Jega • Continued from page 45

Charge. He said: “I am surprised that the INEC is still going cap in hands to solicit for funds. I remember when I was in the Senate, we passed a Bill or a clause during the constitution amendment that the funding of the INEC should be

Politicians unwilling to play by the rules create grave problems for the INEC. Intra-party crisis has affected INEC in its preparation for elections. Jega expressed concern about intra-party crises, which often make parties to find it difficult to select candidates, unless the option of litigation is taken. Of particular note is the spate of court injunctions that have been issued against the commission.

Mamora decried the partisan role of security agencies in the electioneering process. He recalled how security officials prevented some All Progressives Congress (APC) governors from attending the party’s rally in Ekiti and the abduction of chieftains on the eve of election in Ekiti and Osun States. He said the deployment of military personnel for election is absurd.

Mamora also said that the

with more intemperate language.

He said this could and ultimately fuel violence. He said electioneering is characterised by attacks on opponents, instead of the esposal of ideas and programmes. “In such a situation, the electorate have little or no space to interrogate the campaign promises made by candidates and they are left to rely on whims or primordial sentiments in exercising their franchise,” he said.

Voter apathy An active citizenry is crucial to the sustenance and deepening of democracy. Nigerians have lost confidence in the electoral process because of electoral malpractices, the manipulation of electoral results by electoral officers and the partisan role of security agencies. The belief is that their vote will not count. To them, voting is a waste of time.

Jega noted that people are largely apathetic towards the political process due to widespread poverty, illiteracy and distrust of government.

He said without an active citizenry,

efforts towards enhancing the credibility of elections by the commission would have limited impact on the electoral process.

According to him, there is now a geometric growth in the involvement of stakeholders in the electoral process, adding that there is room for improvement.

Obafemi bemoaned the low turn- out of voters in previous elections, except the Ekiti and Osun elections where about 50 per cent of the total registered voters participated. The lawyer said in a situation where many registered voters shun polling booths, the result will not be a true reflection of the popular wish. He said the active participation of citizens not only ensures sustained engagement and participation in the political and electoral process, it could also be a bulwark against the electoral impunity. He called on the INEC to intensify efforts on voter’s education and play the role of unbiased umpire to restore peoples’ confidence in the commission.

47

THE NATION MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

POLITICS Gombe PDP has violated INEC guidelines, says APC

T

Group alleges marginalisation of women in politics From Grace Obike, Abuja

GROUP, ‘Young Women for Global Peace and Rural Development (YWGPARD),’has called for equal gender representation in democracy, stressing that women are still marginalised in politics.

The group called on politicians to eschew violence in the next year’s elections.

Its President, Ambassador Fortune Nworisa, who spoke at an enlightment programme in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) organise and educate women on the electoral process.

Nworisa said: “We have a lot of women in politics. The Federal Government has tried by offering appointments to women. But, we are asking for more. We expect equal representation in the legislature. The place of women is no longer in the kitchen. Women are agents of change. They are kind hearted. They are lovers of peace.”

She added: “Our objective for the next three years is to empower young women on peace building and create awareness because of what is happening.

We want peace to return to the country.We will also assist in educating voters in the rural areas.”

Also speaking, a women activist, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar, said that the Northeast is ravaged by poverty, urging the government to set up empowerment programmes for the region.

She said: “We need peace in the Northeast . I am from the area. I know what my people have being going through. The people are hungry, and they are yearning for a peaceful and secure environment.The President and soldiers are doing their best to restore peace. The insurgents however continue to frustrate their efforts. But for the soldiers, the insurgents would have taken over.”

Zoning has been distorted in Akwa Ibom, says Etiebet From Kazeem Ibrahyan, Uyo

F

2015: Ogun PDP won’t collaborate with LP’

From Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

HE GOMBE State All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has violated the law by flagging off its campaigns for next year’s election, ahead of the deadline stipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The party said the PDP has floated a group, the ‘Gombe Unity and Development Forum’ to coordinate campaigns for the contest all over the state.

The APC Chairman, Mohammed Magaji Doho, told reporters in Gombe, the state capital, that the forum has been charged with the responsibility of drumming support for the second term ambition of Governor Ibrahim Dankambo.

He described the forum as an extention of the PDP, adding that its proposed fundraising activites were designed to boost the governor’s ambition.

Chiding the PDP for violating the electoral code, Doho said: “It will be an exercise in futility. The people are not with the governor. They want change and the APC will fulfill their dream for change. There is a serious disconnect between this administration and the people of Gombe State. They believe that they fared better under ther leadership of Senator Danjuma Goje.”

A

Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP Chairman Chief Bayo Dayo spoke on reconcliation in the chapter and preparations for next year’s elections. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN met him.

ORMER Petroleum Minister Chief Don Etiebet has condemned what he described as “targeted zoning,” saying it will not work in Akwa Ibom State.

The politician, who spoke during the 55th birthday of former past Secretary to Government, Obong Umana Umana, said Governor Godswill Akpabio’s zoning formula is discriminatory, and that it has a pre-determined motive. He explained that Akpabio is scheming to anoint his friend as successor. However, Etiebet declined to mention the name of the friend.

He said: “I do not agree with the governor over the targeted zoning. It is zoning to a friend. The targeted zoning cannot work; the targeted zoning cannot produce the next governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2015”.

Etiebet chided the governor for scuttling the tripod arrangement on which the sharing of positions in the state was based.

He said, if Akpabio had stuck to the arrangement, the next governor would have come from Oron.

Etiebet, who spoke on the theme: “Democracy and the challenge of leadership in Nigeria,” recalled that the governor had benefitted from the tripod arrangement.

He said: “If we had stuck to that consensus arrangement, peace and tranquillity would have reigned, and it would have aided the development of Akwa Ibom State by harnessing all the materials and natural resources.

There would have been no problem because we would have been obvious that the next governor would come from Oron. This was the agreement Godswill Akpabio was a party to. But, he does not want to keep that consensus arrangement as he wants to bring another Ibibio man to succeed him.

This is not fair. That is why I have fallen out with him. That is why we are not agreeing.

“We as a people are saying that we can never allow one man to cook the food and make all us eat and go to sleep and he goes about gallivanting to put his man in position. We cannot eat that food.

“As I am standing here, I have 15 governorship aspirants that have consulted me officially, traditionally, and legally. I have not heard of any other one outside these 15 that have consulted me.”

•Etiebet

• Dayo

H

AVE the Ogun PDP executive committee reconciled with the Jubril Martin Kuye’s

group?

I don’t belong to any group. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State is one. Martins Kuye was our leader, right from the inception of this party and he is still our leader.

A leader would expect his followers to be great. I am a great man today in the PDP through the influence of Prince Buruji Kashamu. I expect Kuye to feel happy about that. When a teacher sees his student making progress, he should be happy with it.

Kuye has never for one day left the party. He is one of our prominent leaders in Ogun State and the Southwest. Since he is still in PDP, you should expect that we are working v together for the progress of the party.

Is your executive keeping in touch with former President Olusegun Obasanjo?

He is our political father in Ogun State and Nigeria at large. But, I cannot tell you that he is not working for the interest of the PDP. I don’t know his mind. God has been so merciful to Obasanjo. He is the luckiest politician in Nigeria today. He had ruled this country as a military officer and twice as civilian President on the platform of the PDP. I will expect someone who has been so lucky like him to show gratitude to God. He should devote the rest of his life praising God, since he has reached the climax of his political career. We in the Ogun PDP have nothing against him. If he calls me, I will answer him. But, what are we going to discuss? We have different opinions on political issues.

Would the Ogun PDP work together with Otunba Gbenga Daniel’s Labour Party (LP) in 2015 for President Jonathan?

If Otunba Gbenga Daniel and his followers really love President Jonathan, they should join the PDP. If they are serious about working for the success of Dr. Jonathan at the poll in 2015, they should switch over to where they belong initially. The

blood of the PDP is still running in the veins of Daniel and his group.

They should come back to their base and be part of the big family. The issue is, if you love me, you should love my dog. If they love Dr. Jonathan, they should work for other PDP candidates in 2015. Our National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, has assured us that the party will grant waiver to those returning to the party so that they can contest elections in 2015. He has asked us to recommend such people to the National Working Committee for necessary action. I see no reason why OGD, who as the governor on the platform of the PDP, led other political office holders to build the party secretariat, the best so far in the Southwest, to now turn a tenant in Abeokuta. There is no reason why we cannot work together. He was my leader and he is still my leader in every aspect, except in age.

Have you zoned the party’s governorship ticket to a particular senatorial district?

We have never zoned our governorship ticket to any zone. For instance, in 1999, Senator Martins Kuye from Ogun East and Mrs Titi Ajanaku from Ogun Central slugged it out at the primaries and Kuye emerged as the winner. In 2003, we had Gbenga Daniel, Doyin Okupe and Col. Shoda from Ogun East; Femi Majekodunmi and Captain Raji from the Central; Jide Taiwo and the late Arojo from Ogun West. Daniel won the shadow election. In 2007, it was Daniel versus Lekan Ojo from Ogun West. Again Daniel picked the ticket. In 2011, the likes of Gboyega Isiaka, Gen. Idowu Olurin from Ogun West and Sarafa Ishola from Ogun Central contested for the ticket, which was eventually won by Olurin. The tickets for elective offices are competitive.

How many aspirants have obtained forms for the governorship election?

We have received four letters of intent. We have not announced the modalities for the collection of forms.

We have received letters fromChief Kayode Amusan, Alhaji Rafiu Ogunleye, Hon Abiodun Akinlade and Hon Sikirullahi Ogundele. We also heard from the grapevine that the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, is also interested.

Is Prince Buruji Kashamu running?

Kashamu has not written us a letter to that effect and he has not told us that he isgoing to contest.

What method would you adopt in picking the governorship candidate?

We shall rely on the party guidelines and the constitution. We don’t

do things arbitrarily in the PDP. We follow due process. We shall create a level playing field for all contestants to prove their popularity in the party. We shall be transparent in the process so that whoever emerges would be acceptable to other contestants.

How prepared is Ogun PDP for the next general elections?

If the Independent National Electoral Commission calls for election in Ogun State today, the PDP will win. We have defectors from opposition parties like Alhaji Ogunleye and Hon Akinlade from the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Labour Party has broken into pieces. Some of their leaders like Elder Yemi Akinyemi, Hon Waliu Taiwo and Boye Adesina are now in the PDP. The Labour Party now exists in Daniel’s political domain. As at now, we don’t have prominent members of the PDP leaving for another party.

Now that Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola has defected to the APC, will Ogun PDP still go ahead with the case at the Supreme Court?

Since he has gone to the APC, all our lawyers have to do is to inform the court of the new development and probably ask the court to discontinue the case.

What do you think is responsible for your party’s victory in Ekiti governorship election?

The victory was largely because of the popularity and acceptability of our candidate, Ayodele Fayose, and the fact that the incumbent government was not close to the grassroots.

Are you disturbed by the PDP’s loss in Osun State?

In democracy, you win some elections and lose some. No matter how powerful you are, you can’t win every election. We have learnt our lessons from Osun. The PDP executive and the candidate, Iyiola Omisore, did a lot to win the election. But, winning an election is determined by the acceptability of the candidate and his programme. All the party can do is to assist the candidate.

All party leaders in Osun, especially those that had contested election before and won, have to work together for the progress of the party. Notwithstanding the Osun result, the PDP in Ogun State remains strong and confident.

Ogun State is different from Osun State.

So,also are the issues and personalities involved.

