The Nation, September 02, 2014

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VOL. 9, NO. 2957 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

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Woman tests positive to Ebola as Nigeria seeks drug from Japan

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MEDICAL doctor and a pharmacist who were quarantined at the Rivers State Ebola treatment centre have been discharged, having tested negative to the deadly disease.

They were among the personnel who managed the late Dr. Ikechukwu Sam. Enemuo at his SamSteel Hospital in

•Chukwu

From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

Port Harcourt when he became symptomatic of Ebola disease. He died penultimate Friday in another hospital.

The doctor and pharmacist were his workers. They had feverish conditions as high as could suggest the disease, and were quarantined on Satur-

day alongside Enemuo’s hospital room mate at Good Hart Hospital where he died. Their test results were negative and they have been released from the centre, but the ex-Good Hart patient was not that lucky. She tested positive to the virus and is receiving treatment at the centre.

Commissioner for Health

Dr. Sampson Parker, in a situation report he released yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, said the late Enemuo’s sister in-law, simply identified as Chinyere, who was with him during his illness, had been admitted at the quarantine centre. She ran off to Abia State after the death of her in-law, but has

been brought back by the Ebola Emergency Operation Committee (EOC). She became feverish in Port Harcourt and was isolated.

Her test result is being awaited.

The Commissioner said over 200 contacts of the late Enemuo had been traced Continued on page 4

•INSIDE: CHIME: MY EX-DEPUTY ‘BAD SPARK PLUG’ P56 MODIBBO ‘STILL IN RACE’ PP4 4

2015: PDP divided over Jonathan’s endorsement Disquiet in Kano, Katsina, Jigawa From Blessing Olaifa, Abuja and Ahmed Rufa’I, Dutse

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election campaigners have hit an obstacle, with the Northwest Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) divided over his yet unannounced ambition.

An attempt to present a unanimous block support for the President in the Northwest failed on Sunday.

Jigawa State – one of the states in the zoneyesterday repudiated the communiqué of the Kaduna meeting of the zonal leaders of the party, which purportedly endorsed Dr. Jonathan’s candidacy.

Vice President Namadi Sambo and PDP National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu led others to the meeting.

But Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido and House of Representatives Speaker Aminu

Dangerous signal from Northwest?

•Analysis — Page 4 Tambuwal topped the list of PDP public officials who did not attend the meeting.

The seven-page communiqué, read by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Aminu Wali, said, among others: “Having carefully considered the steady and stable progress of our nation under the able leadership of Dr. Continued on page 4

?

WHERE ARE THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15?

•Health officials screening commuters for the deadly Ebola virus at Abali Motor Park in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital…yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

40 Boko Haram insurgents killed in battle for Bama

•SEE PAGE 4

Soldiers foil attempt by sect’s fighters to seize Borno’s key town

•TRANSPORTATION P14 •PROPERTY P18 •SPORTS P23 •POLITICS P43 •ENERGY P48

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

2

NEWS

Ebola still •From left: President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Chief Kola Jamodu, Chairman, Honeywell Group, Chief Oba Otudeko, Minister of Trade, Investment and Industry and Chairman, Presidential Adversary Committee (PAC) on Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), Dr. Olusegun Aganga and President, Dangote Group and Co-Chairman, PAC, NIRP, Alhaji Aliko Dangote at the NIRP meeting in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID.

•Manager, Manpower Planning and Resourcing, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, Dr Sophia Horsfall receiving an award for NLNG’s contributions to education from the former Deputy ViceChancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Prof.

Bene Willie Abbey during the third International Downstream Conference and Exhibition on Gas, Petroleum Refining, Petrochemicals and Fertilisers in Port Harcourt.

•From left: Assistant Brand Manager, Dettol, Reckitt Benckiser, Mr. Oladipupo Ogundele; Chief Strategist, Chain Reactions Nigeria, Mr. Israel Opayemi; Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu; and Marketing Director for West Africa, Reckitt Benckiser, Mr. Oguzhan Silivrili after a partnership meeting between the Federal Ministry of Health and Reckitt Benckiser on Dettol Public Enlightenment Campaign on Ebola in Abuja.

• Director, Voters Registry, Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC), Mr Emmanuel Akem (left) speaking at the Citizens Town Hall meeting in Abuja...yesterday. With him are Director, Voters Education, Mr Oluwale Uzzi (middle) and Head of Department, Voters Education and Publicity, FCT INEC. Mr Okezie Nwankwo.

PHOTO: NAN

Last Wednesday, President Goodluck Jonathan complained about discrimination against Nigerians travelling overseas over the Ebola outbreak.

But going by developments at the weekend, it seems Nigerians or anyone who has either travelled to Nigeria or any of the affected countries will continue to be treated as a potential patient, writes Asst. Editor OLUKOREDE YISHAU

H

E was hospitalised on Sunday with a high fever in Malaga, Spain. But because the 40year-old Nigerian was recently home, he was placed in medical isolation at the Malaga Regional Hospital and tested for the Ebola virus. A spokeswoman at the Malaga hospital said test samples were sent to a laboratory in Madrid yesterday, and results of the tests are due today. The man was in stable condition yesterday, the spokeswoman said.

In a related development, an unidentified young man who sought treatment for high fever and stomach pains at a local health clinic in Stockholm on Sunday evening was also isolated after medical staff learned that he had recently visited a West African country affected by the Ebola virus. Subsequently, he was transferred to medical isolation at Stockholm's Karolinska University Hospital.

The man has been tested for Ebola and the results show he doesn't have the virus, said Ake Ortqvist, a communicable disease specialist, in a statement by Stockholm County Council health services.

"We can conclude that there are no signs whatsoever that patient has contracted Ebola," Dr. Ortqvist said, adding that the risk of an Ebola outbreak in Sweden is extremely low.

Since the Ebola outbreak, countries, in Europe especially, have treated Nigerians in ways President Goodluck Jonathan said amount to discrimination and stigmatisation. Most of the Nigerians who have been isolated overseas form the suspected Ebola cases reported in Europe. After medical examination, the suspected cases have turned out to be false alarms.

Jonathan condemned the stigmatisation and discrimination against Nigerians overseas over the Ebola Virus Disease while receiving a Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, on Ebola Virus, Dr. David Navarro, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Jonathan, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, cited the instance of Nigeria's team to the Youth Olympics in China, who were forced to abandon its participation due to stigmatisation.

He said there was no justification for such stigmatisation of Nigerians since the disease had been effectively contained in the country and has never attained epidemic level in the country.

The President called for the cessation of such discriminatory actions against Nigerians over the virus.

Jonathan said: "All hands have been

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (2nd left), the Chairman, MTN Nigeria, Dr. Pascal Dozie (middle), the Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Ms Nonny Ugboma (left), Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Raji (2nd right) and Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi (right) during a presentation of preventive materials on Ebola Virus Disease in Lagos ...yesterday.

PHOTO: MOSES

OMOSEHIN

on deck to contain the virus here. I commend my team and the Lagos State Government. We have been able to set politics aside and work in unison to deal with a national threat.

"All other Nigerians have played a part too by complying with the directives and advice we have issued to stop the virus from spreading any further.

The success we have had is a testimony to what we can achieve as people if we set aside our differences and work together."

"We will continue to monitor the situation and we will also support other affected African countries as much as we can because we cannot be completely safe from the virus as long as it continues to ravage some countries in our sub-region and continent.

We will continue to work with the international community to curb the outbreak in other countries."

Mr. Navarro, who had visited Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, three countries worst hit by Ebola before coming to Nigeria, told the President that he came on the instruction of the UN Secretary-General to applaud Nigeria's successful containment of the virus.

He said: "The Secretary-General asked me to come here too, not because you have an Ebola problem, but because you have tackled it in an exemplary fashion.

"Your personal leadership on the matter has been key. There may still be some work to be done before the virus is completely cleared out from here, but other countries can learn from your fine example."

Navarro said: "I have discussed with the President the result of my mission in other countries in the region and we also examined the situation of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria."

"The point I made to the President of Nigeria is that this country and its people have performed excellently in their response to Ebola Virus Disease."

"It has been a whole of country effort. The whole of the society has been involved and the correct procedures are being adopted."

He said as a result of globalisation, free movement between countries and between communities, outbreaks of dangerous diseases would continue.

He said: "The good public health techniques and the full involvement of all of society, strong leadership by all, whatever their political party, can lead to successful control effort.

"We of course regret that some people lost their lives. There may be someone who got sick and died as a result of this current Ebola insertion into Nigeria but I am confident that the government and the people are responding in a proper way and to ensure that the situation is kept under

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

3

NEWS

ll ‘endangers’ Nigerians abroad ‘

More than 1,500 people have died from the Ebola virus in the four affected countries of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, with more than 3,000 probable and confirmed cases of the disease

‘

•Some of the Ebola prevention kits donated by MTN...yesterday.

Ebola keeps Liberian President away from water conference

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IBERIAN President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is absent at the 24th World Water Week in Stockholm Sweden.

No thanks to the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) ravaging her country.

She is the Grand patron of the Global Water Partnership and was billed to deliver the keynote address.

In a prepared statement, Sirleaf said there was an urgent need to address the issue of water and sanitation, especially in the view of the outbreak of the EVD in West Africa.

According to the World Bank, 2.8 billion people live in areas of high water stress while 2.5 people have unreliable or no access to electricity. By 2035, the World Bank estimates that energy consumption will increase by 35 percent which will also drive up the demand for water by 85 percent, putting pressure in scarce water resources, especially in the developing countries. control by the way they are paying full attention to the people's rights and entitlement.

"So thank you minister and through the media I would also want to thank the people, the government, civil society groups, doctors, nurses communi-

From Seun Akioye, in Stockholm Speaking on the sideline of the conference, Minister for Water Resources Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe said Nigeria is blessed with enourmous water resources but that her ministry is still working towards ensuring that 100 per cent of Nigerians have access to potable drinking water at all times.

Mrs Ochekpe: “From our own analysis, about 70 per cent of Nigerians have access to potable water. But our desire is to see that 100 per cent of Nigerians have access to potable water on a 24-hour basis and seven days a week.”

The World Water Week, which started as a research symposium in 1991, draws environmentalists, government officials, intergovernmental agencies, academics, civil society activists and researchers together to fashion a way

ties workers it has been a team effort and it is has been done well and I hope will continue go on well because there may be one or two cases but they will be dealt with."

More than 1,500 people have died from the Ebola virus in the four af-

whereby affordably potable water will be available globally.

Mrs Ochekpe said while Nigeria is building many more dams to generate hydropower to complement what is derived from thermo and gas energy to boost electricity supply, there is a proportionate use of water for power generation.

She said water and power are interdependent, as water is important in generating power.

“Discussions are on to emphasize the importance between energy and water to show that the two are important in global development. Generally, we need water generate energy and we are working on that,” she said.

She said with the investment, the Federal Government was making on energy generation, Nigerians would soon witness significant growth in the economy.

fected countries of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, with more than 3,000 probable and confirmed cases of the disease, the World Health Organization said Thursday.

The WHO believes the epidemic could affect as much as 200,000 people

She added that her ministry was working in collaboration with the ministries of power, agriculture and environment to see how water and energy can be appopriately utilised without hurting the other.

Mrs Ochekpe said despite campaigns in some quarters that African countries should not develop hydro-power technology, Nigeria would continue to pursue it as a solution to the energy crisis.

She said while Nigeria is blessed with enourmous water resources, the key is to effectively manage the use of water both for energy, agriculture and consumption.

“Hydro power is clean and renewable energy.

It is less expensive. I don’t think Nigeria will subscribe to that clamour not to do hydro power.

We are blessed with a lot of water resources.

What will we use the water resources for?”

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.

No case of Ebola Virus Disease in Abuja, says minister

T

HE Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said yesterday there was no case of the Ebola Virus Disease in the Federal Capital Territory as being speculated.

Chukwu spoke in Abuja while answering questions from reporters at the second emergency National Council on Health meeting on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Nigeria.

“The person is not a Liberian, the person is a Nigerian working for a foreign agency, the person is a sickler, he has crisis; it is not an Ebola virus diseases.

“As of this morning, there is no single case of suspected or otherwise of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory.“ Somebody suspected to be Liberian national was reported to have collapsed suddenly at a USAID Workshop at the hotel venue in Abuja.

He was alleged to have been infected with the Ebola Virus and was immediately taken to an unknown hospital in Abuja by persons who did not take any form of precaution.

The minister also described as untrue the assertion that the emergency numbers provided for the public to call and to report any suspected case of the virus were not working.

“The number of times I tried to do integrity check, they have always responded. But, I promise to take it up with the Incident Manager,’’ he said.

The Chief Medical Director, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Prof. Femi Fadiora, said the hospital has procured kits

•LAUTECH procures N5m Ebola kits

‘

The person is not a Liberian, the person is a Nigerian working for a foreign agency, the person is a sickler, he has crisis; it is not an Ebola virus diseases. “As of this morning, there is no single case of suspected or otherwise of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory •Chukwu

worth N5 million to protect its personnel against the Ebola Virus Disease.

Fadiora, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo yesterday, said

‘

procurement of kits would be a continuous exercise.

He said it was the tradition of the hospital to be proactive in the handling of outbreaks

of diseases such as Ebola. ‘’The outbreak and unfortunate spread of the Ebola Virus Disease requires the commitment of every Nigerian, especially a health facility like the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital. ‘’We do not need to wait till we have a case on our hand before we prepare to contain such.

The management appreciates the readiness of our health personnel to work with commitment irrespective of the sensitivity of medical cases. ‘’It is, therefore, an issue of responsibility to provide the necessary equipment and the enabling environment for our doctors, nurses and other allied staff to attend to the health needs of the people. ‘’We already have anti-ebola kits worth N5 million as we speak; before the end of this week , we are also expecting more,’’ Fadiora said. “ The kits that we already have include Ebola suits, infrared thermometer, masks, goggles and preventive foot wears,’’ he added.

Fadiora also said the hospital was partnering with other stakeholders to sensitise Nigerians on how to contain the virus. “ Adequate dissemination of information is key in this battle against the deadly virus that we have on our laps. It is indeed a challenge, but the spread can be checked. ‘’ It is only when people are well informed and educated that they can protect themselves and by extension curtail the spread of the disease. There have been misinformation since the virus unfortunately found its way into Nigeria,’’ he said.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

40 Boko Haram insurgents killed in battle for Bama From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

B

•From left: Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and his Rivers State counterpart Rotimi Amaechi at the Third Progressives Governance lecture series in Owerri…yesterday.

Woman tests positive to Ebola in Rivers Continued from page 1

and put under watch; 50 of them are classified high-risk and 60 are in hiding. He appealed to them to come out, so they could be monitored for their safety and that of the public. The disease, said Parker, could be treated if discovered on time .

Parker noted that the contacts that ran to Imo and Benue states had been called back to Port Harcourt, but that of AkwaIbom could not be reached. He said the assistance of the State Security Services (SSS) in Akwa-Ibom State had been employed to track and send her back to Port Harcourt.

The commissioner said four doctors, eight nurses and six expatriates, all volunteers, are working at the centre while another batch is under going training to join them.

Parker said the Federal and State governments were not relenting in their efforts to ensure that the virus does not claim more lives in the country. Three medical doctors, including Enemuo, have died of the virus.

D

The late Enemuo contracted the disease when he treated a Nigerian diplomat, Oluibukun Koye, who had contact with the index case, Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer.

Koye sneaked into Port Harcourt from the Lagos Isolation centre where he was placed under watch. He is alive and well.

To forestall Ebola’s spread,

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

ties about starting clinical testing of favipiravir for Ebola treatment. Aoki said the developers had enough stock to treat up to 20,000 patients.

The minister said: “The Treatment Research Group (TRG) has been working hard to identify experimental drugs, like Zmapp, and also make recommendations to government on further research on these drugs as well as vaccines for EVD treatment and prevention.

“Following the TRG’s recommendation and in consultation with NAFDAC and NHREC, Nigeria has indicated interest to participate in the clinical trials for two candidate EVD vaccines and are considering a third that may be added to the list. We have also applied for experimental drugs, such as TKM-Ebola.”

Continued on page 58

the remains of Enemuo and several others at the University of Port Harcourt (UPTH) mortuary would be buried in Port Harcourt this week, under the supervision of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Parker classified the bodies as high-risk, adding that they would not be allowed to leave Port Harcourt.

He said: “Dr. Enemuo’s sister

Continued on page 58

I have not stepped down for Fintiri, others, says Modibbo

Nigeria seeks Japanese drug Favipiravir ESPERATE to tackle the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), the Federal Government has applied for a Japanese drug on test “Favipiravir.”

Also being applied for is the TKM-Ebola drug and two other vaccines identified by the Treatment Research Group set up by government.

Minister of Health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu broke the news yesterday at the second Emergency National Council on Health meeting in Abuja.

Favipiravir was developed by a subsidiary of Japanese company Fujifilm Holdings. It could be delivered immediately by the makers, the minister said.

The flu treatment was approved by the Japanese Ministry of Health in March.

Fujifilm spokesman Takao Aoki said the company was in talks with United States (U.S.) authori-

OKO Haram’s ambitious move to capture Bama, Borno State’s second largest city, has turned a misadventure. The sect lost more than 40 fighters. Many were injured.

The insurgents are in control of Gwoza.

The Defence Headqurters said the attack was being repelled.

Yesterday’s was the fifth attempt by Boko Haram to take over Bama where most leaders of the sect have their base.

The insurgents had always targeted Mohammed Kur Barracks and the police station in the town.

According to a military source, the insurgents invaded Bama

in-law, who ran off to Abia State after the death of her in-law, has returned to Port Harcourt. She has become symptomatic and now at the treatment centre.

“Results of the three patients we earlier admitted at the centre are out; two of them tested negative, one tested positive.

The two persons who tested negative have been discharged Continued on page 58

O

NE of the governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Adamawa State, Dr Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo, yesterday said he has not stepped down for Acting Governor Umaru Fintiri or any of the remaining 13 aspirants.

Modibbo made the clarification in a statement by his Media Assistant Julius Toba.

The statement said: “The latest news of our purported withdrawal from Adamawa governorship election for the Acting Governor is an imagination of

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

our political detractors who are bent of pushing us out of the race against the popular wishes of Adamawa people” “As a matter of fact, at no time did Dr Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo sit in any meeting either with the acting governor or three other aspirants of PDP as being rumoured to discuss the issue of consensus candidature” “The import of this is that Modibbo is still 100% in the race and that no amount of this category of cheap propaganda will Continued on page 58

APC screens Adamawa aspirants

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday commenced the screening of its nine governorship aspirants for .

The chairman of the Screening Committee, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), told reporters that the process was hitch-free.

Akeredolu said the committee had interacted with three as-

From Barnabas Manyam, Yola

pirants, Senator Ahmad Barata, Dr. Dahiru Bobbo and Senator Bindow Umaru Jibrilla.

Barata who appeared first before the committee, refused to speak to the reporters. He headed straight for his car Bobbo, a close associate of ExVice President Atiku Abubakar described the screening as interactive and lively.

2015: PDP divided over Jonathan’s endorsement Dangerous signal from Northwest?

Continued from page 1

Jonathan, the stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Northwest, having in mind the monumental strides attained by this administration, have resolved to urge Dr. Jonathan to declare for president in the coming elections to continue the good work he has started. We ask for nothing less.

“Consequently, we urge the national chairman of our party to convey this resolution and unanimous declaration of the leadership and membership of the PDP in the Northwest to Dr. Jonathan to render himself for continued service to the country.”

Sources at the meeting said as soon as Wali began reading, aggrieved members, particularly from Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, shouted “no”, “no”.

The minister, who was interrupted frequently, read on.

Those against it insisted that the communiqué had not been discussed.

Jigawa State Deputy Governor Alhaji Ahmad Mahmud said yesterday in Dutse: “We are not part of the decision. We didn’t know the content of the communiqué read after yesterday’s (Sunday’s) PDP North-

T

HE Northwest Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders have caught the bug of second term endorsement for second term. Although Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders have endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan in the South, the lack of consensus in the most populous zone is a setback for the campaigns for his re-election by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) and other proJonathan groups.

Since last year, Northwest PDP has not fully cooperated with its national leadership over the President’s agenda. To whip the zonal leaders into line, the national leadership applied the big stick. But, it appeared the party shot its arrow in a wrong direction. Not only was the zone balkanised, following the defection of two governors —Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State and Alhaji Musa Kwakwanso of Kano State — to the All progressives Congress (APC), those who have stayed on in the party still have an axe to grind with the PDP National Leader.

One of them is Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, who is eyeing the Presidency. At a news conference in Dutse on the

west meeting in Kaduna.

“We, the government and people of Jigawa State are not in support of the content of the communiqué read after the zonal meeting, where it was announced that President Jonathan has been endorsed for a second term.”

The deputy governor said

ANALYSIS

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Group Political Editor

PDP zonal meeting. Jigawa State Deputy Governor, Ahmad Mahamud, who obviously spoke Lamido’s mind, said the region had not agreed on Dr. Jonathan’s ambition.

The dissension has reflected the lack of total reconciliation and ineffective resolution of the PDP crisis. It has implications for the unity of the party and its chances in next year’s election. Analysts have raised some posers: Can the PDP joke with the Northwest? Can it damn the most populous region?

The Northwest is the cradle of the formidable power brokers in the polity. If the zone takes an exception to this presidential agenda, conventional wisdom dictates the retracing of steps or the application of tact, if an electoral tragedy of monumental proportion is to be averted by the PDP. From Sokoto, the seat of the Caliphate, through Kano to Kaduna, the acclaimed political capital of the North, the North-

the government and members of the party in the state remained loyal to the party.

“The Jigawa government and people remain loyal to the party and the country. We are still members and remain loyal to the party and country.”

Mahmoud, who represented Lamido at the meeting, denied

west is a vibrant zone. It is a pre-eminent geo-political zone occupying a strategic place in the country’s political history. In the hey day of the famed Kaduna Mafia, the cult of leaders and pride of the one-time monolithic North, the impetus came from the Northwest axis, which coordinated the real or imaginary battle for national dominance. Four zones-Northcentral, Northeast, Southwest and Southsouth-have six states each. The Southeast has five. But the Northwest has seven. Politically, this is an added advantage because, in the National Assembly, the zone has the largest number of lawmakers, and ultimately, the highest number of appointees in other critical areas.

The Northwest has produced three military Heads of State - Gen. Muritala Mohammed (Kano) - Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Katsina) and Gen. Sani Abacha (Kano).

The fourth, Gen. Yakubu Gowon from Plateau State, is more of a Kaduna man. The first civilian President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, hails from Sokoto State.

Politicians from the Northwest zone are no-pushovers. The voting population is so-

knowledge of where the issue was discussed and the decision made.

“Everyone knows the role Governor Lamido and Jigawa State government have played.

They canvassed support and vote for President Jonathan in the 2011 general elections, which led to his victory. But,

Continued on page 58

to our dismay, the President has not fulfilled his promises.”

The Vice National Chairman of the PDP in the Northwest, Amb. Ibrahim Musa Kazaure, declined comment. He said: “I have no comment.”

Kazaure, an indigene of Jigawa State and a Lamido loyalContinued on page 58

•Dr. jonathan

CORRECTIONS •On our page 3 yesterday, a map from CNN was used to illustrate the spread of the Ebola virus in West Africa.

The map of Niger Republic was mistakenly marked as Nigeria.

•The correct headline of a story on page 5 of yesterday’s edition should have read: Melaye faults Fani-Kayode’s comments on Boko Haram sponsors.

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THE NATION SEPTEMBER, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

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PDP’s misrule ‘ll end next year, says Odigie-Oyegun

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HE National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, assured yesterday that the administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which started 15 years ago, would end next year.

He said the administration would be replaced by that of the APC. Odigie-Oyegun spoke at the Third Progressive Governance Lecture Series in Owerri, the Imo State capital, with the theme: “Dealing with the Challenge of Building a Physically-Healthy Nation through Preventive, Protective and Innovative Medicare”.

He said the nation could not survive another four years of PDP misrule.

The APC chief said his party would ensure that the change Nigerians desired was actualised in 2015, adding: “The tenure of the PDP at the centre must end next year. This is the mission before us.

Our mission is simple. We must do everything legitimate to end PDP’s 15-year inept administration.”

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

Odigie-Oyegun noted that the nation’s problems were caused by “totally visionless and clueless leadership,” saying: “Nigeria ranks among the lowest in the world in all facets of modern society.”

The APC chairman said corruption had affected all sectors of the society.

His words: “Corruption has become the business of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

This shows that the PDP government needs to be changed to save the country from impending collapse.

“But the good news is that all Nigerians need a change. They look on to us as the vehicle of change.”

The chairman of the event and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar advocated the devolution of power at the centre, to enable states drive development and check corruption.

He said the country runs a defective federalism structure, which he advised should be restructured to address the challenges. “The Federal Government should hand over the functions to the state govern-

ments and give them funds to develop the sectors.”

Atiku went on: “Federal Government has no business in agriculture, education and health sector as well as infrastructure development. These should be handed over to the state governments with the required funds for effective development.”

Highlighting the challenges in the health sector, the former vice president called for adequate investment in primary healthcare.

Said he: “We need to identify the illnesses, which affect our people, identify the priority areas and tailor our health policies towards addressing them.”

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha said the health sector was a source of concern, despite efforts to improve it in some states.

Okorocha, who also chairs the APC Governors’ Forum, said the party believed that health cannot be ignored and improvements must be sought in the policy, strategy and management of healthcare to build a world-class and affordable healthcare for the citizens.

He said: “The health sector seems to be in a standstill. As it is, the three health-related Millennium Development Goals of reduction in infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate and the reocurrence of HIV, malaria and tuberculosis have not been met. In truth, a lot of the difficulties we face can be attributed to the dearth of preventive healthcare system.”

Okorocha said Nigeria’s healthcare sector, according to the statistics released by the United Nations’ Report on the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in 2013, stands at 187 of 191 countries, adding: “The report seems to insinuate that Nigeria is the only country clogging the wheels of the forward movement in the fight against the disease, towards a global target of reducing HIV infection by 50 per cent in 2015.”

He said the APC governors met to examine the state of the country’s health sector with regard to harvesting perspectives on preventive, protective and innovative healthcare delivery.

Those at the event include gover-

Tambuwal: we’ll do justice to conference report

Ezekwesili demands more from journalists in Chibok girls’ affair

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

H

F

ORMER Minister of Education and leader of the ‘Bring back our girls’ group, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has appealed to the media to do more in the campaign to rescue the 219 girls abducted from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, who are still missing.

Mrs Ezekwesili, who led a 16member delegation of the group to Vintage Press Ltd, Lagos, publishers of The Nation, said it was ironic that after 140 days the girls were discovered missing, “we are not any closer to rescuing them than we were on April 30 when we first came out to demand action on the matter.”

She acknowledged the role of the media in creating awareness about the issue and thanked the management and workers of Vintage Press Ltd for supporting the campaign, by reminding the readers that there are indeed girls missing in Nigeria.

But Dr. Ezekwesili said the time had come for the media to go beyond reporting the issue only when it is convenient, adding that they should take ownership of the campaign.

She said the group had succeeded in creating awareness and compelling the government to acknowledge that the girls are indeed missing, but that there is an urgent need for action by the authorities to search for and rescue the girls, because so far, the impression being given by the government is that it has lost the initiative.

The ex-Minister of Education said it was the responsibility of the media to keep government officials on their toes by remaining focused on the issue to engender public debate.

She said every newspaper should have a terrorism desk because “the kind of thing happening now cannot be handled by a general desk.”

Mrs. Ezekwesili noted that “there are many options open to the government. But as we speak, we don’t know the option the government is taking and time is running out.”

She said the advocacy group is in-

•Dr. Ezekwesili (left), Mrs. Bukky Shonibare and Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, during their visit to The Nation PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN headquarters... yesterday

By Raymond Mordi variably being asked to provide the solution towards cracking the Chibok girls case.

According to her, the buck stops at the table of government and that if Nigerians have to rely on a mere citizens advocacy group to solve the Chibok girls mystery, then there would be no need for government.

The group said journalists have the privilege of meeting and “it is time you engaged them effectively” to get the girls back safely.

It noted that since the ‘Bring back our girls’ campaign started, the number of attacks in the communities around Chibok had escalated.

Dr. Ezekwesili said it is disheartening that despite the awareness created, the Federal Government has not deemed it necessary to take ownership of the crisis and safeguard the area, adding that “this is a cause for worry.”

She said it was also disheartening that almost everyone had moved on, particularly with the outbreak of the Ebola epidemic.

She said ironically, the international community believed that it is a Nigerian problem, which should be tackled by Nigerians.

The leader of the “Bring back our girls” campaigners recalled that the Chibok girls were abducted about midnight on April 14, and that there was a bomb blast on the same day in Abuja.

She recalled how she got involved

nors of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi; Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi; Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Others are Senators Chris Ngige and Magnus Abe. In her paper presentation titled: “Nature, Scope and Dynamics of the Prevailing Crisis in Nigeria’s Health Sector; Examining the State of the Health Sector in Nigeria”, the guest lecturer, Prof. Ijeoma Okoye of the Department of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Chairperson, Association for Good Clinical Practice in Nigeria, said the health of a nation enhances its economic development and vice versa.

She said HIV/AIDS, maternal mortality, under-five mortality, malaria and tuberculosis, compounded by the non-communicable diseases, had undermined and impoverished many developing nations, such as Nigeria, adding: “The pursuit of better health should not await improved economy, rather measures to improve health will contribute to economic growth.”

in the matter. “I had been particularly distressed by the series of bomb blasts in Abuja, not because it was happening in the capital, but because it seemed as if Nigerians had resigned everything to fate and were literarily waiting for the next bomb blast to happen.

“As some of you, who are actively engaged in the social media would attest, I am very much into the social media. The reason being that I use that space to engage on the matter of public policy; one of the things I wanted to do on leaving the World Bank was to teach public policy — a couple of the universities wanted me to do that – but I could not do that because my assignments involved a lot of travels.

“I found it bizarre that the bomb blasts kept going off, but after each one, Nigerians simply moved on.”

Dr. Ezekwesili said citizens do have a voice and this ought to be ventilated when things are going wrong.

“It was kind of strange. So, when the Abuja one of April 14 happened, it dawned on me that it is our responsibility as citizens to participate in the conversation of what is going on in the country.

On my Twitter account, I tweeted and said, if you are a citizen and have an idea on how to end terrorism, can you tweet at me? And then, people began to tweet at me; it was almost as if they have been waiting for that kind of prompting. People

began to tweet at me, and at the end of the day over 500 tweets had been sent my way, detailing their ideas to end terrorism.”

She added that it was not until the next day, by 1pm, that she got the news through the social media that some hundred and something girls had been abducted in a city in Borno State.

“Until the 17th, there was no news from anybody. It was in the evening of the 17th that the military responded that there had been an abduction of girls in Borno, but that they had rescued them. But two days after, it was recanted.”

According to Mrs. Ezekwesili, it was actually on April 23, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at a UNESCO event inaugurating Port Harcourt as the World Book Capital that the ‘Bring back our girls campaign’ formally took shape.

At the event, she resolved, with a couple of her associates, to seize the opportunity to ask the audience to stand up for a few minutes for the Chibok girls because for about 10 days then they had been missing and no word on them.

“But, as it turned out, Prof. Wole Soyinka, who was part of the event, made the Chibok girls a sizeable part of his speech. That was how the process that culminated in the ‘Bring back our girls’ campaign started.”

She said there is no iota of truth in the allegation that the campaign is politically-motivated.

OUSE of Representatives Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has said the National Assembly is waiting to receive the report of the National Conference.

He spoke at Agba in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State at the funeral late Pa Moses Edeh Akuru, the father of Enugu Methodist Archbishop, Rev. Christopher Nweke Edeh, who died at 84.

Tambuwal said the House would do justice to the report whenever it was presented to it by the executive.

His words: “We are waiting for the National Conference report. When we get it, we will do justice to it.”

The Speaker eulogised Pa Edeh, who was also the father of the lawmaker representing Ishielu/ Ezza North Federal Constituency, Mr. Peter Edeh, for his selfless services to his people.

He said: “I hail the people of this community for coming out en masse to appreciate the life of our leader and father. He lived well as a community leader and served the people well. There is no better way of appreciating him than to thank God for his life.

“We console the family and urge them to know that it is only God that can give and take life. Our happiness is that he left behind worthy children, who can do better.”

The Prelate of Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Dr. Samuel Kanu Uche, hoped that God would settle the crises rocking the nation before the next general elections.

He said: “My message to Nigerians is that we should go on with the 2015 elections.”

Edeh thanked the Speaker, Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi, the Prelate of Methodist Church, members of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other guests for attending the funeral.

6

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

NEWS •Senator Gbenga Ashafa (middle), in a group photograph with the beneficiaries of the 13th and 14th batches of his free Monthly Information Communication Technology (ICT) programme at Magodo, Lagos...yesterday.

THE EBOLA VIRUS

NLC to Fed Govt: fight Boko Haram as Ebola From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

HE President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdul Waheed Omar, yesterday urged the Federal Government to fight the Boko Haram insurgency with the vigour it is fighting the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

He spoke in Kaduna at the opening of a one-day sensitisation workshop on the prevention of Ebola, organised by National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN).

Omar noted that the rapid response by the Federal Government to stop the spread of the Ebola virus was commendable, adding: “I think if Federal Government should fight Boko Haram the way it is fighting Ebola, the insurgency would have ended.

“I enjoin the government to be as proactive to Boko Haram as it has done to Ebola.”

The President and GeneralSecretary of NUTGTWN, Comrade Oladele Hunsu and Comrade Issa Aremu, said there was need for continuous enlightenment and sensitisation of the Ebola virus.

Aremu said the essence of the workshop was to enlighten members on the disease and how to prevent it.

He said: “As deadly as the Ebola virus disease is, we should not forget there are other diseases, such as malaria, polio and cholera, which have cure but are still rampant.

“Thus, as we battle the deadly Ebola virus disease, we should do more with other diseases with known treatment/prevention. It is all about good health care and good governance.

“We laud the resolution of the crisis in the health sector, which led to the calling off of the strike by members of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA). We are also impressed that the Federal Gov-

T

ernment has withdrawn the sack order given to the doctors.

“The truth is that we cannot resolve the health challenges, particularly the threat posed by the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), if we have a crisis in the health sector.

“Government must provide health workers with the tools, including insurance covers, to deal with the Ebola virus.”

Delivering a paper titled: “Ebola Virus Disease: What we need to know”, Dr. Sani Gwarzo, a director, Port Health Services, Federal Ministry of Health, said the era of sensitisation was over, adding that action should be taken to prevent the deadly virus.

Gwarzo, who is also a member of the Incident Management Committee on the Ebola virus disease, said the spread of the disease started in 1976 as rural Ebola, adding that it killed a lot of animals and human beings in Central Africa.

He allayed the fears of most Nigerians that suffering from acute malaria fever did not necessarily mean a symptom of Ebola, but warned that persons suffering from such fever should keep away from the work place till recovery.

Gwarzo said the rampaging disease is known as urban Ebola, urging the leadership of the labour union to put in place a policy, work plan as well as a response team to checkmate the spread of Ebola, particularly in their immediate environment.

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L

AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday praised health workers who risked their lives to save Ebola patients.

Fashola spoke when MTN Nigeria presented Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in support of the war against the Ebola Virus Disease at the Lagos House, Ikeja.

The governor, who allayed fears of Nigerians over the disease , said the collaborative efforts of government had brought it under control.

According to him, “ those health workers who risk their lives to fight this disease, stood up to be counted when there was dire need, when there was fear even at the highest levels of government. But, in spite of those fears, some men and women stood up to be counted.

We will talk about them later.

“The health team accepts this gesture and wish to use the opportunity to reiterate again, as I said in my broadcast a fortnight ago, that while we un-

•Governor says disease has been checked •State gets N200m from Fed Govt

By Oyeyemi GbengaMustapha Miriam EkeneOkoro

derstand and fully appreciate the humanitarian concern that propels these things.

“The real problem is the sufficiency of experienced virologists and Ebola specialists in managing and when the sub-region is challenged on many fronts, that capacity thins out. That really is the problem; so, it is not always a money problem. As at this time it isn’t really an equipment problem. It is a human capacity problem.

“We are at a stage where, like I said before, we do not need to panic. Ebola virus is not automatic death sentence; a lot of knowledge is being gained on daily basis even at this moment about the behavior of the virus and that

knowledge helps the scientist to prepare even better to respond.

“Different types of virus have been identified and we now have clarity about the length and life span of the virus. That body of knowledge helps in the management of the disease.”

Fashola praised MTN for the gesture, saying it is clearly the tradition which the brand has been associate with, especially “in matters on health and education issues.”

Fashola said as a government and people, they had benefited from the telecoms giant’s disposition when it provided dialysis machines and partnered the government in enhancing the standard of education in the state.

Fashola confirmed the receipt of N200 million from the

Federal Government, stressing that the effort the state government and response by the Rivers State Government will be definitive on how to contain the virus.”

MTN Nigeria Chairman Dr. Pascal Dozie said: “Our coming here is very simple. When you see a good thing you appreciate it and would want to be part of it. We have watched the Lagos State government under the leadership of Governor Fashola when this Ebola incident occurred.

“We thank God that it started off in Lagos because if it has started elsewhere, we would have had a pandemic.

Their reaction was profound, dignified and historic, their response professionally systematic. It was as if having prepared you were waiting for the event to happen.”

Bayelsa denies rumoured cases of Ebola

B

AYELSA State government denied yesterday rumours that the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) had been recorded in parts of the state.

The Commissioner for Health and Head of Ebola Task Force, Dr. Ayebatonye Owei, said there was no truth in the speculations.

He was reacting to rumours that three EVD cases were recorded at the weekend at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH), Okolobiri.

It was speculated that some of the persons, who had contacts with the deceased doctor in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, headed for Bayelsa

•Residents urged to be calm From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

State.

Residents have been panicking since cases of Ebola were confirmed in Port Harcourt.

But Owei said: “There is no Ebola case in Bayelsa.”

He described the speculations as false.

Governor Seriake Dickson also urged the people not to panic, saying proactive measures had been put in place to check the spread of the disease.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Sec-

retary, Mr. Daniel IworisoMarkson, appealed for calm because of the proximity of Bayelsa to Rivers State.

“Government has created 103 surveillance centres in the local governments as part of measures to curtail the spread of the Ebola virus. People have been placed on the alert to check its spread,” the governor said.

He stressed the need for the indigenes to imbibe the culture of hygiene, noting that government supported the 18-member task force set up to fight Ebola.

Dickson said: “Distribution of protective materials, such

as sanitisers, body gears and hand gloves are ongoing and major isolation centres have been set up at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa and other smaller units across the state for the containment of the virus.

“We hail the Federal Government’s decision on the postponement of the resumption date of both public and private schools.

“The measure will assist in checking the spread of the disease, as it is likely to spread through crowded places, such as educational institutions, churches and markets.”

Presbyterian Church hails govt’s response •Omar

Three discharged in Makurdi HREE persons, who were quarantined at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, because they had visited Liberia, have been discharged.

The Chief Medial Director (CMD) of the hospital , Prof.

Orkurga Malu, who confirmed the development, said they were discharged after a test carried out on

Fashola praises health workers

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

them showed they were not infected.

A statement by the hospital’s Head of Public Relations, Comrade Cephas Hough, said the hospital has no other case monitored for the Ebola virus and the persons have been allowed to go and unite with their families.

T

HE Presbyterian Church of Nigeria has hailed the proactive response of the federal and state governments to the Ebola virus.

But it said it wants measures to ensure that the disease is contained and eradicated.

The church, in a communiqué at the end of its biennial General Assembly in Calabar, Cross River State, urged government to ensure that there was surveillance at the entry points into the country so that no new cases of the epidemic would be recorded.

It called for the production

and supply of experimental drugs for those infected.

The communiqué, signed by the Prelate and Moderator of the General Assembly, Prof. Emele Mba Uka and the newly-elected Principal Clerk, Rev. Eseme David William, welcomed the Federal Government’s initiative to set up a special fund in aid of victims of the Boko Haram insurgency and other social upheavals.

The church also set up a fund toward the rehabilitation of the Chibok girls, saying this was in keeping with its spirit of Christian charity and in support of the

‘The church urged government to ensure that there was surveillance at the entry points into the country...’

President’s initiative.

But it lamented the “seeming inability of the government to rescue the abducted girls and contain the Boko Haram insurgency.”

On power supply, the church noted that despite

government’s efforts at improving power supply by privatising the sector, power outages were still rampant in almost all parts of the country.

It said: “It is embarrassing that consumers are paying heavily for the services not rendered.

Government should put in place an effective mechanism to ensure creditable performance by the registered distribution companies. The Federal Government should set a timeline when Nigerians and corporate manufacturing consumers will get value for the privatisation of the energy sector.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

7

NEWS Pedro hails APC on modified primaries

F

ORMER Deputy Governor of Lagos State Otunba Femi Pedro has praised the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for selecting the modified direct primaries system as the preferred way of choosing its candidates in the said 2015 elections.

Pedro, who spoke this in a media statement yesterday in Lagos, said the plan was a victory for grassroots democracy.

He said the APC stands on a threshold of history towards victory in 2015, adding that the party should be focused as it prepares for a turbulent electoral season.

The statement reads: “Typically, this period in the electoral calendar usually throws up a mixture of controversy, disenchantment and irresolvable internal conflicts, but we are extremely prepared this time around.

“Our party has come this far because all its leaders agree that internal democracy must continue to prevail.

Cynics initially thought we won’t merge, but we did. We conducted an aggressive membership registration drive with minimal hitches across the

By Sina Fadare

country. Naysayers predicted doom during our first National Convention, but we came out successful and unscathed.”

The APC chieftains, who said although the party lost some of its members, added that “we have also gained valuable and committed members too. We must continue to forge towards emancipating Nigerians from the claws of the ruling PDP - a party that has severely ruined our common heritage.

“The process and outcome of who becomes our presidential standardbearer will definitely define us and what we stand for, and I am very optimistic that the modified direct primaries system will ensure that the candidate with the most widespread grassroots support will emerge as our flag-bearer.”

Pedro further advised the party to continue to shut its ears to the tribal, religious and ethnic propaganda being orchestrated against it by the ruling party, warning that the APC must be wary of losing focus by stooping to PDP’s low level of “divisive propaganda and politicking.”

Ekiti cautions PDP on baseless allegations

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KITI State government has advised the state People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to focus on ways of ensuring a smooth transition and how to record laudable achievements during the next administration.

Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo, who gave the advice in Ado-Ekiti, cautioned the PDP to stop its campaign of calumny against the government.

He described the alleged lies by the PDP as part of a plan to create public disaffection for the Governor Kayode Fayemi-led administration.

The commissioner, who said the plot would not work, noted that the incoming PDP government should focus on how to surpass the “standard already set by Fayemi instead of chasing shadows, telling blatant lies and making all kinds of unsubstantiated allegations.”

The commissioner cited instances of false and mis-

leading reports found to have originated from the PDP camp to include the allegation that the administration recruited over 3,000 workers into the civil service after the June 21 governorship elections.

Ekundayo, who emphasised that the allegation was far from the reality, said 500 teachers for mathematics and some core science subjects were recruited in November, 2013 based on existing vacancies.

He added that 493 civil servants were recruited in February 2014 into key vacant positions in the civil service.

“In any case, what is wrong in recruiting Ekitis into the state civil service if there are vacancies and budget provision to take care of such?” he queried.

The commissioner also dismissed allegations by the PDP of massive recruitment into the state university, Ado-Ekiti, as “hogwash.”

He noted that the ivory tower has its governing council, which is responsible for the day-to-day running of the institution.

He added that the allegation was another figment of imagination of the opposition in its desperate wild goose chase.

The commissioner said the allegation that landed properties and other assets of the government were being sold to political appointees and associates of Fayemi at give-away prices was absurd.

He said as a transparent and accountable government, there was no way the administration would allocate land in governmentowned estates to anyone no matter highly placed without following due process and strict adherence to the approved rates, adding that the records are available for interested parties to peruse.

Describing the allegation that government assets in Lagos and Abuja were being sold as “another tale by moonlight”, Ekundayo challenged the PDP to substantiate its allegations and show proof of the alleged wrongdoings.

“Do they think we have no morals like them?” he

wondered.

“Everyone in Ekiti can vividly recollect how the Ikogosi Warm springs was looted and every valuable thing including 50 air conditioners, 75 brand new mattresses and beds, rugs, brand new bath tubs, toilet and electrical fittings were looted under the watch of the PDP government in 2005.

“The Ikogosi warm springs tourist resort, which was stripped bare by these locusts have since been transformed into the number one tourist attraction in Nigeria by the Fayemi administration.

“Why is the PDP in a hurry? What are they afraid of? Let them wait till they receive our hand over note when they take office on October 16th, 2014 as all information they will require is contained therein.

“They should know that this administration has tenure. Let them stop the pretense and the game of guessing and pre-empting the state of our state,” Ekundayo advised.

Ondo monarchs back Mimiko’s defection

O

NDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s planned defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been given a nod by the state’s traditional rulers.

The governor had sought the advice of the traditional rulers at the weekend at a consultation on the defection.

The monarchs reportedly praised Mimiko before declaring their support for him on his planned move to PDP. The traditional rulers hailed the leadership style of the governor and his ability to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

Sources said the traditional rulers praised the governor for carrying them along regarding the defection to PDP, although they were not politicians.

The Amapetu of Mahin Kingdom, Oba Lawrence Omowale, who spoke for the others, hailed the governor “for his plan to take Ondo to the mainstream of national politics.”

The obas pledged the support of the traditional institution for Mimiko in his political pursuit.

Mimiko earlier consulted with different interest groups in the state to intimate them of the PDP’s overture.

The stakeholders pledged their support to the governor on his decision.

Safety experts seek attention on emergency management

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OVERNMENT at the three-tier must pay more attention to emergency management to reduce the numbers of fatalities during terrorist attacks and bomb blasts.

The Chairman of Society of Emergency Management Practitioners of Nigeria (SEMPON), Dr. Nnamadi Nwauwa, the society’s Secretary, Dr. Faith Ekpekurede and a member, Godwin Okonkwo, made the call at a media briefing to herald its inaugural launch and scientific conference.

The conference holds in Abuja on September 25th to 26th.

The three experts said the nation’s level of emergency preparedness to disaster and other health challenges was too poor.

They added that governments should raise the bar on emergency and disaster management.

Nwauwa noted that poor emergency response in the country has resulted in high mortality rate, a situation that

By Jesutomi Rotimi

could have been easily prevented if emergency medicine is given a pride of place.

He emphasised the need to separate the practice of emergency medicine from other medical practices to develop effective approach to manage disasters.

“Recognising emergency medicine as a discipline is crucial, especially at the present moment when Nigeria is vulnerable to terrorist attack and other kinds of disasters,” said Nwauwa.

Nwauwa disclosed that SEMPON, in collaboration with partners in emergency medical care, would be evaluating the state of emergency in the country on September 25.

He said the two-day conference with the theme, “The State of Emergency Care in Nigeria: The Way Forward,” aims at sensitising the public and the policy-makers to recognise emergency care as an autonomous constituent of medical practice.

•Chairman at the occasion Shayo Holloway (second right); President, Baptist Academy Old Students Association (BAOSA) 1970-1974, Mr. Tunde Onakoya (second left); Pastor Segun Osunsan (right) and the association’s chairman, Mr. Lanre Idowu, PHOTO: NIYI during the 1970-1974 set’s 40 years’ anniversary and book presentation in Lagos.

ADENIRAN

Amosun advises ICPC on ‘dubious politicians’

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GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has advised the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to be wary of “dubious and unpatriotic politicians,” who are desperate for elective positions.

He noted that such politicians would want to seek mischievous means to entrap their opponents through false financial reports and allegations to achieve their selfish ends.

The governor gave the advice when a delegation of the ICPC visited him in his

office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Amosun said as the electioneering period approaches, the commission would be inundated with dubious and illfounded financial reports from desperate politicians targetted at dissuading the commission and even mislead the people.

“Though I am a politician, I would rather prefer to be remembered as a reputable elder statesman with indelible footprints,” he said, adding that he would not subscribe to the “politics of fallacy.”

The governor praised the commission for its planned construction of its first office in the state before the end of

the year and promised that his administration would “always continue to be in tune with the rules and regulation of ICPC.” He acknowledged the collaboration and cordial relationship that exists between the commission and the state.

Leader of the ICPC delegation and member (South West), Prof. Olu Aina, who represented the ICPC Chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta, described the visit as an attempt to refocus the mission of the commission and also meet with the governor to facilitate the location of an office before the end of the year as Ogun, like Ondo and Ekiti states

•Amosun

don’t have ICPC offices.

Aina also praised the state government for its achievements, noting that it was providing “quality service.”

Health council seeks control of bush meat’s importation

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HE Federal Government and the 36 states have empowered government agencies to regulate the importation of bush meet.

Also, states have been asked to discourage the consumption locally.

Minister of Health Onyebuchi Chukwu disclosed this while briefing reporters yesterday at the end of the second emergency meeting of National Council on Health (NCH) in

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

Abuja.

The NCH is the highest decision making body in the health sector. It comprises of the 36 states’ Commissioners of Health, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The minister said: “Council requested that the Federal Ministry of Health should immediately work out and conclude on the guidelines with all relevant stakeholders, in-

cluding the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Nigeria Customs Service to regulate the importation of bush meet into the country and also discourage the consumption locally.

“Council resolved that all Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be procured in accordance with World Health Organisation (WHO)

specifications and from WHO accredited and certified manufacturers or suppliers.

“Council reiterated and reaffirmed that the Chief Spokesperson for the health sector in relation to Ebola viral disease remains the Minister of Health.

“The council also reaffirmed that the Federal Government leads at emergency centre operation centres, but in collaboration with state governments and development partners.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

8

NEWS No crisis in Ikere-Ekiti over regent’s selection’ From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

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HE three ruling houses in IkereEkiti have affirmed that the selection of Princess Ayooye Adegboye Oyinlola as the regent of the town had occasioned neither rancour nor tension in the ancient town, contrary to earlier reports.

Princess Ayooye, aged 39, a teacher at Ado Grammar School, Ado-Ekiti, assumed the throne last Saturday.

The demise of the late monarch of the town, Oba Samuel Adegboye, on August 22, created an interregnum, which, according to the town’s tradition, must be filled by a female daughter of the late monarch.

The regent will fill the vacuum pending the selection and ascension of a new monarch.

But the move was purportedly opposed by the late monarch’s eldest daughter, Princess Adebisi Adegboye Bello.

The three houses comprising the Akayejo Royal Family, Agaba Ola Royal Family and Ogbenuote Soro Royal Family, who were the Omoowas (princes and princesses), met yesterday at the Ogoga’s palace in the town.

They emphasised that the choice of Princess Ayooye was final, condemning Princess Bello for opposing the selection for what they called “her own personal and unfounded ambition”.

The Akapinsa of Aafin (Head of all princes and princesses) of the ruling houses, Chief Michael Adegboye, said the decision to select and install Princess Ayooye followed due, open and transparent process.

“There are rules and processes. All have been followed without bias,” he said.

His words: “Our choice of Ayooye has been hailed and accepted across the town. We were very open and transparent. We have warned her (Princess Adebisi) to stop her opposition to the decision of the town, lest she risks sanctions”.

The eldest son of the late monarch, Prince Adesoji Adegboye, disclosed that two other daughters are between the eldest daughter and the last daughter.

He said the two daughters had agreed with the decision of the Omoowas, saying: “The tradition of this town does not compel the selection of the eldest daughter of a late monarch as the regent.

“Instances existed in the past when Oba Fabikun Adegoriola, the monarch, whose demise ushered in the reign of my late father, his (my father’s) younger sister, not the then late monarch’s, who met the conditions then was selected. Tradition defers from town to town. At Ijare and Aramoko-Ekiti, a male is often selected as regent.”