Why has the PDP Southwest not held its congress?

The answer lies with the National Working Committee (NWC) of our party. It is the committee that has the final say on it. If they ask us to hold the congress today, we are ready. If they want the caretaker committee to continue to remain in office till 2015, so be it.

• From left: Abia State Governor Theodore Orji, former Chief of Army Staff General Azubuike Ihejirika, his wife, Nnenna, and Lady Mercy Orji, wife of the governor, during the 23rd anniversary of the creation of Abia State at the Micheal Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia.

48

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

49

50

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

51

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

52

NEWS (SHOWBIZ)

13 families arrive Lagos for Maltina Dance All

Bez warms up for new album

•Bez

N

IGERIAN singer, Emmanuel Bezhiwa, aka Bez, has expressed readiness for the release of his sophomore album.

Speaking on the album, which is billed to be out in October, Bez said: “I’ve been recording my new album in New York and Houston in the United States. Right now, the album is in its mastering and mixing stage. Hopefully,

we are going to have a single coming up next month.

Then, we will follow it up with an album.”

An outstanding talent, Bez creates what he calls alternative soul, an unusual hybrid of Soul, Rock, Jazz and R&B, that sets him apart from the mainstream AfroHip pop movement.

His debut album,Super Sun, made international critical acclaim, as it was listed as one of the 2012 Hot R&B/Soul albums on iTunes USA, and was also rated among the Top 10 World Music Albums of 2011 by the US paper, Boston Globe.

The feat has propelled the singer to other first-rate features on platforms such as Vogue Italia, Essence.com, Rolling Stone Magazine SA, BBC 1 XTRA, BBC Focus on Africa and MTV Iggy Hall of Fame.

Star The Winner Is: Contestant shows trait of Jennifer Hudson •Families arriving Lagos for Maltina Dance All

A

S the popular epic dance battle, Maltina Dance All (MDA) reality show enters its crucial stage, excitement is near for television viewers and lovers of dance genre, as group dancers from 13 families have arrived Lagos.

The selection followed a rigorous screening exercise on 28 families that qualified from the regional auditions.

In its eighth edition, the top 13 families stormed Lagos for an exalted slot in the final round of screening

to enter the dance academy in September and to learn the new Rhythm of Happiness Dance (RODH) style.

The families( Unaka, Odigie, Ezekiel, Maisamari, Williams, Utere, Dide, Uzodinma, Leornard, Nwaeze, Oladapo, Abunwa and Awokoya) according to Nigerian Breweries Plc., the organisers of the contest, have scaled through the necessary physical and medical screening and have been deemed fit to compete.

In a couple of weeks, the contestants will be further

proned to 10, who will eventually move to the Academy on September 7, for the final unslaught.

The competition promises the sum of N10million for the overall winner, while the first and second runners-up will take home N3million and N1million respectively.

The MDA auditions were held in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt, where the family representatives performed as individual contestants, before being followed home by the Maltina team to perform alongside other

members of their families.

Preparation for the show kicked off with an electrifying performance by the Maltina all-stars made up of past participants of the show.

Popular comedians, Gbenga Adeyinka and Laffup, as well as host of the show, Osas Ighodaro, introduced the RODH to the audience who were held spellbound by the creativity of the new season.

The show is expected to start showing on television, on September 7.

Musicians mark No Music Day

T

HE strategic move to stamp the social import of music has been more emphatic in the last couple of years with a No Music Day being declared, once in a year, by the coalition of music industry stakeholders.

The event, which holds today, is expected to focus attention on the widespread infringement of the rights of composers, songwriters, performers, music publishers and other stakeholders in the Nigerian music industry.

As usual, the coalition is requesting all broadcast stations and users of music across the country not to broadcast music between the hours of 9am and10am today.

The group expects all stations to be sympathetic to the flight of the artistes who are known to be devastated by massive copyright infringement. It is their belief that refraining from music broadcast today is a mark of solidarity with the nation’s creative industry.

Within the specified period, all stations are also requested to dedicate their time to interviews, documentaries, debates and discussions that focus on the rights of creative people and the state of intellectual property rights in Nigeria, while newspapers and magazines

I

T appears that American singer, Jennifer Hudson, has a protégé in Star The Winner Is contestant, Jahtell Ilem, who gave a stunning rendition of Am Changing during the last edition of the show.

Hudson is an amazing vocalist, a situation that made the crowd to be excited about her the vocal power.

Jahtell delivered Hudson’s song almost flawless, similar to how the latter rendered it on the musical drama film,

DreamGirls.

In her first duel round of the night, Jahtell also serenaded the audience with a rather astonishing performance of a BoyzIImen classic, I’ll make love to you, which made her a clear winner of the round.

Consequently, she joins Philip, Brenda, Happiness, Rhema and Naomi ,winners from previous episodes, to battle for N10million and a brand new car in the semifinal round.

50 Cent partners Intel on headphones

A •DJ Spinall

are also being encouraged to do special features on the industry to mark the day.

On its part, the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) said it would commemorate the day by flying its flags at half mast, while there would also be a bonfire of pirated materials at its headquarters in Lagos.

Speaking on the event, COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, said: “No Music Day is a day the music industry in Nigeria comes together to say no to the inces-

sant abuse of our rights. For too long our industry has suffered great loss because of piracy. We have watched big record companies close shops and move away from Nigeria, while our young talents roam the streets looking for record deals. This has got to stop. No more will we tolerate the years of monkey dey work, baboon dey chop. Piracy is a crime against creativity, so it must be brought to an end urgently.”

The president of Music Label Owners and Recording

Industries Association of Nigeria (MORAN), Hon. John E. Udegbunam, urged commercial users of music to acquire the right licence.

“We want to call on all lovers of good music to join the ‘No Music Day’ campaign as we forge ahead for a more vibrant Nigerian music industry. We appeal to all users of music to ensure that they obtain the appropriate license for the music they deploy. By so doing, we can ensure that our creativity outlives us,” he said.

MERICAN rapper, Curtis Jackson, aka 50 Cent, has launched his SMS Audio, a headphone and accessories brand, in partnership with Intel.

The move has been touted as the first personal audio system that fuses fitness with technology.

Technology analysts said the new range of headphones - to be known as SMS Audio BioSport In-Ear Headphones- would hit the market later this year.

Powered by Intel, the headphones, according to its manufacturers, will integrate biometric sensors with a heart-rate monitor and sync with RunKeeper to empower athletes to collect fitness data and achieve peak physical performance.

“The wearable technology collaboration between SMS Audio and Intel elevates our capability to bring smart exercise to consumers,” said Brian Nohe, president, SMS Audio.

“With the introduction of the SMS Audio BioSport InEar Headphones powered

by Intel, we’re now the first to provide this level of inte-

•50 Cent

grated, seamless and helpful biometric information to inspire customers to advance their fitness experiences.”

Intel and SMS Audio are merging lifestyle requirements with technology innovation to enhance the fitness experience showcased by a patented ear-hook design that ensures a comfortable fit ,while an energyharvesting audio jack removes the need for extra batteries or chargers.

This sort of merger by a Hip-hop mogul and a major tech company is not the first as Andre Young, alias Dr. Dre, a former Interscope label mate of 50 Cent, had his company, Beats Electronics, acquired by Apple for a highly publicised $3.2 billion price tag earlier this year.

53

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

NEWS

INEC declares Niger East by-election inconclusive

T

HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday declared Saturday’s Niger East by-election inconclusive.

The Returning Officer, Prof. Wole Morenikeji, said there were alleged electoral malpractices and irregularities in seven units in four local governments.

The units are in Rafi, Shiroro, Muyan and Paikoro local governments.

Morenikeji said a supplementary poll would hold in the affected units on Saturday, before the final result of the poll could be announced.

But details of the results declared so far, showed that the candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Shem Zagbayi Nuhu,

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

APC candidate set for supplementary poll

T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the inconclusive Niger East by-election held on Saturday, David Umaru, said yesterday that he was set for the supplementary election.

He spoke at a post-election news conference at the party secretariat in Minna.

Umaru, a lawyer, said he was shocked by the alleged malpractices, which characterised the election.

The APC candidate appealed to his supporters and members to remain calm.

He said the outcome of the poll would not deter his conviction and faith in democracy.

Said he: “We are committed to the journey in search of From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

led with 89,634 votes, against David Umaru of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 84,689 votes.

A breakdown of the result showed that the PDP candidate won in six of the nine local governments in the senatorial district.

Confirming the development, INEC’s Head of Information in Niger State,

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

the truth. The unfortunate incident cannot make us to relent.

We and the party are committed to putting up a good fight.

We will take part in the supplementary election on Saturday and victory shall be ours at the end of the day.”

Umaru decried the electoral malpractices during the byelection, which he said took the state back to the dark days.

“I was hopeful of a flawless exercise at the beginning, but as the day went on, events turned sour as we began to witness the ugly incidents of the past.”

He urged his supporters not to be disappointed, as he was sure of victory in the supplementary election.

Mohammed Waze, said until the supplementary election is held, the winner cannot be declared.

Waze, who spoke on the phone, said: “The Niger East by-election is inconclusive.

A supplementary poll will

Women tackle senator

hold on Saturday so that a winner will emerge and the final result will be released.”

The seat became vacant on June 12, following the death of Senator Dahiru Aweisu Kuta.

WOMEN, under the auspices of the Concerned Women of Southern Kaduna, have accused the senator representing the zone, Senator Nenadi Usman, of lack of quality representation.

They also accused her of inaccessibility, adding that she is on the run from her constituency for fear of being confronted by women and youths to account for her stewardship.

But Senator Usman, who said she did not feel bad by the accusations, added that the women might have been sponsored by those aspiring to contest the senatorial position next year.

‘Igbo can’t leave N40b investment in the North’

T

•From left: Iyaloja General of Lagos, Chief Folashade Tinubu-Ojo receiving a certificate as Yeye-Mesho of Isolo Kingdom from the Osolo of Isolo, Oba Kabiru Adelaja Agbabiaka; Oba Lateef Dawuda, Onitire of Itireland and Oba Azeen Gbadabiu Ishola, Onikotun of Ikotunland at the 10th Coronation of Oba Kabiru Agbabiaka at Osolo Palace, Isolo, Lagos...at the weekend

ARG faults Kwankwaso’s comment

HE Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has decried Kano State Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso’s comment, which endorsed the immutability of the 1999 Constitution.

It urged Nigerians to condemn it as selfish and unpatriotic.

In a media interview, the governor was quoted as saying that “any constitution other than the 1999 Constitution should be rejected because anything less than that is an instrument by those who think it will help them.”

ARG, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Kunle Famoriyo, blamed Kwankwaso and other “self-seeking politicians” for endorsing the 1999 Constitution when it suits them and calling for its amendment when it does not.

“Kwankwanso, one of those who believe the 1999 Constitution is perfect for the country, has had two reasons to call for its amendment. He changed his stance on the agitation for state police when his security aides were withdrawn by ‘order from above’ during the Kano Emirship commotion.

He also called for amendment of the impeachment laws when a raft of impeachment wave threatened governors of his party, the All Progressives Congress

T

•’Politicians haven’t shown they are better than military’

(APC), claiming Nyako governorship in the process,” the statement said.

It added: “These two calls for constitutional amendment, coming at a time that Kwankwanso was at the receiving end of the imperial and despotic powers of the 1999 Constitution, seem to suggest that the constitution must exist only to serve his personal good and that of others with similar stance.

It does not bother them if and when others are the victims of the constitution’s despotic powers.

“This selective philosophy from a man who wants to become Nigeria’s president is no less selfish and denigrating, as the politics that dominates Aso Rock.”

The group said Nigerian politicians have not proved that democracy is indeed a better alternative to military rule, noting: “All presidents since 1999 have found the 1999 Constitution handy in justifying dictatorial tendencies, with the president claiming he is yet to even use 10 per cent of the (despotic) powers of the constitution. This is a dangerous pointer to the fact that politicians are still not faring better than military dictators, who churned out decrees and amended them to

suit their dictatorship ego.

“Neither Kwankwaso nor any politician need be at the whipping end of the constitution before patriotic sense prevails on all of us to fight to entrench true federalism.

For the country to survive, it must provide an equitable basis of existence for all federating units. The 1999 Constitution is evidently inequitable and needs no piecemeal amendments, but a total reworking.

“ARG has no grouse about any politician, but it believes that no politician’s ambition should choke national interest. ARG, therefore, enjoins politicians to learn to sacrifice personal interests for the promotion of an egalitarian Nigeria anchored on true federalism.

“Nigerians are not made for the law. Neither should

law, meant to promote equality and class divide.

We must ask ourselves: can we truly have a democracy when some parts of the country feel less privileged than others?”

ARG also said the National Conference report must not be tainted by political ambition and “Nigerians should be allowed through a referendum to decide what happens to the report, because they should have the primal right to determine how they wish to be governed.

“Although the report does not represent everything we want in the Southwest and we are still consulting on what position to take, it is unarguable that the resolutions represent a consensus of both political and apolitical Nigerians.”

Kabo, others to carry pilgrims from Kano

K

ABO, Maxair and Sky Power Express airlines are to transport pilgrims from the Kano zone of the National Hajj Association of Nigeria (NHAN), to Saudi Arabia, for this year’s hajj.

The Kano zonal coordinator of the commission, Mallam Umar Bala, who confirmed the

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

development yesterday at the end of a stakeholders’ meeting, said the exercise is scheduled for September 6.

According to him, it will begin from the Dutse International Airport, Jigawa State, which is under the Kano zone.

HE President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Kaduna State, Chief Austin Amaechi, has said the Igbo in the North cannot abandon their over N40billion investment because of Boko Haram.

He said the Igbo leaders, who were asking them to return home, should be hopeful that the Boko Haram insurgency would soon end.

Speaking at the inauguration of the state executive of the pan Igbo and socio-cultural group, Amaechi, a lawyer, said the investments of the Igbo in the North are over N40 billion.

He went on: “How can you leave that and go back to the East? Economically, we are at home in the North and politically we want to participate. We will, therefore, ensure that we live in peace with our host communities because once there is peace, our investments will be secured.

“If there is no peace, it is not only the investments of the Igbo that are threatened, but also those of other Nigerians.

“We will ensure that Nigerians’ investments are protected by Nigerians.”

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo chief recalled that during the civil war, the property of the Igbo were secured by northerners and were handed over to them after the war, including rents, adding that that helped them to bounce back after the war.

“Unlike in other parts of the country where the Igbo investments were declared abandoned, that never happened in the North. This gives us the confidence to invest in the region despite the insecurity. I assure you that the investment will continue because very soon, insecurity will end by the Grace of God.”

NUJ nominates The Nation reporter for award From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

T

HE Benue State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) 2013 Media Merit Award Committee led by the Rector of the College of Advanced and Professional Studies (CAPS), Dr. Tyotom Keghku, has nominated The Nation reporter in Benue State, Uja Emmanuel, for an award.

A letter to Emmanuel, dated August 22, signed by the secretary, Central Planning Committee, for the 2014 Media Merit Award, said: “The NUJ Benue State Council has nominated you for the 2013 Media Merit Award in recognition of your contributions to journalism.”

The award has been fixed for tomorrow at the Lush Ecents, Kwarafa Quarters, Makurdi, at 5pm.

Aspirant plans industrial revolution for Bauchi

A

N All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Bauchi State, Sadiq Mahmoud, promised yesterday that the poverty ravaging the state and the country would be eradicated through a productive economy.

He said through industrial revolution, people would be employed and economically-empowered, adding that this is his plan for Bauchi State.

The governorship aspir-

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

ant, an engineer, who spoke to reporters at his home in Bauchi, said: “Without people getting something to keep body and soul together, you cannot get rid of poverty. Whenever you empower the people, they become viable, then you have a prosperous nation.”

Mahmoud attributed the high level of poverty to government’s inability to stimulate the economy.

54

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

FOREIGN

Analysis: How Syria’s Assad seized momentum in war Global Focus T WO years ago, it seemed almost inevitable that Syrian President Bashar Assad would be toppled. Despite a fierce military crackdown, people were still taking to the streets in exuberant antigovernment protests and rebels were pressing their fight deeper into the capital, even placing a bomb inside a high-level security meeting that killed top regime officials including Assad’s brother-in-law.Western leaders predicted Assad would fall in few months. Almost no one thinks that now. As he prepares for elections through which he is set to claim another seven-year mandate for himself, the 48-yearold leader appears to be on a continuously upward path in the three-year-old conflict.A look at how Assad has managed to seize the momentum in the civil war:The Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group joined the fight in Syria publicly and earnestly in mid-2013. With thousands of experienced guerrillas and experts, the group has been instrumental in helping Assad’s overstretched forces gain ground around the capital, Damascus, and in strategic Syrian towns and villages in

DAYO FAKUADE, Foreign Editor sms 08134230367

daborgu@gmail.com rugged mountains near the border with Lebanon.Despite major defections early in the conflict, the Syrian military remains a potent force. There is no sign of significant fractures among Assad’s lieutenants, and his inner circle has remained largely cohesive and united.

Assad has also bolstered his military over the past year with the creation of paramilitary troops including the National Defense Force, a pro-government militia that draws heavily from Syria’s minority communities and reportedly receives training from Iran.The Syrian government has enjoyed unchecked use of its aircraft to pound opposition-held areas with missiles and crude explosives. The opposition has pleaded with the international community for more than two years to provide weapons with which to shoot down government warplanes. But the

‘The West has deep concerns that any lethal assistance could end up in the hands of extremists, and President Barack Obama has desperately sought to avoid embroiling the U.S. in another war after more than a decade of fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq’ West has deep concerns that any lethal assistance could end up in the hands of extremists, and President Barack Obama has desperately sought to avoid embroiling the U.S. in another war after more than a decade of fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq.In August 2013, Syria’s key ally Russia stepped in to avert U.S. military strikes against

regime targets by clinching a deal that would rid Syria of its chemical weapons stockpile following a toxic gas attack near Damascus that killed hundreds.

Obama had said the use of chemical weapons was a “red line” that would trigger a harsh response. His waffling and change of course on the threatened airstrikes enraged Syrian opposition members and emboldened Assad.The already divided umbrella group of rebel factions backed by the West, the Free Syrian Army, has seen its fortunes sink even further over the past year with the rise of militant groups and al-Qaidainspired extremist factions. Since the beginning of the year, the two sides have turned their guns on each other in fighting that has killed thousands of people. The group’s moderate leadership lost the confidence of the U.S. and its allies, particularly after Islamic extremists seized a weapons shipment last year, leading to the temporary suspension of U.S. aid shipments. Foreign fighters from every corner of the earth have flocked to Syria - a result of everincreasing radicalisation on all sides - dampening the West’s support for the rebellion.The exit

What Burundi could teach Rwanda about reconciliation

R

OSE Hakizimana’s mother and four sisters were killed

by Burundian Hutu rebels while they were housed in a camp for ethnic Tutsis forced to flee their homes.

She remembers finding her mother’s body by identifying her legs. For a full year after the burial, she had nightmares.

When people think of genocide in Africa, neighbouring Rwanda usually comes to mind after the slaughter of some 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutus in 100 days in 1994.

What we are seeing now is a government that is not against Hutu or Tutsi, but a government that targets individuals who don’t agree with their policies” End Quote Rose Hakizimana Burundian political commentator But over the years Burundi, which has a similar ethnic makeup and tensions, has also faced killings by both Tutsi and Hutus, driving a wedge into the fabric of the nation.

The most shocking was in 1972, when some estimate up to 300,000 Hutus were massacred in six weeks.

Ms Hazikimana has kept an album documenting acts of genocide in 1993 in which some 25,000 Tutsis are believed to have died,

By Kevin Mwachiro BBC News, Bujumbura

so that the crimes are not forgotten.

She went on to become an MP in the transitional government that brought peace to Burundi.

Now retired, she has a regular slot on local radio as a political commentator and says ethnicity is no longer an issue in politics.

“If you look at the current situation in the country, though we have a Hutu-dominated government that is not the problem,” she told the BBC. “What we are seeing now is a government that is not against Hutu or Tutsi, but a government that targets individuals who don’t agree with their policies.”

Her comments reveal how Burundi is now coping with ethnicity far better than its betterknown neighbour.

This may be down to the Arusha Peace Accord, brokered by South Africa’s former President Nelson Mandela.

Signed in August 2000, the ceasefire led to talks that eventually helped end the long, drawnout conflict and got politicians from both sides of the ethnic divide talking - it put ethnicity centre stage.

The accord recognised the tensions between the dominant Tutsi minority and the Hutu majority as a catalyst to the conflict and came up with a 60-40 formula of proportional representation.

Two years ago, ex-rebel Godefroid Niyombare became the first ever Hutu army chief of general staff.

According to President Pierre Nkurunziza - a former rebel Hutu leader who came to power in the first democratic elections in 2005 this new-look army is a testimony to reconciliation efforts.

“The base of our problems during former times were the army and the police - now we have both ethnic groups represented,” the president told the BBC. Such a comment from Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame would be unthinkable, as tribal references are banned and considered tantamount to a denial of the genocide - a criminal offence.

A Rwandan opposition leader is currently on trial for propagating ethnic hatred because she has questioned why the official memorial to the 1994 genocide only mentions the Tutsis killed, not the Hutu victims.

Mr. Kagame says such strongarm tactics are needed to prevent a repeat of the massacres, but his

critics say he is only keeping a lid on the tensions, which could boil over.

In Burundi where it was once also a taboo to mention ethnicity, politicians now make light of their ethnic differences in public debates.

For example, traditionally Tutsis, who reared cattle, were thought to drink more milk than Hutus, who were farmers.

So a Tutsi might jest with a Hutu colleague who reaches out for the milk during an office tea-break: “You Hutus, you want to drink all the milk now.”

Such banter, even in a bar, would be careless talk in Rwanda that could land you in jail.

This is not to say that Rwanda is not witnessing some reconciliation.

The show village of Bugesera, outside the Rwandan capital of Kigali, is an example.

Set up by a non-governmental organisation to show that enemies can live as neighbours, it has been Laurence Niyongira’s home for the last 10 years.

The killers of her family are not only her friends, but people she now refers to as family.

Her neighbour’s husband organised the killing of her family - a fact both families cannot

of hundreds of rebels from the city of Homs this week gives Assad a geographic linchpin in central Syria from which to launch offensives on rebel-held territory in the north. But the cease-fire agreement also highlights a new Syrian government tactic. Such deals have seen weary rebels turn over their weapons to authorities in exchange for an easing of suffocating blockades that have prevented food, medicine and other staples from reaching rebelheld areas. That has enabled Assad’s troops to be shifted to fighting fronts elsewhere in the country and allowed the government to present itself abroad as a responsible actor actively trying to broker peace at home.Arab sponsors have increasingly clashed over the level and type of assistance they should offer the Syrian rebels.