EFCC arrests three for hacking into bank’s system

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HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested three suspects, who allegedly attempted to compromise the Enterprise Bank’s system and steal depositors’ funds.

The suspects were said to have failed to get access to the bank’s network.

A statement yesterday in Abuja by EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the arrest was made possible by a worker, who cried out that the bank’s system was about to be hacked into.

The statement said: “Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested a syndicate of scammers for attempting to defraud Enterprise Bank Plc. Ola Lawal, Olumide Kayode and Abass Adekunle were arrested following a botched attempt to

•Ola Lawal, From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

compromise the bank’s system and steal depositors’ funds, using an electronic device known as Keelog Key Grabber.

“The trio’s arrest was made possible by an insider, who revealed to the bank’s management that some fraudsters were planning to gain access to its network, using a device

•Abass Ajibade.

called Keelog Key Grabber.

“Investigations showed that a worker of the bank was contacted by one of the suspected fraudsters, who proposed a business arrangement to him on how to hack into the system of the bank.”

The EFCC added that the worker subsequently informed the management of the bank and he was instructed to play along with

•Olumide Kayode.

the fraudster.

“In the arrangement, an electronic device called Keelog Key Grabber would be used to harvest passwords of some of the key operation workers of the bank.

“The grabber was meant to be plugged into the computer system of the Head of Operation of a particular branch, to retrieve the information technology con-

figuration settings from the computer system and pave the way for the fraudsters to move customers’ funds out of the bank.

“Lawal was arrested while trying to hand over the Keelog Key Grabber to the worker. His arrest led to the arrest of two other suspects: Olumide Kayode Maborukoje and Abass Ajibade,” the statement added.

Items recovered from the suspects include: a keylogger, a laptop, a router, a modem, SIM cards, USB keyhole log with a template of keylogger and a jotter containing some account numbers, which they intended to use for the fraud.

The anti-graft body said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.

‘Abolish medical advisory post’ From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

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•An accident scene caused by a tanker, which crushed cars and motorcycles on Zuba-Kaduna Expressway at Madalla ...yesterday PHOTO:NAN

Ogun community protests monarch’s alleged illegal conduct

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HRISTIANS and Muslims from Onigbedu in Ewekoro Local Government Area, Ogun State, protested yesterday over the alleged illegal conduct of their monarch, Oba Matthew Ajibulu.

The residents, who protested under the aegis of Onigbedu Community Development Association (CDA), stormed the state House of Assembly and the Governor’s Office to see Governor Ibikunle Amosun on their grievances.

The residents, who accused the monarch of trying to foist Oro cult worship on the community, also accused him of setting a cocoa farm in the community on fire.

They added they traditional ruler was harassing companies operating the community as well as trying to turn Onigbedu community into a place where hoodlums and thugs

•It’s not true, says ruler From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

thrive.

The scores of villagers said they did not want any religious practice in Onigbedu that would take the community back to “the primitive age, restrict people’s freedom of movement and make blood sacrifice a common sight.”

They appealed to the governor and the legislators to stop Oba Ajibulu’s plan to erect the shrine.

The CDA Chairman, Mr. Adebari Kassim, said since former Governor Gbenga Daniel, in the twilight of his administration, foisted Oba Ajibulu on the community, development, peace and harmony became elusive.

He noted that suspected hoodlums and thugs connected to the monarch routinely make life difficult

for visitors and residents.

The CDA chief said investigation carried out by the community revealed that Ajibulu was not an indigene of Onigbedu, adding that the monarch came from Imeko-Afon in Yewa Local Government Area.

The residents urged the governor to remove him from office in the interest of peace.

Kassim added that Ajibulu is a parallel monarch as the community still has Oba Yunusa Akinmade as their traditional ruler when Daniel imposed Ajibulu on them.

But in a telephone interview, Oba Ajibulu said his accusers might say whatever they like, adding that it would turned out later to be falsehood.

Ajibulu said: “They can say whatever they want to say, but what I can tell you

is that whatever they say or tell you is not true.”

But Amosun, who praised the villagers for the civilised manner of expressing their grievances, said Oba Ajibulu would be summoned to appear before the appropriate authority to enable the government gets his own side of the matter.

The governor, who spoke through the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Muyiwa Oladipo, urged the residents to remain law abiding while government look into their complaints.

He said:”On your grievance, which you have shown, be rest assured Oba Ajibulu will be called upon to the Governor’s office tomorrow (today) morning and we will also hear his own side of the story. And we assure you we will sort it out amicably.”

HERE seems to be no end in sight in the rivalry between medical doctors and other health workers.

President, Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) Felix Faniran, at the weekend, called for the abolition of the post of Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (DCMAC) in tertiary hospitals.

He said the position “is illegal”, stressing that it constitutes a drain pipe on the finances of the hospital and encourages fraud.

He accused the Federal Government of fueling the crisis in the sector.

NUAHP called for a balance in the appointment of Ministers of Health, advising that of the two ministers appointed, one should be from the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and one from Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU).

Also, Faniran urged the Federal Ministry of Finance to institute a thorough study on how funds are expended in all the tertiary hospitals.

On why the EFCC and ICPC should intervene, he said: “The resident doctors do most of the work in the hospital and the consultants take the money; that is fraudulent.

“Those we call consultants are university lecturers; they have their full time job in the university. These consultants receive not less than N400,000 to N500,000 every month.

They receive more allowances than the salary they take in the university. The government must remove this fraud.”

On the post of DCMAC, Faniran said: “Our stand is that this post should be abolished because it was not provided for in the Act U 15 LFN 2004 that governs Teaching Hospitals. It is therefore an illegality.

“It constitutes a drain pipe on the finances of the hospital and encourages fraud. We are calling on the ICPC and the EFCC to set their drag nets on the various hospitals in Nigeria. A lot of fraud is taking place there.

THE NATION TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

9

NEWS Kogi farmers get N750m loan

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BOUT 3,800 farmers in Kogi State have benefited from a N750 million loan jointly facilitated by the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) and the state government.

Disbursing the loan yesterday, Governor Idris Wada urged the beneficiaries, who cut across 21 local government areas, to repay the loan promptly so that others can benefit from it.

He said: “Agriculture used to be the main stay of the nation’s economy. With the credit facility and farmers’ commitment, in the near future, agriculture can again become the main stay of our

From James Azania, Lokoja

economy.”

Commissioner for Agriculture Zacchaeus Oluwagbotemi said his ministry would monitor the beneficiaries to ensure that the loans are used for the purpose they are meant for.

BoA Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer Babatunde Sediq said the bank has disbursed N1.3 million to farmers, adding: “Loan below N250 million are given without traditional collateral but with guarantee by the cooperative societies. This was done to assist peasant farmers, who have the intention to grow their farm business but lack the capital for expansion.”

We didn’t attack elders, say Kwara youths

‘How INEC, PDP rigged Niger by-election’

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of conniving with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig last Saturday’s by-election in Niger East Senatorial District.

The election was declared inconclusive by INEC. APC’s State Publicity Secretary Jonathan Vatsa alleged that the commission accredited PDP mercenaries as security officials, who tried to induce voters at polling units.

In a statement in Minna, Vatsa alleged that PDP thugs resolved to ballot box snatching when it became clear that

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

the electorate were voting for the APC candidate.

He said reports from the field indicted INEC workers at polling stations of turning a blind eye to the irregularities perpetrated by PDP members, especially in Paiko, Rafi, Gurara, Tafa and Suleja local government areas.

Vatsa said: “When they (PDP) could not rig in the township, they went to the villages, intimidated our agents with their mercenaries who paraded themselves as security men to stuff the ballot boxes, only to come and say that there would be

supplementary election in a few places. What of Gurara, Suleja and Tafa where there was massive rigging?”

The APC fingered the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo, in the alleged rigging plan, adding: “We are not new to the antics of the REC, who was always calling for supplementary elections and postponing elections to suit the PDP. He did the same thing in 2011 and that is why we have being calling for his removal.

“We are aware of the various moves aimed at going against the wish of the people by not allowing our candidate, David Umaru, to

emerge as desired by majority of the people. We urge our supporters not to relent, but to continue to mobilise themselves ahead of Saturday for the conclusive election.”

The state government also said there was gross misconduct during the election.

In a statement after a PDP stakeholders’ meeting, Mr Israel Ebije, the chief press secretary to Governor Babangida Aliyu, said many eligible voters were disenfranchised for frivolous reasons and thugs took over some polling units.

He called for more security operatives at the affected units during the re-run on Saturday.

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

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LL Progressives Congress (APC) youths in Kwara South Senatorial District have denied attacking party elders at a stakeholders meeting.

They dismissed reports that they were against the re-election of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, pledging their loyalty to Ahmed and former Governor Bukola Saraki.

Addressing reporters yesterday in Ajase-Ipo, the Coordinator of youth leaders from the seven local government areas in the district, Mr. Sunkanmi Ereoye, said: “To set the records straight, we heard our elders were meeting with some stakeholders in Ajase-Ipo to sensitise them on what the government has done in Kwara South and the need to continue to support the governor.

“On getting there, we had a disagreement on another issue.

This was sadly misreported as an attack on APC elders. That is far from the truth. We are neither opposed to our APC elders nor to their mission of canvassing support for our amiable governor’s re-election.

“We commend Ahmed for consulting with stakeholders in the three senatorial districts and are proud of his achievements in this first term. We have benefitted from the 10,200 bridge and permanent jobs created by this administration, the reduction of fees at the Kwara State University, Malete, and the empowerment of artisans with N100 million, among other life transforming interventions and want the governor to be given a chance to continue the good work he started.”

A member of the House of Representatives, Mashood Mustapha, lent his voice to calls on Saraki to contest the 2015 presidential election.

Mustapha said given Saraki’s wealth of experience as a twoterm governor, former chairman of the Governors’ Forum and former presidential aide, he is best suited for the job.

He described Saraki as “the architect of modern Kwara”.

Sultan: support education

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HE Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged old students of schools to contribute to the growth of their alma mater.

The Sultan said this would improve the education sector, adding: “No gesture is too small or too big for the development of the sector. What matters is the spirit of giving and we should all imbibe it.”

He spoke yesterday while hosting members of the Federal Government College, Sokoto, Old Boys Association.

The Sultan said the government’s efforts in the education sector should be complemented by individuals and organisations, adding: “The era when the funding of the sector and the

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

infrastructural development of schools at all levels was left to the government alone is gone. The three tiers of government are trying their possible best in spite of the various sectors competing for financing.

“At my former school, Barewa College, Zaria, I built a multi-purpose hall and a principal’s office. We should strive to give back to our former schools because they laid solid foundations for our lives.”

The Emir of Bungudu in Zamfara State, Alhaji Hassan Attahiru, who led the delegation, hailed the Sultan’s efforts to “sustainable peace and unity in Nigeria”.

‘Engage youths positively’

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LL Progressives Congress (APC) Zonal Vice Chairman, Gombe South, Julius Ishaya has urged youths to shun violence.

Ishaya was reacting to the incessant clashes among youths, especially the Gombe State Corps Marshals.

He said: “It is bad for people to be clashing and killing themselves in the name of politics. The APC is against it and will never encourage restiveness or thuggery. We do not want anyone to die or get injured because of politics, be-

By Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

cause the people are at the centre of our activities.”

Ishaya said although youth restiveness was not peculiar to the state, the government was not taking measures to reduce it.

He said the solution to restiveness was to create jobs and positively engage young minds.”

Ishaya assured residents that the APC would bring out the best in youths, if voted into power.

•Adamawa State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants at a stakeholders’ meeting in Yola...on Sunday.

‘Stop plans to replace Kwara SURE-P beneficiaries’

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OORDINATORS of the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) in Kwara State have alleged plans by the Presidency to remove All Progressives Congress (APC) beneficiaries from the scheme.

They alleged that the illegality was being perpetrated by the state Chairman of the scheme, Moses Ibiyemi.

A statement read to reporters yesterday in Ilorin, the state capital, by Alhaji Kola Yusuf, who spoke for the coordinators, reads: “It is regrettable that the chairman of the state implementation committee has not only politicised the programme, but is plotting to clandestinely replace the names of the original beneficiaries with those of members of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Reports reaching us as zonal coordinators confirmed the plot by the chairman to change the bank account in use for the payment of Sure-P workers’ salaries at

•’Allegations baseless’ From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

Access Bank, as well as change the names of beneficiaries from various communities and replace them with his party members’ names in order to have illegal access to funds meant for their salaries.

“As zonal coordinators, we always interact with our local government coordinators who supervise and coordinate beneficiaries at the local government and community levels.

“It is sad to receive in their report that the chairman threatened to sack coordinators, supervisors and workers who belong to another party, except they join the PDP. “Beneficiaries across the state reported that the state chairman had been going about claiming that non-PDP members would be replaced with PDP members because the scheme was designed by

the party and meant for PDP members.

“We caution President Goodluck Jonathan against any attempt to use the Sure-P as a political weapon to foist himself on Nigerians. Funds accruable from subsidy removal belong to Nigerians, therefore, the beneficiaries are Nigerians, irrespective of their political affiliation, religious belief or ethnicity. The people are entitled to the right of association.”

Ibiyemi described the allegations as baseless and unfounded, saying: “It is not true that there was a meeting or plan to replace APC members with PDP members because the programme is apolitical. There are situations that call for the replacement of beneficiaries, which include death, moving out of the project site, abandonment of duties, absence without authority and other gross misconduct by the beneficiaries.

“For any of the beneficiary to be replaced, the community in which that beneficiary serves will have to make a report and such reports verified.

If the allegation is found to be true, such replacement would be authorised by the national headquarters of the scheme.

“One can, therefore, see that the press conference was a mischievous and calculated attempt to smear the image of Mr. President and the management teams. It is a case of ingrates biting the fingers that feed them.

“It should be noted that Kwara State does not belong to a particular group of individuals but to all of us and nobody should threaten the other with violence, as this is not a monopoly of any group.

We all own the state. I urge the people to remain calm and continue to enjoy the only benefit of democracy in the state brought by the president, as we have not replaced any beneficiary on the basis of belonging to the APC.”

Bauchi APC demands information on govt loans

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State and Mallam Musa Idris Hardawa have sued the Bauchi State government for failing to give them information on its debt profile.

The case is before the State High Court presided over by Justice Abdulkadir Hussaini Suleiman.

Counsel to the plaintiffs,

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

Kassim Abdul Hamid, said his clients wrote the government, demanding details of over N8 billion loan taken by it, but their request was declined.

Hamid said: “Online reports indicate that the state government allegedly took a N15 billion loan to build houses for former Governor

Adamu Mu’azu; his deputy, AbdulMalik Mahmoud; Governor Isa Yuguda; and his deputy, Sagir Aminu Saleh, without reference to any statutory authority.”

The plaintiffs alleged that the government had no means of repaying the loan, adding that this was responsible for the reduction of the salaries of civil servants and over N10 billion pension arrears.

They urged the court to compel the House of Assembly and the auditor-general to probe the government’s accounts and provide information to the public on its debts.

The prayed the court to also compel the government to explain how it allegedly acquired N25 billion debt.

Justice Suleiman adjourned hearing to an unfixed date.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

10

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

‘He’s too jealous’

OPC member arrested for alleged gunrunning

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46-YEAR-OLD man, Jamiu Ishola, has been arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARs) of Lagos State Police Command for allegedly supplying robbers arms and ammunition.

Ishola who claims to be a member of Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) was caught following the arrest of a suspected armed robber whose name was simply given as Ibrahim.

Sources said Ishola was in charge of weapons used

by OPC night guards in Ajah near Lekki, Lagos and Atan in Ogun State.

He was said to be fond of carrying guns home.

Ishola, a source said, started hiring guns out to a nine-man gang after becoming friend with some robbers.

The source said Ishola used to accompany the gang on operation. He was also said to be charging 10 to 20 percent commission on guns he hired out.

It was learnt that he later joined the gang following claims that he was being

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I am a professional driver and motor mechanic opposite General Hospital, Ajah, I give robbers gun on commission basis and I follow them to operate sometime because I do not trust them.

’

By Ebele Boniface

shortchanged.

For instance,he claimed the gang made N500,000 from an operation but he was told that it was N20,000. The source also linked him with shop breaking adding that he

also sent his gang against those that reported theft cases to him.

Ishola said yesterday Ibrahim led the police to arrest him at his Atan home on Saturday, adding, “Police recovered one gun I supplied to the gang from Ibrahim. I left Lagos in 2008 as an OPC member when the late State (Lagos Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Okaila) was alive. I used to live opposite General Hospital, Ajah, a suburb of Lagos.

“I am a professional driver and motor mechanic opposite General Hospital, Ajah, I give robbers gun on commission basis and I follow them to operate sometime because I do not trust them.

“If I regain my freedom, I will help police to arrest all the armed robbery suspects I know especially those at large.

The Deputy Police relations officer, an Assistant Superintendent (ASP), Lelma Kolle confirmed the arrest.

By Basirat Braimah

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•Ishola

Why we raided Lagos hotel, by Immigration boss

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HE Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has explained why it raided a hotel on Lagos Island with the police.

The raid followed a tip- off that some foreigners may be hiding in the hotel after sneaking into the country.

NIS Lagos State Command Controller, Comptroller Justina Ahmadu, however, denied that the arrested Congolese and Senegalese nationals sneaked into the country without NIS clearance.

The Immigration boss told reporters yesterday that the immigrants were cleared to enter Nigeria.

She said: “On Friday, August 29, 2014, at about 7pm,

On profiling them, it was discovered that the Congolese entered the country through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, with valid travel documents and appropriate transit visas enroute Czech Republic. Their mission in Nigeria is to obtain Czech Republic visas in Abuja. They are all artistes.

By Jude Isiguzo

we carried out a joint operation with the Nigeria Police, Area A Command, Lion Building, Lagos Island. At the Travellers Inn Hotel, Lagos Island, we arrested a total of 45 immigrants comprising 39 Congolese, two Congolese refugees registered in Nigeria with the Na-

tional Commission for Refugees and four Senegalese.

“On profiling them, it was discovered that the Congolese entered the country through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, with valid travel documents and appropriate transit visas enroute Czech Republic. Their mission in

Nigeria is to obtain Czech Republic visas in Abuja.

They are all artistes. They had an official letter from their Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Arts, Democratic Republic of Congo.

They equally obtained their transit visas from Nigeria Mission House, Kinshasa with official revenue collector’s receipts.”

The four Senegalese, she said, entered the country through MMIA with valid travel documents, adding that they came for “business”.

There were speculations that the foreigners were Ebola patients, but the Immigration boss debunked the claim, saying they were accredited to enter Nigeria.

According to the police, the raid followed reports that the visitors could be Ebola victims.

It was gathered that the Commander of Area A Police Command, Assistant Commissioner of Police Imohinmi Edgal contacted officials of the NIS and some health workers following the tip-off.

‘I started stealing to cure my ailing tongue’

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I learnt to steal when I relocated to Oyingbo in Lagos and graduated as an armed robber when I was looking for enough money to cure the sickness affecting my tongue. One Imole a buyer of stolen goods is still owing me N150,000.00

’

By Ebele Boniface

•Ajibola

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20-YEAR-OLD robbery suspect, Olalekan Ajibola, has relived his harrowing experience after being caught following a failed robbery.

Ajibola was said to have invade the 9A Folarin Street, Mushin, Lagos home of Paul Rotimi Ogungbe, broke his door with an axe and at-

tempted to rob him at 3.30am.

But, Ogungbe, reportedly grabbed the suspect with his axe and began shouting Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole buruku.

Three other members of the gang were said to have fled, leaving their leader, Ajibola, to his fate.

An irate mob dragged Ajibola out and beat him to a

pulp.

Ogungbe said those who invaded his house were four, adding: “They tore my door net with axe and forced the door open. I got up and with speed, I jumped on one with an axe and grabbed him together with the axe while the rest three members of his gang ran away”.

During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Police

Command leader Superintendent Abba Kyari that it was the fifth time his gang was operating in Mushin.

Blaming his ordeal on his fathers, he said: “My father divorced my mother and the poor woman found it difficult to take care of my education, clothing and feeding. That made me to become an armed robber. I was formerly a one-man pick pocket before I recruited the other three members. It was only my mother that used to take care of me to the best

of her ability and little income as a medicine hawker in Ibadan. My father is a building contractor. He abandoned my mother because she had mental problem.

“She is a sickler, there was a time I had mental problem because of smoking hard drug and I was rehabilitated in a mental home.

“I learnt how to sell clothes at Dugbe Market near Queen Cinema not far from Ogunpa, Okepadre Primary School, Shama, Ibadan, Oyo State.

“I learnt to steal when I relocated to Oyingbo in Lagos and graduated as an armed robber when I was looking for enough money to cure the sickness affecting my tongue.

One Imole a buyer of stolen goods is still owing me N150,000.

Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Lelma Kolle said the axe was recovered and efforts are on to arrest the three fleeing suspects.

EN years after her marriage, 30-yearold Iyabode Olugbade is seeking to divorce her husband, Sulaiman Olugbade on grounds of violence. The case came up at the Customary Court Agege, a popular Lagos suburb yesterday.

The union produced two children:Malik (10) and Sammy (6).

The petitioner, said:”I have never met a jealous man as my husband. Each time I have a new hairdo,he forcefully pulls it out, saying it attracts men to me. These days, I rarely sleep because the last beating landed me in hospital. He sniffs Indian hemp a lot, even in the presence of our children,”she said.

Sulaiman, told the court: “Her attitude is repulsive.

She is just impossible and uncontrollable. I opened a shop for her because I wanted her to have a means of livelihood. But surprisingly, my wife turned the shop into a business centre for men.

When I accused her of having extra-marital affair, she left home for two weeks. My wife’s stupidity made my children miss two terms because she spent their school fees. She is loose. Each time I leave home, she leaves home too.”

The court’s President, Mr Adekunle Williams, said the couple should cease to be husband and wife. He referred them to a family court to determine the children’s custody. He said Sulaiman should be responsible for the children’s education.

‘My husband is a pain in the neck’

By Basirat Braimah

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WOMAN Adijat Ojo, has prayed the Customary Court at Agege, Lagos, to dissolve her seven -year-old marriage to Shuaib Morufu.

She accuses her husband of constantly beating her, lack of care and love.

Her husband, she claims, remains a threat to her life.

“My husband is always in a drunken state each time he comes home.I can’t count the number of times he had beaten me. I have never tasted the agony of a prison but I have scars all over my body. My husband kidnapped our children from my mother’s place to an unknown destination. I don’t want this marriage anymore,”she said.

But, Morufu said:”I have never touched her.I did not kidnap our children. They are doing well and hearty in my custody. She should inform me anytime she wants to see them.”

The union is blessed with: Aliyah (6) and Qayum (3).

The court’s President, Mr Adekunle Williams, ordered Morufu to bring the children to court. He also fixed a mediation session for September 11.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

35 SMEs to benefit from N10b cassava bread fund From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

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HE Minister of Agricul ture and Rural Devel opment, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, at the weekend said 35 Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) would benefit N1million each from the Cassava Bread Fund.

Dr. Adesina who spoke during the commissioning of OAMSAL High Quality Cassava Flour Processing factory in Ayede –Ekiti, Ekiti State said the fund, which will be made available by the Bank of Industry (BoI), is expected to boost the performance of SMEs. He said the government will continue to make funds available to support SMEs to upgrade their facilities.

In a statement in Abuja by the ministry’s Director of Information and Protocol, Tony Ohaeri, the minister also said the government was committed to turn cassava into gold in Nigeria.

He said the government has started work on 5000 hectares of land, adding that 400 hectares of land are located in Ekiti State.

Adesina commended Nobex Technical for producing locally fabricated equipment at the processing plant.

He emphasised the need to create market for every produce, adding that the future of Nigeria lies in agriculture.

In his response, Ekiti State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Jide Arowosafe, thanked the Minister for showing effective and positive leadership in the country. According to him, the minister’s leadership has been yielding positive results.

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

CBN offers to pay $283.6m gas suppliers’ debt T HE Central Bank of Ni geria (CBN) is working on modalities to enable it pay the $283.6 million owed gas suppliers.

This decision followed a meeting held by the Ministries of Petroleum Resources, Power, CBN and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), The Nation has learnt.

The huge debt has been a major reason gas suppliers have been reluctant to meet their supply obligations to power stations. This has consequently rendered most of the generating plants idle.

The few power plants that received gas, according to the generation companies, got insufficient supplies, making the power assets to operate at sub-optimal levels.

A source at the CBN told The Nation that the apex bank is bidding its time because it wanted to make sure that the necessary guarantees from the gas suppliers and power

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

generation companies are in place, and that they would not fail in their responsibilities after the debts would have been settled.

The source said: “The processes of payment are being finalised. We had to make sure we get commitment and undertaking from the gas suppliers and power generation companies to deliver.

The processes will be concluded by second week of September and payment will be made same week.”

The payment of the debt is one of the measures the government is adopting to tackle the power supply challenge and its associated problems.

The new owners of the privatised power assets have attributed their financial and operational woes to lack of gas supply. They said power supply from the national

grid constitutes only between 30 per cent and 40 per cent of their customers’ demand. The development, they added, also adversely affected their revenue collection and is worsened by technical and commercial losses.

“This is part of measures to guarantee sustainable solutions to the gas supply problem. The government is convinced that the payment of the debt will help boost supply of gas to power stations, which in turn will boost electricity supply to industrial and residential consumer.

This will consequently help in bringing down the cost of production by manufacturing and services companies that currently depend 100 per cent on power generating sets,” the source added.

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, had at a joint press briefing with the

Minister Power, the CBN Governor, and NERC chairman, explained that the payment of the debt was one of the measures taken to improve electricity generation in the country.

She said stakeholders in the power sector came together to form synergy to be able to solve the problems in the power sector. She noted that inadequate gas supply to power plants had been a major challenge to government’s power sector reform.

“Inadequate gas supply has been ongoing for almost 20 years or more and it was inherited by this administration. Since we came in, various interventions have been put in place to bridge the supply challenge.

Although gas supply has grown significantly in the last two years to about 1.5 billion cubic feet per day, demand growth continues to surpass supply, creating a short term gas supply crisis,” she added.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$117.4/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,396.9/troy Sugar -$163/lb RATES Inflation -8.2% Treasury Bills -10.58%(91d) 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

• From left: Second Vice President, Chartered Institue of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr. Uche Olowu; President/Chairman of Council, Mrs Debola Osibogun; Executive Director (South Region), FirstBank, UK Eke; GMD/CEO, FirstBank, Bisi Onasanya, during a courtesy visit by CIBN executives to FirstBank.

Why we’re floating N40b bond,

by Imoke T HE Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke yesterday gave reasons he decided to float a N40 billion bond to address financial matters in the state.

Imoke’s Chief Press Secretary, Christian Ita, in a statement on behalf of the governor said the bond is not a fresh debt as misconstrued in some quarters, but a deliberate policy at freeing the state of its current debt burden.

The statement read: “The bond issued by the Cross River State government is an application to recapitalise subsisting debts in the state.

“It is not a fresh bond to raise fresh loans, but to renegotiate the existing debt and spread the repayment period over a reasonable time and free up the state from numer-

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

ous debt accruing from 2002 when the first bond was issued by the state government in support of the Tinapa project.

“The first bond ever issued by the state government was in 2002 when the first Bond Law was passed to enable the state government to borrow funds to finance the Tinapa project. Since 2002, state borrowing by bond a lot of interest has accrued to the state Federation Account, thereby, limiting the state capacity to raise funds to bridge the funding gap in the state annual budget.

“The current bond N40 billion is an accumulated com-

pilation of past debts arising from the 2002 bond and subsequent state borrowing which is now being recapitalised and renegotiated with lower interest rate and longer payment period.

“The government has presented the request for the recapitalisation of the debt by bond following: The request was first presented to the state executive council and was approved; The approval was sent to the state house of assembly for a resolution to support the bond; The request to the state house of assembly was backed up by a law to amend the State Bond Law and a Debt Management Law.” According to the statement, the state’s finances has been in danger due to the fact that the 2002 bond was issued without the required debt

• Imoke

management framework and the 2002 bond was limited to N4.5 billion while the borrowing therefrom exceeded that amount by 2005 without Amending the State Bond Law and providing a Debt Management strategy for the debts.

“The current request has put in place a robust Bond Law and a Debt Management Law with a regulatory framework to renegotiate the debt,” the statement noted.

Brent oil extends two-month slump amid OPEC expansion

B

RENT crude extended a two-month slide as Or ganisation of Petroelum Exporting Countries (OPEC’s) production was seen increasing and manufacturing gauges in Europe and China missed estimates. West Texas Intermediate fell in New York.

Futures slid as much as 0.6 per cent in London, having retreated more than $9 in July and August. OPEC boosted output by 891,000 barrels a day to 31 million in August, the highest level in a year, estimates compiled

by Bloomberg show. Purchasing Manufacturing Indexes for Germany, Italy, the U.K. and China all came in below estimates for August. Floor trading in the U.S. is closed for the Labor Day holiday today.

“Those disappointing PMI numbers are helping push oil prices lower,” Michael Hewson, a London-based analyst at CMC Markets Plc, said by e-mail. “Lower demand against expectations of higher production is helping cap the upside.”

Brent for October settlement dropped as much as 62 cents to $102.57 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange and was at $102.63 as of 4:32 p.m. local time. The volume of all futures traded was about 58 percent below the 100-day average for the time of day.

Prices decreased 2.7 percent in August and 5.6 per cent in July, the longest monthly falling streak since one that ended in May last year. Brent is down 7.4 per cent this year.

WTI for October delivery slid as much as 44 cents to $95.52 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Transactions will be booked tomorrow for settlement purposes. The European benchmark crude traded at a premium of $7.01 to WTI on ICE, compared with $7.23 on Aug. 29, which was the narrowest closing level since Aug. 14.

Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Angola led production gains among OPEC members last month as new deposits came online, security improved and field maintenance programs ended, according to the Bloomberg survey of oil companies, producers and analysts.

Iran and Venezuela were the only members to record reduced output.

“Representatives of OPEC countries have been surprisingly quiet following the $10-per-barrel drop in oil prices over the last two months,” JBC Energy GmbH, Vienna-based analysts, said in a report today.

The organization will contemplate output cuts in the coming months as Saudi Arabia’s demand for directburning of crude slides and Asian refineries seek less feedstock from the Middle East, JBC said.

12

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

BUSINESS NEWS Group launches $.5m seed investment fund

C

OCREATION Hub Nigeria has launched a $500,000 seed in vestment fund to support early stage start-ups over the next two years. Start-ups will receive sums ranging from $10,000 – $25,000 to support business model experimentation and operations.

Initial beneficiaries of the fund,the organisation listed include Vacantboards, Truppr, Traclist, 500shops and GeniiGames. The announcement comes on the occasion of first anniversary of its incubation office which among other services, provides entrepreneurs with mentorship, user testing, access to markets, office space and administration.

The initial beneficiaries of the seed investment went through CcHUB’s Pre-Incubation programme which identified and supported aspiring technology entrepreneurs looking to address local market problems with relevant solutions.

Through the $90,000 Tony Elumelu Foundation/CcHUB pre-seed fund, beneficiaries started out with a grant award of $5,000 each to support their ideas, build working prototypes, carry out initial market testing & proof their concepts. These ideas grew steadily, earning revenues, increasing their user bases and building partnerships hence needing a different kind of support.

CEO & Co-founder of CcHUB, Bosun Tijani said: “CcHUB incubation

PUBLIC NOTICE CHANGE OF NAME

By Daniel Essiet

office launched in response to the need to provide business development, mentoring and funding support to start-ups that showed traction from our impactful Pre-incubation program. Our seed investment ensures startups have a sure footing post-Preincubation to concentrate on rapidly executing their plans and learning from the market.”

Director of Incubation ,Tunji Eleso said: “Discussions are already underway with investors to provide additional funding to two of our initial beneficiaries and we hope to break the news in the coming months. We welcome startups looking to transform the way Nigerians live, play and do business to apply to join our portfolio via http:// cchubnigeria.com/pre- incubation.”

‘The initial beneficiaries of the seed investment went through CcHUB’s Pre-Incubation programme which identified and supported aspiring technology entrepreneurs looking to address local market problems with relevant solutions’

Fed Govt sets aside N922m for certified wheat seeds

T

PUBLIC NOTICE CHANGE OF NAME ADEBESIN I formerly known and addressed as MISS ADENIKE ADEOLA ADEBESIN now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADENIKE ADEOLA SHOBOGUN. All former documents remain valid. DLI, Unilag and general public should take note.

HE Federal Govern ment said it has ap proved N922m to mop up 7,000 metric tonnes of breeders foundation and certified wheat seeds in order to expand the wheat value chain in the country.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina disclosed this in Kaduna yesterday.

The Minister who was represented by the Northwest

PUBLIC NOTICE ON STREET NAMING

PUBLIC NOTICE ON STREET NAMING

I, MR. NWENYI JOHN-PAUL of Greenfield Estate, off AgoPalace Way,Ago-Okota wish to inform the general public that I have applied to Isolo Local Council Development Area, that the street situate and lying in front of my house (adjacent De-fire Nanka Street in the Greenfield Estate, Ago-Okota) be named as NWENYI JONHPAUL STREET in my favour, This is for the information of Isolo L.C.D.A and the general public.

I MR. IFEANYI NWAKWE of Victory estate off Ago-Palace Way, Ago-Okota wish to inform the general public that I have applied to Isolo Local Council Development Area, that the street situate and lying in front of my house (off Ojefia Street, Victory Estate), Ago-Okota) be named as INTERDOOR STREET in my favour, This is for the information of Isolo L.C.D.A and the general public.

ALAMU

I formerly known and addressed as ALAMU BOLANLE ADIJAT now wish to be known and addressed as OSHOFFA BOLANLE ADIJAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

• The Executive Secretary of Financial Reporting Council (FRC), Mr. Jim Obazee, (right) posing for photograph with the award for Outstanding Financial Regulatory Agency of the year. With him is the convener of the award, Mr Shola Olugbemiro, during the award.

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

Regional Director of the ministry, Dr. Nyam Y. Leo at a press conference in Kaduna said the Federal Government was embarking on an awareness campaign to encourage wheat production in the country.

According to him, the programme which started in 2012 saw wheat farmers in the country planting grains not certified nor hybrid wheat seeds which led to de-

cline in productivity.

He said: “The Minister was in Kebbi and Zamfara states recently and revealed to the whole world potential of Nigeria’s wheat production especially in Baklori Irrigation Site.

“In view of this, I have already approved N922million to mop up 7,000 metric tones of breeders foundation and certified wheat seeds for the envisaged expansions in the wheat value chain.”

Dr. Adesina who said the Agricultural Transformation

Agenda (ATA), is a tool by the Federal Government to improve agricultural production which will lead to continuity, consistency, commitment and value chain.

He said: “We’re repositioning the ministry to reduce dependence on food imports, increase crop yield, enhance incomes for farmers, reduce poverty, increase foreign exchange, enhance food security and ensure national security.”

The approach mapped out by the ministry to achieve

these goals according to Dr. Adesina, include decentralisation of power to states and regions, farmers registration and data base, input supply, value added industries, attract foreign and private sector involvement and partition for sustainability.

Dr. Adesina also expressed delight that all the states in the country except one, have keyed into ATA and this step according to him, will make the country to emerge as a major exporter of wheat in the near future.

‘Nigeria remains preferred investment hub’

N

IGERIA has emerged as a strong destina tion for investments in telecoms and retail mainly due to the large population which accounts for 20 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa’s.

This has also made the country a key market to multinationals, the Africa Global Business Forum (AGBF) report has said.

The reportshowed that Nigeria’s foreign direct investment (FDI) has exceeded $6billion mainly in the energy sector, adding that owing to the investment in oil and gas, the economy will remain robust but will not be sufficient for a sizeable improvement in living standard.

According to the report which was conducted ahead of the AGB forum scheduled for October in Dubai, the

By Adedeji Ademigbuji

Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), said it developed this detail to highlight economic and investment potential in subSaharan Africa.

“The growth is expected to continue until 2017 owing to the investment in the oil and gas sector. Non-oil growth will be robust, led by telecoms, trade and infrastructure,” AGBF noted.

The report stated further that aside Nigeria, Ghana offers a relatively businessfriendly environment, adding however that poor infrastructure remains a major obstacle. “For retailers, Ghana has the potential to become the gateway to West Africa’s 250million consumers,” it

stated.

According to the study, Ghana’s market opportunities are moderate while mining communities and tourists in coastal towns and the much anticipated growth in population - expected to double in 20 years - will contribute to the development of the retail sector.

“Ghana’s GDP growth will average 7.5 per cent annually until 2017, driven by the expansion of gold mines and burgeoning oil and gas sector,” it stated.

Also, the study stated that tourism in Tanzania is a vital source of revenue and the economy remains dependent on agriculture and mining.

Real GDP growth is expected to average 7.1 per cent up to 2017, assuming tourism, agriculture, trade and investment pick up while

growth in construction will be robust, led by investments in the gas industry and infrastructure projects.

FDI exceeds $2billion and is expected to increase by 20 per cent per year up to 2017.

Mining is the largest source of FDI followed by telecoms and construction. Agriculture has also been targeted by the government as a source of future FDI. With strong development of Kenya’s economy, the country has developed into a marketled hub for East Africa’s telecoms, retail and tourism sectors, AGBF study showed.

But the country’s growth is expected to pick up to 5.1 per cent a year on average as banking, telecoms and the middle class continue to develop with prices of food and oil, and drought threat remain key risks.

Qatar Airways increases frequency to Dubai routes

E

FFECTIVE October 26th, this year, Qatar Airways will be increasing frequency on its very popular Doha Dubai routes with additional daily flights to Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC) Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).

Doha (DOH) Dubai (DXB) has the highest frequency in

Qatar Airways’ route network is a popular Gulf route currently served by the airline 91 times a week, and will be increasing to 98 flights a week.

DWC, which is currently served 21 times per week, will be increasing to 28 flights-perweek from October 26th.

Qatar Airways revised its Doha and DXB departure timings to significantly improve customer convenience. The 14

daily flights will depart from DOH on the hour and from DXB on the half hour. With the convenient timing of the flights, local passengers will have greater flexibility added to their travel plans.

Apart from DXB and DWC, Qatar Airways also currently operates three-flights-a-day to Sharjah (SHJ) and six daily flights to Abu Dhabi (AUH), and is the only airline which

operates to these four airports within the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “We are dedicated to increasing our presence in key markets like the UAE and adding capacity on one of our most popular routes like Dubai demonstrates this commitment.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

Zonal Chairman (National Vice Chairman) Zonal Secretary Zonal Legal Adviser Zonal Publicity Secretary Zonal Organising Secretary Zonal Women Leader Zonal Youth Leader Special (Physically Challenged) Leader All State Chairmen Past and Present Governors and Deputies All members of the National Executive Committee from the Zone.

12. All Serving and Past Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly from the Zone.

13. All Members of the Board of Trustees (BOT) from the Zone.

13

14. All Former and Serving National Chairmen and Leader within the Zone.

15. Members of the State Working Committee.

16. 5 nos. Members from the State Houses of Assembly within the Zone led by the Speaker.

17. 5 nos. Members representing the local Government Party Chairmen in each State within the Zone.

18. 5 nos. Representatives of the Local Council Chairmen in each state within the Zone.

19. 5 nos. Leaders from each state within the Zone 20. All former National Vice Chairmen who are in the Party.

21. All State Women Leaders.

22. All State Youth Leaders.

23. 5 nos. Members of the State Executive Council in each State Government within the Zone.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

14

THE NATION

BUSINESS TRANSPORTATION

E-mail: ynotaderibigbe@gmail.com

Unions back emission policy T

HE Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and auto techicians have bought into the Federal Government’s national vehicle emission reduction policy.

They have also resolved to work together for the success of the policy which enforcement begins in January.

The policy, which is meant to improve the quality of vehicles and the life of Nigerians, will be enforced by the National Environmental Standard and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).

Under the policy, all vehicles must be installed with emission reduction technology.

Stories by Adeyinka Aderibigbe

At a meeting in Abuja, RTEAN and the Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA) said their partnership would strengthen the government’s efforts at ensuring the growth of the automotive industry.

RTEAN’s National President Alhaji Shehu Musa Isiwele, while receiving his NATA counterpart Comrade Michael Ajayi Omonayin in his office in Abuja, said the partnership would enhance the industry’s contribution to the transportation subsector of the economy.

The cooperation, Isiwele noted, would also help the government

in creating an enabling environment for the manufacturing of vehicles and spare parts in the country.

He said: “The success of road transport business rests on the professional competence of your members and quality of services provided as auto-engineers which is central to vehicle maintenance.”

Isiwele said with 16 million members nationwide, RTEAN has a robust spread that is capable of delivering an efficient road transportation business.

“More than any other association, either in the public or private sector, RTEAN has promoted issues of affordable, quality, durable and sustainable

road transport system.

“Today, it is not surprising that the association is adjudged as the best trade union in Nigeria in the recent performance rating of trade unions in Nigeria,” he said.

Isiwele praised President Goodluck Jonathan for the automotive policy and the improvement in road network across the country. “This improved road network has improved road transportation and reduced accidents and fatalities,” he said.

Omonayin said NATA sought RTEAN’s partnership on the automotive industry to further promote stakeholders’ dialogue with a view to promote overall public benefit.

NATA, he said, is training its

•Isiwele

members in the repair and maintenance of automatic and electronic vehicles that would be replacing the old engines in line with the envisaged success of the auto policy.

LASTMA not revenue agency, says Arebamen

A

•Ogungbemide (left) and Omafu showing how to identify a good tyre

T

PHOTO: OLALEKAN AYENI

FRSC: How to know a good tyre

O reduce road crashes during the “Ember” months, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ota Unit Command, and Shell Nigeria Gas Plc, have trained commercial drivers operating in Ota, Ogun State.

The drivers and vehicle owners were taught the vital things to look out for while buying tyres.

FRSC’s Unit Commander, Mr Sunday Omafu, said most fatal accidents could have been averted if vehicle owners had bought good tyres.

According to him, research showed that 15 per cent of reported crashes in the country were traceable to tyre-related defects.

Tyres, Omafu said, were an important component in any vehicle as it is the only link between the driver and the road.

Most vehicle owners, he said, consulted vulcanisers who are not literate while buying tyres.

He said: “An average vulcaniser gauges a ‘good’ tyre by neatness, bouncing it on the ground. They never consider the tyre’s manufacturing and expiring dates and its effectiveness on the road. They have no knowledge of tyre temperature, pressure, speed limit, wearing, bar rate and loading index among others.”

Omafu advised vehicle owners to check the manufacturing and ex-

By Olalekan Ayeni

piring dates of any tyre before buying it, adding that the manufacturing and expiry dates are the four- digit code inscribed on the sidewall of the tyre.

Also to be noted, Omafu said, is the “traction rating”, which is the ability of the tyre to stop easily, on a wet or dry pavement. This, he said, are usually coded AA, A, B, or C, adding that the higher the rating, the better the traction.

He urged buyers to be wary of common tyre defects such as bead fracture (tyre bulge), as this can result in sudden burst.

The Zonal Matron, Mrs Appolonia Ngozi Uzor, charged drivers to observe regular health check.

She noted that a driver who fails to check his health status is an accident waiting to happen, adding that research has shown that drivers hardly bother to conduct a health check.

Mrs Uzor said: “We have observed that a lot of these drivers have high blood pressure, which is not good. Many of them do not take care of their health but are only interested in making money.

“They neither maintain their vehicles nor take proper care of their health. This is responsible for

most crashes on the road because poor health management affects drivers’ judgment on the road.”

The Zonal Public Education Officer, Mr Olusegun Ogungbemide, who spoke on road signs, urged drivers to adhere to road signs at all times, especially during the coming “Ember”months.

“Ember months are the period characterised by hasty travels, which increase human and vehicular traffic.

“There is no juju or blood-sucking spirits on the roads, the high rate of accidents are caused by reckless driving,” he said.

He urged the road users to “show the highest sense of discipline and avoid flouting traffic rules and regulations”.

According to him, drivers should desist from excessive speeding, overloading, wrong overtaking, use of phones while driving, drunk driving and always be 15 metres away from the vehicle ahead of them.

The Itori Unit Commander, Mr Bakare Fatai Adesina and Unit Coordinator of Isaka/Igbala Special Marshal, Mr Samuel Ajayi, enjoined motorists to guard against bad driving that causes crashes.

Ajayi urged Okada riders to always ensure they use helmets and avoid overloading in the name of making money.

COMMISSIONER in the Office of the Public Complaints Commission (OPCC), Mr. Funsho Olukoga, has praised officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) for their commitment to duty.

LASTMA, he said, has brought sanity back to the roads, leading to the reduction of gridlocks across the state.

Olukoga spoke when he led some officials to visit LASTMA Headquarters in Oshodi.

He said the visit was to establish harmonious relationship with the agency, adding that with the communication channel now opened, both agencies can attend to issues of common interest.

Olukoga urged traffic officials to be disciplined and respect the rights of other road users to ensure sanity on the roads.

The agency, he said, was doing a fantastic job that called for the cooperation of other stakeholders.

LASTMA’s Chairman Mr. Young Arebamen assured of the agency’s commitment to restoring orderliness on the roads.

LASTMA, he said, has become a model for other states that desire seamless traffic flow in the country.

He said the agency has zero tolerance for officer’s indiscipline, adding that the Law Enforcement Institute recently set up by the government is meant to enforce discipline in all the rank and file.

The former commissioner of police debunked insinuations that the

•Arebamen

agency was set up to generate revenue.

He said the law establishing the agency did not make it so, adding that the traffic fines are insignificant when compared to the agency’s overall running cost.

Arebamen said LASTMA was established to maintain law and order on the roads.

The state traffic laws, he said, are in line with global trend appealing to motorists cooperate with LASTMA and make use of its internal mechanism to seek redress against perceived injustices.

He praised the Public Complaints Commission for the “confidence building trip” which according to him, would enhance inter-agency cooperation in the interest of better service delivery and protection of public rights.

Bridge repair: Govt urges caution

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HE Lagos State Government has urged motorists and other road users to exercise caution during the replacement of the expansion joints of the Eko Bridge.

The Commissioner of Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, said the advice became imperative since the planned repairs which began on August 23, would last for about 71 days.

The first phase of the repairs being carried out by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Opeifa said, would witness a partial restriction from two lanes to one, at the loop towards Elegbata (Apongbon interchange) in-ward Lagos, for six days between August 23 and 25,

adding that the restriction would not affect inward vehicular movements.

“To avoid delays, motorists coming from Surulere and Apapa going towards Ebute-Ero and outer Marina are advised to use the connecting road to link Carter Bridge,” Opeifa said.

He urged road users to obey traffic regulations, adding that traffic officers have been directed to ensure traffic flow throughout the exercise.

Government, he said, is determined to keep to the timeframe for the project, adding that with what it has in place, there would be no need for total closure of the bridge.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

15

THE NATION

BUSINESS MARITIME

e-mail: maritime@thenationonlineng.net

NPA, Shippers Council quarrel over berth rent T

HE Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) are flexing muscles over control of the ports.

The NSC is said to be irked by what it called the arbitrary hike in berth rent by NPA without its consent as commercial regulator of the ports.

NSC Executive Secretary Mr Hassan Bello, it was learnt, has stopped the arbitrary hike because the Council was not consulted before it was imposed by the NPA. Bello’s action followed a complaint by Port and Terminal Operator Limited (PTOL), a concessionaire at Port Harcourt Port in Rivers State.

A Shippers’ Council team led by Bello was informed by PTOL General Manager Abdullahi Ahmed that NPA informed terminal operators of the hike during a meeting.

Bello was said to have expressed concern that NPA met with the terminal operators without informing the council.

Ahmed told Bello that his company spent about N3.2 billion to re-inforce berths 1 to 3, which are part of the area concessioned to it by the NPA. Berth 4, sources said, will cost about N4 billion to maintain.

If the maintenance had been done about two years ago, a

Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda Maritime Correspondent

source said, it would not have cost more than N2.7 billion In a July 22 circular, NPA was said to have notified termminal operators of the increase in berth rent.

Efforts to get NPA’s reaction through its Public Relations Officers, Musa Illiya and Isa Suwaid, failed. Illiya’s phone was switced off and a text message sent to Suwaid was not replied as at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, Bello has said Nigeria cannot be classified as a maritime nation, until it has an impressive fleet.

What qualifies a country as a maritime nation, according to him, is the number and quality of its ships and vessels.

Bello told The Nation that the Council is working out modalities to make it a truly commercial and economic regulator of the port.

“Since Mr President announced NSC as the economic regulator of ports in the country, we have been working hard. We have been consulting with all shipping lines, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), NPA, Customs etc. This is because we recognise that there are many interests,” he said.

The Council, Bello said, would

Abdullahi (left) and Bello at a conference in Lagos.

support local operators to own ships.

“If we have indigenous carriers, it will boost the nation’s portfolio. Even if we cannot own vessels, at least, we can charter. This we have made clear to Mr. President.

“Shippers associations ought to be the owners of the business.

They are, by right, supposed to dictate the pace of the industry.

The original intention is gradu-

ally being lost,” Bello said.

The port, he said, plays a crucial role in the economy of many countries, promising to make Nigeria’s ports the hub of maritime operations in Africa.

A right pricing mechanism would promote the ports prosperity, he said, adding: “Wrong pricing can guide port to inefficiency or even extinction. Also a high pricing could deprive a port of high patronage of vessels and car-

PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA

goes.

“Wrong prices will reduce demand for cargo services and when the demand for port services as equipment at the ports would be underutilised. Even with monopoly, high port prices will hurt those the port is suppose to serve.

“Low port prices, on the other hand, could bring life into a port, but congestion may be the order of the day,” he said.

Govt loses over $25b yearly to oil theft, sea piracy

T

HE Federal Government loses about $25 billion yearly to oil theft, sea piracy and poaching, The Nation has learnt.

A breakdown showed that $800 million is lost to poaching, $9 billion to piracy and $15.5 billion to oil theft.

The rate of pollution of the waters from Lagos to the oil-producing Southsouth is also high.

Speaking with The Nation after presenting a paper on the Legality of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and its Protocols on the partnership between Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Air Force, Matthew Egbadon, a former staff of NIMASA said the amount the country is losing is huge. He called for the sharing of information by the security agencies to stem criminalities on the waters and make it safe.

He raised the alarm that over 70 per cent of about eight million illegal arms and ammunition in West Africa are in Nigeria. He urged the government to pay attention to policing of the waters because of the huge number of arms and ammunition in circulation.

Egbadon urged security agencies to collaborate to stem the tide.

Investigations, however, revealed that while NIMASA is collaborating with other government agencies to end criminalities on the waters, the agency is seriously handicapped when it comes to the issue of pollution.

NIMASA, it was learnt, has the responsibility to stop dumping of wastes in the water and its pollu-

• West Africa’s 5.6 million illegal weapons in Nigeria tion; illegal bunkering; human trafficking; illegal fishing; oil-theft; pipeline vandalism; smuggling of small arms and ammunition; piracy and armed robbery at the sea among others.

NIMASA’s Director-General Patrick Akpobolokemi has vowed to fight piracy, prevent and mitigate the effects of pollution, develop human capacity and ensure

safety of vessels. All these, he said, are geared toward the growth and development of the maritime sector.

Akpobolokemi also said NIMASA as the maritime regulatory agency owes the international community the obligation to ensure the safety of their vessels, crew and cargoes in order to foster trade between Nigeria and the rest of the world.

The NIMASA boss noted that the importance of the security agencies to the development of the nation’s maritime sector and thanked them for their cooporation.

He commended the officers and men of the Nigerian Navy and Air Force for their efforts in combating piracy and pledged the agency’s support and partnership to help them effectively carry out , its

day-to-day operations.