The cracks in what was once solid Arab support for the rebels are mostly rooted in longsimmering tensions between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Saudi Arabia and its allies accuse Qatar of sending weapons to Islamic militant fighters that clash with more moderate rebel factions.Zeina Karam is the AP’s bureau chief in Beirut .

‘The base of our problems during former times were the army and the police - now we have both ethnic groups represented’ hide. “[But] we have reached reconciliation and have forgiven each other,” she admits - words often repeated from other Bugesera residents.

Rwanda has also made much more progress when it comes to seeking justice for genocide victims, setting up community “gacaca” courts which tried close to two million people for their involvement.

Unlike Rwanda, Burundi does not have that many visible massacre memorials.

In contrast Burundi has been slow in setting up national institutions to deal with the crimes committed.

But the government hopes that once there is funding and systems in place, they will be able to let justice take its course - a Truth and Reconciliation Commission has been promised.

Left to right: Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Republic of Rwanda Louise Mushikiwabo; Acting Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Mauritius Usha Dwarka-Canabady; Secretary of State of External Relations of the Republic of Angola Manuel Domingos Augusto; Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of the Republic of Ghana Hanna Tetteh; L. Bay (Singapore); H. Jaley (Togo); Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Nigeria, Prof. Viola Onwuliri; Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania Mahadhi Juma Maalim; Minister of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development of the Republic of Zimbabwe Ignatius M.C. Chombo; and Minister representing South Africa T. Valshin – participating African Ministers at the Singapore 2014 High Level Exchange Meetings... at the weekend.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

55

FOREIGN NEWS

Huge hurricane hits Iceland

Hong Kong: Occupy Central anger over Beijing ruling

I

IT happened sudenttly but Sunday’s eruption in the Holuhraun lava field area was “calm but continuous”, authorities said.

It happened in roughly the same place as an earlier eruption on Friday morning, and is the third to happen in the area in the last week.

The latest eruption is more intense than Friday’s with around 10 times more lava said Armann Hoskuldssonk, a geologist from the University of Iceland.

BBC transport correspondent Richard Westcott says that even if a big cloud of volcanic ash were emitted, it would not cause the same level of disruption to flights that brought Europe to a halt in 2010.

He says new equipment that airliners and engine makers have been testing would allow planes to identity and fly around ash clouds.

All airports in Iceland are still functioning normally

Lesotho ‘coup’ forces PM Thabane to South Africa

T

HE prime minister of the southern African kingdom of Lesotho has fled to South Africa, alleging a coup by the army and saying his life is in danger.

Speaking to the BBC, Thomas Thabane said he would return from South Africa, which surrounds Lesotho, “as soon as I know I am not going to get killed”.

Reports say the capital, Maseru, is now calm after soldiers seized buildings. The army denied staging a coup.

Lesotho has seen a series of military coups since independence in 1966.

Mr Thabane has headed a unity government since elections in May 2012, but suspended parliament sessions in June amid feuding in his coalition.

He denied accusations that his actions had undermined his government.

Lesotho is a largely rural country dominated by mountains and surrounded on all sides by South Africa ‘Illegal coup’ Mr Thabane said the army had rendered the government “dysfunctional”, an action that amounted to a coup.

“I have been removed from control not by the people but by the armed forces, and that is illegal,” he told the BBC’s Newshour programme.

“I came into South Africa this morning and I will return as soon as my life is not in danger. I will not go back to Lesotho to get killed.”

South Africa’s government described the situation as “worrying”, with spokesman Clayson Monyela saying the country would not tolerate “unconstitutional change of government”.

This whole thing started around 03:00. There were gunshots since early morning. The city is currently calm. People are playing it safe within their homes, but there is basically a media blackout.

To all intents and purposes it is a military coup with the aim of ousting the prime minister. There can be no other reason of soldiers behaving the way they have been behaving other than to seize power.

D

•Huge hurricane hits Iceland

Putin urges statehood for east Ukraine

P

RESIDENT Putin has called for talks to discuss “statehood” for eastern Ukraine, Russian media report.

He said the issue needed to be discussed to ensure the interests of local people “are definitely upheld”.

His comments came after the EU gave Russia a oneweek ultimatum to reverse course in Ukraine or face sanctions.

Russia denies Western accusations that its forces illegally crossed into eastern Ukraine to support separatists there.

“Russia cannot stand aside when people are being shot at almost at point blank,” he added, describing the rebels’ actions as “the natural reaction of people who are defending their rights”.

He dismissed the EU’s threat of further sanctions, accusing the EU of “backing a

T

coup d’etat” in Ukraine.

The West, Mr Putin said, should have foreseen Russia’s reaction to the situation, adding it was impossible to predict how the crisis would end.

Pro-Russian rebels have made gains against Ukrainian troops in recent days in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Also on Sunday, Russian media reported that 10 Russian paratroopers returned home in exchange for 63 captured Ukrainian soldiers held by Russia.

Some 2,600 people have died in fighting since April.

In his interview with Russian TV, Vladimir Putin called for “substantive talks” with Kiev on “statehood for southeast Ukraine”.

So, does Russia now want south-eastern Ukraine to split from Kiev and become independent? Is Moscow now wed-

ded to the idea of breaking up of Ukraine? Recent reports of Russian military activity across the border would seem to back up this idea.

There is no doubt that Russia is determined to retain a degree of influence in Ukraine and to ensure, at the very least, that Ukraine never joins Nato.

Moscow is equally determined to make sure the pro-Russian separatists avoid a military defeat.

Promoting “statehood” in the east is one way of increasing the pressure on Kiev to stop its military operation and start talks with the pro-Moscow militants - and with Russia itself.

If Kiev fails to do this, the Kremlin may well press for south-eastern Ukraine (or “Novorossiya” as Moscow increasingly refers to the region) to break away from Kiev. housands have fled the fighting in

eastern Ukraine - these refugees have headed to Russia Pro-Ukrainian residents near the city of Mariupol held a protest on Saturday Ukrainian troops have lost ground to rebels in recent days The conflict in the east erupted in April following Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s southern Crimea peninsula a month before.

Speaking after a summit in Brussels, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said the EU “stands ready to take further significant steps in light of the evolution of the situation on the ground”, adding that the EU was working urgently on further restrictive measures.

The EU and US have already imposed asset freezes and travel bans on many senior Russian officials and separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine.

Iraqi forces ‘reach besieged Amerli’

HE apparent breakthrough comes after the US carried out air strikes overnight on Islamic State (IS) positions near the town.

The UK, France and Australia joined the US in dropping humanitarian aid.

Some 15,000 minority Shia Turkmen in Amerli have been surrounded by Islamic State militants for two months.

Military sources told the BBC’s Jim Muir, who is a few miles from Amerli, that the Iraqi Army and volunteer militia entered the town on Sunday and had broken the siege.

However Amerli remains dangerous because of roadside bombs left behind by IS militants, At the scene: Jim Muir, BBC News, Tuz Khurmatu No-one here seems to be in any doubt that the combination of forces backed up by Iraqi government air power has in fact broken the siege.

There is a lot of celebration here, including gunfire.

We cannot go into the town yet as the Islamists have left lots of booby traps and bombs.

The situation inside is

said to be dire because Amerli has been cut off for two months.

However, what we’re told from recent figures is that the number of civilians there is much fewer than thought. We were told 15-16,000, but now perhaps 2,500 remain. Many of those are now fighters, having taken up aSaturday Earlier, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced that his government would join other Western countries in arming the Kurds - sending rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and assault rifle ammunition.

“None of us want to get involved in another Middle Eastern war, but it is important to do what reasonably can be done to avert potential genocide,” Mr Abbott said.

The operation to reach Amerli began on Saturday when an alliance of Iraq government forces, Shia militias and Kurdish Peshmerga began a two-front attack on IS positions.

US and Iraqi planes provided air cover.

Residents of Amerli have been cut off by jihadi militants from receiving food, water and medical supplies Aid packages from the US

included around 10,500 gallons of drinking water and around 7,000 meals The US has been supporting Iraqi forces with air strikes on jihadis, as well as in the humanitarian effort Massacre fears Reports described it as the biggest military operation since IS began making major gains in Iraq in June.

“Security forces and militia fighters are inside Amerli now after breaking the siege and that will definitely relieve the suffering of residents,” Adel al-Bayati, mayor of Amerli, told Reuters news agency.

One resident of Amerli, Amir Ismael, told Reuters by phone: “I can see the tanks of the Iraqi army patrolling Amerli’s street now. I’m very happy we got rid of the Islamic State terrorists who were threatening to slaughter us.”

The UN had expressed fears there could be a massacre if IS took the town, which lies in Kurdish-controlled Iraq.

IS has been accused of atrocities in areas of Iraq and Syria under its control.

The jihadists see the Shia Turkmen in Amerli as apostates. lucky few residents were

able to escape from Amerli a few days earlier, evacuated in Iraqi military helicopters slamic State has seized large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria in recent months, including Iraq’s second city, Mosul.

Pledging allegiance to their leader, Abu Bakr alBaghdadi, the jihadists have imposed a harsh form of Islamic rule in areas under their control.

EMOCRATIC groups in Hong Kong have vowed to fight a Chinese government ruling that effectively gives China control over the candidates for the next leadership election.

The election, due in 2017, will be the first in which the Hong Kong chief executive is directly chosen by voters.

However, China’s legislature ruled the candidates must be approved by more than half of a special nominating body.

Angry democracy activists vowed to take over the Central business district.

Co-founder of the Occupy Central protest group, Benny Tai Yiu-ting, said: “This is the end of any dialogue. In the next few weeks, Occupy Central will start wave after wave of action.

“We will organise a fullscale act of occupying Central.”

On Sunday a group of prodemocracy supporters protested in a park in front of Hong Kong government headquarters.

One protester, Henry Chung, told Agence FrancePresse: “I am very sad. We have waited so many years. But now we have nothing.”

‘Chaotic society’ Labour Party legislator Lee Cheuk-yan told the South China Morning Post there would be a “full-scale fight” against Beijing’s decision.

Benny Tai (R) rallies the democracy supporters Alex Chow, secretary-general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, speaks in the Central district Democratic Party chairwoman Emily Lau Wai-hing told AFP: “This is one person, one vote, but there is no choice.

They have that in North Korea but you can’t call it democracy.”

China’s ruling was approved unanimously in Beijing on Sunday afternoon by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC).

PUBLIC NOTICE CHANGE OF NAME

YUSUF I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Yusuf Kafilat Abisola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Osinaike Kafilat Abisola. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE CHANGE OF NAME

ADOJUTELEGAN I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adojutelegan Adedoyinsola Morounkeji, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs ADUROTA Adedoyinsola Morounkeji. All former documents remain valid. The general public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE BAKASSI RIVERINE ASSEMBLY The General public is hereby notified that the above-named Assembly has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and allied Matters Act, 1990.

TRUSTEES: Rt. Hon. Elder Saviour Nyong Her Maj. Elder Mrs. Mary Etim Okon Edet OBJECTIVE: To ensure Unity and Welfare needs of the displaced Riverine Bakassi People of Bakassi LGA. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Abuja, within 28 days of the publication.

Mr. Edem O. Offiong Office: 25B, Eastern Highway, Calabar, Cross River State 08037249783

56

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

NEWS

PDP appeal panel clears acting Adamawa governor Continued from page 4

for his disqualification was misinterpreted.

The Acting Governor’s petition stated: “With due respect to the eminent members of the Screening Committee, they cannot read into the provision of the 1999 constitution what is not contained therein.

“Even though I am the Acting Governor, my role is just to fill the governance vacuum created by the impeachment of the Governor and the resignation of the Deputy Governor and not that of a “referee or “midwife” carrying a pregnancy.

“The referee or midwife is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

If this were so, every governor who completes a first term and seeks election for a second term must resign from office before he or she can contest.

“In the event of the need to interpret that provision of the Constitution, it is only a court of law that can do so. Not being a court of law, the Screening Committee was not competent to come to the conclusion it came to with regard to the provision of Section 191 (2) of the 1999 Constitution.

“I, therefore, appeal to you to set the decision of the Screening Committee disqualifying me aside and allow me to contest the gubernatorial primaries coming up on 6th September, 2014.

“Apart from being my inalienable right to contest, I make this passionate appeal as a loyal party member who

has over the years contributed immensely to the good fortunes of the party in Adamawa State.

“Furthermore, disqualifying me will make nonsense of the provisions of the party constitution which guarantees a level playing field for all members and candidates for political offices of the party and the ideals which I know the President of our great country stands for”.

Fintiri, who was accompanied by aides and associates, expressed satisfaction with the decision of the panel, saying it was victory for democracy and victory for the people of Adamawa State.

Before the upturning of his disqualification, supporters of the acting governor took to the streets in Yola, the state capital at the weekend.

Some students and artisans carried placards denouncing PDP National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu and screening panel Chairman Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu.

The inscriptions on the placards are: “Down with Adamu Mu’azu”; “Adamu Mu’azu is Ebola”; “Mantu is wicked”; “Stop this injustice”; etc. The protesters barricaded the Bekaji Roundabout from the State Polytechnic, singing anti Mu’azu songs.

The demonstrators also lambasted “Abuja politicians” who played roles in barring their man from contesting the PDP primaries.

Fintiri requested his sup-

porters to dismiss the report of his disqualification as baseless and of no effect whatsoever.

The chairman of the Fintiri campaign Organisation, Dr. Jonathan Silas Zwingina, told reporters that the group rejected the screening panel’s decision.

Zwingina described Ibrahim Mantu panel’s decision as irrational and lacking moral or constitutional basis.

Zwingina said the organisation would contest the disqualification decision to the highest level.

“The committee that did the screening did not find any misgiving - legally, constitutionally or otherwise - on our aspirant and we hereby reject that report totally as an aberration,” he said.

Zwingina urged members of the PDP to remain calm, adding that the Fintiri Campaign Organisation would go into the race not to only participate but to win the PDP primaries and eventually win the general election. “We strongly believe that we shall win the primaries and the Organisation is strong and thriving to defeat the other aspirants by winning the primaries in a landslide victory,” he said.

Before the Appeal panel’s decision, Fintiri was believed to be lobbying First Lady Patience Jonathan and top leaders of the party to prevail on President Goodluck Jonathan to mandate the Appeal Committee to clear him for the primary.

Fintiri was also rallying nine aspirants to stop hot contenders, such as Modibbo, who is enjoying the backing of the “grassroots” in the state; Marwa and Gundiri.

It was gathered that the acting governor met with nine of the 14 aspirants.

They are: Auwal Tukur; exMinister Aliyu Idi Hong; Sen. Abubakar H. Girei; Jerry Kumdisi; Andrawus Sawa; James Barka; and retired Gen. Aliyu Kama; Ahmed Gulak and Dr. Umar Ardo.

At a meeting on Saturday night, it was agreed that the nine aspirants should meet in Yola to pick a consensus candidate against Ribadu and Modibbo.

A chartered jet was provid-

ed yesterday to convey the aspirants to Yola to go and protest to the State PDP Secretariat against the disqualification of Fintiri.

The aspirants will also seek a level-playing field, transparency and fair primary on Saturday.

Another source added: “The Acting Governor might work against the top aspirants in the race. With the backing of the House of Assembly members and 21 local government chairmen, he might swing the primary in favour of any of the nine aspirants.

“If PDP is adamant in disqualifying the Acting Governor, the man and his supporters have concluded

•Fintiri plans to also play a spoiler’s game against Ribadu, Modibbo, Marwa and Gundiri.”

Boko Haram kills scores in captured town

B

OKO Haram gunmen have killed scores of residents in a town on the border with Cameroon that they captured in recent raids, witnesses told AFP on Saturday. The militants seized Gamboru Ngala earlier this week after taking over military and police facilities in a fierce gun battle which forced thousands of residents across the border into Cameroon.

The residents fled to Fotokol for fear of attack by the Islamists, despite being told they were only after security personnel and local vigilantes. “They are now killing people like chickens,” said Sidi Kyarimi, a

Gamboru resident who fled to Fotokol on Friday. “They started by selective killings and later went on a killing spree.” Among those killed included the town’s highest Muslim cleric and the head of its traders’ union, he said.

“They threaten to kill anybody who refuses to leave the town.

They say we don’t belong,” he added. The insurgents were roaming the streets of the town carrying guns and machetes, shooting and hacking to death residents, said Yusuf Sanda, who also fled to Fotokol.

“They have been breaking

into homes and shops and looting them,” he said. “Initially they said we were free to stay or leave but now they are saying all residents should leave the town because it is now an Islamic Caliphate.” Sanda said he escaped to Fotokol by wading through the shallow river on the border because it was too dangerous to walk the streets with the insurgents on the prowl.

Boko Haram has in recent weeks seized territory in northern Borno state near the border with Cameroon in an apparent move to carve out a state for themselves.

APC to Nigerians: hold Jonathan responsible if Ebola spreads Continued from page 4

cal desperation.”

APC stressed that for those who might try to spin the issue by saying the President had no control over the organisers of the rally, they should be asked who the rallies will benefit, whose top officials, including the Secretary to the

Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, have been attending the rallies and what is the source of the funding of the gatherings.

It said: “The TAN rallies are government-sanctioned. The TAN rallies are the Jonathan administration’s cunning way of beating the Independent Na-

tional Electoral Commission (INEC) ban on campaigns for next year’s general elections. The TAN rallies highlight the impunity of the Jonathan administration.

President Jonathan is the sole beneficiary. He can stop the rallies today, if only he wants to put the nation’s interest above his personal interest.”

Fintiri, nine others gang up against Ribadu, Marwa Continued from page 4

Gulak boasted that one of the 10 aspirants will emerge as the party’s standard bearer.

The party’s state deputy chairman, Alhaji Jingi Rufai, praised the aspirants for their decision to unite for a common cause saying their action would ensure transparency in the primary.

Rufai said party officials had met over the ward congress and resolved that strict compliance with the party constitution would be observed.

Rufai said the party was aware of some “fake registers” and membership forms in circulation, warning that those planning to rig the congress would be disappointed.

But the immediate past state Secretary of PDP and a leading campaigner for the Ribadu candidacy, Mr Phineas Elisha, said the action of the aspirants amounted to indiscipline as the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP

had cleared them to contest.

Elisha said the party’s constitution should determine who is a member and not individuals.

“You cannot just come out because you hate the face of a person to say he is not a member.

“How can you say that a person that registered, request for and was granted waiver is not a member of a party? People need to show respect to the party’s constitution,” Elisha said.

Northwest PDP leaders endorse Jonathan for 2015 Continued from page 4

Speaking on behalf of the governors from the zone, Kebbi State Governor Usman Dankingari, the governors would ensure that they deliver the zone which he described as the most sophisticated ad most populous in terms of voting size in the country to President Jonathan.

National Chairman Mu’azu said the party which is as “constant as the northern star”, remain a party to beat and urged members in the zone to remain united so as to deliver the zone in 2015.

A communique issued at the end of the meeting read by Ambassador Aminu Wali, Minister of Foreign Affairs,

said the president had done a lot to deserve a second term.

He said the region would remain grateful to the Jonathan administration, especially in terms of infrastructural upliftment, good governance and the promotion of democracy.

“Several beneficial projects have been sited in the northwest for the rapid socio-economic transformation of the region.”

The communiqué added: “Having carefully considered the steady and stable progress of our nation under the able leadership of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the stakeholders of the PDP in the northwest zone, having

in mind the monumental strides attained by this administration, have resolved to endorse Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to declare for president in the forthcoming 2015 elections so as to continue the good work he started in nation building. We ask for nothing less.

“Consequently, we respectfully call on the National Chairman of our party to convey this resolution and unanimous declaration of the entire leadership and membership of the PDP in the Northwest zone to His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to surrender himself for the continued service to the nation.”

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

57

58

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

NATION SPORT

59

PREMIERSHIP...PREMIERSHIP...PREMIERSHIP...

I still don’t believe the 6-3 win over Everton— Mourinho

•Van Gaal (l) and Van Persie

Balotelli never marked for a corner in his life —Rodgers

M

ARIO Balotelli had never marked for a defensive corner in his life before joining Liverpool this week, according to his new manager Brendan Rodgers.

The Italian returned to the Premier League, having left Manchester City 20 months ago, in a •20 million move from AC Milan this week and made his debut in his new club’s 30 thrashing of Tottenham on Sunday.

Although he failed to score - and his shooting was certainly rusty he put in a lively performance at White Hart Lane and Rodgers was elated with Balotelli’s efforts, revealing that he is giving the 24year-old more responsibility in a bid to maximise the striker’s talent.

“I thought the two boys up front with Raheem in behind worked really well,” the Northern Irishman told reporters after the game.

“He was very good. I think you all saw Mario’s workrate, pressing and effort out there today. He was disappointed not to score.

“He’s a good guy and a good man.

If you take away the circus around him, control the background noise and get him to solely focus on football, you can see his quality.”

•Balotelli

•Mourinho

I have to build van Persie’s J fitness—van Gaal L OUIS van Gaal has conceded that he has no choice but to play Robin van Persie in competitive matches to build up his fitness after his post-World Cup break.

Due to Holland’s progress deep into the World Cup, the Dutch international missed Manchester United’s pre-season preparations and was also ruled out of their first league game against Swansea.

The former Bayern Munich manager is hoping that by playing Van Persie

in competitive league fixtures he can help the Dutch striker to attain match fitness as soon as possible.

“He played 60 minutes in his first game back and 70 minutes today, so I think it’s a case of building up his game time”, Van Gaal told the club’s official site.

Van Gaal bemoaned the fact that Van Persie had to join the squad late because of the World Cup which

denied him from taking part in the pre-season fixtures.

He further added that he has no option but to play the striker to build up his fitness for the rest of the season.

“It’s frustrating, but it’s part of the world of football, because of the World Cup. “It’s a pity, but we have to do it because otherwise he wouldn’t be fit for the season.”

Feyenoord. He’s been great for me but it’s a chance for him to go back, he’s in his last year.

“We’d obviously lose him in the Africa Cup of Nations so it made sense he went back home.

“There’s no update on [Cleverley] at the minute to be honest, he’s still Manchester United’s player. Nothing went forward on that.

“If we can do one or two lads to come in, then I’ll look to do that.”

Lambert delighted with ´unplayable´ Agbonlahor P

AUL Lambert hailed striker Gabriel Agbonlahor after he scored the opening goal in Aston Villa’s 2-1 win over Hull City on Sunday.

The 27-year-old produced a smart turn and finish to get the hosts up and running at Villa Park before Andreas Weimann doubled the advantage prior to the break.

Nikica Jelavic’s header found its way in via an Aly Cissokho deflection 16 minutes from time, but Villa held on to continue their unbeaten run in the top flight this term.