“Piracy is capable of crippling the nation’s economy. Since shipping largely contributes to the growth of any economy, the economy cannot thrive where piracy activities are carried out,” he said.

He said he was happy that the management of the Nigerian Navy, has created the Central Naval Command. He noted that it would help to checkmate all forms of illegalities in the maritime domain.

Customs generates N6.4b in six months

T

HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Zone ‘B’, generated over N6.4 billion between January and June.

The amount represents 74.51 per cent of the total revenue target of the command.

The Customs zonal coordinator, Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) Ade Dosumu, said between January and June, the Zone generated N6,801,605,489.92, which is more than N4,442,178,638.35 generated last year.

Dosumu spoke when the Customs’ Deputy Comptroller-General in-charge of Research and Policy, Mr. Augustine Chukwuma Nwosu, visited the zone.

He told the visiting Customs chief that the Zone is strategic because of the vast area it covers, which has inland container terminals, excise factories and international airports.

The zone’s success, Dosumu said, followed the collaboration and

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

good relationship with stakeholders; synergy with other security agencies; good relationship with the host communities; effective supervision and sensitisation of officers to avoid any form of revenue leakages.

Added was introduction of PreArrival Assessment Report, PAAR by the Controller-General, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi.

“Despite its highly rated performance, Zone B of Nigeria Customs Service faces enormous challenges, which include the need for additional Customs Procedure Code (CPC) in some of the Area Commands within the Zone. Zone B also lacks the needed logistics to maintain scanning sites. Moreso, due to security challenges in the Zone, the revenue generation capacity is grossly affected.

“Mob attacks on officers at dangerous borders within the Zone re-

main a threat to smooth operation, coupled with incessant strikes by insurgents in most areas covered

by Zone B,” he said.

He, however, said “despite daunting constraints, officers of the Zone have not been deterred in the pursuit of their statutory responsibilities.

He added: “The officers and men of the Zone are so determined to pursue the goals of maximum revenue collection and suppression of smuggling with commitment in line with the efforts of the Comptroller-General of Customs and his management team.”

Also, the Area Comptroller of Kano/Jigawa Command, Abbas Umar said his Command has made significant progress between January and June this year.

“Since I assumed duty in February, 2014, the revenue collection in the Command has been rising steadily. Our revenue target for the year 2014 is N4.2 billion. So far, the

Command has generated a total of N2,520,000,000 in the last seven months.

“In percentage terms, it means we have realised 57 per cent of our revenue target when compared to N1,191,379,068.17, which was collected last year during the same period. Therefore, there is a remarkable improvement. Our successes, therefore, can be attributed to hard-work, dedication and commitments by our officers and men of the Command.”

Nwosu said he was impressed at the level of progress made by the zone in terms of revenue generation and anti-smuggling activities, despite mounting security and other challenges facing the officers of the zone.

He promised to ensure that the zone continues to receive needed logistics and other support from the headquarters, and urged officers and men of the zone to shore up their effort in the revenue generation and war against smugglers.

16

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

MARITIME

Customs loses over N25b to duty waivers T

HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) lost over N25.8 billion to waivers and exemption between January and May, The Nation has learnt.

The Federal Government was said to have granted the waivers and exemptions to mining, construction, power, agriculture and health concerns.

Sources said the Customs was unable to collect the revenue on the items on which there were waivers, adding that it lost N55.96 billion, N55.34 billion and N59.42 billion to import waivers in 2011, 2012 and last year.

But, an official of the Ministry of Finance, who asked not to be named, said the Federal Government granted the waivers because of the need to improve the agriculture/mining sectors and medical services, in addition to increasing power generation, promoting family planning, and raising the standard of educa-

Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda Maritime Correspondent

tion.

A source said Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemicals Limited got N10.5 billion waiver, it is the highest beneficiary.

A breakdown of the amount, it was learnt, showed that N6.96 billion was waived for Indorama on machinery, equipment and spare parts; the balance was waived on fertiliser catalysts and chemical pile.

Chevron Nigeria Limited is the second highest beneficiary with N4.87 billion waived on machinery, equipment and pipelines; followed by Galaxy Backbone, with N2.49 billion on Information and Communications Technology equipment.

United Cement Company of Nigeria and NIPCO Plc also got waivers of N1.91 billion and N1.02 billion for the importation of machinery, equipment and

spare parts.

Other major beneficiaries are the Borno State Government, which got N984.79 million waiver for agricultural machinery and Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without borders), N568 million for medical supplies.

Justifying the waivers, the official said they were incentives used to support the private sector because of some of the regulatory challenges in the domestic business environment.

According to him, the sectors that benefited from waivers are hospitality, power, aviation, agricultural machinery, solid minerals equipment, gas-using equipment, steel and manufacturing.

“There are also additional programmes, such as the Export Expansion Grant Scheme designed to promote non-oil exports. These sectors are seen as strategic ar-

eas, which can stimulate growth, support diversification of the Nigerian economy, and create jobs for Nigerians.

“In the past, waivers were granted to individual businesses in an approach that resulted in rent-seeking behaviours and an uneven playing field for other businesses. It was precisely the need to stop such a discretionary approach that led to reforms by the Economic Management Team under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“A sector-wide waiver policy was introduced to provide specific incentives for some strategic, job-creating sectors. Under this regime, all businesses in a sector have access to the same incentives.

“In addition, some waivers and exemptions make up for gaps in

our economy; for example, waivers to bring in vehicles for sporting events and conferences,” the official said.

When asked to speak on the implication of the waivers on the amounts that should go to the Federation Account and the seven per cent revenue that must accrue to Customs, he said: “We have to weigh the balance between putting money into the Federation Account, collecting Customs revenues and providing jobs for the army of the youth in the country by providing the necessary incentives to private sector operators to stimulate growth and development. The government felt it has responsibility to perform in terms of job creation and see to the local production of some of the goods we consume as nation.”

NIWA makes case for water transport business

H

OW viable is sea transport? The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) believes that it is lucrative.

NIWA has taken the initiative to convince the Federal Government on sea transport’s importance and to create investors interest in the business, it was learnt.

At a meeting in Abuja, NIWA’s Managing Director Hajiya Inna Maryam Ciroma, it was learnt, told Transport Minister Senator Idris Umar that the development of inland waterways would transform the economy.

The economy will also become globally competitive and create jobs in the hinterland, which had

hitherto been neglected.

Mrs Ciroma said an efficient coastal and inland water system would relieve pressure on the road, adding that the waterways can be used like the rail to transport bulk goods over long distances at low rates.

Water transport, she said, is the cheapest mode of transport compared with road, rail and air, adding that it would serve as a means of economic development and an instrument of national integration.

The NIWA chief argued that the country is blessed with good climate with expansive a land and rivers suitable for movement of people and cargo.

Calabar Port strategic to economy, says Minister

P

• Area Controller, Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘C’, Owerri, David Dimka, with seized bags of rice.

Nigeria spends N3.6tr on salt import T

HE global salt market is on the rise and it is expected to hit 338.5 million metric tonnes in two years.

Nigeria, it was gathered, spent N3.6 trillion on bulk salt in the last 10 years.

Findings showed that Nigeria imported 171,020 metric tonnes of salt through the Lagos Port Complex and Tin-Can Island Porton the past one year.

This week, Greenview Development Nigeria Limited (GDNL), a subsidiary of Dangote Group, will take delivery of 26,200 metric tonnes of the commodity from the vessel MV Volume at the Lagos Port Complex. Last month, two vessels, MV Safmarine Shaba and MV Punta discharged 41,100 metric tonnes and 5,000 metric tonnes of the essential comodity respectively at Lagos Port.

About 25,620 metric tonne of salt was delivered at GDNL in

March.

Report by Analyst, TechNavio’s, said one of the key factors contributing to the salt market growth was the increasing demand from the Chemical processing industry in Nigeria and other African countries.

Other consumers of the commodity, he said, are those in tanneries, food beverages, paper and pulp and bottling industries.

Statistics revealed that in the last one year, the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa Bulk terminal took delivery of 8,000 metric tonnes from MV Stylani 2 while MV Gemini Pioneer discharged 34,000 metric tonnes at Greenview Development Nigeria Limited.

At Tin-Can Island Port.

About16,000 metric tonnes was bulked out from MV Kaiti

Hill while MV Marine Prince discharged15,100 metric tonnes at Josepdam terminal at Tincan.

Despite the huge deposit of the commodity in some parts of the country, it investigation revealed that the country imported over $23 billion ( N3.6 trillion ) of bulk salt in the last 10 years.

Data from Nigerian Bureau of Statistics also revealed that Nigeria has a reserve of about 1.5 million tonnes identified at Awe in Plateau State, Abakaliki and Uburu in Ebonyi State.

Also, large deposits of rock salt are in Benue State.

Research indicates that Ghana’s Songhor Salt Project in the Accra Region has the potential of producing over 150,000 tonnes of the mineral annually.

Nigeria represents the biggest regional market for Ghana’s salt, but currently importing high quality salt from Brazil.

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan’s approval of the dredging of the Calabar Ports has been described as vital not only to the economy, but also to the Southsouth and Southeast.

The Minister for Transport, Senator Idris Umar, said this when he received a delegation of traditional rulers from the area, led by the Chairman of the Southsouth Monarchs Forum, King Edmund Dakoru.

Umar disclosed the government’s plan to establish seaports in Badagry, Delta and other coastal towns. He said the Calabar Port is strategically important to the two zones and the country.

The country, the Minister said, has suffered enough neglect of its coastal waterways which are supposed to be a veritable means of economic transformation.

“With this dredging, the economic activities, especially within the two zones will spring up again, creating massive employment opportunities in the area and in the whole country,” he said.

Umar said the creation of more ports was in line with the transformation agenda of the President, adding that a maintenance firm has been appointed to manage the Cala-

bar channel. He urged the private sector to fully tap into the inherent economic benefits.

He lauded the President’s efforts in ensuring that life was brought back to hitherto comatose projects, such as railway system and inland waterways and assured that the Eastern rail line from Port-Harcourt Maiduguri which is under rehabilitation would soon be completed.

He thanked the rulers for expressing their gratitude to the President for the dredging of the Calabar Channel.

King Dakoru, who led five first class rulers, said they had come to thank the government for the dredging of the Calabar seaport.

Dakoru said the port would be of immense benefit to the erstwhile landlocked regions.

Members of the delegation include HRM Eze Cletus l Ilomuamja- Obi of Obinugwu and Chairman, Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers, King Dandeson Douglas JajaJeki V, Amamyananabo of Opobo, His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi, Obong of Calabar, HRM Alh Aliyu K Danesi-Aidonogie of South Ibie and Secretary, South-south Monarchs Forum and the Special Assistant (Special Duties) to the President, Dr Alfred Chiakor.

17

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS AVIATION The rising price of aviation fuel has led to a corresponding increase in the operating cost of domestic carriers. This has equally affected air fares. But experts say the solution to the challenge lies in fixing pipelines that supply fuel to airports and refineries, as well as providing more storage facilities, reports Aviation Correspondent KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR.

‘Rising fuel price, scarcity killing aviation business’

D

OMESTIC carriers are grappling with two major challenges: scarcity of aviation fuel and high cost of the product. These have become a nightmare for airlines.

Their operators said the increase in the price of the product has raised cost of operations by over 40 per cent.

They argued that if the situation is not addressed quickly, the increase would reduce their profit margins substantially.

Besides the high price of aviation fuel also known as Jet A I, its unavailability due to ineffective supply, remains a headache for players. Many airlines' officials said the problem has led to the cancellation or delay of flights.

Investigations reveal that a litre of the commodity is sold for between N160 and N170, which experts said is too high.

For a 50-minute flight (Lagos to Abuja for instance), a Boeing 737-300 consumes 2,250kg of fuel.

The Executive Chairman, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Captain Nogie Meggison, said the price of fuel had remained unstable for some time.

Worried by the unavailability of aviation fuel at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, the AON called on the Federal Government to revive the Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) refinery in Warri, Delta State. It urged the government to fix the pipelines supplying aviation fuel to the airport.

The domestic carriers' umbrella body said aviation fuel forms over 40 per cent of their operating cost, adding that the figure is too high for business. He called on the Federal Government to intervene by ensuring that it revived Atlas Cove and Mosimi pipelines which supply aviation fuel.

Meggison said when the pipelines were working at full capacity, they supply aviation fuel to the airport uninterrupted.

The facilities, he said, were shut in 1996 by the military government.

Earlier, Meggison said, aviation fuel was ferried to the Murtala Muhammed Airport without trucks.

The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), he said, should repair the pipelines, which have been abandoned for 18 years.

He said: "We need NNPC to revive this pipeline so that airlines can get cheaper and cleaner aviation fuel."

He listed other problems in the sector to include the high cost of importing fuel, delays at seaports, which have translated to high demurrage for marketers, delay in loading at the Apapa Port and inefficient transportation by road from the Apapa Port to the Joint Users Hydrant Installation (JUHI) at the airport.

As a result, the marketers want the aviation fuel market deregulated.

The Warri Refinery, he said, can produce ATF, calling on the government to look into the issue as it would further reduce costs.

Pumping fuel using pipelines and hydrant, the AON boss argued, is safer and cost effective compared to the use of tankers and fuel bowsers, adding that abroad, tankers are not deployed for fuel distribution.

He recalled that some decades ago, Nigeria used hydrant both at the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited(NAL) apron, the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), the international and Cargo ramp to supply aviation fuel to airlines.

He said it was sad that the government allowed aviation fuel distribution to deteriorate from digital to ana-

•Meggison

•Bankole

log, adding that until the issues are addressed, the chances of airfares falling are slim.

He cited Cotonou, Lome and Accra as cities where the price of aviation fuel is cheaper because the airlines do not pay demurrage or use trucks to carry aviation fuel.

The Deputy Managing Director, Arik Air, Captain Ado Sanusi,, said the increase in the price of aviation fuel was affecting airline operations.

Some of the effects, he said, includes delayed and cancelled flights.

He said: "Aviation fuel is another major factor affecting the industry. The cost of aviation fuel is not only high but the product is not always available.

"It is unfortunate that Apapa, Lagos is the only discharging point and it has to be trucked to the airport in Lagos through the Apapa gridlock and to Abuja and other parts of the country.

"It is disappointing that a vast country like Nigeria is still importing aviation fuel and all the entry point is from Lagos before it is trucked to other parts of the country. Most often preference is given to premium motor spirit (petrol) before Jet A1 (aviation fuel) is dis-

•Sanusi

•Onyema

charged.

"The reservation of the product is small.There are some days Arik will need about 500,000 litres of the product but the reserve is 350, 000 litres.

The issue of aviation fuel availability in the country needs to be looked into by the government. The infrastructure for the distribution of fuel to the airports has not developed to meet the growth of the airlines in the country.

"Foreign airlines come here once or twice daily and pick up fuel in Accra, Ghana or Cameroon, whereas Arik domestic, regional and international operations source fuel from Nigeria.

This sometimes causes delays and cancellations of flights. If fuel comes in late and the some of the airports close by 6:00 or 6:30 pm, some of the flights will inevitably be cancelled.

It is most unfortunate that while the number of local airlines is increasing, the airport facility infrastructure is not being expanded.

"This has given rise to the congestion of the domestic terminals of the Lagos airport, Murtala Muhammed Airport Domestic Terminal 1 (GAT) and 2 (MMA2) as they are still using the small apron space meant for few airlines. The GAT terminal facility

needs to be expanded. Also the apron of GAT needs to be expanded. The unserviceable airplanes parked at the apron should be removed to make way for operating aircraft."

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Air Peace, Allen Onyema, said many airlines do not have enough aviation fuel because of indebtedness.

He said because they are unable to settle their bills promptly, the independent fuel marketers are reluctant to make the product available to them.

When Air Peace started operations, he said they were operating a direct cash payment system with fuel suppliers.

He said: "Many domestic airlines are suffering from inadequate aviation fuel because they owe fuel marketers.

This is not good for business. When we started up operations, we were paying cash on delivery for our aviation fuel.

"We are in discussions with four fuel marketers to ensure we have uniterrupted supply. That is the way to go."

The Managing Director of Medview Airlines, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, has urged the government to resolve the challenge of aviation fuel to reduce

the burden of domestic airlines.

Bankole said: "The industry should have a window where we can service fuel. Now, how many airlines do we have in the country? The challenges are enormous and we are not making much profit, but we are just striving to remain in business.

"The situation where airlines have to pay over 40 per cent of their earnings on aviation fuel must be addressed if the airlines, which are already struggling with numerous challenges, are to remain in business."

An aviation expert, who pleaded not to be named, described the development as worrisome.

He said: "The airlines have always claimed that the marketers are antiprogress as they insist on a cash-andcarry arrangement prior to delivery.

They also claim that there are insufficient fuel dispensing trucks for the operators, especially at peak hours.'

According to one of the leading domestic operators with 126 flights daily, the airline needs about 500,000 litres daily to fuel its flights. At N170 per litre, the airline will spend close to N85 million daily on fuelling alone.

He also said the marketers cannot fuel 15 of the airline's 24 aircraft at the same time due to the inadequate trucks and the constraints of the domestic terminal.

"These cause congestion at the aerodrome because we have many aeroplanes, wide-body and narrow-body.

At times, they want to service an airline's two aircraft, go to another one, do three, just like that till everyone is satisfied. This, on its own, is a challenge. It's not as if we don't have the money to pay them, but there are equipment and space constraints. As a result, we have our own fuel dump to take care of our operations in case of a sudden scarcity of Jet A-1. The operating environment is really harsh," he said.

Airlines' officials caomplained of refuelling problems, saying they were affecting them. For dealers, the problem is the airlines, which owe them billions of naira, lamenting that if the debts are not paid, they would be out of business.

However, experts have a solution to the problem of increased fuel.

"It is left for airlines to look, for instance, at their price structures to make sure we mitigate the effects of its rise in the industry.

"The government policy is affecting our operations and each airline will have to look at what it does to mitigate its effects. It is a problem that we are talking with AON and the marketers with. Some things are not in our hands. The good thing about this market is competition; it drives efficiency and the prices, an expert said.

An aviation analyst, Mr. Olumide Ohunayo, said the Federal Government should come up with a policy that would assist operators.

Such policy, he explained, should focus on taxes' reduction, fuel supply and pricing.

He said: "What we need is a national airline policy that will strengthen the industry and our airlines. The policy should include a reduction of taxes, modernisation of air traffic control and regulatory burden reforms."

"It should address the stabilisaton of aviation fuel prices, former secretary, African Airlines Association (AFRAA), Mr Nick Fadugba, said.

The government, he said, should tackle these problems to enable airlines survive.

He said the problems could kill the airline business.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

18

THE NATION

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

BUSINESS PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com 08062722507

property@thenationonlineng.net muyiwalucas2002@yahoo.com

•A house built with containers by THN.

Building with containers is gaining ground. Promoters of this innovation argue that, if embraced, it is capable of providing affordable houses for many, reports MUYIWA LUCAS.

How building with containers can reduce deficit H AVE you ever imagined building a house or an office of your own with as little as N1.2 million? Well, that is what a new technology, the container concept, is offering.

The idea is being promoted by some young Nigerians, under the banner of TempoHousing Nigeria (THN), in partnership with a Dutch firm - Tempohousing Global.

The developers specialise in the manufacture and design of flexible and affordable homes, using standard ISO certified shipping containers.

The units are created using innovative housing solutions that make it quicker and cheaper to build. Each unit is modified with a well-tested system to ensure that hotter climates like Nigeria’s are adequately catered for.

One fascinating aspect of this model is that when the owner decides to relocate to a new area, the building can go with him without any structural defect. The structure remains intact, safe, secure, durable, aesthetically pleasing and affordable.

How does it work?

The Managing Partner of the firm, Mr. Dele Ijaiya-Oladipo, explained that when a prospective client approaches THN, he only needs to tell the firm his requirement, and the features he wants in the house. This requirement is then designed by the firm according to specifications and budget.

“We do everything according to what the client wants, we work very quickly. So, we produce exactly what the client wants; we work with your budget and specifications. We will give you what you want,” he assured.

The THN boss story buildings are accomodated with containers, with

facilities, such as two rooms - one on the top floor and one on the ground floor, both having a separate living room and a toilet.

He said: “When you go into one of our containers, it is like being anywhere and as comforatable; it doesn’t feel as if you are in a container. There are several options of what you can do. You can actually cover it up with aluminum cladding, or local bond, so it can look like a normal building or you can cover with cement, soft board and actually paint it as a normal building.”

He said people can lease a portion of land and put the structure on it, and if need be, at the expiration of the lease, “we can remove the building to another place for the owner”.

Ijaiya-Oladipo said in the next two years, the company would be able to lease land, build and sell, or lease the houses to Nigerians.

“We believe that there is a big market in studios apartments which is what is perfect to our product because one container is a self-contained studio and we want to offer that at less than N1 million, or even N700, 000 here in Lekki Phase 1.

“That’s the general aim from what we do, but we have taken a stage approach to it and it’s difficult especially when you have a concept that is very new,” he said.

Cost and time saving Ijaiya-Oladipo explained that for now, because such buildings are classified as temporary, there is no need

for a building approval from the government, thus saving cost and time.

He said it only involves a client who will only need to make a 60 per cent down payment of the total cost of the house and then make the balance payment of 40 per cent upon delivery. Depending on the specification of the client, it takes anything from one to seven weeks at the most to deliver the house.

Quality assurance on standards The THN boss, said although the container housing concept is new in the country, the quality is of international standard. He explained that its Dutch partners have constructed buildings of five or six stories high using this technology, of which the buildings have existed for over a decade.

Ijaiya-Oladipo assured that the containers are of high standard and are actually fabricated to be able to be stacked one on top the other. For instance, he said that when on the shipping vessel on the high seas, containers, as many as nine are stacked on each other without any form of reinforcement throughout the voyage.

However, he said, THN still uses steel connectors in between containers as a form of reinforcement for the building.

“There is a lot of padding work in between the container wall and the inside. When we finish, it is actually almost a size of a cement block in thickness. The unit is actually cool without air conditioners and you can

do anything you want in the building like any other,” he assured, adding that the containers are actually well protected.

The fear of corrosion was also allayed by the THN helmsman. Containers, he explained, would only corrode when exposed to the weather elements. That is why the firm advises that internally, the container is painted, especially with anti-rust paint.

He said these containers are built with the kind of paint that can last for decades. “A shipping company usually amortises their containers over a period of 25 years, they don’t repaint it; it just lasts that long especially when it is on the sea and when it is not,they stay even longer.

“So, we have quality controls because we don’t just accept any containers, we check it out at the port and make sure that it does not have rust, dents, or punctures before we even accept it; you always get a product that will last. It exists everywhere in the world, why not here in Nigeria? he queried. For his firm, the essence of the project is to try and provide about 40 per cent of cost saving when the same structure is built using concrete without reducing the quality.’’

He said in terms of construction time, building is done three to four times faster than concrete.

“Our mandate is that as people get more and more educated on alternatives to normal concretes building, then we now start to gravitate to-

‘There has to be a specific effort to bring down the cost of construction because the deficit is not changing, but increasing because population is also growing. This, is said is the reasoning by THN making it to offer an opportunity for the average Nigerians to have a home of their own for N1. 2 million to N2.5 million’

wards other technologies and that is where we want to be the number one in West Africa for alternative construction method,” he said.

Maintenance While a client can have an internal arrange with the THN to maintain the building even after taking possession as landlord, but such maintenances can also be effected by the owner without recourse to the firm.

Improving housing deficit Ijaiya-Oladipo argues that with Nigeria’s housing deficit estimated at 17 million, if the average cost of a home is N5 million, that translates to N70 trillion or N80 trillion to solve this problem- an amount that is twice the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

He said for Lagos alone, about one million homes or more is required, and that translate about $30 billion to tackle the deficit. Therefore, he argued, there had to be a specific effort to bring down the cost of construction because the deficit is not changing, but increasing because population is also growing.

This is said is the reasoning by THN making it to offer an opportunity for the average Nigerians to have a home of their own for N1. 2 million to N2.5 million. He explained that THN has built estates with this technology which would be mistaken for an estate built with block cement.

However, he said the mentality of Nigerians need to change if housing deficit is to be adequately tackled. By this is means that Nigerians believe in buying up a land and building on it over a period of time, some for as long as five years.

He explained that with the emergence of a growing major middle class population, this will have to change especially with the type of business and employment now which takes practically the entire day.

THE NATION TUESDAY,SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

19

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

Journey abuse •President and other top government officials must distinguish private and public trips

W

E cannot but wonder why public officials in Nigeria have failed to realise the demarcation between public and private endeavours. As if the nation is one big jungle without rules and regulations on rights and privileges of office, top government officials have deliberately snubbed the need to distinguish between the two. One recent incident reignited our concerns in this regard. And that was President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s recent officially designated ‘private visit’ abroad.

The news went viral that the president was seriously ill and flown abroad, precisely to Germany for medical treatment.

In what has become an embarrassing routine of official denials of the state of health of government officials, and especially that of the president and governors usually shrewd in secrecy, Reuben Abati, the

‘This detrimental trend of public officials embarking on private visits abroad at the slightest opportunity is not peculiar to the president. Others, including governors, ministers, local government chairmen and other highly-placed public functionaries routinely travel abroad for personal causes at public expense. This is not too good for transparency and accountability’

President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity expectedly denied the widely reported purpose of the trip. Abati’s reported elucidation: ‘Before leaving Nigeria, I issued a statement that the President will be embarking on a private visit to Germany with a few of his aides. The President is hale and hearty. In fact, he is treating files in his hotel room. Are these not enough proofs that Mr. President is not sick as they want Nigerians to believe?’

We are happy to know that the President is hale and hearty. And even if he is ill, no human is above the toll of nature, no matter his status. Nobody can cheat nature; so, to once in a while attend to nature’s needs is understandable. But the curious dimension is Abati’s intervention which shows that the President went on ‘a private visit’. The government owes it a duty to tell Nigerians who paid the bills of that trip. Such an expense can only be borne by Nigerians when the President is on leave or when he is on official trip abroad.

Despite the avalanche of challenges facing the nation, it is surprising that the President still had time to embark on such personal trips with all paraphernalia of office. We even consider as diplomatically unsafe for the President to find solace in treating the country’s confidential files in a vulnerable foreign hotel.

But this detrimental trend of public officials embarking on private visits abroad at the slightest opportunity is not peculiar to the president. Others, including governors, ministers, local government chairmen and other highly-placed public

functionaries routinely travel abroad for personal causes at public expense. This is not too good for transparency and accountability. This condemnable act is nothing but an abuse of privilege and an undue show of ostentation in the face of rampant poverty that is currently ravaging the country. This wasteful spending of public funds is unjustifiable in a country where pensioners are owed arrears of pension; where power is epileptic; where public stealing has become routine and where the education and health sectors are in a shambles.

In the case of the President, what is the haste in his rushing to Germany after reportedly receiving the report of the recently-concluded National Conference?

Vividly too, we recollect that President Jonathan paid his last private visit to Germany when Patience, his wife, was hospitalised there for an undisclosed ailment. Even if the President wanted to relax after perceived hectic schedule, does it mean that there are no interesting places in the country that can compare with similar status anywhere in the world? Obudu Cattle Ranch in Calabar, Cross River State readily comes to mind, among several other illuminating places of relaxation scattered across the country.

We call on President Jonathan to lead by example. He should not be seen to be leading others in frivolous spending of government funds on personal causes without recourse to laid down regulations and bureaucratic decency. It is illegal for the public to bear the cost of not only the President’s private junketing but that of other public officials engaging in such act.

Imperfect impeachment •Constitutional provision becomes political tool

O

NE of the least-attractive features of Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in May 1999 is the repeated refusal of politicians to play the game by its established rules. The most egregious manifestation of this tendency is the use to which the constitutional provision of impeachment has been put. Instead of being utilised as a last resort to be employed when all other options have been tried and failed, impeachment has become a crude weapon for the achievement of crassly partisan political ends.

The recent impeachment of the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, must rank among the most gratuitous examples of this grosslymisused constitutional provision. The speed of the process, its glaring lac k of transparency, and the sheer ludicrousness of the charges against him all combine to show that getting rid of a perceived nuisance was the real aim, rather than serving the interests of due process and fair play.

Onyebuchi was accused of gross misconduct and flagrant disobedience to the directives of Governor Sullivan Chime, but the crimes alleged against him were underwhelming in their pettiness. The deputy governor was said to have failed to represent the governor at ceremonies launching the construction of the Second Niger Bridge, and to have operated a poultry farm in defiance of a resolution of the Enugu State House of Assembly. In a nation where financial impropriety, gross incompetence and the use of violence and intimidation as instruments of state policy are rife, it is truly incomprehensible that

these would constitute the “grave violation or breach of the provisions” referred to in Section 188 (11) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

If Onyebuchi’s offences amount to no more than these allegations, then there can be little doubt that his impeachment was more a means to a dishonourable end, as opposed to an end in itself. The fact that the panel appointed by the Enugu State House of Assembly was unable to find truly serious charges to level against him, as well as its refusal to sit in public is a clear demonstration of the fact that the impeachment provision had been abused by politicians whose personal ambitions took precedence over constitutional propriety and natural justice.

When it is recalled that the deputy governor held the fort during Chime’s wellpublicised extended absence from the state in 2012, the injustice to which he has been subjected becomes even more apparent.

The main reason why the impeachment weapon can be deployed so recklessly is the loosely-worded nature of the relevant sections. While it is accepted that the provisions dealing with impeachment cannot be defined too narrowly and cannot specify every imaginable offence, it is disturbing that the references to “gross misconduct” are so vague. To make matters worse, the Constitution characterises it as “a misconduct of such nature as amounts in the opinion in the House of Assembly to gross misconduct.”

Given the pliancy of so many state houses of assembly in the hands of state governors, it is no surprise that impeachment has been repeatedly misused in Nigeria over

the years.

The consequences have not been beneficial to the country: violence, political instability, the entrenchment of money politics and godfatherism have been the most obvious repercussions. The long-term implications are not positive either, as politicians will seek to rely less on competence and service as they increasingly realise that controlling the impeachment weapon is the most profitable strategy to longevity in office.

Onyebuchi has promised to seek redress in court. It is hoped that he makes good his intention, as it will enable the propriety or otherwise of his impeachment to be subject to the due process of law. The removal of governors and their deputies from office is a profoundly serious undertaking; it can no longer be subject to the whims of over-ambitious politicians and craven state houses of assembly.

‘Onyebuchi has promised to seek redress in court. It is hoped that he makes good his intention, as it will enable the propriety or otherwise of his impeachment to be subject to the due process of law. The removal of governors and their deputies from office is a profoundly serious undertaking; it can no longer be subject to the whims of overambitious politicians and craven state houses of assembly’

The big scam from TAN!

F

EW months ago, a non-governmental organization under the aegis of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) circulated a message all over the internet urging youths to register their biodata for job opportunities through TAN. Millions of Nigerians, employed and unemployed, rushed into cybercafés to purchase network-browsing time while those who have smart phones and other ICT gadgets with subscriptions made do with it and registered duly and happily. Nigerians were asked to fill in their phone numbers, permanent home address, and local government areas among other sensitive information.

Few weeks later, TAN began an endorsement rally in support of President Jonathan’s re-election bid throughout the various geopolitical zones in Nigeria. To the dismay of Nigerians, the bio-data which they naively gave to TAN with the expectation that they would be provided jobs were carefully collated and presented at the various TAN rallies to the representatives of President Jonathan, Secretary to the Federal government, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, as the Nigerians who are happy with the President’s transformation agenda in the creation of jobs, good healthcare delivery system, improved national security etc and have happily and willingly endorsed President Jonathan for another term of office come 2015!

The use of bio-data of young Nigerians to score cheap, shameless and ridiculous political points without their consent is not only criminal and offensive, it is unfortunate and an insult on the sensibility of these young Nigerians, it is an embarrassment to this country and its image as it is a dent not only the credibility of the conveners of TAN but also on the presidency.

The youths of this country should not be cowed or tricked into endorsing President Jonathan for another term in office. TAN should have come out open and allow these young Nigerians to freely express their opinions on whether they wish to do so or not.

Nigerian youths have been taken for a ride and for fools. TAN should as a matter of urgency render and unreserved apology in all the national dailies, national radio stations and television stations to Nigerians on their heinous crime and atrocity against the people.

Failure to do this would be met with legal consequences, as various youths fora would have no other choice than to proceed to a law court for a legal battle. The sensibility of any people have never been this insulted in the history of this country.. if you can’t help us out of unemployment, poverty and poor standard of living imposed on us by corruption and lack of ideas of our leaders, at least, don’t insult us or take us for fools.

Enough is enough.

• Hussain Obaro, Ilorin, Kwara State 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

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: Honour, discipline, incorruptibility, patriotism and courage all ran, simultaneously, in her DNA, yes in Dora Nkem Akunyili. Current female world leaders like Angela Merkel of Germany, Dilma Rousseff of Brazil, Christina de Kirchner of Argentina and Helen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia are perhaps no match for her in all the indices. If all were individual sporting events in an Olympic Games, she would stand in pole position to clinch all gold medals!

Even the amazons that have come and gone would freeze with envy wherever they are, either here with us or in the great beyond. The combination of modern world's first female head of government, Sirimavo Bandaranaike and her daughter, Chandrika Kumaratunga of Sri Lanka would have been hard put to it to match Dora's grit and guts. The first and only woman in the world to defeat an incumbent president, Violeta Chamorro of Nicaragua would have bowed before her in

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Akunyili: Best female president Nigeria never had the command of national and international attention.

The "Woman of the Millennium" after whom the largest university in the world was named, Indira Gandhi of India would have hardly ranked above Nkem in the command of mass appeal. Longest-serving British Prime Minister of the 20th Century, Margaret Thatcher and the grandmother of the Jewish people who nonetheless was "the best man in government," Golda Meir of Israel (both of them custodians of the iconic title "Iron Lady") would have taken from her priceless lessons in fearlessness and willpower. The other "Iron Lady" and charismatic symbol of woman em-

powerment, Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan would have found her a difficult nut to crack in the deployment of initiative and demonstration of astuteness.

Time Person of the Year 1986 who stood out as the most prominent figure of the year's People Power Revolution and country's first President without any political experience, Corazon Acquino of the Philippines would not have outshined Akunyili in the ability to surmount and survive persistent attempts by evil plotters. The other Filipino amazon and Professor of Economics, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, would not have outclassed her in erudition and scholarship. All these

women of "timber and calibre" who had at one time or the other held the destiny of their nations in their tender feminine hands would have had to be at their very best to match the moral, intellectual and administrative credentials of the best female president Nigeria never had.

As Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) she did what any head of government anywhere in the world, armed with the requisite political will, was supposed to be doing in their respective villas. Her inimitable courage in confronting even ruthless political god-fathers was a study in the ultimate in manliness.

Reminder to Governor Ajimobi on bursary IR: The decision of Governor Abiola Ajimobi to resuscitate the hitherto moribund Oyo State Scholarship Board was greeted with warm applause from all quarters.

Many considered this a good take-off for a leader who is passionate about education and human capital development. It was therefore not surprising when the board delivered its first assignment few months after its inauguration by releasing substantial amount of money for the payment of 2011/2012 Bursary and Scholarship

S

Awards to Oyo State indigent but brilliant students in tertiary institutions. Therefore when the second edition of the awards was advertised in 2013, many students applied, including the ‘Thomases’ who ignored the first edition. Not even the N1,500 application fee could prevent students from applying; many considered it a profitable investment, having weighed the potential benefit of N100,000. Fear however heightened when their hope failed to materialize almost 11 months after the appli-

cation.

It is quite understandable that scholarships and bursaries are not rights but privileges. Nevertheless, the plight of the indigent students should not be taken for granted. Almost all tertiary institutions have begun 2013/2014 academic session while Oyo State government is yet to pay 2012/2013 bursary and scholarship which it promised. Majority of the affected students are of the opinion that the payment is being unnecessarily delayed.

Governor Ajimobi may not be Jesus Christ of Nazareth, neither is he the biblical Simon of Cyrene or Joseph of Arimathaea, but this burden he has already placed on himself must be delivered without failure or further deferment. This is not an effort to malign the incumbent administration, but a passionate appeal to the governor to bear the weight of his highly extolled office in ensuring prompt disbursement of the fund.

• Kunle Oguntegbe Ibadan

Nigeria's own "best man in government" laid down a legacy for reigning and aspiring leaders at all levels in Nigeria and beyond by fearlessly confronting challenges and checkmating problems she did not create. Auntie Dora did not create the problem of fake drugs. That problem, most probably, had been there before she was born. But with her courageous and decisive actions, she demonstrated beyond question that if her duties on her beat were all about solving problems she created, there would be no need for her services in the first place.

Her DNA never synchronized with that of Nigeria's political leaders who, reveling with flamboyance in criminal shamelessness, make curious and mind-boggling but heartily-embraced defections to softlanding. While they play politics of no permanent friends and foes but permanent self-interest, she dedicated her entire life to permanent national interest. Her only enemies were the criminals and crime barons whose evil and blood "business" she terrorized.

Dora Akunyili came, saw and conquered! She even conquered cancer and death, succumbing only to the conquest of her Creator, who, in His omniscience, only called her home before she would be done in by a nation most given to rubbishing her finest characters. She could have lost any election only because the country she found herself in was not ready for men and women of her tribe. Humanity has suffered no loss because incredibly virtuous mortals like her, by general rule, hardly ever live long.

• Dele Akinola, Ikorodu, Lagos

…And Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed too

S

IR: We the 2012/2013 law school set wish to use this medium to appeal to our amiable Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed to as a matter of urgency order the payment of our law school scholarship.

We understand that the said scholarship has been approved by his Excellency and the continue delay in payment is causing excruciating and untold hardship to those affected.

Senior Special Assistant (media and communication) to the Governor Muyideen Akorede had in a

news article in Nigerian Tribune of March 31, assured the 2012/2013 set of the government readiness to pay all eligible students once the 2014 budget was signed into law. Incidentally, the budget was signed into law that very day of the publication, and for more than five months after the budget has been signed into law and almost one year after the 2012/2013 have been called to the Bar, the 2012/ 2013 set have not been paid.

As part of efforts to unravel the reason(s) for the delay, we met with

the chairman of Kwara State Schorlaship Board, Hon Isiaka Mogaji, who also confirmed that the government has approved the scholarship but added that the Commissioner of Finance is yet to kick-start the process of disbursement. This is the point we are at the moment. All our attempts to reach the Commissioner of Finance have proved abortive.

We are aware that it is only Kwara State that has not settled the 2012/ 2013 Law School Scholarship of all the states in the North-central Nige-

ria, and we are not happy with this development. Giving scholarship to law students every year has become a tradition all over the country as part of government’s palliative measure to their indigenes in the Nigerian law school, whose fee is unbearably excessive. Some sold their belongings; many are currently in huge financial debts because of their inability to repay the loans they secured to pay law school fees. We have suffered enough.

Please, help us.

Kwara State is one of the few states

in the country that is proud to have highest number of lawyers and this is partly because of the government desire to assist its indigenes in the payment of Law School fee, which many of us have come to appreciate.

We appeal to our amiable Governor Ahmed who we strongly believe is a lover of education and very hardworking to address this issue and to ensure that the 2012/2013 set are paid once and for all.

• Alatise Taofeeq Nasir, Ilorin, Kwara State

21

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

COMMENTS

N

IGERIANS should not be surprised at the multiplicity of groups springing up across the 36 states – all sworn to President Goodluck Jonathan re-election project. For those familiar with the coy ways of the minstrels of power, the long winding play going on; the feints, flanks and the manoeuvres; the grand pretences by those who covet the office so desperately they would rather remain there perhaps till kingdom come should not come as a surprise. Thanks to Abuja’s piggy bank which never runs dry, it is a question of time before Nigerians begin to lose count as groups merge, mutate and/or transform.

However, we must give it to the undisputed leader of the moment – the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN). Irrespective of what anyone may think, or how repulsive their message might appear to be, the group has somehow managed to court public attention.

Watching their activities in the last few months, I must confess that there is something intrepid – if hardly creative – in the activities of the group. That is of course permitting – although not excusing – the wild claims on prime-time television about the stature of their principal, putting him in the league of the world’s greats; or as has become increasingly common, the resort to outsize claims of achievement in the face of continuing state regression and failure.

I do not think anyone would or should begrudge the group on their claims or even their current ambition to secure 10 million signatures for President Goodluck Jonathan either. However, like the deadly Ebola virus currently spreading like wild-fire leaving our typically ineffectual public health infrastructure reeling, what should bother us is whether law and morality can still hold in the face of intense saturation of the traditional and the new media by the gospellers of TAN. At this

‘Nigerians are obviously familiar with the penchant by the administration’s hierarchs to hide behind statistics in their distorted accounts of economic performance.

Nonetheless, it bears asking again: is the economy truly on course in an economy where manufacturing is virtually non-existent and where all manners of consumable items are imported?’

N

IGERIA is one country that is richly endowed with abundant resources foremost of which is its large population of young persons. The youths are the future of any nation and given the right guidance and training, they are potential nation builders.

The global unemployment indices place Nigeria among the countries worst affected. So many efforts are being made to provide employment opportunities, but the number of youths especially graduates keeps surging.

The problem, according to some experts, is largely due to the school curriculum which is not designed to make students job providers but job seekers. Vocational training is not part of what schools teach students in addition to conventional subjects.

This no doubt has constituted concerns for governments in recent times and states are left with an army of youth who idle around. They not only idle away their time, they easily become tools in the hands of mischief makers.

The restive nature of the youth and their propensity to be used as pawns has made governments to devise means of engaging them to be productive. Several programmes have been introduced for the youths to take advantage of.

In Sokoto State for instance, Governor Wamakko came up with programmes to take care of the youths to give them a life-line to fend for themselves. What the governor did was to confront the issue aggressively. The programmes are run under the ministries for youth and sports, social welfare and poverty reduction agency.

Governor Wamakko’s administration tackled youth restiveness through establishment of skills acquisition programme that has now afforded many youths gainful em-

‘Three more skills-acquisition centres which would train the youths in modern farming techniques including animal rearing and poultry have been established at the three senatorial zones in the state. Not only that, apart from engaging both males and females in these programmes, women development centres have been established in all the 23 local governments’

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

When TAN came to town point, debates about the sources of the huge war chest which the group has deployed into action, is obviously, still superfluous.

However, the question of whether the law is on their side or in their pocket, I believe that has already been answered by the group’s open defiance of the laws regarding the kick-off of the campaigns. With an impressive financial war chest to pull, the group obviously thinks little of the niceties of process – more so with the power and the institutions of the state so clearly behind them. We saw this at play at their debut national zonal rally for the South-east in Awka, the Anambra State capital; it was evident in Ibadan a week after. Port Harcourt would turn a climax of the orchestrated endorsements for the President – a signal that the Jonathan-for-second-term train is not only off the leash and revving at full throttle; it was coasting home to victory.

For an investment, I do not think that things could have been better. A total of 4,156,000 signatures for the President from the six South-south states, irrespective of how much was expended, considering how important Project 2015 is, ought to be worth every farthing.

Hopefully, there should be enough time to find out whether or not the tally approximate the set of job-seekers asked to upload their personal details in the course of their search for an elusive job!

Did I hear someone say scam?

These are no doubt, interesting times. However, if you ask me, I will tell you that I have no problems with the group’s – or anyone’s – contempt for the law. Indeed, I have very little sympathy for the prey. Here, I am reminded of the beneficiaries of TAN’s 12 nights of bliss – an all expense paid trip to Brazil to watch the Super

How Sokoto empowers youths By

Sahabi Garba

ployment all over the state. It is a project the administration pumped huge resources in the purchase of equipment for the training of the youths, and tools and cash to start them off in various trades.

Now three more skills-acquisition centres which would train the youths in modern farming techniques including animal rearing and poultry have been established at the three senatorial zones in the state. Not only that, apart from engaging both males and females in these programmes, women development centres have been established in all the 23 local governments of Sokoto State to allow women learn trades while in their matrimonial homes. The initiative is geared towards training them in various trades and crafts for self economic sustenance under the youth empowerment programme. On finishing their apprenticeship, they are equipped with tools and start-off funds. The programme has recorded tremendous results. The first batch of over 150,000 youths were at the inception of the administration trained in shoe and mattress making, repairs of solar lights, computer repairs, pomade and bag-making and other leather works.

These youths were given enough capital to start on their own.

Recently, about 200 youths were sent to Kadawa in Kano State to learn crop farming, animal husbandry and metal fabrication. After their graduation, they were given between N 50,000 and N 100,000 to start off their trades.

Equally too, 300 youths – male and female – were trained on barbing and plaiting. Another 400 of them were also trained in perfume, candle, snacks, yogurts, meat-pie, doughnuts and egg-roll making. The government did not stop there; it established youth-friendly centres and assisted them with materials and tools for training and community development efforts.

As part of the robust programme, only last Wednesday, the Ministry for Youth and Sports graduated 1000 in welding, plumbing and auto mechanic. This was in ad-

Eagles World Cup Group’s qualifying matches. Weren’t they assured by TAN that those memories would last a lifetime? What difference does it make that they returned to the dreary humdrum of an existence?

Let me again be clear: I have no problem with TAN marketing their principal. My beef lies in their continuing exertions to distort the reality ordinary Nigerians daily face, and their mindless profiteering from the travails of their fellow citizens.

While TAN is at liberty to frame the issues facing Nigerians anyway they deem fit, Nigerians are obviously entitled to asking fundamental questions about the state of their union; not least their well-being under the watch of their principal – President Jonathan.

At issue is of course the impact of the so-called transformation agenda on the country and the people.

Obviously the issue is best framed in terms of the following series of questions. First, is the country more united than it was four years ago when President Goodluck Jonathan took over? The question obviously bears asking given the presidency’s potential as a uniting force and given the President’s rather impressive pan Nigerian mandate of 2011.

Nigerians are obviously familiar with the penchant by the administration’s hierarchs to hide behind statistics in their distorted accounts of economic performance.

Nonetheless, it bears asking again: is the economy truly on course in an economy where manufacturing is virtually non-existent and where all manners of consumable items are imported?

What about the prospects for the so-called inclusive growth? Are situations now better than they were four years ago?

Away from the classy road shows, where are the socalled foreign investments in the absence of the pillars on which a truly modern, sophisticated economy can be built? Where are they – the sundry fly-by-night portfolio investors?

What about the war against corruption? Can the administration truly claim to be winning the war?

‘Away from the classy road shows, where are the so-called foreign investments in the absence of the pillars on which a truly modern, sophisticated economy can be built?

Where are they – the sundry fly-bynight portfolio investors?’ dition to an earlier batch of 5,750 that graduated in fabrication of cooking pots, stove-making, paint production and other miscellaneous trades.

With this opportunities which abound in the state, youths have no reason to complain of unemployment except they are lazy and do not want to be self reliant.

Another interesting development is the introduction of job opportunities in tree-planting and watering, sanitation, vigilante and crowd control. 1000 of them are being employed in the 23 local government areas. 200 more are to benefit from a public transport programme where they would be trained to operate computerized vehicles fitted with modern gadgets. The neighbourhood initiative programme has given employment to so many thousands in its first year while the second phase has seen over 2600 youths trained under the programme. The training is mainly in the area of first aid and neighbourhood watch services.

Governor Wamakko, who is a teacher by profession, knows what it is to allow youths to be idle and to arrest possible restiveness amongst them. As a result he provided a befitting pastime for them in sports by renovating the Giginya Memorial Stadium, and provided sporting equipment.

All these are targeted at creatively engaging the youths.

Many youths now take advantage of the opportunities provided by the present administration to fit properly into the economy. Opportunities provided in the rural areas also have helped to stem rural- urban migration as youths now combine farming and trading to improve their welfare.

• Garba writes from Abdullahi Fodio Road, Sokoto.

‘Governor Wamakko, who is a teacher by profession, knows what it is to allow youths to be idle and to arrest possible restiveness amongst them. As a result he provided a befitting pastime for them in sports by renovating the Giginya Memorial Stadium, and provided sporting equipment’

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

22

COMMENTS

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ATCHING Italian international Mario Baloteli make his debut for Liverpool against Tottenham at the weekend one could see why the young man wanted to return to the English Premier League. His much hyped erratic nature and eccentricity is best suited for the English league where the fans like to hero worship.

And probably for the first time in his turbulent career, Super Mario cut the picture of a happy man enjoying his game and Liverpool fans appreciated him, in sharp contrast to his troubled time in England the first time he came to the EPL to join Manchester City, a couple of seasons or so ago.

His period at City, though better forgotten, will always be remembered by the message “why always me” that he inscribed on his inner wear when he pulled up his jersey after scoring a spectacular goal. Of course he knew why he asked that question and the fans knew why too.

When I read yet another twist in the craziness going on in the house of Nigerian football called the Nigerian Football Federation, one was left with no other choice than to ask; why always the NFF. Between the time this piece was written and the time you are reading this, it is not unlikely that the situation at the Glass House as the NFF headquarters is called might have taken another turn for the worse.

I wouldn’t want to bore you with the stories of the removal, reinstatement, removal and yet another reinstatement of Aminu Maigari, the embattled president of the Nigerian Football Federation. Maigari, undisputedly a cat with nine lives has been removed several times in recent weeks by his opponents, who in spite of strident denials, are definitely working out the scripts of their masters in government. But on each occasion, the world football governing body FIFA ordered his reinstatement citing illegally in the process.

I have no sympathy for Maigari and the entire football house; they deserve what is happening to them. My worry and annoyance is the way they are turning themselves and indeed Nigeria into a nuisance before the global family of football. By now FIFA would have been tired of Nigeria and probably considering bringing down the hammer on the glass house. That would be nice; don’t you

Why always the Nigerian Football Federation? think so? Bring down the hammer and smash the glass house. But wait a minute; would that solve the problem?

I don’t think so. And since beheading is not the solution to headache, may be FIFA needs to take another look at the laws governing the administration of football worldwide with particular focus on developing countries where the government is the one paying the piper and think it deserves to be allowed to dictate the tune.

Just as it is with the larger society, especially our government, bad leadership is the bane of Nigerian football. We have selfish leaders all over the place who think only of themselves and self interest. And the selfishness is not restricted to the rank of NFF officials alone. Look at the Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi. He wants as much as N11 to N12million per month to coach the senior national soccer team. That to me is grotesque.

While the jury is still out on whether Keshi has done enough for Nigerian football to deserve that humungous salary, I believe he has done his best and you cannot ask a person for more than his best. But the question is, is his best good enough for Nigeria? Or put succinctly, is Keshi’s best worth N12 million monthly? I doubt it and I say NO to it.

To deserve the N12 million or so that he is asking for, Keshi would have to deliver a semi final ticket for the Super Eagles at the world cup on a consistent basis and the African Nation’s cup every three years. Did I hear you

T

HE United States recently invited African leaders for a summit in Washington with the theme: Investing in the Next Generation. The summit was to provide an opportunity to discuss ways of stimulating growth, unlocking opportunities, and creating an enabling environment for the next generation and to chart a way forward in AfricaAmerican relations in the area of doing business in Africa, counter terrorism, health, electricity governance, peace and security amongst others. Beyond President Obama’s rhetoric of partnership, the summit has brought to fore the new American foreign policy towards Africa which is hinged essentially on neo-liberal economic diplomacy and the subtle attempts by the White House to curtail the growing tensions over China trade relations with Africa which stood at about US$210 billion in 2013 as against US trade with Africa which dwindled to US$85 billion.

One of the paradoxes of underdevelopment in Africa is that the continent is the richest in resources and but it is home to the poorest people in the world. Yet, our African leaders are inept and corrupt and often parade themselves in Washington, Paris, Beijing and London looking for solutions to our self-inflicted problem of poverty and corruption.