Lambert highlighted Agbonlahor as a standout performer on Sunday and insisted his side’s overall showing warranted the three points.

“I thought in the first half we were outstanding, the game plan and the tactical aspect of the game was outstanding and against a good side - the three at the back system is a hard one to play against,” he explained.

“I don’t think if we’d scored another couple of goals, anyone could have begrudged us that. That would have made the second half a little bit more at ease.

“Gabby today was, especially in the first half, unplayable. His running power and his speed were excellent but the movement in the midfield was terrific.

“It’s been a terrific start for us and hopefully we can keep it going.”

Lambert also confirmed Moroccan midfielder Karim El Ahmadi is set to return to Feyenoord with negotiations continuing between Villa and Manchester United over midfielder Tom Cleverley.

On El Ahmadi, the Scot explained: “It looks like he’s going to sign at

OSE Mourinho has lauded the quality of football displayed by Chelsea in their win against Everton saying in a goalscoring feast, the Blues registered a scintillating 6-3 win over the Toffees at Goodison Park in a Premier League clash.

“The quality of our football was fantastic”, the Chelsea manager told his club’s official site.

Mourinho was impressed by the attacking instincts shown by his side and said every time they were on the ball, Chelsea looked threatening.

“Every time we had the ball we were aggressive, every time we had the ball we were dangerous. On the counter-attack and in organised football we were very good with the ball.

“I want the team to play the way we did and be positive.”

The Portuguese revealed that he asked his men to remain positive against Everton in the second half even though the Blues were leading.

“At half-time we were winning 21 and I was telling them that against a team like Everton you cannot sit back and defend for 45 minutes. You have to try to hurt them and score goals. Our team is very positive.”

Man City wait on Fernando injury update

M •Agbonlahor

ANCHESTER CITY are waiting to discover the extent of a groin injury picked up by Fernando in Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Stoke City.

The midfielder was forced off in the first half at the Etihad Stadium and replaced by fellow Brazilian Fernandinho and City boss Manuel Pellegrini revealed after the game that Fernando was set for further assessment.

“Fernando has a muscle problem in his groin,” Pellegrini told reporters. “We will see tomorrow with the doctor how strong it is.”

A break for international fixtures means City are not in action again until September 13, when they visit Arsenal.

The champions suffered their first defeat of the season against Stoke, with a fine solo goal from Mame Biram Diouf earning a shock victory for Mark Hughes’ men.

•Fernando

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

60

TRANSFER...TRANSFER...TRANSFER...

NATION SPORT

Wenger: Campbell going nowhere

I don’t need greedy players — Ancelotti

A

RSENAL manager Arsene Wenger says Joel Campbell will not be leaving the club on loan despite plenty of interest in the striker.

The Costa Rica international returned to the Emirates Stadium ahead of the new season following a loan spell at Olympiacos - the latest in a series of temporary moves away from Arsenal.

Campbell has also been loaned out to Lorient and Real Betis in recent years but is expected to challenge for a first-team place at Arsenal this season following a strong World Cup with Costa Rica.

While Campbell is yet to start for Arsenal this season, Wenger maintains the 22year-old will not leave on loan again.

“We have had a lot of offers for Joel and have turned them all down,” Wenger is quoted as telling The Sunday People.

“There are plenty of clubs - I don’t know exactly how many because I said to my assistants, ‘He will not go out on loan’.

“If somebody calls them they don’t even tell me any more because, when I say no, it’s no.

“But he is definitely a player wanted by many clubs.”

•Di Maria

R

EAL MADRID manager Carlo Ancelotti has indicated that Angel di Maria’s move to Manchester United is based on financial reasons.

The Italian was not keen to lose the Argentine and was desperate to hold onto him this season, fighting that battle

until the end.

However, Di Maria felt that he was not gettinag a fair deal at Real Madrid and after joining Manchester United the Argentine indicated that he was forced out of the club.

But Ancelotti claims that Di Maria left Los Blancos because of financial reasons and

explained he doesn’t want players who are not motivated enough to play at the club.

“Each situation is different”, the Italian was quoted as saying

by Eurosport.

“Some players love to compete, others prefer to make more money.

“If a player needs motivation

to play at the best club in the world, I have no problem in letting him go.”

Di Maria made his debut for Manchester United in a 0-0 draw against Burnley yesterday. The result means Manchester United are still waiting for their first win under Louis van Gaal after four games this season.

•Ancelotti

Ronaldinho in talks with Team Chennai

Falcao denies Real move R

M •Campbell

Newcastle set to win race for Alderweireld

N

EWCASTLE United are set to win the race to sign Atletico Madrid defender Toby Alderweireld, Goal understands.

The 25-year-old joined Atletico Madrid last summer, but he was limited to just 10 starts in La Liga and a number of those were in his unfavoured position of fullback.

A move to Newcastle will afford Alderweireld the chance to flourish in his natural position of centre-back, where he spent four years as a key player for Ajax before joining the Spanish side.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Southampton have all been strongly linked with the defender, while rivals Sunderland had also been hoping to lure him to the north east.

•Alderweireld

ONACO striker Radamel Falcao has issued a clarification over a tweet that suggested that he is joining Real Madrid.

The initial tweet was released from his official account yesterday that read “Dream come true #HalaMadrid.” It was later deleted.

The tweet gained instant popularity and was circulated on various social media platforms.

It seemed Falcao’s move to Real Madrid was all but done.

However, the Colombian has denied writing the tweet and said that it was supposed to be a photo

montage.

“I have to deny a story about a Tweet I didn’t do and which is a photo montage”, Falcao wrote on Twitter.

The striker has been constantly linked with a move to Real Madrid and yesterday’s tweet added more fuel to the speculation.

Falcao, who has recovered from a knee injury sustained in January, was left out of the squad for Monaco’s 1-1 draw against Lille yesterday and watched the match from the stands sat alongside his agent Jorge Mendes.

Tottenham close in on Welbeck

T

OTTENHAM are closing in on the season-long loan signing of Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck, Goal understands.

The clubs are in advanced negotiations over a loan fee of around •2.5 million and Spurs have agreed to pay the 23-year-old’s salary in full, with the deal likely to be completed on deadline day.

Welbeck came close to leaving United at the end of last season, but opted to try to force his way back into the first team when Louis van Gaal took over following the World Cup. However, the player and manager have been speaking over the last few weeks as to Welbeck’s future at the club – and following the arrival of Angel Di Maria, the England international has found himself even further from first-team reckoning.

With United willing to let him go, Newcastle, Sunderland and Hull all enquired after Welbeck, with Arsenal also monitoring the situationl, but Tottenham were always Welbeck’s preferred option and an agreement is now close between the two clubs Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino values the England international’s pace and versatility as a player who can play either centrally or from a wide position.

•Welbeck

•Falcao

Kalou feeling good about ORMER Chelsea striker Bundesliga Salomon Kalou has

F

joined Bundesliga outfit Hertha Berlin from Lille amidst interest from Scottish champions Celtic.

After spending six years at Chelsea, Kalou joined the French outfit in 2012 and scored 34 goals in 79 appearances for the club.

Celtic were keen to add the striker to bolster their options, but Hertha Berlin have beaten the Scottish champions to his signature.

The 29-year-old has signed a three-year contract with

Hertha Berlin and Michael Preetz, the club’s sporting director, expressed his delight at signing such an experienced striker.

“Salomon Kalou is a top striker who has proven his class in the Premier League, the Champions League and with his national team”, Preetz told the club’s official site.

Kalou, who has earned 67 international caps for Ivory Coast, is now looking forward to playing in Germany with Hertha Berlin.

ONALDINHO is set to enter negotiations with Indian Super League side Team Chennai, one of the club’s owners has revealed.

The 34-year-old has been without a club since leaving Atletico Mineiro in July.

Palmeiras were close to roping in the former World Cup veteran as part of its centennial celebrations but the deal fell through eventually.

He is now in discussions with the Indian side, according to Prashant Agarwal, one of the co-owners of the Chennai franchise.

“Yes, we have been in touch with Ronaldinho and his representatives for the last one week or so. However, I would like to clarify that the numbers such as USD 3 million or 36 crores INR (•2.3m) for two years doing the rounds in the market are absolutely false,” Agarwal told Goal.

Agarwal said he had played an important role in luring Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet to be a part of the inaugural edition of the ISL by joining the Delhi Dynamos and FC Pune City and says he is confident of bringing the Brazilian in too.

“We have been in direct contact with Ronaldinho’s agent. If we can manage to get Del Piero and Trezeguet to India on our own, why would we need to approach Ronaldinho via a third party?” he questioned.

•Ronaldinho

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

TRANSFER...TRANSFER...TRANSFER...

NATION SPORT Chelsea sign Loic Remy from QPR

‘Virgil van Dijk not leaving Celtic’

C

HELSEA have completed the signing of Loic Remy from QPR on a four-year contract.

The France international striker has put pen to paper on a deal until the summer of 2018, after Chelsea activated a £10.5million release clause in the 27-year-old’s contract.

Remy joined QPR from Marseille in January 2013, scoring six goals in 14 games, as Rangers were relegated from the Premier League.

He then spent the 2013/14 campaign on loan at Newcastle United, where he scored 14 goals.

Remy, who had also been linked with Arsenal, told Chelsea’s official website: “I feel very happy and very proud.

“When I heard Chelsea wanted to sign me I said “let’s go” straight away because they are one of the best clubs in the world.

“I remember the amazing atmosphere at Stamford Bridge when I played there for Marseille and I can’t wait to play for the first time in front of my new fans.”

Remy came through French side Lyon’s youth academy and made his first-team debut for his home-town club in 2006, playing for them during two Ligue 1 title-winning seasons, as well as in the Champions League.

However, it was at Nice, following a loan spell at Lens, where the young Remy built his reputation, earning a move to Marseille in August 2010.

He scored his first Champions League goals during his opening season for Marseille, playing in two group games against Chelsea, and was their top league scorer with 15 goals in 2010/ 11.

C

•Torres undergoes a medical at new club AC Milan

F

Torres finalises AC Milan loan move

ERNANDO Torres has finalised his move from Chelsea to AC Milan on a two-year loan deal.

The 30-year-old 2010 World Cup winner will now play for the Serie A side following three-and-a-half years at Stamford Bridge, in which time he helped Chelsea lift the Champions League, the Europa League and the FA Cup. “Chelsea Football Club thanks Fernando for his service during the past four seasons and wishes him the very best for his loan in Italy,” Chelsea said in a statement on their website.

Torres is hoping the move to Italy will rejuvenate his career and told Milan’s website: “When you play for Milan there are always big expectations.

“After a difficult season, all the players and the fans want to get back into the Champions League and fight for trophies.

“It will be a nice challenge trying to get back into the top-three in the league and subsequently have the chance to play in the Champions League next year.”

The Spain international joined Chelsea from Liverpool in January 2011 for a then British record transfer fee of £50million and will be out of contract at Stamford Bridge in 2016.

The former Atletico Madrid star struggled to capture the same form at Chelsea that had at times electrified Anfield and had seen him regarded as being among the best forwards in the world.

He went through several lengthy spells without scoring and managed only 20 goals in 110 Premier League appearances for the Blues.

He did, however, score 22 goals in the 2012/13 season spread over seven

•Remy

Chicharito set for Real Madrid loan

R

EAL MADRID are on the verge of completing a season-long loan deal for Manchester United striker Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez, Goal understands.

Los Blancos had considered moving for both Radamel Falcao of Monaco and Manchester City’s Alvaro Negredo but have decided that the Mexican - who has been told that he is free to leave Old Trafford - represents the best option.

Chicharito is seen as a player who can add an extra goal threat but one who will not compromise the standing of the club’s biggest stars, with Karim Benzema currently first-choice centre forward.

The 26-year-old has never been able to nail down a consistent starting role with the Red Devils since his move from Guadalajara in the summer of 2010 and was keen to seek first-team football elsewhere.

He sees Madrid as the ideal opportunity to prove himself, feeling that he was not given sufficient chances to impress at Old Trafford.

A season’s loan has been agreed between the two clubs, with only personal terms left to finalise before the move is officially announced.

•Chicarito

61

different competitions, a Chelsea club record.

And his highlights include his Champions League semi-final breakaway goal against Barcelona at the Nou Camp and the goal that helped beat Benfica to lift the Europa League trophy a year later.

For Spain, while at Chelsea, he helped his country to a second successive European Championship in 2012, securing the Golden Boot in the process thanks to his three goals, one of which was in the final where he also teed up club-mate Juan Mata to put the icing on a 4-0 win over Italy.

In the Europa League he scored key goals against Steaua Bucharest and Rubin Kazan before his opener in the final in Amsterdam.

He also netted Chelsea’s final goal of last season, a late winner at Cardiff, having earlier in the season raised the roof at Stamford Bridge with an even later goal that defeated Manchester City in the 90th minute.

•Kagawa is unveiled at Dortmund

Kagawa returns to Dortmund

S

SHINJI KAGAWA has rejoined Borussia Dortmund on a four-year deal.

The 25-year-old Japan international midfielder leaves Manchester United having failed to impress new manager Louis van Gaal.

Kagawa moved to Old Trafford in the summer of 2012 having spent two years in Germany where he collected back-to-back Bundesliga titles with Dortmund.

He also picked up a Premier League winners’ medal at Old Trafford during Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season.

However, his only appearance for United this campaign was a 20-minute spell during their shambolic 4-0 Capital One Cup defeat to

Milton Keynes Dons earlier this week.

Kagawa made 57 appearances for United, scoring six goals that included a hat-trick against Norwich.

He told Dortmund’s official website: “I wanted to realise my Premier League dream but now I’m happy to be back in Dortmund.

“This great team, a unique environment and Dortmund is like a family. I am proud they have never forgotten me and I can belong again.”

Dortmund’s sporting director Michael Zorc added: “The possibility of signing Shinji from Manchester United only arose for the first time in the last few days.

“Naturally we decided to add his enormous quality to our squad once again.”

ELTIC manager Ronny Deila insists defender Virgil van Dijk will not be leaving the club before the transfer window closes on Monday night.

Van Dijk has been linked with several English Premier League clubs in the past week and did not play in the 1-1 draw with Dundee at Dens Park on Sunday due to family issues But while Deila confirmed that van Dijk has been unsettled at Celtic Park, he revealed the centre-back has been informed he will be staying put.

“He is a very important player for us and we have told him that there is no chance he is going to leave,” Deila said.

‘He is too important to us, so there is no chance we will let him go during this window. We couldn’t replace him.

“We talked about it. He wishes to get to a new stage. He is a young player and a young man and he will get many chances in his career.

“But now we need him here and he knows that and that is how it is going to be.

“His girlfriend is also pregnant and due soon. So he hasn’t had the right focus, he wouldn’t have been 100 per cent today - that is why he didn’t play.”

Asked how van Dijk took the news, Deila said: “I think it’s no problem. But he needs a couple of days to get this out of his system, get thinking positively again.”

•Ronny Deila

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

62

SPORT EXTRA

Obudu Mountain Race holds Nov 8

T

HE Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the Obudu International Mountain Race and the African Mountain Running Championships has announced Saturday, November 8, 2014 for this year's two-inone race.

Speaking at the end of its meeting in Calabar at the weekend, the State Commissioner for Youth & Sports, Patrick Ugbe, who is also the vice chairman of the LOC, promised that this year's race will be unique.

'The 10th edition of the annual Obudu International Mountain Race and the sixth African Mountain Running Championships will hold on Saturday, November 8 at the Obudu Ranch Resort in Obudu,' began Ugbe who has been a strong part of the race since its inaugural edition in 2005.

'The race this year will be different from past editions because we are celebrating the 10th year of sponsoring Africa's best ever mountain running event and the highest paying mountain race in the

world. We have thus christened this year's race ‘Mountain Race of the Stars’. We want to invite all area champions and the very best mountain runners in the world to come and celebrate with us,' further revealed Ugbe who has been hailed as one of the men behind the huge success the race has enjoyed since 2005.

As part of decisions reached by the LOC, a total of 110 athletes shall feature in the world-class mountain race based on their performances around the globe.

The LOC has proposed to host one of the best competitions which will feature oath taking, match past, short speeches and local dances during the opening and closing ceremonies.

The committee revealed that prizes and awards shall be presented immediately at the end of each event to make the event one of the most ICTcompliant in the history of the competition.

'The event shall feature children, youth, media and VIP races on the first day of the

SOUTH AFRICA MOVE

Uzoenyi debuts for Sundowns •Says Nigerian League needs fairness

Y

•Obudu International Mountain Race runners competition while the main race will come up on day two.

His Excellency the Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke has promised to take part in the VIP race personally,' said Ugbe.

Last year Ethiopia's Yalew Ganet and Kenya's Rono Philemon won the respective women and men's individual

titles while Oltaruesh Perine and Godfrey Kusoro led Kenya and Uganda to the men and women's team titles.

The Obudu Mountain Race is an associate member race of the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) and is also endorsed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Stopping Bayern, City won’t be easy, says Musa

C

SKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa is expecting a tough challenge from group members; Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, Barclays Premier League kings Manchester City and Italian giants Roma in the European Champions League this season.

In the Champions League draw held on Thursday, the Muscovites were pitted in the

same group alongside Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Roma, and the Nigerian has confessed it will not be a stroll in the park for CSKA Moscow.

“Difficult group, it will not be easy. But we will do everything to try to get out of the group,” 21-year-old Musa said.

Speaking after his brace against Rostov in the Russian League yesterday afternoon,

the Super Eagles ace was pleased to open his Russian Premier League account this term.

The Nigeria international fired blanks in his previous five games, prior to the encounter at the Arena Khimki.

“I am very happy that we won today. It was important to us, especially given the fact that we lost the last two games.

I’m happy that I finally man-

aged to score and twice.

“Now, with a calm heart I will go for the national team matches. We struggled in the first half, however, in the second we realized our potential,” Ahmed Musa said to championat.com.

After six rounds of matches, defending champions CSKA Moscow are three points behind Zenit St Petersburg, who have played a game less.

Katsina /MTN Polo 2014: Emir of Katsina hails MTN Polo

T

HE huge involvement of the king of telecommunication, MTN Nigeria, in the development of the noble game of polo in Nigeria and beyond, has received official commendation from the Katsina Emirate Council and the people of Katsina.

Emir of Katsina, HRH Alhaji (Dr) Abdulmumuni Kabir, who made the commendation, praised the communication giant for partnering Katsina Polo Club in the promotion of the

noble game of polo and for positively touching the lives of Katsina citizens in so many ways.

The Emir made this declaration in his Palace while receiving a delegation of MTN officials, Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF) Executives and players, who paid him a courtesy call.

He stated that the unequalled involvement of MTN in the promotion of polo and sports generally in Katsina State has helped in redirecting the ener-

gies of the youth and engaging them positively.

Dr Kabir, who is also the life chairman of the NPF, expressed happiness at the commitment of MTN to Nigerian sports over the years and urged the telecommunication and ICT giant to do more, given the unifying and the diplomatic credentials of sports in Nigerian political history.

“We are happy with MTN for engaging our youths positively in the area of sports and I would

AFCON 2015 QUALIFIERS:

Odunlami tips Eagles for victory

S

UNSHINE Stars of Akure defender Kunle Odunlami has tipped the Super Eagles of Nigeria to emerge unscathed in September’s twin African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2015 qualifying matches against Congo and South Africa respectively.

Odunlami disclosed in a chat with footballlive.ng that the maximum point at stake is needed and he believes the Super Eagles will emerge victorious at the end of both games.

“We need the maximum six points and I believe by the special grace of God, we’re going to come out with six points,” Odunlami stated.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will begin the journey to the

defense of their 2013 AFCON triumph at home against Congo on the weekend of 6th

September before travelling to face South Africa on the 10th of September.

•John Obi Mikel, Juwon Oshaniwa and Kenneth Omeruo of Nigeria celebrate

urge them not to rest as MTN stands to gain a lot by turning our people away from negative tendencies through sports,” the royal father stated.

In his response, Regional Trade Marketing Manager, North West, Abdulhamid Hassan, who confirmed the readiness of the king of telecoms to once again partner the king of games in Katsina, stated that MTN will continue to promote the noble game of polo and sports generally in the country.

“And in line with our position as an organisation which seeks to support the distinct lifestyle of its various customers, we have put everything in place to make this year’s edition one of the most memorable in years,” he stated.

Abdulhamid, who thanked polo enthusiasts for their loyalty to the MTN brand, also revealed that as a major highlight of the glamorous event, MTN will continue to showcase various life-enriching innovative products and services, specifically designed for its teeming customers and the northern elites.

Earlier, the life president of Katsina Polo Club, Alhaji Lawa Kaita, who led the delegation, thanked the royal father for warmly receiving the polo family in his kingdom and urged MTN not to relent in its effort of promoting Nigerian sports and polo in particular.

ESTERDAY'S match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Amazulu at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in South Africa was the stage for Ejike Uzoenyi to make his competitive debut for the PSL champions.

Prior to the encounter, Uzoenyi had not yet featured for the Brazilians in an official game, due to a delay in the issuance of his work permit.

Having made the bench in the penultimate round, it wasn't a surprise when Ejike Uzoenyi was introduced in the 74th minute in place of out-of-favour South Africa national teamer, Surprise Moriri. ''The atmosphere was wonderful and I like it here because the people are nice. The supporters have treated me well, these people are nice,'' the Mamelodi Sundowns number 15 said to SL10.ng. ''I couldn't play the other game

J

but I talked to myself that I had to remain calm. It is normal to be nervous in every debut and your first touch is very important. ''The coach (Pitso Mosimane) is a good man and he talks to players like he is in your mind.''

After spending the last three weeks in South Africa, the former Enugu Rangers winger has noticed differences between the Nigeria championship and the Premier Soccer League. ''In South Africa, I see people who try to be fair in their way of life, in everything that has to do with football. ''Fairness is what we need in our League. We all know the right thing, so let's do it for our league to grow, '' Ejike Uzoenyi concluded.

Mamelodi Sundowns sit eighth on the table with seven points in the kitty after five games played in the top division.

Utaka scores as Turkish club falls at home

OHN Utaka scored on the opening day of the Turkish league season but his club Sivasspor fell 1-2 at home to Gaziantepspor.

Utaka opened scoring in the 52nd minute for the club handled by former Brazil great Roberto Carlos, before the visitors netted twice late on to win the game.

Last season, the 32-year-old Utaka overcame a long-term groin injury to score nine goals in 21 matches for Sivasspor, who placed a decent fifth in the Turkish top flight.

The former Rennes and Montpellier star is in the second year of his two-year deal at the Turkish club.

•Utaka

Metro Pro League holds Media Editor’s forum

D

ETERMINED to improve on its maiden season, the Lagos Metro Pro League at the weekend held a brainstorming session with media executives in Lagos.