Indeed, Obama’s passionate desire to create institutions and not strongmen in Africa may also have informed his decision to school our leaders in Washington with a view to increasing trade relations and to a very large extent checkmate the growing China’s strategic influence in Africa. What is more, President Obama in his charismatic manner has expressed hope in Africa leaders to leapfrog the untapped potential of the continent to the benefits of its teeming young population. His words: I do not see the countries and peoples of Africa as a world apart; I see Africa as a fundamental part of our interconnected world – partners with America on behalf of the future we want for all of our children. That partnership must be grounded in mutual responsibility and mutual respect.”

One cannot help but acknowledge the fact that, there are very few African leaders who can deliver on their promises

Our leaders should come to terms that international politics and indeed summit diplomacy being engaged by the US is a game of selective morality and double standards and for Africans to win we must continuously recognise our interests and protect them with an uncommon courage.

say haaa? A coach who wants to be taken seriously and earn top salary must deliver consistently at the highest level. Does Keshi have capacity to do this? I have a serious doubt.

We wobbled and fumbled to the last AFCON Finals in South Africa where we won the cup.

We all saw the deficiencies in that team but God gifted us the cup and those deficiencies were really exposed at the World cup in Brazil.

Do I need to say more? And Keshi wants us to reward him with a N12million salary? What kind of leaders are these for goodness sake? If the coach of Argentina could resign for failing to win the world cup even though he took his team to final match, why must we reward the failure that Keshi was at the highest stage in world football with a mouthwatering salary offer, when his more successful colleagues elsewhere are throwing in the towel for not meeting reasonable targets?

And those who wants us to break the bank to pay Keshi are quick to threaten us that more mouth watering offers are waiting for him elsewhere are he will dump us if we fail to act on time. And I say let him go if he wants to go.

They told us South Africa was chasing his signature, what happened? Shakes Mashaba got the Bafana Bafana job. They even mentioned Angola. If he is so sure of himself let him go there and shame his detractors in Nigeria by winning trophies including the world cup for that employer that is offering him that multimillion dollar contract.

I hear that he is back again to tinker the Super Eagles. The truth is that we don’t need him again as he cannot take our football further than where he has taken it. My fear is that we may regress from where we are now that he is back. I suggest he be put in temporary charge while we look for a more technically knowledgeable coach that would play with the flair and swagger that Nigeria is known for and win trophies in style. We don’t need Keshi anymore the same way we don’t need Maigari and co, but in removing them, we should take the normal steps and avoid ridiculing ourselves before the world.

I am sure no other FIFA member federation has received more warning letters from the world governing body than the NFF. If there is a desk officer at FIFA for each federation, the person handling Nigeria would want to go on leave any moment from now to avoid further headache as a result of the infighting in the house of Nigerian football. The question to ask I repeat once again is why always Nigeria? Why always the NFF? Can’t we put our house in order?

‘To deserve the N12 million or so that he is asking for, Keshi would have to deliver a semi final ticket for the Super Eagles at the world cup on a consistent basis and the African Nation’s cup every three years. Did I hear you say haaa? A coach who wants to be taken seriously and earn top salary must deliver consistently at the highest level. Does Keshi have capacity to do this? I have a serious doubt’

Obama and African Leaders Summit

By Samuel Akpobome Orovwuje of development because of corruption and the age - long dependency on the West as always having unfounded answers and solutions to our development agenda. In my view, leadership creativity and inspiration in governance are not exclusive preserve of Washington. African leaders must see some of these partnerships paradigms as the imperialistic West wearing new clothes of globalisation to recapture Africa resources through the backdoors of foreign direct investment and unwholesome economic and trade relations that are not beneficial to the future of our children and the overall progress of the continent of Africa.

The rules of economic partnerships and engagements remained skewed in favour of America and China over the years and this is not good for Africa’s development. It should also be noted that neo-liberalism is a metaphor expressed in the name western market democracies and globalisation to expand uneven trade and investment to us in Africa and by extension a form of recolonisation of Africa through the international financial institutions and the so called development partners to maintain the hegemonic influence of the rich countries over the poor. This unwholesome scenario has kept Africa and its people down for a very long time in the global development equation and until we make efforts to challenge the status quo, Africa’s development will be a mirage. Indeed it is time that our leaders do reality checks. The journey of development has no rehearsals; therefore it is expedient for the continental leadership African Union and the various regional blocs to work together for the emancipation of Africa from the clutches western imperialism and the global buccaneers that has been bleeding us to death in the name of partnerships and aids.

Our leaders should come to terms that international politics and indeed summit diplomacy being engaged by the US is a game of selective morality and double standards and for Africans to win we must continuously recognise our interests and protect them with an uncommon courage.

Sadly, the chains of economic slavery driven by neo-liberal might are often replaced by the cuffs of direct foreign investment and the US continues to set tariffs against fair trade with Africa while they attract the brightest and the best from Africa to drive their economy and development interest.

Interestingly, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) midwifed by the Clinton administration in May 2000

granted the preferential access with a view to deepening the U.S. trading relationship with Africa. However, AGOA has not realized its full potential for a mutually beneficial trade and investment from Africa to the US because of limitation to a strict trade-preference arrangements and restrictions in favour of America.

The question now is will these partnerships and new economic diplomacy favour Africa?

In the never-ending search for solutions to Africa’s social and economic challenges, one viewpoint is advocating for hard choices among our leaders is to tackle the issue of corruption head on and to invest on young talents to unleash growth in the small and medium enterprises sector. The China example is worthy of emulation by our leaders. China development policy has always been tied to its peoples. China with 1.3 billion people has lifted over 400 million Chinese from poverty in the last 30 years with loanable funds that is more than three times of the World Bank and given to their people at the lower rate of two percent which increased investment and development in China.

Interestingly, China has also efficiently redirected its resources including Diaspora remittances into education, science and technology most especially its rail system with 10,000 Chinese nationals involved in its research and development efforts. This indeed is a reflection of the kind of inspirational and transformational leadership that Africa requires to move to the next generation rather turning to Washington for roundtable and quick-fix answers. Pointedly, our progress as continent lies within us as a people and we must renew our belief to reverse the trend of development rather the politics of tyranny and myopia syndrome of corruption and it is time to rethink the massive and primitive wealth accumulation by a few at the expense of the greater and common good.

The price of corruption and the manifest inefficiencies of leadership in Africa are overtly huge and painfully so and we must be reminded that no country or indeed the continent of Africa can successfully develop its people and economy through uneven trade partnerships and foreign direct investment portfolio that are often canvassed by the West.

Lastly, international diplomacy of summits are not charitable as they appear to our African leaders but subtle psychological warfare for power relations to capture our minds with the ultimate purpose of wealth redirection in the name of partnerships that do not benefit the majority of Africans. African leadership must restore the sense of destiny, which should translate into high self-esteem and self– confidence. Indeed self confidence has lifted the vision and aspirations of the world powers to current enviable position and for us as Africans, all we need to do now and most urgently is to put our house in order to make our future greater than past.

• Orovwuje is founder Humanitarian Care for Displaced Persons, Lagos

’ s e l g Ea l a v i r ar e n i l dead s e r i exp y a d to

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When we celebrate magnificent growth indices in the face of worsening abject poverty, the true implication must be that there is something fundamentally wrong

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E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

The Ebola did not scare lawyers away from the 54th Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Owerri, the Imo state capital, last week. No fewer than 7000 of them, including House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and Minister of Justice and AttorneyGeneral of the Federation Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), gathered to examine the theme: Nigeria, a 100 years after. The highlight of the event was the passing of the NBA leadership baton from Mr Okey Wali (SAN) to Mr Augustine Alegeh (SAN), who unveiled some reforms in his agenda. JOSEPH JIBUEZE reports.

•From left: Wali, Okorocha, Gen. Gowon, Adoke and Tambuwal at the opening of the conference.

How to end insecurity, poverty, by lawyers I

INSIDE:

T is a gathering which lawyers look forward to yearly.

Since this year’s annual general conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) coincided with the country’s centenary celebrations, its theme was: Nigeria, a 100 years after.

Not even the fear of Ebola could scare the lawyers from attending the conference on large number. No fewer than 7000 of them were in conference.

President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), opened the week-long event, which was chaired by former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon. A historian, Dr George Kwanashie gave the keynote address.

The conference featured a showcase session with discussions by Delta and Imo State governors Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and Owelle Rochas Okorocha on the topic: Nigeria’s biggest problem: Corruption or impunity?

NBA subdivisions, such as Judges Forum, Section on Business Law, Section on Legal Practice, Section on Public Interest and Development Law, Human Rights Institute, BritishNigeria Law Forum, Military Law Forum, Academic Forum,

Law and politics of impeachment -Page 27

Women Forum, Corporate Council Forum, Young Lawyers Forum, Lawyers in the Legislature Forum, Lawyers in the Media Forum and NBA Anti-Corruption Commission, also held separate sessions.

Delivering the president’s speech, Adoke said security agencies were working hard to check the activities of Boko Haram and prevent the sect from spreading its tentacles to other parts of the country.

“The challenges are enormous and all Nigerians must appreciate the difficult circumstances under which our security forces are operating.

“Government has, however, insisted that the war against terrorism and insurgency must be fought without sacrificing the tenets of the rule of law,” he said.

The minister explained why President Jonathan asked for $1 billion to fight terror.

“It is beyond doubt that a lot resources are needed to equip and re-train our security forces for this challenge. This request for the sum of $1billion recently made to the National Assembly is to enable government to fully equip our armed forces for the war against terrorism and insurgency…”

How to restore integrity, independence of NBA -Page 28

He urged Nigerians to remain united and to appreciate that terrorism is a global phenomenon which requires concerted efforts of all nations of the world.

“Equally important is the need to forge a united front to combat the common enemy. Terrorists would rather have us divided along sectional, religious and political lines as the division would not only help their cause, but also further diminish our efforts to collectively and effectively wage war against them,” he said.

‘I see worsening poverty’ Tambuwal said the common man’s life is yet to experience any positive change, despite a purported economic growth, which he attributed to what he called “a circle of error.”

“We suffer gross infrastructural deficit. We are growing our socio-political and economic institutions with perplexing reluctance.

“Our overall economic growth and indices speak contrastingly with our human development indices, yet true •Continued on page 26

Politics solely for material gain -Page 39

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

26

LAW COVER CONT’D •Continued from page 26

selves as consultants in cases where they have never seen the court processes.

“Their main claim to fame and consultancy fees remains the fact that the judge is ‘my boy’. This is utterly disgraceful. It should be discouraged. It should be condemned,” Alegeh said.

He called for the passage of the several justice sector bills pending before the National Assembly, which, when passed, would enhance justice delivery system in Nigeria.

On the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), he said: “A child conceived at the same time as our PIB would have finished school, started work and be married with children by this time.

“Countries that came to Nigeria to get a peek at our PIB when it was conceived has since passed and amended their PIBs several times.

“We are a country dependent essentially on petroleum and yet our National Assembly is playing poker with our collective fortunes and future.

“I believe we still have men of integrity, courage and valour at the National Assembly and I call on them to take up the challenge of ensuring that the PIB is passed without further delay,” Alegeh said.

He expressed doubts that the $1billion being sought for the military would have any positive effect on the war against insurgency.

“It is surprising that the military only realised in the middle of the insurgency that they had no weaponry. Strange, indeed!

“The military should at least help locate and free the Chibok girls to redeem our collective pride. That is the least we expect from our military,” he said.

development is people-centered.

“When we celebrate magnificent growth indices in the face of worsening abject poverty, the true implication must be that there is something fundamentally wrong.

“What the nation needs desperately now is to extricate itself from this circle of error and I dare say that we possess the capacity to do so,” Tambuwal said.

He said although he is part of government, he speaks on “governance failings” because he believes “the greatest disservice that man can do to himself and society is to indulge in self deceit.”

“If I see magnificent growth indices and after traversing our rural communities what I see is worsening poverty I should have the courage to tell myself the truth no matter how bitter,” he said.

“Nigeria is not a lightweight” For Gen. Gowon, despite the country’s challenges, Nigeria deserves regard for having existed for 100 years.

“Without argument, any nation or institution that attains the century landmark cannot be seen a lightweight. Neither can it be treated with disrespect, regardless of whether or not the positive achievements in society outweigh the challenges of nation building or viceversa,” Gowon said.

He, however, admitted that there is still a long way to go. “Nigeria at 100 years of age has not achieved its full potential,” he said.

Part of the problem, he said, is a conflict of ideologies. “For me, the issue is not to say who is right or wrong but what is right or wrong.

“One of the issues that may not easily lend itself to easy resolution in this regard is the conflict of ideologies between liberal democracy and sharia… I am confident that the conflict can and should be resolved by the reconciliation of both ideologies,” he said.

Chief Solomon Asemota (SAN), said the two ideologies must be reconciled in the country’s interest.

“We must celebrate our diversity and fight to enshrine national unity and reconciliation, factors that are necessary in shaping Nigeria’s two ideologies Islam and liberal democracy and the relationships between them.

“The Sharia proponents, as has been shown are at war with the Constitution. There is need therefore for reconciliation of the two ideologies if it is possible,” he said.

On how to achieve such a reconciliation, he suggested: “For the future peace and development of Nigeria that would include industrial revolution, the NBA must promote the following actions: “(1) Draft two bills for the consideration of the political parties viz: (I) Reconciliation Commission Bill very much like the Truth Commission Act of South Africa with emphasis on Ideology and Reconciliation; (II) A Constituency Assembly Bill with emphasis on Ethnic Representation in which every Ethnic Nationality must have not less than one and not more than ten representatives.

“These two drafts should be sent to all the political parties interested in the 2015 elections for their consideration and the political parties should eventually make same the bases of their campaign,” he said.

Okorocha’s unique economic theories The showcase session featured Uduaghan and Okorocha, who thrilled guests with their sense of humour.

Uduaghan said anger is at the heart of Nigeria’s problems, including insecurity. He urged politicians to get rid of anger and watch things change for good.

According to him, the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has become the “Angry Peoples Congress” because it is where those angry with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) go to.

“When you’re angry with the PDP, you go to APC. That is what is happening now,” Uduaghan said.

But Okorocha, who is in APC, disagreed.

“Let me say to my colleague: I’m not angry,” he said, adding that Nigeria is in need of good leadership.

There was a mild drama when Okorocha’s speech was interrupted as Uduaghan got up to leave. It was while the Imo governor was highlighting his state’s “meagre” allocation compared to what the likes of Akwa Ibom and Delta get.

Okorocha spoke about governors who are “executive cashiers” and those who create wealth, saying government is not about awarding contracts but transforming the common’s man’s life.

He also explained the economic principle of

Lawyers conquer Ebola fear

•Alegeh

How to end insecurity, poverty, by lawyers “Rochonomics”, “Kwashiokorism” and “Ohasierism” which he propounded.

He said: “Rochonomics is an economic theory for the supersonic transformation of the country,” he said. According to him, Nigeria has a “big head” with a “bulging tummy” and tiny legs.

“Nigerian economy is suffering from what we call kwashiokorism. It’s not balanced. Let me ask you, gentlemen: if you see a woman with a big head, bulging tummy and feeble legs, you will not marry her. But if you see a woman with a small head, moderate tummy with a big balance, you will marry.

“That’s why nobody can marry Nigerian economy. That calls for systematic devolution of power to shed this big head, bring it back to the legs so it can move fast.

“That is what is called Ohashierism (meaning Oha siere ofu onye, ofu onye agaghi ericha) (A person cannot finish the food cooked by many people).”

According to him, most leaders do not have the vision or the passion to move the country forward, adding that a man who cannot manage resources cannot manage a nation.

“You cannot give what you don’t have. You cannot go beyond your capacity. That is why we must allow people who have the vision to lead us irrespective of where they come from.

“Governance is not about Federal allocation.

It’s about ability to create wealth. Any leader who cannot make sacrifice has no business in governance,” Okorocha said.

Alegeh’s ‘populist’ policies A new NBA leadership led by Augustine

Alegeh (SAN) was inaugurated. The new NBA President reversed some of the policies he inherited from the outgoing president Okey Wali (SAN).

First, he said all lawyers who have been verified in the NBA Data Base shall be issued with NBA Identification Cards.

The card would contain name of the lawyer, photograph and Supreme Court Enrolment Number. The card would also function as a payment card for ATM, POS and online transactions.

The card would entitle a lawyer to a variety of discount and other packages negotiated by NBA. The best news is that the card would be issued free of charge to lawyers.

Alegeh also reduced Bar practising fees by 10 per cent for all lawyers except SANs. He surprised the packed hall by slashing the association’s conference fees by 40 per cent from what was paid for the 2014 conference.

Alegeh condemned what he described as the “secret shrouded” appointment of judges, and called for a system that is more transparent where merit rather than cronyism is the basis for appointments and promotion of judicial officers.

“The fight to rid the judiciary of corruption would remain a mirage unless and until the appointment and promotion system is reviewed.

“We cannot expect judicial officers appointed through the back door to be incorruptible especially at this time when those who arranged the appointments have retired but rather than stay quietly at home to enjoy their retirement, now masquerade them-

‘

We cannot expect judicial officers appointed through the back door to be incorruptible especially at this time when those who arranged the appointments have retired but rather than stay quietly at home to enjoy their retirement, now masquerade themselves as consultants in cases where they have never seen the court processes

‘

Prior to the conference, there were calls that it should be cancelled to prevent the spread of Ebola. However, all participants were screened for the virus before being allowed into hall, while hand sanitisers were provided.

Lawyers were not afraid to shake hands and hug each other. It was as if Ebola was not a factor.

“We must also thank God for keeping Ebola away from this conference,” Alegeh said.

However, lawyers complained of not receiving conference materials in time, despite the “high fees” charged by Wali’s administration. Besides, nearly all the sessions started behind schedule.

Statutory reports A highlight of the conference was the annual general meeting, where NBA announced that it has a cash balance of over N131million in its account.

Statutory reports were also presented by the Council of Legal Education, Legal Aid Council, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The Nigerian Law School said it would not close down its unfenced campuses in Kano State and Yola in Adamawa State due to insurgency in the Northeast.

The Council of Legal Education (CLE) has been under pressure to close the campuses following the kidnap of the school girls in Chibok, Borno State, on April 15.

The two campuses are said to be unfenced, making them even more vulnerable But the Law School Director-General, Olanrewaju Onadeko, said so far, there has been no incident that justifies the fear expressed about those campuses.

He said the management had embarked on fencing of the campuses “to forestall their apparent vulnerability”.

Onadeko said: “We have also secured the support of the Inspector-General of Police, Chief of Defence Staff and the State Security Services for the deployment of plain clothes officers and men to the precincts of all our campuses.

“Within our modest means, we have also acquired and deployed modern security gadgets at all campuses. We also have in place CCTV camera at strategic locations on the advice of our security experts to aid the operation of our security personnel.”

Onadeko said the Law School is also faced with the challenge of violation of admission quota by law faculties of universities.

He also bemoaned increased number of applicants from “foreign universities” such as those in the Republic of Benin, Ghana, Cameron, Saotome and Principe, among others. He said the school would admit only law graduates from faculties whose programmes are recognised by the Council of Legal Education.

“There is a moratorium on recognition of programmes of new foreign faculties in place,” he said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

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LAW & SOCIETY A Lagos lawyer, CHIJIOKE EMEKA, argues that impeachment is essentially a political trial with predetermined outcome.

Law and politics of impeachment

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ECENTLY, Murtala Nyako, former Adamawa State gov ernor, was ‘impeached’.

Shortly thereafter, Tanko AlMakura, Nasarawa State governor narrowly survived ‘impeachment’.

Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, Enugu State deputy governor got the boot for allegedly running an ‘illegal poultry’ and refusing to represent the governor at functions.

Before these incidents, Jude Agbaso, Imo State deputy governor was ‘impeached’. These events have raised legal and political issues, which I would try to examine in this piece. Since I am a counsel in the Agbaso case, which is still before the Court of Appeal, Owerri Division, I would avoid any comment on the Imo incident.

Let me enter a caveat. The term ‘impeachment’ does not appear anywhere in the 320 Sections of the 1999 Constitution (hereinafter ‘CFRN’) or in its seven schedules and three alterations. It is, however, used in this text in its popular sense as the process of removal from office of an elected executive (president, vice president, governor and deputy governor), for gross misconduct.

Being essentially a feature of the presidential system of government, it was not until 1979 when Nigeria switched to the presidential system that the tool could first be put to use. (In parliamentary systems, confidence vote, vel non, was the equivalent political sledge-hammer to bring down a premier’s government).

Thus, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, the then Kaduna State governor became the proverbial guinea pig used to test the brand new weapon of ‘impeachment’. If the resolution of the Kaduna State legislature removing Musa from office was a Zmapp drug experiment, it came out successful.

At the new turn of democracy in 1999, Abia State deputy governor, Enyinnaya Abaribe; Kebbi State deputy governor, Suleiman Argungu; both Lagos State deputy governors, Kofo Bucknor-Akerele and Femi Pedro; Oyo State governor, Rasheed Ladoja; Bayelsa State governor, DSP Alameseigha; Ekiti State governor and deputy governor, Ayo Fayose and Biodun Olujinmi; Anambra State governor, Peter Obi; Plateau State governor, Joshua Dariye; Bauchi State deputy governor, Mohammed Gadi; Bayelsa State deputy governor, Peremobowei Ebebi; Taraba State deputy governor, Sani Abubakar Danladi and others have had to swallow this bitter political pill.

The Ladoja, Dariye and Obi cases were most celebrated because the courts explained the law and firmed up jurisprudence. The three governors were restored by courts and

effectively won the politics of return. A successful impeachment is a blend of politics and legality. The plotters must win the politics and then, if challenged in court (as is almost always the case), also pass through the legal crucibles.

As a political process, ‘impeachment’ is intended to constitute a political trial and judgment of the Legislature, while the courts are silent.

This is apparently why the CFRN provides for an ouster clause; and partly defines gross misconduct as whatever is so “in the opinion” of the legislature. (There are equivalent provisions for removal of president and vice president in section 143(10) and (11).)

From Balarabe Musa forward, two bizarre consequences soon reared their heads to the consternation of well-meaning persons. The first was the creation of ‘gross misconduct’ from just ‘anything’, the most popular being refusal of a chief executive to open the public till to the legislature or a ‘godfather’ on demand.

Nigerians lost count of how many times former President Olusegun Obasanjo was threatened with impeachment by the legislature over ‘gross misconduct’ that was generally interpreted to mean ‘refusal to share the money’. None was however, consummated. Obasanjo himself later became infamous for aiding the impeachment of state executives on questionable ‘gross misconduct’ that ranged from not being a member of his political party to being perceived as hobnobbing with his political opponents, especially his vice president, Atiku Abubakar; or simply being ‘disloyal’, which could mean opposing his truncated bid to secure a third term.

In respect of deputy governors, who had been at the worst receiving end of the scourge, their ‘gross misconduct’ usually constituted a perceived political ambition without the blessing of the governor, or any other disagreement with the governor on private or policy issues, or simply the governor perceiving it as politically ‘strategic’.

It should be noted that in all these, an ostensible ‘gross misconduct’ is normally minted. This has usually been corruption allegations, but recently running an ‘illegal poultry’ has made the fascinating list.

The second problem that exploited the CFRN’s politicisation of impeachment was jettisoning of due process by the legislature. During the Obasanjo years, once the blessing of the president or a ‘garrison commander’ was secured with the backing of the EFCC, the Legislature could proceed without due service of notice of allegation or even without a quorum; sit at un-parliamentary hours; sit with-

out a Speaker or the Mace; sit in a hotel in town; or proceed without the required votes etc.

There was no end to the violation of procedure by the legislature.

They apparently believed the ouster clause in Section 188(10) meant that even if the wrong procedure was adopted there was no judicial oversight, as Section 188(10) made them complainant, lord and master of procedure and the first and final Judge.

Given their ordinary grammatical meaning, the words of the ouster clause are so clear that no court would on the face of that provision accept an impeachment case.

This was the cruel fate suffered by both Musa and Abaribe. But this was soon to unravel. The Gestapo manner in which Ladoja was removed as governor, which shocked every normal person, became the catalyst.

Thus in ADELEKE V OYO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY (2007) 1 NWLR (PART 100) 608, the Court of Appeal courageously ‘redrafted’ the ouster clause using the judicial license of ‘interpretation’. Law is dynamic and bad times give rise to revolutionary times. It was held that since Section 188(1) – (9) prescribes procedures, the proper interpretation to be given to the ouster clause is that it could only be activated when such procedures had been complied with.

Many who thought that the revolutionary decision was judicial activism gone too far were surprised when the Supreme Court in INAKOJU V ADELEKE (2007) 4 NWLR (PART 1025) 42 not only upheld the decision but laid down farreaching principles that effectively put impeachment procedure under the radar of judicial scrutiny. Thus, contrary to the decisions of the Court of Appeal in BALARABE MUSA V AUTA HAMZA (1983) 3 NCLR 229 and ABARIBE V SPEAKER ABIA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY (2002) 14 NWLR (PART 788) 466, judicial oversight is available over impeachment procedure.

So if the letters of Section 188(1) – (9) are strictly complied with, judicial power ends, and politics prevails. The courts would not question the finding of the panel of seven or question any of the two resolutions of the legislature in the process, that is, so long as the required majority was met. Where any of the letters is overthrown, the impeachment is legally wrong even if politically right.

The then emergent jurisprudence that the legal correctness of an impeachment as expoused in LADOJA was justiciable soon ossified as law.

This was evident when the Court of Appeal applied it in Peter Obi’s case. See BALONWU V OBI (2007)

•Emeka

NWLR (PART 1028) 488, Dariye’s Case, DAPIALONG V DARIYE (2007) 8 NWLR (PART 1036) 239; and in Ebebi’s Case. See EBEBI V SPEAKER BAYELSA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY (2012) 5 NWLR (PART 1292) 1.

While the problem that arose on the issue of due process was resolved by revolutionary judicial tactic, the political angle remains.

It is noteworthy, however, that in LADOJA, Niki Tobi JSC (then) hinted on the need for a valid gross misconduct to exist. This could mean that judicial power may extend to test the grossness of an alleged misconduct. Hopefully this would be taken in an appropriate case.

However, my humble view is that since Section 188(10) opened with a constitutional definition of ‘gross misconduct’ as a “grave” violation of the Constitution and then leaves a discretion to add new strains, the ejusdem generis rule would apply to remove absolutism from such discretion. It would thus in my view be constitutionally invalid to proceed on an allegation that falls out of class with a “grave” constitutional violation. Running an alleged ‘illegal poultry’ is not a constitutional violation, talk much of “grave”. My view though.

Impeachment is political because once the master-mind and his coconspirators secure a required majority of the legislature; and the Chief Judge (though expectedly apolitical) is ‘with due respect’ made to appoint the ‘right’ people as Panel of Seven, the impeachment is a done deal. The importance of the role of the Chief Judge was demonstrated in the failed bid in Nasarawa State. There, the legislature felt the ‘wrong’ people were appointed.

Being essentially a political trial

Police arraign 31-year-old man for N8.7m ‘theft’

A

•Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) (left) receiving an award from former NBA President Okey Wali (SAN) at the NBA Conference.

with predetermined outcome, an apprehensive subject usually keeps off the panel’s sittings, but AlMakura appeared. That was significant and too telling. It was also clear that the legislature lost the politics when they began to demand for reconstitution of the panel. Section 188(5) CFRN gives the Chief Judge discretion to appoint neutral persons. For the politics to succeed, the panel members are usually not neutral. By Section 188(8) CFRN the politics failed the day the panel reported that the allegations were not proved. The legislature only retained the liberty to commence a new process on new facts or submit a legal dispute.

The successful impeachment of Murtala Nyako is also a case study in the triumph of the politics. It is believed that his virulent epistle to the president was behind his travail. But the politics was effective as all hands were on deck (or forced to be on deck) to pull it off. The ability of the actors to unite on a common object explains why what succeeded in Adamawa failed in Nasarawa. It remains the legal crucibles of constitutional validity.

Successful politics (or bad politics) of impeachment is a skill honed by good students during the Obasanjo era.

The irritating interventions in state affairs, which was not limited to impeachment, compelled Professor Ben Nwabueze SAN to publish two interesting books: “How Obasajo Subverted the Rule of Law and Democracy” and “How President Obasanjo Subverted Nigeria’s Federal System”. Since many good students of those years are still around today to offer their services, we expect more impeachments and of course, more court cases challenging them.

•Emeka, Principal Counsel at Auxano Law Consult, writes from Lagos.

31-year-old man, Temitope Akinpelu, has been arranged before an Ikeja Magistrate Court for allegedly breaking into a shop and stealing valuables worth N8.7 million.

Akinpelu, who was arraigned last week before the court presided over

by Magistrate Mrs. Olufunke Hamzat, is standing trial on a threecount charge of burgling into a building, committing felony and stealing.

The Prosecutor, Roman Unuigbe, aPolice Inspector, told the court that the accused and others at large, committed the offence at 8 p.m on April 15, this year at Shop B12, Ikota Shopping Complex, Ajah, Lagos.

He alleged that the accused broke into a shop and stole N2.8 million, $14,000 , 3,000 Pounds, 4,500 Euro

By Adebisi Onanuga

and jewelries valued at N1.8 million, property of Alhaji Ibrahim Kaslim.

Unuigbe said value of the stolen items was N8.7 million, adding that the offences contravened Sections 285, 306 and 307 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

He urged the court to impose the penalty for the offence on the defendant, which he put at seven years if convicted.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read.

Mrs Hamzat granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the case till October 13, for mention.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

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NATIONAL BAR Following the shortfalls in the last election of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chairman of NBA Ikere Ekiti branch, BUNMI OLUGBADE calls for the restoration of the interigrity and independence of the Bar.

How to restore integrity, independence of NBA

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HE Nigeria Bar Association (NBA)’s Annual General Conference, which held in Owerri, Imo State last month has come and gone. This article is aimed at highlighting some of the key issues which should have engaged the attention of the conference and the new leadership of the Bar. In my humble opinion, the greatest task before the NBA and its new leadership is the restoration of the integrity and independence of the Association. Many have posited that these are not the best of times for the NBA. One of the primary aims and objectives of the Association is the “maintenance and defence of the integrity and independence of the Bar and the Judiciary in Nigeria, as well as the promotion and protection of the principles of the rule of law and respect for and enforcement of fundamental rights, human rights, human rights and the people’s rights”.

See clause 4 (a) and (k) of the NBA Constitution.

Close observers of the Bar in the last five (5) years both lawyers and non-lawyers will confirm that the existential objectives and fundamental principles of the Association have been so shamelessly compromised and eroded.

Indeed, it is arguable if the NBA has not lost its relevance to its members and the nation at large. No wonder, all the five candidates, who contested the office of the President of the Association in the July 2014 election, openly canvassed a change of direction for the Association. The truth is that what the NBA needs today is not just a cosmetic change, but a fundamental transformation from its present alienated position from its members and its timid, docile and sometimes escapist approach to critical national issues.

Independence is a state or quality of not being subjected to the control or influence of another. Not being controlled or influenced by other people or things. The Oxford Advance Learners’ Dictionary defines independence to mean among others, “being financially supported by private rather than government money”. In my humble opinion, if anything has compromised the independence and integrity of the Bar or silenced the voice of the Bar in recent times, it is money.

The new executive must restore, secure the integrity and independence of the Bar by putting a definite stop to soliciting for and receiving money in form of grants, donations or gifts from governments both at the state and Federal levels.

From observation, collecting funds from state governments became a habitual act under the outgone administration to the embarrassment of members of the Bar. At times, we heard of the President and Local Organising Committees fighting and quarrelling over monies approved for National Executive Committee meetings by state governors because it was a habitual practice to seek for and obtain money from state governments to host the quarterly NBA (NEC) meetings.

This must stop. A dependence on fat envelopes from politically exposed persons and government patronage is not the best for the Association. He who pays the piper dictates the tune. NBA has become a piper that stands face to face with external interferences and possible dictations. The consequences, of course, is the painful loss of the voice and dynamism of the Bar as witnessed in recent times.

It is the responsibility of the NBA under its constitution to host its quarterly meetings.

Therefore, soliciting for and getting government funds to hold NBA NEC meetings was not the practice of the Bar. It is indeed, a recent innovation that has eroded the integrity of the Bar. Hence, this my humble submission that the practice of soliciting for and collecting money from governments to host NEC meetings amounts to corrupt practice on the part of the NBA leadership.

According to Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomole in 2013 after the NBA June NEC meeting, which held at Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, while condemning the NBA

position on the crisis of election of the Governor’s Forum. “I watched the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) saying in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State that the Governors Forum should be discarded. I think the factor of location influenced his conclusion.... The environment and the overall circumstances known and unknown that led the NBA President to call for the freezing of the rights of Governors to associate boarders on corrupt practice.”

There is hardly any doubt that NBA is an influential body. It is expected to be the guardian of our nascent democracy and the protector and defender of the Rule of Law and due process. Regrettably, that influence and relevance to defend the rule of law, protect fundamental liberties of the Nigerian people and protect democracy has virtually disappeared.

At the NEC meeting held in Ekiti State in March this year, the state Chief Judge stated repeatedly in his address that the NBA has lost its voice. The silence of the Association at these critical times can never do the nation any good. It is not only the legimate expectation of the people, but it is also the duty of the Bar to speak to powers-that-be at all times.

NBA must wake up from its slumber to once again take its rightful position as the conscience of the nation.

Let it be stated that the long standing crises that have plagued the judiciary of Rivers State must attract the new NBA leadership’s attention with utmost urgency. It is a common knowledge that Lawyers in Rivers State have not gone to court in the last six (6) months or neither have litigants been able to have their matters adjudicated upon. The business of the third arm of government in Rivers State has been totally and effectively frustrated by the impasse between the state government and the National Judicial Council (NJC).

Strangely, this all important issue was never discussed once at the NBA NEC. The outgone administration under Okey Wali (SAN) heard nothing, said nothing and did nothing. This can only be likened to “ a blind man surrounded by deaf people.”

Clause 9 of the NBA Constitution generally empowers the NEC to exercise control and manage the affairs of the Association including, but not limited to its finances, appointments of representatives to statutory bodies and to express the views of the Association upon any matter of public interest or general interest o the legal profession.

It is also the powers of the NEC to generally exercise all the powers vested in the Association so as to promote and carry out the aims and objectives of the Association. We pray that the era of “approved, approved” at NBA NEC shall be gone for the good of all lawyers in Nigeria.

Furthermore, the Constitution empowers the NEC to exercise all the power vested in the Association so as to promote and carry out its aims and objectives. These clear provisions were serially breached with relish by the last three successive NBA administrations, all of whom one after the other ran the affairs of the association like dictators or sole administrators.

The new President must thread the path of Democracy and Constitutionalism. Internal democracy must be returned to the proceedings of the NEC. Plurality of opinions must be encouraged and promoted. Democracy and good governance must be institutionalised. Like we all say, you cannot give what you don’t have “Nemo dat quod habet”.

Other critical areas requiring urgent transformational focus and attention include, but not limited to the issue of electronic voting and universal lawyers suffrage, that is to say, “One Lawyer, One Vote”.

The delegate system has been highly abused, totally misused and outrightly corrupted. It must be stopped forthwith. My experience at the last delegate election in Abuja was particularly worrisome and not palatable. The leadership of the Electoral Committee of the NBA pretended and feigned igno-

•Olugbade

rance of what election is all about. Thus, it created a huge credibility problem for the product of the exercise.

How does one explain an electoral process in which a candidate is notified of his disqualification a few hours to the election proper when the NBA Constitution provides for 24hrs for such notice? I read a letter written by R. O. Balogun to NBA President dated 31st July 2014 on his “unlawful exclusion from the NBA 2014 Elections” with consternation, pity and prayers for the electoral committee and the future of NBA. He cited the authority of OGBORU Vs UDUAGHAN (2010)LPELR-CA/B/EPT/ 38/10 where His Lordship Moniga B. Dongban-Mensen (JCA) held: “The law as we understand it, is that “election” is a generic term; a process which embraces the entire gamut of activities ranging from accreditation, voting, collation to recording on all relevant INEC Forms and declaration of results” The question now is how would Okey Amaechi (SAN) interpret the above authority in relation to Article 20(f) of the Second Schedule to the NBA Constitution as it affected R. O. Balogun. More worrisome was the fact that there was no accreditation be-

fore voting at the last election and this was deliberate. There can be no excuse for failure. When a process is vitiated or characterised by flaws, fraud or fundamental irregularities, it cannot be cured by excuses. Whether this was done to favour a particular candidate is of no moment now.

The deed, or better called, damage is already done. Our new President definitely must live up to prove these assertions wrong.

Happily enough, this was one of the major campaign promises of the new president. The new leadership will do well not to shy away from this important agenda.

It is sufficient to say that the welfare of members of the Bar particularly the junior and young member must occupy the priority attention of the new leadership. Otherwise, to keep the Association together in the near future may pose a serious challenge.

Like Prof. Odinkalu said in the report of the NBA Committee on the Professionalisation of the NBA Secretariat in 2012 “the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) is a body with an “insecure future...If any other organisation or entity can rise to offer to members of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) a unifying promise of professional growth or edge, the NBA as we know it could become history.”

Ezeobi for burial tomorrow

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HE remains of Chief Theodore Ezeobi(SAN) will be buried tomorrow at his home town, Osikwu Village Awgbu in Anambra State.

The interment, which will be preceeded by a church service, will hold at the family compound in Osikwu Village Awgbu, Anambra State.

The funeral will start with a Pontifical Funneral Mass at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Osikwu Village Awgbu, Anambra State.

The family will hold a Vigil Mass at 5.00 pm today at the family compound.

Other events include condolence visits, scheduled for between tomorrow, September 3 and September 8.

The burial will be rounded off with a

•Ezeobi

thanksgiving man at the St. Theresa Catholic Church next Sunday, at 9.00 a.m.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON NORTHERN STATES

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

PAGE 29

Eking a living from garbage dumps •PAGE 30

Tackling insecurity in Kwara

•PAGE 31

•Saye Bridge, one of the ongoing projects

Kaduna’s dumped projects B

EFORE his death, the former Governor of Kaduna State, Sir Patrick Yakowa, was determined to improve the living standard of the people. To ensure this, he awarded contracts for the construction of roads and other amenities that would enhance their wellbeing.

He awarded contracts for 33 roads in the local government areas in November, 2012. The people of the benefiting communities sang and danced as Yakowa flaggesd off the construction of the roads after he had paid 25 per cent of the contract sum to all the contractors .

Before they were paid, each of the contractors provided a bank guarantee. A couple of days after he concluded the exercise, Yakowa died in a helicopter crash.

His Deputy, Mukthar Ramalan Yero took over as governor. He promised that he would continue with all the projects whose contracts had been awarded by the Yakowa administration. Apart from the 33 roads, there are other ongoing road projects due for completion. One of them is the Narayi/Ungwan Maigero Road which connects Narayi Village with the new road that has been named after the late governmor.

However, the10-kilometre Yakowa Way was completed before his death, but the link road which is less than three kilometres is far from being completed.

Investigation revealed that any time Yero tours ongoing road projects, work will resume on the roads, but stops immediately he concludes his tour.

With the slow pace of work on the roads and many of the contractors abandoning sites for a long time, there are speculations across the state that Yero has abandoned the roads, despite his promise to

‘The intention of the late Sir Patrick Yakowa is that both the contractor and community should benefit from the contract, but as it is today, like the Hausa saying goes, no bird no trap’ From Tony Akowe, Abuja

omplete all projects awarded by Yakowa.

Apart from taking a tour of the roads in the Northern Senatorial District, Yero made little effort to tell the people why work on the roads has been slow. Non-performing contractors have neither been sanctioned nor the contracts re-awarded.

However, Mordecai Sunday Ibrahim, publisher of the Kadunabased New Impression Magazine, has alleged that Yakowa’s kinsmen had abandoned the road projects after collecting mobilisation fees.

In a recent interview, Ibrahim was quoted as saying that Yero was not the one that abandoned the road projects, especially those in Southern Kaduna, but Yakowa’s kinsmen.

Ibrahim said: “From my investigations and observations, some of the roads were abandoned because some of the contractors do not have the wherewithal to execute the contracts.

Some of them do not even have a wheelbarrow to pack sands, yet they got the contracts.

“Some of them collected 25 per cent mobilisation fee and took off. The Commissioner for Works and Trans-

port told me that he had meetings with one of the contractors thrice times, yet the man has not gone back to site. You collected public money, taxpayers’ money and went away with it. If the man who gave you the contract had been alive, I am sure he will not be happy with you.

“The intention of the late Sir Patrick Yakowa is that both the contractor and community should benefit from the contract, but as it is today, like the Hausa saying goes, no bird no trap.”

He argued that it was wrong to accuse governor of abandoning the road projects which he believes are of immense benefit to the people.

He said: “Anybody who is accusing Governor Muhktar Ramalan Yero of abandoning road projects is not fair to him. This is because he has not abandoned any project. He has even awarded contracts for additional six roads which are also ongoing. Some are even completed, both at the Northern and Southern Senatorial zones.

“For example, the Saye Bridge, Kofan Gayan in Zaria has been completed. People are enjoying the use of the road now. If you go to the 6.5km Asphalt road at Kagarko Lo-

cal Government Area in the Southern Senatorial zone, the Marraban Iddah–Iddah–Bwari Junction that leads to Abuja, has been completed.

“The irony is that the contractor completed the job within the required period with only 25 per cent mobilisation he received. The road was awarded at the cost of N584, 864,894.25. The contract was awarded on December 27, 2013 and the contractor moved to site in February 2014. The contractor confirmed to us that he was paid only N146, 216,223.57 which represents 25 per cent of the total sum.”

He further alleged that Yakowa’s relatives were among those who collected mobilisation fees and abandoned the road projects.

He said: “The contractor handling one of the abandoned road projects I mentioned is closely related to the late Yakowa. That was why I said if Yakowa were alive to see this, he would not be happy. Yakowa would not have tolerated abandonment of any project by anybody.

“If he were alive to see that the road he awarded contracts for construction and his kinsmen are not doing them, he would be sad and even angry with them. It is no secret that some of the road construction works were awarded to Yakowa’s kinsmen. There is nothing wrong with Yakowa’s kinsmen getting the contract. But there is everything wrong when they get the contracts and they abandon project sites after collecting mobilisation fees.”

Buttressing Ibrahim’s point, Kaduna State Accountant-General, Ishaku Shekari who pays contractors for works done and who is from Southern Kaduna, also dismissed the claim that the road projects awarded by the late Yakowa were abandoned.

He said: “No road project has been •Continued on page 32

Nigerian gets IP3 Alumni •PAGE 32 award

Dafara: Community in search of development

•PAGE 33

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

30

THE NORTH REPORT

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HE garbage dump is at Badarawa Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School in Kaduna North Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The heap is alleged to have been generated from the homes of the rich who reside in the Malali Government Reserved Area (GRA).

While the continuous dumping of refuse in the school has been a source of concern to many, it has become a source of revenue for several young men who visit the dump site as early as 7:00 a.m. daily to search for scraps.

Sometimes, only the early callers collect enough scraps, while others who arrive late have to go to other refuse dumps to forage for scraps. Atimes, they go from house to house collecting garbage from residents. The young men look unkempt and stink.

Sadly, they search for metals with only a little iron fastened to a stick without any nose mask to prevent them from inhaling the stench from the refuse dump. They also do not care about diseases they might contract from such putrid areas.

Dahiru Badarawa is one of those who visit garbage dumps. He told our correspondent that he feeds his family of three either by going from house to house to collect refuse or scavenging for scrap metals and aluminum at dumps.

He also said he is into the business to survive since he didn’t want to engage in begging. Despite the risk involved, Badarawa is determined to continue with it, even though he does this without taking any precautionary measures.

He further told our correspondent that he takes between N50 and N200 for every refuse he collects, depending on the size. According to him, when he takes the refuse to the dump site, he separates “the useful items” and waits for buyers. He added that “from this money, I was able to marry my wife with whom I have a baby girl. It is better than going about begging. I don’t intend to leave this job soon, except the government provides a better job for me.”

Like Badarawa, 21-year-old Ibrahim Ismail begins his day at the refuse site where he collects scrap metals for sale. He told our correspondent that he has realised that no scrap is waste. He is among several young men who go from one refuse dump to the other across Kaduna metropolis, scav-

•The scavengers on duty

Eking a living from garbage dumps From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

enging for used containers, cans, metals and, sometimes, used rubber containers which they sell.

The young men cut the picture of wacky people. Some of them carry garbage-laden sacks on their backs.

Ismail said: “Every morning, I go to the waste sites to pick empty cans and plastic bottles. Sometimes, if I am lucky, I come across discarded telephone handsets.

They fetch me better money than the other items. A kilogramme of cans and plastic bottles costs between N25 and N30. I collect up to 30 kilogrammes on a good day.

That gives me about N1000 from the day’s adventure.”

He claimed to have been in the business for almost five years and uses the proceeds to support his education at the Government Day Secondary School, Badarawa where he is in SS 1.

Investigation revealed that some officials of the Kaduna State Environmental Protection Agency may be encouraging the young men to carry out their activities. At the Badarawa garbage site, a truck belonging to the Kaduna State Environmental Protection Agency (KEPA) drove into the site and the scavengers assisted in loading the garbage into the truck.

On whether they were paid for

the service, they said they assist in loading the trucks because they are allowed to scavenge at the site. Although the site is malodorous, the young men search through the refuse heap with their bare hands and no protective footwears, hand gloves or nose mask.

They believe their health is not at risk as it is God who protects mankind from diseases, arguing that there are many people who contract diseases even in the four walls of their homes.

Dahiru Badarawa told our correspondent that he was not scared of any infection, because all these years he has been in the business, he has never come in contact with any infection.

Lawmaker donates to constituents

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HE member representing Isin/Irepodun/Ekiti/Oke Ero Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Akeem Aiydedun has donated the sum of N4 million to the four local government areas that make up the constituency to enable them to strengthen the All Progressives Congress (APC) structures in Kwara State.

The lawmaker made the donation during a sensitisation tour of his constituency during which he fraternised with the newly inaugurated party executive in each of the four local government areas.

He also distributed some items worth N2 million to some members of his constituency. The items distributed included clothes and motorcycles, among others.

Party members as well as youth groups and associations received Hon. Aiydedun. Some of the groups were ABS youth group, NATA, Motorcyclists’ association, youth leaders, artisans, PMAN Ekiti, women leaders and members

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

They expressed their happiness over Hon. Aiyedun’s gesture towards the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the entire youth of his constituency.

In a statement, his media aide, Shesan Phillip had said Aiydedun had earlier donated scores of vehicles, motorcycles, dryers and power generating sets, among others to the groups. This, he said, was a way of empowering his people.

Receiving Hon. Aiydedun during the tour, members of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in the constituency pledged their support and loyalty to him and the APC. They also appreciated the state government’s efforts towards improving the well-being of the people, even as they praised Senator Bukola Saraki for his leadership of the party.

•Akeem (middle) with APC members during the tour

On the current outbreak of Ebola virus, he said: “I am aware of one Ebola that they said is killing people. As far as we are concerned, those people did not contact Ebola from picking ‘bola’. So, they should go and look for where they got the disease from. For us, we will continue to do our business without any fear of Ebola.”

It was observed that the scavengers may not only pose serious risk to themselves, but also to others who come in contact with them.

This is so because they tend to move about with same wears they use at the refuse sites.

•Continued on page 31

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

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THE NORTH REPORT

Tackling rising insecurity in Kwara

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IQUED by the increasing wave of political violence and criminal activities, especially among the youth in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, prominent sons and daughters of the emirate under the aegis of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), has organised a one-day security summit ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Explaining the rationale behind the summit, the group noted that peace and harmony of the town are gradually being eroded by modernity and political sophistication.

Speaker after speaker at the summit blamed the malaise on institutional inertia, drug abuse, corruption in both high and low places, bad governance and public distrust.

Declaring the summit open, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed blamed politicians whom he said use the youth to achieve their selfish ambitions.

He, therefore, urged politicians to provide jobs and not guns for the youth.

He said: “Our youths need jobs and a secure future. What they do not need and therefore do not deserve are guns and machetes whose only outcome is to blight their lives and abridge their future.

“I also add my voice to the need for the security agencies to form a greater synergy and avoid needless rivalry. We can only surmount the hidden and obvious security threats confronting our state through working together. To us the people, it does not matter who offers the best protection and security.

“What counts is that our lives are safe and our properties secure.”

Ahmed also advised Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies through the appropriate channels that offer anonymity and safety.

He maintained that the most reliable and actionable intelligence comes from neighbourhood where crime is hatched and committed.

He further said policies and

•From left: Alhaji Adi Ahmed, chairman on the occasion; Governor Ahmed; Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin; Grand Kadi, Kwara State Shariah Court of Appeal, Justice Salihu Olohuntoryin Mohammed and the Secretary to the Kwara State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold during the security summit benefit of deterrence, apprehension, From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin punishment and treatment of offenders, but there appears to be no correprogrammes of his administration sponding effectiveness in crime conare borne out of the realisation of trol. Experience has shown that this the social, economic and security formal system of controlling crime imperative of ensuring that youths across the country contains inherent are productively engaged to prevent limitations and therefore requires youth restiveness. other options that will be compleContributing, the National Presimentary. dent of IEDPU, Alhaji AbdulHamid “Basically, therefore, crime prevenAdi said the summit was designed tion will rely more on the culture, to check crime and criminalities in education and societal cohesion to be Ilorin due to the increase in the city’s effective.” population.

Proffering suggestions towards Also contributing top security pereradicating or reducing crime and sonnel who pleaded anonymity said: criminality in the society, he said: “Security agents alone cannot ensure “Government at the centre must do crime-free society. Combating crime the right thing to curtail and reverse requires the support of all. Members the state of insecurity in the country. of the public should endeavour to Given the enormous resources at the volunteer information that will lead co-existence therefore, has created From that market woman who dents disposal of some perpetrators, govto the arrest of criminal elements in the impression that government is her measure to the robber who dis- ernment needs to properly address the society. incapable of fulfilling one of its car- possesses one of one’s personal be- the causes of the challenges and ad“If I make any arrest, I urge mem- dinal responsibilities of ensuring longings, the thugs and cult mem- equately deploy the right and approbers of the public not to intervene by public safety. bers who destroy people’s property, priate resources to stem the downasking for their release. Crimes per“Amidst all these, the Nigeria Po- the law enforcement officer that takes ward trend of the security situation. sist in the society because members lice Force (NPF), the principal organ money to cover up a criminal for “Most importantly, the Federal of the public intervene when a crimi- charged with maintenance of law and breaking the law, the importer of fake Government should address the probnal is arrested. It is better to allow order, appear bogged down by in- drugs, the civil servant who cut cor- lem of weak judicial system that enalleged criminals charged to court. If stitutional inertia, derived from long ners, the politician who makes in- courages frivolous injunctions and they are convicted and jailed, the so- years of neglect, corruption, poor visible beings to vote for him are all different sanctions on the same ofciety can then be peaceful.” morale and public mistrust, despite attitudinal problems and products of fences. Efforts should also be made In a paper entitled “Primary Crime the range of assistance from some polluted mind. to make the security services funcControl in Addressing the Problems state governments. Hence, hitherto “It is cheating that breeds injustice, tional and effective. Corruption, inof Insecurity in Ilorin Emirate,” unknown criminals, who operate fear, derailing of value system and justices and the culture of impunity Ambassador Abdulazeez Sheikh- primarily in certain localities in the prejudice, among others which, to- must be addressed.

Usman said criminal activities in the country, have become notorious gether with poverty and unemploy“Crime prevention only needs to metropolis tend to assume crisis pro- within the emirate. ment, among others, that the emir- be integrated in our broader social portion, “thereby engendering a de“It is established that for most ate and indeed the state must set out policies while making sure that cerpressing feeling of helplessness criminal activities, the underlying to combat. tain values are not compromised. among the general populace.” factor is the element of cheating, “Overtime, government’s ap- Hence, combining prevention with Ambassador Sheikh-Usman said: which has been allowed to permeate proach in promoting harmony enforcement shall ensure a near “The distortion to the harmonious every fabric of our society and lives. through the security agents has the crime-free community.”

‘From that market woman who dents her measure to the robber who dispossesses one of one’s personal belongings, the thugs and cult members who destroy people’s property, the law enforcement officer that takes money to cover up a criminal for breaking the law, the importer of fake drugs, the civil servant who cut corners, the politician who makes invisible beings to vote for him are all attitudinal problems and products of polluted mind’

Eking a living from garbage dumps •Continued from page 30 Chairman of the Kaduna State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim blamed the notion of the scavengers on their level of education, exposure and information. Ibrahim argued that there is no doubt that the scavengers are exposed to various health hazards.

“For example, their physical body is exposed to some hazards such as stepping on broken bottles or other sharp objects buried in the waste. It is a fact that some of these boys don’t wear hand gloves and they go about with ordinary bathroom slippers.

“So, when they are wounded by such objects, the wounds are vulnerable to infection. The current health challenge the country is experiencing is the Ebola Virus Disease. People are discouraged from eating bush meat and having contacts with dead animals. I am not saying there is Ebola in the gar-

bage heap they pick from, but how are they sure that no dead animal is thrown into the garbage they touch with their bare hands?”

Ibrahim asked.

Noting that garbage sites are generally known as places where people go to urinate and pass faeces, Ibrahim said: “Now, if we say Ebola can be transmitted through contact with body fluids, how are the scavengers sure of the health status of those who passed those faeces and urine?”

However, a visit to where the scavengers sell their products on Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway revealed what the items are used for.

One of the buyers, who refused to disclose his identity on the excuse that his boss was not around, said the recycling technology has become a global business.

He said: “We buy cans and sell them to some factories that turn them to aluminium pots or iron rods, while electric wires are recycled into women earrings, necklaces and hand chains.

•One of the young men at the dump site

32

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

THE NORTH REPORT

Nigerian gets IP3 Alumni award ‘Infrastructure has T empowered people HE Institute of Public Private Partnership (PPP), Washington DC, has celebrated its

20th anniversary, even as it honoured a Nigerian, Joseph Tsavsar as IP3 Alumni of the Year.

The IP3 Alumni of the Year award was a surprise to many Nigerians as they are not aware of the existence of the institute.

In an exclusive chat with our correspondent, the award recipient, who is the Special Adviser to Benue State Governor on Special Duties, said the Institute of Public Private Partnership (PPP) was created to provide an alternative means of funding in infrastructure development through public - private partnership, adding that the institute trains people all over the world who are recognized with award after 20 years of training.

Participants from Nigeria, Uganda, Philippines and Kenya submitted articles based on programmes of administration in the various countries for the competition.

The PPP, he said, is creating awareness in countries all over the world that there is alternative arrangement towards funding infrastructure.

According to Tsavsar, through the institute, he has gained immense knowledge on how to involve private investors in funding infrastructure.

“Infrastructure has empowered people through the provision of roads, healthcare and power generation. If Nigeria desires to ben-

through the provision of roads, healthcare and power generation.

If Nigeria desires to benefit from infrastructural enhancement, government should de-regulate the sector and allow the private sector to drive it’ From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

efit from infrastructural enhancement, government should de-regulate the sector and allow the private sector to drive it,” he said.

Mr. Tsavsar stated that he was pushing for PPP law in Nigeria, adding that members of PPP in Nigeria are organising workshop to create awareness about PPP. He called on local, state and the Federal Government to embraced PPP for effective service delivery.

•The Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Alhaji Aminu Dikko (left) and Mr. Tsavsar

Kaduna’s dumped projects •Continued from page 29 abandoned. The late Governor Yakowa was magnanimous and wanted to empower a lot of people as possible and therefore awarded contracts to people who are somehow new and not known in road construction. A good number of them did not have the capacity to execute the jobs.

“Those who have the capacity have since completed the jobs and are awaiting their payments. Those who lacked the experience are waiting for government to completely finance the jobs. All of them that were awarded these contracts were given 25 per cent of the contract sum as mobilisation fee.

“If a contract is given to you and you are paid 25 per cent of the sum, I expect that before you come for anything, the job would have been at least 40 or 50 per cent completed.

One of the jobs that have been revoked is that of Gonin Gora because the contractor has not done up to 10 per cent of the job.

“So, what happened to the 25 per cent money given to him? That is why some of the projects are still at the stage they are today. The contractors do not have the capacity and so did not mobilise to sites. Some were waiting to borrow equipment from those who have as a result of which the jobs suffered. In fact, some of them sold the contracts out.”

But some people from Southern Kaduna believe that the claim that Yakowa awarded some of the contracts to people who do not have the capacity to execute the project is part of ploys to exonerate Governor Yero

•Governor Yero inspecting one of the road projects and give Yakowa a bad name.

Rev. Yunana Oganto told our correspondent that the denials were attempts to underplay the ineptitude and incompetence of the Kaduna State Government in handling developmental issues.

Oganto, who is the National Chairman of Rich Forth Nigeria, a Josbased non-governmental organisation (NGO) said: “The Kaduna State Government and its collaborators attempt to underplay their ineptitude and incompetence by adopting Machiavellian antics in exonerating themselves from glaring failure.

Continuing, Oganto said: “Those who conducted the so-called projects investigation should be able to provide the names of the local governments visited and the lists of abandoned projects therein. They should also oblige us with a comprehensive list of the companies owned by the illusive Yakowa kinsmen whom

they claim abandoned the contracts after collecting the mobilisation fees.

“Unless the facts are made available, the purported fact finding is a mere calculated attempt to score cheap credit for doing nothing. Those who sponsored the facetious assignment have failed in their effort to launder their tainted image, as long as these abandoned projects remained uncompleted and deteriorating.”

Similarly, Convener of the Concerned Southern Kaduna Professionals, Dr. John Danfulani challenged Ibrahim to mention the names of those who collected mobilisation fees and later abandoned the road projects.

He said: “I read the claim by one Modecai Sunday Ibrahim who is not a government official. Modecai threatened to mention names of Southern Kaduna people that collected money and abandoned the road projects sited in Southern

Kaduna during Yakowa’s era.

“The statement is nonsense and detached from commonsense and logic. If truly his mission was to exonerate Governor Yero from the whole mess, he should have been bold enough to mention names and state the take-off grant given to them.

“So long as he was courageous enough to pillar his empty talk with facts, he merely danced naked in a public square. As we approach 2015 general elections, there is nothing Sir Kashim Ibrahim foot soldiers in Southern Kaduna and party urchin will not say and do to cleanse their inept government by shifting the blame to Yakowa and Southern Kaduna people.

While on tour of the roads across the state, Governor Yero threatened to revoke all non-performing contracts awarded by the state government just as he urged contractors handling government projects to ensure that they are completed on

schedule.

He said the government will carry out a comprehensive review of all ongoing projects across, adding that government will take concrete action against contractors who have abandoned their project sites.

While commending contractors who have either completed their jobs or are in the process of doing so, the governor said the review is to ensure the completion of projects earmarked in the 2014 budget before the end of the year. He advised contractors to begin the second phase of the project which is asphalt-laying and completion of drainage.

He denied allegations that he had abandoned road projects initiated by the late Yakowa.

While speaking at a public function in Kafanchan, the governor said: “Our administration has not and will not dump any projects initiated by regimes before us. While we continue to allocate scarce resources to tackle numerous demands, it is imperative to ensure completion of ongoing projects in order to ensure prudent spending of public funds.

“It will amount to wastage and retrogression if every administration dumps projects initiated by its predecessors and we shall not fall into such trap. In zone three alone, there are 15 ongoing road projects that have been earmarked for funding in the 2014 budget.

“While most are at various stages of completion; our administration has successfully completed the Zonkwa-Yarbam Road, TumMadakiya Road and the College of Education Gidan Waya Road. Several other road projects have reached advanced stages of completion and these include JereKurmin Jibrin and Kwoi-Kafanchan Road which has reached 74 per cent completion stage, Wazo-AssoTanda-Gegira Washout has reached 92 per cent completion stage and the Zonal Police HeadquarterKaduna State University Campus Access Road has reached 96 per cent completion stage.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

Page 33

Among several communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dafara is said to be one of those that lack infrastructure. In this report, GBENGA OMOKHUNU examines the people’s plight and what could be done to ease their suffering.

•Part of Dafara community

T

HE essence of having an area council administration is to ensure that communities under it enjoy the benefits of democracy. In most situations, the reverse is the case as people at the grassroots go through horrifying hardship if their leaders fail to take care of their well-being.

Dafara in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) seems a perfect example of this scenario.

Residents of the community, which is just about six kilometres from the council’s secretariat, are not satisfied with the state of affairs. This is because the community is experiencing what they described as ‘developmental delay’ as a result of negligence on the part of the council chairman who has failed to fulfill his electioneering promises to them.

Investigation revealed that residents of this peaceful community have been denied of necessities that enhance their welfare.

That they lack every amenity even when they live closer to the council’s secretariat is surprising to them. They alleged that members of the community have not benefited in any way from the council in the past three years.

The Madaki of the community, Mr. Zaphania Tezh, who represented the community’s chief, Joseph Makeri, told our correspondent that the community is in need of government’s presence, adding that, despite that the

Dafara: Community in search of development people support the administration of the council, they are still far from witnessing development. He also said the community was experiencing challenges which include lack of potable water, electricity and access road.

He said: “We know that the council chairman is doing his best to reach out to communities in Kuje.

But we feel that since we are close to the secretariat, development should not be far from us. We really need infrastructural development in this community. That will give our people a sense of belonging.

“Our youths also need to be empowered. In Dafara Village, we have many graduates that are jobless. The leadership of the council should come to our aid by making our people feel they are part of the government in Kuje.”

A resident, Mr. John Iyan, said the community lacked some amenities that would have given the people a sense of belonging, adding that the leadership of the council should assist the community in the area of water, since the rivers on which the people depend

‘We really need infrastructural development in this community.

That will give our people a sense of belonging…Our youths also need to be empowered. In Dafara Village, we have many graduates that are jobless. The leadership of the council should come to our aid by making our people feel they are part of the government in Kuje’ for drinking and cooking are not hygienic enough.

“We know government cannot do everything for the communities within its area. The past chairman, Hon. Danladi Zhin, did his best to reach out to communities in Kuje. But Dafara was left out in the course of providing certain amenities. We are appealing to the

present chairman, Hon. Shaban Tete, to come to our rescue in providing water boreholes, transformers for electricity. It is hard to believe there is no electricity in this community that is very close to the council’s secretariat.

“Most of our youths are graduates but they are jobless. We are appealing to the council chairman

to empower youths in this community so that they will be useful to themselves and the society.

“No matter what, our youths are still part of the leaders of tomorrow. So, they should be empowered,” he said.

Another resident, Ismaila Matthew, said though the previous administration worked towards providing water for the community, the project failed. He also said they have not benefited much from the government apart from the primary and junior secondary schools being built.

“Tete should fulfill promises he made to this community over a year ago. We believe that those things we lack currently could be provided if he wills. Again, the youth will have a sense of belonging if they are empowered. He should better our living condition,” he said.

Efforts made to speak with the chairman of the council were futile as one of his aides told our correspondent to wait till when the council chief will address the press on it.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

34

ABUJA REVIEW

S

OME residents of Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are still protesting the establishment of Ebola screening and isolation centre in Kuje General Hospital.

While speaking with our correspondent on the matter, the Chief of Paseli community, Mr. Usman Yusuf said the designation of the centre in Kuje is not to the best interest of the people, as it was located in a densely populated area of the town.

“The decision by the Federal Government to establish Ebola treatment and isolation centre in Kuje General Hospital is unfair. This is because the hospital is in a strategic location where majority of the people live.

Ebola is a disease that everybody is running away from. Why should the Minister of the FCT insist that such centre should be established in Kuje General Hospital?

“Kuje has a vast land and several interior areas where such a centre could be established. The fund is available to construct structures for such treatment centres and I do not see any reason for the minister to insist that the centre should be in Kuje General Hospital,” he said.

Mr. Yusuf said huge amount of money has been budgeted by the Federal Government to set up isolation centres across the country. The isolation centre should be set up in a secluded area of the council, not Kuje General Hospital, adding that it was unfair to set up such a centre in a crowded area of Kuje town.

“This is unfair, except the minister wants to kill the whole inhabitants of Kuje. They should look for an interior area where nobody lives and

Ebola: More knocks for govt over isolation centre From Gbenga Omokhunu

set up such centre. Everything negative is pushed to Kuje such as the Maximum Security Prison, School for the Handicap and School for the Deaf and Dump. Now it is Ebola treatment centre,” he said.

The youth leader of Kuje, Mr. Zaka Sunday, said establishing the Ebola treatment and isolation centre in Kuje is not a problem but locating it at the middle of the town was not to the interest the people. He added that the centre should be sited at the outskirts of the town where the risk of contacting the deadly disease will be minimal.

“It is the decision of the Federal Government to site Ebola isolation centres across the country to tackle any possible outbreak of the disease.

We can’t resist it. But our appeal to the Federal Government is that the centre should not be located at Kuje General Hospital where there is large number of people.

“The Kuje General Hospital is the only government-owned hospital that we have and it is centrally located. There are residential houses around it and only a fence demarcates it with a school. So, if you are bringing Ebola screening and isolation centre here, you are telling us not to go to that hospital again.

“The people are not really sensitised about the virus and nobody has come to Kuje to select key persons like the youth group, women group or the market women for

Man, 20, jailed over sex with goat

A

N Upper Area Court in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has sentenced a 20-year-old tailor, Sani Abdul, to one year imprisonment for having sex with a she-goat.

The prosecutor, Ocheche Samuel, told the court that the case was reported at the Kuje Police Station by Doh Ibrahim of the same address with the suspect.

Samuel said Abdul was caught in a bathroom at Sauka Extension having intercourse with the she-goat.

He added that when the accused heard footsteps approaching where he was having carnal knowledge of the goat, he tried to escape, but was caught and handed over to the

From Gbenga Omokhunu

police.

Samuel said the offence contravened Section 284 of the Criminal Code.

The accused, who resides at Sauka Extension in Kuje, was later sentenced to one year imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to one count charge of unnatural and indecent offence.

The presiding Judge, Mr. Adamu Wakili, however, gave him an option of a fine of N15, 000. He also ordered that the accused be remanded in Kuje Prison for one year if he could not meet the fine condition.

sensitisation. We are appealing to the Minister of the FCT to take the isolation centre to a remote area where people are not living,” he said.

In a related development, the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has inaugurated a technical committee to tackle any possible outbreak of Ebola virus.

This was consequent to the directive by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala

Mohammed to chairmen of the six area councils to set up committees to ensure that the dreaded virus did not spread.

The chairman of the council, Hon. Micah Jiba told reporters that before the ministerial directive, the council had mapped out strategies to curb any possible outbreak, noting that the council had to be proactive considering the central location of the council.

‘The decision by the Federal Government to establish Ebola treatment and isolation centre in Kuje General Hospital is unfair.

This is because the hospital is in a strategic location where majority of the people live. Ebola is a disease that everybody is running away from. Why should the Minister of the FCT insist that such centre should be established in Kuje General Hospital?’

Jiba, who praised the media for the level of awareness created about the disease, also enjoined them to sustain the tempo until cure of the Ebola virus is found by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The council boss also praised both the Federal Government and FCT Administration for what he described as “proactive steps” to address the scourge, even as he called on religious and traditional leaders to assist government in spreading the awareness campaigns which aim at curbing the spread of the virus.

“I praise the media for the awareness created about the Ebola virus. I have a publication of one of the national dailies on Ebola virus. Through the media, we have known that routine cleaning and disinfection of animal houses with sodium hypochlorite (bleach) or other detergents are effective in inhibiting the virus.

“Restricting or banning movement of animals from infected farms to other areas can reduce the spread of the disease and segregation of infected animals from others. This type of awareness can go a long way in checking the spread,” Jiba said.

Jiba revealed that the Supervising Councillor in charge of health and other senior primary health workers are members of the committee, adding that the committee will collaborate with other relevant bodies for positive result.

Muslims are not terrorists, say clerics

I

SLAMIC clerics in the country have said Muslims are not terrorists contrary to wide belief.

Delivering a paper entitled “Islamic Solution to Terrorism” at a lecture organised by the Right Path Prayer Group in Abuja, Sheikh Abdulrauf Abdulhameed Oloriomokewu Khalifahtul Quardiriyyah said Allah is a lover of peace; hence, every Muslim must love peace.

“Muslims are not terrorists because there are lots of messages in the Quran that enjoin Muslims to shun terrorism. Allah loves gentleness. I just finished telling you the story of how Prophet (SWT) got the freedom to enter Makkah; it was through peaceful settlement. So, every Muslim must be peace-loving, because Allah (SWT) is a lover of peace and the religion is a religion of peace,” he said.

Oloriomokewu argued that the Boko Haram insurgents have no justification for killing people.

“The Quran says that you should

From Tayo Lawal

not let the affliction meted to you disturb you from being faithful, from doing justice. They don’t have justification for killing people; they don’t have justification for killing Muslims because there is a strong warning that if you kill a Muslim, you will be in hell fire. Therefore, they should stop this act. Let’s forgive ourselves and look for a way forward,” he said.

The cleric advised that the way out of insurgency is for everybody to go back to God and to promote peace.

His words: “Let’s come back to God as all the prophets have done.

Don’t let us say it is President Goodluck Jonathan or the Senators; let all of us together come back to God because God has not created anybody that he cannot overcome.

“God has not created anybody that he cannot deal with and God has not created any situation that

he cannot be on top of. We have to promote peace. If we promote peace in the country, definitely those people will stop being aggressive as they are now.”

He corroborated Ustaz Mustapha Shuaib Agbarere’s statement that such belief is a misconception.

“Muslims are not terrorists and Islam is not a religion of terrorism.

We know why people will just gather among themselves and create an avenue of terror in any society. Among the factors that contribute to such situations are injustice; inequality as well as social and economic imbalance.”

Proffering solution to the problem, Ustaz Agbarere said besides going back to Quran, Nigeria should begin to do justice and be kind to everyone without fear or favour.

“We Muslims should forgive whatever grievances among ourselves so that Allah can forgive us and we also contribute prayerfully for God to descend his mercy and peace in our country.”

•The late Dora’s husband, Dr. John Chika Akunyili, President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience Jonathan and members of Akunyili family during the Requiem Mass for the late Prof. Dora Akunyili at Our Lady Queen Catholic Church Abuja.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

35

ABUJA REVIEW

•From left: Director, Internal Audit and Evaluation, ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, Mr. Isaac Olagunju, President, Ebid, Mr. Bashir Mamman Ifo and President Goodluck Jonathan during the visit of a delegation from Ebid to the Presidential Villa Abuja.

•From left: Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, United Nations Special Envoy on Ebola to West Africa, Daniel Nabarro and Minister of State for Health, Malam Khaliru AlHassan after the meeting between the Envoy and President Jonathan at the State House Abuja.

•From left: Head of Service, Danladi Kifasi, Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali during the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa Abuja.

•From left: President Goodluck Jonathan, Director-General National Identity Management Commission, Chris Onyemenam and Group Managing Director Access Bank, Herbert Wingwe during the launch of the National e-ID Card at the Presidential Villa Abuja.

•Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Women Leader, Chief Mrs. Kema Chikwe (left), Ijaw Leader, Chief Edwin Clark and National Coordinator, Northern Women Mass Movement for Goodluck Jonathan, Hon. Halimat Hussan Tukur during the group’s visit to Chief Clark in Abuja.

•President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar (right), cutting the tape to inaugurate Federal Might House in Abuja. With him are National President, Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Comrade Kiri Shaibu,(3rd left), Chairman, NCSU Federal Council, Lawrence Amaechi and Unit Chairman, Goteh Gospel (left).

PHOTOS: AKIN OLADOKUN

•Director, Child Development, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Hajia Rabi Galadima (second left), Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr Habiba Lawal (left), Project Director, USAID, Dr Susan Coleman (second right) and Chief of Party, University Research CO.USAID, Dr Josephine Ogazi (right) during the handover of National Standards for Improving Quality of Life of Vulnerable Children in Abuja.

•National Organising Secretary , Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abubakar Mustapha (right), with former Executive Secretary Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Ahmed Moddibo during the submission of the Nomination Form for the Gubernatorial Election in Adamawa State by Moddibo at the PDP headquarters in Abuja.

PHOTOS: ABAYOMI FAYESE

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

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ABUJA REVIEW

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan might have lost his cool on Wednesday last week over the misplaced consequences of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) on Nigerians who travel to foreign countries.

The disease was brought into Nigeria by the late Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer.

Jonathan did not hesitate to caution countries stigmatising Nigerians over the disease, which many international organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations (UN) had praised Nigeria for adequately containing it.

The occasion for President Jonathan to criticise the countries that maltreat and pick on Nigerians over the disease presented itself when a Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. David Navarro, visited him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday.

He condemned the trend of discrimination and stigmatisation of Nigerians who travel abroad at the meeting with Navarro, who had visited the countries that are worst hit by Ebola, including Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, before coming to Nigeria.

The President particularly denounced the discriminatory actions which forced Nigeria’s team to the Youth Olympics in China to abandon its participation at the championship.

None of such Nigerian quarantined and tested in the countries involved, as at last week, tested positive to the disease.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) mid-last month announced the pulling out of the country’s contingent from the Youth Olympics billed for Nanjing, China.

According to the Director-General of NSC, Gbenga Elegbeleye, Nigerian athletes, who were already in China perfecting strategies for the games, were treated like lepers by the organisers of the championship.

The Nigerian athletes, who were billed to feature in wrestling, beach volleyball and athletics, he said, were not only quarantined by the organisers due to the news of Ebola virus in Nigeria, but they were also barred from training ahead of the competition alongside athletes from other countries.

Most of the Nigerian officials for the championship, he added, were also denied visa before the competition started.

A Nigerian in India was quarantined and admitted at Jogeshwari’s Civic-run Trauma Centre in Mumbai Hospital last month after the airport authorities were informed that the man complained of having fever.

Jonathan’s anger over Ebola stigmatisation The 32-year-old Nigerian had returned to India via a connecting Emirates airlines flight from Nigeria.

After the necessary tests and monitoring, it was discovered that the Nigerian didn’t exhibit any symptoms of the deadly Ebola disease.

Another Nigerian was quarantined in Hong Kong, China for showing Ebola-like symptoms during a trip from Lagos via Dubai to Hong Kong in early August.

He was vomiting and suffering from diarrhea when he arrived at Hong Kong.

After admission in a hospital in China, the man tested negative to the deadly Ebola virus.

A 30-year-old Nigerian woman was also quarantined in Germany in August when she showed symptoms similar to that of the deadly Ebola disease.

The woman, who fainted shortly after returning from Nigeria, was immediately hospitalised by the German health authorities to prevent Ebola virus disease in the country.

A Nigerian specialist, Mojeed Olayinka Agoro, who is a Production Assistant at Dung Quat Oil Refinery in the central province of Quang Ngai, Vietnam was also quarantined for Ebola monitoring in Vietnam after arriving from Nigeria

From the Villa

By Augustine Ehikioya early last month.

A medical examination carried out on him later showed that he was in a normal health condition.

To confirm the test results and for the incubation period of two to 21 days to elapse, Agoro was isolated at home and self-monitored his health under professional instructions from the Provincial Preventive Health Centre, with assistance from the refinery’s health unit.

Besides Agoro, two other Nigerians who arrived in Vietnam last month were also isolated for monitoring for signs of the deadly virus.

The two Nigerians, who flew to Vietnam on Flight QR961 of Qatar

Airways that left Nigeria on August 18 and arrived in the Tan Son Nhat International Airport on Tuesday afternoon, were having fever.

The two Nigerians were taken by health workers to the Ho Chi Minh City Tropical Diseases Hospital for medical examination in isolated conditions. They were expected to stay for 21 days for monitoring for signs of Ebola infection.

Nigerian students were also not left out in the new trend as three university students were examined by Vietnamese health experts after returning to Vietnam from Nigeria.

From tests carried out on them, it was confirmed that they had not

been infected with the deadly Ebola virus.

It was also reported that some Air France crew had to boycott flights to Nigeria for fear of contracting the disease.

The company was said to have given its staff freedom to choose whether or not to fly to Conakry, Freetown and Lagos after British Airways and Emirates were said to have suspended flights to the region.

One Air France union, SNGAF had, last month, launched a petition calling for the “immediate end to flights to countries hit by the Ebola virus.

Sophie Gorins, the Secretary-General of the SNPNC, which represents cabin crew, was quoted as saying: “We know that our jobs put us at risk, but they are measured risks. This is completely out of control and the information is not the same from one day to the next.”

Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, noted that it was wrong for people from other countries to threaten to boycott Nigeria and that Nigeria rather should be the one to stop people from coming to Nigeria as the virus was first brought into the country by a Liberian-American visitor, the late Patrick Sawyer.

Council warns against indecent waste disposal

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HE Head of Environmental Department (HOD) in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Abdulkarim Abdulrazaq, has blamed the improper disposal of waste and refuse in some parts of the council on the nonchalant attitude by some residents who do not care about their health.

Abdulrazaq, who revealed in Kuje while speaking with reporters said despite the department’s effort in evacuating and keeping the environment clean, some residents do not comply with the sanitation rules and regulations.

According to him, the leadership of the council is also trying its best in terms of creating awareness on proper waste disposal.

He further explained that mobile court sitting in Kuje has con-

From Gbenga Omokhunu

victed about 13 offenders of sanitation rules and regulations in the area, emphasising that sanitation exercise should be a matter of necessity which should be observed on a daily basis in every home.

He warned residents against open defecation and non-provision of toilet facilities by some landlords in the area.

“Landlords who build houses without toilet facilities have been warned to provide such facility, failure of which will result in prosecuting them. I advise residents to stop dumping refuse in gutters. They should join hands with the administration in the development of the area council,” he said.

•Miss Bamnan Dagu recently graduated from the University of Stirling Scotland with a Second-Class Upper Bachelors degree (Hons) in Economics. She is flanked by her parents Mr. and Mrs. Gallio Dagu during her graduation ceremony held on June 26 at Stirling.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

LAW & SOCEITY Excerpts of inaugural speech by NBA President Augustine Alegeh (SAN)

NBA is alive, says Alegeh I

T is to the Glory of God that we gather here today to witness the change of guard in the leadership of our great Association the NBA. The event we witness today is a great work of God that has again confirmed that God is omnipotent and all powerful. While many are still confounded at the work of God, true believers rejoice for they always had faith that all promotion, progress and elevation come from God. God who has made it possible for me to emerge as the 27th President of the NBA will grant me all the wisdom required to effectively discharge the duties of the Office of NBA President effectively and to the glory of his name. The people rejoice when the righteous are in Power.

The powers and duties of the NBA President are both wide and almost absolute. Consequently, the exercise of such powers must be exercised with a high sense of responsibility, with caution, honesty, and integrity but above all, must always be exercised in the best interest of the Association.

The NBA is the leader of all civil societies and Professional bodies in Nigeria and the entire Nation looks up to the NBA for leadership and guidance in all matters of national importance and interest. The NBA constitution empowers the NBA President to speak for the Association and for all lawyers. In effect the NBA President is the lead spokesperson for millions of Nigerians. I trust that God who made this possible will give me clear and lucid thoughts coupled with a very loud voice to fulfil this crucial role.

I accept the great trust and responsibility of the members of NBA in electing me into office as the 27th

President of the NBA and I hereby make a firm and solemn promise exercise the great powers of the office and carry out the duties attached thereto in the very best interest of the Association and the overall interest of our Country, Nigeria and Africa.

The incoming executive The 2014 elections were contested more fiercely than any elections before. The level of desperation, the number of petitions and the introduction of smear campaign attained a level never seen before and we pray would never be seen again.

I must congratulate all the noble and learned gentlemen and ladies who were victorious at the elections and now constitute the National Officers of the NBA. I wish you all success and wish us all wisdom from God in the discharge of our duties as National Officers of the NBA. I trust in God that with wisdom there would be no infighting, back stabbing, back biting and idle talk in the National Executive. I pray that peace and brotherly love would guide all our interactions so that we can together deliver on our promises and leave the Association better that we are meeting it.

It is important for all National Officers to study our Constitution to enable them fully appreciate the duties of National officers.

I urge you to join hands with me to work together for the development of the NBA. Our agenda for change 1.the nba constitution – amendment proposal The recent amendments to the NBA Constitution were ratified at the Annual General Meeting [AGM] of the NBA yesterday 28th of Au-

gust, 2014. The said amendments addressed issues that were topical at the time and have essentially served their purpose.

However, there is a further need to amend our Constitution to meet present realities and take advantage of modern technological developments.

The cost of NBA National elections to the Association is increasing at an unsustainable rate. The risk, dangers and inconveniences encountered by NBA members during these elections is becoming unbearable.

The elections are becoming too expensive for NBA members and voter tampering appears to be encouraged when Delegates at National Elections are not provided with accommodation and other logistic requirements by the Association. The resultant effect is that candidates are compelled to provide accommodation and logistic needs for the Delegates in a manner that may compromise the decision-making process of the candidates.

E-voting I believe strongly, that the delegate election system of the NBA needs to be reviewed and that EVOTING through the NBA Website should be introduced and this would require a constitutional Amendment.

Other amendments The wording of the electoral provisions of Our Constitution and several other provisions would need to be reviewed and fine-tuned.

The amendments to our Constitution to introduce e-voting and other changes would be given priority and dealt with speedily with the hope that the system would be operational and members made con-

•Alegeh

versant with its working long before the 2016 National Elections. In the light of the approval of Uniform Bye Laws for NBA Branches, it would be advisable for the provision of e-voting to be contained in the Uniform Bye Laws to afford Branches the opportunity to implement e-voting and be conversant with its operations before the National elections.

I have therefore set up a Constitution Review Committee with the following Terms of Reference: 1] To review the provisions of Our Constitution on elections with a view to introducing e-voting at all NBA National Elections.

2] To review the provisions of Our Constitution on elections and pro-

pose such amendments as may be required to make the provision more definitive and NBA National Elections more rancour free.

3] To review the NBA Branches Unified Bye Laws to bring it in conformity with the Amended NBA Constitution.

4] To review and propose all other such amendments as it requires necessary to the provisions of Our Constitution.

The Committee shall submit its report on or before the 30th of November, 2014.

The members of the Committee are: 1. Garba Tetengi, SAN C h a i r man •To be continued next week

•Imo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Chukwuma Machukwu Ume (SAN) (middle); Mrs. Pat Igwebuike and Chief Richard Oma Ahonaruogho, all of the 1987 Nigerian Law School Class when the commissioner hosted them during the NBA Annual General Conference in Owerri, Imo State.

Man arraigned for ‘theft’

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39-year-old businessman, Gbenga Olaborede, has been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing Agro Chemical products worth N1.4 million.

The defendant was arraigned at the court presided by Magistrate, Mrs Margaret Dan-Oni. Police prosecutor, Inspector Chinalo Uwadione alleged that the defendant obtained agro chemical products worth N1.4 million under false pretence.

The accused, who resides at No 16, Thomas Salako St., Ogba, Lagos, is facing a three-count charge of fraud, stealing and issuing dud cheque.

By Adebisi Onanuga

The prosecutor, Insp. Chinalo Uwadione, told the court that Olaborede, obtained Ultomax Plus fungicide worth N1.4 million from Harvest Field Industry Limited.Uwadione said that the accused “knowing that his representation was false, fraudulently and dishonestly obtained the chemicals under the pretext of paying after sales.”

However, he did not pay the money as promised.”The prosecutor alleged that the defendant issued a Zenith Bank cheque of N1 million to the company as part payment on July 8 and 28, 2013.

He said that the cheques were

dishonoured at the bank due to insufficient funds in the account. Uwadione said that the offences were committed between July and August 2013, at No. 1, Isheri Road, Isheri, Lagos.The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 285, 312(1) (B-), and 319 (B-), of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.Section 312 of the Criminal Law prescribes fifteen years imprisonment for offenders.

The Magistrate, Mrs Margaret DanOni, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.The case was adjourned till October 14, 2014 for mention.

ICT firm partners NBA

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HE Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has partnered with an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) firm, LawPavilion, on use of technology in law practice.

The firm, which provided ICT facilities at the 54th NBA Annual General Conference, also launched a new product, tabletarize your practice.

The firm’s Managing Director, Mr. Ope Olugasa, said Law Pavilion is is leading the adoption of the ICT in the legal industry.

According to him, over 52 per cent of Nigerian lawyers is yet to embrace ICT. Mr. Olugasa said: “If you look at

the email of lawyers, over 85 per cent of them still use yahoo and we are still wondering how will serious multi- national converse with them?

How will they communicate with them by e- mail, using yahoo? It does not show a good brand and a high level of professionalism.”

He said with the tabletarize campaign, every lawyer can have access to Samsung Galaxy or i-Pad at affordable rates.

“With the tabletarize campaign, the issue of power supply, for example, will longer stop lawyers from adopting ICT, because most of these tablets can stay seven to 10 hours without electricity.

THE NATION TUESDAY, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

38

NATIONAL BAR

NBA’s Annual General Conference in Owerri

•Benue State Governor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam (second left) his Imo State counterpart, Owelle Rochas Okorocha (third left); NBA President Augustine Alegeh (SAN) (first left) and former NBA President Okey Wali (SAN).

•From left: Jude Nnodum (SAN), Dr Livy Uzo, Lucius Nwosu (SAN) and former NBA GeneralSecretary Philip Umeh

•From left: Richard Oma Ahunaruogho, Prof. Nkoli Aniekwu, Seun Abimbola and Mrs Afunmi Olubamwo.

•From left: Secretary NBA Abuja Branch, Afam Okeke, Barbra Omosun and Emeka Okereke

•From left: Former NBA President Joseph Daudu (SAN); former Chairman, Lawyers in the Media (LIM), Charles Odenigbo; former Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN); LIM Vice-Chairman Mrs Vera Chinwuba and John Egwuonwu

•From left: OCK Unegbu; Abia State Attorney-General and Commissioner Hon. Umeh Kalu; Ogun State Commissioner for Education Olusegun Odubela and Chairman Akwa Ibom Law Reform Commission, Essien Essien.

•From left: Chairman Arewa Lawyers Forum, M.A.Abubakar; former Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice A. O. Omonuwa; Chief Rickey Tarfa (SAN) and Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN)

•From left: Mena Ajakpovi; former NBA General Secretary Ibrahim Eddy Mark; Bayelsa State Commissioner for the Envbironment, Inuro Wills and Vice Chairman, NBA Section on Business Law, Olumide Akpata

•From left: Mrs Sara Ajijola; Chairman National Census Commission, Duru Ezeihuoma and Dr. Levy Uzoukwu

•From left: Director-General, Alegeh Campaign Organisation, R.O. Isenalumhe; Aloysius C. C. Ubah; Chairman NBA Oji River Branch, Mrs. Pat Igwebuike and Chairman NBA Aguata Branch, Ezeonwuka E.N.

THE NATION TUESDAY, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

39

LAW & SOCEITY LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com For comments: 08033054939 (sms only)

Politics solely for material gain •From left: Prince Akuzumos, Oyebode and Ighodalo

Lawyers reject Wali’s constitution amendment

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AWYERS have rejected at tempts by the immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Okey Wali (SAN) to effect fundamental changes in the constitution of the association and alter its leadership and administrative structure.

This brings an end efforts by the immediate past two regimes of the association to restructure the secretariat and model same after the International Bar Association (IBA ) structure.

The restructuring of the secretariat whittles down the powers of elected national officers of the NBA and vests them on the secretariat staff headed by the Executive Director, who is at the beck and call of the President.

Under the Wali administration, elected NBA national officers were mere observers.

They were addressed as national officers by name but had no powers to act in their respective offices.

They had no offices at the NBA secretariat from where to perform their statutory duties. In effect, the last administration made them almost redundant.

NBA national officers including the three Vice-Presidents had to ride in cabs while in Abuja on NBA duties while official cars are parked at the secretariat.

However, Wali’s bid to institutionalise what many have come to see as an anomaly was roundly rejected by the lawyers.

They rejected 24 out of his pro-

By John Austin Unachukwu

posed 33 amendments to NBA constitution. Presenting his report, chairman of the committee, Mr.Okey Amechi (SAN) thanked lawyers for the confidence reposed on him and his committee during the conduct of the last NBA elections when lawyers voted simultaneously for election of new officers and constitution ammendment.

The proposal to introduce Associate membership into the association was rejected with all the purported advantages and privileges.

The proposal for the association to publish on its website the names of defaulting lawyers in the payment of Practising fees by the fist of April as provided by the Financial Secretary was also rejected.

Also rejected was the proposal to appoint an Executive Director of Administration who shall be in charge of the Directorate of the association with all the responsibilities attached thereto. The power of the President to appoint and remove such Executive Directors was also rejected. The proposal to stop any of the NBA branch of the NBA from instituting legal action kin court against the association without first having such a dispute heard and determined by the President or a Committee set up for that purpose or the NEC of the NBA was also thrown into the dustbin.

Wali’s proposal for the National

Executive Committee to remove from office any erring National Officer found guilty of any misconduct was rejected but the proposal to remove from office any National Officer who commits fraud or becomes bankrupt or insolvent was approved. Also approved was the amendment to remove from office an officer who accepts appointment from any arm of the government ( except as a member of an adhoc committee or panel), the proposal to remove an officer who is convicted of any offence by a Court of competent Jurisdiction was also approved.

Also approved was the proposal to remove from office, any officer who: breaches any of the provisions of the Code of Conduct for officers duly approved by the NEC, or who engages in public misconduct owing to intoxication by alcohol, drugs or other intoxicants or stimulants or any bestial acts; who engages in any Act of behaviour that brings or is likely to bring the association into disrepute; acts of disobedience to the association, NEC, the President or any of its organs.

Provided, however, that such officer may be removed from office by two thirds majority of NBA NEC members present at a meeting of the NEC where the matter is raised.

The proposal to abolish the offices of the Assistant Financial Secretary, Assistant Publicity Secretary and Second Assistant Secretary were also rejected by lawyers.

NBA section elects new officers

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HE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Business Law (SBL) has elected new officers and members pof governing council to run its affairs for the next two years.

The election took place in Owerri, Imo State capital during the annual general conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

The new officers are Mr. Asue Ighodalo (Chairman), Mr. Olumide Akpata (Vice chairman),

Mr. Seni Adio (Secretary) and Mrs. Priscilla Ogwemoh (Treasurer).

Mrs. Funmi Roberts, Mr. Chuka Agbu (SAN), Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), Mr. Ayuli Jemide, Mr. Mena Ajakpovi, Mrs. Funke Agbor, Mr. Soji Awogbade, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu were elected as council members.

Immediate past chairman, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, thanked the members for the massive support given to him during his tenure.

He urged them to support the

new executive, and expressed confidence that the with the smooth transition, the new officers and council members would fly the section’s flag and achieve its aims and objectives.

Oyebode said he has no doubt that if given the desired support, the Ighdalo led exco will surpass the achievements of the past administration.

He said Ighodalo was part and parcel of the past executive, and was in fact one of the engines that powered his administration.

The Nation’s man is NBA forum’s chair

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HE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lawyers in the Media (LIM), Forum has elected Mr John Austin Unachukwu as its chairman.

The election took place during the NBA Annual General Conference in Owerri, Imo State capital.

Unachukwu, The Nation’s Legal Editor, is the immediate past NBA Assistant Publicity Secretary.

Other officers are Mrs Vera Chinwuba (Vice-chairman), Adam Adedimeji (Secretary), Wunmi Obabori (Assistant Secretary), Jude Igbanoi (Treasurer), Adelannwa Bamigboye (Financial Secretary), Theodora Kio-Lawson (Welfare Officer) and Francis Famuroti (Publicity Secretary).

Other Officers are Muritala

Abdulrasheed and the immediate past Chairman of the forum, Mr. Charles Odenigbo who were elected Ex-Officio members of the Forum.

Unachukwu thanked members for the confidence reposed on him and his fellow officers to serve the association at this critical time in its history.

He praised Odenigbo and his team for keeping the flag flying in spite of the challenges they faced in the last three years.

Unachukwu promised to consolidate on the success recorded by his predecessors in office and pledged to co-operate with the leadership op the NBA to achieve the aims and objectives of LIM’s founding fathers of LIM for the over all interest, welfare and wellbeing of members.

•Unachukwu

T

HE Nigerian political landscape has continuously manifested a dangerous pandemic. That is the intractable struggle for power solely for material gain. Among the present contenders for power the constitutional admonition in section 14(2)(b) “that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government” is of lesser import. Instead the majority of the power-mongers are ensconced in an unconscionable struggle for power at all cost, even at the detriment of the very survival of the nation itself. This political disease is akin to the dreadful Ebola virus, which is highly contagious and with infinite capacity to annihilate.

Unfortunately instead of isolating those already infected by the disease, we have reminiscent of the Liberian Ebola virus export to Nigeria, Mr. Amos Sawyer, carelessly allowed the intermingling of the contagious and the innocent, thereby expanding the carriers of that deadly affliction. The result is that as the 2015 elections approach, our country may already be experiencing her death pangs, unless a miracle happens. What with the multiple symptoms of this dreadful disease, with corruption as the most manifest. Another is the polarisation of armed insurgency; while the most recent is the demoralization and demystification of our national army. Now, unless a miracle happens to stem the pandemic, the next manifestation may be total anarchy.

As I said, the root symptom of this political disease is corruption.

Unlike other successful democracies, ours have become not significantly different from a conundrum of organized robbery. From local council administrators to governors, to the presidency, there is total lack of accountability, which democracy espouses. Tragically, whether in the public or private sector, there is no substantial difference. And like the Ebola virus which spreads without warning; despite the pretences and fraudulent claims of the political actors, the recent West African School Certificate examination has shown manifestly that our educational foundation is a travesty of the false claims of huge investment in that sector.

So, while those in authority set up a special purpose vehicle, called State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to improve our education; for many of those entrusted to deliver the dividends, it is actually a conduit to steal the nation blind. So, instead of the fund intervening to gift our nation qualitative and sound primary and secoundry education, those entrusted with the intervention funds, cynically use it to better their personal lives. Thus the recent WAEC results show that just a little above 30% of the candidates have been successful in their exams, meaning that we are merely training those who will be permanently incapacitated to take to the different professions, and will as an alternative take to all manner of economic shenanigans to ‘succeed in life’.

Of course the effect of corruption is also at the root of the failed national infrastructure that we perennially lament about. So whether it is the bad roads that wreck our lives and our cars; the supply of darkness in exchange for electricity bills by companies protected by institutional authority; the dreadful public hospitals, that see health providers engaging in a relay of strike actions, like those contending for medals or the fake but yet regulated products that you unsuspectingly buy for huge costs at your own detriment, the simple cause is corruption. Most probably for every kobo of our loss, one public official or a private citizen has seized a reward, in one form or another. And in several of those cases, the institutional authority set up to protect the citizens, despite the private accumulation of bribes in lieu of service, also deep their hands again into the state funds as salaries and emoluments.

Corruption is also at the root of the latest manifestation of our endangered polity, that is, the despondency of our army in the face of armed insurgency by members of the Boko Haram. If truly as the protesting wives of the army officers and men recently claimed, their spouses are not supplied with efficient fighting ammunitions and machineries, and yet they are ordered to the war front, to defend our country, the reason can only be a result of corrupt tendencies within our defence establishment.

Indeed, the Boko Haram insurgency, like her predecessors in the country, is a product of politics sorely for material gain. As has been claimed without substantive contradiction; those who started the armed groups that eventually metamorphosed into the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents, where merely desperate to keep power as the means to personal aggrandizement.

The road to our political redemption can only come from our political actors making a determined effort to practice democracy as other democratic nations across the world do. To attempt as we are currently doing to pretend to be practicing democracy, while we ignominiously ignore the universal tenets of democracy, is only an invitation of ruin into our lives.

For the sake of clarity for our practitioners who are either hard of hearing or are completely ignorant of what they signed up to, democracy can only thrive in an atmosphere of accountability. That is the defining content, when we define democracy as government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Luckily for us, the demands of democracy are not rocket science. Even our constitution, with all its challenges, contains the basic requirements of an accountable society. Indeed between chapters 2 and 4 of the 1999 constitution as amended, the basic requirements of a republic “based on the principles of democracy and social justice” is clearly provided.

What has been lacking is the political will to enforce the provisions of the laws. Unfortunately instead of our political actors struggling to have the opportunity to outdo one another to promote such a society, we are entrusted with a class, who see politics only as a means to criminal aggrandisement.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

LAW & SOCEITY

Woman charged with ‘stealing’ car A

LAGOS businesswoman, Omolola Shittu, has been charged to court for allegedly stealing a Honda Accord car.

But the woman in her defense said her decision to end a two-year-old relationship with her lover, Prince Hilary Unachukwu, was responsible for charges. The case is before an Igbosere Magistrate Court, Lagos. Charged along with her was another woman, Rapheal Oge. Shittu, an event planner, was arraigned on August 11, this year, alleged to have stolen a Honda Accord Saloon Car, otherwise known as “End of Discussion”.

She, however, petitioned the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umaru Manko, an InspectorGeneral o0f Police (AIG), to prevail on her enstranged lover, Prince Unachukwu to stay out of her life to enable her move on.

Shittu and co-defendant have a three-count charge preferred against them, but they pleaded not guilty before Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Adeola Adedayo.

In Suit No. A/38A/2014, the defendants were alleged to have conspired to commit felony to wit: stealing of the said car valued at N1.6 million and thereby commiting an offence punishable under Section 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

The second count reads: “That you Omolola Shittu on January 19, 2014 at about 7:00am at No. 14 Eric Manuel Crescent, off Bode Thomas, Surulere, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did steal Refrigerator (N72, 500:00) Gas cooker (N85, 200:00) TEC Generator (N66, 500:00)

By Adebisi Onanuga

Washing Machine (N120, 800:00) TEC Generator (N91, 200:00) valued at N503, 200:00, the property of Prince Hilary Unachukwu.”

The third count reads: “That you Omolola Shittu, on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district threatened the life of one Prince Hilary Unachukwu with scisors and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 508 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge and were consequently granted bail and the matter was adjourned till September 8.

They had earlier been arraigned on July 2, on the first two charges.

In her petition to Manko, dated July 15, signed by her counsel, Mrs. Iyabode Shonubi, titled: “Threats to the Life of Omolola Shittu” Unachukwu was alleged to have sought reconciliation with her, but she refused.

The petition reads in part: “Due to our client’s refusal to accept Prince Hilary’s return into her life, Prince Unachukwu framed up several untruths including accusing our client of stealing household items and a Honda car. The charge is before the Chief Magistrate Court, Igbosere and was filed by officers at Zone ll, Nigeria Police F o r c e . ” Addressing a press conference during the weekend, Shittu, who spoke through her lawyer, Shonubi claimed that the car allegedly stolen was presented to her by Prince

Unachukwu as valentine gift on February 14, last year and that the receipt had her name on it.

Shonubi said her client was first arraigned on July 2, but the matter was adjourned till July 21. She said on the next adjourned date when Shittu was supposed to appear in court, Prince Unachukwu allegedly called her and gave her the impression that the matter has been settled amicably, but only for them to get there and realised that another charge had been brought to include threat to Prince Unachukwu ’s life.

“If she had not gone to court on that day, the implication on that adjourned date would mean that the magistrate would issue a bench warrant for her to be arrested. Despite her being in court as an obedient citizen, the magistrate re-arrested her in court and said the previous bail was terminated. We persuaded the magistrate that our client should continue on the previous bail, but she said no, that we needed to arrange for another bail,” Shonubi said.

Shittu, who fielded questions from journalists during the press conference, lamented that she was subjected to various maltreatment while in custody at Kirikiri female p r i s o n .

According to her, a prison warder shaved her hair the first day she got there, made her to pack faeces, gave her a portion of grass to cut, gave her inmate’s uniform to wear and had her photograph taken in spite of her not been convicted of any offence.

“I was arrested at Zone 2 on June 20, this year and spent three nights

before they took me to Igbosere Magistrate Court. The police came to my house to arrest me. I was taken to Kirikiri Prison on August 11, after my second arraignment at Igbosere Magistrate Court, on a fresh charge,” she said.

Omolola, who gave a graphic details of her ordeal in the hands of her estranged lover, said she went through hell during the two years their affairs lasted, saying that he kept threatening her each time she told him she was no more interested in the r4elationship.

She alleged that her lover threatened to use his connection with the police to keep bringing different charges against her until she is finally sent to jail.

Shittu alleged that she did not enjoy any protection from the police on the matter at the Bode Thomas Police Station and Panti Police Station, Ebute Metta, claiming that on one occasion she visited Panti, she was handed over to ASP Adegoke to handle the case.

“The statement I wrote at Panti was taken to Prince Unachukwu. He came to show me the statement at home, asking me if I thought any policeman could arrest him. He said while he was in his office, one of the police officers brought the statement to his office, that he should look at the statement. “ She urged the Commissioner of Police to use his office to call her former lover to order, pointing out that her life and that of her nine year-old-son are at stake.

“I have not been sleeping in my house for the past few months now because he has been threatening to

•Shitu

kill me. My son’s life is in danger.

People around me, their lives are in danger. My own life is in danger too. Anytime I am going out, I am always looking left and right as if people are running after me. He has been calling and sending threat messages that except he is not Hilary Unachukwu, that is when I can survive. My life is at stake, my child’s life is at stake.”

When The Nation contacted Prince Unachukwu on phone , he declined comments, but said: “ You should ask her what took her to Zone 2.

You should ask her what took her to Kirikiri. Thank you very much, God bless you.”

‘Deployment of soldiers for election duties illegal’

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•From left: Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha; Senator Osita Izunaso and Senator Enang

Lawmaker faults exclusion from SAN rank

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HE practice of excluding law yers in the legislature from be ing awarded the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is discriminatory and should stop, Chairman, Senate Rules and Business Committee, Senator Ita Enang, has said.

He described as unfortunate the fact that lawyers in the National Assembly or state Houses of Assembly are not accorded the same privileges and recognition as their counterparts in advocacy or academics.Enang spoke in Owerri at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference during a session by Lawyers in the Legislature Forum.

It had the topic: The Nigerian Legislature and the role of the lawyer in the law making process.

Section 5 (7) (2) of the Legal Practitioners Act (2012) states that the SAN rank is conferred primarily on legal practitioners who have distinguished themselves as advocates or in exceptional cases, on academics who have made substantial contributions to the practice of law though teaching and research.

Enang argued that the law was made during the military era when the legislature was non-existent and

By Joseph Jibueze

when significant contribution by lawyers to the legal profession through lawmaking and legislative advocacy were not contemplated.

The senator called for an amendment, saying after all, lawyers in the National Assembly playi critical roles in making the laws and Constitution amendments on which courtroom advocates base their practice and from which academics teach their students.

“How about the law maker?” he asked.”

The Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Legal Practitioners and Privileges Committee should review and relax the rules to accommodate legislative practitioners and advocates among persons who could be honoured with the privileges of the Bar,” he said.

Enang said despite the fact he, as a lawyer, had served as a Councilor, House of Assembly member, House of Representatives member and Senator, his application for SAN rank was rejected, even though he hopes to reapply.”I was sifted out and the committee appeared dazed that they did not know if I was applying as an advocate or as an academic,” he said.

He added: “The award of the rank

would encourage legislators who are lawyers to know that even out of, and away from the courts, their contribution to sound law making and refining legislative impurities are still being watched and appraised for possible honour by the Privileges Committee and they would put in research, industry and ingenuity in law making, thus reducing inconsistencies in laws made and ensuring certainty and quality of legislation.”

Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa said lawyers who draft legislations engage in a highly technical aspect of law that requires competence.”A failure to properly translate the substantive policy into the appropriate law adversely affects the policy,” he said, adding that government policies through legislation are not likely to be achieved where there is no clarity and accuracy in the drafting of the laws.

“The lawyers are like midvives in the birth of laws and so it behooves them to strive hard to help bring forth laws that are effective, clear, precise, intelligible and capable of only one interpretation, which is the true purpose and intent of the policy as envisaged by the policy initiators,” he said.

T is ultra-vires (outside) Presi dent Goodluck Jonathan’s pow ers to deploy solders during elections, a human rights group, One Voice, has said.

In a statement by its media committee chairman Pastor Deji Adeleye, the group said the police is being undermined by the deployment of soldiers to maintain law and order during elections.

“OneVOICE, acting in consultation with some of the best legal luminaries in the country, believe that it is illegal and ultra vires the part of President Jonathan to deploy the military to maintain law and order during elections.

“It is incongruous with sections 215 and 217 of the Constitution which made it abundantly clear that the power of the President to deploy Armed Forces for internal security is limited to the suppression of insurrection, including insurgency and aiding the police to restore order when it has broken down.

“The use of soldiers during elections is ill-advised. Instead, the police should have been strengthened to discharge the duty of ensuring internal security while the military is restricted to the defense of the Nation’s territorial integrity.

“What militarisation does is to invoke fears on voters to make them not consider participating in the election thereby disenfranchising them,” One Voice said.

The group said the coercive apparatus of the state constitutionally mandated to maintain law and order is the police, not the military or the Department of State Security (DSS) whose legal existence is unknown to any law in Nigeria, or masked persons.

“Indeed, the duty of the military is to defend the territorial integrity of the country or quell insurrection in any section of the country where the Police has proved

By Joseph Jibueze

incapable of handling the situation.

“ONEVOICE is, therefore, demanding a stop to the use of the military and DSS operatives in subsequent election including the 2015 general elections,” it said.

The group also condemned the current gale of impeachments and attempted impeachments of state governors, saying: “The road to the present democratic dispensation in Nigeria is undoubtedly a tortuous one and we cannot afford to allow our democracy to come to peril.”

The development, the group said, has grave implications on constitutionalism and the rule of law, especially as laid down constitutional rules are being violated and trampled upon with impunity.

It added that unlike America where impeachment is the last resort when all other options had failed, the reverse is the case in Nigeria.

“It is always the first option with the legislators threatening the president or state governor at will.

To date, only twice have the American congress impeached the President since 238 years ago that America gained independence.

“Although no Nigerian President has been impeached, many State governors have been sacked through impeachment since 1999 under the present dispensation.

Under the former President olusegun Obasanjo, two governors, Joshua Dariye of Plateau State and Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State were impeached.

“Under President Jonathan, impeachment notices against many governors have become very rampant. Indeed, political watchers see this method as a subversion of the constitution which portends danger for the political stability of the country,” One Voice said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

42

H

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TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

KWARA POLITICS Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has been endorsed by some groups and associations for a second term. Although the endorsment is a boost to his ambition, he must still overcome some hurdles to get the ticket.

EMMANUEL OLADESU reports.

• Ahmed

• Senator Saraki

• Abdullahi

Ahmed: Thorny path to second term F

OR almost three and half years, Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has ruled without stirring any controversy. Also, no politician has come between him and his political leader, Senator Bukola Saraki. Unlike other states, where crises between predecessors and their successors have reached the peack, there is amity between the former governor and Ahmed. However, as the succession battle gathers momentum, there are insinuations that it may be difficult for the governor to secure a second term ticket.

In Kwara State All Progressives Congress (APC), there is no consensus yet on succession. While a section believes that Ahmed’s political future hangs in the balance, stakeholders who support his push for second term point out that he has performed. However, those against his ambition allude to political expediency, claiming that, since the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is likely to pick its flag bearer from Kwara Central Senatorial District, the ruling party should not be indifferent to its implications for next year’s elections. This latter group are rooting for another aspirant, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, former Sports Minister.

Kwara Central has the highest number of voters. Therefore, it is the target of the PDP. But, the zone cannot solely instal the governor. Therefore, the opposition party is also mobilising support in the South, where the governor comes from, and the North, to pull the rug of the feet of the APC. However, the APC has an edge over the PDP. The ruling party is popular across the three districts. Thus, it is able to overcome the regression to ethnic division by the PDP. Unlike the PDP, which lacks an arrowhead, the APC is forging ahead under the leadership of Saraki, ably supported by his lieutenanat, Ahmed.

Besides, recent develoments in the state have altered the odds against the governor’s second term aspiration. Many stakeholders are endorsing his bid. Last week, Ahmed was endorsed by the Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Kawu Haliru. , who lent his voice to the barrage of endorsements coming for the governor from the district.

The crowd of supporters at Lafiagi was huge. They were led by political office holders from Moro, Edu, Patigi, Kaiama and Baruten councils, which constitute the North District.

Also present were community leaders, representatives of professional groups, youths, women, artisans and peasants.

Speakers showered encomiums on the governor for his devel-

opmental strides. They said that Ahmed has empowered the people through his numerous projects and programmes.

Urging the APC to field him in next year’s poll, they maintained that the governor has lived up to expectation.

There has been a gale of endorsements for Ahmed. But, his endorsement by Emir Haliru seems to have become the game changer, if the monarch had actually spoken the minds of his people. The royal father is highly respected. Since he has endorsed the governor, there has not been any contrary view in the North. Also, the North, like the Central, has the advantage of a bloc vote. Although there are some aspirants from the zone in the opposition vying for the governorship, they are papper weight actors.

The South is solidly behind the governor. In fact, his kinsmen have embarked on an aggressive mobilisation for his ambition. During the voter’s registration, they trooped out for the exercise. Now, the calculation is that the combined forces of Saraki in the Central and Ahmed’s foot soldiers in the South should be able to forge a working alliance with compatriots in the North to ensure the push for continuity next year.

But, according to the PDP, this agenda may not work. The party believes that the endorsement does not translate into electoral victory, adding that the royal father who has endorsed Ahmed lacked the mandate of the voting public.

Kwara PDP Deputy Publicity Secretary Mr. Femi Yusuf doubted the validity of the endorsement, saying that it is unrelieable.

He said the next election will be a battle of supremacy be-

‘The South is solidly behind the governor.

In fact, his kinsmen have embarked on an aggressive mobilisation for his ambition. During the voter’s registration, they trooped out for the exercise. Now, the calculation is that the combined forces of Saraki in the Central and Ahmed’s foot soldiers in the South should be able to forge a working alliance with compatriots in the North to ensure the push for continuity next year’

tween the APC and the PDP. Faulting the endorsements, he said that it was instigated by the government.

“Let me tell you the candid view of our party on the endorsement. We see it as a mere figment of the imagination of the APC. It does not provide the party with any leverage when the election comes.

“That aside, the traditional ruler is a civil servant, who collects salary from the state government monthly. So, what do you expect? When they are endorsing him for a second term, what would warrant the endorsement? What have they done for the area for them to say he should continue in office?

“You can only deserve endorsement, if you have surpassed the previous administrations. But, the past 12 years have shown that the people of the North District have been neglected. Go to Baruten or Kayama, Lafiagi and Patigi to see for yourself.”

However, the Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed on Communication Strategy, Alhaji Raheem Adedoyin, disagreed with the PDP spokesman. He said: “The governor, through his ‘Shared Prosperity Agenda’, has sustained the impactful developmental momentum of his predecessor and he actually deserves the support of well-meaning people to continue his people-oriented projects.

“He has successfully consolidated on the projects of the former governor and opened up new ones, which have direct bearing on the people and that simply explains why the people are clamouring for continuity.”

The former Commissioner for Information listed some of the projects. They include the Independent Power Project (IPP) to drive industrialisation, the rehabilitation of schools, and the construction and rehabilitation of 800 kilometers of roads. The administration also set up the Harmony Holdings and the Kwara Bridge Empowerment Scheme (KWABES). It has completed the construction of the Aviation College, which was established by the Saraki Administration, and the Vocational Centre, Ajase-Ipo. Adedoyin said the governor has reduced fees paid by students in the state-owned institutions and provided N100 million micro-credit facility to empower the people. He said five General Hospitals have been rehabilitated and 13 ambulances and drugs provided to hospitals.

But, can the governor overome the hurdles? Can he suppress the agitations for power shift to the Central District? If he gets the APC ticket, can he defeat the PDP challenger from the Central? Time will tell.

44

THE NATION TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

POLITICS Adamawa State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant BrigGen. Buba Marwa spoke with reporters in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on his ambition and plan for the state. Excerpts:

‘I ‘ll tackle insecurity in Adamawa’

H

OW are you preparing for PDP primaries?

We have secured waivers.

Now, we are preparing for primaries. There is a provision in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) constitution, which says all members who aspire to run for any office, whether the party’s position or actual government or elective positions, should have spent a minimum of two years, failing which they will not be able to run, unless they are granted a waiver for this position.

When the former chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, became the chairman, you will recall the party structures were dissolved and new congresses were organised for the party and all those new members that crossed over from the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) spent less than two months and were deemed qualified to run in the congresses and today, they remain in elective positions.

Nobody asked them for waiver and none was given. Based on that, we had full confidence that waiver will not be an issue. In any case, another fundamental thing is that almost everybody in the party will ask for waiver because a fresh registration took place at that time and so, you will find out almost everybody has spent less than two years in the party.

What are your plans for Adamawa State, if you are elected as governor?

By the grace of God and because of the fear of God, our deep sincerity and commitment, our capacity for hard work , our propensity to excel and care for the downtrodden, those things that I did in Borno and Lagos states, I will multiply them because you have to build on previous records. My state is unfortunately at the bottom of the ladder of all states

due to unsatisfactory leadership.

All the indices of progress beginning from security in the Northeast, I will bring to bear my background, my training, my experience and capacity to face squarely these challenges and, by the grace of God, working with other stakeholders and security agencies, we should bring this issue of insecurity to a successful resolution. I am not saying that I General Marwa will resolve all these challenges, I am saying with my experience I will contribute meaningfully towards the resolution of these issues, having been governor in the same Northeast.

What is your view on consensus candidacy?

I think we have to be very careful with the word consensus. The word, by definition, is an understanding of agreement reached among contestants, not somebody foisting it . Fine, if the issue of consensus is to be contemplated, there is absolutely nobody who wants to go through the

‘We should bring this issue of insecurity to a successful resolution. I am not saying that I General Marwa will resolve all these challenges, I am saying with my experience I will contribute meaningfully towards the resolution of these issues, having been governor in the same Northeast’

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

P

• Marwa

rigour or stress. But, having said that, I know the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a party that wants the electoral process to be properly followed and this has happened in Ekiti, and Osun states and there is no reason why the same process should not be followed in Adamawa State.

Are you afraid of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu’s entry into the race?

The word must be carefully examined. When you say afraid, maybe, other people are afraid of Marwa.

Maybe, that is what you mean. Nobody drafted anybody. Everyone of us willingly joined the race. It depends on what everybody has done.

The electorate will have the final say.

Ahead of primaries, has there been interface among aspirants?

I can confirm that I have held meetings with few of the aspirants.

It is a continuous process. There is absolutely no reason why all of us intending to build our state, if given the mandate, should not be talking to ourselves because we are not enemies. We built the Adamawa State PDP and I will remain in the PDP.

Princewill to run for governor in Rivers

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HE former governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Rivers State, Prince Tonye Princewill, has joined the governorship race.

The politician is running on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He will face the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, and other aspirants at the primaries.

Already, Princewill has set up a campaign structure, the ‘Princewill Exploratory Committee’ to mobilise support for his bid among stakeholders.

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

His media aide, said the outfit will also mobilise for the second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said the aspirant was advised by the committee “to use his popularity among youths, the non-political class and elders to encourage participatory funding by the generality, to prevent the system being hijacked by moneybags. The belief is that he is about the only one who could do this.

Jang denies anointing successor

Princewill told reporters in PortHarcourt, the state capital, said that his ambition is not a conjecture.

He said: “I’ve been with the grassroots many years ago, even when it was not about politics. Let others play catch-up and tell the public where they were and what they were doing for them, even without a political appointment.”

Princewill recalled that, in 2007 when he contested for the governorship, he defeated the governor in his ward and Buguma Local Government.

• Convener, Action Team Against Conscription and Kidnap (ATACK) Comrade Debo Adeniran (middle), Oloye Adegboyega Adeniji (right) and Ambassador Kunle Adesokan (left) during the inaugural media briefing of the group in Lagos.

LATEAU State Governor Jonah Jang has reflected on the succession battle in the Northcentral state, saying that he ha not anointed a successor.

He denied projecting any politician from his ethnic group, Berom, to succeed him next year. The governor cautioned against rumour mongering, saying that it is counter-productive.

Jang, who will bow out of office next year, said: “Up till this momment I don’t know my successor. It is only God who knows who will succeed me.

I am not God and I can’t play God.” The Chairman of the factional Nigerian Governors’ Forum spoke with reoporters in Jos, the state capital.

He said: “Only God knows who the next governor of Plateau will be. I don’t know. I have heard rumors flying here and there across the state that I am planning to impose one of my tribe’s men to succeed me as the governor in 2015. People closed to me have been mentioned at various quaters that I have anointed them and that I am working tirelessly to groom them.

I am calling on good citizens of the state to discard the rumor.

“Some individuals with ambition have come to him to say that God revealed to them that they will be governor. But, my stance still remains that I don’t know. Let God reveal such a person not only to me, but to the entire citizens of the state. It is not for me to endorse anyone.”

Jang maintained that he has no successor from Berom in mind. He stressed: “All the rumours that I am planning to impose a candidate from my zone is only coming from those that are saying it. I have never contemplated that.

Some have said that I wanted to impose a Berom. The rumor is heating up the polity and I urged such people to desist and allow peace to rein. We don’t want to cause political tension.”

The governor notd that the agitation for power has generated tension in the Central and South districts, which are clamouring for the slot in the spirit of justice, equity and fairness.

He added: “The agitating parties feel that if it is true that I am planning to anoint my successor from my zone. It will be tantamount to a breach of the zoning gentleman agreement made concerning governance in the state, which according to them may lead to suspicion, distrust, disharmony and or disunity which is not good for the state.

“I must say here that nothing of such will happen, I am not planning such, • Jang it is only God that chose a leader.”

Kwara APC stakeholders urge Saraki to join presidential race From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

K

WARA State All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders have urged former Governor Bukola Saraki to join the presidential race. They also assured the party’s national leadership of victory in the state in the next year’s governorship election.

The stakeholders, who converged on Laduba, Asa Local Government Area, for a special prayer session for Senator Saraki and Governor Abdufatah Ahmed, urged the two leaders to foster unity in the fold..

The programme was organised by elders from seven wards constituting the local government.

Kwara Central APC Chairman Alhaji Jimoh Adeshina said the APC is the party to beat in next year’s poll.

He said: “The difference is clear because the state is the home of peace and hospitality. We are not perturbed at all because we have the backing of the people. In Kwara State, over 90 percent of the electorate are behind the APC. “As part of preparations for the elections, we have sensitised our people to come out enmasse to collect their permanent voter’s cards. Those are our weapons of elections and on the days of election, they should come out to cast their votes for candidates of their choice. And our choice will be our leader’s choice. “ Adeshina added: “We are gathered here to offer special prayers for our leader, Senator Bukola Saraki and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for God to meet their hearts’ desires. Specifically, we want to pray for Senator Saraki to achieve his ambition of becoming the next President of Nigeria in 2015. The three senatorial districts have endorsed his presidential ambition. Before one embarks on any adventure, it is wise to put it into the hands of God to take absolute control.

“We are also praying for our governor for his loyalty to Senator Bukola Saraki; his achievements in office and successful completion of his tenure in office. We are praying that God should catapult him to him levels. I urge all Kwarans to eschew violence and thuggery before, during and after the elections as Kwara State is known for peace. That is the major reason why this administration is aggressively tackling youth unemployment. Recently the administration gave jobs to no less than 5,00 youths in the state.”

The chieftain also endorsed the governor for a second term. He said: “The clamour for another term for the governor is not misplaced at all. If people root for somebody that performs excellently in office and he is very loyal to the leader to be given another chance, I think that is in order.

“However, we have not met to deliberate on that issue and that is part of the reason we have converged here to offer special prayers for him for softlanding in office and for him to get to the next level. At the appropriate time, party chieftains will put heads together with our leader on the next line of action. Our leader is a listening one. He does not take unilateral decisions. When we get to bridge, we shall cross it.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

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HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

How to serve patients better, by experts M

EDICAL experts are canvassing a change in their handling of patients to serve them better.

At a scientific symposium in Lagos with the theme: Collaboration- creating value; they said it was necessary “patients got optimal medical care”.

The symposium was organised by the Nigeria Association of Phamacists in Academia (NAPA), Faculty of pharmacy, University of Lagos (UNILAG) as part of activities marking the pharmacy week.

Pro-Chancellor, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, Prof Fola Tayo, said a professional must do everything to ensure optimal a patient care despite the prevailing constraints. He listed the constraints as funding by government, lack of passion and display of arrogance and or ignorance either by the patient or the professional.

Prof Tayo said: “It is time for change in the way we, the professionals in healthcare do things; way we see one another. It is time for us to recognise that we have our individual limitations. Let us humble ourselves and make ourselves teachable. A teachable spirit is a spirit of wisdom and we need wisdom in all we do. We deal with human lives. Let health experts equip themselves with the necessary skill and competence, so we can excel and our clients will enjoy a better health.

“There is the need for profes-

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

sional collaboration in the health sector. Professional bodies should create an enabling environment among members. If indeed the patient is the focus, then we should not look sideways, but concentrate on the patient so we can render the best service. Let there be meetings of professional bodies. Stop making inflammatory statements which often impact negatively on them and their practices. The healthcare delivery is not for competition because every care service is expected to give the best; there is no room for second best.”

Director, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Philadelphia, United States, Dr Oludemi Rabiu, spoke on the emerging global trends of improving on patients’ care.

Dr Rabiu said: “Nigerian healthcare system could benefit significantly from four fundamental shifts in the practice of modern medicine. Access revolutionary new products from biomedical research; access to new products and services from technological innovations in telecommunication and electronic data management to improve quality and proactive care; empowerment of patients to play more roles in influencing quality of care they receive; and as a significant member of the healthcare team, pharmacists should commit to lifelong learning.”

He added: “The Pharmaceutical

‘It is time for change in the way we, the professionals in healthcare do things; way we see one another. It is time for us to recognise that we have our individual limitations. Let us humble ourselves and make ourselves teachable’

Society and the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN) should continue to play more active roles in the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for pharmacists and influence the curricula of pharmacy training at the university, such that both new and old pharmacy graduates are kept abreast of development in pharmaceutical sciences; biomedicine and digital therapeutics.

“If pharmacists are to continue to contribute effectively to the new patient-centric pharmacy practices, they must have the opportunity to acquire the new knowledge and skills required for their new role.

To do this, they must become lifelong learner.”

Nigeria, he said could adopt the initiative of ‘nurse and pharmacist independent prescribers’. “This expanded role for pharmacists and

nurses would enhance capacity, help bridge shortage of primary care physicians and access of patients to prompt care,” he added.

Dr Rabiu said: “Nurses and Pharmacists independent prescribers’ accreditation is an initiative that is gradually becoming successful in the United Kingdom (UK). Under the UK regulation, pharmacists independent prescribers are able to autonomously prescribe for any condition within their clinical competence excluding three controlled drugs for the treatment addiction.

“Under this scheme, nurses and pharmacists having undergone accredited professional certification are able to take on role of independent and/or supplementary prescribers.

“On the independent prescriber training, pharmacists and nurses are taught together to facilitate

•Dr Rabiu

multi-disciplinary working. The training curriculum for ‘Nurses and Pharmacists Prescribers’ is determined by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhc.) and Nursing and Midwifery Council.”

He added: “In Canada, pharmacicts can also provide a therapeutic alternative, prescribe independently or in collaboration with a physician when diagnosis is provided.”

Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, UNILAG Prof Olukemi Odukoya said: “Creating value for the patient in the health sector has got to an aggressive paradigm shift by all professionals. Once the focus is on the patient, the focus will make all professionals to collaborate to deliver the best international acceptable standard to such.”

‘Barbers, others can spreadEbola’

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

T

HE Federal Government has been called upon to further sensitise market leaders; hairstylists and barbers’ on the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

According to the Director, Public Affairs and Communication, Pfizer, Mrs Margaret Olele, the use of towel and other tools by these service providers could be sources of transmitting the EVD. She said it was saddening that airport workers; toll gate attendants and transport workers were yet to be fully equipped against Ebola.

Mrs Olele said: “At the airports, security agents are still checking people’s suitcases with their bare hands. I witnessed this last week when I escorted my son to the airport. I had to give the policeman a pair of spare gloves (I carry them around these days.) Temperatures are checked; but the greater danger of transmitting the disease by these work-forces is real.

“At Lekki toll gate, I observed a poor gentleman oblivious of the risk of EVD had no gloves on and had received monies from countless persons. At the Salon in Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lagos, workers are doing pedicure with bare hands, while well fed and self content women with the most expensive phones, rings and designer bags used wet towels already used by others. What will it cost to bring personal towels from their houses eludes me.”

•From left: Past President, Association of Lady Pharmacists (ALP), Mrs Yetunde Morohundiya, representing the PSN President, Mr Akintayo Olumide; Prof Tayo; Prof Odukoya and HOD, Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, UNILAG, Prof Bolade Silva at the event.

Taraba, firm collaborate to fight Hepatitis

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ARABA State and Roche, a biotech company, are to work together to check the rise in Hepatitis condition.

At a ceremony to mark the treatment, prevention and capacity building partnership between the state and the company, Acting Governor Garba Umar, said government was worried about the increasing number of people infected with Hepatitis B and C .

Umar said he lost a son to Hepatitis B in 2005, “I lost my first son, Major Umar to Hepatitis B in 2005.

“Umar was serving with the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) in Sierra Leone, but the disease was not diagnosed in Sierra Leone until he took ill and was admitted at Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

By the time he was diagnosed and it was found to be Hepatitis, it was too late. So I know how it feels to be affected or even infected with Hepatitis B. If Roche had been around to render this assistance we are getting now, may be my son would have been alive.”

Umar said lack of access to information especially on prevention, treatment and specialist care were major impediments to managing and responding to the disease.

Umar said his admnistration would rid the state of the disease, adding: “I am happy Roche is partnering with us to address this disease and if the terms of the partnership are anything to go by, then we are on our way to making significant

progress as far as Hepatitis B response is concerned”, he said.

Roche Market Access Manager, Chukwudi Ehibudu, who represented Roche Nigeria Country Manager, Herman Addae said findings from a survey of blood donors in a chosen facility showed that about four out of every 10 blood donors in that particular blood bank had Hepatitis B or C. Ehibudu said Roche would provide free Hepatitis testing for those willing, provide viral load testing machine, increase access to affordable treatment for those who would require treatment and capacity building for doctors on Hepatitis management, care and support.

He said: “Taraba State currently has one Consultant Gastroenterologist and

Hepatologist in the person of Dr. Aisha Adamu.

“Considering the size of Taraba state and the number of patients to care for, there would be need for increased capacity, hence Roche would be conducting a series of specialised training for doctors in the state as part of this partnership.”

Dr Adamu said, ‘’Hepatitis B virus is one of the most infectious viruses in the world and could singularly lead to liver failure, cancer and untimely death in infected persons.

“Unlike HIV, it can stay on a surface for about seven days and it is 100 times more infectious than HIV and an infected person can spread it in a household, hence we are saying it is closer than you think.”

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

HEALTH

‘Why babies must breastfeed’

‘Mercy Home’ for cancer patients, relations at LUTH

By Wale Adepoju

H

By Inimfon Otung

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HE Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) District 404B Nigeria has built a complex for cancer patients and their relations at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

“Mercy Home” is a temporary accommodation for cancer patients who are on radiotherapy and have nowhere to stay. It has 20 beds, 20 wardrobes and 24 conveniences. It will house men and women.

The project’s initiator, Mrs Stella Agbogun, District Governor 2012/13, said the building was constructed to fulfill a dream to serve and put smiles on the faces of the needy, especially cancer patients from outside Lagos.

She said: “The dream came up when one morning, as I was conducting the round to the radiotherapy unit of LUTH, I met a woman and her son discussing.

The woman was weeping profusely, while her 17- year- old son tried to pacify her, even in their joint helplessness and utter desperation.

“I found out that it was their first visit to Lagos. The woman had been slated for admission. They had no relations in Lagos. They did not have enough money and they came all the way from Cross River State. I settled the boy in an open space, under the labour ward, where relations of patients hang out. That experience did not leave my memory.” ‘’After that incident, I met and

•From left: Past International Director, Hamed Lawal; Mr Ekpuku; Mrs Agbogun and Prof Osibogun at the event.

‘Mercy Home”, it is a temporary accommodation for cancer patients who are on radiotherapy and have nowhere to stay. It has 20 beds, 20 wardrobes and 24 conveniences. It will house men and women’’ discussed with Prof Remi Ajekigbe, and he requested that I should get the Lions Club to build Alanu House as done at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. I told him it would be difficult in view of the cost implications. I however resolved to be an instrument in the realisation of that goal,” said Lion Agbogun.

•The building

She said: “Today marked the actualisation of a dream. The project is a pay back to the medical institution that put bread on my table for 27 years. LCIF sent the funding to the construction of the project, along with the generous donations of corporate and private donors. Also funds came from living heroes, fellow Lions, friends and well wishers.”

Mrs Agbogun praised LUTH for giving the club the space where the ‘Mercy Home’ stands. She urged

the hospital’s management to ensure that the facility is well used and also kept in good condition.

Multiple Council Chairperson (MCC), MD 404, Samuel Ekpuk thanked LUTH for partnering with the club to make the dream come true.

Chief Medical Director (CMD), LUTH Prof. Akin Osibogun praised the club for the building, promising and assured that it would be used for the purpose to which it was built.

Neglect of cerebral palsy patients condemned

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HE founder of Benola Cerebral Palsy initiative, Air Vice Marshal Femi Gbadebo (rtd), has decried what he calls the government’s neglect of people living with cerebral palsy (CP).

He said parents of such people needed the expertise of professionals to be able to take care of them.

AVM Gbadebo said: “These Nigerians through no fault of theirs, are grossly lacking in the ability to care for themselves and yet what we find is grossly inadequate legislation and in some cases, even a total lack of legislation.

“As a nation, we have the resources, both human and otherwise but for some reasons, we choose not to act. Cerebral Palsy is so uniquely different that you will never find two cases that are exactly alike. What this means is that the management options have to be tailored or made for each individual child and the circumstances around which a parent is willing or able to manage that child.”

He urged parents not to give up on their children with cerebral palsy, saying they should continue to encourage them.

They should continue to work and be the best authority on their children’s condition, he said.

AVM Gbadebo said: “That an infant is born with Cerebral Palsy (CP) is not a death sentence. Similarly, to be a parent

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

with a CP child does not mean that you have reached the end of tunnel. This message is the focus of ‘Benola, a Cerebral Palsy Initiative (BCPI)’ project which is targeted at supporting and improving the lives of children with CP condition and their families.

Benola does this by creating awareness and providing education for families of children living with CP on effective management of the condition. We have mapped out on building a facility to international standard that would be able to care, treat and manage individuals with CP. It will also serve as a referral centre.”

He urged government to pay more attention to CP in the country.

Co-Founder, Mrs Alaba

Gbadebo, said Benola is committed to change the face of CP in Africa and adding value to the lives of everyone living with disabilities.

Mrs Gbadebo said: “For me and my husband, our experience was the best teacher on Cerebral Palsy (CP). Our son, Olaoluwa was diagnosed of this problem more than 18 years ago. With our experience, we believe the ultimate is to give the disease a face.

Olaoluwa was born at 34 weeks of gestation and confirmed to have cerebral palsy when he was less than a year old.

“Most hospitals outside Nigeria could not give him an invitation because he could not be properly assessed. Besides, the foreign hospitals were not able to give the cost implication of his treatment in case he was to be flown abroad

‘That an infant is born with Cerebral Palsy (CP) is not a death sentence. Similarly, to be a parent with a CP child does not mean that you have reached the end of tunnel. This message is the focus of ‘Benola, a Cerebral Palsy Initiative (BCPI)’ project which is targeted at supporting and improving the lives of children with CP condition and their families’

for care. In I997, some German doctors confirmed that nothing could be done to cure him. For over nine years, as parents, we sought treatment and better management options. He cannot live independently, but as educated parents, we did our best for him. As a couple, we realised how many more parents are out there battling with conditions such as CP in their children. This was what informed establishing the Benola initiative.”

She called on the Federal Government to support people living with the condition. “The government should provide what it will take for them to have a sense of belonging in the society,” Mrs Gbadebo said.

EAD of Nutrition, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Chris Isokpunwu has described good nutrition as a pre-requisite for national development.

Dr Isokpunwu, who spoke at a joint programme on Breastfeeding

by Nestle and National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), said poor breastfeeding could impact negatively on a child’s health.

According to him, good nutrition for a baby starts from when the woman gets pregnant with the mother getting the required nutrients.

“After delivery, babies should be fed with colostrum before 30 minutes. This is good for child and mother. The baby gets needed protection by taking that first breast milk. It also allows the mother to lactate better,” he said.

Dr Isokpunwu described breast milk as the most nutritionally sound food for babies.

“It is easy to digest and help strengthen baby’s natural defence as well as prevent disease. It also ensures development and growth,” he said.

Isokpunwu said the Federal Government introduced breast milk strategy marketing and regulation to promote only breast feeding. It also instituted baby friendly initiative and training of health workers.

“There was breastfeeding campaign and infant and young child feeding programme,” he said.

Professor of Neonatology, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Chinyere Ezeaka described breast feeding as an ancient art and modern miracle. “It is the key to maternal, newborn and child health”, she noted.

She said women should breastfeed babies with two-third of their areola touching the babies’ mouths.

The neonatologist said babies must be given colostrum, even if their mothers delivered them through caesarian section (CS). “Colostrum is dense in antibodies and most appropriate for them,” she said.

Mrs Ezeaka said malnutrition is a major societal and economic problem. She said breastfeeding is a human rights issue because no child should be denied breast milk.

Breastfeeding, she said, is linked to all the eight millennium development goals (MDGs).

This, she said, was why the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended exclusive breastfeeding for babies for the first six months of life and additional complementary feeding for two years and above.

Ezeaka said 80 per cent of brain development in babies is achieved in their first two years.

Call for more brain research

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HERE has been a call for extensive research into the brain and spinal cord disease known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

A consultant neuro-surgeon Dr Faruk Mustapha, said the research was important after 20 years of systematic studies on it.

According to him, the last systematic studies of ALS disease got reported from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, more than 20 years ago.

“Since that time, information about ALS disease has become limited. This made it necessary to review the current status of the disease,’’ he said.

By Wale Adepoju

He said the clinical records of cases of ALS disease seen at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, during the period were studied.

Mustapha said sex, age at onset of illness, type of ALS disease and risk factors were documented and compared with findings of two previous reports from Ibadan.

He said 16 cases met the criteria for inclusion, adding: “The mean age at onset of disease was 38.6 years (the range being from 16 to 60 years)”.

He said: “Fifteen of the subjects were male while one was a female.

All subjects had ALS.”

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

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THE NATION

BUSINESS ENERGY

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E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

Fed Govt to bridge gas supply, demand gap

HE Federal Government has begun the implementation of the strategic plans to close the gap between gas supply and demand by end of next year.

Gas demand exceeds supply, causing a gross shortfall in power generation. At least 50 per cent of Nigeria’s power generating facilities or stations are thermal which use gas.

Due to lack of gas, majority of gas-powered stations have been idle over the years while those working operate at sub-optimal levels.

To solve the problem, the government has identified some salient issues, which should be quickly addressed. They include the extension of gas pipeline network to power stations that de-

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

pend on gas but do not get supply, making the price of natural gas competitive to attract investors to the sector and paying the outstanding $283.6 million owed gas suppliers to encourage them to meet their supply obligations.

The Group Executive Director, Power and Gas, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. David Ige, said the government spends an average of $500 million yearly on pipeline expansion. He also said the outstanding debts to gas suppliers is a disincentive to investors, adding that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is addressing the problem.

He explained that the government was also addressing the gas-

•Invests $500m yearly in pipeline to-power price by bringing the gas price template to a global competitive level, to attract more investors into the sector and encourage the suppliers to be more committed.

He expressed confidence that, by end of this year, the volume of power that would be wheeled to the national grid will be in excess of 5000 megawatts (MW). By the end of next year, the government will close the gap between gas demand and supply.

Some of the gas pipeline projects include the expansion of the EscravosLagos to two billion standard cubic feet per day of gas (bscf/d) capacity from over 800 mmscf/d. He said the

•From left: Director-General, National Automotive Council (NAC), Mr. Aminu Jalal; Ibrahim; Assistant Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), representing Director DPR, Mr. Mudei Alphonsus and Osarumwense, representing Petroleum Minister, at the summit in Lagos.

Lubricant sector needs govt’s assistance

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PERATORS of the lubricant sector of the downstream oil and gas industry are seeking the intervention of the Federal Government to enable the industry contribute significantly to the growth of the economy.

They want the government and the regulators to protect the sector from imported substandard lubricants.

Some of the operators, who spoke to The Nation, during their summit in Lagos, urged the government to ban imported lubricants. They argued that a law would enable the local market to not only grow but also generate employment.

They sought incentives that would encourage lubricant marketers and blenders.

The Lubricants Producers Association of Nigeria (LUPAN), in their position paper, said: “It is worrisome to note that the market is also a dumping ground for substandard and off-specification imported lubes of questionable quality. All these infractions are, indeed, a threat to the survival of lube manufacturers in Nigeria.

“The indigenous lubricant industry, which employs over 5,000 workers, has the potential to generate over 50,000 additional jobs if the lubricant blending plants work at full installed capacities.”

The Managing Director, Lubeservices Associates, Mr. Kayode Sote, said: “The government should use its might to end

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

the influx of substandard lubes, provide level playing ground for local lube makers to produce the product needed to fast-track the development of the Nigerian economy.”

He said Nigeria is the third largest consumer of lubricating oils, over 600 million litres, which is one per cent of the world’s total demand, with gross earnings hitting N150 billion last year.

Sote noted that there are 32 blending plants in the country with total installed capacity of about 965 million litres per year, which produce at a cumulative average of 45 per cent of their total installed capacity.

He said: “The cumulative asset base of the blending plants is about N20 billion, generating about N45 billion profits in 2013. It has been estimated that 75 per cent of the total need of lubricating oil is produced locally, while the balance comprised specialised products imported by the marketing companies into the country.”

The Chairman and Technical Adviser to Lubcon Group, Jani Ibrahim, said the lubricant sub-sector of the oil and gas industry operated at an average of 45 per cent of their total installed capacity thereby leading to job losses, which is not healthy for the development of the economy.

He urged the government to reduce import duty on raw materi-

als for lubricants such as additives and base oil and packaging materials, as well as eliminate multiple taxations.

He urged the National Assembly to fast-track the passage of Petroleum Industry bill (PIB) in order to stem capital flight and attract more foreign investments.

The Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, said the Federal Government has launched a national lubricant policy as part of its agenda to boost the use of lubricants.

He said the objectives of the policy besides checking the influx and sale of substandard and fake lubricants to end-users, are to make Nigeria self-sufficient in lubricant production and encourage export.

He said modalities for the implementation of the policy were being worked out in consultation with other government ministries and agencies to enhance effective participation of all the stakeholders.

He said the government was desirous of opening new opportunities in the exploration of bitumen, tar sands as an alternative source of base oil in Nigeria.

The Managing Director of NNPC Retail Limited, Chris Osarumwense, who represented the Minister of Petroleum Resources, said the protection of the lube sector was important because it is used in almost all the sectors, particularly in the industrial and the manufacturing sector.

Escravos-Lagos pipeline system, one of the backbone infrastructure, is in progress. The pipeline feeds most of the power plants.

Ige said work on the ObiafuObrikom-Oben 120 kilometres line project was on and the government aimed to complete it in 2016. The pipeline will connect the Obiafu/ Obrikom field and gas recycling plant in Rivers State to the Oben field in Edo State.

“We want to complete and inau-

gurate the 100 mmscf/d Oredo, the Pan Ocean’s gas supply project designed to use spare capacity in the Ovade gas plant, and continue the extension to the North and East via the Akwa-Ibom-Enugu-AjaokutaKano back bone gas pipeline project using the International Finance Corporation (IFC) loan Eurobonds and private funds.

“We have also commenced work on the Trans-Nigerian Gas pipeline project to bring natural gas to Eastern and northern regions by 2018.

The pipeline is estimated at 1,200 kilometres of pipeline,” he said.

GMoU: Chevron completes $83m community projects

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HEVRON Nigeria Limited (CNL) has completed 258 community projects worth $83 million (about N12.8 billion) in the Niger Delta through its Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU), its General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Deji Haastrup, has said.

Speaking on the impact of the GMoU since its inception in 2005, he said the initiative had been achieving its objectives.

He said the memorandum replaced the old one which allowed the oil giant to have direct dealings with communities in its operational areas; initiate and meet the communities’ development needs.

But the old MoU didn’t allow the communities’participation. It excluded them from ownership of the assets, which led to undue dependence on the oil firms.

However, he said the GMoU is patterned in a way that the communities take the drivers’ seat in deciding the projects they want implemented.

To make the GMoU effective, the Chevron joint venture divided the Niger Delta where it operates into eight regional development committees (RDCs), which represent the various community development groups. The RDCs include Egbema-Gbaramatu Central Development Foundation (Delta State), Itsekiri Regional Development Committee (Delta State), Ilaje Regional Development Foundation (Ondo), Dodo River Regional Development Committee (Bayelsa), Keffes Regional Development Committee (Bayelsa State), Kula Regional Development Foundation (Rivers State), Idama Regional Development Foundation (Rivers State), and Jisike Regional Development Foundation (Imo State).

As a result of the success of the GMoU,

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By Emeka Ugwuanyi

many of the oil producing communities insist on the adoption of the initiative by oil firms.

Haastrup said: “The company in 2005 pioneered the new social performance strategy to support the socio-economic development of communities around our areas of operation. The strategy, called the GMoU, is hinged on tripartite agreement with community development organisations known as Regional Development Committees (RDCs), NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture and the governments in the five states where we operate in the Niger Delta.

“Under the GMoU, the communities through the RDCs identify and select the projects they want and use the funds provided by CNL for the execution of the projects. The GMoU has brought significant infrastructure and non-infrastructure development to the communities.

“By the end of 2012, CNL had renegotiated the third round of agreements with the RDCs. At the end of 2013, a total of 258 projects worth about $83 million had been completed and inaugurated in RDC communities through the GMoU. These projects cut across education, health and sanitation, economic empowerment, capacity building and transportation.”

The objectives of the GMoU include encouragement of participatory partnerships among communities, development organisations and governments at various levels, to build community capacity and ownership through high impact and sustainable community development projects that promote social and economic growth, cultivate transparency and accountability into the governance of projects and programmes, promote a safe and secure environment, among others.

‘Expedite action on PIB’

HE Federal Government should expedite action on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to attract more investors into the sector, experts have advised.

They spoke against the backdrop of the passage into law of the equivalent of Nigeria’s long-delayed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in Mozambique and Mexico, Mozambique’s lawmakers okayed petroleum laws that would pave the way for new oil bids, as well as provide a special tax break for offshore fields operated by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and Italian oil major Eni, while Mexico has passed an energy reform bill that promises to lure investment into its oil and gas industry.

Besides, large discoveries in East Africa are presenting new opportunities for investors, as well as increasing competition in the continent.

The experts, which include the President, International Association

By Akinola Ajibade

of Energy Economics (IAEE), Wunmi Iledare, an energy analyst and member of Petroleum Accountant Societies (COPAS) of United States, Bala Zakar, and Managing Director/ Chief Executive officer, Total Exploration and Production, Nigeria, Elizabeth Proust, said the development has brought to the fore the seriousness with which the oil and gas producing countries are positioning themselves for growth.

Iledare said Nigeria had to wake up to its responsibility of attracting investments into the industry, citing Mozambique, Mexico and other oil producing countries.

He said structures that support investment is lacking in the sector, and urged the government to create an environment that would make investors to invest in Nigeria.

He said: “The resources to develop are there, especially natural gas.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

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ENERGY Nigeria loses 759,000 litres of petroleum products to vandalism

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• From left: Director, IBEDC, Mr. Olatunde Ikuerowo; Leynes; Ajimobi; Darlington; and Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Lekan Ali, at the inauguration in Ibadan.

Ajimobi inaugurates N150m substation in Ibadan T

HE Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has inaugurated a N150million 2x15 MVA Injection Power Substation at Akanran, in Onaran Local Government Area in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Built by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), the rehabilitated substation is a replacement for the one vandalised by protesters in 2012.

Inaugurating the substation, Ajimobi urged residents and community leaders to protect the power infrastructure and make it sustainable. He praised the management of IBEDC for the rehabilitation.

Ajimobi spoke mainly in Yoruba.

Earlier, the Chairman, IBEDC, Tunde Ayeni, represented by the Managing Director, Fortunato Leynes, assured of the readiness of the firm to provide a minimum of 18-hour power supply daily.

He said the decision by the company to rehabilitate the substation, set ablaze by some youths in 2012 in the course of the anti-subsidy protest, was a testimony to its readiness to improve the standard of life of its customers through unparalleled services.

He said: “As an organisation bound by our core values of teamwork, innovation, excellence, integrity and dependability, we are committed to building a world class utility company where performance and exceptional service delivery comes naturally. ”To transform the industry we are operating today, we need the support of the government at every level, including relevant stakeholders and especially our consumers that we seek to serve.

Permit me to use this opportunity to appeal to the residents to take

•IBEDC prepares workers for service delivery

By Simeon Ebulu and Emeka Ugwuanyi

ownership of this installation to forestall any unfortunate recurrence. I call on all community leaders to work in partnership with IBEDC to nip vandalism in the bud.

We all cannot move forward if nothing is done to stop this evil doing.”

On his part, the Deputy Managing Director of IBEDC, John Darlington, while expressing his appreciation to the stakeholders, urged its customers to pay their bills and avoid short-changing the company via bypassing prepaid metres and engaging in illegal connections.

He said: “We cannot move forward without you. We will need your support as we role out our metering scheme. As our customers, we will do everything possible to make life confortable for you.” He urged the customers to pay their bills “so we can serve you better.

He assured that IBEDC will join hands with the government and make a difference in power distribution, Meanwhile, IBEDC has begun attitudinal reorientation of its workers as part of efforts to position the company for improved customer service.

Addressing the workers and other stakeholders at a programme organised by the company in Ibadan, Darlington, said it is only the right, skilled, committed and motivated workforce that would be able to make the company’s current journey to the promise land successful.

Quoting a former United States

Defence Secretary, Mr. Donald Rumsfeld, Darlington said: “you go to war with the army you have, not army you might wish to have at a later time,” saying the statement could not be more true and precise for the journey IBEDC has just started.

“Truly, people are our greatest asset on the journey to our defined promise land. Therefore, we have no choice other than creating teams,” he added.

He said it would be a waste of time to articulate ideas about values and culture if the company does not model and reward behaviour that aligns with those goals, adding that IBEDC must reward good performance and as well sanction poor performance.

One of the resource persons at the event, Dr. Tayo Aduloju, who spoke on “Imperatives for strategic transformation from public to private enterprise,” urged the workers to create a new organisational culture.

He explained that the firm’s transformation to a private enterprise involves new rules of engagement and charged the company and its workers to map out the vision, scope and nature of transformation.

He reminded the management and workers that, “your success in life is not based on your ability to change, rather, it is based in your ability to change faster than your competition, customers, and business.”

The special guest and Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole, urged the workers to be guided by the company’s mission and vision.

Inadequate funds hamper Technova’s $200m ment of a brand new 250,000 metUNDING has stalled the impipe mill ric tonnes pipe mill. These are beplementation of a $200-miling done to improve infrastruc-

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lion Technova pipe mill project in Ologun, Edo State, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Ernest Nwapa, has said.

The mill is a 200,000-metric tonne per year capacity pipe mill and coating facility being constructed by Technova Africa Group (TAG) Limited. It is designed to produce cheaper wielded steel pipes for the oil and gas sector.

TAG, an indigenous company, signed a multilevel Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and service Agreement with PSL, the largest Helical Submerged Arc Welded Pipe manufacturer in India, for a fully integrated pipe mill and coat-

By Akinola Ajibade

ing plant in Nigeria.

Nwapa told The Nation that though the mill was opened last year, it is yet to start operations because of finance.

He said: “In Edo State, a pipe mill known as Technova is in the making. It has gone beyond construction of infrastructural facilities.

They are only waiting for some funding support so that they can start putting equipment and people in place. The NCDMB wants to ensure that pipe mill is established to produce for the oil and gas industry.

“Besides, the Board is putting in place modalities for the establish-

ture, quicken operations of companies and improve the economy.”

He said the pipe mill, which is in Abuja, has moved from one to two lines, adding that efforts are being intensified to make pipe mills effective.

He explained that the Board was encouraging the resuscitation of old pipe mills and expansion of new ones in line with the government’s decision to develop local initiatives.

“The country needs to progress from a level where it cannot produce some products for local needs, to a level where it can maximise its potentials for economic growth.” he said.

IGERIA has lost over 759,000 litres of petroleum products to pipeline vandalism in four years ( 2009 to 2012), the Managing Director, Pipeline Products Marketing Company(PPMC), Haruna Momoh, has said.

At a conference in Lagos, Momoh said 712,779 litres of petrol, 9,548 litres of kerosene and 37,054 litres of diesel were lost during the period.

Giving a breakdown, he said 175,425 litres of fuel were lost in 2009, 161,174 (2010), 187,192 (2011) and 188,985 litres in 2012, while 18,044 litres, 685 litres and 18,325 litres of diesel were lost in 2010, 2011 and 2012. He added that in 2010, 2,099 litres of kerosene were lost and 7,449 litres in 2011.

He said the country bore the costs of repairs and security, among others.

A Lagos Zonal Trustee, Independent Marketers Branch (IMB) of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG), Kofo Oladehinde, said vandalism was a problem in the sector, adding that it aws affecting downstream operations.

Oladehinde said operators across the distribution value chain were affected by the activities of the vandals. He said: “Atlas Cove is a big oil installation that supplies petroleum products to many depots. From Atlas Cove are pipelines linking depots together.

These pipelines pass through villages and people go to those villages to break them. Whenever people break the pipelines, they disrupt operations of the depots and the downstream operators that sell fuel to consumers. The cost implication is high to the government, the depots and other stakeholders.”

Also, the Managing Director, Niger Delta Petroleum Develop-

By Akinola Ajibade

ment Company, Layi Fatona, said pipeline vandalism has devastating effects on the economy.

Fatona said pipelines transporting crude and refined petroleum products were vandalised at will, adding that the perpetrators are unmindful of the costs to the economy. ‘’Pipeline vandalism can be likened to the dreaded disease called Ebola, which the country is battling to contain.As a small indigenous oil and gas producing company, we produce oil and pass it through the pipe to Bonny in Rivers State. It is not all the pipelines that are owned by the company. A majority of the pipelines are owned by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in partnership with the Nigerian National Petroluem Corporation (NNPC). ‘’Whenever there is a problem, it affects the entire system. Last year, we shut our operations for more than one third of the year. Imagine, a whole of Nigerian production system being shut for a third of the year, automatically that is a third of the revenue, and then, you come into environmental degradation, unnecessary cost to repair is quite higher. it is a scourge.’’

Fatona said people vandalise pipelines and steal the crude oil for sale, adding that there is a big market for the product outside the country. ‘’We know there is a ready-made international market for crude oil stolen through various methods in Nigeria. But the questions are: ‘Who are the buyers? Who are the people supporting those that engage in crude oil theft or pipeline vandalism?’ We all need to provide solutions to these problems if the sector must move forward,’’ he said.

Lagos takes LPG awareness campaign to Alimosho

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O deepen grassroots consumption of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in Lagos State, the state’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, has taken the ‘use of cooking gas’ campaign tagged, “Eko Gas” to residents of Alimosho Local Government Area, where the Eko Gas cylinders and accessories were distributed free to the people.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mrs. Regina Iyabo Obasa, said the state government was determined to ensure that Lagosians imbibe the use of LPG because of its advantages.

She said the state government introduced Eko Gas scheme as a domestic fuel of choice for Lagosians to reduce carbon emissions from the use of firewood and kerosene and because it is cleaner, healthier, safe, more efficient and convenient to use for cooking.

She said: ‘’Lagos State Government is set to introduce one million gas cylinders to Lagos homes in the next five years to make the use of LPG a success. This exercise of sensitising and distributing free Eko Gas stove cylinders to Lagosians has been undertaken in Isolo LCDA, Eredo LCDA, and Badagry Central LCDA.” She said the state in conjunction with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry had mapped out plans to sensitise and distribute Eko gas cylinders with full accessories to other LGA/LCDA every week till the end of year.

The representative of the President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Adewuyi Makinde, enjoined Lagosians and residents of Alimosho to embrace the use of a cleaner fuel for cooking. He said LPG popularly called cooking gas is the cleanest and

•Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Taofiq Tijani

most efficient fuel available. He reiterated the determination of the chamber to partner with Lagos State Government in safeguarding the environment against hazardous substances emitted while cooking with charcoal, firewood and kerosene.

The Chairman, Local Council Development Area, Israel Olusola Adekunle, represented by the Head, Human Resources, Mr. Oluwo Ojo, said the initiative was part of the dividends of democracy. He r e i t e r a t e d t h e i mportance of switching to LPG. Present at the event were notable politicians, clerics, market women and leaders, youths and leaders, council workers and community leaders.

Free cylinders and accessories were presented to residents of the locality, including former NULGE National Deputy President, Alhaji Arashi Omikunle and some food vendors.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

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USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ON ANY EMERGENCY Council endorsed the useful phone numbers submitted by the security agents in case of any emergency on the metropolitan Roads. Accordingly, the public may easily contact KAROTA for: Breakdown of Vehicle(s), Traffic Congestion, Accidents, and Illegal/Wrong Parking on – 08091626747. Similarly, the State Police Command could be contacted on – 08032419754, 08123821575. In addition, the State Fire Service can also be contacted on – 07051246833, 08191778888.

164TH KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING

PREPARED BY COUNCIL AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, KANO. he Philosophical Ideal of the present administration under the able leadership of the second (2nd) incumbency of Governor Engr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE is the belief to standby whole heartedly on honesty, transparency, accountability and fairness in running the affairs of the State and its treasury which is the yardstick of moral financial discipline.

Importantly, Kano State is not among the States that is indebted either from any Commercial bank or any loaning agency in and outside the country.it is worthy to mention that the Kano State Government since inception is committed to rendering/shouldering responsibilities bound upon it for the betterment of its citizenry.

Based on these tireless effort, the Kano State Executive Council Sitting as usual today Wednesday, 27th August, 2014 (1st Zhul -Qidah, 1435 AH) held its 164th sitting under the Chairmanship of Governor Engr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. Nine (9) MDAs submitted thirty three (33) memoranda for deliberation by Council of which nineteen (19) were approved for execution with an expenditure of Seven Hundred and Ten Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Eight Thousand, Five Hundred and Thirty Four Naira, Eighty Five Kobo (N710,385,534.85) covering projects while the remaining were on policy issues. Thus; 1.

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARYTO THE STATE GOVERNMENT a) Presentation of Report on the Preparation for the Commencement of the Forthcoming 2015 Annual Budget:This presentation is originally from the Ministry of Planning and Budget as endorsed and presented by the Secretary to the State Government to Council for consideration.

The content of this memorandum is on the outcome of a Summit held from the 27th-30th May, 2014 for the articulation of the mid -year Economic and Fiscal Update (EFU) of the State in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and the DFID -SPARC in preparation for the forthcoming 2015 Annual Budget.

Council noted the presentation with appreciation and directed all MDAs to proceed further in the preparation of the 2015 Annual Budget on time and also to maintain the status quo i.e.

90% for capital and 10% for the recurrent expenditure. b) Request for Approval for the Appointment of Principal Officers and Commencement of Activities in the Sports Institute, Kura:Content of this memorandum respectfully reminded Council, of the issue concerning the Sports Institute, Kura courtesy of the present administration which is among the twenty one (21) Skills Acquisition Institutes.

The Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youths, Sports and Culture forward the said request to Council for consideration as endorsed by the Secretary to the State Government, indicating the need to appoint Principal Officers with vast experience in Sports and Administration Development to ensure the prompt and smooth commencement of academic activities in the Institute.

In this respect, Dr. Musa Muhammad Sa'ad, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Physical and Health Education at Bayero University, Kano was recommended to be appointed as the Deputy Director of the Kano Sports Institute, Kura.

Council noted, considered and approved the appointment of Dr. Musa Muhammad Sa'ad as the Deputy Director of the Institute and also directed for the Immediate /full take -off of academic activities in the institute. c) Request for Funds to Enable the Production of Scratch Cards and Maintenance of Website Portal, Data Base Management System Wireless and Local Area Network:As part of the present administration policy of ensuring that all MDAs become self -reliant and proficient in revenue generation and also the need for the State Scholarship Board to transform its activities from manual to online application/registration.

The Scholarship Board through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government submitted the request for the release of the sum of N5,450,000.00 to enable the production of scratch cards and maintenance of its website.

Furthermore, the State Scholarship Board at the end of the exercise is expected to generate revenue in the sum of N15,000,000.00 -N20,000,000.00 (per annum).

Council appraised the request as congruent to the laudable policy of the present administration and granted approval for the release of the sum of N5,450,000.00 for the said commitment. d) Request for Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) for Members of the Community Re -Orientation Council (CRC) to undertake Inspection Tour to Monitor Performance of Beneficiaries of Lafiya Jari Programme in North-west States:This request is in tandem with the resolve of the present administration to empower the unemployed youths in various categories of skilled and unskilled labour under the Lafiya Jari Programme.

Details were presented to Council on the formation of Teams by the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of the Community Re -orientation Council (CRC), and the financial implications to the tune of N900,000.00 was requested for release, to enable its members undertake an Inspection Tour to monitor the performance of the beneficiaries of the Lafiya Jari Pro-

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gramme in the northwest States. The States are Kaduna, Jigawa, Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto.

Council considered the request to be relevant and accordingly approved the release of the trimmed down sum of N710,000.00 for the stated purpose. e) Request for Funds for Extension of Goodwill Gesture to Ten (10) Kano State Indigenous Cadet Officers that Passed -Out from the Nigerian Army/Air Force Direct Short Service:Contents of this memorandum notified Council Rabi’u Musa Kwankawaso of an established tradition/gesture of financial support being extended to new recruits to enable them settle down at their new posting locations.

The lists of the newly recruited Cadets Officers, their Local Governments of Origin and recommended amount of N100,000.00 each was presented to council for consideration in the sum of N1,000,000.00 as endorsed by the office of the Secretary to the State Government Council noted, considered and approved as requested. f) Request for Approval for the Engagement of Part -Time Lecturer for Academic Activities at the Kano Development Journalism Institute:The Ministry of Science and Technology submitted the request for engaging the services of a Computer Scientist (Part -Time Lecturer) in the above Institute as endorsed and presented by the Secretary to the State Government to Council for consideration.

Furthermore, Council was respectfully informed of the need to ensure timely commencement of studies at the new Institute.

Accordingly, Council noted the presentation and granted approval for the engagement of a Part -Time lecturer (computer scientist) to be sourced from Kano Informatics Institute.

2.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH a) Request for Funds for the Procurement of Walk -In -Cold Rooms (WICR) under the Tripartite Arrangement (Kano State, Dangote, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations) to Five (5) State Primary Health Care Board Zonal Stores :As part of the resolve of the present administration to achieve its goal of Routine Immunization coverage, Council was notified of the need to strengthen the Vaccine Cold Chain System in the State by providing a minimum of one (1) walk -in cold room (WICR) each to the six (6) Zonal Stores in the state.

Based on a comprehensive assessment of the current cold chain (CCE) infrastructure in the State, the Ministry of Health recommended for the need to procure five (5) WIRCs for five (5) Zonal Stores which includes; Bichi, Dawakin Tofa, Gwale, Rano and Wudil who currently do not have any. The total sum of N36,250,000.00 was requested for release by Council to enable the procurement of the stated Vaccines.

Council noted, considered and approved the release of the sum of N36,250,000.00 for the stated purpose. b) Request for Funds for the Purchase of Equipment/Consumables and publicity materials For viral Heamorratic Fever Hospital (EBOLA)'Yar Gaya:The Ministry of Health endorsed and presented this request to Council for consideration in preparation /response on the Ebola Viral Disease (EVA) outbreak prevention, control and management.

The contents of this memorandum explain to Council the need to re -design the vaccines delivery system that will enhance vaccine access efficient and effective management.

Details on the equipment/consumables required for the two (2) private vaccine distributor vendors to handle direct vaccine deliveries to five (5) of the six (6) centers was presented to Council to the tune of N19,871,162.14.

Council noted and approved the release of the sum of N19,871,162.14 for the undertaking.

3.

MINISTRY OF WORKS, HOUSING AND TRANSPORT a) Request for Funds for the Provision and Installation of Street and Traffic Lights Along Dankura Adamu Road(500) in Kano Metropolis:In line with the government policy and effort to ensure that all major roads within the metropolis are provided with Street and Traffic Lights, the Task Force Committee on Installation/Repairs/Reactivation of Street and Traffic Control Lights under the supervision of the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport assessed, and came up with a bill in respect of the installation of street lights along Dankura Adamu Road totaling 500Mlength to the tune of N12,826,906.40.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved as requested. b) Request for Funds for the Provision of Conventional Double Arm Street Lights Along Obasanjo Road (300M):The Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport submitted the request to Council for consideration.

Details were presented on the requirements and financial implication to the tune of

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 N5,585,172.00 to enable the Task Force Committee on Installation/Repairs/Reactivation of Street and Traffic Control Lights undertake the project.

Council appraised the request as relevant and granted approval for release of the requested sum to enable the execution of the project. c) Request for Funds for the Provision and Installation of Plastic Road Studs on some selected Junctions within the Metropolis: The need for road studs is becoming increasingly important in controlling the position of moving traffic into orderly lanes across the metropolitan city in day light/under street lights.

The content of this memorandum from KAROTA is submitted to Council as a request for the installations of road studs at Junctions to serve as stop line and lane control to the traffic at junctions along State Road, Sabo Bakin Zuwo Road, Ahmadu Bello Way, BUK Road, Audu Bako Way, Zoo Road, Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Lawan Dambazau Road, Club Road and Airport Road respectively.

Council considered and approved the release of the sum of N5,320,000.00 for the provision and installation of 6km plastic road studs on 116no. junctions across the state. d) Request for Funds for the Management and Control of Fifty Seven (57no.)

Kwankwasiyya Girl Child Initiative Buses for Effective Performance: Since the inception of the present administration it has initiated fifty seven (57no.)

Kwankwasiyya Girl Child Buses at subsidized rate for the transportation of Secondary School Girls to their respective schools across the metropolitan city which is managed/controlled

by Kano Road and Traffic Agency (KAROTA) for effective performance and service delivery.

In this respect, as part of Government policy to sustain the scheme prompted KAROTA to submit a request to Council for a new plan for the take up of the programme on Quarterly maintenance where it recruited graduates from the State Driving Institute to replace the current drivers handling the fueling of the buses as well as collecting the subsidized fees charged through issuance of tickets to the students.

Council considered and approved the release of the sum of N3,313,100.00 to KAROTA as quarterly expenses for fueling and other maintenance from September to November, 2014 and directed for a 3 months report to Council.

4.

OFFICE OF THE HEAD OF CIVIL SERVICE a) Report of the Committee for the Screening of Twenty Three (23) Remaining Staff of the Triumph Publishing Company:Following the earlier directives by the present administration to realign the operations of some government agencies/companies ,this led to the establishment of a committee for the screening of some staff of the defunct Triumph Publishing Company for re absorption/ settlement of their outstanding allowances.

The Office of the Head of Civil Service presented to Council the report of the Screening Exercise of the remaining twenty three (23No) and two (2No) Staff of the defunct Triumph Publishing Company where Council noted and directed for the immediate settlement of the 18no. staff for the payment of their eleven (11) months accumulated allowances totaling the sum of N3,551,451.42.

Request for Funds for Financial Support to Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASOW):The Office of the Head of Civil Service submitted to Council a request from the Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASOW) for financial support to enable its fifteen (15) delegates attend the National council Meeting scheduled to hold at Calabar, Cross River State from 26th-29th August, 2014.

Council noted, considered and approved for the release of the sum of N300,000.00 as requested. b) Request for Funds for the Participation of Two (2) Officers from Office of the Head of Civil Service to attend a Workshop at Kaduna:In its effort to enhance capacity building through application of ICT knowledge for the State civil servants especially the computer assistants, the Office of the Head of Civil Service submitted to Council an invitation received from the Industrial Development Centre requesting relevant scheduled Officers to attend a workshop titled "Modern Office Practice Administration and Information Technology"which will hold from 15th-19th September, 2014 at AREWA HOUSE, Rabah Road Kaduna. Accordingly, two 2no. officers were recommended from the Manpower Directorate to attend.

Council considered and approved the release of the sum of N193,000.00 to facilitate the participation of the two (2) Officers. c) Request for Funds to Enable 2no. Officers from State Civil Service attend a Workshop at Kaduna: The Office of the Head of Civil Service submitted a request for financial support to enable two (2) Officers attend a five (5) day workshop titled "Enhancing Managerial Competence of Public Officers"scheduled from 1st-5thSeptember, 2014 at AREWA HOUSE, Rabah Road Kaduna.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved the release of the sum of N205,000.00 for the commitment.

5.

OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR/HONOURABLE COMMISSIONER, MINISTRY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT Presentation of Report of Year 2013 Hajj Affairs Tribunal: The annual efforts of the present administration towards comforting intending State pilgrims have been marked successful. In this regard, it is on record that despite the importance of this religious rite, pilgrims in previous years experienced some problems in the performance of Hajj as a result of poor preparations.

The State Hajj Affairs Tribunal Covering the Year 2013/1434AH Hajj Exercise under the leadership of His Excellency, the Deputy Governor submitted its report to Council alongside observations and corresponding recommendation for Government's consideration as follows: o That, over 90% of the 2013 Pilgrims were new and law abiding in conduct of their Hajj activities/relationships in both at home and Saudi Arabia. This attitude contributed tremendously to the success where only few cases of misconducts and other crimes were recorded. o That, the Chairman National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) cherished the

51 establishment of Hajj Tribunal by the Kano State Government, which is aimed at ensuring proper conduct and compliance with set-out rules and regulations governing Hajj activities/ operations. In view of this development, he indicated that his office will emulate the exemplary effort and advise other States to follow suit.

Accordingly, Council noted the report with appreciation.

6. a)

MINISTRY OF LAND AND PHYSICAL PLANNING Request for Funds for the Payment of Compensation of Properties Affected by the Construction of Rijiyar Gwangwan /Yankatsari /Yansango/Gurjiya Road: The contents of this memorandum is a request from Ministry of Land which is submitted to Council as part of the usual developmental projects aimed at improving the living standard of the populace with access road.

In this respect, the Ministry conducted the valuation of the affected structures at the sum of N8,683,380.00 for the payment of compensation to 22no. items.

Council considered and approved as requested for the commitment. b)

Request for Funds for the Payment of Compensation of Properties affected by the Construction of Road at Kofar Arewa Kwankwaso, Madobi LGA: The Ministry of Land and Physical Planning submitted to Council a request for an estimated valuation of structures for the construction of road at Kofar Arewa, Kwankwaso town aimed at improving the socio-economic standard of the citizenry in the area.

Accordingly, twenty six (26) identified were items/valued for compensation at the sum of N7,239,180.00.

Council considered and approved as requested. c)

Request for Funds for the Reconstruction of Yusuf Road (Umar Babura Road to Hadejia Road): The Ministry of Land and Physical Planning submitted a request to council for the reconstruction of Yusuf Road (Umar Babura road to Hadejia road).In the same vein, the Ministry assessed the scope of work in the sum of N78,096,947.10 Council considered and approved the requested sum for the commitment.

7. a)

MINISTRY OF RURAL & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Request for Funds for the Construction of the Motorized Boreholes at Kura Informatics Institute; Madobi Midwifery School, Gezawa Midwifery School and Yakasai "A": The Ministry of Rural & Community Development submitted to Council a request for the construction of 3no. Motorized Boreholes at Kura Informatics Institute; Madobi Midwifery School, Gezawa Midwifery School and Yakasai "A"in Municipal LGA to the tune of N18,000,000.00.

Council considered and approved the request as appropriate.

UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES OF THE 164TH EXCO SITTING 1.

FEDERALMINISTRYOF EDUCATION EMERGENCY MEETING ON EBOLA DISEASE WITH STATE COMMISSIONERS OF EDUCATION Council noted the outcome of the meeting ably represented by the State Commissioner for Education where it postponed the nationwide public/private primary/secondary schools resumption date to 13th October, 2014. Accordingly, the kano state executive Council noted the outcome of the decision as an ill advised decision/over reaction on the issue. However, council therefore wishes to call on the public and private schools to comply with the directive, while advising the students on online programme to continue with their programmes.

Similarly, parents were advised to continue teaching their children at home 2.

OFFICIAL VISIT TO KANO STATE BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR INTERNATIONALDEVELOPMENT (DFID) COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVES Council noted the official working visit to the State by the Country Representatives of the DFID under the leadership of Mr. Oliver Blake and Governance Adviser, Ms Tia Raappana were along with Mr. Mark Walker, the SPARC National Programme Manager and other officials expressed their appreciation towards the milestone attained in the on-going public service reform programme in the State and further commended the Government for articulating a realistic budget, transparency and accountability in the conduct of Government business as well as grassroots development initiatives.

3.

CONDUCT OF SHORT COURSE ORGANIZED BY THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGYAND HUAWEI OF SOUTH KOREATO FOURTEEN (14NO.) FEMALE STUDENTS OF KANO STATE INFORMATICS INSTITUTE Council noted the successful completion of a short course training exercise organized by the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology in conjunction with HUAWEI of South Korea to were fourteen (14no.) Female Students of Kano Informatics Institute were awarded with Certificates. Similarly, the best out of the fourteen (14) Students were promised to further under take another course tagged "HUAWEI CERTIFIED DATA ASSOCIATE"at a later date.

4.

SIGNING OF BILL ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF KANO STATE QUR'ANIC AND ISLAMIYYA SCHOOLS MANAGEMENT BOARD 2014 Council witnessed the signing into law a bill by the Governor on the establishment of the kano state Qur'anic and Islamiyya Schools Management Board which will support and coordinate the educational services and welfare of all Qur'anic and Islamiyya schools across the State. The board will have representation from the State Ministry of Education, Emirate Council, Hisbah Board, Shari'a Commission, Local Government Councils, PTA, Ulamas (Sages), Women Associations.

Signed: Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports andCulture

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

52

NEWS (SHOWBIZ)

No music Day not binding on radio stations, says Okoroji M

USIC rent the air yesterday on several radio stations, despite request by the coalition of music industry stakeholders that music be suspended for just one hour.

Tagged No Music Day, the group had expected radio stations to sympathise with artistes, whose intellectual rights have been trampled upon by copyright violators.

The initiative, which started about six years ago, happens every September 1, during which broadcast stations are urged to refrain from playing music, but devote a significant period to the broadcast of interviews, debates, comments, discussions and other programmes related to the rights of artistes and creative people.

This year, to ensure ease of compliance, the group had allotted only one hour ( from 9am to 10am)to the exercise.

Contrary to expectation, most broadcast stations in Lagos had a field day, playing listeners’ favourite songs.

The No Music Day phenomenon is not peculiar to Nigeria. Globally, the event, which is usually celebrated on November 21, was introduced by Bill Drummond, a South African-born Scottish artiste, musician, writer and record producer, to draw attention to the cheapening of music as an art form.

According to Drummond, “I decided I needed a day I could set aside to listen to no music whatsoever… Instead, I would be thinking about what I wanted and what I

didn’t want from music. Not to blindly – or should that be deafly – consume what was on offer; a day where I could develop ideas.”

Against the backdrop of radio stations defying the request in Nigeria, the chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji, put it in perspective.

“What we did was to ask them not to play music for a certain period, but to use the period to grant interviews and do commentaries and reports on the creative indus-

tries. We had several music industry people who were out this morning to different broadcast stations to be a part of those discussions and interviews. I listened to a number of them myself.”

He, however, noted that there is nothing binding such stations to the day’s event. “We appeal to stations that are in solidarity with the industry and the challenges that the industry is going through. No one is compelled to be a part of it,” he said.

Shun pirated copies of Half of a Yellow Sun, say producers

By Ovwe Medeme

W

ORRIED by the activities of pirates, the producers of Half of a Yellow Sun have disclosed that the flick is only available at the moment in cinemas in Nigeria.

In a statement directed at “those who are yet to see the film and the general public”, the producers also announced that the film is now available in the South-eastern region of Nigeria at Genesis Deluxe Cinemas, Polo Park, Enugu.

According to the producers, “We encourage the general public to desist from visiting file sharing or illegal sites to watch the film or buying illegal DVD copies in traffic or stores.

“Half of a Yellow Sun’s success in cinemas goes to show the positive development the Nigerian film industry is witnessing, thanks to the support of film-loving Nigerians.”

The movie opened in Nigerian cinemas on August 1, recording the biggest opening for a Nigerian film.

Half of a Yellow Sun, which is Classified 18, is an adaptation of the Orange Prize-winning novel of the same name by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichieý.

It is directed by Biyi Bandele.

A

BOUT four years after he released his last album, New Era, Evangelist Femi Opalemo, aka King of Gospel Music, is set to serenade his fans worldwide with another album, Double Tuale, which he described as a product of painstaking research.

F

OLLOWING her declaration to run for a seat in the Federal House of Representatives in Calabar, Cross River State, Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw, has stated that she has no plans to bribe anyone to be elected in 2015.

The actress, who lamented that she did not have money to match the moneybags who have been in politics for 20 or 30 years, said: “I am going with God and my heart. I’m not sharing money. If you continue sharing money, it will never stop. If you want a true change, then, vote for me and you will see the change. But if you want money, go for money and stay where you are and

By Dupe AyinlaOlasunkanmi

don’t even complain.”

Contrary to speculations that she might be calling it quits with acting, she revealed that she would only take a temporary break from the movie industry. “I will take a break to serve the larger population of Nigeria. I won’t quit. Arnold Schwarzenegger was Governor and he is back to acting again. I don’t hope to be there forever. That’s the best way. I want to do other things,” she added.

The mother of one declared her interest to contest for the Federal House of Representatives for Calabar Municipal/Odunkpani Federal Constituency under the PDP on July 19.

‘I’m hale and hearty’

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

Y

Femi Opalemo set to release Double Tuale Double Tuale, an eight-track album, will be launched with fanfare on October 1, at Et-Hal Hall, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos under the chairmanship of Dr. Leke Pitan, exLagos State Commissioner for Health.

The album, which is his 12th musical effort since he started his professional career in 1999, is a fusion of Gospel music, Highlife, Afrobeat, Juju et al, which all enhance its richness for the listening pleasure of his fans.

At the recently held listening party, Opalemo, also the CEO of Femopal Studio, said: “I deliberately took my time to produce this album.

I wanted to come out with an album that will be a companion for my fans and an inspiration to troubled souls, while also entertaining them. In the album, I sang in a number of genres because I am very versatile.”

When asked about the inspiration behind the album produced by Dare Fashola, aka Drey, Opalemo, who also unveiled plans to do a duet with

2015: I won’t offer bribe, says Kate Henshaw

his father, who is renowned for his Gbolojo music, said: “The album is a product of my experience. Personally, I am gifted to turn anything I see around me into music.”

As part of efforts to give back to the society, the award-winning singer further revealed plans to organise a music concert to expose some budding talents. According to him, a number of top stars will perform at the event to inspire the upand-coming singers.

Double Tuale, which will be marketed by K Y Entertainment led

by Benson Akinkuebi, contains such inspiring tracks like Double Tuale, Ariwo Oja, Iyawo mi ma fi wa jowon, Ore mi as well as a medley.

ORUBA actress, Omotunde Ogundimu, who recently came out to the public to seek financial assistance to undergo a fibroid surgery, has revealed that the operation was successful.

The mother of three, who was diagnosed with fibroid, is said to be recuperating and getting ready to go back to business soon.

The attention of members of the public was drawn to her plight after she granted The Nation an interview, explaining the reason she had been off the scene for some time.

According to her, “Join me to give thanks to my Creator for all He has done for me. The surgery is done and I’m recovering.

“To all those who show their love and care, thank you for your love, care, prayers and words of encouragement, which have kept me going.

“I need to be very grateful to God because a lot of people had died of fibroid. Now, I have stopped bleeding. Everything concerning my womb is normal now. I can eat and sleep well now.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

53

MONEYLINK

CBN approves guidelines for HoldCo banks

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has released guidelines for banks operating Holding Company (HoldCo) structure.

The guidelines, signed by CBN Director, Financial Policy and Regulations, Kelvin Amugo, stated that for any financial holding company structure to emerge, there shall be at least, two subsidiaries and the focus of the conglomerate shall be in the financial services sector.

He said the guidelines, issued in exercise of the powers conferred on the CBN under the CBN Act, 2007 (CBN Act) and the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, Cap B3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (BOFIA), complements CBN Regulation on the Scope of Banking Activities and Ancillary Matters, No 3, 2010.

According to the guidelines, the CBN made clear that a financial holding company is permitted to have

Stories by Collins Nweze

only two hierarchies (parent and intermediate financial holding companies). Given the permissible level of hierarchies, a Nigerian financial holding company may have a subsidiary which is a parent to another subsidiary (intermediate financial holding company).

The guidelines indicated that where such subsidiary is locally based, the relevant regulator shall have responsibility for its supervision. Where the subsidiary is overseas, the relevant regulator shall seek a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the host regulator for its joint supervision.

It said a financial holding company may acquire controlling interest in any permissible financial institution, subject to prior approval of the CBN. Where the target company is outside the supervisory purview of CBN, the prior approval of the relevant regula-

tor will also be required.

The guidelines said where a subsidiary of the financial holding company outside the purview of the CBN, is acquiring another subsidiary similarly outside the purview of the CBN, the Holdco shall notify the CBN before the acquisition is consummated.

Evidence of prior approval of the relevant sector regulator shall accompany the notification.

Equally, a financial holding company that elects to change to monoline commercial or merchant banking, shall seek the prior approval of the CBN. Such financial holding company shall submit, along with its request for approval, the annual audited financial statements of the immediate past three years under the arrangement/structure it seeks to discontinue; divestment plan from subsidiaries; and any other requirements as may be determined by the

Fidelity partners Sokoto on IGR collection

F

IDELITY Bank Plc has announced its appointment as the lead bank to Sokoto State government on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) collection via Point of Sale (PoS). With this, Sokoto becomes the fourth state to appoint Fidelity Bank on such project.

In a statement, the bank said it pioneered the initiative in collaboration with the Abia State government in January last year.

This scheme has also been implemented by local governments as an easy and efficient tool for IGR collections.

The Divisional Head, Retail Banking, Fidelity Bank, Mr. Richard Madiebo, said the bank came up with several initiatives aimed at supporting the cashless policy of the Federal Government.

“Fidelity Bank’s pioneering role in the PoS-led informal sector IGR collection, is one of the strategies to support the cashless policy.

“Of particular interest is the offline PoS collections mode that has capabilities of collecting taxes and bills in the rural areas with little or no network coverage,” he said, adding that the system also warehouses data and assists in the generation of unique Tax Identification Numbers (TIN).

He stated that with the development, the bank “is poised to render this service to government and private organisations using innovative and cutting edge technology.”

Madiebo also assured stakeholders of the bank that more of such initiatives would be introduced to the market, pledging that the fi-

nancial institution would ensure that the Nigerian banking public are served in the most flexible and convenient way.

In line with desire to promote e-payment, Fidelity Bank recently went into partnership with PayPal. Fidelity Bank had announced the acceptance of its payment cards on the PayPal platform.

With this, Fidelity Bank’s cardholders can now shop from the world’s major international retailers with more flexibility and convenience.

The bank’s Divisional Head, Electronic Banking, Adédèjì Olówè had said that the introduction of PayPal was a deliberate attempt by the bank to make financial services easy and accessible to its customers.

CBN from time to time.

The CBN in 2010, introduced a new banking model, which requires banking groups with non-core banking activities, to incorporate a holding company (HoldCo) structure. To facilitate the establishment and sof holding companies, the CBN, in collaboration with stakeholders, developed guidelines for setting up, regulating and supervising financial holding companies in Nigeria.

The guidelines stipulate minimum licensing, governance and prudential requirements for prospective holding companies. It also prescribes procedures for the conversion of existing institutions to a holding company structure.

“It is expected that the guidelines

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

168.45 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.69 1.39 1,676.09 1,118.84 121.30 121.16 1,117.51 1.2522 1.2926 0.8969 1.0756

T

HE African Development Bank (AfDB) has reiterated its commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs in the continent.

About one hundred African business women gathered in Nairobi, Kenya for the African Women Linkage Forum from 18 to 20 August 2014. The session was organised by the Chairperson of the Bureau of the African Union in partnership with the UNDP Regional Services Centre.

The Forum sought to enhance women’s leadership in public and private sector institutions at both national and regional levels.

Recognizing that women in business play a major role in the economy despite facing great challenges, the Forum addressed some key challenges, including tax-related issues, trade and customs constraints, limited access to productive resources, finance and markets, limited capacity and skills to run effec-

• UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

RETAIL DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (RDAS) Transaction Dates 27/08/2014 25/08/2014 20/08/2014 ECONOMIC INDICATORS

8.3%

Monetary Policy Rate

12.0%

CHANGE

Foreign Reserves Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

ETERNA

3.72

4.09

0.37

NEIMETH

1.04

1.10

0.06

TRANSCORP

6.10

6.43

0.33

UPDCREIT

8.70

9.13

PREMBREW

2.08

AGLEVENT

1.47

COSTAIN

Amount Offered in ($) 350m 400m 350m

Amount Sold in ($) 346.43m 398.77m 349.67m

CBN EXCHANGE RATES August 26, 2014

Inflation: July

GAINERS AS AT 01-09-14

tive businesses, among other issues.

The Forum presented a platform for business women to learn and share with each other what works and what doesn’t. It helped identify opportunities for intra-trade as well as mentorship by women champions. The Forum also presented new opportunities for women in dynamic trade sectors.

In a keynote address, Geraldine Fraser Moleketi, African Development Bank (AfDB) Special Envoy on Gender highlighted four main barriers encountered by women in small, and medium enterprises.

These include limitation of accessible, affordable and appropriate financing women’s business choices and the gender digital divide, as well as limited social capital. She noted that the AfDB in advancing its gender strategy is looking for ways to address financing and is proposing the establishment of funds to address the needs of women in SMEs.

DATA BANK

Bid Price 167.01 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.69 1.33 1,676.09 1,118.03 120.45 120.30 1,116.70 1.2435 1.2926 0.8795 1.0756

forwarded herewith shall ensure adequate ring-fencing of financial institutions under the purview of the CBN. The guidelines should be read in conjunction with other relevant CBN Regulations on the subject,” it said.

AfDB supports women entrepreneurs

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

Currency

Buying (N)

Selling (N)

$39.6b

US Dollar

154.73

155.73

$110.44

Pounds Sterling

256.465

258.1225

Money Supply (M2)

N15.9 trillion.

Euro

204.1662

205.4857

0.43

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N17.2 trillion

Swiss Franc

168.8455

169.9367

2.18

0.10

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

Yen

1.4876

1.4975

1.54

0.07

CFA

0.294

0.314

1.08

1.13

0.07

AUSTINLAZ

2.00

2.09

0.09

234.7445

236.2616

ABCTRANS

0.68

0.71

0.03

Yuan/Renminbi

25.1466

25.31

IKEJAHOTEL

0.77

0.80

0.03

LOSERS AS AT 01-09-14

SYMBOL CONOIL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

65.05

61.05

-4.00

CAVERTON

5.32

5.06

-0.26

EVANSMED

2.05

1.95

-0.10

CHAMPION

8.30

7.91

-0.39

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

PORTPAINT

5.25

5.01

-0.24

AIRSERVICE

2.09

2.00

-0.09

R-DAS ($/N)

157.29

157.29

UBA

7.60

7.30

-0.30

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

162.75

INTENEGINS

0.52

0.50

-0.02

WAPIC

0.79

0.76

-0.03

Parallel ($/N)

167.50

167.50

CORNERST

0.57

0.55

-3.51

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

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 01-09-14

25-07-14 DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 01-09-14

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

55

EQUITIES A ugust Pricing Trend at NSE 43 00 0 42 50 0 42 00 0 Points 41 50 0 41 00 0 40 50 0 40 00 0 Fri

Mon

Tue s

W ed

Thurs

Fri

Mon

Tue s

W ed

Thurs

Fri

Mon

Tue s

W ed

Thurs

Fri

M on

Tue s

W ed

Thurs

Fri

Tim e line : August 1 -29 , 20 14 . Data: N SE (ASI). Source : The N ation

Nigerian equities lose N186b in August as bears hit hard

F

OR the second consecutive month, Nigerian equities continued on the downtrend as investors further readjusted their portfolios on the heels of lowerthan-expected earnings and increased macroeconomic risks.

Key market indices showed that the bearishness at the stock market heightened in August as investors lost N186 billion, N58 billion more than N128 billion lost in July. Average loss in August stood at 1.34 per cent compared with average loss of 0.91 per cent recorded in July.

Aggregate market value of all quoted companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) closed August at N13.714 trillion as against the month’s opening value of N13.900 trillion. The composite index for the stock market, the All Share Index (ASI), which also doubles as Nigeria’s country index, declined from the month’s opening index of 42,097.46 points to close weekend at 41,532.31 points.

The continuing downtrend reduced the average year-to-date gain of investors so far this year to N488 billion by the end of August compared with N674 billion in July and N802 billion in June. Indexed, average year-to-date return dwindled to 0.49 per cent, down from 1.86 per cent and 2.79 per cent in July and June respectively.

Investors staked N67.79 billion

•Investors’ year-to-date gain drop to N488b Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

on 5.45 billion shares through 99,874 deals in August. Financial services sector remained dominant with a turnover of 3.97 billion shares valued at N33.81 billion in 48,846 deals.

Sectoral analysis of the pricing trend showed that the negative overall market situation in August was driven by widespread declines in share prices. With the exception of the oil and gas sector, all the group indices of the NSE declined during the period. The NSE 30 Index, which tracks the 30 most capitalised stocks at the stock market, declined by 1.61 per cent in August.

The NSE Banking Index recorded average month-on-month return of -1.10 per cent while NSE Insurance Index underlined average loss of 2.18 per cent during the period. The NSE Consumer Goods Index depreciated by 2.85 per cent while NSE Industrial Goods Index indicated average return of -1.25 per cent.

Meanwhile, the NSE Oil and Gas Index played the contrarian game with average gain of 2.27 per cent.

The same scenario almost described the performance of the indices over the eight-month period.

The NSE 30 Index showed eightmonth return of -0.87 per cent while banking, insurance and consumer goods lost 4.28 per cent, 5.44 per cent and 6.58 per cent respectively.

The oil and gas sector retained a mouthwatering gain of 41.37 per cent while industrial goods stocks recorded modest gain of 5.21 per cent over the eight-month period.

The performance of the market reenacted similar downtrend in comparable period of 2013. Eightmonth year-to-date analysis of the stock market had shown a major reversal in August 2013 as equities lost N510 billion to almost reverse previous gain of N581 billion in July 2013. The reversal in August shaved average year-to-date capital gains at the Nigerian equities market from about N3.03 trillion by the end of July to N2.52 trillion by the end of August 2013. Indexed, average returns at the market shrank to 29.10 per cent for the eight-month period as against 35.03 per cent recorded by the seventh month of 2013.

The downtrend last month relived the negative pricing trend that started the second half of this year. Equities lost the momentum and struggled the first month of the second half as a mixed of modest

and uninspiring earnings dampened investors’ appetite. Aggregate market value of all quoted equities on the NSE closed July 2014 at N13.900 trillion as against the month’s opening value of N14.028 trillion. The ASI also dropped from its month’s opening index of 42,482.48 points to close at 42,097.46 points.

The July 2014 downtrend dampened enthusiasm that started the second half as capital gains accumulated to N802 billion on the back of early positioning for the second quarter and first half earnings. However, the first half reports have shown muted performance across several sectors; especially in the financial services sector where banks have shown tight bottom-line.

Aggregate market value of all quoted equities had opened this year at N13.226 trillion while the ASI started the year at 41,329.19 points.

Riding on the back of sustained gains in May and June, the stock market had erased the losses in the previous four months and left the investors with some N802 billion in capital gains by the end of first half.

A six-month analysis of the first half had shown that the market benefited from increasing positioning and portfolio rebalancing as investors sought to strengthen their portfolios across sectors. Aggregate market value of all quoted equities

CIS outlines rationales for inclusive regulation

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RESIDENT, Chartered Institute of stockbrokers (CIS) Mr Albert Okumagba has said the ongoing efforts by the institute to enhance its professional capacity and transform into an all-inclusive self regulatory organisation for the investment and securities industry would put Nigeria on the global map of professional excellence Speaking at an interactive forum with registered students of the institute, Okumagba said the council of the institute has been working closely with the National Assembly in order to ensure the passage of the bill that would transform the CIS into the Chartered Institute of

Securities and Investment (CISI).

According to him, the main objective of the ongoing transformation of CIS is to bring all the practitioners in the securities and investment industry under one umbrella professional regulator.

He said CIS was undergoing aggressive transformation to rebrand and reposition for global competitiveness.

“The new leadership will pursue the passage of our bill which is at the third reading stage at the National Assembly for change of its name to Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment. In the new dispensation, the institute is poised

to bring all the practitioners in the securities and investment industry to its fold to ensure that the minimum training and certification is maintained for the advancement of the industry in accordance with its statutory powers as it is practiced in other developed market,” Okumagba said.

Okumagba who was represented by the institute’s first vice president, Mr Oluwaseyi Abe, said that the interactive forum was initiated by the institute and supported by some coaching centres to create a platform where students can rub minds with the institute’s principal officers, top management staff,

examiners and heads of lecture centres on the students’ complaints and suggestions as well as the institute’s position on each issue.

The registrar and chief executive officer of CIS, Mr Adedeji Ajadi advised the students to devote more time to the preparation for examinations.

According to him, the institute had embarked on some programmes aimed at enhancing seamless preparation for examinations particularly for those who are very busy with their office work and those who live outside Lagos with limited access to coaching centres.

South Africa hires three banks for debut Sukuk OUTH Africa said it appointed BNP Paribas SA, KFH Investment and Standard Bank Group to arrange a debut sukuk sale of at least $500 million.

Investor meetings will be held next month in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, Tshepiso Moahloli, director of debt issuance and management at the Pretoria-based National Treasury, said in an e-mailed response to questions. Meetings will run from September 8 to September 12, according to two people with knowledge of the proposal, who asked not to be identified because

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they aren’t authorized to speak publicly.

“A sukuk issue may follow but the timing will depend on market conditions,” Moahloli said.

“South Africa is looking to issue a benchmark-size sukuk.”

Bloomberg reported that firsttime sales of bonds that adhere to Islam’s ban on interest are set for a revival from the worst quarter in more than four years, with Luxembourg and Hong Kong seeking to market debut issues next month. Kenya, Bangladesh and Indonesia also announced plans to sell sukuk this year amid investor demand for bonds yielding

more than developed-nation debt.

Islamic bond sales have fallen 82 percent to $2.6 billion this quarter compared with the previous three months, their lowest level since the first three months of 2010, according to data compiled

by Bloomberg.

“External market conditions remain favorable at the moment,” Samir Gadio, head of African strategy at Standard Chartered Plc in London, said in an e-mail. “Obviously issuers are trying to come to the market before there is any re-pricing associated with further normalization in U.S. monetary policy.”

Former South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan earmarked $1.5 billion of foreign issuance over this and the next two fiscal years in his February budget, including a sukuk of as much as $500 million. The nation sold its first euro-denominated bonds in more than eight years and issued 30-year dollar bonds last month.

Standard & Poor’s cut South Africa’s rating to BBB-, on par with Russia and Brazil, in June, with a stable outlook. Fitch Ratings has a negative outlook on its BBB assessment, the second-lowest investment grade.

closed the first half at a high of N14.028 trillion as against its 2014 opening value of N13.226 trillion.

The ASI rose from the year’s opening index of 41,329.19 points to close first half at 42,482.48 points, representing average return of 2.79 per cent.

Nigerian equities had in June built on strong gain made in May to add additional capital gains of N333 billion. Aggregate market value of all quoted equities closed June at N14.028 trillion as against the opening value for the month at N13.695 trillion.

This represented additional gain of N333 billion. The ASI rose from index on board for the month of 41,474.40 points to close June at 42,482.48 points, indicating monthon-month average return of 2.43 per cent.

In May, equities had broken away from a year-long bearish streak with a gain of N1.02 trillion. While the market had closed April with a four-month average loss of -6.88 per cent, the average gain of 7.77 per cent recorded in May turned the average year-to-date return positive at 0.35 per cent. Though modest, the five-month average gain of 0.35 per cent represents a significant breakeven for the equities market.

It also underlined the overtly bullish overall market situation during the month.

Africa’s biggest fund manager prefers platinum to gold FRICA’S biggest fund manager favors South African platinum equities over those of gold, betting against the price performance of the metals and the share performance of the companies that mine them.

The Pretoria, South Africabased Public Investment Corporation (PIC), which manages the equivalent of $150 billion, is the biggest or second-largest shareholder in South Africa’s four top gold producers and two largest platinum miners, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

PIC also has investment in Dangote Cement Plc and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, two companies quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Chief investment officer, Public Investment Corporation (PIC), Daniel Matjila said PIC prefers platinum because of the metal’s industrial applications, while gold is primarily used in jewelry or for investment purposes.

The gold price advanced 7.1 per cent this year compared with a 3.7 per cent gain for platinum. At the same time, an index of gold stocks traded in Johannesburg surged 51 percent, heading for its first annual increase in three, while a measure of platinum shares declined 12 percent in what will be its fourth year of losses.

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NEWS 2015: 8,000 groups support Jonathan, says aide From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

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IGHT thousand groups have supported the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The President’s Political Adviser, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, spoke yesterday when briefing reporters on the activities of the groups, which are being coordinated by his office.

He said the groups, under the umbrella of the Goodluck Support Group (GSG), are waiting to be mobilised with funds from official and other sources.

Submitting the report of a 10-man special committee he set up to restructure and streamline the activities of the groups, Alkali said more groups would join them in the days ahead.

The chairman of the committee, Gen. Adamu Ibrahim (rtd), said opposition to President Jonathan’s 2015 ambition would be stiffer than what happened in the 2011 presidential election.

He enjoined the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Presidency to design a campaign strategy to ensure Jonathan’s victory. Alkali assured the groups of support.

Oil magnate eyes Okadigbo’s seat From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

A •The Chairman of Southeast Governors’ Forum and Abia State Governor Theodore Orji (middle), his Enugu State counterpart, Sullivan Chime (left) and the Anambra State Deputy Governor Nkem Okeke, during the governors’ meeting in Enugu.

APC seeks apology from PDP on alleged links with APGA T HE Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has given the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seven days to retract its statement that it was planning to team up with the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

APC said it would sue the PDP, if it failed to retract the statement.

The party said it never held any clandestine meeting with APGA, as being peddled by the PDP. The party’s reaction followed a publication by Anambra State PDP Chairman Ken Emeakayi in some newspapers that APGA was holding meetings with

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

APC. In a statement yesterday in Awka, the state capital, by its state Publicity Secretary Okelo Madukaife, APC said it was not interested in whatever was between the PDP and APGA. The statement reads: “The name of our great party, the APC, cannot, and must not be drawn into the romance between the PDP and its trading outlet in the Southeast – the APGA. “APC will never disappoint the people of Anambra State by wining and

dining with a clueless political party making false claims about representing our people, nor with those who, having lost face with the electorate, commit themselves to rigging elections in the name of other parties in Anambra and Ondo states to stay relevant.

“It is also necessary to strongly say that APC will not be the cannon fodder for diverting the attention of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP from serious issues of anti-party, which have gone on in Anambra State contin-

uously for close to two years.

“In the circumstance, APC has no option but to request the PDP in Anambra State to withdraw the aspect of that publication that unwarrantedly libels our party and apologise for their excesses, within seven days, while returning to the rule of law, particularly as it affects observing electoral rules.

“It is to be noted that our great party shall not hesitate to pursue any of the alternative causes of action open to it within the law, in reaction to the publication immediately or upon the expiration of the given time.”

Ministry, foundation collaborate on humanitarian activities

•Hajiya Maina (left) and Ms Ozolua

My former deputy ‘bad spark plug’, says Chime

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NUGU State Governor Sullivan Chime got yesterday a new deputy, Rev. Raphael Ifeanyichukwu Nwoye.

Nwoye took the oath of office at the Exco Chambers of the Government House in Enugu. It followed the impeachment, a week ago, of Sunday Onyebuchi, for alleged misconduct.

The House of Assembly, last Thursday, cleared Nwoye. His oath of office was administered by the Chief Judge, Justice innocent Umezurike.

Chime congratulated his new deputy.

The governor noted that with his swearing-in, the machinery of government would run better.

He said: “Drawing the analogy of a broken down vehicle, we have just replaced a bad spark plug. The vehicle is

From Chris Oji, Enugu

repaired and the journey will be smooth again.”

Chime said Nwoye was not new to him because they both served as commissioners in the previous administration.

According to him, Nwoye will bring his experience and background “not just as a minister of God but as a fine gentleman” to discharge his duties well.

On the circumstances that brought Nwoye to the position, Chime said: “What has happened has happened and I believe it happened in the best interest of Enugu State and not only the government.”

The governor urged Nwoye to serve with diligence and cooperate with the ruling party.

Anambra pilgrims’ board begins sale of forms From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

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HE Anambra State Christian Welfare Board has begun selling the forms for this year’s pilgrimage to Israel and some European cities.

Its Chairman Dr Levi Monanu announced the sales yesterday in Uga, Aguata Local Government Area, at a farewell ceremony organised by Uga Corps of Salvation Army Church for Major Stephen Ezechukwu on his transfer to Kano State.

He said the board was under the Office of Deputy Governor Nkem Okeke.

Monanu said this year’s pilgrims would visit Israel, Rome and Greece.

The chairman, who was also the preacher at the ceremony, said he had known Ezechukwu for several years in the service of God. He said: “I appointed him a chaplain of the board because of his spiritual life and he did not disappoint me all through.

“Many clergymen in Anambra, who were posted to the North, resigned for the fear of uncertainty. But the Lord will go with you and make way for you where there seems to be no way.”

Court rejects motion to stop Ebonyi Speaker

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HE Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and the Body Enhancement Foundation have gone into a collaboration on the foundation’s humanitarian activities.

During a visit by the foundation to the ministry led by Ms Modupe Ozolua, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, received the foundation’s team and set up a committee, which comprises four sectors in the ministry: rehabilitation, welfare, women and child affairs; to work with the foundation.

The minister praised the foundation for its activities and pledged the support of the ministry and state Ministries of Women Affairs.

The foundation thanked the minister, permanent secretary and directors for their warm reception and commitment to helping the underprivileged.

N oil magnate, Mr Nelson Oseloka Onubogu, is aspiring for Senator Margery Okadigbo’s seat in Anambra North.

The indigene of Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area, is running on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Onubogu is reportedly being supported by Governor Willie Obiano’s wife, Ebelechukwu, who hails from the same community with the oil businessman.

Nwoye expressed gratitude to God and to Chime for the opportunity to serve the state.

He hailed Chime for his administration’s achievements.

The new deputy promised his unalloyed support and commitment to Enugu resident to enable them to enjoy good governance under Chime.

Onyebuchi has been redeployed to the civil service, where he worked before he was nominated deputy governor.

Chime’s Chief Press Secretary Chukwudi Achife, last night in a small messaging service (SMS), said: “Onyebuchi has been redeployed to the civil service where he was serving before he was appointed to a higher political office.”

N Abakaliki High Court yesterday refused the motion filed by the Helen Nwaobsi-led faction of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly seeking to stop Chukwuma Nwazunku from parading himself as the Speaker.

The Assembly has been in crisis since July 21, when 18 members allegedly removed Nwazunku and replaced her with Nwaobasi.

But Nwazunku, backed by nine other members, headed to the court to stop Nwaobasi from parading herself as the Speaker.

But Nwaobasi, who was supported by 13 lawmakers, filed a counter-motion seeking to stop Nwazunku from parading himself as Speaker.

Ruling yesterday on Nwaobasi’s motion, Justice Chinyere Ken Eze said the status quo before the impeachment should be maintained pending the determination of

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

the substantive suit.

She also ordered the Chief Judge to reassign the matter to another court since the vacation court would end on September 12.

Justice Eze condemned the Nwazunku-led faction for sitting when the matter was still pending in court.

She said: “I want to defer with the submission of the counsel to the first respondent (Nwzunku) and state that all parties should have stopped all activities as a mark of respect for the court, pending the determination of substantive suit.

“The implication is that if any party ignores the ruling of the pending application on the interlocutory injunction, such a party will not be allowed to use the present condition to legally acquire the ruling before this court.”

Six certified Ebola-free in Enugu From Chris Oji, Enugu

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IX PEOPLE, who had contact with the nurse who escaped from Lagos to Enugu, have been certified free of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Health Commissioner Dr George Eze spoke yesterday at the opening ceremony of a two-week certificate course organised by the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu in collaboration with the West African College of Nursing at Nondon Hotel, Enugu.

The nurse had contact with the late Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer, who brought Ebola to the country.

She sneaked out of the quarantine centre in Lagos to visit her family in Enugu.

Eze, who was represented by the Director of Medical Services in the Ministry of Health, Dr Ndubuisi Ejeh, stressed the need for the people to keep their environment clean.

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NEWS AlisonMadueke’s aide’s mother escapes kidnap

NOSDRA cautions oil communities From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

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ECURITY operatives of Operation Door-Akpor in Bayelsa State foiled yesterday an attempt by gunmen to kidnap Madam Nwokoya, a 73-year-old mother of a Personal Assistant (PA) to Petroleum Minister Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The special security outfit and troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, were said to have engaged the abductors in a gun battle.

Madam Nwokoya is said to be the mother of a man identified simply as Innocent, a marine engineer working with the minister.

It was learnt that the security operatives and youths of Famgbe community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State caught one of the kidnappers.

Others were said to have escaped with gunshot wounds.

The residents were jolted by the gunshots from the criminals and the security operatives.

It was also learnt that the gunmen stormed the home of the woman at 3am and headed to her bedroom.

But their target was said to have slept elsewhere.

The youth leader of the community and Chairman of the state Information Management Committee, SpiroJack, was said to have sighted them and contacted security operatives.

Hundreds register for Glo Xchange in Edo

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IGERIA’S first mobile money super agent network, Glo Xchange, at the weekend, received a boost in Benin, the Edo State capital, when potential mobile money agents besieged the venue of the first training session organised by the company to take the innovative service to the hinterlands.

Glo Xchange was launched in Lagos last week by Globacom in partnership with Firstmonie, Ecobank, Stanbic IBTC and Zenith Bank.

Hundreds of people from the 18 local government areas of Edo State registered as agents of the mobile money network.

Globacom’s Mobile Money Specialist, Alex Munia, who anchored the training, said Glo Xchange was a winwin platform for the agents, their customers and the beneficiaries of the money transferred through the mwallet (mobile wallet).

He said: “Glo Xchange will afford them the chance to key into a platform where many, especially in East Africa, had made a lot of money without borrowing from the banks to do business.”

According to him, besides the commission that would accrue from the m-wallet transactions, the agents would have a lot of human traffic coming into their business premises to do the mobile money transfer and “get to know about other services the agents are rendering and patronise them accordingly”.

• From left: Effect Coach, Okafor Hope; President, Effect U.S.A, Johnson Jake; President, Youth Orientation Development (YOD), Pastor Emmanuel Ejiogu and Effect Coach, Eletu Segun, at the youth orientation for development seminer in Lagos.

PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

Council chief relives ordeal with police

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HE Caretaker Chairman of Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers State, Emeka Wogu, has recounted how he was detained and tortured by policemen for allegedly tearing a campaign billboard of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Wogu, a staunch supporter of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, said he had no hands in the alleged act.

The council chief, in company of Special Duties Commissioner Dickson Umunakwe and the Publicity Secretary of the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chris Finebone, addressed reporters on Sunday at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Wogu said the police threw him into a cell with over 150 armed robbers.

The police command, under Tunde Ogunsakin, alleged that Wogu destroyed the President’s billboard but the council chairman denied the allegation.

Wogu said: “On August 25, my wife organised a prayer meeting with some Omuma women at the local government secretariat. Two policemen, attached to the council by the Eberi Omuma Police Division, escorted them to Omuma for the prayer. As the local government chairman, I had a Joint Account Committee (JAC) meeting same day in Port Harcourt at the Ministry of Local Government Affairs. I was nowhere close to Omuma Local Government Area that day. It was after the JAC meeting that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) called me in the evening that a few Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ‘boys’ had an instruction to damage the All Pro-

•’I was tortured and detained’ •‘I didn’t tear Jonathan’s poster’ From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

gressives Congress (APC) billboards in retaliation for a gun shot by one of the policemen from Eberi Omuma, who escorted the women to the prayer section. He said the bullet hit the billboard of Mr. President, erected by the PDP in Omuma.

“So, my reply to the DPO was: ‘Maintain the peace; calm them down. Tell them that it was not APC, it was shot by a Nigerian police officer and the officer is not an APC member. I said the next day, I will come home to see if the damage was much since they were accompanying my wife and some women. I promised, in the interest of peace, to repair or replace the billboard for them.

“But the next morning, my local government party chairman, Charles Amaefule, called Kelechi Nwogu, a member representing Omuma Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly (and the PDP leader in the local government), to know why some PDP supporters destroyed APC billboards.

That same night, we got a report that PDP members engaged about six armed men, around 2am. Between 1am and 2am, they went round Wards 1 and 2 and pulled down over seven APC billboards and set them on fire.

When my party chairman called Nwogu to find out why he sent PDP thugs to destroy APC billboards, I overheard him on phone asking why the council chairman called to

beg him.

“After the call, I rushed down to my place at Omuma because of the tension the PDP thugs were mounting on my council. I got home and addressed the APC youth, who wanted to retaliate the damage of seven APC billboards and flags, the Nigerian flag.”

The chairman said he asked Kingsley Nwawu why his party was destroying APC property. He (Nwawu) said there was a plan to ensure that the policeman who allegedly shot at the President’s billboard was dismissed and my wife arrested and taken to Abuja for questioning.

Wogu added: “He said if I wanted that to stop, he would speak to Nwogu, who claimed to have a link with the Presidency, that Nwogu had spent money contacting Abuja. He said I should look for big money before they could stop the action.”

The council chairman added: “The billboard of Mr President, which was said to have been destroyed by the police is still standing and not destroyed, as they claim. It was only a tiny bullet hole that touched the billboard below the picture of Mr. President.

For us as a party, we respect the President of our country, irrespective of his party affiliation. The billboard is still there.

“After meeting with some chiefs in the area on how to address the issue, I got back to Port Harcourt at 10pm the same day, only to realise that my area’s DPO, accompanied by some heavily-armed policemen, numbering over 50,

dressed in war gear, came to arrest me. “...They handcuffed me, tortured me and dragged me into their vehicle. They moved me to the old Government Reservation Area (GRA) Police Station and bundled me into the cell with common criminals and was later transferred to the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) around 2am and locked me up in the midst of over 150 armed robbers.

“The cell was so full that the inmates could not even find a place to lie down. The heat and the smell from the cell were horrible.”

The council chairman said he was not told what his offence was.

He added: “All the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State (Ogunsakin) told me was that he got a report that I ordered that the President’s banner be shot at (verbally).

In the case file, I saw treasonable felony.

“I want to say that this plan was orchestrated to remove me or to intimidate the party (APC), to harass me or cow me or to remove me from the scene for some time. I want to say that is totally unacceptable. I am consulting my lawyers to seek redress for unlawful detention, harassment and the humiliation...”

Amaechi’s Chief Press Secretary David Iyofor urged the police to desist from harassing the governor’s supporters.

Iyofor wondered why the police were unjustly harassing and torturing Amaechi’s supporters.

He said the intimidation should stop.

19-year-old kills father over N10 cigarette

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HE police in Edo State have arrested a 19year-old boy, Bestman Momodu, for allegedly killing his father, Zubeiru Momodu, over a N10 cigarette.

The incident occurred on August 16 at Ubiane, Aviele, in Estako West Local Government Area.

Bestman allegedly smoked the cigarette belonging to his father and a fracas ensued between them over the matter.

It was learnt that during the fracas, the suspect brought out a cutlass and cut his father

•Fake police chief arrested From Osagie Otabor, Benin

three times. His father reportedly died on the spot.

Bestman was among 68 suspects paraded yesterday by the police command.

The suspect told reporters that he mistakenly killed his father during the argument.

“You know it was the kind of life we used to live. It was a mistake,” he said.

The police also paraded Endurance Igbinovia, for allegedly posing as Police

Commissioner Foluso Adebanjo to “defraud” the Chairman of Akugbe Venture, Mr. Tony Kabaka, of N400,000.

The police said the suspect collected N200,000 from Tony under the pretext that he was stranded in Abuja.

He was said to have requested for another N200,000 with a promise to help him to recruit some boys into the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

The suspect denied the allegation.

He said it was a friend of his who used his phone to commit the fraud.

Seven suspects were held for defiling minors aged between six and 13. Five other suspects were arrested for defiling teenagers.

Adebanjo urged the people to know their neighbours and monitor uncompleted buildings.

He promised to make the state uncomfortable for criminals.

HE National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has urged oil producing communities in the Niger Delta region to direct their grievances against multi-national companies in their areas to its office instead of going to court for redress.

The Zonal Director for Port Harcourt, Cyrus Nkangwung, gave the directive at a stakeholders’ workshop organised in Port Harcourt, the state capital, in conjunction with Gas Alert for Sustainable Initiative (GASIN), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), for Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas.

It was learnt that the meeting was the local governments’ way of ensuring peace among the four oil producing communities - Aggah, Okwuzi, Obirikom and Mgbede in ONELGA - and their major tenant, The Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

Participants condemned what they called NAOC’s obscene behaviour in communities where it carries out its oil business.

They regretted the degradation of their environment and its attendant impoverishment and sicknesses on the residents.

The stakeholders threatened to block oil wells where an oil firm causes environmental degradation.

Nkangwung urged the people to direct their complaints and petitions to NOSDRA for intervention.

He promised to be transparent and uncompromising in his interventions, adding that NOSDRA was set up as a mediator between oil companies and the host communities.

Nkangwung said: “If there is any matter you would want NOSDRA to handle, don’t take it to court. This is because if you take it to court, NOSDRA will not drag matters with a court. When you go to court, the case can remain there for several decades without any result. That is why the Federal Government, in its wisdom, established NOSDRA so that you can have a case where you can channel your grievances to.

“We will be ready to attend to you without compromise.”

Council gets Ebola committee

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HE Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State has inaugurated a nine-member committee on the prevention of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

A statement by the local government’s Director of Information, Mrs Akintunde Taiwo, said the committee was set up at a meeting of the council’s Finance and General Purpose Committee.

She quoted the council’s Chairman Dele Soluade as saying Ebola is a reality and a dreadful disease that should be curtailed.

Soluade urged the committee to examine how to educate the residents on the dangers of the disease, especially its prevention.

He advised the people not to panic but to report suspected cases to the nearest health centres.

The Supervisor for Medical and Health Services, who chairs the committee, Chief Sikiru Adesina, promised that the committee would do its job diligenly.

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NEWS Dangerous signal from Northwest?

Woman tests positive to Ebola in Rivers Continued from page 4

and have left. However, we will repeat the test after 21 days.

“The one tested positive person shared room with late Enemuo at the Good Hart Hospital.

“As we continue together in this fight, it is important that you be vigilant. In fact we screen ourselves in our Ebola Emergency Operation Committee (EOC) meetings now, incase there was any error made in the field.

“Country Director of World Health Organisation(WHO) and Director of National Centre for Disease Control were with us in the meeting and we have decided that within this week, Enemuo’s body and other high-risk bodies in UPTH mortuary will be buried according to WHO protocol, meaning that they will not leave Port Harcourt.

“The government will not allow the movement of either Enemuos’ body or any of those considered high-risk to leave Port Harcourt. They will be buried under the supervision of WHO, officials of the Ministry of Health and other officials, so that we don’t expose the relatives to danger.

“We will take care of all the safety measures, families/relatives of the bodies will all be there to do whatever rite they want to do for their deceased, but we will not allow them to touch the body. Management of the bodies will be strictly under WHO protocols.

“And I can tell you here that none of the people involved in managing Ebola patients both here (Port Harcourt) and Lagos has had any issue; there is high mark of safety for Nigerians in

this business.

“Let me assure you again that Ebola Virus Disease is not a death sentence, in as much as we get those that have contracted it early.

“We still want to encourage those persons that are listed that we have not seen, to come up.

We have a lady that went to Akwa-Ibom State from the hotel; we are still to get to her, we’ve sent her trackmen through the SSS officials to Akwa Ibom, the one that went to Imo State returned yesterday, she is still ok, but we don’t want to take chances. We don’t want to fall into the same trick Oluibukun Koye played us here in Port Harcourt.”

At the treatment centre are four doctors, eight nurses and six expatriate officials (Doctors without Border) - all volunteers.

The number is still counting, because we have sent in more volunteers for training before they could be allowed to go to the treatment centre.

Parker added: “We have earlier trained over 500 people on Ebola management in our ongoing training for health officials in the state, but we considered it necessary to yet train those that have volunteered at the centre before we can allow them to operate.

“Like Enemuo wore protective gadgets, but the issue is not wearing it to do the job; the issue is on removing the gears; that is the point at which the infection is contracted.”

Reacting to a statement credited to the Minister of State for Education Nnyesom Wike, on the disease in Rivers State, Parker described him as “an apology”.

Wike reportedly said the

spread of the disease into the state was as a result of the government’s insensitivity. The commissioner expressed regrets at Wike’s statement, saying that the state made a big mistake by nominating him to the Federal Government for ministerial appointment.

He said how the virus entered the state was common knowledge, adding: “The best thing is to ignore him, because if I don’t ignore him, it means that he does not even respect his boss the President of Nigeria. The only thing I will say is that maybe we will apologise to the President for nominating him for minister. This is because everybody is now aware of how we got into this challenge; so if a minster of state does not still know, I’m getting very worried that we have done disservice to the government.

“His colleague in the cabinet, the minister of health, has made a broadcast, where he explained how the whole thing happened, not commissioner for Health , but the minister.

“I don’t know what he means by insensitivity. This is a government that before the outbreak, we had spent so much money to go for personal protective equipment, sent officials to go and see how the thing is done, came back and been training members of staff, in case it happens. As at today we have trained more than 500 staff in preparation for Ebola, and someone is saying it is insensitivity.”

Parker went on: “We are not kind of mood and we should not mix politics with what we are doing. Other people are asking us what they can do to

Continued from page 4

help; that is what he should do, he is a Rivers man and should be concerned about the challenge in the state now and rally round the government to face the problem, irrespective of our party affiliation.

“Nobody can fault the health system of Rivers State.

Nobody can throw stone on it, because it is unbeatable.

“We are not talking of mass failure in WASC; we are faced with something else now, so we are not talking about that.”

He said.

phisticated. It is huge. Therefore, it can sway the outcome of any election. It is natural that, at every periodic election, PDP presidential aspirants often target the zone because they perceive it as a critical factor.

The analysis of the voters’ list from the zone also underscores its vibrancy, electoral asset and indispensability. The zone will always be in the national reckoning. In the last voter registration, next to Lagos (6.2 million) were Kano (5.10), Kaduna (3.50) and Katsina (2.9). The figures speak volumes about the

potency and electoral strength of the leading zone. This may continue to make it an electorally sought-after zone in any national contest.

The onus is on the PDP to manage the “Lamido challenge”. Should the Jigawa governor be compelled to seek an allegiance with his colleagues in the APC, the chance of the PDP at the poll will further reduce. If the Northwest’s objection is not properly managed, the President will sweat at the general election, even if he escapes the hammer in the primaries.

2015: PDP divided over Jonathan Continued from page 4

ist, said: “Any member has a right to express his opinion.”

The PDP Secretary in Jigawa State, Aliyu Mohammed Tukur, also dismissed the endorsement, saying: “Nobody has endorsed anybody.”

He added:” I can confirm to you that nobody has endorsed anybody. Although the PDP is a family, and President Jonathan and Vice President Sambo are our leaders, what we are saying is that democratic procedures, processes and the rule of law

should be followed.

“Normally, if you are having a zonal meeting, the zonal secretary of the party ought to be the secretary of the communiqué drafting committee.

But in this case, there was no communiqué drafting committee. That was why nobody signed the communiqué.

“The communiqué ought to be brought to the larger house for everybody to discuss the content and then adopt it. Nothing like that was done. In this case, they just read a communiqué that

was not discussed or adopted or signed by anybody, except that it was read by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

“This is wrong. It ought to be read by the zonal chairman or secretary. Even the speech of the zonal chairman, a day before the meeting, the zonal chairman prepared his speech, detailing the achievements of the zone and challenges. But at the meeting, somebody passed another speech to him to read. How do you run a party like this?”

‘I have not stepped down for Fintiri, others’ Continued from page 4

make him chicken out.

“As a mature politician that he is, he has resolved to continue to chart his own course in this race and see it to the end, as collectively mandated by ordinary masses of Adamawa who are on his side.”

Modibbo said the insinuations of his purported withdrawal were designed to cause confusion.

The statement added: “That this call is coming few hours before the delegates’ election

to us means that it is a grand plan to cause confusion and mislead our teeming followers. “Just like those before it, this plot as well as those behind it have failed since their stock in trade is already known to describing Adamawa voters.

“Yet, we therefore call on our people to continue to disregard such news and make a wise political decision by supporting Dr Modibbo” “Now that we are gradually moving closer to the judge-

ment day (October 11), we expect more but we still appeal to our to be watchful and vigilant of their antics. And that the only approach is to disregard them and let’s us work closely with Modibbo who is poised to give us a new Adamawa that we all long for” Speculations were rife across the 21 Local Government Areas in the state on Monday that Modibbo and three other aspirants had stepped down for the acting governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintri.

Nigeria seeks Japanese drug Favipiravir Continued from page 4

“The TRG has submitted a detailed profile and brief on the oral antiviral agent which the Japanese Government has offered to make available to affected countries through the WHO. We are now considering the profile and brief to en-

able us reach a final decision on making it available to our patients.”

Chukwu said: “Our initial knowledge of the agent is that it has been shown to have strong antiviral activity against the influenza virus, following phases I and II human trails; it is now going

through phase III clinical trials. It is shown to have strong antiviral property against Ebola virus in vitro and in vivo. These and the fact that it is considered safe, having passed through phases I and II clinical trials makes it good candidate drug for use in emergency situation as the EVD.”

Troops kill 40 in fierce battle with Boko Haram Continued from page 4

early yesterday.

The source said: “In their typical guerilla manner, about 200 to 300 insurgents invaded Bama with armoured vehicles and motorcycles.

“They were attacking all persons and objects on sight as part of their bid to annex the town which they lost to the troops last December.

“But our troops rose to the occasion and launched counter-attacks which led to heavy casualty figures on the part of the insurgents.

“The invasion was part of their larger plans to take over all towns in Borno State as part of the declaration of an Islamic Caliphate.

“To them, Bama is strategic because most of their deadly commanders hail from the town.

For troops to be in control of the area meant that they have lost a coordinating base.

“We know that they would always want to go and come in Bama. So, our troops have always prepared for them.”

The source said: “The insurgents are unhappy that they lost the strategic town since last December.

“You will recall that in December 2013, the sect lost 113 members within two weeks during encounters with our troops in

Bama.”

Another source said: “They wanted to overrun Bama, which is about 64 kilometres to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

They wanted to use Bama as a base for their final march on Maiduguri.

“But the resistance mounted by troops was not what they bargained for. Although they had been repelled, troops are pursuing the fleeing insurgents to avert their plans to regroup.

“As expected, most residents of Bama have been running away from the town to Maiduguri and other safe places.”

When contacted, the Director of Defence Information, MajGen. Chris Olukolade said: “Bama attack is being repelled.

We cannot state casualty situation/figures now. Everything necessary will be done to contain the terrorists.”

A report said another group of the insurgents was sighted around Mafa Local Government Area and Kayamula villages in Konduga Local Government Area, near Maiduguri metropolis. Those sighted around Kayamula were killed by troops while those around Mafa were suspected to be making frantic efforts to enter the metropolis.

This development, according to sources, was one of the reasons for the review of curfew in

the metropolis.

The army reviewed the curfew hours imposed on Maiduguri metropolis and environs, which is now from 6am to 7pm. The spokesman of the 7 Division, Colonel Sank Usman, announced the new time in a statement.

A source said: “The insurgents stormed the town through BamaBanki-Gwoza Road but were intercepted by gallant military troops near the Bama Mobile Police Unit located about five kilometres away from Bama.

A resident of Bama, Mallam Abba Usman, who fled to Maiduguri, said: “There was an attempt by the Boko Haram sect to enter Bama town or capture Bama as they did in Gwoza. But for the good efforts of the troops stationed near the mobile police unit who repelled the attack in a joint effort with their colleagues from the 21 Brigade of the Army.

A chief in Bama, who does not want his name in print, said Bama people were highly excited with the new efforts of the military and the relocation of the 21 Armoured Brigade Battalion to Bama.

“Even the reinforcement being done by the GOC now is a clear indication that the military is serious and ready to rid the state of the insurgency, unlike in the past,” he said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

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FOREIGN NEWS Marina chosen to run Iraq crisis: Acts ofSilva inhumanity on for president in Brazil unimaginable scale, says UN

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HE UN says it has received reports from Iraq that “reveal acts of inhumanity on an unimaginable scale”.

Deputy Human Rights Commissioner Flavia Pansieri said Islamic State (IS) was believed to have committed systematic and intentional attacks on civilians.

They include targeted killings, forced conversions, slavery, sexual abuse, and the besieging of entire communities.

The UN Human Rights Council has agreed to send an emergency mission to investigate the IS crimes.

The unrest in Iraq has escalated dramatically in recent months as Islamic State, formerly known as Isis, and allied Sunni rebels have taken control of large parts of northern and western Iraq.

Deputy Human Rights Commissioner Flavia Pansieri: Report “reveals acts of inhumanity which are on an unimaginable scale” Thousands of people have been killed, the majority of them civilians, and more than a million others have been forced to flee their homes.

Yesterday, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution that will allow a team

to investigate whether war crimes and crimes against humanity are being committed in Iraq.

Also addressing the meeting, Ms Pansieri said UN officials continued to gather “strong evidence” that serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law had been committed in areas under IS control.

Islamic State published pictures purportedly showing Yazidi men converting to Islam last month “Many have been killed directly; others have been besieged and deprived of food, water or medication.

“Hundreds of thousands of civilians from these communities have fled to remote and desolate locations where unconfirmed reports indicate that scores of children, elderly people and people with disabilities have been dying as a result of exhaustion and deprivation.”

Yazidis have been targeted for extremely harsh treatment. Many men who refused to convert to Islam were reportedly executed, while women and young girls were allotted as slaves to IS fighters. At least 2,250 Yazidi women and children are reportedly being held hostage.

Ms Pansieri said evidence suggested that Iraqi government forces had also killed detainees and shelled civilian areas.

Last week, the UN said it had received reports of at least 650 male inmates of Badouch Prison in Mosul being shot dead by IS militants on 10 July.

PHOTO:AFP

Witnesses and survivors said inmates claiming to be Sunni were taken away, while Shia and members of other religious or ethnic communities were ordered into ditches and killed.

Pro-government militiamen were accused of killing worshippers at a Sunni

mosque in Diyala province Shelling and air strikes by Iraqi security forces have also killed and injured many civilians. On 14 and 15 August, two air strikes in the Hawija area of Kirkuk left 25 people dead, while in Falluja 17 civilians •A child from an ultra-Orthodox were killed by shelling be- Jewish group reads the Torah tween 14 and 17 August. with his father in Guatemala City PHOTO:AFP

Lesotho: SADC rejects Thabane’s troop request

Ukraine military suffers setbacks Ukraine crisis: NATO to create ‘high-readiness force

R

EGIONAL leaders have rejected calls

by Lesotho’s exiled Prime Minister Thomas Thabane for the immediate deployment of troops to help restore order in his country, an official has told the BBC. Instead, an observer team would be urgently sent to Lesotho, she said.

Mr Thabane fled to South Africa on Saturday, claiming the military had staged a coup - a charge it denied.

South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma hosted emergency talks with Mr Tabane and others on Monday.

Lesotho, a mountain kingdom surrounded by South Africa, has experienced several coups since independence in 1966.

The latest unrest is understood to be linked to a power struggle between Mr Thabane, reportedly supported by the police, and Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing, said to have the loyalty of the army.

The army said it had seized these weapons from the police Lesotho is a largely rural country dominated by mountains and surrounded on all sides by South Africa The army denies taking power Both of them attended the talks convened by Mr Zuma in Pretoria under the banner of the South African Development Community (Sadc) regional bloc.

The two leaders had agreed to “clear timetables” that would lead to the restoration of parliament, according to a statement by Sadc.

Its restoration was a key demand of Mr Metsing.

• Yazidis children at a refugee camp in Iraq.

N •Putin

U

KRAINIAN forces have suffered a series of setbacks, as proRussian rebels advance in the east of the country.

Officials said nearly 700 soldiers had been taken prisoner since the rebel offensive began.

Earlier the military said government forces had been forced to withdraw from Luhansk airport, saying they had been attacked by a column of Russian tanks.

Ukraine’s defence minister said it was now fighting a “great war” with Russia in which tens of thousands could die.

Valery Heletey said on his Facebook page that the rebels had been defeated and Russia had been forced to begin a full-scale invasion of

ATO members meeting this week in Wales are expected to create “a very high-readiness force” to deal with Russian aggression in Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Monday.

In a speech on the NATO website, Rasmussen said the fighting force will be part of an overall “Readiness Action Plan (that) responds to Russia’s aggressive behavior — but it equips the alliance to respond to all security challenges, wherever they may arise.”

NATO will also look at possible upgrades to infrastructure that could include airfields and ports, he said.

Rasmussen called the new unit “a spearhead within our Response Force” that can “travel light, but strike hard if needed.”

It would include several thousand troops and respond with air, sea and special forces support, he said.

“At the summit, we will meet with (President Petro Poroshenko) of Ukraine and make clear our support for Ukraine, as it is confronted by Russia’s aggression,” Rasmussen said.

Also on Monday, UK Prime Minister David

the region with regular forces.

Vladimir Putin tells the BBC the Minsk talks are “a very important process” Russia has repeatedly denied Ukrainian and Western accusations that it is providing troops and equipment to the

Cameron told Parliament that the presence of Russian soldiers on Ukraine soil is completely unjustified and unacceptable.

“Russia appears to be trying to force to Ukraine to abandon its democratic choices through the barrel of a gun,” he said.

Cameron said new sanctions measures will be drawn up by the EU within a week.

A Russian army tank attacked airfields in eastern Ukraine on Monday, Ukrainian military officials said, amid worsening tensions between Kiev and Moscow.

Poroshenko has said thousands of Russian troops are in his nation’s east, helping the separatists.

Though Russia has denied sending its troops to Ukraine, it defended the rebels’ action in the east.

“Washington and Brussels need to ask Kiev authorities to stop shelling the houses, schools, hospitals and so on because you leave militia with no choice but to stand up to protect their people,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

“Let’s not ask militia to lay down their weapons and allow themselves to be killed.”

rebels.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian and Russian officials are holding talks with separatist rebels and international monitors in Minsk.

Nato Secretary-General Rasmussen: “We must face the reality that Russia does not con-

sider Nato a partner” The rebels have been gaining ground on Ukrainian forces in recent days, in both the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, and further south around the port of Mariupol.

Ukrainian news agency UNIAN quoted a senior offi-

cial as saying that as many as 680 soldiers had been captured in Donetsk region after the recent fighting.

Col-Gen Volodymyr Ruban, chairman of the Centre for Prisoner Exchange, said “about 80%” of them were captured around Ilovaysk, east of the city of Donetsk, where hundreds of Ukrainian troops have been cut off since the latest rebel advance began.

Ukraine’s security council confirmed that its troops had withdrawn from Luhansk airport “in an organised manner”.

Clashes are said to still be taking place near the airport of the city of Donetsk, with separatists claiming that two Ukrainian platoons have surrendered.

There were also reports of an attack on a Ukrainian patrol vessel in the Azov Sea on Sunday night.

The talks in Minsk started on Monday, involving the socalled Contact Group which includes representatives from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

After several hours they were adjourned until Friday.

The status would also “take into consideration the necessity of deepening economic integration with Russia”, the rebels say.

Iraq: UN backs enquiry of IS group’s alleged crimes

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HE United Nations’s top human rights body on Monday overwhelmingly approved the Iraqi government’s request for an investigation into alleged crimes against civilians committed by the Islamic State group in its rampage across northeastern Syria and parts of Iraq.

Diplomats agreed by unanimous consent to approve a nearly $1.2 million U.N. fact-finding mission at a daylong special session of the

47-nation Human Rights Council about Iraq and the extremist group.Iraq’s request for the U.N. to investigate alleged abuses by the IS was included in a resolution that more broadly condemns the group’s severe tactics but also calls on Iraq’s government to protect human rights.Its aim is to provide the Geneva-based council with a report and evidence next March that could shed further light on Iraqi atrocities and be used as part of any inter-

national war crimes prosecution.

The session Monday focused on the threat posed by the militants, who have seized cities, towns and vast tracts of land and carried out a number of massacres and beheadings. ”We are facing a terrorist monster,” Iraq’s human rights minister, Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, said shortly before the vote.He said his country needs the world’s support because the group “is

not an Iraqi phenomenon, it is a transnational organization that is an imminent danger for all countries of the world.” ”Their movement must be curbed. Their assets should be frozen and confiscated. Their military capacities must be destroyed,” he said.

Diplomats convened after the U.S. launched a series of airstrikes to prevent the group from advancing on the Kurdish regional capital of Irbil and to help protect mem-

•Ban Ki-moon

bers of the Yazidi minority who were stranded in Iraq’s northwest.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

61

SPORT EXTRA Ebola: Nigeria barred from World Wrestling Championship

By Akeem Lawal IGERIAN wrestlers will not compete at the 2014 Wrestling World Championships after the host country, Uzbekistan barred countries that have a connection with the dreaded Ebola Virus disease (EVD).

The annual World Wrestling Championships are scheduled for Sept. 8-14 in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. FILA, the governing body of wrestling, said the Uzbekistan health ministry has recommended that wrestlers from affected West African countries not be invited.

The ruling affects seven wrestlers from Nigeria and two from Sierra Leone, according to FILA. The decision follows similar travel bans imposed by China and Russia ahead of the recent Youth Olympic Games and judo worlds.

“Our sympathies go out to the affected wrestlers, coaches and fans,” FILA president Nenad Lalovic said in a press release. “Not only are they dealing with controlling the spread of this deadly virus, but are now unable to pursue their dreams of a World Championship in 2014.”

It would be recalled that Nigeria had to withdraw from the Youth Olympic Games held in China, following the discrimination they got in Beijing because of Ebola.

N

•Obasi

OBASI’S INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT SAGA:

Nigeria to report Schalke to FIFA S

UPER Eagles officials have threatened to report German Bundesliga side Schalke 04 to world soccer governing body, FIFA, if Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi is not released for Ni-

S

revealed that the German side called to say they had submitted Obasi’s international passport for the coming Champions League hostilities, which may force the player to miss the games, as the passport will

not be released on time.

With five days to the game against Congo, officials are angered by the attitude of the club and may report them to FIFA for appropriate sanctions.

The Super Eagles’ camp has continued to swell as Nosa Igiebor, Uche Nwofor and Ramon Azeez are in Calabar and had dinner with the team yesterday evening. More players were expected today.

Nsofor’s move to Palermo collapses

V

•Martins

John Ogu negotiating one-year Hapoel deal L10.NG understands that John Ogu is in high-level talks with Israeli Premier League side Hapoel Be’er Sheva regarding a contract.

The central midfielder is in Israel to begin discussions with the Hapoel Be’er Sheva brass.

The Nigeria international’s move to the league runnersup will be finalised before the close of the summer transfer window if both parties can reach an agreement.

That said, the 26-year-old is now a free agent after severing ties with his club for the past two years, Academica, therefore, he can join any team despite the window being shut.

“It’s likely a one - year contract I will sign with Hapoel Be’er Sheva, and I’m now a free player. I just arrived here,” John Ogu told SL10.ng.

geria’s African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifiers against Congo and South Africa.

Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, who has been facilitating Nigeria players’ timely arrival for the games,

Martins ready for Eagles return

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EATTLE Sounders striker, Obafemi Martins, has delivered a veiled statement saying he is ready pull on the Nigeria shirt “if I get picked.”

The former Inter Milan man believes he has been shut out of the Nigerian squad for sometime because “every coach has his favourites.”

However, the 29-year-old is happy with his current run in the Major League Soccer (MLS) with Seattle Sounders despite not being considered by the African champions for this month’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Congo and South Africa.

“I’m here and I’m Nigerian, so we’ll see if I get picked. I have no control over it. Every coach has his favourites. All I

can say is that I’m playing good football in Seattle and I’m happy doing it. If I’m in the Nigeria team, great, and if I’m not, I wish them all the best. I always want Nigeria to do well,” Martins told fifa.com.

In spite of being out-offavour with Nigeria selectors at the moment, Martins believes his career has had “so many sweet moments” and “a lot of high-points.”

But most of those sweet moments and high-points have been at club level.

Martins also believes the story of his career is still ongoing and could still add more chapters to his time as a footballer.

“It’s a tough question to answer,” Martins began when asked to single out a highlight in his career. “I’m always

hunting for trophies and trying to get better. I have had so many sweet moments. I have a sweet moment, a sweet memory, with all of the teams I’ve played for.

Newcastle was a great time for me and in Spain, and Germany with Wolfsburg was also special, but my career is a story that’s still going on.

When I finish playing and sit down with my grandkids, I can tell them a story that will have a lot of high-points, not just one.”

Martins represented Nigeria at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and has played for AC Reggiana, Inter Milan, Newcastle United, VfL Wolfsburg, Rubin Kazan, Birmingham and Levante before moving to the MLS to team up with Seattle Sounders.

ICTOR Obinna Nsofor’s proposed switch to Palermo has hit the rocks, Italian website Tuttomercatoweb is reporting.

After holding discussions with the leadership of the Rosanero, the Nigeria international failed to reach an agreement with the Serie A outfit, and this has scuppered the move.

The likes of Fenerbahce, Kayseri Erciyesspor, Atalanta and Parma have all been reportedly linked with a move for the 27-year-old, but it is believed Italy is his preferred destination.

To substantiate that argument, Nsofor was spotted in Italy last week alongside fellow Nigeria internationals John Ogu and

Eddy Onazi.

The winger-cum striker has been told by Lokomotiv Moscow chiefs that he is not in the plans of manager Leonid Kuchuk this season, despite 10 months left before the expiration of the agreement binding the parties.

After playing for domestic clubs Enyimba and Plateau United, Nsofor moved to Italy in 2005, where he first played for Chievo Verona before transferring to Inter Milan.

He had also represented West Ham, Malaga, Lokomotiv Moscow, and spent the second half of last season on loan at Chievo Verona.

NFF crises: Nobody can hold elections Sept 4 —Giwa

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•John Ogu

MBATTLED factional president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Chris Giwa has slammed suggestions that elections into the board of the NFF will held on September 4.

Giwa, who until a few hours ago was being touted to contest in the elections on Thursday, has categorically ruled himself out of it by insisting that nothing of such will happen.

“There will never be any election on the 4th because, we will not, and I repeat, we will not allow anybody to mess

with the NFF, CAF and FIFA statutes no matter who he thinks he is.

“Where is it on earth that

•Giwa

elections are fixed and held within one week?” he asked rhetorically.

“Nobody can organise an election in one week, it’s impossible because the congress sat in November of 2013 and chose August 26th for the elections.

“Some persons want to twist things because they lost out. But I can assure you that it won’t happen,” he said bitterly.

The Aminu Maigari-led congress has fixed September 4th for an elective congress to elect members for the board of the NFF.

•Nsofor

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

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NATION SPORT PREMIERSHIP...PREMIERSHIP...PREMIERSHIP...

Remy excited to work with Jose

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EMY became Chelsea’s fifth addition of the summer on Sunday, following the arrivals of Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas, Filipe Luis and Didier Drogba.

And the 27-year-old, who has made the short journey

•Remy

across west London from QPR, admits he is hoping to discover his best form under the Portuguese coach.

“I spoke with him (Mourinho),” Remy told the club’s official website after agreeing a four-year contract.

“He is very clever and he knows exactly what he wants.

He has targets for me and I know I have a target for myself as well.

“Everybody wants the best so the discussion was really good. I know he can get the best out of a player and I’m looking forward to working with him.”

The former Marseille striker knows he has work cut out to earn a place in Mourinho’s starting line-up following Costa’s impressive start to his Chelsea career.

The Spain international has scored four goals in his first three matches since completing a £32.5million switch from Atletico Madrid earlier this summer.

“We have two great strikers here already and I don’t have a choice if I want to be in the team - I have to play at a very high level,” Remy said.

West Ham fan ‘bent it like Beckham’ during pitch invasion

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West Ham fan who “bent it like Beckham” when he ran onto the pitch and took a free kick during a Premier League match has apologised for his “moment of madness”.

Jordan Dunn, 22, from Dover in Kent, became an internet sensation when he ran onto the pitch at the Boleyn Ground during the Hammers’ game against Tottenham and struck the ball. His effort was easily saved by the West Ham goalkeeper Adrian San Miguel del Castillo.

He pleaded guilty on Monday to a charge under Section 4 of the Football Offences Act 1991, which states it is illegal to go onto the pitch without an excuse or lawful authority.

The 22-year-old apologised for his “moment of madness” and was fined a total of £305 but spared a ban from future matches.

Passing sentence at Thames Magistrates’ Court in East London, District Judge Gareth Branston said Dunn ran “some 70 yards” across the pitch to the spot where Tottenham were lining up a free kick.

“You took it for them. To be frank you were probably a little tired by the time you got to the ball.

“It was a longer run than was strictly necessary.

“You had consumed alcohol and your stride pattern was a bit out of kilter but to borrow a phrase you did bend it like Beckham. Regrettably it was about 30mph slower than Beckham– Judge Gareth Branston The judge said Dunn’s effort was “easily” saved by the goalkeeper but referring to Christian Eriksen’s subsequent shot, he added: “I understand that the professional footballer who followed you did not do any better.”

Judge Branston also said it was a “small mercy” Dunn had “decided to remain fully clothed”.

The West Ham fan, who smiled when the judge compared his effort to former England captain David Beckham, said it had been a dream to play at his favourite team’s ground from a young age.

Dunn, who has a 10-month old boy, said he “was a bit concerned” about the prospect of a banning order because he wants to take his child to West Ham when he grows up.

One fan took to social media to praise the West Ham fan’s shot, which he said was better than Eriksen’s free kick.

He wrote on Twitter: “Fair play to that pitch invader at West Ham v Spurs.. He got the Free kick on target when Eriksen couldn’t.”

•Suarez and Gerrard displaying the Bacelona man’s replica club jersey

Suarez returns to Liverpool with a gift for Gerrard L

UIS Suarez made a surprise appearance at Liverpool’s Melwood training complex on Deadline Day - but he was only there to bid farewell to his former team-mates.

The Uruguay striker, who made a £75m move to Barcelona earlier this summer, is understood to have returned

to Liverpool’s training ground to collect some belongings.

But he also brought a gift with him for his friend and former team-mate, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.

A photo on Gerrard’s Instagram account shows him and the striker smiling and holding up a signed ‘Suarez 9’ Barcelona shirt.

The image was accompanied by a message reading: “He is back bearing gifts. Emotional saying goodbye to the main man this morning. Best wishes to a phenomenal player.”

Another image later appeared on Suarez’s Twitter account, showing him in a group pose with Gerrard and Liverpool defenders Glen Johnson and

Jon Flanagan.

The accompanying words read: “Today I could say goodbye to some friends, it was exciting to remember the good moments that we lived together.

“Thank you for all the joy you gave me!!!!! Great picture with @glen—johnson, @jon—flan93 and Steven Gerrard!!!!”

Balotelli omission not ´a message´—Conte

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TALY coach Antonio Conte insists he was not trying to send a message to Mario Balotelli by omitting the striker from his first squad.

The Liverpool new boy was the most notable absentee from Conte’s selection for forthcoming fixtures against the Netherlands and Norway.

But Conte says he had no motive to leave Balotelli out of his plans, stressing players must earn the right to represent Italy.

“We have been monitoring every match,” he said. “The call-ups are based on those we observed, with those we had footballing evidence on.

“Is it a message? I do not have to send any messages.

Those who know me know how I work - I do not present gifts to anyone.

“Today I have here 26 guys and I have told them that they must earn this shirt. I will behave as I have always done, there is no pre-

condition for anyone.

“Those who are in the national team should know what it takes to be here and be conscious of the weight of this shirt, its importance.”

Conte, who took over from Cesare Prandelli following the World Cup, also expressed his pride at leading his first training session on Monday.

“This is definitely a special day,” he added. “I entered Coverciano [Italy’s national training centre] for the first time with the Under-15s side

•Conte

and to come back now as a coach is beautiful.

“This is a centre that makes me shudder, it takes me back 30 years. It is something nice.

“It is a formative experience, a competition with myself and I am sure that I will be able to communicate my concepts.”

Jones: Bad time for United

U

NITED have endured a winless start to the season under new manager Louis van Gaal and were held to a 0-0 draw by promoted Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday.

Jones, who made four cup appearances for United before leaving in 2007, came close to giving Burnley a shock early lead when he curled a free-kick against the crossbar.

The 29-year-old sensed an edginess in the United ranks and was pleased with Burnley’s approach as Sean Dyche’s side claimed a first point since returning to the top flight.

“There were a lot of top players on the pitch,” said Jones. “We knew it was going to be difficult.

“But they’re going through a

bit of a bad time and under pressure after three games.

“That’s the baggage you get as a United player. We wanted to get at them and put them under pressure and we did that.

“If you look at the previous games they’ve been edgy and we wanted to take advantage of that.

“No player at the best of times wants another player in their face, working hard to stop them playing and they definitely wouldn’t have wanted that. It showed early on that they were under pressure.

“There have been significant changes at United over the last 12 months. It’s only three games into this season in the league. I expect them to pick up and be where they usually are.”

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

TRANSFERS...TRANSFERS...TRANSFERS...

NATION SPORT Ayew rejects Hull, prefers QPR, Swansea

'Falcao is the signing of the summer' — Owen

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ARSEILLE forward Andre Ayew has turned down the chance to join Hull City, but his representatives are continuing talks with Swansea City and QPR. Ayew is available to move before the transfer deadline, as Marseille look to trim their squad and ensure he does not leave in 12 months' time on a free transfer, with a contract which expires in 2015.

According to French radio station RMC, Ayew has rejected a proposal from Hull and has no intention of going to the KC Stadium.

However, Ayew could still be on the move to the English Premier League before the window slams shut.

Indeed, his representatives are still in the process of holding talks with two other Premier League clubs in the shape of QPR and Swansea.

The pair will now do their best to persuade the Ghana international to leave Marseille.

•Ayew

R

CECH REFUSES TO RULE OUT MOVE

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HELSEA goalkeeper Petr Cech has refused to rule out the possibility of leaving Stamford Bridge after being displaced by Thibaut Courtois.

The 32-year-old keeper, who has been at Chelsea for over a decade, has found himself second choice to Courtois this season following the Belgian’s return from Atletico Madrid, where he spent three years on

S

LOVENIAN midfielder Jasmin Kurtic has revealed he turned down an approach from Leeds United to seal a switch to Fiorentina.

Kurtic has swapped Sassuolo for Fiorentina, heading to link up with Vincenzo Montella's La Viola on a season-long loan agreement.

Should the midfielder impress with Fiorentina, the Serie A side will have the option to make his switch permanent for a set fee of around •5m.

And Fiorentina beat off interest from English Championship side Leeds to win the race for Kurtic.

"It's a big step forward in my career", he told Ekipa 24.

"I know it will be hard for me to carve out a place in the first team, but I'm ready to work hard and put myself in the mix.

"Leeds? I knew about their interest, but I could not refuse Fiorentina", the 25year-old, who has won 18 caps for Slovenia, added.

•Kurtic

up and leave.

“I am a Chelsea player, where I have two more years of contract.

“In football, nothing can be predicted in advance, nothing is ever perfect.

“A lot of players go on representative duty, yet still many transfer clubs.

“The offer would have to be right for everyone. I do not exclude anything [or] know the answer.”

Much had been made of the

tussle between Cech and Courtois for the number one jersey, with the latter getting the nod for the opening-game triumph at Burnley.

He was retained for the Leicester City game and kept a clean sheet before conceding three times in Chelsea’s ninegoal thriller against Everton on Sunday.

Cech, who signed from Rennes in 2004, is sixth in the club’s list of all-time appearance makers.

Mata wishes Kagawa well

M Leeds wanted me but I couldn’t refuse Fiorentina—Kurtic

loan.

Despite insisting that he has no pressing desire to leave with two years still remaining on his deal, Cech did concede that a transfer was a possibility.

“I’ve been at the club for 10 years, the situation is now new to me,” he told sport.cz while on international duty with Czech Republic.

“The three opening matches I could not play for the team. I have no reason to panic, pack

ANCHESTER UNITED midfielder Juan Mata has issued a fond farewell to Shinji Kagawa after the Japan international rejoined Borussia Dortmund.

Kagawa was unable to exhibit his best form at Old Trafford following a move from Dortmund, where he won two Bundesliga titles, in 2012.

Having struggled to nail down a regular starting berth in his preferred playmaker role, the 26-year-old was deemed surplus to requirements by new United boss Louis van Gaal and sealed a return to Signal Iduna Park on Sunday.

Writing in his latest blog, Mata said of his former teammate: “I would like to wish all

•Mata

the best to Shinji Kagawa, a fantastic player but especially a great person.

“It’s been a pleasure to be his team-mate and I’m sure both Borussia Dortmund and fans everywhere will enjoy his football again.”

Mata also commented on the new faces at United, hailing the capture of Angel di Maria from Real Madrid and the prospective arrival of Netherlands international Daley Blind from Ajax.

“I am sure these two players will give a lot to us and will strengthen the team.

“We already know what Angel is capable of, his ability and dribbling skills, and Daley has a great touch and is very intelligent, as he showed during the World Cup.”

•Ronaldo

Ronaldo: I can’t say what I really think about Madrid reshaping

C

RISTIANO Ronaldo has claimed he "can't say what he thinks" about Real Madrid's summer transfer moves but hinted he was unhappy at the way the club have reshaped their squad.

Xabi Alonso, Angel Di Maria, Diego Lopez and Alvaro Morata have all left the Bernabeu, while Monday saw the reigning European champions make their fourth major signing with Javier Hernandez joining recent arrivals Keylor Navas, Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez.

Fifa Ballon d’Or and Goal 50 winner Ronaldo certainly didn’t offer a glowing endorsement to the club’s activity in the current transfer window which closes tonight.

"I have my strong opinions, but I can’t always say what I think. Otherwise, tomorrow it would be on the front pages and I don’t want that,” he told the press at a media event for watchmaker Tag Heuer.

“But if the president thinks the best for the team is to sign players who joined and leave out others, we must respect and support his decisions.”

The 29-year-old Portugal international admitted the changes in personnel would

inevitably result in a change in the team’s style - while the losses of Di Maria and Alonso, cornerstones of the club's Decima success last term to Manchester United and Bayern Munich respectively, would be keenly felt.

“With all the new players the style will change, for better or worse” he said.

“Di Maria and Xabi were very important to us but now they are gone and we should be happy with the new players. I'm sure we'll be fine.”

Ronaldo is currently recovering from a knee injury that saw him sit out his side’s surprise 4-2 defeat to Real Sociedad at the weekend, but says he expects to back within a week.

“Yesterday I went for a run.

I'm sure in a week I'll be back one hundred percent,” he said, before warning his teammates they cannot repeat the complacent performance that saw them lose a two-goal lead on Sunday.

“It was a strange game, we were 2-0 up after minutes, but then things changed. We have taken it as a lesson that we cannot think a match is already won. We must fight to the end.”

ADAMEL Falcao's loan move to Manchester United is the "signing of the window", according to Michael Owen, who then went on to question the club's direction in the transfer market.

The striker has arrived at Old Trafford for a year-long switch after the club beat rivals Manchester City and Arsenal to clinch a loan deal for a fee of •12.5 million and will pay most of his •380,000-aweek wages.

In a summer which has seen the likes of Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas, Alexis Sanchez and Angel Di Maria all move to England, the former United striker feels that Falcao's signature is the most headline-grabbing.

"Best signing of the window? Obviously, Falcao sticks out and I am a fan of the striker but I didn't think it was the position United needed to strengthen," Owen told Sportslobster.

Falcao's move follows the signings of Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw, Angel Di Maria and the soon-to-be-announced Daley Blind.

Owen has questioned the balance of Louis van Gaal's squad - with the manager yet to record a win in a competitive game at his new club and argues that the defensive cover is still a priority position to strengthen.

"I think United needed to strengthen defensively but the players just aren't available at the moment," he continued.

"People say Ron Vlaar at Aston Villa but no-one rated him until the World Cup and so I am not convinced.

"I think the three in defence isn't working at the minute and so, if I was Van Gaal, I would go back to four in defence.

"United now have so many attacking players that I am unsure how they are going to fit them all in. I think this is why they originally started with the 3-5-2 formation, so they could accommodate loads of attackers, but now I think Van Gaal may sacrifice [Juan] Mata."

•Falcao

TODAY IN THE NATION

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.9

NO. 2,957

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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N countries with a tradition of adherence to the letter and spirit of the law, an impeachment is the ultimate political sanction, the punishment of last resort for high officers of state who betray the public trust or fail egregiously to live up to its stipulations.

In Nigeria where politics is vengefulness and vendetta by another name, an impeachment is the weapon of first choice. Thus, on any given day, there is an actual impeachment, an attempted impeachment, or rumours of an impeachment already in the making or being contemplated, mostly for reasons that cannot stand legal scrutiny, or simply because the weapon is there and an ascendant group is all too willing to wield it just to show who is in charge.

They have perverted impeachment and given it a bad name.

Even so, the proceeding in the Enugu State House of Assembly last week that the online newspaper, Premium Times, referred to as the “Chicken Impeachment” must have stunned those who still cling to the belief that Nigeria is a land where certain things simply cannot happen.

Before I am summoned to appear before the Enugu Assembly to show cause why I should not be punished for contumely, I should hasten to explain that it is emphatically not the case that the honourable members had become so idle or were so bereft of subjects worthy of their notice that they decided to impeach a chicken.

Even at the local government level, our legislative houses have not sunk to that level yet.

What happened was that the Enugu Assembly, after solemnly deliberating on the charges before it, namely, that His Excellency the Deputy Governor, Sunday Onyebuchi, desecrated his high office by converting the hallowed grounds of his official residence into a sprawling chicken farm and, furthermore, that His Excellency the Deputy Governor, aforementioned, in a show of wanton disrespect, refused to dismantle the said chicken farm when ordered to do so by His Higher Excellency the Governor, Sullivan Chime.

In vain did the Deputy Governor submit by way of extenuation documentary evidence that the impeaching authority, to wit, the Enugu Assembly, had dutifully approved, year after year, a budgetary provision for the upkeep of the chicken farm. In vain also did he depose that His Higher Excellency Governor Chime had for his part converted

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

Enugu ‘Chicken Impeachment’: Matters arising

•Chime

•Onyebuchi

the pristine precincts of the Executive Mansion into a pig farm.

The latter point was not at issue in the deposition, but I will not be surprised if the Enugu Assembly, in keeping with its remit for good governance and its reputation for equity, had also been providing annual budgetary support for His Higher Excellency Governor Chime’s hog farm.

Persons learned in law tell me that the impeachment is likely to go down as an instance of legislative overreach and a flagrant breach of the Constitution to boot. For nowhere in that much-abused document, they tell me, is it expressly stated that the deputy governor of a state cannot convert his official premises to a chicken farm.

Nor, I should add in the interest of balance, that nowhere in the Constitution is it expressly stated that the governor of

RIPPLES ABUJA RESIDENTS URGED TO LIMIT HANDSHAKE–News

Yes ignore HANDSHAKE but not one with GHANA-MUST-GO!

‘Away from the classy road shows, where are the socalled foreign investments in the absence of the pillars on which a truly modern, sophisticated economy can be built? Where are they – the sundry fly-by-night portfolio investors?’

SANYA ONI

a state cannot turn the Executive Mansion into a hog farm.

Why such projects should be supported by the Exchequer is a different matter.

Perhaps it is of a piece with the self-assigned allowances that have percolated from the federal legislature through the state assemblies down to the local councils – allowances for breathing, laughing, sleeping, staying awake, travel, sitting, standing, talking, not talking, walking, driving, reading, writing, and for the incomparable hardship of doing the business of law-making.

But this is mere speculation.

If the Enugu Assembly was minded to abide by the law of the land and rather than embark on a witch-hunt, it could have found some clause in its remit to charge the beleaguered Deputy Governor with a misdemeanor that does not reach the threshold for impeachment, persons learned in the law insist.

With a little creative thinking, they said, it could have come up with some shibboleth – doctrine of overriding necessity, for instance – to constitute itself into a special court and charged Onyebuchi, immunity or no immunity, with at least a dozen violations of the Enugu State Environment Law, found him guilty on all counts, ordered him to cease and desist, to relocate his chicken farm and clean up the place.

And that strategy would have had the great merit of opening an exciting new chapter in Nigerian jurisprudence.

But the usual people have been spinning all sorts of theories around the matter and imputing the basest of motives to the honourable members of the Enugu Assembly.

Some of these slanderers, pivoting on the Stomach Infrastructure Theory, are saying that some legislators had been

HARDBALL T must feel rather obtuse for Hardball to go into the arcane terrain of high finance and securities on the back page of a newspaper. That may be true but trouble not; a bond is just a fancy word for debt; it is a written obligation to pay a sum on a due date. It is a paper; a contract note also called security issued by a government or a company when it borrows money. Bond is a certificate that is issued a creditor when money is borrowed. If you still don’t get it, let us illustrate further: when a company issues bond, it is simply borrowing money from those holding the bond.

And Hardball is drawn to this rather ‘unromantic’ topic when it was revealed recently that 19 firms have issued bond worth about N225 billion in Nigeria in the last eight years. In other word, these 19 Nigerian companies have borrowed the above sum from the (bond) market. Noteworthy is that these companies have borrowed from both the local and foreign markets. Mr. Abraham Nwankwo, director-general of the Debt Management Office (DMO), who revealed this was actually elated that for the first time in

I

The great bond bazaar?

Nigeria’s history, the private sector had been able to access long-term funds from both the domestic and foreign capital markets.

But there lies our point of divergence: Hardball is not as enthusiastic as Mr. Nwankwo on this matter. Yes, it is good to secure long-term loans at low interest rates.

This of course is the best recipe for rapid growth and development in a country. But that only applies to countries populated by decent people who are patriotic and care if their country is developed. But Hardball, being wise to the fact that loans in Nigeria are often diverted to personal pockets or deployed to everything else but what they were meant for, cannot help but be skeptical and indeed upbraid Mr. Nwankwo to get sober lest he be celebrating a phantom.

A good example to learn from is the state governments (read governors) who have found in the capital market, a honey pot

heard complaining that, despite the budgetary appropriation for the defenestrated deputy governor Sunday Onyebuchi’s chicken farm, he had been “eating alone”.

They say he never thought it necessary to send a tray – not even one single, solitary tray — of complimentary eggs to the breakfast table of His Excellency the Governor and the First Family, nor the state legislators’ homes. He did not consider the kitchen of the State Assembly worthy of a steady supply of assorted eggs for preparing meals and delicacies for the exclusive consumption of its honourable members and their special guests.

At Easter and Christmas and New Year and the New Yam Festival and like occasions, it never crossed Onyebuchi’s mind to send even one ordinary dressed hen – to say nothing of a dressed turkey or ostrich – to the Executive Mansion or the homes of the legislators for their holiday enjoyment.

If the formerly excellent Onyebuchi had catered more assiduously to the stomach infrastructure of his principal and members of the Enugu Assembly, his career would not have ended on such a sad note, the slanderers have been saying.

From such reasoning, it is but a short step to the conclusion that the impeachment was the Enugu Assembly’s response to the Deputy Governor’s predilection for eating alone. The reasoning is tendentious, and the conclusion pernicious.

The still excellent Governor Chime has not been supplying grilled pork and allied products or whole roast or barbecued pigs from his hog farm in the Executive Mansion to the homes of members of the state legislature on festive occasions. He has not been catering to the stomach infrastructure of the lawmakers. Yet he has not been impeached.

Still, in a larger sense, Onyebuchi’s impeachment can be seen as a signal warning to those political officials who have been eating alone or may be tempted to eat alone, and a powerful reminder of the wisdom of our people that those who eat alone are doomed to fight alone.

Since one impeachment has a way of begetting another, Governor Chime will have to take appropriate measures to avert the Pig Impeachment that could well follow the Chicken Impeachment of his former deputy.

His first step would be to spread the pork from his Executive Mansion hog farm fast and far.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above for scooping cheap money. It is a known fact that most states have issued bonds for specific projects which were never executed. The funds end up in the pockets of politicians. Thus instead of bond issue helping a state grow it ends up putting them in bondage. Back to the 19 firms, it seems like a bazaar as some as notable on the list are firms that had been run aground and are mere shells because of fraudulent managers and yet some that had been long embroiled in serious graft issues. For instance, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, whose current status is hoary and is never known to give account, is recorded to have carted away N30.56 billion.

Hardball wagers that Nwankwo knows all about this yet he is so happy that Nigerian firms have been enabled to raise cheap funds. Funds for what: to mismanage; to fritter away and even embezzle? What does Nwankwo have to say about the monitoring and regulatory environment? Why is it that nobody seems to care whether the funds are deployed for the purposes they were borrowed? For some of these companies, money was never their problem but poor management. Is this a bazaar of sort?

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