The convener of the forum and chairman, Lagos Metro Pro League, Godson Uti, commended the media eeditors for giving the league some leverage in its maiden season.

Uti said the Lagos Metro Pro League is owned by private clubs in the state and its formation is to wet the appetite of football fans who are yearning for a standardised league devoid of biased officiating and rancour.

“We recorded a successful outing in the first season, such that fans could go to watch matches without fear of being attacked.

We at all times barred miscreants from gaining access to our arenas.

“Secondly, we ensured that unbiased referees were picked to officiate our games and the record shows that most games were won away last season which is not obtainable in other leagues,” Uti noted.

Uti, who is also the chairman of Bridge FC of Lagos, informed that plans are in top gear to introduce innovations to improve on the standard of the league in the new season.

Some of the innovations, according to him are; a gala night where players and administrators who

excel in the maiden season will be recognised and Metro Pro League official match balls will also be unveiled.

The Metro Pro League, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Victor Akinyooye, who was also at the forum, reeled out the adopted time and venues for matches and hinted that plans had been concluded to play some games in the evening under floodlights to attract football enthusiasts to the arena.

“Metro Pro League matches are played on Wednesdays, Thursdays and an early kick off on Saturdays. The days are strategically picked to avoid clashes with the Premier League and the Champions League timing.

“Our match venues are Onikan Stadium, Legacy Pitch, National Stadium, Surulere, Strong Tower Pitch, Ikorodu, Teslim Balogun Stadium and the Agege Township Stadium,” Akinyooye said.

The media editors took turns to offer advice to the Metro Pro League officials on how the project can be improved to become a model in the country.

The media editors present at the forum are; Ade Ojeikere (The Nation/Sporting Life), Tony Ubani (Vanguard), Pius Ayinor (The Punch), Duro Ikhazuagbe (ThisDay), Chris Okpara (Guardian), John Joshua-Akanji (The Sun/SoccerStar), Jide Alabi (Silverbird Group) and Emeka Ezeagwu (Newswatch).

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

63

TODAY IN THE NATION

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL 9 NO 2,956

‘Unless we unmask these local sponsors together with their sources of funding, the fears raised by Senator George Sekibo that the nation faces “threat of disintegration” may turn out a self-fulfilling prophesy’

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

H

IS wife begs for him. He flees to safety. A foreign leader mocks him.

Outsiders not only save him but do his job for him. After a while, the outsider gives up and retreats. He cries out for resources. He endures the image of a bully in one assignment and a coward in another. This is not a riddle, if a ridicule. But it is a commonplace and tragic depiction of the Nigerian soldier.

This is not the profile of a good soldier. But all of these have happened to the Nigerian soldier.

Nothing has reflected this more than the rapine and swagger of the militant group Boko Haram. It has been common to blame the Nigerian soldier, to call him a bully when he flexes muscles against puny quarries in elections. When he cannot sack a town like Gwoza where Boko Haram flaunts its flag, he comes off as pathetically weak and cravenly.

But we miss the point. The Nigerian soldier is a victim. He is not a scoundrel, a coward, nor is his DNA formatted for cruelty. He is human like every Nigerian. He breathes like us, has a mother, father, son, daughter, foibles and virtues. He dreams of a great future and fantasises about a happy life of home and roost after the clatter and ruins of battle. He is a lion and weasel like every one of us. Some can argue he is more lion than weasel from his career choice.

Sometime ago, when soldiers mutinied in Borno State, the moral underbelly of their plight was unveiled. It was then that many Nigerians understood that the army was fighting without enough gear, without enough motivation, and without a sense of mission.

That made some to wonder, what happened to the humongous defence budget year after year, amounting to about a trillion Naira a year in three years?

We can see that the problem with the army is the same thing afflicting our sports, healthcare, education and infrastructure. It was not for nothing that our football players wanted their allowances before donning the national jerseys in the recently concluded World Cup in Brazil. It is for the same reasons that schoolteachers care less about their wards than their lifestyles and personal survival. Or that doctors shun their Hippocratic oaths in spite of the Ebola rage. Ditto the lawyer, journalist, civil servant, medical doctor, parent, etc.

The average Nigerian is not invested in their country. We are patriots as cynics and cynics as patriots. It is the same reason 30 per cent pass WASCE that our soldier fumble in battle.

The plight of the soldier is the failure of the Nigerian society. We failed the soldier before the soldier failed us. When the soldier cannot have his kit, when he cannot match the arms of his rampaging foe, would he not wonder in his private moment whether his bosses have

RIPPLES

FORMER MINISTER GAVE CONTRACTS TO HIS FRIENDS–DG

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchnation@gmail.com 08054501081(sms only) Twitter: @samomatseye

The good soldier

‘

The Nigerian soldier is a victim. He is not a scoundrel, a coward, nor is his DNA formatted for cruelty. He is human like every Nigerian

’

•Shettima

sent him there, Uriah-like, to die? They see the same people fund fairy tale weddings, survive scandals amounting to billions, hear of military contracts and do not see the effect either in their barracks or in their remunerations.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator John McCain hurled near imprecations at the Nigerian army. The wives of soldiers protested the war on Boko Haram because they saw it as exposing their breadwinners to a meaningless death.

Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima once made headlines when he said Boko Haram was more determined and better armed than our conventional forces. If they could raze an air force, take over swaths of land, fly their flags, install emirs and declare a caliphate, and weeks after, our army does not dislodge them, then Shettima was right. He did not utter that statement a week ago. When he said it, Gwoza did not crouch under a new flag, and Chibok played coy of the world map.

Now the latest drama was a tearful comedy.

T

So you mean he should have given them to his ENEMIES...ehn?

HE Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, is fast earning the distinction of Hardball’s favourite public official. Dapper, impeccable dresser and brilliant of speech, his elocution is like a rapid action revolver, meaning that the right words are always at his fingertips – or triggertip if you like.

Plus his statistics too - in fact, figures are the palm oil with which Monsieur Adesina eats his words, so to speak. And he relishes every word that proceeds out of his mouth and you, his listener, may be carried away enough to dance to the cadences of his wonderful voice.

It must be the hallmark of technocracy (which Adesina exemplifies) that they must crunch number, speak with statistics to retain their techie mystique. That is okay except that Hardball often finds his figures spurious. The latest in his now fine art of number-bandying is the claim that Nigeria’s food import has dropped by N400 billion since 2009. This is far from the truth and it rankles.

The minister spoke last Monday at the inauguration of a 100,000 metric-tonne silos complex in Abuja. Let’s here him (and

About 500 Nigerian soldiers fled their country for shelter in an apparently smaller, weaker country. More funny still, it was not the Nigerian soldier but the Camerounian that escorted them back to Nigerian territory. The smaller soldier saved the big one, a David came to a Goliath’s rescue. Nigerians stood by and admired the soldiery of a neighbour as they saved our own. It was like a scene in

E

EMEKA OMEIHE

the novel, The Good Soldier, where a soldier admires the man making love to his wife. He does not love the scene, but the cuckold envies the skill, brio and virility of the adulterous man. The author, Ford Maddox Ford, almost called his novel, The Saddest Story.

The same Camerounian army rattled Boko Haram camps in our territory near their country’s border. Normally, what the neighbours did was a breach of international protocols. But we are thankful for their sins. Is it not the same army that once bred men like Adekunle, Alabi Isama and Akinrinade? We forget that General Muhammadu Buhari, as a GOC once amassed his army and, in defiance of his bosses, roared to the same Borno area to defend the same territory now besieged and rattled. Times have changed. Surely we cannot blame the soldier. The blame goes to those in charge of the soldiers. The political elite, that is. In his novel, War and Peace, Tolstoy noted that wars are won not by those who shoot the guns but those who devise them and the policy.

The Boko Haram militants’ edge also is in belief. They believe in their caliphate and theocratic dreams. The militant group ISIS that is rumbling through Iraq today relies more on the clarity of its ideology than the fractious, ill-motivated Iraqi forces. Hence, it is taking a foreigner, the American, to blunt their edges.

The Americans believe in their country.

We should not blame the soldiers. We should blame those who have not motivated them to battle. Soldiers have honour when the country invests them with it. It is the political elite who makes them bullies in election and retreat against the militants.

This is the shameful irony of today: that the army soars in Ekiti and Osun polls like an omnipotent. But on their behalf, wives are panting in public. Like the morally besieged Lord Jim in Joseph Conrad’s novel of that title, the Nigerian soldier is one of us.

Fayose and Okada riders

KITI State Governor-elect Ayo Fayose has announced that he would not ban Okada riders, but that he would buy them helmets. Is that part of his stomach infrastructure? He may mean well, but he should realise that helmets have never worked as policy in Nigeria. One, it does not save limbs or torsos. Recently, an accident happened when I parked my car on a street in Lagos. As I opened the door, an okada rammed straight into the half-open door. The motorcycle bore a pregnant woman. The bike, rider and pregnant woman tumbled on the tarred road. The grace was that no fatalities resulted, but hospital emergency was inevitable. First, he should have stayed away from a parked car.

Two, why was he carrying a pregnant woman against the law? Judging by the speed, why was he in such a hurry?

Another issue is superstition. People believe helmets bear charms that steal others’ fortunes and brains. We have seen this before across the Southwest. Even claims of vanished genitalia have been brandished. So the Governor-elect should be wary of turning populism into death traps. His PDP counterparts in Akwa Ibom and Abia, etc., have banned the two-tyred tragedy. He should learn from them, if he does not want to learn from Lagos where the restriction has dramatically reduced deaths and injuries. Stomach infrastructure can be pursued with better finesse and better use of public funds.

HARDBALL

Ade in wonderland hear also, Hardball’s take as italicised in brackets): “Today marks another milestone in the drive and journey of Nigeria to modernise its agricultural sector (oh yea, whatever happened to previous silos installed across the country?). There is no doubt that agriculture is growing rapidly in Nigeria (hmn, where exactly in Nigeria sir?). Private sector investments in agriculture are expanding (this may be true but not exactly your making).”

“All across the nation, smallholder farmers are witnessing a refreshing new dawn (haba oga, ride us slowly now, you are not talking to Americans!). Our food import bill has declined from N1.1 trillion in 2009 to N684.7 billion by December, 2013 and continues to decline in 2014 (Oga this is not possible. What have we done right?).”

Then he noted quite contradictorily that despite the gains, there were still challenges and one of such was, “low level of mechanisation of the agriculture sector…The

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above number of tractors per 100 square kilometers in Nigeria is less than 10, compared to over 728 in the United Kingdom; 257 in the USA; 200 in India; 130 in Brazil and 125 in the Philippines.”

How could Nigeria have achieved about 40 per cent reduction in food import under Adesina’s tenure if, as he admits, a country of our size still lacks such basic large scale farming implements as tractors? Hardball can testify that it is neigh impossible to find motorised equipment to clear or till large scale farmlands. In fact, mechanised commercial farms are still a rarity in the land.

President Goodluck Jonathan must have been so moved recently by the joke we call agriculture in Nigeria to practically order the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to set aside N50 billion to catalyse mechanised farming in Nigeria.

The fact is that not much has changed in the sector. We are still embroiled in hoeand-cutlass subsistent farming; government has failed to create the right environment; huge agric funds are still diverted and nearly half of our meager harvests go to waste. That is Nigeria’s agric story; never mind what our minister say, he must be in a wonderland.

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025,Oshodi, Lagos.

Telephone: Switch Board: 01-8168361. Editor Daily:08099365644, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790 WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO