The Nation September 09, 2014

Newspaper of the Year

Lagos, Kwara, Oyo get police chiefs

NEWS

Page 6

•21 commissioners take office

News 50 shops gone in Lagos fire P8 Sports Ike Uche to play for Super Eagles P24 Business Dangote sells $300m shares P11

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 9, NO. 2966 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

•INSIDE: ADAMAWA: APC’S BINDOW TO BATTLE FINTIRI P58 ‘WE’LL FIND IGWE’S KILLER’ P5

Ebola fully controlled, says minister From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja and Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

T

HERE is no new Ebola virus case in Nigeria, Minister of Health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu said yesterday.

But an 18-month-old has been quarantined in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, the second city outside Lagos where the virus has been discovered.

The minister spoke in Abuja. Rivers State Commissioner Dr. Sampson Parker spoke in Port Harcourt. Both of them were giving updates on the Ebola situation.

They gave slightly different figures on the cases.

The minister said 477 people were under surveillance in Rivers. The commissioner said 479 were.

The minister said: “At the moment, only one person, the wife of the Port Harcourt doctor who died, is under treatment in the isolation ward in Lagos.

Continued on page 4

?

WHEN WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15 BE FREED? •ALL FOR A BELOVED CITY: Local vigilantes called Civilian JTF on patrol in Maiduguri…yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Obasanjo’s son injured in Boko Haram ambush Troops, sect in 12-hour battle

El-Zakzaky rejects Jonathan’s ‘sorry’

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

RONTLINE Islamic cleric Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky has rejected President Goodluck Jonathan’s apology for the killing of his three sons and 31 other members of his movement.

El-Zakzaky is the leader of the Shiite Islamic Movement in Nigeria.

Members of the group were on a procession on July 25 in his Zaria, Kaduna State base to mark the annual Quds Day when they clashed with security men at the P2 Roundabout

A

SON of former President Olusegun Obasanjo was injured yesterday in an ambush by Boko Haram fighters.

Lt.-Col. Adeboye Obasanjo, an engineer, was said to have been shot in his legs. A source at his 3rd Division in Jos, the Plateau State capital, confirmed the incident, saying it happened in Adamawa State where troops are fighting to dislodge Boko Haram from some towns.

Some soldiers reportedly died in the ambush.

Mubi, not far from Baza, is already desert-

•Lt.-Col. Obasanjo

Continued on page 4

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe,

F

•IT’S MINE: Williams beat Caroline Wozniacki 6-3 6-3 to go fourth on the all-time list of major winners alongside Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.

Kaduna

Continued on page 4

•TRANSPORTATION P14 •SPORTS P23 •POLITICS P43 •PROPERTY P47 •ENERGY P49

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

2

NEWS

Why barons of

•L-R : Project General Manager Consulting Managing Training, Nike Lanre-Ladenegan; Construction Manager Cubic Contractors, Majid Mulani; Managing Director Grenedines Homes, Noimot Olatunji and Civil Structural and Residential Engineer Folad Construction, Adetokunbo Doherty during the handing over of Grenadine Terraces Project site to the Cubic Contractors in Abuja yesterday.

PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN.

Though a global phenomenon, Nigeria’s share of the boom in the importation, manufacturing, distribution, and consumption of substandard products has assumed endemic and life-threatening proportion. The problem, which has left sour taste in the mouth of consumers and operators in all sectors, continues to defy measures put in place by the authorities to contain it, reports Assist. Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA

•File photograph of fake products imported from China about to be destroyed

I •From left: The Orangun of Oke Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, Chief Fassy Yusuf, chairman, Lagos chapter, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Joseph Okonmah and Resident Electoral Commissioner, Lagos State, Dr Adekunle Ogunmola at the NIPR Annual General Meeting (AGM)/Public Lecture in Lagos....yesterday.

PHOTO: ABODUN WILLIAMS

•From left: Popular dancer, Kafayat Shafau Ameh, winner of the Interswitch shop small win big promo, Adedapo Adefunle and Marketing Manager, Consumer Segments, Interswitch, Enyioma Anaba when the winner was announced in Lagos.

•From left: Assistant General Manager, Finance and Business Development, Top Services Limited, Mr. Celestine Jeremiah; General Manager, TSL, Mr. Jost Horst; Grand prize winner, Mr. Ezechukwu Assuzu; General Manager, Grey Media, Mrs. Esther Audu; Assistant General Manager, Admin/Project Coordinator, TSL, Mrs. Frida Oyakhirome at the presentation of prize to winners of Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall Customer Appreciation Promo in Lagos... at the weekend. PHOTO:MUYIWA HASSAN

T IS extremely difficult these days to extract a smile from the Chairman of DN Meyer Plc, Sir Remi Omotoso, particularly when the state of Nigeria’s manufacturing sector is the focus of discussion. The 69-year old industrialist wears a long face every time he remembers the heavy toll the unbridled importation, production, distribution and consumption of fake and substandard products is taking on manufacturers and, by implication, the economy.

“If you look at how manufacturers are affected by products faking and importation of substandard materials you shudder. Many of them are suffering a lot,” he pointed out, in an interview with The Nation.

Giving more insight into how the booming trade in substandard products is taking the shine off manufacturers, Omotoso, a former Director General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), said: “You can’t export freely because our products will not be able to pass international standards test. Not the ones we produce, but the ones that are faked affect the ones that are genuine. They go and put the label of a good product on a bad product and once they get out of the shores of the country nobody knows which one that was genuinely produced and the one that was faked.

Its a major threat to our economy.”

Lagos lawyer and public affairs analyst Obiora Akabogu agrees with him. “The free reign of importers of substandard products is killing the home industry, and it’s a threat to the economy,” Akabogu said, accusing the regulatory agencies of being incompetent.

According to him, the agencies charged with regulating standards and protecting the interest of consumers have performed below average.

The fight against substandard products, he observed, has been “one step forward, two steps backward”.

He observed that in the case of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), for instance, it was at the zenith of the sterling performance of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) under the late Prof. Dora Akunyili that the leadership of SON decided to make its voice heard and its impact felt. He said shortly after Mrs Akunyili’s exit from the agency, SON, which got its stimulus for performance from NAFDAC, lost steam. Same for NAFDAC, which he said has retrogressed following the exit of the late Akunyili.

Akabogu recalled, for instance, that during the late Mrs Akunyili’s era, there were cases where full contain-

•Aganga

ers of essential drugs were imported into the country and when their efficacy and potency were tested, it was found out that they were reduced by about 60 per cent. Subsequently the drugs were duly seized and set on fire and the perpetrators prosecuted while their offices were sealed. He regretted that such scenario, which used to be a daily occurrence in places like Aba, Onitsha, Ibadan, Kano, and Lagos, but were contained by NAFDAC, is gradually coming back.

“The bad guys (importers of fake and substandard products) are back.

It is business-as-usual. The fight against fake drugs died with Akunyili, leaving the average Nigerians exposed daily to inconsumable and substandard products,” Akabogu said, noting that the menace of substandard products has become endemic and lifethreatening, posing health risk to consumers and putting tremendous pressure on the local economy. He said the situation was regrettable, considering the billions of naira voted to the agencies annually, including the billions of naira received from donor agencies and development partners.

There has been growing concern over the preponderance of adulterated or substandard products in the country. Many consumers who purchase products like foods, beverages, pharmaceutical drugs, batteries, tyres, paint, electrical cables, bulbs and mobile phones have been raising issues over the quality and standard of products in markets. For instance, within the first year of its existence, the Lagos Office of Consumer Protection Council (CPC) was inundated with between 20-30 of such consumer complaints every month. About three years later, the number of complaints rose to between 500-800 every month, according to Tam Tamunokonbia,

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

3

NEWS

fake products are smiling to the banks ‘

We are supposed to have a department for surveillance and enforcement, which is the department that handles complaints.

Because we don’t have such department, what that has done is to stretch everybody

‘

sellers who do not comply with this campaign after six months will be arrested and persecuted,” he said, adding that the six-months notice started July 1, 2014 at the end of which the Council will do a sustained surveillance whereby its enforcement officers will be visiting shops, supermarkets and market places to do seizures and to also arrest.

CPC also handed down an ultimatum to product dealers to stop indiscriminate storing, which could undermine the quality of products. At the launch of the campaign in Abuja, CPC Director General, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, frowned at the storing of some products in the Nigerian market-place, claiming that it has been undermining the quality of the products. “It is also common knowledge that even when not expired, the quality of most products gets compromised when stored under harsh weather conditions”, she noted.

Mrs. Atoki also said it is worrisome that most super stores across the country stock their bottled water and beverages under direct sunlight in front of their shops for weeks on end. The practice of storing such items under the sun, she said, is unacceptable as it negates the storage conditions stipulated for them by the manufacturers, thereby exposing consumers to injury. She gave dealers six months with effect from July 1 to find alternative ways of storing such products or have them withdrawn from the market. She charged manufacturers to use the sixmonth period of moratorium to train all those in their distribution chain on how best to store their products, and to stock only products that they can store properly.

SON intensifies campaign

• Tamunokonbia

Head, Lagos Office of CPC. Tamunokonbia told The Nation that the increased number of consumer complaints is an indication of increased awareness following the adoption of the use of social media so that consumers could reach the CPC on e-mail, twitter and Facebook, adding that the prevalence rate of substandard products is higher in the Southeast, particularly in places such as Cemetery Market in Aba, Abia State, Ogbaru Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, as well as the Enugu market.

“The people manufacturing substandard products are more in certain markets in Aba and Onitsha. In Lagos you see pockets of such people. Lagos being what it is, you still have some hide-outs where those things still happen. But if you put the whole of Nigeria in perspective, then the prevalent rate should be about 40 per cent because you could have some in Kano, some in the north, some in the Southsouth. But in terms of percentage I would give 40 per cent to the South east and probably 10 per cent here and there,” he explained.

HROWING more light on how the counterfeiting is done, he said after the production of the substandard products, they are transported out of the South east to various markets in the Southsouth such as Port-Harcourt and Calabar, including Lagos in the Southwest, depending on the manufacturer’s calculation of profit margin. He noted that there is a degree of production of substandard products in the country, and that the unscrupulous producers usually make arrangements for the labeling outside Nigeria, in China, for instance.

He said: “When we carried out a raid recently in Cemetery Market in Aba, we discovered peak milk was be-

T

•Akabogu

ing produced. To our surprise they had already imported the label of the sachet powdered peak milk from China. The label was just the same, exactly the same powdered peak milk label.”

That was not the only shocker. Tamunokonbia said for the tin milk, his men discovered that the producers picked the tin from scavengers or from dustbin, washed them and cleaned them up.

“So the label is still the same; everything is the same so consumers would not be able to know the difference,” he said, adding that there are some products as well that are produced outside the country in which case the Council is working in collaboration with other relevant agencies to halt the illicit trade.

For those who produce substandard products locally, their usual excuse is that the nation’s huge infrastructure gap, particularly power, puts tremendous pressure on their operations.

Some of them argue that rising cost of raw materials and provision of power eats into their profit margin, forcing them to thinker with the quality of their products to remain in business. What this means is that if the operating environment were to be more friendly, they would have been producing quality products. But Akabogu describes this position as false. According to him, Nigeria is an import-dependent economy, with Nigerians as mere importers, wholesalers, and retailers. He said most of the substandard products are manufactured in Asia and imported into Nigeria, exposing consumers to all manner of health risk.

Tamunokonbia said the CPC is living up to its mandate to protect consumers. Established by Act No. 66 of 1992, the CPC, a parastatal supervised by the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, commenced operations in 1999, when its institutional framework was put in place. The Council has the

•Odumodu

mandate to, among others, eliminate hazardous products from the market, provide speedy redress to consumers’ complaints, and undertake campaigns as will lead to increased consumer awareness.

T was in the course of carrying out its mandate that the CPC recently uncovered the sale of a brand of cigarette, ESSE EDGE, in the Nigerian markets with a post-dated production date of September, 2014.

The product is said to be distributed in Nigeria by Black Horse Tobacco Company, but made in Korea by Korea Tobacco and Ginseng Corporation (KT&G). CPC stated that falsifying the production date of the ESSE EDGE cigarette was a calculated attempt to manipulate the cigarette’s shelf life and keep it in the market longer than required, thereby constituting grave health hazards to consumers.

The agency said in view of its resolve to raise awareness on the value of checking the BB (Best Before) date of products, it has commenced the removal of the defective ESSE EDGE cigarette from the market. It, however, cautioned the public, including wholesalers, retailers and consumers to beware of the defective cigarette, whose actual date of manufacture is unknown, and to report any manipulation to it. The Council also advised wholesalers, retailers and consumers to always check the date of manufacture on their pack of cigarettes and all other products before they purchase.

Tamunokonbia said since the launch of the ‘Check the BB Date Campaign’ by the Minister of Industry, Trade and investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, the Lagos Office has taken the campaign a notch higher by conducting a road show that went through most of the supermarkets in Lagos. “We have given a warning that

I

A survey by SON puts the prevalence rate of substandard products in the country at between 80 and 85 per cent. The survey was done about three years ago when its current Director General (DG), Dr. Joseph Odumodu assumed office. The result of the survey was scary and unacceptable considering the fact that in Egypt and Kenya, for instance, only 40 per cent of products are said to be substandard.

South Africa’s was less than 30 per cent.

The agency, however, said the level of substandard products in Nigeria has dropped from 85 per cent to 50 per cent in the last two years following the intensification of its ‘Zero Tolerance’ campaign. It added that it is determined to further reduce the prevalence of substandard goods to 30 per cent. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of SON, Mr. Mathias Bassey. told The Nation that Nigerians are already imbibing the culture of zero tolerance for substandard products. He said the increasing awareness of Nigerians is on the strength of various initiatives, programmes and sensitisation efforts of the agency. Apart from SON’s ‘Zero Tolerance’ campaign, the agency, he said, had put in place the SON Off Shore Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP), as well as embarked on several market surveys and enforcement exercises.

While SONCAP aimed at ensuring that products are easily identifiable by providing that before a trader orders goods, the importer must get a certificate for all regulated products before shipment into Nigeria, MANCAP ensures that any product made in Nigeria carry the MANCAP certificate as well as the Nigeria Industrial Standards (NIS) certificate.

In insisting on MANCAP, the agency said it found out that people were bringing in goods from all kinds of places and avoiding the ports.

The agency claims that the programmes are paying off. For instance, Odumodu disclosed recently that the level of certified domestic products improved to 13 per cent from the less

than 10 per cent obtained in 2011. He put the number of MANCAP-Certified companies in 2013 at 546, while certified products in 2013 were 821. He said many consumer products are now registered and captured on the SON website with 6, 899 registered products and 927 registered companies so far.

On the other hand, the re-engineered SONCAP regime, Odumodu said, has significantly improved compliance with extant import conformity regulations. He added that sensitisation campaigns and engagement were held across the six geo-political zones of the country, and that survey confirmed 65 per cent level of consumer awareness on substandard products. Importers at the Alaba International market and traders in the Computer village, both in Lagos, as well as others in other popular markets across the country are said to have benefited from the sensitisation programme of SON aimed at stamping out substandard products.

Also, the agency has engaged in capacity building consumer engagement (market desks, road shows, advertising, and enlightenment campaign to educate the masses. The compliance monitoring efforts of SON are also said to have yielded fruit. For instance, SON has reviewed and enforced standards in the roofing sheet sub sector of the nation’s building construction industry. Conformity to standards in steel development is also said to have led to quality improvement, resulting in a glut of quality steel bars in the country, just as the agency has addressed local capacity and quality in the cement sub sector.

Bassey added that SON’s collaborative effort with relevant stakeholders and industry associations particularly block moulders is also yielding good results. He was however, quick to point out that “spreading the culture of zero tolerance to substandard products is neither a one-day affair nor a one man’s job; it requires the effort of all, and it will take time.”

He disclosed that the National Quality Policy (NQP), which seeks to produce a broad-based system that would provide quality specifications for all manufactured products in the country, is still before the National Assembly for approval.

A war, its many challenges

D

ESPITE the sustained cam paign by the standard/en forcement agencies to contain the reign of substandard products, the problem persists. This, Kola Oladipo, former Chairman, Export Group of MAN, attributes to poor funding, inadequate staffing of the agencies, and corruption at the ports. Oladipo is right.

For instance, while the Lagos Office of CPC is looking forward to an increase in the number of consumer complaints from about 500 to 1, 000 a month, given the large population of the commercial city of Lagos, Tamunokonbia said he has his fears.

“My greatest fear is that when this complaint increases to a thousand mark plus, can we cope? Because as it is, my members of staff are over-stretched. We are supposed to have a department for surveillance and enforcement, which is the department that handles complaints. Because we don’t have such department, what that has done is to stretch everybody,” he said.

Apart from the challenge of inadequate staffing, The Nation learnt that the few staff on the payroll of the agencies are poorly motivated. Akabogu said that this is why some members of staff of the agencies allegedly compromise.

“They (agency staff) compromise because of fear of the unknown; many of them are wary of what will happen to them after retirement. So, some of them want to get anything they can from the system before they retire,” he said.

•Continued on page 60

4

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

El-Zakzaky rejects Jonathan’s ‘sorry’ Continued from page 1

•President Goodluck Jonathan (right) discussing with the Belarus Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy, Mr Vladimio Makei, PHOTO: NAN during his visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja…yesterday.

Ebola fully controlled, says minister Continued from page 1

She no longer has any symptoms and is undergoing series of tests preparatory to her discharge this week.”

Chukwu said another patient was discharged on Sunday. The patient according to him, is the sister of Port Harcourt doctor Iyke Enemuo.

“It has been 50 days since Ebola Virus Disease was imported into Nigeria through Lagos, and 38 days since it was introduced into Port Harcourt. So far, all the cases that have been confirmed in Nigeria are traceable to the index case, Mr. Sawyer,” the minister said, adding: “As of this morning, the total number of confirmed cases of EVD in Nigeria is 19, 15 in Lagos, four in Port Harcourt.

“The 19th case is the fiancé of one of the primary contacts of Mr. Sawyer’s who died of the disease. The test results were equivocal but further tests established the disease.

He had only mild symptoms and he has since recovered from the illness. He was quarantined but because of the equivocal test result he was not placed on active

treatment.

“The total number of deaths from EVD in Nigeria stands at seven. Five of this died in Lagos, one in a private hospital, the index case Mr. Sawyer, and the other four in the isolation ward in Lagos State.”

“Two of the seven (7) died in Port Harcourt, the medical doctor who died in a private hospital and the contact, a patient in the hospital at the time the doctor was also on admission, who died in the isolation ward in Rivers State.

The total number of patients who have been successfully managed and discharged stands at nine.

“The latest is the sister of the Port Harcourt doctor who was discharged from the isolation ward in Rivers State yesterday (on Sunday). (It should be noted that the nine patients successfully managed and discharged are among the total number of 11 survivors of EVD in Nigeria.

“At the moment, only one person, the wife of the Port Harcourt doctor, is on treatment in the isolation ward in Lagos. She no longer has any

symptoms and is undergoing series of tests preparatory to her discharge from the isolation ward this week.

“Regarding contacts currently under surveillance, Lagos has 27 contacts surveillance, as of now. A total of 339 contacts who were previously on surveillance have been discharged, having completed 21 days of observation.

“Port Harcourt has 477 contacts under surveillance. It is a mixed group consisting of tertiary and quaternary contacts of Mr. Sawyer’s. Five contacts have already been discharged from surveillance in Port Harcourt, having completed 21 days of observation.”

The minister also said that ambulances, motorcycles and other medical equipment had been distributed to Port Health to effectively work at the borders and ports.

Dispelling the rumours, Chukwu said: “In the last one week, a number of EVD rumours have been investigated and all the cases have turned out to be Ebola negative. Specifically, the rumours in Kebbi, Kaduna, La-

gos, Lagos, Oyo, Ebonyi, Delta and Sokoto states as well as the Federal Capital Territory have all been debunked.”

He said the United States made the pledge of 30 body scanners in error. “What eventually the US donated were 30 handheld infra-red thermometers, which have been put to service,” the minister explained.

Parker also said the late Enemuo’s sister, Chinyere who tested positive to the virus, had been discharged from the centre.

He said the baby became symptomatic at the weekend and was moved to the treatment centre, but was yet to be tested. The toddler was apparently among the number classified as high-risk.

“We have successfully treated and discharged an Ebola patient from our treatment centre. She was positive and she has been treated successfully and now negative.

She has been re-united with her family members.

“A symptomatic contact was also discharged. He tested negative to the virus and Continued on page 59

in the University town.

At the end of the clash, 34 members of the sect lay dead; 106 were injured.

Yesterday, the cleric told visiting Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, in Zaria that he expected nothing but justice from the government.

He said President Goodluck Jonathan called him on the telephone to apologise to him on the killings but he rejected it.

“You don’t commit murder and say sorry,” El-Zakzaky said, adding: “If that is the case, there is no need for legislation. Whenever one commits a crime, all he needs to do is to say sorry. Why do we have the police, courts and prisons? These murderers are known. I am not blaming the entire military, but I know the killers. They are individuals who answer names. I know their commander is a Lieutenant Colonel who personally shot my children. He stamped on their bodies and stabbed them with knives.

This is clearly a crime committed.”

Zakzaky said it is only when criminals are punished that the society acknowledges that a crime was truly committed. “My children were identified as my children before they were tortured to death. This is a crime. I can’t imagine how callous and cruel one can be to murder three children simply because he hates their father. They did nothing,” he said.

However, he said, the Islamic Movement had cause to rejoice over what happened to its members, as they were killed on the path of God. “You as a Christian believe that Jesus Christ was killed for no offence, but just because he was good. This has been the fate of all good people, such as the Prophets.

This is a certificate on our own little way that these people were good, but the corrupt society feels that we should not exist.”

Zakzaky praised the NHRC boss for the visit and

the concern shown, maintaining that the movement would not fold its arms and accept what happened without any effort, but will seek redress through the right channel.

Odinkalu pledged that the Commission would seek all legal avenues and employ all legal mechanisms to ensure that the law takes its course over the killings.

Odinkalu added: “We are all children of one country and one Nigeria. None of us chose to be here, but we are all planted here by God for a reason. No parent wants to lose three children at a time.

These children could be children of any parent. But it got to a point in this country where losing people no longer matters, where young people can die and nobody cares.

“We will ensure justice is done without undue interference from any quarters, as vanguards of citizens in their demand for justice and fair play. We pray God for the repose of the souls of those killed and give to Sheikh the fortitude and strength to bear the irreparable loss.”

Zakzaky said the perpetrators of the act intended to isolate the Islamic Movement as another “Boko Haram” to create hatred between the group and the public.

“This is why they are referring to us as ‘Shi’ite sect’. We are never a sect, and will never be one. I personally do not recognise a sect; we have never called ourselves a sect. we have never been a sect and will never be. All my life, I never even recognised a sect,” he said.

The Sheikh went on: “They indiscriminately and sporadically shot at everyone and everything, including nearby banks and shops, smashed cars. We also realised that the soldiers used special tiny bullets on the protesters that were not easily detected during first aid treatment on the injured.

“An announcement had already been made that any person injured and discharged from hospital, should go back for cross exContinued on page 59

Obasanjo’s son injured in Boko Haram ambush Continued from page 1

ed over fears of the sect’s impending attack. The Adamawa State University in the town has been closed down.

There was no official confirmation of Lt.-Col. Obasanjo’s injury last night.

The military does not usually confirm injuries of individual soldiers or officers.

But, a military source said: “There was an ambush of troops and their commanders by Boko Haram in Baza and Lt.-Col. Adeboye Obasanjo and others were wounded but they are receiving treatment.

“Some insurgents were also killed during encounters which followed the ambush.”

All military and security sources switched off their phones to avoid responding to enquiries.

No information was also posted on the Twitter account of the DHQ. There was massive deployment of troops yesterday in Michika where Boko Haram fighters held sway.

Jets had been bombarding

Boko Haram can’t declare funding sources, says Sani

C

IVIL Rights Congress (CRC) President Shehu Sani yesterday ruled out the possibility of Boko Haram disclosing its source of funding and sponsorship to Dr. Stephen Davis, an Austrialian hostage negotiator.

Dr. Davis, in an interview, had alleged the involvement of some prominent politicians, military officers and government officials in sponsoring Boko Haram.

Reacting to the allegation by Dr. Davis on his facebook wall yesterday, Sani, who facilitated the meeting of former President Olusegun Obasanjo with the group in Maiduguri in 2011, said it was impossible for genuine Boko Haram top rank to disclose to any negotiator their source of funding.

“I have been asked by many people to confirm whether the statement credited the sect’s cells in Adamawa State and surrounding villages in the last 12 hours, a source told The Nation last night.

There were reports of bloody skirmishes between Boko Haram insurgents and troops battling to liberate Michika and surrounding villages.

•NLC: we must not lose any part of Nigeria

“The government has denied any link with the mediator and I believe the group will make their statement on the issue,” Sani said.

Also yesterday, the Nigeria Labour From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna and Tony Akowe, Abuja Congress (NLC) asked the Federal Govto the Australian negotiator, which im- ernment to use maximum force to repel plicates two persons over the sponsor- the Boko Haram Insurgency.

In a statement in Abuja entitled “We ship of Boko Haram is true or false.

“The truth and little I know is that it is must not lose any part of Nigeria to invery impossible for genuine Boko Haram surgents” and signed by NLC President top rank to disclose to any negotiator Abdulwahed Omar, the Congress said the fact that members of the group had their source of funding.

“Any negotiator who deviates from his decided to come out in their number to acclaimed role of a broker and tried to attack towns and villages in the Northseek information about their source of east is a clear indication that they had funding, they will likely treat him as a declared war on the country and must be repelled by every force available. spy.

The umbrella body of workers ex“How logical is it for the group to be sponsored by persons they consistently pressed concern at the speed with which Continued on page 59 despised and targeted?

Casualty figures were unknown as at the time of filing this report.

The insurgents blocked access to the town, but a reinforcement of troops was still ongoing last night.

Also, the attacks on communication masts in Michika and environs by the insurgents have made GSM

services epileptic.

The insurgents were said to still be in control of Kirchinga, the Madagali Local Government Area hometown of Acting Governor Umaru Fintiri.

Fintiri was said to have assured some anxious stakeholders that there was a “remarkable control of the sit-

uation” by troops.

A military source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Some jets have been deployed in Michika, Madagali, Bazza, Uba. These include Alpha jets for attacks, F7 Fighter for air strikes; Mi35 helicopter for attacks and ATR 42 for reconnaissance.

“These jets have been

•Sani

shelling all the positions of the insurgents. They have had bloody encounters with Boko Haram members, who might soon vacate these towns.

“In the last 12 hours, there have been encounters between our troops and the insurgents in and around Michika.

Continued on page 59

ADVERT HOTLINES 08023006969, 08052592524

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

5

NEWS DIMGBA IGWE 1956-2014

D

Uduaghan mourns Igwe

ELTA State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has commiserated with the family of renowned columnist and Vice-Chairman of The Sun, Pastor Dimgba Igwe.

He said in a statement by his Press Secretary, Felix Ofou that the death was a big blow to the media, fans and readers as well as lovers of truth worldwide.

Uduaghan said: “Dimgba Igwe’s Sideview column in The Daily Sun is well respected and has a large following.

“When he wrote about our modest efforts at transforming Delta State, many people took note. I believe that article and others written by those who attended the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) conference in Asaba last year set the tone for the awards we have received in the last one year.

“I take this loss as personal. It is also a loss to Delta since the wife is from our state. He was a dependable partner and we were looking forward to a more fruitful relationship before death struck.

“I sympathise with the family, the board, management and workers of The Sun and the media on this painful loss. I share in their moments of grief.”

‘He was a victim of Nigeria’s tragedies’

A

FORMER Editor of the rested Daily Times, Chief Areoye Oyebola, has described the late Vice-Chairman of The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr Dimgba Igwe, as “a victim of series of tragedies, which the helpless and ever tottering country called Nigeria has become”.

Oyebola, in a condolence message, said: “It is only in Nigeria where drunken drivers will fake driving licences, roam about in large numbers, that such a tragedy can happen.”

He went on: “It is only in a helpless country where law and order has virtually broken down that such a highly talented and prominent person can be so gruesomely killed.

“It is only in a helpless and totally unsafe country called

‘Ensure potable water’

T

By Jeremiah Oke

HE National President, Association of Water Well Drilling Rig Owners and Practitioners (AWDROP), Mr. Michael Ale, has urged the Federal Government to ensure that potable water was provided in all parts of the country.

He said polluted water aids the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Ale decried Federal Government’s inability to provide treated water.

According to him, rural dwellers were exposed to contaminated water.

He said water projects in the country had recorded low achievements, considering the pilot study of water infrastructure conducted by AWDROP. Ale, who spoke in Ibadan after the Annual General Conference of the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI), in Kaduna, said it was unwise for government to neglect the water sector in view of the outbreak of Ebola.

He urged governments to declare a state of emergency in the water sector.

The AWDROP national president said governments should support their members to enable them drill more boreholes in health centres.

Nigeria where drunken and hard drug-energised driver could kill one of the most eminent citizens without the country’s corruption-ruined police being able to track down the killer within one hour.

“Only in Nigeria where 80 per cent of the rulers are worthless and clueless individuals, whose life’s dreams and goals are to appropriate more than 90 per cent of the country’s resources to themselves, could such a tragedy occur without the excessively greedy and naive rulers being able to direct the Inspector General of Police to find out the killer in a few hours.

“These are rulers whose lamentation on Igwe’s tragic death are empty, self-serving and meaningless playing to the gallery.”

We’ll get Igwe’s killer, says IGP

T

HE Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, has expressed the determination of the Nigeria Police to ensure that the killer of the ViceChairman of The Sun, Mr. Dimgba Igwe, was arrested and prosecuted.

He was represented yesterday by the Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police (AIG), Umar Manko, during a condolence visit to the deceased’s family in Okota, Lagos.

Manko, who came with the Commissioner of Police and

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

other senior officers, decried the incident.

He said: “It is a very sad occurrence. It is unfortunate that somebody of Igwe’s calibre can be knocked down and killed with a car. It is too bad.”

The AIG said to forestall a recurrence, efforts were being made with the Lagos State government to provide CCTV cameras in all parts of the state to fight crimes.

“If we have had enough of the cameras in place, we won’t

be telling this type of story.

However, there is an assurance from the police command that the culprit will be arrested.”

Manko described Igwe as “a gentleman, a straightforward journalist and a forthright person.”

IGP Abba has ordered an investigation into the death of Igwe.

A statement yesterday by the Force spokesman Emmanuel Ojukwu assured that the police would ensure the arrest of the killer-driver.

The statement conveyed

Abba’s condolences to the deceased’s family, the management and workers of The Sun Publishing Ltd and the nation.

“While recalling the many worthy contributions of the late journalist to nation building, the IGP expressed deep regrets on the death of the journalist, who until his death, was the vice-chairman of The Sun. “He noted that Igwe’s death is regrettable, coming at a time his highly cerebral ideas and ingenuity are needed in the country,” the statement added.

Igwe’s death, a national loss, says Akpabio

A

KWA IBOM State Governor Godswill Akpabio has condoled with the management and workers of The Sun Publishing Ltd on the death of the Vice-Chairman, Pastor Dimgba Igwe.

The governor, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Deacon Jackson Udom, described the death of the renowned journalist as shocking and a great loss not only to journalism, but also to the country.

He said: “I received with

shock and disbelief the news of the death of Pastor Igwe.

It is indeed one of the darkest days in the nation’s history. Igwe was one of the shining lights of the pen profession. His days in the defunct National Concord and his decision to team up with the publisher of The Sun, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, was a turning point in the development of the media, which he anchored professionally before his gruesome death.”

Igwe, Akpabio noted, was “a fierce and fearless colum-

nist, who became a household name because of his incisive and revealing analyses of local, national and international issues. This quality and fearless articles by Igwe will be missed by his admirers.”

The governor, while commiserating with The Sun family on the loss of a resourceful and thoroughbred journalist and manager, prayed for the repose of his soul and the fortitude by those he left behind to bear the painful loss.

Nigeria has lost a gem, says Adenuga

G

LOBACOM Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr. (GCON), has described the sudden demise of the Vice-Chairman of The Sun, Pastor Dimgba Igwe, as a tragic and colossal loss not only to journalism but the entire nation.

In a condolence message to the management of the newspapers, Dr. Adenuga said the nation had lost a gem with the death of Pastor Igwe.

“Pastor Igwe was a gentleman and an excel-

lent professional, who discharged his duties with rare candour. He was a prolific columnist and a constructive critic, who used his writings to dissect the challenges facing the society and was always positive in his postulations.”

The Globacom chairman said he received the news with deep shock and conveyed his commiserations and prayers to The Sun and the family of Igwe on the monumental loss.

•The late Igwe

• From left: Rivers Commissioner for Health, Dr Samson Parker; Media Consultant, Mr Jonathan Elendu and a journalist, Mr Daniel Abia at a news conference on Discharged Ebola Patient and Admission of a child of 18-months-old in Port Harcourt ...yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, addressing intending pilgrims from the state for this years hajj at the Arcade Ground, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta...yesterday

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

6

NEWS

•Supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at a rally in Sokoto.

No going back on Jonathan/Sambo endorsement, says Northwest PDP

S

TAKEHOLDERS of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Northwest stood yesterday their ground on the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan and VicePresident Namadi Sambo for the 2015 presidency. They said there was no going back on their earlier stand.

The stakeholders were reacting to the denial of the Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, distancing the state from the party’s resolution at a meeting at the Gen. Hassan Katsina House, Kawo, Kaduna.

The Chairman of the Communiqué Drafting Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Aminu Wali, in a statement in Kaduna wondered the sudden reversal by the Jigawa governor, “who was represented by his deputy.”

He threatened to show the video clip where the deputy governor supported the reso-

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

lution reached, only for him to organise a news conference in Dutse to deny being part of the decision.

Wali said the resolution was part of the decisions of the party, which started from the state level to the zonal level “and Jigawa State was represented by the deputy governor. I wonder the reason for this denial.”

The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a publication widely circulated in the media purported to have emanated from the Jigawa State governor, challenging the resolution of our expanded stakeholders’ meeting where he claimed that Jigawa State was not part of the resolution.

“It is against this backdrop that we deem it necessary to clear the air on this and other issues raised by the deputy governor at his news brief-

ing in his office in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital.

“Let me firmly and explicitly state that the decision to hold the expanded stakeholders’ meeting was a culmination of several meetings held among key stakeholders of the zone, and Jigawa State was always represented by the deputy governor.

“It was also agreed at such meetings that each state must first hold its stakeholders’ meeting before the expanded meeting, which we believe was complied with by each state chapter of the party.

“The outcome of the meetings by the state chapters gave rise to the Northwest meeting. The expanded stakeholders’ resolve to urge President Goodluck Jonathan to contest for the office of the president in 2015. “This decision was the position of the majority of the stakeholders present at the meeting. Therefore,

Amb. Aminu Wali was directed to read the communiqué and make it public as prepared and submitted by the party. This accounted for the presence of the governors and deputy governors, including that of Jigawa State standing behind Wali while he was reading the communiqué, to demonstrate their support and endorsement of the outcome of the meeting.

“For the deputy governor to return to Jigawa State and organise a news conference dissociating himself and the Jigawa State governor from the communiqué is an afterthought and rather very unfortunate.

“We have no atom of idea as to the reason for such denial we therefore find it necessary to put the record straight by confirming that we stand by the contents and outcome of our communiqué.”

Police chiefs for 21 states From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

A

CTING Inspector-General of Police Suleiman Abba has approved the posting of new Commissioners of Police (CP) for 21 states.

They are: Usman Yakubu (Nasarawa), Isaac Gabriel Achong (Akwa Ibom), Paul Okafor (Kogi), Hyancith Dagala (Benue), Idris Faruk Umar (Jigawa), Salihu Garba (Kwara), A. K. Shodipo (Oyo), Abubakar Marafa (Osun), Clement Adoda (Borno), and Kayode Aderanti (Lagos).

Others are: Usman Baba (Delta), Dan Bature (Rivers), Karma Hosea Hassan (Anambra), Titilayo Busari (Cross River), Valentine Ntomchukwu (Bayelsa), Taiwo Lakanu (Ekiti); Ademola Omole (Taraba), Olusola Emmanuel Amore (Niger), Adejoh Gabriel Adaji (Adamawa), Ishaku Barau (Kebbi) and Wilson Inalegwu (FCT).

A statement yesterday by the Force spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu, said the exercise was in line with the determination of the police authorities to reposition the Force for improved service delivery.

Boko Haram: Uduaghan solicits support for Jonathan

D

ELTA State Governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has called for support and

2015: INEC partners Institute to address challenges

T

HE Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Dr. Aminu Musa- Yusuf, has said the institute was collaborating with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address the logistic challenges facing the commission.

He spoke yesterday at the opening of a three-day training programme on “Logistic operations management”, for INEC officials in Zaria.

Musa-Yusuf, represented by the Director of Transport School, Dr. Abimbola Udomusu, said logistics was a critical element for the successful conduct of elections.

He went on: “NITT considers this course as an important one because logistic planning components of INEC’s operations are vital to the success of the exercise.

“Logistics ensure that equipment and personnel, among other things, are put in place in time, besides moving them to where they are needed for a successful poll.

“Election of whatever nature requires planning and

Commission ready to participate in experience-sharing

A

HEAD of the 2015 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it would participate in experience sharing to strengthen democracy.

The Acting Chairman of the commission, the National Commissioner, Abdukadir Sulaimanu Oniyangi, according to INEC’s daily bulletin, spoke when he hosted the Secretary-General of the Community of Democracies, Amb. Maria Leissner.

She said the visit was “to explore ways to cooperate in future and push for deeper involvement of the country in its activities.”

She said her organisation aimed to “support emerging democracies, strengthen democratic institutions and encourage dialogue among member-countries”, adding that the Nigerian democratic journey would play a key role in experiences to be shared.

The envoy said her organisation was working on themes through the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) to produce a study on international electoral practices with Nigeria as a case study, because “the country has a lot to offer due to the reforms

experienced in the electoral process in recent times.”

Amb. Leissner advised the INEC leadership to participate in a project by the Community of Democracies called the “Working group for elections”, founded to serve as a means of disseminating information and knowledge on best practices, coming up with practical initiatives to promote and support democracy at all levels.

“The Working group focuses on strengthening the capacity of Electoral Management Bodies (EMB) and electoral stakeholders, including parties, observers, civil society and international organisations active in elections.”

Oniyangi expressed the commission’s willingness to partner and participate in experience sharing processes, which would help improve the integrity of elections in the country.

He said: “The idea is excellent and is in tandem with the commission’s aspirations.

“INEC is ready to learn from everywhere and is open to do business with organisations, which will help deepen democracy in the country.”

preparation, especially the logistics aspect of it.”

Musa-Yusuf noted that it was the responsibility of stakeholders to consider how they would contribute to empower INEC, to enable it carry out its mandate.

He added: “NITT has cho-

INEC faces in conducting elections in the country.”

The Director, Logistics and Operations, Mr. Kayode Oladimeji, said the essence of the training was to make INEC workers more effective and efficient in service delivery.

sen the path of increasing the capacity and capability of INEC officials to enable them develop strategies for solving electoral challenges, particularly in the area of logistics.

“The institute is not a stranger to the challenges

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

“We have brought our logistics officers from the states to ensure they get knowledge on logistics.”

Oladimeji said after the training, the participants would pass the knowledge to their colleagues at the state level as part of efforts to ensure successful elections.

collaboration with President Goodluck Jonathan to enable him tackle the Boko Haram insurgency.

The governor, who spoke at a service at the Avenue Baptist Church, Warri, Delta State, said the support was necessary because of the peculiar security challenges facing the country.

He said: “There is no President that faced the type of challenges our President is facing today. Let us rally round him and continue to pray for him and our brothers and sisters in the North because they are facing a lot of challenges.

“As a nation, we have the challenge of Boko Haram. We should pray that those who do not want others to live will not also live.”

Uduaghan scored his administration high in the area of security, noting that the peace and security agenda of his administration had ensured that gunshots, which were a familiar occurrence in Warri before his election, were no longer heard.

7

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

NEWS Why we ’re expanding Idanre resort,

by Mimiko

Ajimobi promises to leave indelible legacy

O

O

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has promised to leave a legacy too difficult to surpass by any administration succeeding him.

He spoke at his investiture as the Grand Patron of the Ibadan Recreation Club 1902 at Adamasingba, Ibadan.

The governor listed some of the achievements of his administration as the provision of security, clean environment and infrastructural development.

Ajimobi added that the achievements have made the state an investors’ destination of choice.

He said his administration had resuscitated the abandoned Asejire Waterworks.

The governor added that his administration had fulfilled its promise to place the civil servants on a better salary scale comparable to their counterparts in other Southwest states He called on the club’s members to contribute towards the urban renewal policy of the government by maintaining a clean environment within the club house.

‘Ibadan not against Alao-Akala’s return’ From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

A

CHIEFTAIN of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Alhaji Adebisi Olopoenia, has denied the claim that Ibadan indigenes are against former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala’s return to office in 2015.

He noted that the Ibadan people gathered at Oje, Beere, Mokola and Agodi-Gate to welcome Alao-Akala last Thursday when he declared his bid to re-contest.

The politician said the people benefited under the former governor’s administration between 2007 and 201.

Olopoenia, who spoke with reporters at his Basorun home in Ibadan, stressed that AlaoAkala had been tested, trusted, adding that the people have confidence in his leadership.

•Ambode flanked by Faleke (left) and Kalejaye at the inauguration of Ambode’s campaign committees and office in Lagos...yesterday.

I’m ready to serve Lagosians, says Ambode

L

AGOS State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant Mr. Akinwumi Ambode has reiterated his readiness to serve Lagosians, if elected as governor in next year’s election.

He spoke about his vision for the APC, saying the party would liberate Nigerians from poverty, if it wins the presidential election.

As at 9am yesterday, party leaders and supporters converged on the Akinwuni Ambode Campaign Organisation’s office at the General Hospital Road, Gbagada, Lagos East Senatorial District, for the inauguration of the office and the steering committees for 57 councils.

The ceremony was witnessed by APC grassroots leaders, including House of Representatives member .

James Faleke, former Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Affairs. Abdulateef Abdulakeem, his Rural Development counterpart,. Paul Kalejaye, former old Mainland Council boss Otunba Tayo Oyemade, Rasak Muse, Mr. Anifowose Abiola, Bolaji Are, Bode Tijani, Mr. Sulaiman Odueso and Mr. Daisi Oso. The masters of ceremonies were former Kosofe Council Chairman Tunde Braimoh, Yaba Local Council Vice Chairman Mrs. Bola Lawal Olumegbon and Mr. Ahmed

•APC governorship aspirant opens office

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Group Political Editor

Seriki.

Ambode called for unity and cohesion in Lagos APC ahead of the governorship primaries.

He urged his supporters to fortify and defend his structure during electioneering.

The former accountantgeneral and permanent secretary, Ministry of Finance, promised to work for the progress of the state, urging his supporters in the 57 local governments to re-invigorate their door-to-door and neighbour-to-neighbour mobilisation, ahead of the primaries.

Ambode, who spoke in Yoruba and English, said: “Many party members have resolved to support my bid for the governorship. We are already in the vehicle. We will get to our destination with joy. I am ready to serve Lagosians. Our party has a mission to salvage Nigeria.

We will want to create a new level of leadership to challenge the status quo and liberate our people from poverty.”

Abdulakeem, who rendered the opening prayer, said the aspirant has the backing of Muslims in Lagos and prayed that he should win the primaries and general elec-

tion.

The former lawmaker added: “With the help of the Almighty Allah, I will deliver the Lagos Muslims. I see Ambode as a symbol of divine intervention. I have come here to douse the tension that Muslims are against a Christian governor. What has happened in the Central African Republic will not happen here. We will not run Lagos on the basis of religion.

“When you enter the plane, do you ask whether the pilot is a Christian or Muslim?

When there is a fire, do you ask whether the landlord is a Christian or Muslim? Muslims in Lagos will work for the success of Ambode.”

Stressing that politics is not “a game of mouth,” but of action, the former adviser said: “All other aspirants are coming to work for the success of Ambode. So, don’t fight anybody.”

Oyemade praised the APC top contender for his legacies in the civil service, recalling that when council allocations were seized by the Obasanjo Administration, he evolved the financial strategy of generating revenue for the deprived councils.

Faleke described Ambode as a competent candidate, assuring all that he would build on the foundation laid by

former Governor Bola Tinubu and his successor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN).

He said: “I have a personal right to be here and support who I want to support. There are so many aspirants. I am not forced to support Ambode. I knew Ambode years ago; right from the time he was working as a council treasurer in the local government. He has been a good politician in the civil service, a team player, a honest man and a corrective leader.

“He was the accountantgeneral when I was the chairman of Conference 57. We worked together. He is humble and God has decided to lift him up. By the grace of God, he will be the next governor. My own support for him is to deliver my local governments - Ojodu, Ikeja and Onigbongbo.”

Faleke, who noted that Fashola has performed in the last seven and half years, said Ambode would continue to follow the standard he has set.

He added: “Ambode will run a government of continuity. He is well-bred and knowledgeable. Let people stop their campaigns of calumny. This game is a game of identification. Come out and be fishers of men for Ambode.”

•Ogun State intending Hajj pilgrims boarding an aircraft to Saudi Arabia at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikaeja, Lagos...yesterday

ONDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has described the on-going Mountain Resort project in Idanre as a tourism initiative designed to attract about three million tourists yearly.

He explained that his administration decided to maximise the state’s tourism potentials to create more jobs and boost its economy.

The governor spoke at the weekend during a tour of the tourism centre located at the foot of the popular Idanre Hills.

Mimiko visited the Owena Habitat, Idanre Golf Course and Idanre Relaxation Centre and others during the tour.

Praising the pace of work at the site, he said at its completion, it would become first of its kind in the country.

He added that Idanre became a natural choice for the resort because of its endowments, which, he added, stand it out globally.

“There is no other place in the world like Idanre, where nature deliberately arranged mountain and rock in such a unique way,” he said.

He added that the administration has invested heavily in education, health, transportation, urban renewal, agric and others in the last four years, stressing that “we are currently reaping the benefit of such investment.”

Party aspirant gets support

A

N interest group, Eko United Association (Eko Parapo), has nominated a member, Mr. Sadiq Odusoga, to be its aspirant for a seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

He was nominated to vie for the Lagos Island 1 Constituency seat in the coming general elections on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Briefing reporters after their monthly meeting at John Street, Oke-Arin, Lagos Island at the weekend, the association’s chairman, Alhaji Taofeek Ariyo, said the choice of the aspirant was in tandem with the philosophy of the group, which was to always have their members at the centre of governance.

He said this would enable them contribute their quota to the development of their area and the state.

Ariyo said that was why the association adopted the strategy of encouraging members, who had political ambition, not to underrate themselves.

“We encourage our members to declare their interest in any political office, hence our decision to support Odusoga immediately he signified interest in the Assembly seat. We expect more members to make their political intentions known,” he said.

The aspirant hailed members for reposing confidence in him and promised not to disappoint them.

He said if elected, he would sponsor bills that would improve the lives of constituents.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

8

NEWS Fire razes 50 shops in Lagos

F

IFTY shops containing planks and other building materials were razed yesterday in Abule-Egba, Lagos State.

The Director, State Fire Service, Rasaq Fadipe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that two vehicles and cutting machines were also burnt.

There was no casualty.

Fadipe said the incident happened at Sawmill, UTurn Bus Stop, Abule-Egba.

He said firemen put out the fire after battling with it for hours.

Fadipe told NAN that the cause of the fire was yet to be known.

Women’s summit in Oyo From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

F

IRST Lady Mrs. Patience Jonathan, Oyo State Governor’s wife Mrs. Florence Ajimobi are to open the third national women summit organised by the Oyo State Officials Wives Association (OYSOWA) tomorrow.

The three-day summit with the theme, “Empowering the Girl-Child: A Challenge for All”, will hold at the Lekan Are Hall, Kakanfo Inn, Ibadan.

Mrs. Ajimobi said the summit would deliberate on ways to stop the victimisation of the girl-child, their financial empowerment and enforcement of their rights.

"We have eminent resource persons to speak on diverse issues to help us achieve our defined goals in empowering our female children."

Speakers include Justice Olajumoke Aiki, Chief of Office, UNICEF, Mrs Sara Nyanti, Mrs Grace Atim of the institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, the Executive Director, Programme NTA, Mrs Eugenia Abu, Prof Bolanle Awe, Dr Alero Akeredolu, Mrs Lilian Njoku, Ms. Fawole Oluwatoni and Pastor Funke Adetuberu of the Women College Ministry, Ibadan.

Ondo signs MoU with IITA From Damisi Ojo, Akure

T

HE Ondo State government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, for the training of 280 graduates on cassava planting.

Commissioner for Information Kayode Akinmade said the government would embark on the cultivation of cassava for commercial and domestic purposes.

Akinmade said the government’s aim was to create jobs for youths.

He said the participants have been engaged in the cultivation of a 1,000-hectare farm at the Ore Agro Business City, which also has maize and rice plantations.

Akinmade said the programme was part of efforts by the Olusegun Mimikoled administration to tackle unemployment, promote food security and agricultural development in the state.

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (middle); member representing Akure South/North Federal Constituency Sunday Ifedayo Abegunde (third right), Deputy Chairman, Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) Ade Adetimehin (third left), APC Leader, Akure South, Gabriel Aderomilehin (second left), Chairman, Oranmiyan Sunshine Movement, Sunday Elijah (left), Comrade Tope Ohunmakin (second right), Saka Yusuf (right) and other members of Oranmiyan Sunshine Movement, during a congratulatory visit to the governor on his re-election victory in Osogbo, the Osun State capital...yesterday.

LP to meet on Mimiko’s defection tomorrow

T

HE Labour Party (LP) has said Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko is still a member of the party, despite his purported planned defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The party’s governorship candidate in the June 21 governorship election, Opeyemi Bamidele, said: Mimiko would address the nation on his plans but today he remains the leader and member of LP. “The National Executive Committee (NEC) will meet in Abuja tomorrow to discuss the issues.

“After the meeting, we will be able to confirm or refute the rumours and how the party stands.”

The Ekiti State chapter announced the constitution of an 11-member body to consider proposals of possible cooperation between LP and other parties in the state.

Bamidele said: “Any move our party makes will be in the best interest of the peo-

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

ple “.

The lawmaker said the party has been receiving overtures from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP. He said: “As a patriot and statesman, I am ready to work with anyone who is interested in working with me or any member of our

party.

“The governor-elect, Ayo Fayose, is interested in working with me. He (Fayose) has never hidden that fact. He has visited me and was at the LP secretariat. He has been talking to us.

“Even the APC has been reaching out seeking genuine reconciliation for us to rebuild the party.

“APC is not only making rapprochement to me alone,

but to every member of the party, even at the local level. So, this goes beyond my own personal opinion. It is a collective thing.

“But I want to state here that we will not compromise because the LP leaders have not come to any conclusion to merge with any party in Ekiti. Whatever step we are going to take will be in the overall interest of the populace.”

Medview Airlines transports 270 pilgrims WO hundred and seventy pilgrims from Ogun State were airlifted yesterday from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos to Medina, Saudi Arabia to participate in this year’s hajj.

The pilgrims, who were transported by Medview Airlines, were the first batch of pilgrims of the 5,303 pilgrims allocated to the airline.

Before the departure of the pilgrims, they underwent medical screening by officials of the Ministry of Health, Port Health Unit.

Part of the medical tests included the one for the Ebola Virus Disease.

Speaking at a pre- departure ceremony event at the Hajj Camp Axis of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, the Man-

T

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

aging Director of Medview Airlines, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, said the transporting of the pilgrims would take 10 days.

He said the exercise from Lagos Airport began five days ahead of schedule, a decision he said was motivated by the need to ensure that the exercise was completed.

He said the airline would transport the pilgrims from Lagos Airport, Ilorin International Airport, Port Harcourt International Airport and Enugu International Airport to Medina in Saudi Arabia.

Bankole said the states had been structured into zones for the convenience of the exercise.

Police parade 34 suspects in Ondo From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

T

HE police in Ondo State paraded yesterday 34 suspected criminals.

Commissioner of Police Isaac Eke, who spoke with reporters at the State Police Headquarters, Akure, said his men arrested “the suspects through a robust relationship the police have with the public.”

He said 20 suspected cult members, seven robbery suspects, five cyber crime suspects/internet fraudsters and two Indian hemp ‘dealers’ were picked up by his men.

Eke added that the ‘cult members’ were arrested in Akure, Ondo, Owo and Akungba-Akoko towns.

Four stolen vehicles were recovered from car snatchers.

The police chief said his men arrested a night guard, Lucky Stephen, at Bolorunduro community in Ondo East Local Government.

The suspect allegedly conspired with thieves to carry out attacks on the communi-

•The suspects...yesterday

ty.

He said locally made barrel gun with five expended cartridges and a cell phone were recovered from him.

Eke noted that high rate of cultist attacks warranted the creation of “Anti-Cultism Squad.”

He said Jolly Obasohan and Tochukwu Augustine Ibuzute from Benin-City, Edo State were arrested and convicted for stealing N460,000 from the account of the Chief

Medical Director of the State Specialist Hospital, Akure, Dr. Ikuomola Adeniyan.

He said the suspects allegedly withdrew the money from the doctor’s account through online banking transfer.

The police commissioner added that his men arrested Babalola Akinyele in Ondo town for allegedly conspiring with Adenekan Adeola from Iju-Ishaga, Lagos and

Olusesi Samson from OkeAro, Akure to steal N5million through internet banking transfer from a new generation customer’s bank account in Lagos.

He said the suspects were arrested while attempting to withdraw N2.5 million from a bank in Ondo town.

The police commissioner assured the residents that his men would continue to partner with them.

‘Review impeachment succession’ From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the National Assembly to review the succession of any impeached governor, to avoid loopholes.

It said the emergence of the Adamawa Speaker as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was faulty.

The party’s reaction was contained in a statement yesterday in Awka, the Anambra State capital, by the Publicity Secretary, Okelo Madukaife.

The statement said: “This has confirmed our worst fears that the purported impeachment is nothing but a civilian coup organised to remove the governor and his deputy and replace them with aggressors.

“The idea to force these interlopers into office can only succeed if the people of Adamawa State, contrary to our expectations, lose their political maturity to the overwhelming exigencies of time, driven by a central ambition in Abuja.

“We condemn this development and caution other states to learn that not many precipitate political actions are driven by reason, but by greed.

“It is our take that should this process of making one interloping Alhaji Umaru Fintiri a substantive Governor of Adamawa State be allowed to succeed, more governors will be impeached overnight by Speakers seeking a taste of the governorship position and this is not good for our growing democracy.

“We recommend to the National Assembly that the aspect dealing with the succession of an impeached governor, and/or deputy should be reviewed to ensure that a Speaker, who spearheads an impeachment for selfish reasons, as was the case in Adamawa State, does not benefit by becoming the successor, or if he/ she must, should not be allowed to attempt to perpetuate himself in office like Fintiri.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

9

CITYBEATS A

Lagos police comb Oshodi for snatched rifle

MANHUNT has begun for the commercial motorcyclists aka Okada who snatched a police rifle around Ladipo auto parts market in Lagos on Sunday.

The police combed the popular Oshodi bus stop and environs for the cyclists on Sunday night and yesterday, to no avail.

They were said to have clashed with Okada riders at Oshodi yesterday in their desperate search for the rifle.

Sources said they at-

Doctor arraigned for alleged fraud

T

By Amara Okoye

HE police yesterday arraigned a 46-yearold doctor, Alake Uchemadu, at the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for alleged fraud and theft.

He was accused of obtaining N210,000 from Soronke Abiodun Kazeem after promising to help him travel to the United States of America.

According to the police, Uchemadu told Kazeem that he would send an invitation letter to him to enable him obtain a visa.

The offence was committed in April at 20 Olusegun Ojuleye Street Budo Peninsula Estate in Ajah, Lagos.

The police said the offence is punishable under Section 312 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

Uchemadu was also accused of stealing N210,000from Kazeem in violation of Section 285 (5) (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

Uchemadu pleaded not guilty. He was granted N50,000 bail with one surety in the like sum.

The surety will swear to an affidavit of means and his address must be verified by the court.

The case was adjourned till September 24 for trial.

The police also charged a 31-year-old man Odunwole Oluwole with obtaining N190,000 from Paul Synger under the pretence of selling caterpillar scrap to him.

The prosecutor said the offence was committed last month at Benka Yard Road in Ajah.

The offence is punishable under Section 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

A

CITYBEATS LINE: 08078425391

‘

Those policemen were just after money. That is why they will stand and watch hoodlums snatch their rifle. We are still looking for those miscreants who snatch the rifle and am sure we will get them.

By Jude Isiguzo

tempted to impound some motorcycles in their bid too get those who snatched the rifle.

The rifle was snatched by an Okada rider and four of his colleagues following the seizure of his motorcycle by

patrolling policemen in a vehicle marked OPS Attack.

A source said yesterday that it was embarrassing that a police rifle could be snatched just like that.

The policemen, the source said, would be disciplined for “laxity”.

Those policemen were just

’

after money. That is why they will stand and watch hoddlums snatch their rifle.

We are still looking for those miscreants who snatched the rifle and I am sure we will get them”, the source said.

Eyewitnesses said there was a free-for-all at Oshodi

as the motorcyclists resisted the police attempt to impound their machines.

The riders who were joined by social miscreants, smashed vehicle windscreens and caused traffic gridlock, forcing commuters to scamper to safety.

Some riot policemen from the command headquarters were deployed to restore sanity.

It was learnt that some motorcyclists were arrested around Ladipo market and their motorcycles impounded.

Man, 34, needs N7m for Kidney Transplant

A

34YEAR-OLDMAN, Adeoye Michael, is critically ill. He needs N7 million for kidney transplant at Artemis hospitals in India.

Adeoye told our reporter how his ailment started about five years ago: ‘’On that fateful day, I left home for work, and then I collapsed on the road. I was rushed to the hospital where I was diagnosed with hypertension. I have been managing this until last year when I was diagnosed to have kidney problem at the General Hospital, Ikeja. Since then, I have been placed on dialysis three times in a week at Kidney Solutions, Ikeja, Lagos’’.

According to Adeoye, each dialysis costs N37,000 and he has to undergo dialysis three times a week.

His siblings and other relatives, he said have tried but they cannot afford the cost

By Basirat Braimah

of the transplant.

Adeoye said he has spent his savings on his ill health, adding that he sold his car to treat himself.

He added that he lost his iron business to the ailment.

A letter from Kidney Solutions Ikeja signed by Dr. Saanu, Consultant Nephrologists, said Mr Adeoye Michael Olayimika has been diagnosed with kidney disease. The letter requested the assistance of individuals to enable him survive.

Adeoye is appealing to the public, federal, state and local governments, non-governmental organisations to save his life.

Donations can be made to his Access Bank Account Name – Adeoye Michael Olayimika Account Number0054347786

558 youths graduate in ICT training

O

VER 558 youths have graduated from the free monthly Information and Communications Technology (ICT) training program sponsored by the senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District , Gbenga Ashafa.

The training Centre, situated in Magodo, recently graduated the 13th and 14th Batches.

The exercise started in 2011.

Senator Ashafa said the initiative is part of his vision for the district.

He said: ”This event is just one out of other empowerment programmes I have embarked upon since 2011.

“It is instructive to note that feedback from past grandaunts indicates that our efforts have not been a waste.

Let me assure you that having been part of the training exercise, the benefits are beyond mere participation. You are now part and parcel of the family?’’.

The top three students that performed well in each batch were rewarded with computer set and printers.

The students are Miss Hapiness Atumofe; Miss Itunu Arawomo; Mr Sulaiman Bashiru; Miss Yetunde Lawal; Miss Abiodun Adeolu and Mr Adebayo Otelaja.

•Ashafa

Judge refuses suspected police killers, pipeline vandals bail

T

HE Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday dismissed the bail applications filed by 20 persons accused of killing nince policemen and vandalising pipelines at Arepo, Ogun State on May 24.

Justice Okon Abang said they can not be granted bail because of the gravity offence.

“On account of the severity of punishment if found guilty, it is my view that it is not safe to admit the accused persons to bail.

“I have my doubt that if granted bail, the accused persons would appear in court and attend trial nothwithstanding their innocence until proven guilty.

“I am not inclined to exercise my discretion in their favour by admitting them to bail,” the judge held.

Justice Abang added that although the accused were

‘

On account of the severity of punishment if found guilty, it is my view that it is not safe to admit the accused persons to bail.

By Joseph Jibueze

regarded as innocent until proven guilty, the court could not take a decision that would negatively affect their trial.

The accused were arraigned on August 7 on a 14count charge bordering on conspiracy, pipeline vandalism, oil theft and unlawful killings.

They pleaded not guilty.

They are Felix Yayu, Ijoufaya, Yakubu Ebiwei, Augustine Ebiwei, Tamara Dembofa, Owei Atile, Agbara Tiewei, Rufus Godwin, Tiery Koiyetin, Ebis Sobijoh, Ibori Lawrence, Eberebu Ibori,

Atinuke Odewale, Fatai Ishola, Ahmed Bashorun, Odewale Waheed, Susan Viana, Tuesday Filatei, Yeiyah Yellow and Ismail Abdullahi.

The police alleged that they were behind the May 24 illegal oil bunkering at Arepo that led to the killing of the nine police officers.

The officers are an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abdullahi Bature; Inspectors Raymond Oriere, Usman Mohammed, Tijani Jimoh, Oguntihemen Kolawole; Corporals Elogbamen Timothy, Yakubu Aliyu, Usman Abdukarim and Dauda Mohammed.

The offences contravene

’

Sections 3(6), 4(a), 7 (a) (b), 17 (a) of the Miscellanous Offences Act Cap M17 and Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

In their applications, the accused through their lawyers, urged the court to grant them bail on liberal terms.

Some of them said they had been in prison custody for between 60 and 90 days, adding that they were innocent of the allegations against them.

Others argued that they were randomly arrested at various locations different from the crime scene, adding that when the police conducted a searched their houses, nothing incriminating was found.

But in their counter affidavit, the police urged the court not to grant the applications.

According to the prosecution, the accused were found in possession of items such as pump action guns, locally made rifles, military uniform, military camouflage and some petroleum products.

The prosecution also argued that there were adequate medical facilities in the prison enough to cater to the health needs of the accused who are remanded at Ikoyi prisons.

Rejecting the bail applications, Justice Abang ordered the prison authorities to avail the accused unrestricted medical care including access to hospital outside the prisons if need be.

The judge added that the prisons authorities would be responsible for such medical bills.

The case was adjourned till today.

Suspected fake lawyer arraigned for impersonation, fraud

45-YEAR-OLD man, Augustine Onwordi, who allegedly presented himself as a lawyer was arraigned yesterday before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.

Onwordi allegedly presented himself as a lawyer in order to defraud a businessman of N800,000, The defendant, who resides at Block 567, Flat 3,

By Adebisi Onanuga

Abesan Estate in Ipaja, Lagos, is standing trial on a four-count charge of stealing, fraud, forgery and impersonation.

The prosecution said the defendant committed the offence between Sept. 2012 to Sept 1, at Computer Village in Ikeja.

According to the prosecut-

ing Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Samson Ekikere, the defendant falsely represented himself to be a certificated lawyer and defrauded Mr Philip Adiele of N800, 000.

Ekikere said the defendant fraudulently obtained the money under the pretext of procuring a Certificate of Occupancy and registering his company for Adiele.

He said Onwordi presented false documents that were forged to Adiele.

Investigation, he said, showed that the accused was an impostor that hid under the guise of being a legal practitioner to defraud the public.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 285(1), 312, 363(2)(B) and 378(1), Criminal Law of

Lagos State, 2011.

The defendant pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor objected to his being granted bail.

He told the court that the complaints against the defendant were made by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Eniola Fabamwo, granted the accused N500,000 bail

with two sureties in the like sum.

She said each of the sureties should deposit N100,000 with the Chief Registrar and submit their residential addresses.

The magistrate also ordered that the bank statements of the sureties be verified.

She adjourned the case till today.

10

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

BUSINESS

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

11 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

Court seals Ewekoro Power Plant over N114m tax liability

T

• From left: Principal, Strategic Communication Officer, Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), Mr Anyanwu Ogueri; Chairman, Mr Victor Chinemerem; Nigeria Port Authority (NPA), Executive Director, Finance and Accounts, Mr Oduntan Olumide and Head of NPA Abuja Office, Mr Yahaya Bukar, at a meeting with the NPA executives in Abuja ...yesterday.

Nigeria records 500,224 new jobs in six months, says NBS T HE National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) yester day said the formal and informal sectors recorded 500,224 new jobs in the first half of the year.

The Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr Yemi Kale, who spoke in Abuja during a three-day National Stakeholders’ workshop on Review of the Definition and Methodology for Computation of Unemployment Statistics in Nigeria, said the sectors recorded 240,871 and 259,353 new jobs in the first and second quarters respectively.

He said the formal sector recorded 76,018 jobs in the first quarter while 78,755 jobs were created in the second quarter.

The statistician-general said 158,894 jobs were created in the informal sector in the first quarter, while 175,786 jobs were created in the second quarter.

He said: “In the first quarter of 2014, the public sector recorded 5,959 jobs while 4,812 jobs recorded in the second quarter.

“The total new jobs for first quarter of 2014 was, therefore, 240,871, representing 10.3 per cent decrease from the previous quarter, which recorded 265,702 jobs and lower than the 431,021 jobs created in the corresponding quarter of 2013.

“The education (private) sector dominated the formal

sector with the most number of jobs, taking up 23,643 jobs, representing 31 per cent of the total share, followed by manufacturing with 11,088 jobs, representing 14.6 per cent.’’

He said electricity, gas steam and air conditioning supply sectors recorded 12 jobs and water supply, sewage, waste management and remediation sector created 12 jobs in the first quarter.

“The informal sector which constitutes most of the jobs created in agriculture and micro, small, medium scale enterprises went up to 9.8 per cent compared to the preceding quarter which was 143,278,’’ he said.

He said the figure was lower than the 232,272 jobs created in the corresponding period of 2013.

Kale said the total new jobs created in the second quarter were 259,353, representing 7.1 per cent increase from the preceding quarter, which recorded 240,871 jobs.

The statistician-general also inaugurated the committee to review the definition and methodology for computation of unemployment statistics in the country.

He said the review became necessary because under the International Labour Organisation (ILO) guidelines, anyone in the labour force who

worked at least an hour during seven-day reference period was considered employed.

“Within the Nigerian context, any person in the labour force who did not work for up to 40 hours during reference week is considered to be unemployed.

“The definition used by NBS was adopted in a national workshop with several participants drawn from the National Statistical System (NSS).

“The use of 40 hours as a cut-off or measure has been described as outdated by local and international partners and inconsistent with present realities in the country,’’ he said.

Kale said the NBS inaugurated the committee in line with its mandate of developing and promoting the use of statistical standards and appropriate methodologies in the country.

The Director, ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Mrs Sina Chuma-Mkandawire, urged the Ministry of Labour and Productivity and NBS to build a strong statistical foundation for the review of the National Employment Policy.

Chuma-Mkandawire, who was represented by its Senior Programme Officer, Mrs Chinyere Emeka-Anuna,

Dubai to stake $300m in Dangote cement

D

UBAI is to take a mi nority stake in Ni geria’s largest cement manufacturer as it deploys its finances to develop its role as an investment gateway into sub-Saharan Africa.

The emirate’s state holding company is diversifying its portfolio by investing $300 million (Dh1.1 billion) into the West African market through a minority stake in Dangote Cement, which has a market capitalisation of about $23billion.

A Dubai official said the Chief Executive of the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD), Mohammad Al Sheibani, is expected to sign

the deal today with Dangote Group’s founder, Nigeriabased tycoon Aliko Dangote, who is Africa’s richest man with a fortune estimated at $25 billion. “This could lead to more deals in the future,” said the official.

Dangote Cement, the largest firm on Nigeria’s stock market and which controls two-thirds of the cement market, plans to expand production capacity from about 35 million tons a year to more than 60million tons a year by 2018 as it grows domestically and across 12 other African countries.

ICD, which controls Dubai’s corporate crown jewels such as Emirates Airline and developer Emaar, is increasingly

turning its attention to global investments after helping support the emirate through the aftermath of the 2008 real estate crash and subsequent recession.

Dubai’s property market has recovered — and is now threatening to overheat — as the emirate economy booms as a haven from regional unrest.

ICD last month launched a joint investment fund with Export-Import Bank of Korea, the official trade finance agency of South Korea.

ICD’s debut investment is the latest of a string of acquisitions by state-owned groups and sovereign wealth funds in subSaharan Africa after years of shunning the region.

said sound policy could only be achieved on the basis of solid and empirical evidence.

Prof. Sarah Anyanwu from the University of Abuja, who chaired the committee, promised that the committee would make recommendations that would reflect the unemployment statistics in Nigeria in line with international standards.

HE Federal Inland Rev enue Services (FIRS) said it now has secured a court order to seal Ewekoro Power Plant (EPP), located in Lagos, for failure to pay its outstanding tax liabilities valued at N114 million.

FIRS said a Federal High Court, sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State handed down the order following “a suit by the Federal Inland Revenue Service, (FIRS) and a prayer that a bench warrant be issued by the Federal High Court, for the arrest of the key officials of the company who evaded arrest.”

Its Head, Communications and Liaison Department, Mr. Wahab Gbadamosi said in a statement that “the court gave the order after series of adjournments occasioned by the refusal of the company’s officials to appear in court in the case brought against it by the Service.”

The seal up exercise he said “was carried out by the court bailiffs, with a combined team of the FIRS officials and officers of the Lagos State Police Command.”

He added that the FIRS “had approached the court to compel the company to meet its

From Nduka Chiejina (Asst.

Editor)

tax obligations but the company neither appeared nor was represented in the court prompting multiple adjournments.”

The FIRS statement noted that “dissatisfied with the company`s conduct, the court issued a bench warrant to compel appearance which the officials of the company equally evaded necessitating the sealing of the company’s premises.”

Justice P.F. Olayiwola, who ruled on FIRS motion on notice had ruled “that an order for interim forfeiture of property of corporate head office of Ewekoro Power Plant situate at Victoria House, 35/37, Isheri Road, Aguda Ogba area, Ikeja, Lagos State pending final liquidation of the tax liability of about N114,000,000 only is hereby granted.

“That an order for interim forfeiture of property of Ewekoro Power Plant situate at 3rd floor, Topaz floor, All Seasons Plaza, 24 Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos State pending final liquidation of the Tax liability of N114,000,000 only is hereby granted.”

12

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

BUSINESS NEWS

Peoples Bank: Court voids refusal to grant loans to poor

A

FEDERAL high court sitting in Lagos has declared as illegal and unconstitutional the refusal of the federal government to continue to provide loans to the under privileged Nigerians through the Peoples Bank of Nigeria (PBN) , in line with the act establishing the bank, the Peoples Bank Act (Cap P7) LFN 2004.

Justice M.B. Idris made the declaration in a judgement delivered in a suit no: FHC/ L/CS/1121/11 filed by Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana(SAN) against the Attorney General of the Federation.

Mr. S. Kehinde was cocounsel to the plaintiff in the suit while the defendants were represented by C.A. Makpu and E.E. Eworo.

In an amended origination

By Adebisi Onanuga

summon dated March 13 this year, Falana had asked the court to determine whether the continuous refusal of the government to give effect to the provisions of the Peoples Bank Act (Cap P7) LFN 2004 is not illegal, null and void having regard to section 1 of the Act .

He had also asked the court to determine whether the failure or refusal of the Federal Government to loans available to the under privileged Nigerians is not illegal, null and void having regard to the Act. Falana sought three reliefs from the court including a declaration that the Peoples Bank Act (Cap P7) LFN 2004 has not been repealed by the

National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; an order directing the defendant to continue to give effect to the provisions of the People Bank Act and an order directing the defendant to provide loans to the under privileged Nigerians through the bank .

The activist had supported the originating summon with a 15 paragraph affidavit deposed to by one Solomon Kehinde who averred that the plaintiff had on October 18, last year informed him that on daily basis, “he is contacted by under privileged Nigerians for financial assistance and that he is not in position to assist all the indigent citizens who approached him for financial help”.

He deposed that when the PBN was in operation, many Nigerians were given financial assistance by provision of credit facilities but that after three years of operation, the bank was abolished by the government without any reason whatsoever.

He averred that while the PBN was properly run when it was in operation, the commercial banks were mismanaged to the detriment of the nation’s economy to the extent that government had to provide a bail off of over N600 billion to prevent a collapse of the economy arising from the situation in the commercial; banks.

According to him, the commercial banks were in the habbit of providing loans to well to do individuals and

corporate bodies to the detriment of the under privileged who could not provide collaterals.

He contended that the PBN was established by the Federal Government in 1989 to provide credit facilities to under privileged Nigerians who do not have access to credit facilities from conventional banking system because they lack collateral.

But in a notice of preliminary objection to the suit, the defendant had sought an order of the court to strike out the suit in its entirety for being incompetent and for want of jurisdiction or alternatively for dismissing the suit for being statute barred.

The defendant had sought the order of the court on the grounds that the plaintiff

lacks the locus standi to institute the action and that the suit as presently constituted is statute barred among other grounds.

The application was supported with 19 paragraph counter affidavit deposed to by one Eric Eworo. The government declared paragraphs 9, 11 and 12 of the plaintiff’s affidavit as untrue and contended that the PBN was abandoned in order to set up a stronger and more efficient institutions and programmes to cater and support the needs of the citizens, especially the poor and the under privileged.

He averred that the strategy adopted by the government to alleviate poverty was not limited to financial assistance and loans only.

NCAA warns airlines owing salaries to pay up

R

• Pensioners at the distribution of cheques to the retirees and next of kins of deceased workers of state governments in Kaduna...yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

NERC creates dispute resolution mechanism for electricity industry T HE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commis sion (NERC) has established a dispute resolution mechanism for the settlement of disputes in the electricity industry.

The regulator said it has taken the step ahead of the expected evolution of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

It added that it is to attain a steady state operations in a contracts and rules-based electricity trading market.

Its Head, Public Affairs Department , Dr. Usman Abba Arabi, in a statement yesterday recalled that early this year, the Commission appointed Dr. Mamman Lawan, an academic from the Bayero University, Kano, to serve as a Dispute Resolution Counsellor (DRC) for the industry.

One of the DRC’s key responsibilities, under the Elec-

O

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

tricity Market Rules, is to advise the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on the appointment of members of the Dispute Resolution Panel (DRP) and thereafter, to assign members of the DRP to undertake the resolution of such disputes that may arise from time to time among Market Participants in the NESI. NERC said in accordance with the Electricity Market Rules, Dr. Lawan recently nominated to the Commission 20 individuals who had gone through an application and vetting process, for appointment to the DRP. The commission added that following due consideration, it approved the appointment of 12 persons

out of 20, to constitute the NESI’s very first Dispute Resolution Panel.

The statement reads in part: “These persons are all professionals, most of whom also have alternative dispute resolution qualifications and experience.

“They include engineers, economists and legal practitioners, namely Nnenna Ahakannah, Ejekam Nnenna, Adeyemi Oyedele, Hussani Mohammed, Boma Ozobia, Adeyemi Akinsanya, Tamuno George, Sadiku Folorunsho, Olufunmi Roberts, Okechuckwu Joseph Chiazor, Ezekiel Osarieme and Augustine Mamadu “As required by the Market Rules, the DRP shall have responsibility for the resolution of disputes that

arise out of the operations of the Market Rules and the Grid Code between and amongst Market Participants in the NESI. These Market Participants are specifically the Distribution Companies (Discos), Generating Companies (Gencos), the System Operator, the Market Operator and the Transmission Service Provider.”

“All Market Participants are also licensed by NERC to build, operate and maintain facilities for the provision of electricity services of various kinds in Nigeria.

The DRP will also resolve disputes between the Market Operator and any person who has been denied certification by the Market Operator as a Participant in the NESI. A date for the inauguration of the panel will be announced in due course.”

EGULATOR of the aviation sector, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA), yesterday read the riot act to airlines owing workers salaries, warning that it would not hesitate to ground their operations in the country.

Speaking yesterday in Lagos during the issuance of Air Operators’ Certificate (AOC) to Peace Air, its Acting Director-General, Engr Beendict Adeyileka also said NCAA now has powers to sack any worker of any airline that gets involved in dangerous operations.

He said dangerous operation is an operation that involves any act that constitutes threat to safety, be they pilots or aircraft engineers.

He said : “ The NCAA now has power to sack people in any airline, if the staff is dangerous to safety. Whether they are pilots, engineers, we would pull them out. NCAA will go after airlines that are not doing well. That is our commitment to safety.”

With the AOC, Air Peace would join two other airlines for domestic flight operations.

The two are AZMAN Airlines and Discovery Air. Adeyileka said the airline was given the licence after its management team met all the requirements in record time ahead of the commencement of operations.

He said the airline demonstrated capacity with its team of indigenous professionals which have been well trained to run the business.

He urged Air Peace to ensure adherence to all safety and technical regulations to run a successful airline, as the NCAA will not hesitate to sanction airlines that violate safety regulations.

Adeyileka said the NCAA was impressed with the quality of aircraft and spare parts that it has acquired ahead of

•Issues Air Operators’ Certificate to Air Peace

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

the commencement of operations.

He urged the new airline to ensure that issues of workers training, aircraft maintenance and crew matters are settled to achieve the growth and development of the industry.

He said the reason NCAA would go after errant operators is to ensure safety of operations.

He described the foundation laid by Air Peace as very solid, with structures put in place for the maintenance of its aircraft and the spares it has already procured.

Chairman, Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema said the carrier is set to change the face of air travel with the seven aircraft it has acquired ahead of its operations.

Onyema said the airline was not established to make money, but to create jobs for indigenous professionals.

He assured that airline is committed to safety, even as it would not defer the maintenance of its aircraft.

He said the airline would continue to invest more in Nigerian pilots and aircraft engineers to reduce capital flight.

He spoke of plans to train more professionals , including pilots and aircraft engineers to attain global certification .

He urged indigenous operators to redeem their image by paying up loans they have secured from commercial banks, so that new entrants could leverage on that.

Onyema said Air Peace would bridge the gap in pilots and engineers unemployment by training younger professionals to acquire experience on the job.

Ondo votes N2 b for agro business projects

NDO State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko said on yesterday that N2billion has been earmarked for the development of its Agro Business Projects across the state.

The governor, who spoke at the kicks off of cassava planting at Ore Agro Business City (ABC), assured of the people of the gov-

ernment’s commitment to completely eradicate poverty and unemployment through modern agriculture and harness the abundant natural resources of the state for its raipd socioeconomic development.

The ceremony marked the commencement of clearing and cultivation of 1000 hectares for the plant-

ing of cassava, maize and rice at the Ore Agro Business City.

Mimiko said government embarked on the clearing of 1000 hectares of land for the cultivation of cassava, maize and rice production, extensive irrigation facility using the source of Oluwa river around the ABC to ensure provision

of water for all its activities. He said government intends to provide not fewer than 20 bore holes spread across and around the farm.

He said: “Indeed, we are confident that we will achieve our objectives as we have earmarked a sum of N2billion for this project.” He said the

flag~off ceremony is significant as it marks the beginning of the cultivation of 1000 hectares for cassava and maize by the youth and women groups selected for the program, adding that the profit made from the sale will be handed over to the participating profarmers and agropreaneus.

• Dr Mimiko

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

13

14

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS

TRANSPORTATION

T

E-mail: ynotaderibigbe@gmail.com

Rail to lift fuel, cargoes Nov.

O relieve Apapa -Oshodi Expressway of gridlock, the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) will start moving petroleum products and goods from tank farms and the ports in November.

NRC Managing Director Adeseyi Sijuwade broke the news during a tour of the ongoing rail tracks rehabilitation at the Apapa Terminal/Yard.

Sijuade, represented by the Director, Mechanical, Electrical and Signal, Mr. Fidet Okhiria, said fuel would be lifted weekly

Stories by Adeyinka Aderibigbe

when the tracks are rehabilitated and laid into the Apapa tank farms.

He said hauling fuel by rail from Lagos to Kano could be done within 72 hours, noting that oil firms were not yet taking advantage of it because the tracks are not yet linked to all the tank farms.

Sijuade said: “After upgrading the tracks, we believe our customers will have more confidence in us. It will then mean

that we have reliable tracks and coaches which means we can take the stress off the roads, while we continue to work at improving our shuttle time.

“What we are doing now is that we are setting the tracks into the fuel dumps for easy access. The farms are on railway land and the agreement is that they should carry their products through railway.

“The contractor has assured us that they would finish laying the tracks in the next three months. When this is ready we

would be able to begin the lifting in line with the agreement.

This would remove the present argument that oil firms are paying double handling costs because the rail tracks are not laid into the tank farms a situation which is costing them more than it should”.

The rail tracks, he said, were still narrow gauge, adding that they have been upgraded from 60 pap to 85 pap making the tracks stronger to withstand pressure.

He said: “We are changing the components of the tracks, though; we are still maintaining the normal gauge. We are changing the rails to stronger ones so that they can carry more loads and withstand more pressure.

“We are changing them from 60 to 85 rail pap rail. So instead of the rail breaking off as a result of heavy load or pressure, it will endure.

“In Apapa here, we have tracks for passenger service and we have for cargo service. We access container from this tracks and we get to flour mill

T

•From left: Ogunleye, Dr Masha and Commandant of LASTMA Special Traffic Mayors Mr. Tajudeen Othman during the exercise.

Stay away from highways, police chief warns out of these busy roads OTORCYCLISTS in motorcyclists Stay for your safety,” Ngwu said.

Lagos State have been

M

advised to stay away from all the highways and routes on which they have been restricted Assistant Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Ngwu said security operatives would continue to arrest any operator found flouting the traffic law.

Also to be enforced, according to Ngwu, is the law banning the indiscriminate use of siren.

He said the state’s magnanimity in not banning motorcycle operation outrightly should not be abused by anybody, adding that security agents are primed to enforce the route restriction on motorcycles.

Ngwu said there is no truth in the rumours making the rounds that the government have relaxed the enforcement of the law for political considerations.

“There was no truth in the rumours that the law was no longer in force,” Ngwu said, adding that anyone caught flouting the law would have himself to blame.

“We should not abuse the magnanimity of the Lagos State government which did not go out to ban motorcycle operation in the state as was done elsewhere. I am appealing to all our people especially all okada operators to continue to abide with the law. Stay away from all highways and overhead bridges that have been listed for you.

On the law banning the indiscriminate use of siren on the streets of Lagos, Ngwu said: “The law banning the indiscriminate use of siren on the streets of Lagos is also still in place. The immediate past Commissioner of Police and current AIG in charge of Zone 2 has directed that anybody caught using siren illegally would be prosecuted no matter how highly placed. Let everyone heed the directive and stop abusing the law and testing the will of the government and the law enforcement agents.”

He assured that the police would continue to ensure the safety of all law abiding residents, adding that people should continue to go about their lawful duties.

•Sijuwade

factory where we presently load about 600,000 tonnes per month to Kano.

“There is another track at the level crossing which is still being rehabilitated. After the rehabilitation, we could move directly into Apapa Wharf without any hindrance. The rails are being upgraded as standard narrow because we are still maintaining the narrow gauge.”

Be involved in traffic control, Lagosians urged

HE Lagos State government has urged residents to be involved in traffic management.

Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transport Education Dr. Mariam Masha gave the advice during a special traffic control programme at Mile 12.

The enlightenment/outreach took place simultaneously in four areas of the state.

The programme, organised by the Law Enforcement Training Institute (LETI), in partnership with the Special Traffic Mayors (STM), took place at Iyana-Ipaja Roundabout, Mile 12 Underbridge, Iyana-Iba Roundabout, and Ajah Roundabout, as part of LETI-STM ongoing Community Outreach.

For things to move as expected, she said, everyone must be involved in traffic management and other sectors which bear civic responsibility.

She said: “If things must move, everyone has to play his part.

This is a sacrifice on the part of traffic mayors and this sends a message to all Lagosians to get involved not just in traffic management but in everything that carries civic responsibility.

“The traffic mayors are supporting the LASTMA officials and working with them to control the traffic. The traffic mayors have been in existence since 2008

and they do come out from time to time individually and as a group to assist the LASTMA officials to move traffic and LETI is really convinced that this is one of the partnerships that we need to ensure that we achieve seamless relationship with the public,” she said.

On the programme’s importance Dr. Masha said: “This programme is one of the activities for our community outreach programme. What we are doing in LETI is to ensure that our officers are well trained and able to deliver service. But it is also important for us to engage the communities that we serve in letting them know what their roles and responsibilities are.”

The programme is aimed at building and sustaining of trust and mutual respect between law enforcement officers and the citizenry.

Ikorodu Zonal Commander Captain Adedayo Ogunleye, said the exercise was aimed at sensitising the public about traffic management.

He said: “Traffic mayors are a body of professionals that have decided to join hands with the Lagos State government to move the state forward in the area of traffic control. We are doing this programme today in conjunction with LETI.”

He urged the Federal and the Rivers State governments to step in and avert a strike as the union’s past appeals were ignored.

Adebayo said: “Considering the avoidable accidents that occur almost every day on this road due to its bad state and the attendant deaths and injuries sustained by our members, the union would not hesitate to withdraw its services if the road

is not fixed.”

He said accidents involving his men were fatal because in most cases, the tankers would fall and its contents spilled all over the road.

“We are, therefore, using this medium to call on government to fix the road to avoid downing tool by our drivers and to arrest the looming danger inherent in the falling of petroleum tankers in the area,” Adebayo said.

Tanker drivers threaten action over bad Port Harcourt road

T

•Adebayo

HE Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) has vowed to stop loading petroleum products from the Port Harcourt Refinery if the road leading to the plant is not rehabilitated.

The union, an arm of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), said it would no longer watch its members die or get maimed from accident on the bad road.

In a statement by its National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Atanda Adebayo, PTD said: “It is prepared to down tools if that remains the only language the government understands.”

Adebayo said the Eleme Road leading to the refinery has become a death trap to motorists, especially tanker drivers who ply the road daily to lift petroleum products.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

15

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

16

THE NATION

BUSINESS MARITIME

e-mail: maritime@thenationonlineng.net

Customs makes N800b in eight months

T

HE Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has generated over N800 billion, about 70 per cent of its N1.2 trillion target for the year, raising the chances of the retention of its Comptroller-General, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko.

Sources told The Nation that Dikko and his men have surpassed the expectations of the Presidency and the Economic Management Team (EMT) in revenue generation.

The Customs, it was learnt, has been upping the ante in revenue collection, contributing almost 25 per cent of the budget.

According to a source, under

• Why govt may retain Dikko Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda Maritime Correspondent

Dikko, the Customs has contributed over N800 billion to the Federation Account as at the end of last month; and it is set to make an unprecedented contribution of over N1.3 trillion to the government’s coffer before the end of the year.

The amount, it was learnt, represents about a quarter of the nation’s N4.964 trillion budget. The President is said to be happy that Customs has

plugged revenue loop-holes at the seaports and borders.

To enable the Customs excel Dikko is said to have opposed the payment of N40 billion yearly to the former service providers while his men had been trained to carry out their functions.

He is said to have trained no fewer than 15,000 officers in the core areas of Customs responsibilities to facilitate trade at the ports and boost capacity building.

Some officers, investigation

revealed, were trained at home and others abroad to ease Customs clearing procedures and achieve ports efficiency.

The affected officers, it was gathered, were trained in Customs operations, such as tariff classification, valuation, enforcement and e-Customs.

“The truth is that the Dikkoled Customs Service has done so well in the area of revenue generation, anti-smuggling functions, trade facilitation, post audit functions, national and international collabora-

tion, capacity building, training, ICT compliance and infrastructural development.

“When he assumed office on August 17, 2009, it seemed he took one hard look at the stagnating state of affairs of the Service and was convinced that what was needed is a pragmatic approach by insightful managers who would work with a motivated staff force to bring about the needed revenue to boost the economy.

“It is generally believed in government circle that the condition of the Service before he came to office was not a salutary one. The service was like one of those government agencies that were in a dire need of reforms and, which had unfortunately, defied many past attempts to transform it into an organisation that would live up to the expectations of those in government and Nigerians,” the official said.

The source said the Customs boss is yet to attain 35 years in service or clock 60 years, which is the mandatory retirement age.

“The Economic Management Team is impressed with the revenue collected so far by some major commands of the Service as well as seizures recorded by its Federal Operations Units, the anti-smuggling arms of the service,” the source said.

ANLCA opens secretariat

T

• From left: Oyewole; Dikko and Shittu during the inauguration of ANLCA Secretariat in Lagos.

PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA

Ship owners decry failure to enforce Cabotage Act

S

HIP Owners have condemned the inability of the Federal Government to enforce the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act 2003 (Cabotage Act) to enable them to participate in crude oil lifting.

ISAN General Secretary Capt.

Niyi Labinjo said the government should implement the law to allow indigenous shipping companies participate in the oil business.

He said local ship firms should be given the leverage to lift the corresponding portion of the crude meant for export, stating that the banks were willing to support them with the required financial backing if the government could allocate to them an appreciable volume of crude oil to lift. He told The Nation that in Brazil, the government approved about 700 agencies that were issued certificates of compliance on local content.

Labinjo said about five years ago, the government trained 200 cadets under the National Seafarers Development Programme in readiness to drive the effort, but regretted that since there was not enough shipping companies to work with, the cadets have remained jobless.

He advised the government to provide enough funds for the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Akwa Ibom, to enable it to produce skillful cadets.

He sought proper compliance with the Nigerian Content Act and encouragement of the association to participate fully in the

Cabotage regime.

“We will continue to press the government. We’ll continue to make our views known about the need for proper compliance with Cabotage; about the need for proper compliance with the Nigerian Content Act,” he said.

Operators get one year to paint boats

T

HE National Inland Wa terways Authority (NIWA) will introduce safety measures for boat operators next year, The Nation has learnt.

Sources close to NIWA said as from January 2015, boats would have number plates.

They will a lot be painted in green-white-green for easy identification and safety.

The operators are also expected to register their boats which will carry their identity

and in case of distress calls.

The National President, Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON), Alhaji Gani Balogun, said some officials of NIWA had hinted them about the new plan, adding that they were ready to comply because it is for their benefit and their passengers.

Balogun said at a meeting NIWA, they agreed on the green-white-green colour.

He said the white represents light, adding that whenever a boat has challenges at a night, it can be easily identified by other boat operators or government agencies.

According to him, the darker it is at night, the brighter the boat becomes because of the white in between the green.

He said the government gave the operators, between six and 12 months to comply it begins implermentation of the guidelines.

HE Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has opened its national secretariat in Lagos.

The N150 million edifice was commissioned by Vice President, Namadi Sambo, who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Maritime Services, Mr Leke Oyewole.

The secretariat is named after the Customs Comptroller-General, Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi.

ANLCA also used the occasion to mark its 60th anniversary.

ANLCA President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, said though the body has a functional secretariat, it opted for a permanent secretariat befitting its status, adding that part of the event was to mark its 60th anniversary and to celebrate the relationship the body has with the Customs as revenue generators for the government.

Dignitaries were Abdullahi and some prominent clearing agents.

Meanwhile, the association has named Chief Henry Njoku as its Chairman, Board of Trustees, Coordinator, Alhaji Taiwo Mustafa, Secretary Prince Taye Oyeniyi, Treasurer, Chief Peter Obih and the Vice Chairman, Aare Sanni Shittu.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

17

MARITIME

C

Nigeria loses billions yearly in ship supplies

USTOMS Clearing Agents have urged the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to tap into chandling. The agents described the business as the most lucrative in maritime sector.

Ship chandling, a business established in Nigeria through an Act in 1958, is made up of retail dealers, who specialise in supplies of equipment and goods for ships, known as ship’s stores.

For traditional sailing ships, items that could be found in a chandlery may include: rosin, turpentine, tar, pitch (resin), linseed oil, whale oil, tallow, lard, varnish, twine, rope and cordage, hemp, oakum and tools (hatchet, axe, hammer, chisel, planes, lantern, nail, spike, boat hook, caulking iron, hand pump, marlinspike).

• Agents urged NIMASA to tap into business Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda Maritime Correspondent

Others are brooms, mops, galley supplies, leather goods, and paper.

Items that could be supplied by the modern day chandlers, range from foodstuff, drinks, oil, engine oil, water, spares, materials and other items the captain of the ship may require.

The President, Nigeria Licensed Customs Clearing Agents (ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola Shittu, who made the call, said although the Local Content Act is meant to address issues of this nature, the National Content Monitoring Board is yet to understand the dynamics of the local content ship chandelling op-

erations.

He said the country loses several billions of naira annually due to the low level of activities in the ship chandelling sub sector of the economy. He, therefore, urged the Director-General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi and his management team to do a thorough coordination of the statues guiding ship chandelling so as to harness it to create jobs for the youth and boost the nation’s economy.

He pointed out that ship chandelling needs a lot of funds to meet the demands of the crews engaged by ships.

For instance, he said a ship of 5,000 Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT), would require about

$50,000 monthly to take foods, pharmaceuticals, oil, lubricants and other things for it to go to sea and come back to the port.

The ANLCA boss said the association was worried that the legislation guiding ship chandelling profession has been in comatose, a situation that has allowed the profession to stagnate, adding that the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA), Section 24, which regulates ship chandelling, has not been reviewed since 1968 to reflect the new trend in the business.

Shittu said the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has the power to enforce, as well as the requisite training to understand the dynamics of how this aspect of the maritime business is run.

He said ship chandelling is one of the oldest maritime professions the country needs to harness to protect local chandlers and end foreign domination.

The ANLAC chief said the continuous refusal of foreign ship operators to make use of indig-

enous chandlers contravenes the Local Content Act promulgated by the Federal Government to grow indigenous companies and create jobs.

“NIMASA and the Federal Government must do something about the business. The country must use all the resources we have to provide jobs for our people. Other countries are using ship chandelling to empower their youths and there is nothing wrong if we also tap into it,” Shittu said.

But a senior official of Customs, who does not want his name in print, said the terminal operators also were taxing indigenous chandlers heavily, collecting about 20 per cent of the total cost of the goods to be supplied.

“They collect the money before they allow them to pass through their terminals to supply the crew inside ships,” he said.

Ship chandelling business is regulated by an international body known as the International Ship Suppliers Association, (ISSA) which was formed in 1955 and it is a business that is central to the existence and the social dynamics of ports and waterfront areas.

Seme Customs generates N781m

T

• From right: National PRO Nigeria Customs Service Mr Wale Adeniyi and the Consultant to Customs on PAAR PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA Valentina Mintah at a forum in Lagos.

Shippers Council to re-fleet trucks

T

HE Nigerian Shippers’ Coun cil (NSC) is partnering with the National Automotive Council (NAC) to re-fleet rickety trucks that are moving cargos at the ports, it Executive Secretary, Mr Hassan Bello, has said.

Bello told The Nation that the Council is discussing with other stakeholders on the need new cargo trucks at the ports.

The council, he said, is for taking the step because the seaport has a major role to play in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), adding that the port reform has brought benefits to the economy.

He said the NSC was collaborating with NAC to remove the old trucks from the cargo carriage process and introduce new ones to facilitate trade at the ports, adding that he is worried over the poor state of most of the trucks and the problems they create on the road. He said the situation was a far cry from what it should be.

“We are talking seriously with the associations, we have the Na-

• Bello

tional Association of Truck Owners (NATO), we have the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) and many other associations. We must do this so that there will be a semblance of ac-

countability,” he said. The Shippers Council boss added that there is need for the government and stakeholders to harness other potential areas of the port operations with a view to stimulating efficiency and reducing the cost of doing business.

Meanwhile, following complaints by freight forwarders and importers on the arrest of their consignments on the road, the council said it is set to meet with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to address the problem.

Bello told The Nation that there is no cause for alarm because, issues, such as the one raised by the freight forwarders and importers is the reason for the council’s appointment as the economic regulator of the ports.

“The alarm raised by freight agents is one of the reasons we are going to meet with the Director General of SON. “It is not a problem we cannot handle and that is why we are meeting with them, there is no cause for alarm,” Bello said.

HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Seme area command says it generated N781,797,557,68 last month.

The command also made 76 seizures with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N18,076,695 during the same period.

The seized items included rice, vehicles narcotics and frozen poultry products among others.

Speaking with The Nation, its Area Controller Mr Willy Egbudin, said the command seized the prohibited frozen poultry products and the vehicles along bush paths used by smugglers around the border between Nigeria and Benin Republic.

According to him: “The smugglers in an attempt to beat the various patrol teams of the command, brought the seized items through bush paths which are unapproved routes, but were shocked to see our officers who are keeping vigil at all possible areas of passage.

“On sighting our operatives from afar in the bush, the smugglers tried to reverse to the Republic of Benin, and not being able to do so, fled into the bush, abandoning the poultry foods and the vehicles”.

Also, the Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Willy Egbudin who supervised the destruction of the poultry products, described the seizure as a warning signal to

desperate smugglers who, during every festive period push their unlawful trade far by daring the resolve of the customs.

He added that the law is no respecter of persons and that its full weight will be brought to bear on those involved in the smuggling act even as the command has begun investigations aimed at getting them arrested.

“This seizure is a warning signal to anyone who attempts to dare us during the day or at night, because we are aware of their antics, our men are deployed in the bushes while normal patrol and approved check points are sustained.

“Our Comptroller General’s zero-tolerance for smuggling is being pursued with renewed vigour and zeal, therefore any attempt to undermine our presence will be dealt with in line with the Customs and Excise Management Act. “Laws being enforced by Customs is no respecter of persons and we will continue to give our best in carrying out the directives of the CGC to the fullest.

There will be no hiding place for smugglers at the border,’’ he said.

Egbudim also used the opportunity to remind youths of border communities to resist any attempt to be lured into smuggling or any act that can place them on the wrong side of the law.

Seminar on ISPS Code

S

TAKEHOLDERS are to hold a seminar on International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code in Lagos, on Friday.

The event will hold between 10am and 12.30pm at the International Maritime Press Centre, Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) secretariat, Apapa.

The seminar, according to the organisers, will discuss the implementation of the ISPS Code and the primary international security standard at the nation’s sea ports.

A seasoned master mariner and former Consultant to the International Maritime (IMO), Captain Abiodun Omoteso, will make presentation at the event.

The Chairman of the committee organising the event, Mr Kayode Atofolaki, said the purpose is to enable the public and the international shipping community appreciate the level of security on the nation’s waterways and the port environment.

Atofolaki said the seminar would discuss the level of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency’s (NIMASA’s) Verification Inspection Exercise (VIE) across port facilities and security threat levels.

He noted: “The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) is a comprehensive set of measures to enhance the security of ships and port facilities.’’

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

18

THE NATION

BUSINESS AVIATION

Expert urges review of airport security A N aviation expert, Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd) has urged the government to review security at the nation’s airports.

He said this had become imperative in the face of the prevailing security challenges warning that the airports were vulnerable.

Ojikutu, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Centurion Securities, said the issue should be addressed before the United States Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA ) team pay its recertification visit this month. Government, he added, must quickly review the security programme to save it from embarrassment.

He said stakeholders in the aviation sector are worried that the inadequacies identified by the U.S .FAA team a few years ago may not have been addressed. This, according to him, has gravely affected airports’ safety and security.

Ojikutu, a former military commandant of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, said the challenge of accessing the airport has been worrisome because of the presence of many security and para-military personnel at the terminal building. He added that this has made it difficult to know which agency is incharge to address any infraction on safety and security.

Stories by Kelvin Osa-Okunbor Aviation Correspondent

He said the team’s visit may expose the nation’s airports security inadequacies urging that steps should taken to improve the areas where lapses have been identified.

Ojikutu said: “I do not think we are really doing enough in airport security. Government needs to raise the bar on issues affecting security at the airport. First, it is important for government to review the aviation security programme for the airports and the entire system.

“And we can only do that if the NCAA is allowed to do its job properly. I do not know what is going to be the focal point of the FAA reassessment, when it visits Nigeria this month. The team is programmed to be here based on the assessment it carried out on Nigeria. It is supposed to visit Nigeria to find out if the gaps identified in its previous audit have been rectified. The team needs to come and find out how far Nigeria has gone about rectifying the gaps identified in the last airport audit.”

According to him, there is no timeline for reassessing any country. “Nigeria’s reassessment has become imperative because of the Boko Haram challenge. The FAA

team needs to come around to find out the programme we had in Nigeria, the one available now and how the aviation system is handling the problem of insecurity.

“If we cannot sustain the security programme, can we review it and what programme do we have in place ? He asked rhetorically.

The content of the security programme, he said, is derived from the manual developed for the airport systems and airlines, adding that all airports and airlines are supposed to have a security programme.

He said: “My worry has always been the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, especially the security programme in place at the airport . I have not seen enough being done about the Lagos Airport Road.”

Some portions of the airport, Ojikutu said, ought to be closed to demarcate the airport perimeter fence from that of the security.

“When ICAO came in 2004, it urged Nigeria to enhance the perimeter fence and the security fence, but nothing has happened since then. People are building into the runway, and I am tempted to ask if the airport has a survey plan,” he said.

Concerning access into the airport, Ojikutu wondered who is ac-

tually in charge. “What is the regulation according to ICAO? We need to review the access control into the airport to properly define who is in charge. This has to be done in totality of the personnel in charge . The current system of having more personnel at the access point is not acceptable. The NCAA is not fully in charge, because the Ministry of Aviation has hijacked the functions of NCAA because of political interference,” he said.

According to Ojikutu, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is not alive to its responsibilities.

“Look at what happened in a few incidences at some airports.The NCAA should ask the airlines involved to review its security programme to ensure safe operations. The regulator should wake up to its responsibility and ensure that operators comply with their security plan.

“What is the regulator doing?”He asked, adding that the government should address the challenge of inadequate personnel in the sector.

The failure to train more people, he noted, could be a problem as the workforce is ageing without provision for replacement. This, he said, is unhealthy for the growth and development of the industry.

In 2006, according to Ojikutu, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) had a deficiency of 250 personnel, adding that air traffic controllers are gravely inadequate.

He said: “Why can’t government fix the Nigeria College of Aviation

• Ojikutu

Technology, (NCAT) Zaria to train personnel for NAMA. Government is not doing enough in the training of aviation personnel. There was a Boeing 727 aircraft belonging to DHL that should have been used for fire simulation, the aircraft was sold out as scrap.

“FAAN has a shortfall of 1,000 personnel in aviation security. This is a dangerous dimension, the structure on the ground is not good.”

Government, he said, should invest in the training of critical safety aviation personnel.

“People with interest in aviation should be sent to NCAT for six months compulsory training in aviation to boost their knowledge of aviation. That way, the industry would be raising people who are knowledgable about the sector,” he suggested.

NAMA urges Galaxy Backbone to ensure efficient telecoms service

T

•From left: Vice Chairman, Air Peace, Mrs Alice Onyema, Chairman, Mr Allen Onyema and the Acting DirectorGeneral, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Engineer Benedict Adeyileka, at the presentation of Air Operator' Certificate (AOC) to the airline in Lagos.

T

Airspace manager: navigation equipment in order

HE airports’ radar system is working well and is capable of capturing aircraft from 150 nautical miles on secondary target.

An Airspace Manager (ASM) in charge of Port Harcourt International Airport, Mr. Onwuakpa Marcel said the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON), has become seamless with targets becoming easier to identify.

Speaking on operation in Africa, Onwuakpa, aircraft separation to prevent mid-air collision has become very easy thereby reducing congestion in the airspace. The reduction has further saved money and flight time for airlines.

Onwuakpa, who opposed the privatisation of Air Traffic Control (ATC) said it was more of a secu-

rity job.

“It may be highly impossible to privatise ATC in Nigeria because it is more of a securely job,” he said.

He urged the government to address the shortage of manpower in the ATC. Onwuakpa lamented power outages at the airport in the past three months, saying that it has seriously affected ATC equipment.

He commended NAMA management for providing generating sets to power its equipment The ATC , he said, has come of age in terms of international best practice. He advised airlines to contribute to NAMA’s seamless air traffic control by acquiring aircraft that are fitted with the latest gadgets.

In a related development, another Airspace Manager at Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, Mr. Igwebuike Denwigwe, has described the use of generating plants as unprofitable.

He said the airport with about nine flights daily depends largely on generating plants to run its equipment.

He disclosed that manpower shortage and lack of accommodation within the airport for its staff would make poretion at the airport tedious when it begins a 24hour operation.

He urged airspace users to pay for services provided them by NAMA to enable the agency render more services, adding that it cost the agency a lot to provide such services.

HE Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has urged the management of Galaxy Backbone Plc to ensure an efficient telecommunication service at the nation’s airports.

Galaxy Backbone Plc is the Information Communications Technology (ICT) firm charged with providing effective telecommunications service at the nation’s airports.

The call was made by the agency’s Managing Director, Mr Ibrahim Abdulsalam, when he led a delegation to the telecommunication’s headquarters.

According to NAMA’s weekly update issued by the agency’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr Supo Atobatele, in Abuja, Mr Abdulsalam urged Galaxy

Blackbone to develop a strategic work plan to enable the firm provide cutting edge services to airports across the country.

“Galaxy backbone is the sole provider of telecommunications services within the aviation environment. And its mission is to strengthen the existing business relationship between the two organisations, so there is need to develop a strategic work plan for effective service delivery,’’ the statement said.

Former Galaxy Backbone’s Managing Director, Mr Gerald Ilukwe, commended NAMA for ensuring the safety of the nation’s airspace.

“This collaboration would further boost NAMA’s record of efficiency and excellence in service delivery in Nigeria,” Ilukwe had said.

FAAN decries high cost of power at Port Harcourt airport

T

HE high cost of running power generating machines at the Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA) is worrying its management, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Southsouth and Southeast General Manager, Mrs. Ebele Okoye has said.

According to her, about four trucks of 33,000 litres of diesel are used monthly to generate power at the airport.

The absence of reliable power, she said, has led to 100 per cent dependence on generator, which has left the airport with little or no resources to run its operation.

On cargo delivery, she said the airport management is embarking on home delivery of cargoes in conjunction with an independent company.

According to her, as part of the airports means of generating revenue, a new toll gate would be erected in conjunction with the Rivers State government. She lamented that funding has been the greatest challenge in running the airport daily.

Okoye urged airline operators and passengers to bear with the ongoing work at the airport, adding that it would benefit all when completed.

THE NATION TUESDAY,SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

19

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

Another brain wave?

A

•Merely throwing money around will not revamp small businesses

UGUST 28, Industry, Trade and Investment Minister, Olusegun Aganga, informed the Annual General Meeting of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) of the coming of a “comprehensive real sector funding intervention” under the Federal Government’s National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP). Tagged “Financing Value Chain Initiative”, the minister said the initiative was designed to tackle the twin challenges of access and cost of funds known to impede industry’s lack of competitiveness.

Also at the occasion, President Goodluck Jonathan spoke of the Financing Value Chain Initiative, as the answer to the “structural and specific

‘The time has come for both the Federal Government and the Bankers Committee to confront the issue headlong. For, no matter how attractive the option of another interventionist initiative appears to be, aside reducing the decadelong financial sector restructuring to a sham, it boils down to merely skirting round the issue’

issues that have made it difficult to raise affordable funds in Nigeria”. According to the President, the initiative “will provide affordable, long-term funding, on reasonable terms, to both large and small businesses in Nigeria” when fully implemented.

We agree with the Federal Government that the manufacturing sector needs all the help it can to get going again. Unarguably, the sector needs cheap funds which the capital and the financial markets are currently too hamstrung to provide. But even more fundamentally, they require funds with relatively longer gestation periods, both for immediate competitive advantage and as a strategy to enable them plan long term. The issue is what to do in the event that the two conditions do not obtain at the moment.

However, we certainly do not agree that the best way to go is to continue to throw money at the problem. Neither do we agree with the practice of selling fanciful labels and acronyms to satisfy political whims and expediencies that has become customary. The truth is that the nation had been on this route before. The example of the N100 billion Cotton, Textiles and Garment (CTG) Revival Fund of 2009 bears recall here. With the 60 percent of the fund already disbursed to more than 38 beneficiaries as at December 2013, the results posted, at least going by industry sources, have remained far less than impressive five years after. That lesson, if anything, ought to have instructed on the folly of throwing cash at fundamental problems.

The real challenge, in our view, is to understand why, after more than a decade of financial sector-wide restructuring – of which the repositioning of the Bank of Industry (BoI) formed a major component – ad hoc interventionist schemes have remained the rule rather than exception. With 24 universal banks and some half a dozen specialised banks to boot, it would seem obvious that the underlying question of why the financial services sector cannot address the needs of industries – big or small – is yet to be addressed.

As an aside, we are again minded to ask: would the time ever come when the huge pension fund assets, currently put at N4.058 trillion, help moderate interest rates? Our initial understanding was that the pension portfolio, given their longterm nature, would help exert some pressure on interest rates at some point. Why are Nigerians not seeing the benefits?

The time has come for both the Federal Government and the Bankers Committee to confront the issue headlong. For, no matter how attractive the option of another interventionist initiative appears to be, aside reducing the decade-long financial sector restructuring to a sham, it boils down to merely skirting round the issue. Therefore, far from being enamoured with the Federal Government’s penchant to play the Santa Claus with public funds all in the name of intervention, what we would rather have is a financial services industry that is not only enabled but primed to deliver on its mandate.

Crime pays •That is the import of the FG’s pact with the Abacha family on our looted funds

T

HE Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, has come out strongly to defend the Federal Government’s pact with the Abacha family, concerning the recovery of the funds looted by the late maximum ruler, General Sani Abacha. Under the pact, which terms are shrouded in secrecy, the Federal Government withdrew the criminal charges against the son of the late dictator, Muhammed Abacha, in exchange for a portion of the nation’s stolen wealth in custody of Abacha’s estate. Many have questioned the rationale for that procedure, particularly the issue of transparency.

In his defence of the Federal Government at the Nigerian Bar Association general conference, in Owerri, Imo State, the minister contended that the ‘freedom in exchange for cash’ procedure “is a fitting testimony to the strenuous effort being made to ensure the sufficient disgorgement of the proceeds of crime to serve as deterrence”. While berating his colleagues and other commentators for what he called ‘ill-informed’ criticisms, the minister claimed that “the settlement has received commendation across the globe and is being used as a case study for stolen asset recovery”. The minister also claimed that the entire process was transparent and was done in the national interest.

While we concede the minister his right to laboriously defend a policy he supervised, we disagree entirely with his assertion that the process was transparent.

Except of course he mistook opacity for

transparency. Indeed, if there is any reason to question the entire deal, it is because his ministry was the initiator, executor and auditor of the entire process.

In such a circumstance, it is difficult to authenticate the transparency that the minister is claiming. For instance, Adoke has not told Nigerians basic transparency information concerning the deal, such as how much was stolen by the late dictator and how much is the Federal Government conceding in exchange for freedom.

The claim of transparency should also involve Nigerians knowing whether the Federal Government employed agents to broker the deal, and if there were such third parties, who recruited them and on what terms. Indeed, considering that the minister is an appointee of the Federal Government, the federating units should also worry, if their interests were appropriately represented, considering that the stolen money belonged to the federation.

Again, the minister’s claim that the settlement has received recommendation across the globe is unbelievable, except of course he is referring to rogue nations, where criminal actions of high profile individuals are often met with arranged state pardons.

Many Nigerians are also of the opinion that if our country is to be taken seriously about the fight against corruption, there should have been no deal with the Abacha family. Rather, the Federal Government should have pursued the recovery process to its logical conclusion, to send out the message that crime does not pay. Now, with the family keeping part of the criminally acquired wealth, and

suffering no punishment for that, would it not send the message that crime pays?

In our opinion, a full exploitation of our criminal justice system would have been more salutary for our nation’s beleaguered image.

Nigerians are also genuinely worried that even the monies agreed to be refunded to the federal coffers may never get there. As we have harped on severally on this page, there have been many instances of officials looting recovered funds. Considering our experience with brokered deals in exchange for criminal indictment of treasury looters, we hope this case will not go the way of former Inspector-General of Police, Tafa Balogun. The National Assembly and the civil society should demand for details of this transaction.

‘Many Nigerians are also of the opinion that if our country is to be taken seriously about the fight against corruption, there should have been no deal with the Abacha family.

Rather, the Federal Government should have pursued the recovery process to its logical conclusion, to send out the message that crime does not pay’

Federal positions: the truth is coming out

F

IR: At last, Nigerians are beginning to know the truth. The truth, that is the position and the opportunities offered the various nationalities that constitute the Nigerian nation state. We have often shied away from confronting the facts, even though these facts are staring us in the face. The President recently said and he was quoted in the papers, that he had given the Igbo the positions they never had before. This we must admit is a gross understatement of what is happening in Abuja and elsewhere in Nigeria.

The truth, the stark truth is that the people of the South/South and South/ East, kindreds all, have never had it so good, have appropriated to themselves almost 70 per cent of federal perquisites, sinecure positions and other plums of office in the last few years. Not that our brothers and sisters in these areas were badly treated in the past, no, they have often had their fair share of our national cake. What has happened in Jonathan cum Pius Ayim era is that the situation has become so glaring, so unashamedly, open in favour of a section of our country, with the solid support of the country’s leadership.

Were the Igbo discriminated against before? No. with their drive, their personal industry, their commitment to their trade and business and the coherence among them, nobody can successfully discriminate against the Igbo. It is therefore surprising that our President could, as it were, lead the struggle against a non-existent discrimination, or rather our President could boast openly that he has given more positions to Igbo than any previous administration. Are the Igbo not ordinary Nigerians like others? There is an inherent danger in regarding a section of the community – for example Igbo and Ijaw, as people to be ‘compensated’ with bigger portions of the national cake.

Already people have ben observing and talking about it in hush tones. Now the President has unwittingly thrown open the issues. Unfortunately the institution or state with should monitor and ‘regulate’ imbalances in the appointment by the nation turns blind eyes to such conspicuous appointment directing its attention to lesser and less sensitive appointments. God help Nigeria!

• Deji Fasuan, Senior Citizen, Ekiti 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

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina

• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •General Manager (Abuja Press) Kehinde Olowu •AGM (PH Press) Tunde Olasogba

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness •Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) •Press Manager Yomi Odunuga Udensi Chikaodi •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Legal Counsel John Unachukwu •Group Business Editor Simeon Ebulu • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye •Group Sports Editor Ade Ojeikere •Acting Manager (sales) •Editorial Page Editor Olaribigbe Bello Sanya Oni

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

S

IR: The imbroglio that engulfed the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) after the national team’s poor outing at the last World Cup appears to be assuming an embarrassing magnitude that should no longer be allowed to continue. Before now, there have been litigations, court injunctions, dissolution of the federation board, suspension by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the ouster of Aminu Maigari as the NFF President.

Rather than take stock, learn from our performance and plan ahead, our football administrators are engrossed in power tussle while little attention is being accorded effective football administration in the country.

The NFF crisis has taken much toll on our volatile football administration as virtually all the tiers of the league are being suspended at a critical period when our national team, the Super Eagles, has only just begun its title defence for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Currently, the nation’s football

S

EDITOR’S MAIL BAG

SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 800 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.net

Cleaning the mess in Glass House league comprising the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) also known as the Glo Premier League, the Nigeria Nation Wide League (NNWL), Nigeria Women’s League and the Nigeria National League (NNL), have also suspended their activities indefinitely as a result of referees’ boycott.

The Ministry of Sports, under Dr. Tammy Danagogo appears to be incapable of overseeing the operations of NFF effectively. Rather, it has deployed overbearing and divide-and-rule tactics that have been counter-productive. While the Maigari group is enjoying the goodwill of FIFA, the Chris Giwa team on the other hand has the backing of the Nigerian government. It

is expected that with the series and grievous allegations leveled against the body, the ministry should have demanded accountability from the NFF. But whenever this happens, the impression that is given is that FIFA would sanction the nation because of government intervention. Up till now, the inferno at the NFF secretariat in Abuja is yet to be investigated, especially in the face of information that the fire extinguishers at the secretariat expired since 2012 without any attempt to replace them.

The on-going stalemate is nothing but a clear manifestation of the absence of the genuine passion for service by those that are benefitting from the situation and would

rather prefer that the status quo ante be maintained.

What the nation neds now is a sound administrative structure where those saddled with responsibility would consider national interest foremost; instead of leaving the game to a few vested interests that appear to be after their private pockets. From what we have seen so far, we can safely say that those involved in football administration in Nigeria have no real interest in developing the game. This could be due to the ‘free’ money that comes from the government that makes the NFF secretariat the toast of politicians. Unfortunately, we have failed to tap into the immense opportunities in the football business for national

them. This ordinary should be a no-brainer but our collective psyche had been bastardised in recent times by ballot box snatching, multiple thumb printing and other electoral malpractices by politicians and their cronies. The people of Ekiti and Osun states voted differently based on their perception of the candidates in the face of intimidation, harassments and high level politicking.

The elections in Ekiti and Osun also taught us a critical lesson that politicians should bond with their people and listen to their aspirations and yearnings. I believe that politicians should listen to the voice of their people all the time and act accordingly based on the feedback from the people except on rare occasions when leaders have to take some decisive actions which may not be popular with their people but will be in the best

interest of the country and their people in the long run.

For instance, I believe that the now aborted competency test in Ekiti and Edo state was a step in the right direction by the two chief executives of the two states; it is unfortunate that they had to cancel the test for political expediency. On a cursory appraisal of the suspension of the test by the governors, one may be tempted to say that they were correct to have bowed to the wishes of their people. However, deep thinkers will agree with me that we missed a chance to have an improved educational sector. If the governors had been allowed to carry out the test, such tests would probably have been extended to the health sector and other critical sectors of the economy.

We missed a rare privilege of long term progress by stampeding those leaders! The public outcry and public pressure on well

thought out policies and subsequent reversals by successive government will do us more harm than good in the long run. That is not to say that all the actions of governments at all levels are to be accepted. For instance, I threw my weight behind the clamour for the reduction of LASU fees and I was extremely happy when the new fee regime was cancelled .This is because I believe that university education should not be the exclusive preserve of a privileged few since governments at various levels have not been able to provide enough safety nets to protect the weak and vulnerable in our society. What the Lagos state government needs to do is to fund its institutions more and ensure a more judicious use of the resources allocated to the educational sector.

• Ireti Ishola, Lagos

2015 Elections and the rest of us

IR: I watched with nostalgia how the elections of Ekiti and Osun were fought and lost, the accusations and counter accusations that characterized the elections. It was also very exciting reading the myriad of analysis on what transpired during the election and of course, several words were added to our political lexicon particularly the word stomachstructure which can been defined as the art of seducing voters with consumables particularly food items in order to secure their votes and support.

The elections have been fought and won but there are vital lessons we must extract from our recent democratic experience so that we can progress as a nation. I will try to extract a few lessons I want Nigerians to reflect on as we approach the 2015 general elections.

Electorates have tremendous power to determine who leads

development.

We cannot afford to be banned again by FIFA. This should be the ultimate concern of our football administrators. They should stop throwing stones in the Glass House!

• Adewale Kupoluyi Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Who’s to blame for WAEC failure rate?

S

IR: It is either our leaders and stakeholders are ignorant of certain issues or they deliberately shy away from the truth. How on earth could one blame a standard exam body like West African Examination Council (WAEC) for mass failure?

Do the education minister and the National Assembly want WAEC to bend their marking scheme or lower the standard of questions?

To pass exams depends largely on the candidate. How many of our students will leave the search for pleasure and entertainment from internet, films, professional league matches, Satellite TVs, Ozonto dance to embark on the tedious job of reading for exams?

How many parents nowadays even want and encourage their wads to work hard to pass exams?

I pity the poor set of people called teachers who have suffered so much to teach at a time when pleasure, entertainment, sports, quick wealth have taken roots in our society.

When football coaches are dismissing N5 million monthly pay as slavery pay, we expect students to read for examinations when they see and know how poor their teachers are.

I bet the 32% pass that is causing uproar is largely a product of exams malpractices. Develop a way of stopping malpractices and you will see the real failure rate.

• Idongesit Inyang, Uyo.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

21

COMMENTS

A

S far as winning arguments go, it seems highly unlikely that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would succeed in persuading the banking public of the merit of its latest decision to “re-introduce” charges on ATM withdrawals on “remote-on-us” transactions. A week after the new policy is supposed to have taken off, the debate has remained animated both in the electronic and the print media.

Of course, the preponderance of the opinions is that the Godwin Emefiele-led apex bank has not only missed the track, but that is gradually taking the financial sector back to its old extortionist ways!

Yours truly has carefully followed the debate. I must confess that it is one of those moments when emotions not only rule, but is expected to dictate public policy. And this is understandably so in a clime where service providers are at liberty to slap all manners visible and invisible charges on hapless, but unsuspecting patrons of products and services.

Nigerians are after all, only too familiar with extortionate demands by service providers of all sorts – even for services that were never rendered.

Given that context, the harsh criticism not to talk of the resistance that has followed, are only to be expected. But then the issue is when such criticisms by those in strident opposition to what is essentially a value-added service are anchored on false premises – or if you like grave misunderstandings. I guess this is where those in the business of public commentary have the responsibility to help shed light on the issue.

To start with, it is a measure of the changing landscape of service delivery that Nigerians are even debating the latest measure by the apex bank. Ten years ago, the debate would at been merely academic. And trust me – we wouldn’t be Nigerians without our claims of “expertise” even on subjects that many know next to nothing about!

‘It is indicative of how much the Nigerian consumer has come of age in terms of cost-consciousness and service delivery as a whole. But more significantly, the debate is reflective of the understanding of the dynamics in the sector in the last few years – a measure of how much ground the industry as a whole has covered in concrete, developmental terms’

T

HE fear, entertained, in 1999 was that the military, having been in power for the last 29 out of the 33 years, would still continue to imperially dominate the political setting in the post military era which is – supposed to be a full civilian government.

The dread was further reinforced and fortified with the election of General Matthew Aremu Olusegun Okikiolu Obasanjo a former war hero, as President, coupled with the imposition of the 1999 constitution- a corrigenda full of errors and imperfections, without plebiscite or referendum.

Now 15 years after, that fear, seem to be vanishing and disappearing fast. As a matter of fact, gradually, the military seems not to be executors and projectors of our political destiny. Civilians are pushing them to be mere onlookers and bystanders. A passage in our body politics is about to close. It is either the military do not understand anything about party politics or the civilians have outsmarted them.

With the impeachment of Admiral Murtala Hamman Yero Nyako (rtd.) (72) as Governor of Adamawa State on July 15, only five Generals, elected under the new democratic dispensation, are now left on the political scene. I mean elected not appointed for we still have former military Generals around, on appointment.

They are Muhammadu Magoro (rtd.) (73) representing Kebbi South in the Senate, David Alachenu Bonaventure Mark (rtd.) (66) the current Senate President, an Idoma Christian representing Benue South in the Senate, who incidentally was born in Zungeru in Niger State, David Jonah Jang (71), Governor of Plateau State, Gboribiogha John Jonah (60) deputy Governor of Bayelsa State and Muhammed Saleh (59) representing Kaduna Central in the Senate.

Jang was Military Governor of Benue between1985-1986 and Gongola State (now Adamawa State) between 1986-1987.

He is serving a second term as governor of Plateau State.

David Mark was chairman of Abandoned Properties Implementation Committee for the former Eastern Region now made up of nine states after the civil war in 1969, member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council, 1986-1989, Military Governor of Niger State between 1984-1986 and Minister of Communication from 1987-1990. He has been representing Benue South Senatorial zone for the past 15years.He was elected Senate President of June 6, 2007.

Jonah deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, a naval Engineer from Nembewho was elected along with Governor Henry Seriake Dickson on February 14, 2012.

General Magoro (NA435) entered our national consciousness in May 1985 as Minister of Internal Affairs when he announced the expulsion of many West Africans including Ghanaians from Nigeria under the Buhari regime.

Over a million foreign nationals were affected by the expulsion. In 1971, President Kofi Abrefu Busia (1930-78) of Ghana drove out over one million Nigerians mostly Yorubas from Ghana due to the economic downturn in that country.

Now that the economy of Ghana is down, we should not be surprised if President John Dramani Mahama(56) follows

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

Much ado about N65

Secondly, it is indicative of how much the Nigerian consumer has come of age in terms of cost-consciousness and service delivery as a whole. But more significantly, the debate is reflective of the understanding of the dynamics in the sector in the last few years – a measure of how much ground the industry as a whole has covered in concrete, developmental terms.

It is also a revelation of the vast knowledge gap that still exists in an industry on which the lives of every Nigerian have come to depend.

To be sure, the CBN circular can hardly be faulted on the grounds of ambiguity: Effective September 1, the apex bank had stated that it would bring back “Remote-On-Us’’ ATM cash withdrawal transactions fee. The fee pegged at N65 per transaction was to cover the remuneration of the switches. It went on to state that “The new charge shall apply as from fourth “Remote-on-us’’ withdrawal in a month by a card holder, thereby making the first three “remote on us” transactions free for the card holders, but to be paid for by the issuing bank”.

As for all ATM cash withdrawal on the ATM of issuing banks, these would remain at no cost to the card holder.

Contrary to what many Nigerians prefer to believe, I do not see anything extra-ordinary in the decision of the CBN to re-introduce the “Remote-on-us’’ charges. If anything, I see the development as borne more of economic realism than anything else. As for the argument that the Bankers Committee had in its wisdom in December 2012 opted to assume the burden on behalf of their customer, this, I daresay, hardly qualifies as an argument. For nowhere in that decision was it remotely suggested that the services was free or cast in stone as it were; rather, the bankers merely opted to assume the costs perhaps in the light of the prevailing exigencies.

More fundamentally, Nigerians should not find it difficult to understand the basis of the “Remote-on-us’’ charges. Think of it this way: a man walks up to an ATM of a bank where he

An epoch is about to close

By Eric Teniola Busia’s example. Magoro had earlier served as Minister for Transport under the Military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1978 but was not a member of the Supreme Military Council then unlike his class mate Ibrahim Babangida (73).

After the overthrow of Buhari’s government on August 27 1985 by Babangida, Magoro retired voluntarily from the army. He was later appointed the head of the Nigerian Railways and the Nigerian Ports Authority. He later became the chairman of Ocean and Oil Servicing Limited and the Chairman of Oando group in 2000, a Petroleum Marketing Company created through Privatisation of Unipetrol Nigeria Pl., in which Ocean and Oil Services bought a major share.

Tragedy struck him on March 24, 1999 when his best friend who was the Iron Surgeon of the Buhari era and Military Governor of Borno State in 1978, Babatunde Abdulbaki Idiagbon (1943-1999) died suddenly in Ilorin after travelling from Abuja. Till today he is still mourning that tragedy By calculation, he may not come back as second term senator for personal reasons.

Nyako was the pioneer governor of Niger State when it was created from Sokoto State by Murtala Muhammed in 1976. He served in that post until he handed over to Ebitu Okoh Ukiwe (74) who is from Abriba in Imo State, in December 1977.

Military officers elected between 1999 but who have lost out include, Joseph Iorshnghar Akaagerger (58) Military Governor of Katsina State between August 1988 to May 1989.

He represented Benue North in the Senate between 2004 and 2007. In the 2011 election having joined the Alliance for Democracy, he was defeated by Chief Barnabas Andyar Iyorchia Germade (66) by 229682 to 143978 votes.

Muhammed Chris Alli was Military Governor of Plateau State from 1985-1985 and was Chief of Staff of Nigeria Army from 1993-1994. President Obasanjo appointed him Administrator of Plateau State and served between May 18, 2004 and November 18, 2004.

Olatunji Idowu Ishola Olurin, (69) was Military Governor of Old Oyo State between September 1985 to July 1988.

President Obasanjo appointed him Administrator Ekiti State between October 19 2006 and April 27 2007.

Alabi Muhhamed Lawal (1946-2006) was appointed Military of Ogun State and served between December 1987 till August 1990. He was elected Governor, Kwara State and

does not operate an account and gets paid. Of course, value is transfered.

Now, is it realistic to pretend that value was not delivered – and that no cost was involved? Would the transactions have been possible without seamless communication between the issuing bank and the payment bank? Shouldn’t the payment bank be entitled to the reward in view of the service rendered?

And who should rightly bear the cost, the issuing bank – or the individual who enjoys the service?

That, unfortunately is the present level of the the debate.

Didn’t the scriptures say something about the labourers being worthy of his wages? Why should the bankers case be different?

Let me state at this point that there is nothing unhealthy in the debate. Indeed, my wish is that Nigerians make a habit of questioning not just the quality of service dumped on them, but the quality of governance that they are afflicted with.

Happily, more and more Nigerians are questioning the basis of a number of the spurious charges slapped on them.

For instance, the other day, I issued four different cheques all totalling N600, 000 only to be slapped with a bill for exceeding the daily cash withdrawal limit. The explanation was that the fellows – not me – collected cash on the counter on the same day! How about that as punishment for daring to pay some poor artisans on the same day? Should Nigerians forget the customary fixed charge routinely slapped on them by the electricity companies even when they are not availed of service.

I agree that progress can only come when citizens routinely take their service providers to task. The key is to be on the side of equity.

And the man died On Saturday, a friend had called me to inquire if I had heard the news of the death of my former boss at The Sun, Mr. Dimgba Igwe. The friend would add that he was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver.

How? Was he knocked down in a lonely alley? Were there no citizens around to rally for immediate help?

I was later to understand that the first private hospital he was taken to could not help; the second was even worse as the best they could do was refer him to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) by which time it was already too late.

Would he have died if prompt medical attention was given to him? We can only speculate. One thing seems clear though: the system failed him when it mattered most.

This is most unfortunate for a man who spent his entire adult life seeking to make our country better. We shall miss him. served from May 1999 to May 2003. He died in London on November 6, 2006 Jonathan Babatunde Ogbeha (67) was the pioneer military governor of Akwa Ibom State from September 1987 to July 30, 1988. He later became the military governor of old Bendel State from 1988 to 1990. He was elected Senator Kogi West between 1999 and 2007.

Olagunsoye Oyinlola (63) was appointed the military governor of Lagos State between December 1993 to August 1996. He was elected governor of Osun State in 2007 and served till 2010 when the Court of Appeal nullified his election on November 26, 2010.

John Nanzip Shagaya (71) was former Minister of Internal Affairs. He was a member of Armed Forces Ruling from 1985 to 1989 before he became the ECOMOG field Commander and handed over to Tunji Olurin in September 1993. He was elected Senator Plateau North in May 2007 and served till 2011.

Abubakar Tanko Ayuba (68) served as Minister of Communications between 1985 and 1987 after which he became the military governor of Kaduna State between August 1990 and January 1992. He was elected Senator Kebbi South between 2007 and 2011.

Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyesigha (62) was elected governor of Bayelsa State in May1999 and served till December 2005 before he was impeached.

Obasanjo was elected President from May 1999 and served in that post till May 2007. On April 2, 2012, out of frustration, he resigned as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the ruling PDP. He is gallant abroad but in Nigeria his long years in the service of the nation and his party are hardly mentioned these days. Obasanjo has been turned to a non-persona grata, unacknowledged by the government that he made.

Please don’t count out the Generals yet, as we all know Generals are fighters and a fighter knows many ways. He who fights and runs away, live to fight another day. We may not see the last duel of the Generals yet in the political scene.

Past experience has taught us all never to underestimate the power and influence of the military and their spirit decorps.

No doubt a passage is unfolding in our political system.

Either it is for good or bad, only time will tell.

For years now our vocation was to blame most of our problems on the military. Now the civilians are gradually taking complete control of the political system, if the adventure fails, the civilian political class will have no other body to blame except of course themselves. The nation will not forgive or forget them. We can see developments taking place in other parts of the world. Why should Nigeria be an exception?

• Teniola was a former director at the presidency. He lives in Lagos.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

22

COMMENTS

A

S one Nigerian town after another fell to Boko Haram insurgents in the northeast over the weekend, something continued to tell me that the days of the terrorists are numbered. You want to know why?

As my attention continued to be drawn to the activities/atrocities of the Sunni inspired insurgency in Iraq called the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria or ISIS, I began to see the correlation between ISIS and BH (that is Boko Haram) and became convinced that the insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast will eventually fail.

ISIS like BH is aimed at establishing an Islamic caliphate in the territory under its control, but judging by the array of opposition to it, this will not be allowed to happen. Apart from the Iraqi government and its western allies, particularly the United States, the rest of the Arab countries are opposed to ISIS not just because of what it is, but also what its claims to be.

The group is positioning itself as a defender of Islam, fighting the Infidels, but the Islamic world as represented by the Arabs is not deceived by this and is bent of destroying the group and whatever it stands for.

That ISIS has not been able to make inroads into other Arab countries and the rest of the Islamic world shows that its cause is not Islamic but rather political. As a Sunni Muslim inspired insurgency, the group would probably have drawn immense support and sympathy from the rest of the Sunni Muslim world (the dominant group among Muslims worldwide) to its cause if that cause were to be in the interest of Islam.

But it is not, hence the gang up so to speak to defeat ISIS by a coalition that is bringing Shia and Sunni Muslims together to fight terror.

Ordinarily these two groups don’t see eye to eye, not to talk of standing shoulder to shoulder to fight terror.

This is the same way I am seeing Boko Haram. That the group has not been able to get widespread support among Nigerian Muslims was an indication that it is not Islamic and cannot be Islamic. It is just a murderous political organization camouflaging under Islam to get support among those left out of the mainstream political arrangement in the northeast. And the earlier the Nigerian government knows this the better in its fight against the group.

Looking at northern Nigeria, the most

Why Boko Haram will fail backward and least developed in that region is the northeast and the political elite, unlike in the northwest region have monopolized everything to the exclusion of the majority.

And the lack of political plurality is not helping matters at all. The northeast traditionally had never given in to Hausa/ Fulani domination and this was exemplified in the second republic when the people went against the mainstream Hausa/Fulani party, the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and voted for the party of one of their own, Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim’s Great Nigerian Peoples Party (GNPP). With that party they were able to express themselves and hold themselves and their leaders accountable.

But the coming of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the present dispensation and its politics of total domination is stifling the opposition to such an extent that some would rather resort to anything or method to keep the PDP away. If truly a former governor of Borno state was behind Boko Haram at inception, it might just be a desperate attempt on his part to keep PDP away from his state.

Even though this was no excuse for supporting terror, PDP’s policy of if you are not with us then you are against us and as such must be destroyed, is driving a lot of people into the hands of the devil in that region.

If you look at the Arab world, you ask why Al Qaeda, Al Shabab and even ISIS are thriving. It is simply because they are the only avenues through which the people could express their opposition to their governments which have refused to liberalise the political space. And because the Arab leaders cannot legislate against or ban religion, people with dissenting views gravitate towards Islam and

N

EWSPAPERS feasted on the news that emerged early in the week of August of the impending defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). To those familiar with his ‘maradonic’ political antecedents and his seemingly uncontrollable appetite for betraying the cause(s) and objective(s) of any political camps in which he pitches his tent, the news that Mimiko – the only Labour Party (LP) governor of the hapless Ondo State – had concluded plans to dump his party for the PDP should not have been anything worthy of attention. But as the week progressed, the Nigerian reading public got to know that Governor Mimiko’s defection was the result of an “unforced error” on his path that necessitated an impromptu defection that he could ignore only at his own political peril.

With a healthy dose of fresh facts from some dailies that “the Presidency allegedly compelled Mimiko” to defect to the ruling party or else, you knew instinctively that this ‘political maradona’ had probably attempted another dribbling that proved too costly for him this time around.

The Nation reported that the chain of events that led to Mimiko’s decision was triggered by the alleged secret defection of his deputy, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, and the Senator representing Ondo South, Boluwaji Kunlere from the LP to the PDP without the governor’s knowledge. The paper further reported that Governor Mimiko issued his deputy a query “with a concealed threat of impeachment.” Rattled by the query and having watched his boss’ raw and undiluted Machiavellian political disposition from close proximity, Olanusi instinctively sensed the fate that awaited him if he did not act fast as Iroko does not take prisoners. So, he ran to

‘For a governor that depleted the huge political capital that he was freely given by the good people of Ondo State less than two years into his first term, but buoyed by the federal might and his vast experience in the art of rigging to have secured a second term, the defection is significant in completing the gathering of birds of the same feathers in their readiness to flock together’

inevitably fall into the hands of religious extremists. This is the same mistake Israel is making in Gaza. By making life unbearable for the Palestinians in Gaza, Israel has inadvertently driven them into the hands the extremist group Hamas.

In our fight against Boko Haram, the PDP as a political organization and the federal government that it controls must rethink their political strategy and allow the people the freedom to choose their leaders. This do or die politics will take us nowhere. It is a lot easier in the south, southwest in particular because there is a viable alternative to the PDP here if the party should force its way into power. But in the north where the only industry they have is government, if that government is imposed and not of the people, the reaction could be the Boko Haram that we are witnessing now.

What I am saying here is that the solution to BH lies in both military and political approach to the problem. Win the people over with policies and programmes that would isolate the extremists in their midst.

Programmes that would make terrorism unattractive; programmes that would be backed by robust military engagement that would ensure security for the people such that when they back out or give out the insurgents in their midst nothing would happen to them.

It is no point blaming our military for the setbacks suffered in the hands of Boko Haram in recent times. These are expected of a military that has been rendered impotent for a long time by a political elite that was just interested in protecting its interest or promoting its interest above that of the state.

How come that a military that was able to

Decoding Mimiko’s Defection

By Femi Odere his kinsman from Akoko in Abuja who is the Chief of Staff to the President, retired Brig. General James Arogbofa.

Arogbofa, probably due to his military training was able to smell blood from afar, in turn alerted his principal, President Jonathan that Olanusi was being prepared for the slaughter to the gods that has always given Iroko that uncanny ability that the very same people he dribbles are the ones that always claps for him until after he had long walked away with the trophy.

Arogbofa must have helped in removing the scales from the eyes of his principal, Jonathan. With the scales gone, the president flew off the handle and vowed to cut and make firewood out of Iroko this time. Also because of his own snaky nature, the president can recognize another snake in human clothing when he sees one. So, he “gave Mimiko an ultimatum to defect to PDP or he would make life unbearable for him.”

It doesn’t get nastier than that.

With this revelation, you knew that the fox have finally outfoxed himself this time. The Maradona has ultimately dribbled himself into a tight corner with no choice than to score his own goal for a defeat. After all, you cannot sell your franchise and still insist on calling the shots for the buyer and the remaining employees. In order not to lose face in the eyes of those still foolish enough to continue to carry his cans, Governor Mimiko was reported to have said that his decision to defect to the ruling PDP was informed by his desire to bring federal presence to Ondo State. I beg your pardon?

I wager that Mimiko would rue the day his deputy was given that query because he probably least expected that the septuagenarian would be smart enough to scurry to the governor’s superiors in Abuja for his political salvation. More importantly, the governor probably could not have imagined Jonathan brandishing a big stick against him - his loyal poodle.

I can take even a bigger bet that Mimiko’s intention was to continue to string along Jonathan until after the 2015 presidential election to see if the president would still retain his seat, and if he fails, would look for a soft point of entry from which to sneak quietly into the APC camp. This is a snaky attribute.

I have argued before that Mimiko’s fraternization with any political party he finds himself may not necessarily be because

fight and defeat a Libyan backed rebel forces in Liberia and Sierra Leone in the 90s is suddenly unable to confront a ragtag insurgency back home few years after?

Those who reduced our once fearsome armed forces into a mere bunch of Boys Scout over the years should share in the blame of the success of Boko Haram. But this does not excuse the mediocrity being displayed by the Commander-In-Chief and his troops in Bama, Gwoza and the rest of Nigerian territories being fiercely contested by BK forces. It is no excuse for our boys deserting to Cameroun under the guise of beating a retreat. This insurgency has been on for enough time for the government to have fashioned out and put together a robust military response to safeguard the lives and properties of Nigerians in that region. Like the Yoruba would say, if you take 20 years to prepare for madness, how many years are you going to use to exhibit the madness?

If President Goodluck Jonathan has still not fashioned out how to fight Boko Haram by now or his plans are still on the drawing board, when is he going to do it? Getting our neighbours to join the fight is a right step in the right direction, but most important, is getting our military to be on top of the situation or showing enough willingness to confront the insurgency. This is when we will be able to get the support of the international community to fight Boko Haram. Everything must be done to get our soldiers trained, equipped and ready to confront the insurgency. ISIS is being decimated in Iraq

by America’s airpower because the Iraqis and the Kurds are taking the lead on ground. The Nigerian military must be at the forefront and the world will back us. Boko Haram ust be destroyed and as I said earlier, something tells me the days of the insurgency are numbered.

‘Those who reduced our once fearsome armed forces into a mere bunch of Boys Scout over the years should share in the blame of the success of Boko Haram’

of any deep-seated political conviction but his own political aggrandizement as exemplified by the amount of benefits he had extracted from Jonathan and his administration, even if he had to exhibit a despicable behavior that a sane, rational and averagely intelligent teenager would find nauseating, such as proclaiming that 16 was greater than 19. Governor Mimiko’s concern is not whether anyone or the political entity that assisted him to achieve his end-goal will survive. He probably harbours the opposite. His sole concern is a powerbase of his own where he is the Lord of the Manor. It therefore should be noted that he cares very little – if any – for the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) but will continue to identify with it as long as it is the party at the centre. He would have loved to grow and nurture his Labour Party at least in the South-west, just as Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu had nurtured a party that eventually formed a major plank of the country’s first formidable opposition party. Aside from being compelled, it is a smart political move for him to collapse the remnants of his party as it has failed in its mission to act as a bulwark against the progressive political class in the Southwest.

Governor Mimiko’s defection is good for the politics of the South-west. For a governor that depleted the huge political capital that he was freely given by the good people of Ondo State less than two years into his first term, but buoyed by the federal might and his vast experience in the art of rigging to have secured a second term, the defection is significant in completing the gathering of birds of the same feathers in their readiness to flock together. The heads of these flocks are already situated in most of the South-west states. However, one must also warn that these very strange birds carry a particular strain of the Ebola virus that can seriously affect the political health of their hosts and co-travellers alike. The choice is now crystal clear for the people of the South-west as to which group of birds their present as well as their future should be entrusted.

• Odere is a media practitioner. He can be reached at femiodere@gmail.com.

‘I wager that Mimiko would rue the day his deputy was given that query because he probably least expected that the septuagenarian would be smart enough to scurry to the governor’s superiors in Abuja for his political salvation’

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

25

’

In fairness to the Australian, he is filling the vacuum created by our challenged intelligence and security agencies. If they had been able to contain the Boko Haram menace as we all patriotically hoped, the old man would have found better things to do with his time

’

See page 39

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

Who are the brains behind Boko Haram? An Australian, Dr Stephen Davis, fingers former Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen Azubuike Ihejirika and former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff as the sect’s sponsors. The duo have since denied the allegations. The Directorate of State Security Service (DSS) has also given Gen Ihejirika a clean bill, but said it would investigate Sheriff. Lawyers believe that a judicial panel of enquiry is needed to unravel the mystery of those behind Boko Haram, PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU reports.

?

Who are Boko Haram’s sponsors?

• Lawyers seek judicial panel of enquiry

I

INSIDE:

T was not the first time former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff was being linked with Boko Haram.

So, when Australian Stephen Davis described Sheriff as a Boko Haram sponsor, many were not surprised. But they were stunned that he also fingered former Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika as a sponsor of the sect.

Gen. Ihejirika and Sheriff have since denied the allegations. The Directorate of Security Service (DSS) has also given Gen. Ihejirika a clean bill, but said he would investigate Sheriff. Many are surprised that the DSS had not investigated him before now. Should Gen. Ihejirika’s and Sheriff’s denial lay the matter to rest? Or should there be a probe of who is behind Boko Haram?

While some have called for Ihejirika’s and Sheriff’s trial, others have argued that they should be handed over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity. Can they be tried on mere allegation?

The DSS has exonerated Ihejirika, describing the allegation against him as wicked and uncharitable.

“For us to accept that he (Ihejirika) is associated with the same sect, whose activities he, together with this Service, succeeded in bringing to a halt in Kano, Okene and other places, pursuing them down to the Sambisa Forest; to ac-

Groups give Jonathan 21day ultimatum -Page 27

• Gen. Ihejirika (rtd)

liberal nature to perpetrate all sorts of evil in our society,” said Merilyn Ogar, spokesperson for the SSS. Sheriff is threatening to go to Australia to sue Davies for defamation; Ihejirika says labelling him Boko Haram sponsor is a ploy to distract the armed forces and further disunite the country.

Sheriff’s defence

• Sheriff

cept that the same man was sponsoring Boko Haram is wicked and uncharitable. We should not allow people to use our

NBA is alive, says Alegeh

-Page 37

Addressing a press conference, Sheriff, who described himself as a victim and not a sponsor of Boko Haram, said his political enemies were launching a campaign of calumny against him, just as he denied meeting Yusuf.

He said: “... It may interest you to know that it was the government of my predecessor in office, the late Alhaji Mala Kachallah (May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace) that introduced Sharia Law in the state in 2000 through the Borno State Sharia Administration of Justice Law 2000.

“As a matter of fact, late Mala Kachallah signed the bill into law at an elaborate ceremony at the Ramat Square in Maiduguri and appointed the Borno State Sharia Law Implementation Committee in February, 2001 under the •Continued on page 26

2015: Tussle over ballot boxes shifts to Appeal Court -Page 38

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

26

LAW COVER CONT’D •Continued from page 25

chairmanship of Prof Abubakar Mustapha, the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri.

“Interestingly, the late Mohammed Yusuf, leader of the Boko Haram sect, was a member of the committee among other Islamic scholars. If, indeed, there was an agreement between the sect and my predecessor on the issue of Sharia implementation, I am not aware of it, as I was neither in government then nor was I a party to it.

“Let me state categorically at this point that I do not share the ideology of the Boko Haram sect, which is against western education, western culture and modern science or any other sect with similar ideology.

“From my background, it could be easily seen that we are completely opposed to one another in terms of our viewpoints and convictions. By my nature and upbringing, I have neither associated myself with nor shared the beliefs of religious fundamentalists such as the Boko Haram sect or any other sect for that matter.

“While in office as governor, I did my best to curtail the activities of the sect. I have never associated myself with any terrorist in any part of the world. I have never in my life met Mohammed Yusuf, the leader of the Boko Haram sect, who died in circumstances that are being investigated.”

•Fagbohungbe

•Akeredolu

Ihejirika’s position For Ihejirika, the allegation that he is a sponsor of Boko Haram is spurious and frivolous, just as he warned stakeholders not to be distracted by the baseless accusations aimed at diverting attention from the counter-terrorism efforts being carried out.

The former army chief spoke at a gathering of the alumni of 18 Regular Course of the National Defence Academy, where he said he was not moved by the attention being given the unfounded allegation, but concerned about national security.

His words: “We are yet to come to terms with the motives of the terrorists and their desire to bring this nation down.

“I want to advise that baseless, frivolous and unfounded allegations like this have the capacity of diverting our attention away from the main problem. It is an issue that would have been dismissed within an hour in developed countries, such as America and United Kingdom.

“The terrorists are currently exploiting the country’s ethno-religious, socio-political and multi-cultural faultiness to advance their cause, which they have not been able to achieve through violence.

“I have chosen to talk at length today because we cannot allow national security to be toyed with; the need for security awareness still persists. I want to urge all Nigerians to join hands to support the president and members of the armed forces in their onerous task to rid this country of terrorism.

“That we are where we are today is a lesson to us. The lesson is that the terrorists are not sleeping; what they cannot achieve through bombing they want to achieve through media warfare. War is no longer fought in the traditional three dimensions of air, land and sea; we have clearly seen the fourth dimension of warfare.

“The army under my command in a bid to crush insurgency, recruited 9,000 soldiers in 2013 to beef up strength and effectively monitor the borders. I owe no apologies to those who feel I was high handed in the way i handled insurgency during my stay as COAS. They should know that Nigeria must exist before anyone can hold a single political office and there is no compromise in the effort to have a peaceful and united Nigeria.”

However, observers argued that given the seriousness of the allegation, they should not be swept under the carpet. Some suggested that an international and independent investigator be contracted to probe Davis’ claims; others urged the government to constitute a judicial panel of inquiry to look into the matter.

Is judicial panel the way out?

Lawyers were divided on constituting a judicial commission of enquiry to probe the allegations. While some supported the call and stated modalities for its establishment, others said it would amount to a waste of time and resources.

Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), said a judicial panel would be useless if evidence are is available or provided by security agencies.

“Indictment for offences of the nature of sponsoring insurgency is certainly not com-

•Farounbi

• Ofuokwu

•Omoyinmi

•Ubani

Who are Boko Haram’s sponsors? mon place. Let’s ask ourselves, are our agencies equipped to handle serious investigations? No! Our agencies are bogged down with corruption and, no doubt, most inefficient. They have not been able to investigate and secure indictment for simple offences.

To expect them to have any serious evidence to ground indictment of the individuals concerned is mere fantasy hence the seeming reluctance.

“A commission of enquiry will be of no use where the evidence needed is either not available or will not be made available by corruption laden agencies. Except we are prepared to accept foreign experts assistance to carry out thorough investigation we shall be embarking on a futile exercise if there are no confessional statements-obtained under duress or rightly as is done rarely- the only basis of most convictions secured by our agencies,” he said.

To George Oguntade (SAN), the call for a judicial commission of enquiry is misplaced and unnecessary because they are mere allegations by a foreigner.

He said: “The bare allegations of a foreign national ought not to be the basis of the set-

ting up of a judicial commission of inquiry. The call for a judicial commission is therefore misplaced and most unnecessary.

“The allegations and the consequences thereof are extremely serious, indeed. The proper step is for the appropriate apparatus of state, the SSS and the NPF to conduct a thorough investigation of the allegation and come out with their report.

“If it then turns out that a prima facie case is established against the individuals accused, they will be arrested for interrogation and where found necessary, the matter should be referred to the Attorney-General of the Federation who will file appropriate charges.”

Lagos lawyer Olukayode Enitan said: “While there is need to find out the financial backers and all others surreptitiously supporting the Boko Haram terrorists, I’m of the view that a judicial commission of enquiry is not the appropriate body to do the investigation, that investigation is squarely within the premise of the Department of State Security.

“With regards to those who have been alleged to be sponsors of the insurgents, I believe the thing to do is to look first at the

‘Nigerians have a right to know the veracity of the grave allegations against these two personalities by the Australian negotiator. The battle against terrorism in Nigeria can be won if and only if the political elites want it to be won. They brought about this insurgency and they only can abate it’

person making the allegation; ask him to support the allegation with facts and supporting documents if any. Secondly, who are those alleged, what are their antecedents, no one becomes a sponsor of terrorism in one day. From their antecedents that have been properly investigated with utmost discretion, you will discover all that had predisposed them to what has been alleged against them if there is any such thing.”

But Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN) is supporting the constitution of a commission of enquiry on the grounds that its proceedings must be public.

“The allegations are grievous, serious and embarrassing to the government and people of Nigeria. If the person of a former COAS and a former governor are so alleged, it is an issue that should not be swept under the carpet.

“I would have considered it a political ruse if it had not come from Dr. Davies, who claimed to have been hired as a Federal Government negotiator. If the allegation is true, it means the Federal Government has been playing to the gallery that is why the war against insurgency has not been won.

“Having said so, it is still an allegation and should remain so until properly investigated.

I support the call for thorough investigation through a judicial commission of enquiry. It should be an open investigation where the processes shall be televised.

“If the two are found to be so involved, they would have committed treason against Nigeria and should be adequately dealt with.

“When there is a problem, the crisis being sponsored inhouse is difficult to quell. The people allegedly involved are insiders, so, it must be adequately handled. I suggest that not just the two of them be investigated but all top government officials who have been fingered as collaborators.

“At this point, handing them over to the ICC would not yield fruitful outcome since there are no facts for prosecution. It is still and allegation that we must investigate to ascertain their culpability.

“If found guilty by the commission, they can be handed over to the ICC for transparent prosecution. I think what should happen now is that we give the government benefit of doubt in investigating thoroughly.

“Everybody including the DSS is a suspect in this matter. Their coming out to absolve the former COAS of sponsoring Boko Haram is too early. They are already putting the cat before the horse.

“For a pocket of insurgents to take over some towns and declare an independent state, without our military overcoming them, the problem is definitely deeper,” he said.

Chairman, NBA Ikeja Branch, Yinka Farounbi, said: “There is no doubt that the greatest challenge facing our nation today is the insecurity of lives and properties stemming from the activities of Boko Haram. Thus, everything and I mean everything, that ought to be done must be seen done to eliminate the unpleasant and unacceptable situation we found ourselves .

“It is in the light of this that I will throw my weight behind the patriotic calls by genuine, well-meaning and honest Nigerians that a judicial commission of enquiry be set up to determine the authenticity or otherwise of the allegations.

“It is the reasonable belief of an average Nigerian that Boko Haram is getting heavy financial support for it to carry out its dastardly activities. The commission will, therefore, be able to establish whether the allegation is correct or otherwise.”

Supporting the constitution of an enquiry commission, immediate past NBA Ikeja Branch chairman, Monday Ubani, said such a commission should comprise retired Supreme Court justices and renowed progressive lawyers He said allegations against everyone, not just Ihejirika and Sheriff, must be painstakingly investigated to unravel the truth to bring the mindless killings to a halt.

“I will prefer judicial commission of enquiry made up of retired justices of the Supreme Court and renowned and progressive legal practitioners so that the membership of such commission will not be cowed because of the personality of the accused persons.

“Nigerians have a right to know the veracity of the grave allegations against these two personalities by the Australian negotiator.

The battle against terrorism in Nigeria can be won if and only if the political elites want it to be won. They brought about this insurgency and they only can abate it. There is hypocrisy in the present fight against the terrorists.

“There are some elites who are benefitting heavily from the insurgency while to some it •Continued on page 37

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

27

NATIONAL BAR

Abuja Branch wins NBA cup

T

HE ABUJA branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has won the President’s Cup. It defeated the Owerri Branch 2-1.

The match was played at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, during the association’s annual general conference in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

This is the third consecutive time the branch is winning the trophy.

Former NBA President, Okey Wali (SAN) praised the branch for the feat.

He gave a cash reward of N500,000 to the winning team and N250, 000 to the other team.

Chairman, Appeal Committee of Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Mr. Ibrahim Eddy Mark said he was not surprised that Abuja Branch won.

“I was not surprised that Abuja branch won the match. This is their third time of winning the cup. It was indeed a good football. The Owerri team was also good. They played good football, but they are new in the game and so they have to pay their dues. Abuja team has shown that they are the masters and that we didn’t come from the Federal Capital to watch the good things of Owerri, but to see the good things and also to take the cup back to Abuja for keeps, I am glad indeed.”

Former NBA Second Vice-President Steve Abar said: “I believe that in every sports, the best team should always win. Obviously, from the performance of the teams in this tournament, the best team has indeed won.”

The Chairman of NBA Abuja branch, Desmond Yamah said he was excited that his branch won.

“It is, indeed, a justification for the efforts that our players have put into training, put into the preparation for this game and I must say that they did very well. It is our third consecutive win, so we have won the cup for keeps and we are coming back next season to win the cup again.”

For the branch’s coach, Mr. Chudi Igwe, it is the second time he will win it. “The first time, I won it

By John Austin Unachukwu

as a player,” he said.

Former NBA Legal Adviser the football match is a means of promoting friendship among members.

“The NBA all about fraternity. It also shows that lawyers can play football apart from exchanging legal tackles in courts,” he said.

NBA General Secretary Mazi Afam Osigwe said the victory was a product of dedication, hard work and excellence.

Chairman, NBA Sports Committee Mr. Okey Ohagba described the match as “wonderful”.

“It is expected that lawyers should engage in activities like this in other to keep body and mind sound. It is part of the conference in order to add colour and flavour to it.

“This is the first conference of the NBA where 16 branches got registered for the football tournament and they consistently played their matches till the final.

“We encourage lawyers and their branches to always participate in such tournaments to promote the spirit of sportsmanship in the NBA,” he said.

Chairman of NBA Owerri Branch Mr. Stanley Imo said: “No victor, no vanquished. Everybody is a winner and the NBA is the major winner. I want to put it on record that I am very happy with my team because this is the first time Owerri branch is participating in this competition and for us to get to the final goes to show that within the next few years, no team in NBA will beat Owerri.”

The branch’s coach, Mr Francis Nwokeocha, said though his team played well, the better side won, adding that they would play to win next time.

“Constant training will make them to play better next time, because of time factor and because we have not played together for long, that is why we were defeated, but with time, we will improve,” he said.

•Former NBA President Okey Wali (SAN) presenting the trophy to Abuja branch’s coach Mr Chudi Igwe. With them is Chairman NBA Sports Committee Mr. Okey Ohagba.

‘

The NBA all about fraternity. It also shows that lawyers can play football apart from exchanging legal tackles in courts

’

•Members of the team.

•From left: Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Badagry Branch Mr Chris Okoye; Mr Gani Ajape; Mr Jibrin S. Okutepa (SAN); Badagry Branch Secretary Mrs Obianuju Chukwuma-Okoye and Chairman, Midwest Bar Forum, Chief Ferdinand Orby (SAN) at the NBA Annual General Conference in Owerri, Imo State.

• From left: Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Prof. Deji Adekunle; Arthur Obi Okafor (SAN) and Adizua Okoroafor at the conference.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

28

LAW REPORT

When can a bank deny a customer’s claim?

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL IN THE AKURE JUDICIAL DIVISION HOLDEN AT AKURE ON WEDNESDAY, THE 16TH DAY OF JULY, 2014 BEFORE THEIR LORDSHIPS SOTONYE DENTON WEST, J.C.A. MOHAMMED AMBI-USI DANJUMA, J.C.A. JAMES SHEHU ABIRIYI, J.C.A. CA/AK/148/2012 (2014) LPELR-23503(CA) BETWEEN ENTERPRISE BANK LIMITED …………………………… APPELLANT AND MEENS NIGERIA LIMITED ……………….... RESPONDENT LEAD JUDGMENT DELIVERED BY SONTONYE DENTON WEST, J.C.A.

T

HIS is an appeal against the judgment of the High Court of Ondo State sitting at Akure Division delivered on August 8, 2012 granting the Respondent’s Claim in the main.

The Respondent before the consolidation of banks at the behest of the Central Bank of Nigeria was maintaining one account with Trans International Bank Plc and two accounts with Omega Bank Plc and it enjoyed credit facilities from the two banks independently. Upon consolidation, the said Trans International Bank Plc, Omega Bank Plc and some other Banks joined to form Spring Bank Plc. The Respondent continued to maintain the three accounts at the Spring Bank although the accounts were then in debit.

The Appellant in line with its policy and universal banking practice, classified the three accounts and transferred them to the Remedial Asset branch in the Appellant’s Head Office, a unit created by the Appellant to supervise such loans accounts that are classified. However, the Respondent claimed that in respect of the one account earlier maintained with Trans International Bank Plc, there were certain remittances sent by its overseas customers that were not credited to its accounts by the Trans International Bank Plc. To ascertain the amount that was not credited, the Respondent engaged the services of a firm of Chartered Accountants, Okunoye, Adeniyi & Co. to carry out the audit and reconciliation of the said account. The audit and reconciliation report prepared by Okunoye, Adeniyi and Co. was forwarded to the Appellant to comply with and the Appellant refused.

The Respondent as Plaintiff therefore brought an action against the Appellant as Defendant at the High Court of Ondo State claiming amongst others, a declaration that the Defendant is indebted to the Plaintiff to the tune of N311, 503, 947.51k, a declaration that the Plaintiff is not indebted to the Defendant to the tune of N12, 697,152. 52K or any sum whatever, the sum of N311, 503, 947.51K being uncredited forex in flows unexplained debit and credit entries,

general and exemplary damages for N50 million, and interest on the judgment sum at the rate of 10% from the date judgment is given until finally liquidated.

The Appellant via its Amended Statement of Defence denied all the material facts and contended that the firm of Okunoye, Adeniyi and Co. lacked the necessary skill to carry out the audit of the said Respondent’s account. While the matter was pending, Spring Bank Plc. was restructured and came to be known as Enterprise Bank Limited. Necessary amendments were effected and the matter went to trial. In a considered judgment, the Learned Trial Judge granted the prayers of the Respondent in the main. Dissatisfied, the Appellant filed a notice of appeal in the Court of Appeal. In accordance with the Rules of Court brief of arguments were filed.

In the Appellant’s brief of argument, the learned counsel for the Appellant distilled four (4) issues for determination of this appeal thus: Whether a firm of Chartered Accountants (Okunoye, Adeniyi & Co.) can sign in the firm’s name an audit report of a company incorporated in Nigeria to be relied upon by a superior court of record when the law provides that such audit report must be signed by an auditor or an accountant.

The appellant having categorically countered or denied all the facts of the Respondent’s case, was the learned trial court not wrong to have held that the Appellant admitted liability to the Respondent.

Was the learned trial judge not wrong in ignoring and discountenancing the evidence of the DW1 because the DW1 was not in the employ of the appellant when the transactions leading to the suit were carried out?

Was the learned trial judge not wrong to have conducted an investigation?

(By doing math) base its decision on such investigation without calling on parties to address it on the result of its math.

The respondent on the other hand

raised five (5) issues for resolution of this appeal. The Court adopted the four issues as raised by the Appellant in resolving this appeal.

Arguing the appeal, Counsel for the Appellant submitted that the Institute of Chartered Accountants does not enroll “firm” but individual members of the Institute and it is the individual that is entitled under the law to practice as an accountant and auditor and prepare auditor’s report of a company registered in Nigeria.

Counsel argued that the reports were carried out and signed by “Okunoye Adeniyi & Co.” who at best is a business name and not an accountant or chartered accountant enrolled under the Institute of Chartered Accountant Act as required by law. Counsel further argued that the said “Okunoye Adeniyi & Co.” being a business name does not possess the necessary knowledge and skill in the science of accounting to prepare and sign an audit report upon which the learned trial judge relied upon in his judgment against the appellant. Counsel called in aid the case SLB Consortium Ltd. v. NNPC (2011) ALL FWLR (Pt. 583) 1902 at 191; (2011) LPELR3074(SC) to submit that a business name in law is neither accorded legal personality nor recognized as a person capable of taking or defending action in law court or preparing and signing documents statutorily required to be prepared and signed by a person qualified under the law.

Reacting, learned Counsel for the Respondent submitted that the Appellant’s counsel arguments are based on the assumption that reports were “auditor’s report” and hence ought to be signed in a particular form and once that form is lacking, the document is incompetent. Counsel contended that the learned Appellant’s counsel reached that conclusion because he labored under serious error of fact and law. Counsel then submitted that the reports though described by the auditing firm as “audit and reconciliation re-

port” and “addendum” are neither the Statutory Auditors Reports in Financial Statement of a company in the strict sense of the word which are usually presented at the Annual General Meetings of a company in compliance with the requirements of the Companies and Allied Matters Act nor are they documents within the contemplation of the various laws cited and copiously relied upon by the appellant’s counsel in his argument.

He argued that they are special reports to a private company prepared by its own appointed external auditors in respect of a special transaction between a Banker, the Appellant and its Customer the Respondent seeking to reconcile and determine the level of indebtedness or otherwise of the Respondent to the Appellant in respect of the Respondent’s account with the Appellant banker. That there is no where a report of this nature can be expected to comply with the statutory requirements of Auditors Report. Therefore counsel submitted that the reports are not within the contemplation of ICAN Act or CAMA as submitted by learned counsel for the Appellant.

The court in determining the appeal noted that, learned counsel for the Appellant placed reliance on the provisions of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria Act and the Supreme Court decision in Okafor V. Nweke (2007) ALL FWLR (Pt. 368) 1068; (2007) LPELR-2412(SC) as an authority that the report attachments were irregularly signed and therefore incompetent. The Court held that for the principle of law in Okafor V. Nweke (2007) ALL FWLR (Pt. 368) 1068; (2007) LPELR-2412(SC) to apply to the practice of accountancy profession in Nigeria, there must be provisions similar to those upon which the decision of Okafor V. Nweke (supra) were based. The Court stated that having considered the entire gamut of the provisions of

the ICAN Act, the Court is unable to find a similar provision in the Act with Sections 2 (1) and 24 of the Legal Practitioners’ Act. The Court further stated that from the circumstances of this case, it is not in dispute that J.S.O. Adeniyi who signed the report is a qualified chartered accountant who operates under the name of Okunoye, Adeniyi & Co. Nonetheless, that the facts giving rise to this case has to do with perceived irregularities in the Respondent’s account with the Appellant bank.

The Court noted that had the Respondent done the auditing by itself and presented to Court as the amount standing to his credit in the Appellant bank, would the Court reject same because the Respondent is not a chartered accountant whose name is enrolled in the register kept by the Registrar of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.

The Court stated that the answer must be in the negative. The Court held that in the circumstances of this case that the marker of attachments to the report is of no moment and the said attachments were validly signed.

The Court held that the duty of a banker to its customer is predicated on the principle of uberrimae fidei and it is appalling the rate at which banks these days betray this principle with impunity. The Court stated that the conduct of the Appellant herein is highly reprehensible and ought to have been reported to the regulatory agency for necessary disciplinary action. Having resolved the four issues in this appeal against the Appellant, the Court dismissed the appeal as lacking in merit. The judgment of Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure Division in Suit No. AK/164/2009 delivered by Hon. Justice O. A. Adegbehingbe was affirmed.

•Edited by LawPavilion LawPavilion Citation: (2014) LPELR-23503(CA)

•From left: Temitope Olufiranye, Ope Olugasa and Funmi Soyemi, all of Law Pavilion at the NBA conference in Owerri.

Groups give Jonathan 21-day ultimatum to probe war crime allegations

•Otteh

N

INE civil society groups have urged President Goodluck Jonathan to set up an Independent Commission of Inquiry on war

crimes as alleged by the Amnesty International in a recent report.

They said the commission’s terms of reference should be wide enough to cover similar allegations made in the past by the Human Rights Watch and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The groups said they would go to court should the President fail to act within 21 days of receiving their petition.

“If the government fails to do this, we will use all available legal avenues to press these demands, and vindicate the legal responsibility of government to undertake the actions requested,” they said.

The report titled: “Nigeria: Gruesome footage implicates military in

By Joseph Jibueze

war crimes,” was accompanied by gory footage of security forces allegedly committing grievous violations of human rights which included detainees having their throats slit and their bodies dumped in mass graves by men who appear to be members of the Nigerian military and the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF).

The groups are Access to Justice (AJ) (whose Executive Director Joseph Otteh signed the letter), One Voice Coalition for Sustainable Development in Nigeria (OneVOICE), Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Human Rights Law Services (HURILAWS), Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Network on Police

Reform in Nigeria Foundation (NOPRIN), Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG) and Centre for Constitutionalism and Demilitarisation (CENCOD).

Noting past allegations of violations of human rights by security forces operating in Northeast, the groups observed that the government is bound to respect and defend the rights of its citizens, including those under suspicion for alleged crimes.

On why an independent body is needed, the groups said: “The military clearly lacks the kind of independence required to conduct these investigations since the atrocities were allegedly committed by military operatives themselves.”

They added: “Your government must now take deliberate action calculated to…end the culture of impunity reportedly flourishing within security forces fighting terror and insurgency and ensure that the rule of law is an integral part of any efforts to combat terrorism in Nigeria.”

According to them, persons suspected of terrorism-related crimes are as entitled to the constitutionally guaranteed right to a fair trial and the presumption of innocence.

“The very idea of arbitrarily arresting persons who may or may not have any connection with terrorism and then slitting their throats before the evidence against them is presented in a proper forum is loathsome, barbaric and intolerably inhuman,” they said.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON NORTHERN STATES

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

PAGE 29

Lamido’s development strides in Jigawa •PAGE 31

Conflict of interest at Unity Fountain •PAGE 33 Park

Disquiet over rumour of Ebola outbreak

•One of the abandoned mining pounds converted to a mini-dam

P

RIOR to the discovery of oil in commercial quantity at Oloibiri in present-day Bayelsa State in the 1950s, the country’s economy was sustained by agriculture and solid mineral resources, such as coal, ore, tin and columbite, among others. Most of the solid mineral deposits were in commercial quantity and were explored by the colonial masters.

Plateau State, for instance, is among the states where tin and columbite were discovered in large quantities and were being mined before the discovery of oil.

Sadly, the colonial masters used the proceeds from their mining to develop cities in their country while the areas where the resources were explored were left undeveloped.

Plateau State is one of those areas that were left desolate while Manchester and Liverpool in the United Kingdom were developed with the proceeds from tin and columbite mined on the Plateau.

The impacts of mining on the Plateau are still felt as investigation has shown that there are more than 3,000 mining ponds in the state. The ponds are mostly in Jos South, Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Jos East, Riyom, Bokos and Mangu local government areas. They account for over 65 per cent of the landscape of Plateau North and Plateau Central Senatorial zones and have devastated at least 12 of the 17 local government areas of the state.

The minerals constituted the main foreign exchange earner for the Federal Government.

However, with the discovery of

Plateau’s abandoned mining ponds

•PAGE 34

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

oil in commercial quantity, the government concentrated on crude oil exploration in total negligence of solid minerals. However, the Federal Government which issued mining licences to foreign firms only collected royalties from them but failed to implement the land reclamation agreement.

It is estimated that during the period of exploration, six million tons of earth were dug yearly to get tin, columbite and others. Some residents of the areas told our correspondent that they are scared of the ponds, especially women and children.

Many domestic animals have fallen into them on several occasions.

Rev. Musa Chollom, who lives in Barkin Ladi, said: “Plateau State boasts large deposits of tin and columbite. The colonial government exploited the mineral resources to develop their own countries in Europe. I understand that it was tin from Jos that was used to develop the cities of Manchester and Liverpool.

These European countries remain some of the well developed today.

‘Plateau State boasts large deposits of tin and columbite. The colonial government exploited the mineral resources to develop their own countries in Europe. I understand that it was tin from Jos that was used to develop the cities of Manchester and Liverpool. These European countries remained some of the well developed today’ But Plateau State that owns the solid minerals remains the poorest state in Nigeria at the moment.”

Contributing, 78-year-old Abok Gyang, a teacher in Bukuru, Jos South Local Government Area, described the mining operation in the area by the colonial masters as day light rob-

bery.

He said: “The story of mining exploration in Plateau State is that of a day light robbery by the colonial masters in collaboration with the then Nigerian government. The •Continued on page 32

Jonathan and Automated Teller Machine •PAGE 36

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

30

THE NORTH REPORT

Plateau’s abandoned mining ponds •Continued from page 29 gains of the exploration went to the colonial masters and the Federal Government. There was nothing for Plateau State.

“Rather than counting the gains, it is only counting the numbers of abandoned mining ponds. The explorers left without reclaiming even one of the over 3, 000 mining ponds.”

Recounting his experiences, Michael Pam Bot, a resident of Kwang, Rayfield, Jos, said: “We wake up every morning to behold the frightening ponds. Apart from that, some of our children have fallen into them. Children just grow up to see the ponds; they never knew how deep the ponds are. Most of them are more than 100 meters deep. A number of children has drowned in the ponds as a result of careless play around them. Those in government that benefitted from the ponds are enjoying themselves but members of the host communities now live with the nightmare around us.”

Efforts by the affected communities to draw the attention of the government to their plight were futile as they were treated with lack of interest or brutal repression, especially during military regimes.

It was provided in Section 20 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that the nation should “protect and improve the environment and safeguard the water, air and land, forest and wildlife of Nigeria.”

Plateau State Commissioner for Environment Mr. Sylvanus Dongtoe told our correspondent that “the Federal Government’s response to our ecological disaster so far has been the little ecological fund released to the state to manage its environment.

That fund is hardly enough to reclaim even one mining pond. The Federal Government needs to assist us in this regard because the state government lacks the resources to reclaim all the ponds.”

Continuing, he said: “The state government is not leaving everything for the Federal Government in its efforts to reclaim the devastated land. The government has tried enough to see how it can make use

•One of the abandoned ponds

of some of the ponds.

“For instance, it has developed some of the ponds as sources of water for the citizens. We have converted one pond into earth dam in Angwa Doki, Bukuru. Another one was converted to earth dam in Du Village. The earth dams will enhance water supply and distribution to the residents.

“Some of them have been converted into fish ponds. Others are being used to run irrigation projects.

One of the major mining ponds in Rayfield is now a major tourist’s attraction. It was converted to a beautiful lake known as Rayfield Resort.

“The worst situation we are trying to cope with is the effects of the mining exploration on the health of citizens. The explorers not only left the land devastated, they also left heavy deposits of mining wastes behind. It is called mine tailings.

“Medical experts had informed government that people who lived near mining sites are exposed to radio-active substances which could cause cancer.

Investigation revealed that people build houses close to the ponds, despite the hazard associated with them. This is because there is hardly enough land left for construction of residential houses and for farming.

Illiya Jerome of the National

‘Residents of the areas are exposed to direct regular access to these sites. In addition, tailing debris was used as building materials, contaminated soil are used by locals for agriculture mainly in crop production and sand contaminated with mine tailings is used in roasting groundnuts for human consumption’ Centre for Remote Sensing, Jos had said: “Decades of mining exploration resulted in the removal of considerable amount of soil and generated radioactive waste known as tailings. Since no reclamation of the ponds was done by the mining companies, the radioactive materials dispersed in the process have contaminated the soil in its vicinity.

“Residents of the areas are exposed to direct regular access to these sites. In addition, tailing debris was used as building materials, contaminated soil are used by locals for agriculture mainly in crop

production and sand contaminated with mine tailings is used in roasting groundnuts for human consumption.

“The mining wastes which were indiscriminately disposed all over the communities are the second major causes of cancer of the lungs apart from cigarettes. The radioactive substances have been found to cause cancer in mankind and animals.”

Apart from the harmful effects of the mining wastes to mankind, the residents are also at the risk of a radioactive gas called Randon.

Experts maintain that “Randon is a radioactive gas that emanates

from uranium-bearing soil and porous rocks. Randon migrates out of soil and rocks into the surrounding air, resulting in the accumulation in poorly ventilated or closed areas. It has detrimental health effect because it is likely to cause cancer in both cigarettes smokers and non-cigarettes smokers, even as it is the primary cause of cancer in human.

“Randon is a substance located beneath the earth and mining plays a crucial role in the exposure of randon to the surface of the earth.

“There are high level radiation exposures from the mine tailings of Jos area, especially those who live close to indiscriminately dumped tailing will be exposed to higher dose of the harmful substances.”

The circumstances in which the state finds itself is such that due to limited land to serve the agricultural needs of the people, majority of its poor population have no option than to embark on small-scale manual mining of the mineral, even long after the major mining companies had left. The health hazard of such manual practice is monumental. Experts had expressed fears that the lead poison in Zamfara State which led to the death of about 400 children in 2010 may occur in Plateau State if care is not taken.

N99m work tools for the poor in Yobe

A

•Some burnt houses by Boko Haram insurgents in one of the Northeast states

S part of government’s efforts to alleviate the suffering of the citizens of Yobe State, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has distributed poverty alleviation materials to some of the needy, most of who were either affected by the activities of Boko Haram insurgents or retired civil servants.

Adamu Maisaje, a tailor and one of the beneficiaries of the programme, lost his shop to string of attacks on communities in Yobe State by the insurgents. He received a new sewing machine. He praised Governor Gaidam for renewing his life.

He told our correspondent that the sewing machine he received as part of government’s poverty alleviation programmes, will go a long way in making life meaningful for him again.

He said: “My shop was destroyed in one of the attacks by Boko Haram. But with what I have re-

From Joel Duku, Damaturu

ceived today, my life is back on track.”

Shehu Abubakar, a retired civil servant and one of the beneficiaries of the poverty alleviation programme, received a block-molding machine. Praising Governor Gaidam, he said the gesture will change his life for good as a retiree.

“We retired with nothing but with this block-molding machine given to me, I believe my life and that of my entire family will change.

All thanks to Ibrahim Gaidam for this wonderful initiative. May he live long in order to help others too,” Abubakar said.

Maisaje and Abubakar are two among many others who benefited from the distribution of poverty alleviation materials to small-scale •Continued on page 31

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

31

THE NORTH REPORT Don advocates viable policy on healthcare delivery From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

T

HE Provost of College of Health Sciences, the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof. Ayotunde Omotoso, has advocated strong policies that will enhance healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

He also urged government at all levels to give priority attention to the health of the people.

Prof. Omotoso, who spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, during the induction ceremony of 114 fresh doctors of the college, said many viable health programmes have been designed by government. These should be well documented with a practicable implementation strategy in order to benefit the society.

He said: “Social factors may directly or indirectly impact negatively on the health of individuals and the populace. For example, poverty and ignorance affect access to and maximisation of available healthcare services. Also, bad roads prevent quick access to the hospitals and lack of power may cause avoidable delays in surgical procedures.

“The recent security challenges, namely kidnappings and terrorism, discourage doctors in the Diaspora from contributing their quota to national development.

“The 21st Century doctor has to tackle health problems that are both individual and universal. A quick glance at the Nigerian healthcare system immediately reveals some of its strengths and weaknesses. The challenges with the health sector may well be a vista into a population-sized systemic defect.

“While the medical training indeed is adequate and comparable with global standard, nothing quite insulates the doctor in Nigeria from the Herculean task brought about by extraneous factors. It is a social situation to which we must all rise against, putting all sufficiently trained hands on decks.

“In Africa’s most populous nation, about 100 million people live on less than a dollar per day. The relationship between the economy and the health system is bi-directional. Many factors culminate into the health of citizens, underscoring the need for inter-sectoral collaboration.”

‘Social factors may directly or indirectly impact negatively on the health of individuals and the populace. For example, poverty and ignorance affect access to and maximisation of available healthcare services. Also, bad roads prevent quick access to the hospitals and lack of power may cause avoidable delays in surgical procedures’

•Jigawa Airport under construction in Dutse, the state capital

Lamido’s development strides in Jigawa

S

INCE its creation 23 years ago

by Ibrahim Babangida administration, Jigawa State has, no doubt, recorded some tangible achievements in its quest for development.

On August 27, this year, Governor Sule Lamido and the people rolled out the drums to celebrate its creation. This has been the tradition of the Lamido administration since he assumed office as Governor over seven years ago.

In attendance were people from the academia, the private and public sectors, past leaders at the state and national levels, ex-governors and many others, including the traditional rulers.

Visitors to the state, especially Dutse, the state capital, will always see something new in terms of development projects.

Lamido’s efforts to transform Jigawa into a modern state did not start when he assumed office as governor. He had been making efforts towards developing the area even before the state was created and has remained in the forefront of the quest for transformation.

With an uncommon steadfastness, courage and wisdom, Lamido turned around the fortunes of Jigawa State, together with those of the people. Developmental projects are evenly distributed across the 27 local government areas. Even his critics praise him for the equitable distribution of projects for the development of all the nook and cranny of the state. It was an issue his predecessor, Saminu Ibrahim Turaki wanted to address when he distributed ministries, parastatals and agencies of government in the state across the five emirate councils; though the action did not produce the desired results.

Lamido’s critics had argued that Jigawa State being a rural state with 80 per cent crude farmers, emphasis should be on development enterprises that are capable of addressing the poverty level of the people. They also maintained that Dutse, the state capital, is not in need of an airport, or any gigantic edifice such as the Deputy Governor’s Office, State High Court, Human Resources Development Centre, the NYSC Orientation

From Blessing Olaifa

Camp and the Jigawa State Television, let alone Jigawa State University at Kefin-Hausa, among other facilities.

However, when critics realised that Lamido remained undaunted, they accused him of spending much of the state’s lean resources on quality projects which the rural dwellers may not appreciate.

In the past seven years, Lamido has brought to Dutse, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, the late Chief Solomon Lar, Atiku Abubakar, Jerry Gana and many others to inaugurate one project or the other.

From what one may consider a pariah state, Lamido has cautiously brought Jigawa and its rural people to limelight. Last year, former President Olusegun Obasanjo had declared that “Lamido can do the job”, a statement that was interpreted to mean the former President endorsing him as the next presidential candidate. Lamido believes that physical infrastructure help in enhancing the well-being of the people.

This explains his administration’s concentration on road construction and rehabilitation across the state, providing adequate education and health infrastructure, encouraging the rural farmers with incentives and award of scholarships to students.

As if those are not enough, workers are also highly motivated.

Sources told our correspondent that Lamido wants to justify the consensus of opinion that his long years of experience in politics and personal qualities are helping him significantly to rebuild the state.

The governor has always emphasised that his administration would complete all ongoing projects. The governor argued that since the constitution spells out the terms and duration of any government, he is constitutionally bound to spend the monies accruing to the

‘Out of 779 dilapidated schools we inherited in 2007, we have renovated and restored 648 to full standard and equipped most of their laboratories to the standard prescribed by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

Another 19 new junior secondary schools were also established in addition to two new primary school’ state on specific projects that would impact positively on the lives of the people. He was quoted to have advised whoever may take over from him on May 29, next year to be prepared to generate revenue to fund development projects he may embark on.

Investigations revealed that in its first four years, the Lamido-led administration constructed 1, 061 classrooms across the state and purchased 62,981 pieces of classroom furniture.

In 2011, he was quoted to have said: “Out of the total number of 779 dilapidated schools we inherited in 2007, we have renovated and restored 648 to full standard and equipped most of their laboratories to the standard prescribed by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). Another 19 new junior secondary schools were also established in addition to two new primary schools.”

Since 2011, the Lamido administration has established a number of rewarding infrastructure that touch the lives of the people.

For instance, he built the Jigawa State University at Kefin-Hausa and an International Airport in Dutse. Among the infrastructure being undertaken by the Lamido administration are the legislative quarters, the Abubakar Rimi Housing Estate, the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Birni-Kudu, the Jigawa State School for Gifted Children Bamaina and the ultra-modern office complex and official resi-

dence of the Deputy Governor, among others. Roads networks and street lighting have become a common place in the state, especially in Dutse, Hadejia, Kazaure, Ringim and Gumel.

While celebrating its 23 years of existence, Lamido said there was the need to consolidate on the gains the state has recorded in the last seven years of his administration and in the last 23 years since the state was created.

He insisted that for that consolidation to be a reality, someone who would not fly Jigawa flag at half-mast would succeed him as governor.

Malam Ibrahim Aliyu, a primary school teacher in Dutse, told our correspondent that Lamido should not look for loyalty alone in the choice of his successor; rather, he should go for competence, hard work and the kind of singlemindedness he himself had exhibited in the past seven years.

Aliyu regretted that someone like Lamido would be quite difficult to find, considering his passion for the less-privileged. He, however, said the people should pray for the governor in making the right decision.

A Jigawa State-based journalist and former Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel, NUJ Abdullahi Ishaku Shugaba said Lamido should ensure that his legacies of social, economic and political developments are sustained. He •Continued on page 32

32

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

THE NORTH REPORT

Kogi community pledges support for APC

T

HE indigenes of Yagba in Okunland, a Yoruba-speaking community in Kogi State, have pledged their support for the All Progressives Congress (APC), expressing the desire for one of their sons to become the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District during next year’s general elections.

The people, spread across three local government areas - Yagba West, Yagba East and Mapa/ Amoro - believe it is their turn to produce the next Senator. They noted that the zone has not produced a senator since the creation of the state in 1991.

Therefore, many of them have resolved to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate from the district.

In a statement made available to our correspondent in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, some concerned members of the Yagba Federal Constituency claimed “retired Col. Tunde Ogbeha from Koton Karfe/Lokoja area represented the district between 1999 and 2007 and Senator Smart Adeyemi from Kabba/Bunu/Jumu Constituency is representing the district since 2007.

“Senator Ogbeha served two terms and Senator Adeyemi is serving his second term, and both are of the PDP. For the sake of justice, equity and fairness, it is our turn to produce the next Senator for the district,” they said.

They lamented that “the two PDP Senators had not represented their interest well in the Senate since the beginning of the “current democratic dispensation.

“It is our firm belief that of all the politicians aspiring for that position, Otunba Samuel Dele Aro of the APC from Odo-Eri, Yagba West Local Government Area, possesses the requisite experience to give the •Continued from page 29 entrepreneurs (SME’s), community-based organisations (CBO) and retired civil servants at a subsidised rate of 50 per cent.

While distributing the materials at Government House, Damaturu the state capital, Gov-

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

district in general and Yagba people in particular quality representation.

“Having served as a member of the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011, he is qualified to represent the district appropriately. He didn’t disappoint us as a member of the then House of Representatives.

“Our people are also convinced that it is the APC; a party of the progressives, that can lead us out of the current socio-economic and political predicament that has been our lot.”

‘It is our firm belief that of all the politicians aspiring for that position, Otunba Samuel Dele Aro of the APC from Odo-Eri, Yagba West Local Government Area, possesses the requisite experience to give the district in general and Yagba people in particular quality representation’

•Legislator’s quarters under construction

Lamido’s development strides in Jigawa •Continued from page 31 said the governor should go for a level-headed, God-fearing and humble politician to continue the good work.

Shugaba, who is also the state Editor of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said: “Lamido became governor at a period Jigawa was in a shambles. The state civil servants were living in Kano, their morale

was low, there were no accommodation for them and most times salaries were delayed. Lamido not only transformed the state beyond the expectations of the people, but also united all the segments in a manner that service delivery yielded quick results.”

He praised Lamido for bringing back all the ministries to Dutse at the beginning of his administration.

His words: “Lamido really tried his best for the people of Jigawa State. He transformed the state from the status of being the poorest in the country to being the mostvisited in recent times because of the development of infrastructure.

Dutse, the state capital, is now a beauty to behold because of Lamido’s hard work. This is a place that was lost in the map of Nigeria before Lamido became the governor.”

N99m work tools for the poor in Yobe ernor Gaidam said abject poverty and unemployment among youths were serious challenges which the state is experiencing, adding that his administration is committed to

reversing the awful situation.

Continuing, he said: “The increasing number of unemployed youths roaming the streets in search of jobs has made them become frustrated

•From left: Enugu State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Chris Okoro; Vice-Chancellor Administration, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Prof. Edwin Igbokwe and Registrar/CEO, Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria, Dr. Victoria Okojie during the opening of the workshop on Application of Free and Open Source Software in Library Operations.

and take to other dubious activities that are inimical to the wellbeing of our society. It is therefore our responsibility as government to do something concrete to address this situation by intervening with various measures that will alleviate poverty and unemployment.”

Governor Gaidam called for partnership with philanthropic individuals and wealthy citizens of the state to complement government’s efforts in the fight against poverty by creating more job opportunities and provision of basic social services for the teeming population.

Explaining why government is subsidising the items, he said: “The gesture is in line with the usual deliberate step by government to further assist the beneficiaries of this loan scheme; and appreciate efforts being made to improve their living conditions.”

The items distributed to the beneficiaries included 80 vulcanising machines, 30 block molding machines, 80 grinding machines, 40 sets of carpentry tools and equipment, 30 rice/millet milling machines, 35 units of sewing machines and power generating sets.

While congratulating the beneficiaries, Governor Gaidam urged them to make judicious use of the materials so as to derive maximum benefits, even as he advised them to ensure prompt repayment of the loan to enable others benefit from the poverty alleviation scheme.

He directed the Ministry of Commerce and Small and Medium-Scale Board to evolve a mechanism for repayment; and ensure that the proceeds are directly remitted into a dedicated account in order to sustain the poverty alleviation scheme.

‘The increasing number of unemployed youths roaming the streets in search of jobs has made them become frustrated and take to other dubious activities that are inimical to the well-being of our society. It is therefore our responsibility as government to do something concrete to address this situation by intervening with various measures that will alleviate poverty and unemployment’

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

T

HE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Health Insurance Scheme (FAHIS) has been extended to Yewuti community in Kwali Area Council and Abaji town of Abaji Area Council of the FCT. Distributing health insurance cards to residents of the two communities, the Coordinator of Community-based Health Insurance Scheme (CBHIS), Dr. Grace Aganaba, urged them to utilise the affordable health scheme extended to them by the FCT Administration.

According to Aganaba, the FAHIS would assist the residents in improving the condition of the Primary Healthcare Centre in their communities, adding that the FCT Minister of State, Oloye

T

HE Unity Fountain Park, Abuja is popular for its lovely fountain which has all the states of the federation inscribed on the corners of its white wall. During the Yuletide, it is designed with a huge Christmas tree to reflect the festivities.

However, the quiet and secluded nature of the landmark in Abuja has changed dramatically. After the abduction of the girls from the Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State on April 14, the #BringBackO-urGirls (BBOG) Movement that campaigns for the rescue of the girls has made the fountain a meeting place for its members and supporters. This may be because of its proximity to the seat of power and the National Assembly.

Initially, they had problems with the police who tried to stop them.

But it was impossible because of the democratic dispensation that allows freedom of speech and association for the citizens. That the park is a public and not a privatelyowned arena gave impetus to its continued use by the group.

As expected, they shifted their sittings to another location during the World Economic Forum because of the security measures put in place to protect the delegates that came from all over the world. But they returned to the Unity Fountain at the end of the forum and continued to use it for their meeting until May 26 when the situation changed.

By this time, the Citizens Initiative for Security Awareness, a nongovernmental organisation (NGO), gathered women and men at the fountain in the morning to march to the Villa and Defence Headquarters where they were addressed. Most of the women were seen crying their hearts out and throwing themselves on the floor like people at a funeral.

They gathered again at the Unity Fountain after the march. As if gearing for trouble, the women on the first day ensured that they pushed the BBOG group, who had been occupying the venue for long out of their position. On the second day at the park, they had occupied 70 per cent of the venue. Most of the women came with wrappers and mats and the lucky ones found a shade under the few trees where they slept. Others brought yams, tomatoes, oranges and vegetables among others. In no time, some of the women began selling some wares at the beautiful park; thereby turning it into a market place to chagrin of most residents.

As if that was not enough, some of them brought along white garment prophets who screamed and rang bells continuously, singing in a manner that prevents other groups from holding their meetings there.

On the third day, however, hell was let loose. Women of the NGO gathered earlier than the BBOG

Page 33

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

Health insurance scheme for communities From Gbenga Omokhunu

Olajumoke-Akinjide is committed to providing affordable and accessible healthcare delivery for people in rural communities of the FCT. “The health of the people is very important to government of the FCT as it believes that a healthy population constitutes a wealthy society.

That is why the Minister of State for the FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide is doing everything possible to ensure that residents are healthy enough through the community health insurance scheme.

“A society where the people are sick will also have a sick economy.

‘A society where the people are sick will also have a sick economy. That is why we are urging the FCT residents to key into this insurance scheme to enable them to get their insurance cards and have access to affordable healthcare delivery. This will make them remain healthy for the society to grow’ That is why we are urging the FCT residents to key into this insurance scheme to enable them to get their insurance cards and have access to

affordable healthcare delivery. This will make them remain healthy for society to grow,” she said.

The Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu

Yunusa, said as a traditional ruler, it is left for them to invite other traditional and religious leaders to educate them, so that they can also enlighten the people on the need to participate in the scheme and access healthcare delivery with minimal expenses.

The Village Head of Yewuti community, Mr. Yunusa Mohammed, who praised the effort of Olajumoke-Akinjide and Aganaba for taking health insurance to the community, described it as the first of its kind in the FCT. He promised to give the scheme the needed support it would need to be successful in their community.

Battle for Unity Fountain Park on

•Some members of the # Bringbackourgirls group From Grace Obike

group as usual and still occupied more space. By the time the BBOG group arrived, the women tried to intimidate them. Some members of the NGO began to make so much noise, ringing their bells. When their antics could not work, some of their young men went ahead and infiltrated the BBOG group as if they were being converted to their cause and stood quietly listening.

After a while, some of the women, carrying sticks and leaves began running around the group, singing and chanting war songs in Igbo while making scary sounds. When this could not move members of the group, they attacked them.

The young boys that infiltrated the group easily turned on the BBOG and began beating members of the group, even as they seized their phones, cameras and broke chairs on them.

Unfortunately, the police still did not intervene.

After a few days, the NGO group became tired and left due to non-pay•Continued on page 34

•Campaign banner for President Jonathan

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

34

ABUJA REVIEW

Anxiety over rumour of Ebola outbreak Last week, there was a major scare over the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Abuja when a woman was alleged to have died of the virus at the Asokoro General Hospital.

GBENGA OMOKHUNU reports.

T

HERE have been speculations about the possibility of a case of Ebola virus disease in Abuja. Sources say the suspected carrier attended a conference at the NICON Luxury Hotel and must have had contacts with other people. Residents of Abuja experienced another Ebola scare, aside the earlier one which featured the unfortunate viral messages that prescribed bathing with and drinking of salt water as preventive measures.

Health authorities had also educated people on the Ebola virus; informing them about the possibility of surviving the disease. People have also been encouraged to improve the level of personal hygiene and avoid unnecessary body contacts with people.

The current wave of scare started when activities in the Utako District of Abuja were paralysed over an alleged Ebola victim. The incident took place at a junction along Ekukinam Street beside Alibro Atrium, close to ABC Transport Park, where a middle-aged man suddenly slumped while walking along the road.

The man was reportedly vomiting and sweating profusely. The incident scared people who immediately speculated that he was probably an Ebola victim. Nobody went to his aid for the fear of Ebola.

But less than three weeks after a suspected Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) patient died in a private hospital in Abuja, the scare about the virus in an Asokoro General Hospital began.

The incident which caused grave panic in the territory is yet to abate as officials of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Health Secretariat are still making efforts to enlighten the public properly.

When contacted for comment on the issue, the spokesperson of the FCT Health Secretariat, Badaru Salisu Yakasai, in a statement said the results of the test are yet to either confirm or refute claims that the patient died of the Ebola Virus Disease.

He said: “The Family Medicine Unit of Asokoro District Hospital

suspected Ebola disease in a patient on admission at the Accident and Emergency Unit on August 28 and immediately isolated the patient.

Strict infection control measures were immediately taken.

“Blood sample was then taken to the designated FCT Ebola testing laboratory which is within the hospital premises. The Epidemiology Unit of Public Health Department of the Health and Human Services Secretariat was notified and their response was immediate.

“The results of the Ebola testing were being expected from the laboratory. Members of staff of the hospital who came in contact with the deceased were then placed under strict surveillance, pending when the test results will be out.

“The case also served as a drill to test the preparedness of the hospital to manage and contain Ebola disease.

Clinical assessment, however, did not reveal any history of contact or travel.

“However, in view of the high index of suspicion, isolation and strict infection control measures were continued and the unit was condoned off.

Unfortunately, the patient died the next day, Friday, August 29. ”The Accident and Emergency Unit was temporarily relocated to the General Outpatient Unit (GOPD). A list of all medical staff that had contact with the patient has been compiled and they are all under surveillance.

“The general public is advised not to panic as a case of Ebola has not been confirmed at the hospital and the measures that have been put in place are only precautionary in the interest of public safety.”

Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu immediately refuted the claim after tests had been carried out on the dead person. He confirmed that she did not die as a result of the Ebola virus, adding that there was no Ebola outbreak in Abuja.

Despite this clarification, some are still convinced that the patient died

•Inside Asokoro General Hospital as a result of the Ebola virus while others are living in fear.

Many residents spoke to our correspondent about their reactions on the speculation.

A businessman, Mr. Shola Odumosun said: “When I had about it, I had to disregard it. Being an enlightened person, one of the things I have discovered since the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Nigeria is that apprehension and unnecessary fear kills faster than the virus itself. There is the need for people to be properly enlightened about the sad development.

“As far as the Ministry of Health is concerned, I am quite convinced that for now there is no Ebola outbreak in Abuja. But you know people around me started being panicky and were even calling their loved ones to stay away from the Asokoro General Hospital.

“I watched a video about a man running from Ebola and a lady around there had to jump into a well.

This means that she had even sentenced herself to death before death itself would come. People should take their time to ascertain the truth or otherwise of every rumour they

heard. If care is not taken, it may affect both our private and public health sectors so much so that those who are supposed to receive emergency attention for a particular sickness far from Ebola will end up being quarantined unnecessarily.

“These days, many are dying due to the fear that they are carriers of EVD. That you have Ebola is even not an automatic death sentence.

There are measures to be taken in Lagos and other places where some people that were quarantined ini•Continued on page 36

I’ll change mindset of Nigeria police, says IGP

T

HE Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba has vowed that he will change the mindset of officers and men of the Nigerian police.

Abba stated this when he visited the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Muhammad.

He said he decided to visit the minister because of the great importance he attached to the Nation’s Capital

From Gbenga Omokhunu

and the FCT Administration in his scheme of affairs.

Abba said: “We will devote considerable energy towards changing the attitude of the rank and file of the police.

“This we will do through measures that would change the way police officers relate with each other and the way they relate with the people they serve.

“We need to have a change of attitude. When we do that, we will see new police that are mindful of values – values of hard work, loyalty and ethics,” he said.

The Inspector-General expressed optimism that when he concludes his attitudinal reform of the police, the officers and men would be more ethical and committed to duty.

He extended a hand of fellowship to the FCT Administration through increased partnership between it and the police.

Replying, Senator Mohammed said the appointment of Mr. Suleiman Abba as the Inspector-General of Police has raised fresh hope of a new and better Nigerian Police Force.

He hailed his appointment as a good choice by President Goodluck Jonathan.

While congratulating Mr. Abba, he said he has no doubt that he would take the police to higher heights.

According to him, the InspectorGeneral of Police has track records of hard work and professional excellence.

He recalled his contributions to the success of the centenary celebrations and the World Economic Forum which the FCT hosted during his tenure as the AIG in charge of zone 7, Abuja.

Battle for Unity Fountain Park on

•Continued from page 33

•From left: Minister of State for the FCT, Oloye Olajumoke-Akinjide; Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Samuel Ortom and Minister of Police Affairs, Abduljelili Oyewale Adesiyan during the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa Abuja.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

ment of the stipend allegedly promised them.

After them, the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Group decided to make the venue its permanent campaign ground.

Carts and trucks gradually became stationed 10 to 15 paces from each other at the sides of the park, ensuring that the attention of road users was taken away from the group that sits there with their banners.

By the time it marked 100 days of the abduction of the girls from Chibok, the NGO group returned, but, this time around, not as aggressive as before. Even though they still ensure that they occupied more space and dispossessed the BBOG of its position, Nigerians watched

them live on national television station where they were seen praying hard for the abducted girls to be released.

Now that the Goodluck Campaign Group probably noticed that their numerous campaign techniques are not working as much as they would want them to, they have decided to change technique. This time, they have flooded the park with additional posters. The posters at four points of the park read: #BringBackGoodluck2015.

Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, said: “We will not be intimidated. We will continue with the struggle because we are fighting on the side of justice and freedom; and freedom is a powerful idea that goes beyond intimidation of thugs.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

35

ABUJA REVIEW

•From left: Open Society Justice Initiative Associate Legal Officer, Stanley Ibe; Executive •From left: President Goodluck Jonathan, Chairman Body of Benchers, Chief Onomigbo Director Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Ibrahim Musa and Executive Director Okpoko and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello CLEEN Foundation, Kemi Okenyodo during the stakeholders’ meeting on Afro-barometer Adoke during a visit by Body of Benchers to the Presidential Villa Abuja.

AB Round 6 Survey in Abuja.

•From left: Chairman, Procurement Professional Association of Nigeria, Wahab Tour; former Special Adviser to President Obasanjo on Due Process, Taju Oyawaye and former Head of Budget, Procurement Office, Kunle Ade Wahab during the workshop on Public Procurement in Abuja.

•From left: Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence and Army, Senator Thomson Sekibo; Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Bade, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Defence, Hon. Bashiru Adamu and a member of the committee, Hon. Umar Bature during the interactive session with the Service Chiefs at the National Assembly, Abuja.

•From right: Director, Nigeria-Israeli Chamber of Commerce, Ike Willie Nwobu; Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Uriel Palti; Chairman, ADA Change Divine Foundation, Mr. Edward Ujege and Mr. Robert Change at the Media Outreach on Gifted and Talented People by the foundation in Abuja.

•From left: Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam; Abia State Governor Theodore Orji; President Goodluck Jonathan; Kaduna State Governor Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero and Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun during the inauguration of the National Council on Micro Small and Medium Enterprises at the Presidential Villa Abuja.

PHOTOS: AKIN OLADOKUN

•From left: Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka; Deputy Corps Marshal, Technical Services and Special Duties, Federal Road Safety Commission, Yemi Omidiji and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Mr. Yemi Adelakun after a fact finding visit to the FRSC’s IT facilities by the management team of the Ministry of Aviation in Abuja.

•From left: Minister of State for the FCT, Oloye Olajumoke-Akinjide; Director Legal Drafting, Isah Bin Abdullahi and Head of Department Infrastructure, Nairda Limited, Yair Segal during the signing of Gidan Daya Engineering Infrastructure in Abuja.

PHOTOS: ABAYOMI FAYESE

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

36

ABUJA REVIEW

T

HERE was a momentary uneasy calm in the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja on the last Thursday of last month during the Presidential launch of the new Nigerian national electronic identity card.

The ATM brought for demonstration appeared malfunctioned, momentarily though.

The machine was to demonstrate to the whole world, through televised transmission coverage at the occasion, the effectiveness of the use of the new identity card for carrying out financial transactions.

President Goodluck Jonathan, who was to demonstrate with the machine after he was issued with his new national identity card at the occasion, had to make many cash withdrawal attempts before the machine could pay him.

While he was battling with the machine for about four minutes, there was a pin-drop silence in the hall as everyone’s eyes were glued to the Access Bank ATM to see whether the card project was another white elephant project that would drain the national treasury.

Many officials of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), which produced the new multi-purpose national identity card and the staff of the Access Bank, partners of the Commission and other stakeholders were visibly jittery in the hall while the President was trying his card on the machine in the full glare of the world.

Worried by the scenario, someone adorning the official tag for the function whispered to a colleague of his: “This is going to be a national shame if this machine fails to pay the President.”

The Master of Ceremonies’ voice that broke the silence in the hall as the President was making attempts on the machine might have provided the solution to the problem being posed by the machine.

Sensing the uneasy calm in the hall and trying to give reason for Mr. President staying too long on the machine, the MC jokingly said that the President has been trying to make very big sum cash withdrawal from the machine.

That might have been the saving grace for the day because the machine immediately paid the President as soon as a lower cash sum withdrawal request was made by him.

Mr. President’s immediate display of the new N1, 000 notes for the whole world to see elicited jubilation in the hall.

Before the unveiling of the card

Jonathan and Automated Teller Machine and the ATM demonstration, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Mr. Chris Onyemenam had made some presentation and showed video clips to the audience to highlight the usefulness of the card.

Benefits of the new card, according to him, are fostering cashless economy, making life easier for Nigerians, fostering financial inclusion and access to credits, helping to eliminate ghost workers phenomenon, among other benefits.

Other benefits of the card containing biometrics of the holder, advanced chip design and 13 applets, he said, include protection against identity theft and related fraud, improving law enforcement and national security, improving pension and tax administration, improving e-government and service delivery, enhancing social welfare programmes and subsidies, facilitating easy movement and travel as citizens will be able to assert their identity globally.

President Jonathan was very happy with the launch of the card and could not hide his excitement and joy over the new multi-purpose card throughout the occasion.

From the Villa

By Augustine Ehikioya He said: “Of course, today is a very glorious day. We have seen as a nation that we are happy that NIMC has reached this level today. I am particularly pleased about NIMC because there are a number of things we are supposed to do well as a nation which we are not doing. And sometimes we blame government because of failure of the system and the credibility of the process.

“If you take the issue of subsidy of transport, what we do is subsidising hydrocarbon. But it does not go to the ordinary people. Government spends huge sum of money running

into hundreds of billions of Naira every year in the budget in this regard.

“During the 2011 elections, there were crises in some states. Properties were burnt. But how do we address these issues? We set up committee to make inventories of things and take data of people, but by the time you want to make payment, the duplications will be so much. Those who are affected will not get the money.”

But his happiness with NIMC was not the same for the Nigerian Security and Minting Company (NSMC)

at the occasion as he expressed sadness with the performance of the NSMC over the years.

He was particularly sad that Nigeria had to go abroad to print ballot papers for elections in Nigeria and international passport among other items that drain Nigeria’s hard earned foreign exchange.

Regretting the ineffectiveness and inefficiency of the NSMC, he said: “In fact, when I appointed the new Governor of the Central Bank Nigeria (CBN), I told him that the Nigerian Security and Minting Company must be reformed. The board must look into management and get choice global players who are into this business and partner with them.

“There is no way we can do local government election, election of members of state Houses of Assembly, election of governors in Oyo, Ekiti, Adamawa and what we will use in those elections will be produced outside this country. Why is this so?

“Other countries produce their needs; we claim to be a giant, a giant that will just send everything out. We empower others and do not create jobs for our people. So, the NSMC must be restructured.”

Anxiety over rumour of Ebola outbreak •Continued from page 34 tially were freed.

“I haven’t called any member of my family in Abuja because I know it was a rumour.”

Another resident, Adelani Adepegba said: “The news which turned out to be a rumour really scared me. I immediately concluded that it meant that the EVD is already in Abuja. I asked members of my family and friends to take note and avoid the hospital.

“The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the chairmen of the area councils need to do more as regards enlightenment campaigns. We cannot afford to experience EVD in Abuja; it will be more disastrous being the seat of power. I was worried but thank God it was a rumour.

People should be more particular about personal hygiene.”

A civil servant, Mr. Paul Oba said he had vowed not to visit the hospital for now. “I was sad when I heard

of the EVD case in the hospital. I quickly alerted members of my church who use it . I then vowed not to visit the hospital. But we thank God that it was a rumour.”

On her part, Mary Obioma said: “I use the hospital frequently before the rumour, but now I am afraid of visiting that hospital. Prevention, they say, is better than cure. When I heard the news, I was shocked because I was at the Asokoro Hospital on that day.

“Government should make public happenings in our hospitals to avoid the spread of the EVD. Who knows if some people have been affected and are afraid of coming out in public to be cured or quarantined? They may be afraid of stigmatisation.

“They should also know that they are doing more harm to members of their family, their neighbourhood and the entire country. My prayer is that the EVD should not go beyond the present stage in Nigeria.”

•From left: Chief Consultant Epidemiologist Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Akin Oyemakin; National President Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, Dr. Ayuba Wabba and Director of Community Health Service National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Emmanuel Odu during training of Trainers workshop on the Ebola Virus Disease and launch of WHO Infection, Prevention and Control in Abuja.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

37

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

LAW & SOCEITY Excerpts of inaugural speech by NBA President Augustine Alegeh (SAN)

NBA is alive, says Alegeh •Continued from last week

NBA Identification Card

A

LL lawyers who have been verified in the NBA Data Base shall be issued with NBA Identification Cards which would be a chip and pin card that would contain the following: •Name of the lawyer •Passport photograph •Supreme Court enrolment number The card would also function as a payment card for ATM, PoS and online transactions.

Presentation of the Card would entitle the lawyer to a variety of discount and other packages negotiated by NBA. This card would be issued free.

NBA Insurance Policy We have received offers from various insurance companies in respect of the NBA Insurance Scheme, which would provide insurance cover for all lawyers who have paid their Bar practicing fees as at when due.

The latest offer we are considering offers Lawyers the following choices: Option A: N700,000.00 – Death or Permanent Disability Option B: N500,000 – Death or Permanent Disability N500,000 – Death by Accident Option C: N350,000 – Death or Permanent Disability

•Continued from Page 26 is a political asset if the insurgency continues. It confers on them political advantage in terms of political sympathy if the fight, violence, killings and bloodletting persist against Nigerians.”

Similarly, constitutional lawyer, Ike Ofuokwu subscribed to the need for a well powered and independent commission of enquiry, constituted by men of impeccable integrity without any political affiliation to investigation the allegation and sundry issues regarding Boko Haram sponsorship.

“Why is the spokesperson of the DSS is so quick to dismiss the alleged involvement of Gen. Ihejirika on mere emotion and sentiment without any investigative evidence? It is a shame.

“It beats my imagination and only goes to show how shoddy and myopic the DSS has been operating over the years. Hence, they can no longer be trusted to investigate these very weighty allegations.

“Sheriff’s alleged intimacy with this group from inception has been a thing of public knowledge over the years. We have just been informed that even the government of Cameroon has questioned him over this same matter in the past.

“If the DSS is so quick to dismiss the allegation of Dr Steven Davis against Ihejirika why then are they inviting Sheriff for a third time for questioning over an allegation by the same Davis?

“I, like the DSS, do not also want to believe that Ihejirika will have any romantic relationship with this monster but for God’s sake everyone seems a suspect until investigation reveals otherwise,” Ofuokwu said.

NBA Lagos Branch Chairman, Alex Muoka, an independent special

N350,000 – Death by Accident N350,000 – Critical Illness Option D: N280,000 – Death or Permanent Disability N280,000 – Death by Accident N280,000 – Critical Illness N30,000 – Medical Expenses It is to be noted that all lawyers who have paid their bar practising Fees as at when due are automatically entitled to this insurance cover and a policy would be issued in the lawyer’s name.

that the Judge is “MY BOY”. This is utterly disgraceful. It should be discouraged. It should be condemned. I say no more for now.

Digitalisation of our courts

We need digitalization of Our Courts urgently to enable us take advantage of modern technology in our quest for speedy and effective dispensation of justice.

I watched the recent Oscar Pistorius trial in awe when hour long trial transcripts were available for use by Lawyers in Court immediately thereafter. I don’t know the cost of this equipment but we cannot claim to be the Giant of Africa if we cannot afford to equip our Courts with technological tools designed to ensure the speedy dispensation of justice we all crave.

Bar Practising Fees I shall propose to NEC a 10% reduction across board in respect of Bar Practising fees for lawyers excluding Senior Advocates. Upon ratification by NEC I will take appropriate steps to give effect to the reduction.

I shall also propose to NEC, that the share of Branches from BPFs be increased from 10% to 20%. The additional 10% to branches would be applied to set up a Lawyers Welfare Trust Fund at all Branches.

The payment of the Branches’ share of BPF shall be by direct debit utilising available ebanking means.

Annual General Conference fees The fees for the 2015 Annual General Conference shall be a 40% percent reduction of the Fees for the Annual General Conference.

The Fees shall be as follows: 1 – 5 Years: N5,000 6 – 10 Years: N15,000 11 – 14 Years: N25,000 15 - 20 Years: N35,000 Above 20 Years: N50,000 SANs/AGs/Benchers: N100,000 Judges: N75,000 Magistrates: N50,000 Governors/Legislators & Political Appointees: N250,000

Judicial reforms The judiciary is taking positive developmental steps and NBA must continue to collaborate with the Judiciary as there remains so much room for improvement.

Employment of research assistants for judges The provision of Research Assistants for our

Quacks in the legal profession

•Alegeh

judges must not be delayed a day longer.

The benefits of Research Assistant employed, not by Judges, but by the Judiciary would be a monumental step forward in our quest for speedy dispensation of high quality justice.

Consequently, I will shortly engage the various Government agencies involved in the process to sensitize them of the enormous benefit to the Nation.

Judicial appointments The current secret shrouded appointment of Judges system must yield to a more transparent system 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 themselves as Consultants in cases where they have never seen the Court processes. Their main claim to fame and Consultancy fees remains the fact

The judiciary should collaborate with the NBA in its efforts to rid the legal Profession of quacks.

The NBA has just introduced its stamp and seal policy and this policy can only have effect when the judiciary ensures that only documents bearing the stamp and seal are allowed for filing in Our Court or admitted in evidence at trials.

I must commend the progressive thinking of Honourable Justice Njemanze, the Honourable Chief Judge of Imo State for his practice direction to the effect that all affidavits in Imo must be prepared or endorsed by Lawyers.

This is a step in the right direction and I urge other Chief Judges to issue the same practice Direction.

The NBA would shortly formulate Practice Directions as Well as Guidelines in selected areas and topics which we hope the respective Chief Judges would not hesitate to deal with expeditiously.

I must also at this point advise all persons who use tax payers funds to pay foreign lawyers under any guise that such foreign lawyers who are not enrolled to practice in Nigeria are definitely quacks under Nigerian Law. We shall in the next few weeks issue Freedom of Information Requests to certain Government bodies who have developed the habit of briefing foreign lawyers with a view to bringing them to face the law. Nigerian work is for Nigerian Lawyers and I will leave no stone unturned in dealing with any person who threatens our constitutionally guaranteed source of income.

•To be continued next week

Who are Boko Haram’s sponsors? investigator should be contracted with powers to investigate and prosecute suspects if the Australian’s claims are true.

He said setting up a commission is a sure way of tying everything up in bureaucracy.

“Talk is cheap! Elsewhere in the civilised world, before the kind of allegations that Dr. Davis made are released publicly, investigations into the veracity of the claims would have been concluded. Here we are used to trial by media.

“Dr. Davis was working for the Presidency. It is inconceivable that he would have made such damaging discoveries (some of which he claims to have been aware of for three to four years) and our security agencies are in the dark. It does not make sense. This supports suggestions of a high-level coverup or compromise, and lends voice to the calls for an independent investigation.

“I would rather suggest an independent special investigator with wide ranging powers to investigate the claims and (if found to be true) prosecute suspects...With a commission, we are not likely to see a report until threesix months, and then a panel will have to be set up to consider and advise on implementation of the report, and then...we will be in the middle of the 2015 elections!” Muoka said.

Lagos lawyer Theophilus Akanwa, said: “I support the call for a judicial commission of enquiry to determine the veracity of the allegation. I also support the trial of whoever found in-

• Enitan

volved in sponsorship of Boko Haram by the appropriate court. Such a commission must be made of men and women of highest integrity who will entertain no fear or favour in the course of its assignment. It does not lie in the mount of DSS to exonerate one of the parties on this allegation. The commission of enquiry or a law court should be allowed to determine this allegation.

“There is no one that is above the law. Thousands of innocent Nigerians and non Nigerians have been killed by this dreaded group for no just course. The battle against Boko Haram cannot be won until their sponsors are

brought to book. The courage exhibited by Boko Baram to thus far sustain this heinous crime and to takeover part of our sovereign nation as witnessed in Borno State is embedded on the strength from their sponsors. Wherever and whoever their sponsors are, they should be unveiled and immediately prosecuted no matter how highly placed.”

A member of the Ogun State Judicial Service Commission, Abayomi Omoyinmi said it was needless setting up such a commission, since the negotiator can be used as a witness in court.

He said: “Once an allegation of this magnitude of crime is levied against certain persons with facts and evidence in support, such person/s should be investigated, arrested and charged under the prescribe law where a prima-facie case can be substantiated based on the evidence as provided by the witness who alleged the offence.’

Terms of reference of commission Lawyers who supported the institution of the enquiry commission said its terms of reference should include establishing the existence of the Australian and acknowledgment that he made the allegation; the source of his information; the parties and status of his source of information as well as empirical evidence to back up the allegations including facts such as figures, dates and other necessary details to corroborate the evidence.

They suggested that visits can be car-

‘I would rather suggest an independent special investigator with wide ranging powers to investigate the claims and (if found to be true) prosecute suspects’

ried out by the commission to ensure authentication of their findings and reports, which must be thorough and conclusive; identify the sponsors and financiers of Boko Haram; the role of religious and political groups in the misnomer and should spearhead the immediate prosecution of any one found guilty.

“The terms of reference of the commission should amongst others be to identify the sponsors and financiers of Boko Haram. The role of religion and the political class (if any) in this whole evil called Boko Haram and to ensure the immediate prosecution of everyone found guilty.

“The battle against the insurgents can only be won with commitment, honesty and integrity of the military, political class and all Nigerians. It’s a monster that if not brutally defeated by all and sundry will defeat us,” Ofuokwu said.

Farounbi added: “I will like to suggest that the term of reference of the commission should not be limited to investigating the duo alone, but should be made to cover the entire activities of the Boko Haram sect. In this regard, the commission should look beyond those mentioned with the view of determining whether some other individuals are involved.

“Upon the identification of the individuals involved, the commission should be empowered to investigate their wealth, particularly the finances and the disbursements with the view of recommending the frozen of the accounts and the prosecution the backers.

“More importantly the government, particularly the Federal Government should stop playing politics with the security of its citizens. Nobody should be considered a sacred cow in the investigation and prosecution. Let the law take its course.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

38

FROM THE COURT A Federal High Court in Abuja declared in 2012 that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had since 2011, unlawfully deployed the collapsible ballot boxes in elections. It restrained the commission and its Chairman, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, from further using the boxes, except with the permission of the patent right owner, Bedding Holdings Limited (BHL). The court also declared that unathorised use of the boxes will render null and void, the purpose for which the boxes were used. INEC and Jega have appealed against the decision. Parties have equally settled their briefs, awaiting a hearing date. ERIC IKHILAE examines issues canvassed by parties and the case’s likely implication for next year’s general elections.

2015: Tussle over ballot boxes shifts to Appeal Court

A

S the yearly vacation of the Court of Appeal gradually comes to an end, parties in an appeal lodged by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the Court of Appeal, Abuja are anxiously awaiting a hearing date. Parties have settled and exchanged their briefs.

INEC is by the appeal, seeking to set aside a judgment delivered on June 5, 2012 by Justice Adamu Bello (now retired) of the Federal High Court, Abuja in a suit instituted by a firm, Bedding Holdings Limited (BHL).

BHL had in 2010 sued INEC, Jega, and five others over the electoral body’s decision to award contracts to three private firms for the purchase of ballot boxes in preparation for the 2011 elections.

The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/783/2010 also had as defendants, the Registrar of Patent, Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the three firms - Emchai Limited, Tambco United Nigeria Ltd and Anowat Project and Resources Ltd. The plaintiff’s case was that it possessed subsisting patent right over the ballot boxes which INEC had awarded contracts without its (BHL’s) prior consent, as required by law.

But, upon overtures by the AGF for an out of court settlement, the court struck out the case on December 16, 2010 following an application to the effect by the plaintiff’s lawyer. BHL returned to court shortly after settlement became impossible. It filed a similar suit, which was marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/82/ 201.

In his judgment on June 5, 2012, Justice Bello held, among others, that BHL owns valid and subsisting patent rights over Transparent Ballot Boxes and Electronic Collapsible Transparent Ballot Boxes being used by INEC for elections.

The judge upheld BHL’s claim to being the bona fide patentee and the exclusive owner of the invention named “Transparent Ballot Boxes” on which it was issued certificate of registration patent rights No. RP12994 and registration of industrial designs rights No. RD5946 by the Registrar of Patents on January 12, 1998.

The judge also upheld the subsequent certification of an improvement on the invention named “Electronic Collapsible Transparent Ballot Boxes” (with certificate of registration of patent rights No. RP16642 and registration of industrial designs rights No. RD13841 issued on November 27, 2006 which are still valid.

Justice Bello voided the rights over similar inventions purportedly issued later, by the Registrar of Patent, to three firms - Emchai, Tambco and Anowat.

He restrained the defendants from further utilising the ballot boxes without the consent of BHL. The judge declared that any unathorised use of the boxes will render null and void, the purpose for which the boxes were used.

Justice Bello refused a subsequent application for stay of the judgment pending appeal, which INEC and Jega filed. In his ruling on May 28, last year, the judge hinged his refusal on the ground that it was declaratory (as the one by Justice Auta).

The judge frowned at INEC’s and Jega’s decision to deploy the same ballot boxes in subsequent elections, including the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states, without the consent of the plaintiff and in disregard of the court’s orders contained in the June 5, 2012 judgment.

“They (INEC and Jega) conducted the elections on July 14 and October 20, 2012 using the same ballot boxes as averred by the plaintiff/respondent (BHL) in its counter affidavit, which has not been denied by the 6th and 7th defendants (INEC and Jega) in the two further and better affidavits, in total disregard to the injunctive order, the execution of which they now seek to stay by their application.

• Appeal Court President, Zainab Bulkachuwa

“Since the elections have been conducted, the need for staying the execution of the injunctive order granted by the court has abated, at least for now. And even if the need for the order for stay of execution has not abated, the defendants, by proceeding to conduct the two elections, using the same ballot boxes, the use of which was restrained by the court’s judgment, have soiled their hands and cannot therefore seek the indulgence of the court.

“He, who comes to equity, must come with clean hands. The 6th and 7th defendants have not come with clean hands before the court and cannot, therefore, seek for equitable relief of stay of execution of the order in the judgment.

“Consequently, I refuse to grant the application, as granting it will be tantamount to the court encouraging further breach of its own judgment order, which subsists until set aside by the Court of Appeal,” Justice Bello said.

In their appeal numbered: CA/A/535/ 2012, INEC and Jega are praying the appellate court to set aside the judgment by Justice Bello, arguing among others, that the trial judge erred in granting all the prayers by the plaintiff.

The appeal was filed for them by a team of seven lawyers, including six Senior Advocates of Nigeria. The SANs include Adegboyega Awomolo, Mrs. V. O. Awomolo, A. B. Mahmood, Onyechi Ikpeeazu, H. A. Liman and Ahmed Raji.

The appellant raised five grounds of appeal and distilled two issues for the court’s determination. They challenged the competence of the suit as constituted before the lower court and faulted the decision of the trial judge to grant the plaintiff’s prayers, arguing that the plaintiff did not sufficiently prove its case to have warranted the granting of all the reliefs it sought.

INEC and Jega equally challenged the plaintiff’s locus standi (its right to sue and be

• Jega

heard). They argued that having failed to show before the trial court that it was a corporate entity, registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), by allegedly not exhibiting its certificate of registration as required by law, BHL (named as the 1st respondent) ought not to have been granted audience by the trial court.

The appellants also raised the issue of fair hearing, accusing the trial court of denying them their constitutional right to be heard.

They denied being served with processes and hearing notices in relation to the case at the trial court. The appellant argued that BHL has not shown anywhere in its pleadings that the appellants were served with the originating summons or any of the hearing notices.

In challenging the competence of the suit at the lower court, the appellants argued that BHL ought to have initiated the suit by way of writ of summons owing to the contentious nature of the claims, which could only be resolved by the calling of further evidence.

They further argued: “The grant of declaratory reliefs as sought by the plaintiff (BHL) are not automatic, rather, they are granted based on proof of cogent, credible, sufficient and reliable evidence to show that it (BHL) is entitled to same. This, the respondent failed to do.”

In its respondent’s brief filed by Karina Tunyan (SAN) and John Okoriko, BHL urged the court to uphold the judgment by the trial court, and “not to disturb the finding of fact reached by the court below” because it proved and established its case with credible affidavit and documentary evidence to the satisfaction of the court.

“This is particularly so when the respondents, including the appellants, did not file any counter affidavit by way of defence to the 1st respondent’s case at the court below despite being served with the

‘As the nation prepares for general elections next year, the fear in many quarters is that, beyond the huge public funds being deployed in these legal battles by INEC, no one, as it is the case in actual battle, knows how these cases will end’

originating summons and the various hearing notice,” BHL said.

It argued that since the trial court had delivered its judgment in the case and has become functus officio (it could no longer act on it.), BHL urged the court to disregard the appellants’ argument on whether or not it showed it as a corporate body worthy of being heard.

It submitted that since the issue about its corporate existence was not raised at the lower court, and the appellants having also failed to include it as a ground of appeal in their notice of appeal, they could no longer raise it.

On service, the 1st respondent argued that “there is overwhelming documentary and affidavit evidence, by way of numerous proofs of service and publications in the newspapers, to the effect that the appellants were duly served with both the originating processes and hearing notices of this case.

“In spite of the numerous services of the court processes and hearing notices on the appellants, informing them of the pendency of this suit against them, the appellants refused to appear in court or put up a legal representation in defence of this action against them,” BHL argued.

There many other pending cases involving INEC, Jega, BHL and some others, most of which are offshoots of the case over ballot boxes.

There is a pending appeal by INEC and Jega against the January 28, this year judgment in which Justice Ibrahim Auta of the Federal High Court, Abuja awarded about N17.3billion in favour of BHL and against INEC, Jega and three others for infringing the subsisting patent rights of the plaintiff.

The judgment was on a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/816/2010, filed shortly after INEC awarded the about N34.5billion contracts for the supply of Direct Data Capturing machines for the registration of voters, preparatory to the 2011 general elections.

Defendants in the suit included INEC, Jega, the AGF, Haier Electrical Appliance Corporation Limited, Zenox Technologies Limited and Avante International Technology Incorporated.

The plaintiff had claimed the sole ownership of the subsisting patent rights Nos: RP16642 and RP NG/P/2010/202, and copyrights designs No: RD13841covering its inventions - the Proof of Address System Scheme (PASS) and the Electronic Collapsible Transparent Ballot Box (ECTBB).

It claimed that a combination of both inventions creates a voters’ register involving “the process and application of DDC machines for the compilation and collection of various bio-data.”

It said the suit was intended to protect its inventions after INEC proceeded to award the DDC contracts despite having been notified of its subsisting patents and the need to first obtain its consent.

There are other pending cases in which BHL is among others, seeking to void the elections that produced Adams Oshiomhole (Edo Governor), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) and Willie Obiano (Anambra) on the ground that its ballot boxes were used without its consent, in violation of the June 5, 2012 judgment. The cases are before Justice Ahmed Mohammed (also of the Federal High Court, Abuja).

As the nation prepares for general elections next year, the fear in many quarters is that, beyond the huge public funds being deployed in these legal battles by INEC, no one, as it is the case in actual battle, knows how these cases will end.

There is also the concern over what will happen should the plaintiff, as has been the case in two instances, succeeds in the cases seeking to void the elections held after the June 5, 2012 judgment, including the 2015 elections.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

39

LAW & SOCIETY LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com For comments: 08033054939 (sms only)

• Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi (left) and Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), at the NBA Annual General Conference in Owerri.

Sponsors of Boko Haram insurgency

T

• From left: Bunmi Adetuwubo, Victor Nwaugo, Steve Abar, Dr Dorn Cklaimz Enamhe and Clement Chukwuemeka.

‘I’ll resolve Rivers judicial crises’

N

IGERIAN Bar Association (NBA) President Mr. August ine Alegeh (SAN) has expressed concern over the lingering crisis in the Rivers State judiciary, vowing to find a lasting solution to it.

He said lawyers and litigants have suffered so much in the past six months, with court activities at a standstill.

The state and the National Judicial Council (NJC) are at loggerheads over the appointment of the Chief Judge.

Speaking after his inauguration as the 27th NBA President during the association’s annual general conference in Owerri, Imo State capital, Alegeh he would ensure the crisis is resolved sooner than later.

Alegeh said: “I will personally intervene in Rivers State to ensure that the courts are open for lawyers to do their legitimate business.

“I want to make the NBA a responsible organisation, to cater essentially for the welfare of its members, to serve the nation better, to get involved much more deeply in election matters, to get involved in consumer protection, because I believe that the role of the NBA as a defender of human rights must also include the defence of economic rights and that is what I believe that the NBA must stand for.

By John Austin Unachukwu

‘’So, I must make an impact not just for our members and their welfare, but also for the society at large.

I want every Nigerian to know that there is an association of lawyers in Nigeria, that they can benefit positively from and that can do something for them even though they are not members of the association.’’

On the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) at the National Assembly, Alegeh said it should be passed into law for the country’s benefit.

“I don’t understand why people who have taken an oath of office to legislate would keep a bill through several legislative sessions. It is unconscionable. We will meet with the leadership of the National Assembly and whatever the problems are, we will make them known to Nigerians.

“Petroleum is our major source of revenue and the Petroleum Industry Bill is to protect that source of revenue for all of us. So, anybody that is toying with such a bill is toying with our collective destiny and we cannot sit down idly and be watch that happen.’’

On what he intends to with the committees he set up, he said: “Well, when you set up a committee to guide you on something, you cannot jump the gun.”

He also spoke on the need for a reform of association’s electoral process.

“Electronic voting has the capability of offering suffrage. The committee will reach out to all stakeholders. It is not what I want that matters because I may want universal suffrage but what do all lawyers want? It is not going to be the decision of Mr. President alone. It is going to involve a constitutional amendment. We may have an emergency general meeting and all members who are entitled will vote on it and the result will be announced there and then,” he said.

Alegeh urged lawyers to show more commitment to NBA. “I want every lawyer in the association to be responsible to the association. I want them to know that it is not going to be business as usual as it has been for sometime now.

“I expect all lawyers to work in their communities for the defence of the rule of law, for the promotion of human and economic rights of all Nigerians.

“I hold the strong view that fighting for human rights alone without economic rights is a failure on our part. We must fight for both of them, because a man who has not eaten food is more deprived of human rights,” he added.

Man arraigned for ‘rape, fraud’

A

28-YEAR-OLD man, Sheun Olarenwaju, has been ar raigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court for alleged rape and obtaining a sum of N50,000 under false pretence.

Olanrewaju was arraigned before the court presided over Mrs. M. Dan Oni on a three count charge of rape, theft and obtaining money under false pretence.

Police prosecutor, E. Okoli had al-

By Toyosi Babatunde

leged that the defendant on August 29 at Allen roundabout, Ikeja conspired to rape his victim, Abiodun Tanimowo.

He said the defendant committed an offence punishable under section 263 (2) of the original law of Lagos state Nigeria 2011.

Okoli further told the court that the defendant had under false pretence

also obtained the sum of N50,000 from Abiodun.

The alleged offence is punishable under section 312(2), No 34 Vol.44 Laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

When the charges were read, the defendant pleaded not guilty to them.

The magistrate granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 and two sureties in ike sum.

She after adjourned till September 15 for trial.

HE trade of allegations between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) that the sponsors of that menacingreligious insurgency in the north-eastern part of Nigeria are members of the opposing political party has been hijacked. While the PDP has to a large extent successfully cast the APC, as populated by religious extremists who are sympathetic to the Boko Haram cause, especially within a swath of their Christian sympathizers; the APC have in recent times sought to debunk that insidious allegation, while tamely casting that aspersion back on their opponent, particularly their agent, the former Governor of Bornu state, Ali Modu Sheriff who is now back to the PDP, after an unsuccessful stint at unsettling the fledgling APC. To add kerosene to the stoking fire, one Mr. Stephen Davis a shadowy Australian, recently promoted in the media as a federal government negotiator with the Boko Haram over the abducted Chibok girls, has rehashed the old tale against Ali Modu Sherriff and added a new twist, by linking the former Chief of Army staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika to the alleged list of sponsors. Mr. Davis strangely refused to name the other alleged top Central Bank official and the other sponsors of the group, on the rather ridiculous claim that it will affect the police investigation of the bombing in Kubwa, Abuja. Let me say right away that General Azubuike has my sympathy over the second attempt by what appears to be very powerful forces to rubbish the record of his public career. The first attempt was the threat by the so called Bornu elders to have him charged before the International Criminal Court, Hague, for alleged war crimes, during his tour of duty as the then Chief of Army staff.

Unfortunately the Bornu elders instead of calling on the armed forces, to prosecute the war against Boko Haram with diligence to safeguard the rights and safety of their people, rather decided to personalize their position against General Ihejirika, which immediately staked ethnic bias over their claim.

Now again, Mr. Stephen Davis acting as if he has been hired by the detractors of the General, has fired an unreasonable and unsubstantiated salvo against the retired General. To make their unbelievable allegations, substantially worthless, the Australian reportedly claimed that he got the information from leaders of the same Boko Haram that General Ihejirika as army commander was famed to have worsted mercilessly. Here again like the case by the Bornu elders, General Ihejirika is singled out as an individual that is capable of sponsoring the insurgents, even when he was seen as personally being too high handed in dealing with that national menace, as the head of he army.

In sympathising with the retired General Ihejirika for what is likely an invidious libel against his person, it needs to be noted that the old Australian in seeking fame from the Nigerian debacle, relied on the wily tactics of the lazy Nigerian elite. When the PDP’s garrulous propagandists willfully tagged General Muhammadu Buhari because of his obvious piousness as an extremist and sympathizer of the Boko Haram, they were foolishly applying a dangerous and lazy antidote to a ranging national crisis. So while they may have gained an undue political advantage from that unsubstantiated claim, they succeeded in laying a dangerous precedent which any other crooked person can emulate to gain attention.

With respect to the allegations against the former Bornu state governor, he remains a prime suspect of being responsible for organizing and funding the politico-religious pressure group, which metamorphosed into the Boko Haram insurgency. The attempt by Mr. Steven Davis to claim any credit for that stale allegation is therefore of no moment.

Interestingly Mr. Davis was represented in the press as an expert negotiator, whose services have been retained by the federal government to secure the release of the Chibok girls, who have been in the custody of the Boko Haram criminals since April 15. How he transformed into a secret service investigator in the course of his job is a matter for conjecture. Surprisingly, the federal government which all the while allowed the common believe that they employed the Australian to deal with the Boko Haram crisis to fester, has now denied ever employing his services.

If the Australian journeyman wants to be taken seriously, he should provide the evidence of the alleged sponsorship by General Ihejirika. If his only evidence is the allegations allegedly made by the commanders of the Boko Haram insurgency, then he should get ready to pay heavily to stem a libel suit by General Ihejirika, even if Alhaji Sheriff may be daunted by the existing prejudices against his innocence. As General Ihejirika rightly said in the interview he granted the press, “If this accusation was made in a country like US or Uk, it would not be discussed for one hour because they would wave it aside”. Indeed I doubt if the Australian would have made such damning allegation against a General of any serious country in Africa talk less of the leading countries of the world. The wily fellow knows he is dealing with Nigeria, with a strong reputation for the frivolous, unfounded and unfathomable.

In fairness to the Australian, he is filling the vacuum created by our challenged intelligence and security agencies. If they had been able to contain the Boko Haram menace as we all patriotically hoped, the old man would have found better things to do with his time. But because we have become incapable of helping ourselves, all manner of people have turned our advisers and helpers. The lesson from this Janjaweed allegation is that it is dangerous to throw up sand in the market, for you never know who would bear the dirt.

40

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEM BER 9, 2014

LAW & SOCEITY

INEC seeks offences commission

T

HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has called for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission to deal with electoral offences that will arise from next year’s general election.

The commission’s Director of Legal Services, Mr. Ibrahim Bawa, said the commission should be set up because INEC does not have the resources to prosecute electoral crimes.

He spoke in Owerri, the Imo State capital at a programme by the Lawyers in the Media (LIM) forum of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) during its Annual General Conference.

Removing the responsibility of prosecuting those involved in electoral fraud and offences, he said, would enhance INEC’s concentration on logistics.

According to him, the commission will deter potential offenders from violating the electoral laws.

Presenting the Keynote address titled: “Media, law and the struggle for good governance in Nigeria: 100 years after, the journey so far”, Chairman, NBA Election Working Group, Dafe Akpedeye (SAN), said no institution, not even the body of lawyers, civil rights activists or other civil society groups, has done and sacrificed more in the fight for good governance in Nigeria, than the media.

According to him, the media has been the most persecuted and vilified by the authorities in power.

“The press (electronic and print media, and in recent times online media) of any nation is regarded as the fourth estate of the realm: It is saddled with the responsibility of serving as watch-dogs of the activities of the government and their various agencies, reporting on events and occurrences.

“The press is also expected to enlighten the citizenry of these occurrences, proffering solutions to socio-cultural and economic challenges. In so doing, the Press helps in shaping the mindset of the populace and in effect the policies of the government,” he said.

Tracing the history of the media, Akpedeye said its vibrancy dated back to the colonial times, saying the country can boast of the freest and most outspoken media in Africa.

The media, he said, had however, been the target of harassment by both the past military dictatorships and the civilian governments.

“Many agents of the media have been imprisoned, exiled, tortured, or murdered. Among them was the late Ogoni activist and television producer, Ken Saro-Wiwa, who was tried by a kangaroo tribunal and executed for treason on the orders of the late General Sani Abacha in 1995. This was done without recourse to the accused right of appeal (resulting in the expulsion of Nigeria from the Commonwealth of Nations and sanctions from many nations),” he said.

Akpedeye who recalled the activities of the media from pre-Independence era to post-Independence Nigeria, canvassed an urgent need to protect its practitioners.

“Despite the backing of the judiciary to extend protections for a free press, Nigeria remains a dangerous place to practice journalism.

Sharia, or Islamic law courts, which operate in 12 northern states, demonstrate antagonism toward free expression, and Sharia statutes impose severe penalties for alleged press offenses,” Akpdeye said.

He continued: “One major threat

By John Austin Unachukwu

to press freedom and public safety in 2011 was the violent campaign by the militant Islamist sect, Boko Haram, whose wave of bombings, assassinations and intimidation have claimed hundreds of lives during the year. The group is seeking to impose strict Islamic laws over all of Nigeria. In October of that year, the group carried out one of its most brazen attacks on journalists, when its members allegedly shot and killed Zakariya Isa, a reporter and cameraman for the state-owned Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) as he covered the aftermath of one of the sect’s bomb attacks in the northeastern city of Maiduguri.”

Other acts of intimidation against the press in 2011, according to him, included more than 30 attacks on press freedom before April 2011 presidential, legislative, and gubernatorial elections.

Journalists, he said, were targets of ill-disciplined police and State Security Service (SSS) agents, who arrested and detained them for brief periods without any authorisation. “Separately, in October 2011, the police raided the offices of The Nation newspapers, seeking information on how the medium obtained a letter from former President Olusegun Obasanjo to President Jonathan outlining former’s desire for Jonathan to replace the leaders of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and four other agencies with his own candidates. After the newspaper refused to disclose such information, police arrested four editors and two journalists. However, they were released and charges against them were never filed. There are motley of cases of the murder of journalists’over the years which have remained unsolved,” he noted.

According to him, the journalistic fervour and zeal inherent in traditional journalism have gradually faded, giving way to biased reportage, money-induced, favourable reviews and lazy journalism.

“Of utmost concern is in the obvious lack of investigative journalism. It is rare, if not uncommon, to find present day Nigerian journalists going through the drudgery of researching on events, stories or expected occurrences.

“The unfortunate norm in present day Nigeria is the knack for journalists to sit in front of computer screens, typing on the key-board, manufacturing baseless stories with the intention of second-guessing the minds of the Nigerian populace who have over the years been deep in high scale gullibility (an attribute the media men exploit by filling the newsstand with stories suited to feeding the populace with concocted stories they love to hear.)

Akpedeye accused politicians of helping in dragging the profession in the mud. “This is done in connivance with deep-pocket politicians, who are mainly interested in furthering their political benefits, notwithstanding the potential negative effects their actions will have on the nation. The extent of politicians’ desperation and press-manipulative tendencies is evident in their insistence to perpetuate laws that are inconsistent with modern progressive journalism,” he said.

He, however, said blogging on the social media (online journalism) has become a much safer and easier conduit for Nigeria’s growing internet-enabled minority to express their dissatisfactions with the current state of af-

•From left: Daudu (SAN); former Director-General NIALS, Prof Epiphany Azinge (SAN); Akpedeye and Egwuonwu

•From left: Yemi Fakayejo, Bawa; Osas Erhabor and Odenigbo

•From left: Vera Chinwuba; Chairman, NBA Aguata Branch, E. N. Ezeonwuka; former NBA General Secretary Obafemi Adewale and ThisDay Deputy Law Editor, Jude Igbanoi.

•From left: Director of Strategy, All Progressives Congress (APC), Osun State, Kunle Oyatomi; NBA Publicity Secretary, Gbolahan Gbadamosi; Marc Enamhe and a former Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) President Mrs Boma Ozobia.

fairs in Nigeria.

Speaking on the topic: “Pronouncing and enforcing legal penalties for the violation of political advertisements in Nigeria: APCON’S role and journey so far”, the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) ‘s Registrar, Alhaji Garba Bello Kankarofi, represented by the former LIM Chairman, Mr. Charles Odenigbo, said: “To check political advertising abuses, we urge you to contact APCON if you see, read or hear adverts that seem to contain such abuses.”

He asked them to write to the Registrar/CEO, APCON, noting that APCON alone could not enforce the law.

He urged the media to collaborate with council to ensure that politicians play according to the rules of the games.

The former NBA chief, Mr. Joseph Bodunrin Daudu (SAN) said the media has been very proactive before and after the independence. He noted that without a virile and independent press, no nation, no matter how highly gifted, could de-

velop.

Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN), represented by the Director-General, Vox-Populi, Mr. John Egwuonwu, said the journalistic zeal of the media had remained undaunted from pre-independence era, noting that the advent of social media has its own challenge for traditional media.

He urged the media to continue its watchdog responsibility in the interest of the country by holding governments accountable to the people.

42

My header was not intentional - Muller

43

TUESDAY SEPTEM BER 9, 2014

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The lingering crisis rocking the Ogun State All Progressives Congress (APC) is yet to abate. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines its implications for the party, ahead of next year’s polls.

APC and challenge of crisis resolution in Ogun I

N spite of the recent victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, the party still has some challenges in the Southwest. The party has to put its house in order to avert electoral doom. There are indications that all is not well with the APC in Ogun and Oyo states.

The leadership crises in Ogun State chapter, for instance, have polarised the party.

The situation is similar to what happened to the PDP when it was preparing for 2011 general elections. The PDP went to the poll as a divided party and this was the factor that helped the APC to sweep the polls.

The disagreement in Ogun APC is very critical and it may provide a leeway for the PDP to realise its ambition of regaining the control of the state. The rivalry between Chief Olusegun Osoba, who is regarded as the APC leader and Governor Ibikunle Amosun has polarised the party and created disaffection among their supporters. Both camps have refused to sheathe their swords. The fight is over the control of the party structure. Unless this is addressed effectively, it may have dire consequences for the APC in next year’s elections.

A chieftain of the APC, who craved anonymity, said only a divine intervention can make the two factions to work together for the progress of the party. He said the deepseated animosity started in 2003 when Amosun mobilised the PDP to uproot the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Osoba, who was the governor, from the State House. The mutual suspicion between them was rekindled when they found themselves in the same party, prior to 2011 general elections. A source said the friction was evident during the preparation for the governorship primaries. According to the source, the Osoba group vehemently rejected the choice of Amosun for governorship. It took the intervention of eminent personalities and traditional rulers before Osoba could agree.

Amosun emerged as the party’s governorship candidate. But, Osoba was given the privilege of picking candidates for the three senatorial seats, nine House of Representatives tickets, and 23 out of 26 House of Assembly tickets. Besides, Osoba picked the running mate for Amosun.

But, the disagreement reared its head again, shortly after the inauguration of Amosun as governor. There was a sharp disagreement over the choice of commissioners and other members of the state executive council. The Osoba group alleged that the governor sidelined those he met in the party by single-handedly appointing members of the executive. To pacify them, Amosun picked some of his special advisers, chairmen and members of Boards of parastatals and agencies from Osoba’s group.

The governor’s move did not however, douse the cry of marginalisation. The Osoba group felt short-changed during the last local government election. They alleged that they were not given enough chairmanship and councillorship slots. The sharing formula, according to them, was lopsided in favour of Amosun and his supporters. This prompted pro-Osoba legislators to form a group known as “Ma t’agba mole” (Don’t step on elder). They said Osoba was not accorded his proper place in the scheme of things. On his part, the governor has always said that Osoba is his leader and that there is nothing going on in the party and government that he is not aware of.

What fuelled the crisis, according to a party stalwart, was the recent exchange of correspondence between the governor and members representing Ogun State at the National Assembly. He said both letters were loaded with missiles. The stalwart said: “At the onset, there was a clear indication that Governor Amosun is only a sitting duck, who has little or no control

• Amosun and Aremo Osoba

over the party structure. Amosun, in his letter stated that the serving Ogun APC senators and House of Representatives members have “scant regard for me and my office because you believe that I played no role in your emergence as party candidates at the primaries and general elections in 2011.

“Amosun was at the mercy of party elders when seeking the ticket. He was so blinded with his ambition that he could have signed even his own death warrant, just to get the slot he was interested in. And he eventually got the governorship ticket.

Why would those he had no hand in their emergence as candidates at the general elections look up to him and revere him as their leader?”

The chieftain noted that the crux of the matter was that the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) picked Amosun because of lack of a strong candidate to face the PDP. Having ran on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the 2007 election and, with the demise of Chief Dipo Dina, the ACN strongman in the 2007 gubernatorial race, the doors were wide open and Amosun did not have to go through the ‘mills’ before being selected as the standard bearer.

It was learnt that a letter dated January 23, 2011 written by Amosun to the party leaders infuriated members of the National Assembly. Amosun had assessed their electoral prior to 2011 elections. He said some of them lacked political clout and wherewithal to win elections.

But, analysts believe that the issue fuelling the crisis is the second term ambition of elective office holders. A member of the party, Alhaji Azees Ajetunmobi, said the crux of the problem in Ogun APC is the bid of the members of the National Assembly to retain their position in 2015.

However, other aspirants loyal to Amosun believe they have performed below expectation and they must be replaced.

Ajetunmobi claimed that Amosun has not anointed anyone for any office. “What he

wants is a level playing field where the current elected office holders, including himself, can contest against other aspirants within the party. The incumbent office holders do not want election, but selection,” he added.

Senator Gbenga Kaka (Ogun East) faulted Amosun’s claim of creating a level playing field for all contestants. He made reference to the party congress, which produced parallel executives, Kaka said: “All the rigged-in executives from wards to the national level will, first of all give way to genuinely elected representatives, starting from the unadulterated lists of delegates up to where it gets to. Thereafter, if there is room for good primaries, so be it.”

Kaka added: “I was the first person to say that there is no automatic ticket for anybody, including Amosun. I said it a long time ago. That was what created the enmity and other things”.

Conscious of the implications of the crisis, Amosun has extended the olive branch to aggrieved party members. He said no politician would want to go into the general elections with a divided house. So, the current atmosphere of division and acrimony, he observed, does not profit anybody.

Amosun promised to settle the rift between him and Osoba. He said he is neither in competition with Osoba whom he described as his leader.

Kaka believes the solution to the crisis lies with the governor. “If the governor did the needful rather than sending emissaries to beg Osoba, peace would have returned to Ogun APC,” said.

The senator listed conditions for peace.

They include reorganising the party structure, ensuring all-inclusive government, ensuring that each of the 20 local councils has a commissioner instead of the current scenario where some councils have three or four commissioners, while some councils have none. Describing the moves by Amosun to reconcile with Osoba as a blackmail, Kaka said the solution was for

‘The disagreement in Ogun State chapter of the APC is very critical and it may provide a leeway for the PDP to realise its ambition of regaining the control of the state.

This is because the rivalry between Chief Olusegun Osoba, who is regarded as the APC leader and Governor Ibikunle Amosun has polarised the party and created disaffection among their supporters’

the governor to retrace his steps.

The former deputy governor highlighted some of the ”sins” of Amosun. He said the governor failed to hold consultative meetings, since the inception of his administration three and half years ago. According to him, the governor had carried out all programmes and projects of the APC–led government without consultation with stakeholders. He said all he did was to do things in the name of the party, but without any of the stakeholders being able to defend it in the face of criticism by opposition. The people who worked for the party’s victory in 2011 were relegated to the background, he said.

On speculations that the Osoba group had perfected arrangements to defect to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) founded by the Afenifere group, Kaka said the faction was being wooed by various political parties and admitted that the SDP remained the most appealing.

He said: “Platform is platform and there is no party that is a no-go area for us. Why are they worried? Somebody came from a party and joined the defunct ACN and got elected. If they could move, why can’t others move?

“But, so far, so good, the SDP is the most appealing and our state executive are formalising the process of getting things done. Don’t let me talk emphatically. But, it is the most appealing as far as our group is concerned.”

However, Ajetumobi cautioned against the hard line position of both factions. He said the current talk of non-forgiveness, non-harmonisation, non-reconciliation is unhelpful to the cause of democracy and internal democracy within the party, except, if both groups have hidden agenda.

Ajetunmobi urged all lovers of democracy to go for primaries adding the losers should congratulate the winners and vice versa, because in a contest between members of the same family, there are no victors, no vanquished.

‘The APC national executive has taken steps to reconcile and unite the warring factions in the troubled chapter. The council had set up a high-powered seven-man delegation to resolve the crisis and unite the two groups. Members of the reconciliation committee include, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Chief Audu Ogbe, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State.

The committee, it was gathered, prevailed on Osoba and his loyalists to have a rethink on their plan to ditch the party and put forward a proposal of 60: 40 per cent sharing formula while the aggrieved National Assembly members will be guaranteed return tickets.

It could not be ascertained whether the proposal was accepted or not by both groups. But a statement by Senator Kaka suggests otherwise. He said former VicePresident Atiku Abubakar led a highpower delegation to meet with the governor but they met a brick wall.

Kaka said his group has not closed the door against reconciliation. “There is nothing impossible under the sun and since we are God-fearing people, we will give peace a chance and give God the opportunity to direct us to the right path, he said.

He stressed that the group would not rescind its decision, if alleged injustice perpetrated in the state chapter of the party was not addressed.

But, the APC Publicity Secretary, Mr. Sola Lawal, assured that the leadership tussle between the Amosun and Osoba, which has polarised the party will soon be a thing of the past.

Lawal, who spoke against the backdrop of the reconciliation move by the party’s national executive council said there is no cause for any fear as the party’s house will soon be put in order.

44

THE NATION TUESDAY SEPTEM BER 9, 2014

POLITICS

Mimiko’s defection alters 2015 calculation in Ondo

A

HEAD of February next year’s general elections, politicians have returned to the drawing board. They are scheming to have an edge at the polls.

Three parties-the ruling Labour party (LP), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are warming up for the elections.

However, the defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko from the LP to the PDP has altered the political equation. With this development, the battle is between the APC and the PDP. The two parties will lock horns at presidential and parliamentary elections.

During the elections, the LP is likely to be a dormant party. Those who may stay behind will be deserted by their followers.

The LP is a child of circumstances. It came to Ondo State as an emergency party in December 2006 when Mimiko, who was the Minister of Housing, defected from the PDP because of his governorship ambition.

He was the Secretary to the Government (SSG) under former Governor Olusegun Agagu before he was appointed as minister. When he became an Abuja politician, he was not cut off from the grassroots. Mimiko later relinquished the position to contest for the governorship, which he eventually won. But, the electoral commission gave victory to his former boss, Agagu. The stolen mandate was restored at the Appeal Court, Benin after a rigorous legal battle at the Election Petition Tribunal between 2007 and February 23, 2009.

Mimiko won the second term battle in 2012. His tenure will terminate in 2016. To the LP, the governor has tried for Ondo State. However, the PDP and the APC believe that he has not lived up to expectation.

In fact, the APC is intensifying efforts to have a good show in next year’s poll.

According to its Chairman, Hon. Isaac Kekemeke, “the party is now determined to change its status from an opposition party to the party in power; from a party outside government to the party in government;

• Mimiko From Damisi Ojo, Akure

from the street of Akure to Alagbaka Government House; from the streets of various local government headquarters to their secretariats.”

He gave reasons why people should vote for the APC, saying: “Our party has a manifesto. The manifesto is people-centered; the manifesto is about impacting on the lives of the ordinary Nigerian citizens.

“The manifesto is about social welfare; the manifesto is about health; the manifesto is about education, the development of infrastructure and the provision of security.

Kekemeke added: “Our chances are high. Our party has become a destination of choice for many people in other political parties, for many people in the government, both at the state and the federal. I receive calls; I hold meetings almost every other day with people in those parties, expressing their desire to join and team up with us. Here in Ondo State, the LP is dead. The administration is already deteriorated. The PDP is in coma. The only living party is the APC. So, people are coming and we

are trying to put our house in order.

We will take over government; we will work towards unity; we will expand our support base and we will win.

He said the party executives have started to build the structures, and that the party will: ”run an organised campaign; we will mobilise the people, while the choice of our flag bearer will be decided according to the constitution and guidelines of the party.

“We are going to do a number of things differently since we have more people now,we have much more committment than before to see us winning”Kekemeke stressed.

In another seperate interview,the PDP State Chairman,Ebenezer Alabi,an Accountant said they have used the demise of its leader and former Governor Olusegun Agagu to re- build the party.

However, many observers opined that the sudden re-emergence of Governor Mimiko into PDP fold had changed the tempo of the reconciliation within the party.

Alabi said: ”We preached to our people that there was strenght in unity and because of that message,we have been able to sink our differences.

According to him,the result of the inconclusive Ilaje/Ese-Odo by-election was as a result of unity in the party.

He said today we have a very formidable and strong PDP in Ondo State that is battle ready to take over government.

“We are trying everything within our party to sustain the unity and to further the reconciliation,because we still have one or two people who are still aggrieved with the party.

“We are reaching out to make sure that all of us are under the same umbrella before 2015 elections,”Alabi stressed.

He emphasised that the reconciliation of the party is one of the factors that actually encourage people to start moving to the party.

Alabi said: ”PDP is now set to take back power in Ondo and the entire Southwest,we are confident that Ekiti example is just the begining of our winning streak across the Southwest.

Group backs Ogun lawmaker for Reps

A

GROUP, Media Initiative for Ogun Progress, has urged the member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Adijat Adeleye, to vie for the House of Representatives seat in Ifo Constituency.

The legislator has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The group hailed what it described as the legislator’s sterling performance in the House. It said Adeleye

commands respect and honour among her constituents, urging her to heed the call to higher service.

Its Director of Publicity, Olutayo Mafe, said in a statement that she will articulate the problems of the constituency, if elected as a federal legislator.

He said: “It is not surprising the sort of support, love, popularity Hon Adijat Adeleye among the young, market women, professionals and elders in the last couple of years, not

only in her constituency ,but Ogun as a whole. She is an astute politician is loved by all. “ We notice her continues support for youths, elderly people, market women and non-indigenes. Her ITC Centre has trained over 200 studenst and recently, she gave out enpowerrment materials worth over N10 million to her people.

“She is urban, detribalised, intelligent and she has big dreams for the people of her constituency. That’s why we are backing him.”

• Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Mr. Jimi Agbaje during his visit to Okobaba Sawmill and Kadera Plywood residential area, Ebute-Metta, which was razed by fire.

Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle is the Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Parastatals . In this interview with OSEHEYE OKWUOFU, the former Private Secretary to former Governor Lam Adesina speaks on why his boss deserves a second term.

‘Ajimobi deserves second term’

D

O you think that Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi deserves a second term?

The governor is a performer. I am not new in politics. I have been around since the Second Republic. I know the meaning of good governance and performance. I’ve compared notes and I’m now satisfied that Ajimobi has performed and I believe that, judging by his performance, bAjimobi is a successful governor. In Oyo State, if they know that somebody is playing tricks on them, they know how to go about it and those ones that have played tricks on them and have done one thing or the other to siphon funds, they know and that is why they voted them out. That is why there is no serious candidate in the PDP, Accord Party and the Labour Party. They can not come up with a serious candidate. We will soon call on the members of the Labour Party because they are part of us. We are brothers and we know ourselves and I am one of the politicians that can convince people to come back. I am trying to start that very soon. So, talking of the 2015 contest , I don’t think Ajimobi should be distracted by rumours . He should remain focused because he has done very well . And the people of Oyo State appreciate him. Even those in the Diaspora , when they come to Ibadan, Iseyin, Ogbomoso, they saw that things are improving and they are eager to come home now to set up businesses .Quite a number of industries and companies are springing as a result of the conducive environment that Ajimobi has provided. More than 10 industries have been established and nobody will come and invest where he will not make profit. That has led to massive employment for the people and all those that are engaged in thuggery have shunned the unruly behaviour because they are engaged. So, there is peace, there is work, there is clean environment, there is infrastructural development and mass transit now operates . So, I don’t see why Ajimobi should not continue as the governor of Oyo State.

Opposition politicians, including Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Hon. Afeez Gbolarumi, and Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, don’t believe that Ajimobi is performing...

I don’t believe what they are saying. I can’t say much about Adewolu Ladoja and Akala because the two have been in government and we can compare note.

When Akala and Ladoja were in government, we knew what the state went through under the 11 months that Akala was in charges. It was full of killing, thuggery,violence and sporandic shootings. There was no peace of mind, no developmental project, no infrastructural development, nothing. But now, when you say development, eyes could see it.Today, Ajimobi’s government has provided employment for many people and graduates Without peace and security and infrastructural development, no industry can thrive anywhere. We are virtually competing with Lagos State now because Lagos State has no enough land.

There was a time I travelled with my the governor to London, about eight countries indicated interest that they were coming to Oyo State and four are now in the state, setting up factories. By the time Ajimobi was speaking at the conference about vast opportunities in Oyo State, I was so proud that I am from Oyo. He is an international figure who has acquired the experience to transform the state within a very short period and that is exactly what he has done. He was prepared and God has prepared him. I am convinced that he’s a performer and he will defeat anybody in 2015, based on his sterling performance. So, don’t mind what Ladoja, Alao-Akala and others are saying. They are only jealous of his achievements. What they failed to accomplish for four years, Ajimobi has achieved it in two years.

But, some people have said that Alao-Akala is loved by many because of his generosity and openness?

I’m a politician too. As a politician, we have disciples who will go out and sell you as their role model, so that is what is happening to Akala. They don’t talk about performance, they talk about personality. They are selling Alao-Akala’s personality, not what he has achieved. If I’m talking about Ajimobi, l’m talking about what he has done; I’m not talking about Ajimobi as a person. I’m talking about mass transit, infrastructural development, road networks; things that are physically seen, a lot of industries have sprang up due to the clean environment and peace and security. Despite meagre funds available to him, he has done his best.

Are you saying that Alao-Akala did not use state funds judiciously?

I cannot say. I was not a member of the PDP and I didn’t participate in his government. So, I wouldn’t know whether he was giving out money or not.

But, I’m talking about achievement that is physically seen. It’s not because I’m a member of the APC or Ajimobi’s political appointee. Go to troubled spots in the state and see what has taken place there. Go from Mokola to Challenge and see what is happening there; from Challenge to Toll Gate and see what is happening there. From Onireke junction to Jericho, see what is happening there. From Jericho to Iyaganku, see what is happening there. Go to Iseyin and see what is happening there. Enter Ogbomoso and see what is happening there. See what is happening in the transportation system in Oyo State that was so cumbersome.

But now, even if you are blind, you would see it.

Are you saying that Ajimobi will defeat the candidates of PDP and Accord Party?

Ajimobi will defeat any candidate.

Tell me who is qualified to match Ajimobi in the PDP? Is it Alao-Akala or who? Talk of Accord Party, is it Ladoja or who? I can confidently say that they are no match for Ajimobi .

But, the PDP is saying that the Jonathan Administration has done much for Oyo State...

What achievements? For eight years, the achievements they can showcase are corruption, violence, thuggery and destruction of properties . This is still fresh in the people’s memory. May be, they thought we have forgotten all these. The PDP has no genuine plan to win any free and fair election. They want hijack and steal votes. But, we are going to look into it this time around. We will work at ensuring that people exercise their rights and that their votes would be counted and announced. No shortcut to victory.

• Ibikunle

HEALTH

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

45

THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Some doctors and healthworkers have contracted the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) while treating patients. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA and WALE ADEPOJU write on the World Health Organisation (WHO) requirements for them to stay EVD-free.

•Screening for Ebola virus in Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Ebola: Ensuring safety of doctors, others T

HE risk of Ebola transmission is low. One can only be infected through direct physical contact with the body fluids - vomit, faeces, urine, blood, semen, etc - of patients and those who died of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Avoiding contact is a guaranteed way of staying EVD-free.

Those at higher risk of infection are health workers, their family members and others in close contact with anyone infected with EVD or who has died of it. Those who have Ebola require expert care at designated facilities. Ebola can destroy families and communities, but the infection can be controlled through the use of recommended protective measures.

For health personnel, the World Health Organisation (WHO) requires that they put on a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). PPE consists of double gloves; fluid-resistant, impermeable laboratory gown, over the lab coat; either a combination of approved particulate respirators (e.g., N95, or higher filtering face piece respirator, e.g, N100) and eye protection (e.g. goggles/face shields/shroud), or powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs).

Sources said infection control staff, healthcare epidemiologists, administrators, nurses and persons

responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating infection control programmes for healthcare settings across the continuum of care should be kitted from contracting any infection, “because the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defined PPE as specialised clothing or equipment worn by an employee for protection against infectious materials.”

In Nigeria, health workers may not have the ability to prepare for potential exposures. For example, in some places, care may be provided in clinics with limited resources (e.g. no running water, no

climate control, no floors, inadequate medical supplies), and workers could be in those areas for several hours with a number of (suspected, unconfirmed) Ebola infected patients. In addition, certain job responsibilities and tasks, such as attending to dead bodies, may also require a different PPE than what is used when providing care for infected patients in a hospital. But, many private hospitals, clinics and funeral homes have been carrying on their business as usual.

The late Dr. Iyke Enemuo, who died of EVD in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, contracted the disease

when he treated an Ebola patient secretly. Enemuo died of Ebola at the Good Heart Hospital in Port Harcourt on Friday, August 22.

Before his death, he practised at the Sam Steel Clinic on the East West Road in Rumuokoro. He was infected with the disease by an ECOWAS diplomat whom he treated in a hotel. The ECOWAS diplomat was infected after he came in contact with the LiberianAmerican, Patrick Sawyer, the index case. The unidentified diplomat escaped quarantine in Lagos and travelled to Port Harcourt. The diplomat recovered from the disease and returned to Lagos but the

‘For health personnel the World Health Organisation (WHO) requires that they put on a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). PPE consists of double gloves; fluidresistant, impermeable laboratory gown, over the lab coat; either a combination of approved particulate respirators (e.g., N95, or higher filtering face piece respirator, e.g, N100) and eye protection (e.g. goggles/face shields/ shroud), or powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs)’

doctor died. Enemuo’s wife, also a doctor, had shown symptoms of the disease and has been quarantined. The couple’s three month old baby has also been quarantined.

The late Dr Stella Adadevoh was said to have contracted the EVD from the index case, the late Sawyer, when he went wild and splashed his bodily fluids, including his blood on her and other nurses on duty. These health workers were not adequately protected, with the right apparatus despite that the hospital had a high suspicion of EVD in the Liberian-American; and had sent his specimen for laboratory investigation.

With the deaths, and more EVD suspected cases, the Lagos State and the Federal Governments set up the Case Management Centre at the Infectious Disease Control Hospital (IDH), Yaba.

According to the WHO, there are basically two categories of people involved in the treatment of any infectious disease: front-line health workers and secondary-line health workers. Both must, however, observe the protocol for handling suspected cases.

The WHO is explicit on steps to putting on PPE and removing them; safely collect blood samples •Continued on Page 46

46

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

HEALTH

Ebola: Ensuring safety of doctors, others

•Continued from Page 45

from persons suspected to be infected with highly infectious blood-borne pathogens and safely ship human blood samples from suspected Ebola cases.

For clinical management of patients with viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF), a pocket guide for frontline health workers is available. But how many of such personnel have availed themselves of the information?

Laboratory workers involved in EVD screening are yet to record any casualty, perhaps they have observed to the letter WHO recommendations that: personnel entering the laboratory must remove street clothings, including undergarments, and jewelery, and change into dedicated laboratory clothing and shoes, or don full coverage protective clothing (i.e., completely covering all street clothing). Additional protection may be worn over laboratory clothing when infectious materials are directly handled, such as solidfront gowns with tight fitting wrists, gloves, and respiratory protection. Eye protective covering must be used where there is a known or potential risk of exposure to splashes.

Ebola outbreaks can be contained using available interventions like early detection and isolation, contact tracing and monitoring, and adherence to rigorous procedures of infection control.

While some individuals, organisations and governments at different levels are getting the prevention of EVD in Nigeria, right, some are yet to.

Some state governments have gone ahead to screen citizens’ temperatures on the roads; banks are also screening for exceptionally high temperature in customers, before they can come in for business; citizens have gone from eating garcinia kola; drinking salt water to using sanitiser, where water and soap are not easily accessible. The government is paying attention to airports, but land and sea borders are yet to be properly monitored.

A fever of greater than 38.6 degrees Celsius or 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit, and additional symptoms such as severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, or unexplained hemorrhage are basic signs and symptoms of EVD. Given that ignorance is rife in the country’s health sector on EVD, health personnel that have no need for PPE, where they are available, are donning same.

For instance, at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, the fear of contracting Ebola has made most personnel, including security officers, to turn the hospital into a ‘masqueradelike’ premises, by putting on PPEs, full body suits, face masks and elbow size gloves, among others.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Akin Osibogun, said: “It is not every case of fever or vomiting that is Ebola. People should not panic anytime they see such cases. Though we have a high index for suspicions. We had a patient brought in from the International Airport. Every confirmed case will be managed only at the State-designated Case Management Centre in Yaba. We still exercise precautions on all cases, so nobody should panic. The two patients are being investigated and until we have our results we cannot say they are positive.

“Our challenge is that we have PPE and other requirements but they are being used by the wrong personnel. It is only doctors and other healthcare givers who are attending and may have close contact with a patient that should ordinarily use those. We are trying

•Shaba

•Adelaja

‘Some state governments have gone ahead to screen citizens’ temperatures on the roads; banks are also screening for exceptionally high temperature in customers, before they can come in for business; citizens have gone from eating garcinia kola; drinking salt water to using sanitiser, where water and soap are not easily accessible. The government is paying attention to airports, but land and sea borders are yet to be properly monitored’ to now carry out enlightenment programme for our workforce.

Simple hand washing with soap and water, maintaining a reasonable distance of few metres away from people or patients, as the case maybe is all that are basically needed not to contract the Ebola.

We have taken specimen of the patients and we are awaiting the results.

“There is a protocol for handling suspected cases. LUTH staff has over used the PPE. What are required at the A and E are gloves; aprons that are water resistant. It is limiting physical contact where those cases are isolated that must be emphasised. Why would the hospital expose its workforce, like 20 people, to isolated suspected patients?

“In a bid to prevent the disease, even security personnel are putting on PPE. This is gross misuse of those materials. Such create more panic. The hospital has strategic stock of PPE for doctors, nurses and others. But if everybody in the hospital is using it, won’t we run out of stock? I repeat it is only those in close contact with suspected cases that can use those materials. Anyone that has been putting on the PPE in the hospital is creating fear, they are looking like masquerades. What is happening with these two cases is just ultra high suspicion.”

The Nation gathered that the two patients were brought in and quarantined, at the Hold bay, for further observations because they presented with high fever, vomiting and diarrhoea. The patients’ specimens were being taken for screening but they were negative.

Pandemonium broke when one of the patients died, “and blood was coming out from the orifices.

And because the personnel at the Accident and Emergency (A and E) unit did not have basic precautionary universal tools to protect them-

selves, they left the patient unattended to. And there the news spread like wildfire that the patient died of Ebola,” stated a source who claimed to be at the scene of the incident.

To ensure their members are protected against all forms of hazard, especially EVD, the executives of the hospital’s Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) took up the matter.

According to the Vice Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), LUTH branch, Comrade (Mrs) Oluyemisi Adelaja, ‘when doctors called off their strike, work peaked yesterday at the hospital and patients were being admitted and taken care of by the health workers. Some of the staff came up complaining that most of the things, such as protective gadgets they should work with were not available, especially the universal basic precautions kits. We then as responsible representatives went to the concerned departments (Store) that should supply those things.

The routine is that each unit makes a request for what are needed.

Some units have and some don’t.

This is because of the doctors’ strike; we have not been having many patients.

“Then two patients came overnight with suspicious signs of Ebola. They both had history of vomiting, high fever and diarrhoea of over three weeks. One was said to be bleeding from the orifices.

They were admitted in the Spill over. Then one of them died. Because of the apprehension in the country over Ebola, nobody thought it safe to move near the corpse. But the hospital has not established it as Ebola case. Investigation results are yet to be out.

Workers are only agitated because, due to the doctors’ strike we have not been coming in contact with many patients. Now in the face of

•A security man at LUTH wrongly kitted with PPE inorder to prevent ‘contracting’ Ebola

Ebola, nobody thinks it safe to get that close, majority think it safe to put on personnel protective equipment (PPE). But that is not possible.

It is only personnel that will have close contact with many patients that can put on PPE. There is provision for A and E. “We then moved to the Store to verify what the Management told us on Friday, which was to collect certain items, and our members’ allegation that they don’t have those items. The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) discovered that out of 11 items, that are supposed only three were available at the Store. The personnel at the Procurement Department told us that some companies are expected to make some supplies, and they are expecting those deliveries. That approval had been given before now, but that it was done late yesterday.”

The Secretary of the LUTH branch of the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI) of Nigeria, Comrade Johnson Shaba said: “While doctors were on strike, we as health sector stakeholders were monitoring the news on Ebola as it is ravaging neighbouring countries. So we as partners in progress were consulting with the management on how lives, be it those of patients or the hospital’s staff, won’t be lost to EVD. “We mapped out how to manage it should there be cases here in LUTH. Not that we will become panicky and be running helter skelter. The management appreciated our being proactive and promised, along with the Ministry of Health, to get those things ready; that before doctors called off the strike they would have made available those things. The hospital equally created a place called, the Observatory section, where suspected cases of Ebola would be monitored and screened, and if positive would be transferred to the Mainland Hospital, set up by the Lagos State Government.”

Comrade Shaba gave further insight on the Ebola scare in the hospital: “Then, this morning, our members said Ebola has entered LUTH and that they were no longer safe because there is nothing to protect them. We told them that the patient had not been confirmed as Ebola case. And that we should not heat up the hospital unnecessarily.

Based on our members concern, we moved into action. It was found out that some units, such as the Staff Clinic; Medicine had been equipped. Only few units are remaining.

“Based on circular, we moved to find out why and the Procurement Personnel explained the delay in logistics. And that once deliveries

are made, such will be distributed according to the requests. We are happy to discover that reputable pharmaceutical companies would supply those things and not that contract was awarded to some people, who may end up bringing in inferior things, which will jeopardise our health.”

Comrade Shaba appealed to the Management that: “Water is important and highly crucial now and everything must be done to ensure its constant flow as against what is happening now. Likewise, constant supply of soap, sanitisers and PPE, at no time should there be break in supply as that could lead to loss of life. The agitation of members that had contact with those two spills over patients is understandable.

We have enlightened them and should they be negative or positive, the results would not be hidden from them. Should they (the patients) be positive, they will be handled by the procedure as laid down by the Federal Government and being implemented but the Lagos State Government. What normally kills is not the disease or the causative agent but the fear. We appeal to all stakeholders not to panic.”

According to a Pharmacist, Remi Adeseun, there are standard requirements for containing or managing EVD cases. Such include: “Elbow length gloves; Level four overalls with hood, knee booths, goggles, medical masks, anti-viral sanitisers, rubber aprons, respirators and bags of hair-nets for female health workers. For the frontline health workers, the items include elbow length gloves, medical masks, and anti-viral sanitisers, level three overalls with hood; rubber aprons and thermal scanners.”

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in hospital settings, Ebola virus can be killed by any brand of bleach or disinfectants.

It stated: “Ebola virus is susceptible to three per cent acetic acid, one percent glutaraldehyde, alcohol-based products, and dilutions (1:10-1:100 for 10 minutes) of 5.25 per cent household bleach (sodium hypochlorite), and calcium hypochlorite (bleach powder). The WHO recommendations for cleaning up spills of blood or body fluids suggest flooding the area with 1:10 dilutions of 5.25 per cent household bleach for 10 minutes for surfaces that can tolerate stronger bleach solutions (e.g., cement, metal). For surfaces that may corrode or discolour, they recommend careful cleaning to remove visible stains followed by contact with a 1:100 dilution of 5.25 percent household bleach for more than 10 minutes.”

According to Infection Control Officer, LUTH, Dr (Mrs) Oyin Oduyebo: “To get this WHO recommendation right at the household level, get a bottle of household bleach (sodium hypochlorite) (any brand is ok). The starting concentration is 3.5 per cent of hypochlorite or sodium hypochlorite (i.e one bottle of the product). Pour the whole content into a cup. One cup of bleach to six cups of water will give 0.5 per cent. From this take another one cup and add to nine cups of water, so you end up with 0.05 per cent for hand washing. If it is two per cent concentrated it will burn the hands.”

Prof Osibogun said Nigerians should be wary of the kind of sanitisers they buy: “Any good one should contain 70 per cent of alcohol. Use 70 per cent alcohol-based sanitiser where there is no water and soap and keep a safe distance of one metre from when interacting with people. The screenings being done by banks and others is a phase, borne out of panic. It will pass. One must do constant hand washing with soap and water.”

47

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

* The Environment * Mortgage * Apartments * Security * Homes * Real Estate Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com 08062722507

property@thenationonlineng.net muyiwalucas2002@yahoo.com

Stakeholders in the real estate business are worried over the non-review of the Land Use Act. They say it constitutes a hinderance to estate financing in the country. MUYIWA LUCAS reports.

•An estate in Ajah, Lagos.

‘Land Use Act blocking access to finance’

D

ESPITE efforts by the government, through its mortgage institutions, to encourage or improve on housing finance have not yielded any dividend.

Experts say the obnoxious Land Use Act has remained its albatross in achieving this. They argue that unless there is a review of the Act, the problem of housing finance would remain.

Chief Executive Officer, 3Invest, a firm of real estate consultants, Mrs. Ruth Obih said as a developing nation, there is need for a review of the Land Use Act. She said the Act has done a lot of damage to the housing finance sector as it has dicouraged investment into the real estate sector.

She said: “A major reason our housing finance cannot kick-start is because of the foreclosure law in the Land Use Act. There is a foreclosure law, and what does it say?

First of all, the Land Use Act does not allow you to own a property until you transfer title. That means if you haven’t transferred or perfected title, you don’t own that property.”

She decried red-tapism or bureaucracy, which is enshrined in the process of perfecting land title document, a process she said involves over 56 procedures, taking about two years to perfect. Within this period, she argues, a lender, usually a financial institution, cannot foreclose on such property in the event of a default in payment by the borrower because both parties cannot lay claim to the ownership of the land since the title document may not have been perfected with government.

“That is the reason we don’t have a housing finance sector in Nigeria. The banks that have actually done it in the past have been banned, so see them trying to foreclose illegal forecloses because legally they don’t own the property as a result of non-perfection of the property title in anyone’s name. That is one problem,” Obih said.

Legal issues, she disclosed, has al-

ways been a global phenomenon in real estate business. For instance, she explained that after the 99 years lease period on land, the land refers back to the government, for which renewal of ownership is always difficult. Besides, she noted that the Land Use Act, promulgated in 1978, was to allow the government access to land for developmental purposes. This was because in the past, land owners proved to be a hinderance to government’s developmental plans as they constituted bottlenecks; therefore, the creation of the Act which vested land ownership in government in order to develop the country and create infrastructure.

She therefore urged lawmakers

to transform the Land Use Act, reform the foreclosure law, and help to make the people understand how they can key into the process for better result as it obtains in modern day. This, she believes, would stimulate a robust real estate industry from the legal perspective in Nigeria.

Obih however said all hopes for a better housing finance is not lost.

She hinged this hope on the establishment of the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC).

According to her, the NMRC, as a government vehicle, will go into buying up mortgages. Therefore, she further said if a financial house funds a mortgage, the NMRC will reimburse the financier, so that

more money will be in the pool.

Still, for the NMRC to be a robust refinancing company, there is the need to reform the Land Use Act. Mr. Ola Aluko, of the Department of Urban & Regional Planning, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Lagos, in his research on “The Effect of Land Use Act on Sustainable Housing Provision in Nigeria: The Lagos State Experience”, suaid land is the main component of housing problem in urban areas.

The problems surrounding availability of land in urban areas, he identified to include the various policies and regulations that were formulated by governments at all levels to tackle the

problems of housing; the fees payable and the procedure of obtaining Certificate of Occupancy and the Governor’s consent is about 15 per cent and in some areas, it is up to 45 per cent of the cost of the land purchased.

Aluko said: “This creates a problem in housing delivery especially if these documents are required to secure financial assistance from banks.

“It also leaves room for fraud and compromise. The long time it takes to obtain consent (from six months to eternity) has made reliance on properties as collateral security for loans quite unattractive, as the process of perfecting a legal mortgage is cumbersome.”

SON: Only 5% of blocks moulded in Nigeria meets specification

T

HE Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Dr. Joseph Odumodu has said only five per cent of blocks sold in Nigeria are moulded to specifications of the standard.

He added that this was one of the reasons for the building collapse in the country.

The director-general spoke yesterday in Abuja during a national stakeholders’ forum on blocks and allied products with “Safeguarding lives through compliance with standards” as its theme.

The event also witnessed the kicking off of mandatory certification of sandcrete blocks and unveiling of new cement bags labelling in the country.

He said: “We did a national survey on the quality of concrete blocks in Nigeria, especially the low bearing ones and found out that only five per cent of the blocks are moulded to specifications of standard of the NIS587:2007. That actually necessitated what we are doing here today, because we believe that it is important that anything that is remotely or directly contributing to building collapse in Nigeria should be addressed.

Franca Ochigbo and Halima Farouk, Abuja

“What we are doing today is part of the specification process and part of it is to collaborate with the blocks and concrete moulders’ association, building collapse professional guild and other stakeholders that are involved in concrete in Nigeria. We are also partnering with them on selfregulatory obligation to meet above 20 per cent. SON cannot be everywhere policing them all about but if we have association that regulates itself and complies with standards, then we are on our way to 100 per cent achievement.

“For me, if the statistics of five per cent is improved to 20 or 30 per cent within a year, I will beat my chest and say we are making some progress. The new cement bags unveiled by the minister have search numbers for traceability and expiry dates. SON is also concerned about storage, assuring that they are also working the expiry date, along with the kilogramme, because if a bag of cement is 50kg and a manufacturer puts 45 kg, that will compromise the strength contained in such cement and that is why we are particular about everything that has to do with

standard, regarding weight, labeling, search number, manufacturing and expiry dates on the bags.”

According to him, all these must be clearly stated on the new cement bags and some of the manufacturers have been complying, adding that in the next few weeks, the new cement will be all over the country.

He continued: “The bags also carry different colours. If it is yellow, it is 32.5 and if it is for building and blue 42.5 for serious construction like bridges, flyovers and the rest. We are going to be working with the blocks and concrete moulders as well as building collapse control guild in the states.

“We will give them the list of approved blocks for building and construction to assist them whenever they are approved in their various states and that is part of ways to eliminate building collapse in the country, he stressed.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to continue to provide the needed support and encouragement to its agencies including the SON to ensure effective implementation of their man-

dates. He said: “Quality is a right, demand for your rights.”

He implored professionals in the building and construction sector, including artisans and sandcrete block moulders to ensure the use of only certified materials and engage only those with requisite knowledge and skills to apply the approved specifications in the standard.

He said: “One key focus of standardisation all over the world is continually improvement aimed at customer satisfaction and this is only attainable through the diligent implementation of specifications for products and services as prescribed in the relevant approved standards.

“Standards in themselves are dynamic in that they undergo reviews as necessary towards ensuring continual improvement in products quality.”

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who was represented by one of his aides, Ferdinand Agwu, said President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda was to boost the economy, reposition key sectors, empower the youth and create jobs, improve infrastructural development and the quality of lives of all citizens.

48

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

• From left: An official of 3Invest, Mr. Temitope Longe; Managing Partner, Sefton Fross, Mrs Yemi Anyanechi; Director, Bankole; Chief Executive, 3Invest, Ruth Obih; Divisional Head, Retail Financial Services, Diamond Bank, Mrs Aishah Ahmad; MD, MCO Real Estate, Mr. Munachi Okoye; Head, Corporate Communication, CMB Building Maintenance & Investment Co. Ltd, Mrs. Ajoke Ogunlaja, during a briefing on its forthcoming exhibition in Lagos.

‘EIA report will ensure sustainable development’

T

HE Federal Government has received a reviewed report on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Act No. 86 of 1992 CAP E12 LFN 2010.

The reviewed Act was presented to the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, in Abuja, by the Ministerial Review Committee on the Act, led by Dr. Oluwole Ameyan.

The Act, it is believed, would ensure adequate regulation of programmes and policies that affect the environment.

According to Dr. Ameyan, the reviewed Act would address a lot of environmental irregularities that were not taken care of in the old Act. He explained that in line with international best practices, his committee introduced a section on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to cover areas, such as polices, plans and programmes which have effects on the environ-

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja.

ment.

“The SEA implies that some programmes and policies of government will now be subject to EIA. So, it is no longer enough to just have a programme or policy, especially if such a policy is likely going to have a long term environmental effect. Once this is established, such policy, programme, or activity must be subjected to the EIA,” he explained, adding that in many countries, the implementation of the EIA is streamlined to make progress and it is in that line that the committee has based its suggestions.

Other areas addressed by the reviewed Act include broader public participation, funding of the EIA process and the need to put in place an efficient machinery for the implementation of the Act. Although Ameyan noted that the reviewed Act would take care of

emerging issues in the telecoms industry and would avoid ambiguity during implementation, he suggested that the reviewed EIA Act be subjected to scrutiny by stakeholders to incorporate input from ministries, departments and agencies, as well as states, private sector operators, and non-governmental organisations.

He said the review of the EIA Act represents putting in place a law to back the Act. “This is the beginning of that process. After the stakeholders’ workshop, the next thing is that the old EIA Act will be amended in line with the suggestions and will be sent to the National Assembly,” Ameyan explained.

Mallam, while receiving the reviewed EIA Act, expressed optimism that it would ensure sustainable development across the country. She noted that in the past, most development projects have caused negative impact on the environment.

gages compared with borrower incomes suggests that households are gradually becoming more vulnerable to income and interest rate shocks. Macro prudential policies should be the first line of defence against financial risks from the housing market.”

The IMF noted that raising mortgage lenders’ capital requirements would build additional buffers against increased exposures to the housing sector. The IMF added that the government should consider modifying or even pulling the plug on its flagship mortgage guarantee scheme - known as Help to Buy - if house prices showed signs of overheating.

Recent figures from the Trea-

sury showed 7,000 homes were bought through the Help to Buy scheme between its launch in October 2013 and March this year. That amounted to just over £1bn of mortgages since the scheme’s launch, involving just £153m of government guarantees.

Howard Archer, chief UK and European economist at IHS Global Insight, has previously warned of the risk of a house price bubble developing across the UK is “very real”.

IMF Managing D, Christine Lagarde, called on financial regulators to consider imposing limits on the number of low-deposit mortgages a bank or building society can advance to borrowers.

IMF warns UK over housing bubble risk

T

HE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned the United Kingdom government that accelerating house prices and low productivity pose the greatest threat to the country’s economic recovery. It said rising property values could leave households more vulnerable to income and interest rate shocks, and called on the Bank of England to enact policy measures “early and gradually” to avoid a housing bubble.

The IMF report said: “House price inflation is particularly high in London, and is becoming more widespread. So far, there are few of the typical signs of a credit-led bubble. Nonetheless, a steady increase in the size of new mort-

M

Therefore, she explained, in realisation of the fact that natural resources are limited, the United Nations adopted Agenda 21 during the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in 1992 so that the EIA when implemented would ensure sustainable development.

It would be recalled that prior to the enactment of the EIA Act in Nigeria, project appraisals were limited predominantly to feasibility studies and economic cost benefit analysis, while most of the appraisals did not take environmental costs, public opinion, social and environmental impacts of development projects into consideration.

•Mallam

Ogun votes N13m for dredging

T

O combat ecological challenges, the Ogun State government is set to dredge 14 waterways in three senatorial districts.

The project, estimated at N13 million, is part of the government’s efforts to prevent flooding.

The Commissioner for Environment, Ayo Olubori, made this known at a dredging site at the Olosun River in Oja-Odan in Yewa South Local Government Area.

The Commissioner was represented by the Director, Flood and Erosion, Ministry of Environment, Olatunji Adenuga.

Other rivers for dredging include Oja-Odan Olosun Stream course in Yewa North; Lukosi Streem course in Abeokuta; Erilope Stream course, in Ago-Iwoye. The exercise would be concluded in seven months.

“The dredging is part of the promise made by the governor to the citizens to ensure that no lives or properties are lost to flood, because as a responsible and respon-

By Muyiwa Lucas

sive government, we don’t need to wait till disaster like flood happens before we take the necessary preventive measures,”Olubori said.

The Commissioner appealed to residents to desist from dumping refuse in waterways and canals, saying that wastes were the blocks waterways.

Responding, the Chairman, Community Development Association (CDA), Oja-Odan, Alhaji Dara Adekunle, expressed appreciation for the gesture of the state government in the dredging of the Olosun River. He noted that before the exercise, flood was a major challenge the community had to contend with during rainy seasons.

Other waterways that have been dredged since the commencement of the exercise include Gbogidi waterway in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government, swampy area of Adiyewo coast waterway and Odon River in Sagamu Local Government.

Wealthy Gulf Arabs buying up huge swathes of London

IDDLE Eastern families have spent £4.4 billion since 2006 and control nine of central London’s largest development sites. The Abu Dhabi Royal family, the Al Nahyans, are now the largest landowner in Mayfair after the Duke of Westminster.

Estate agent Peter Wetherell said: “Every time there has been upheaval it has generated a new wave of investors.”

Wealthy families from the Middle

East are buying up London’s luxury homes in the wake of the area’s instability and now make up a tenth of all buyers in the exclusive Mayfair area. In recent years, Middle Eastern governments and sovereign funds have ploughed their vast resources into the capital, buying development sites and high-value buildings, according to research by a Mayfair property firm. They have spent £4.4 billion since 2006 and now control nine of central London’s largest de-

velopment sites, equating to 28,000 new homes.

The super-rich have also bought prime residential properties in Knightsbridge, Mayfair, Kensington, Belgravia and Regent’s Park - so much so that half of all buyers of Mayfair property worth more than £10million are from the Gulf. Their portfolio includes the £400million Berkeley Square Estate, purchased in 2001, which consists of the square and surrounding buildings.

Abu Dhabi is also funding the £200 million conversion of the former U.S. Naval Headquarters in Grosvenor Square which will be redeveloped into luxury apartments and penthouses. The State of Qatar is another massive investor in Mayfair with the Al-Thani family buying a £200 million mansion on Park Lane in 2006.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Qatar owns the £180 million Lombard House mansion on

Curzon Street whilst state backed funds bought the £500 million American Embassy which is to be converted into a luxury hotel.

Peter Wetherell, chief executive of Wetherell, said: ‘Every time there has been economic or political upheaval in the Middle East, it has generated a new wave of Middle East purchasers and investors into Mayfair and the wider West End. -Culled from MailOnline

49

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS ENERGY

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

Poor gas supply stalls 224 substations’ activation

G

AS supply shortage is stalling the activation of 224 distribution substation built by the Federal Government to boost electricity supply, it was learnt.

The Director-General, National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), Reuben Okeke, said gas supply from the Nigerian Gas Company, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), is inadequate.

Okeke said the 224 substations could not operate optimally due to gas shortage. He said: “Though the stations are ready to help

By Akinola Ajibade

move the country from its current 4,500 megawatts (MW) supply level to 20,000MW in the next few years. However, it has been impossible to achieve this feat, due to gas shortage. Shortage of gas has stalled the various projects initiated by the government to wheel electricity into the national grid.”

Many of the power generating plants built under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), he said, have not come on stream because of gas shortage. “Aside

the fact that the country is targeting 5,000MW from the NIPP, 6,000MW is expected from the privatised successor companies unbundled from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). However, gas is impeeding the country’s ability to generate electricity,” he said.

Okeke explained that there is no way the country’s energy needs can be achieved without being complemented through renewable sources of power supply.

Nigeria, he said, requires substantial electricity for sustenance, stressing that thermal and hydro power plants remain the

major sources of the country’s power supply.

“Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, coal and biomass would generate small amount of electricity. The energy from these sources is small and could not facilitate economic growth. Renewable energy should be for the rural areas and should not be relied upon to speed up economic process,” he said.

Okeke said the decision of developed countries such as Germany and Canada to assist Nigeria develop its renewable energy system was purely selfish.

He explained that such countries have developed renewable energy sources to an enviable height and are looking for markets where they would dump their equipment.

According to him, Nigeria is one of the markets those countries hope to get buyers for their renewable energy products.

The NAPTIN’s boss said Israel generates 100 per cent energy from coal, while South Africa

meets part of its energy needs through coal. “While the renewable energy is good and capable of galvanising activities in communities across the country, it should not be seen as complementing the hydro and solar sources of generating electricity in Nigeria,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Ministries of Power and Petroleum Resources are collaborating to improve gas supply as part of ongoing efforts to boost power generation. The development, however, is yet to impact positively on the national grid, as irregular power supply continues.

The Minister of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo, had reiterated government’s determination to ensure stable power supply before President Goodluck Jonathan completes his term next year.

The current synergy between both minstries on gas supply, he said, would make Nigerians enjoy steady and sustainable power supply.

‘Cost-reflective tariff only possible with stable power’

T

•From left: Executive Director, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Esther Adeniyi; Executive Director, First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company (Nigeria) Limited, Dr. Emmanuel Enu; NAPE President, Adedoja Ojelabi; Chief Petroleum Engineer/Speaker, First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company (Nigeria), Dr. Saka Matemilola: and Chairman/Managing Director, Prime Exploration & Production Limited, Chief Chamberlain Oyibo at NAPE's meeting in Lagos.

‘PIB will address gas supply constraints’ N industry operator has called for the partial passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to open up the petroleum industry, especially the gas sector, to reinforce activities that depend on gas for fuel.

The Senior Business Development Manager, Oando Gas and Power, Mr. Oga Adejo-Ogiri, who spoke on the gas sector requirements, said the undue delay of the bill’s passage has stalled activities in the oil and gas industry and overall economic development.

He said if passing the entire PIB document is difficult, the National Assembly could approve some parts of it that would help move the industry forward.

The PIB, he said, would adequately address issues concerning gas development, noting that the country does not have the legal framework for gas sector operation, which makes it difficult for operators and investors to invest in the sector.

Adejo-Ogiri said partial approval of the PIB would strengthen institutional and regulatory frameworks to guide operations in the sector.

He noted that policy inconsistency militates against the actualisation of government’s goals on utilisation and monetisation of the huge gas resources in Nigeria as well as the objectives of the Gas Master Plan

A

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

(GMP), targeted at driving industrialisation and economic development.

He explained that the lack of legal framework accounts for violation of some agreements entered with the government for the development of the gas sector through private sector participation. He said the government gave franchise to some firms to develop and control their areas within a given period.

According to him, the franchises were in both the western and eastern areas of the Niger Delta and some parts of the country. Each firm has exclusive right to develop gas supply infrastructure in its area within a given period without government’s intrusion.

But the government, he said, has brought in independent firms to build infrastructure in the franchise areas without consulting the franchisees as the agreement stipulated.

He noted that because there is no commission or body in charge of the sector, it is difficult to complain to anyone. He therefore, advised the Federal government to set up a body, like in the power sector, to drive the gas industry development and implementation of the GMP. Such a body, he said, would

take responsibility for the coordination and implementation of the master plan and enable operators to have a specific entity to channel their concerns. “As it is, the GMP has no ownership, nobody takes responsibility for anything,” he added.

HERE cannot be a cost-reflective tariff until a significant improvement in power supply is attained, the Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprise(BPE), Benjamin Dikki, has said.

The new power investors are seeking for a hike in tariffs to improve their earnings and compensate for the cost of doing business. However, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) said it would not be right to increase tariffs in the face of poor electricity supply.

Dikki said a lot still needed to be done to improve power, given his assessment of the operations of the power companies.

The firms, he said, are trying to fix infrastructural problems to improve electricity supply, adding that it would take some time to achieve that goal.

He said as much as BPE and NERC would be willing to look into the possibility of having a cost-effective tariff in the industry, the present power supply situation in the country may not make it possible for now.

According to him, NERC came up with Multi-Year-Tariff-Order

By Akinola Ajibade

(MYTO), after considering the variables involved in the production and distribution of power.

He said: “For there to be increased tariffs, NERC has to look at the variables again, analyse them and see whether they align with the prevailing situation in the industry. MYTO is scientifically determined. This implies that the tariffs need to be painstakingly handled to achieve the desired results.

“Once there is an improvement in power supply, consumers would not hesitate to pay the tariffs issued by NERC. Conversely, consumers would fault any attempt to increase tariffs as long as they having poor power supply.”

He explained that gas has been a problem in the sector, adding that attempts to proffer solution would require galvanising activities of the operators.

“Gas is one of the variables in the industry. If all the variables are well taken care of, there would be an improvement in power generation, distribution and transmission. Once this happens, businesses would improve,” he said.

SAPETRO redevelops Seme field

S

OUTH Atlantic Petroleum (SAPETRO), an indigenous independent exploration and production (E&P) company, has reached the depth of the first of the three development wells it planned to drain in the Seme field, block 1, off Benin Republic.

According to this month’s Africa Oil + Gas Report, the well was being prepared for wireline operations. The well, CS-1, TD’d at 1,996metres measured depth, was drilled with the rig named Paragon L783 (formerly Noble Tommy Craighead).

It said: “SAPETRO, a Nigerian independent, is redeveloping the only field ever produced in this poor West African country. Seme was abandoned in 1997. The redevelopment plan sees peak production at around 6,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) after the field returns on line. The three wells would be drilled back to back from the same platform.

“CS-1 is to drain the central accumulation of the field. Two more wells would still be drilled to drain the

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

western and the eastern accumulations. The company drilled Perle C1, an exploratory well last year, but that location is not in Seme field; it is in the far eastern side of Block -1.

According to the report, “the Seme field was shut-in after 14 years of production by a succession of companies including Saga Petroleum, Pan Ocean and Ashland. It produced over 21 million barrels and was delivering, over several times, more water than it was producing oil at the time of field dismantlement.

It said: “The field produced 7,627 bopd at its peak in 1984. At the lowest in 1997, just before abandonment, it was delivering only 1,207 bopd.

SAPETRO took over the block in 2004, acquired three dimensional seismic data and conducted extensive interpretation, reservoir characterisation and modeling.”

It continued: “The studies, it is hoped, would enable the company

optimise production and carry out more efficient reservoir management practices than previous operators. The new data revealed two more culminations (West and Central), apart from the lone (Eastern) culmination, which the previous operator produced from, meaning that there’s more bypassed oil than the initial data suggested.

“A total of 9,000 barrels of liquids per day is expected to be produced at peak, of which 3,000 barrels of liquids per day will be water and 6,000 per day is forecasted to be oil.”

SAPETRO, the report said, expected that the field could still be drained optimally for another 16 years.

The oil exploration and producing company, owned by General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), holds a 15 per cent stake, about 24 per cent, while Brazil’s Petrobras has 16 per cent and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has 45 per cent. The oil block is located in oil mining lease (OML) 246.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

50

ENERGY CAMAC Energy awards Flour Mills to generate 12.5mw contracts for seismic surveys with GE’s diesel engine C

T

HE GENERAL Electric (GE)’s distributed power business arm has said the United Kingdom (UK)-based power provider, Clarke Energy, is supplying its new diesel engines to Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc for the generation of 12.5 megawatts, enough for 33,000 homes.

The deal will solve the energy needs of the company, reduce pressure on supply from the national grid and encourage growth in the sector.

This deal, according to the company, was the first sale of GE’s new 616 diesel engine globally. The engine delivers higher fuel efficiency and extended service intervals than many other engines. Clarke Energy said this at the East African Power Industry Convention in Nairobi, Kenya.

“As Nigeria continues to grow its industrial might in the global economy, we have opted to invest in GE’s new 616 diesel engines to deliver higher fuel efficiency at our sites in Lagos and Kano. We have been working with Clarke Energy since 2005, and we are confident in its ability to support us in the engineering installation and maintenance of the units,” said Flour Mills’ Chief Executive Officer, Paul Gbededo, The company’s project will include five of GE’s 616 units, delivering up to 12.5 megawatts (MW) of power. Two of the units will be used at the Kano facility in northern Nigeria, where

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

natural gas access is limited and where older, less-efficient diesel units have been used in order to maintain power for production. The new GE engines will deliver 5 MW of baseload electrical power, with an expected capital payback in less than 12 months on diesel fuel cost savings alone.

The other three GE engines will be at Flour Mills’ facility in Apapa, where Clarke Energy opened its first subSaharan Africa site about a decade ago.

This site features 11 GE’s J620 gas engines, and the diesel units will provide back-up capacity during the maintenance of its equipment or in the event of supply failure.

“The sale of the engines to our valued long-term customer Flour Mills of Nigeria demonstrates the significant benefits of reduced fuel consumption and extended maintenance intervals from GE’s new 616 diesel platform,” said Alan Fletcher, main board director, Clarke Energy.

Clarke Energy, he said, has had a long history in sub-Saharan Africa. Its first office was opened in 2005 in Apapa, Lagos, and over 250 MW of gas-fueled power plants have since been installed to meet expansion of Nigeria’s domestic gas supplies. Since inception, Clarke Energy’s Nigerian operations have expanded and moved to Ikeja GRA, opening a new branch office in Port Harcourt in 2012.

GE’s 616 diesel engine is based upon the highly successful Jenbacher Type 6 reciprocating engine and GE Transportation’s P616 locomotive diesel engine. The engine’s design is characterised by its world-class efficiency and extended maintenance intervals, which result in lower fuel consumption and higher levels of availability.

“Our new 616 diesel engine is the first high-speed model for power generation, allowing us to serve customers with a wider reciprocating engine portfolio. We are honoured by the trust Flour Mills of Nigeria has extended to Clarke Energy and GE as collaborators in providing power generation for their growth. Flour Mills will benefit from the 616, which couples medium-speed engine fuel economy with the lower costs of high-speed engines and helps customers improve their total life cycle costs,” said Cory Nelson, general manager, diesel engines of GE’s Distributed Power business.

GE Power & Water’s Distributed Power business is a leading provider of power equipment, engines and services, focused on power generation at or near the point of use. Distributed Power’s product portfolio includes GE’s aeroderivative gas turbines and reciprocating engines, which generate 100 kilowatts to 100 MW of power for numerous industries globally.

AMAC Energy Inc, has said that its wholly owned subsidiary, CAMAC Energy Kenya Limited, has awarded seismic contracts for the acquisition of 2D seismic surveys on Block L1B onshore Kenya, and Block L16 partly onshore and partly offshore Kenya. The contract awards are each subject to negotiation and signing of a definitive agreement for the provision of seismic services.

The company said that BGP Kenya Limited has been engaged to conduct a 2D seismic survey covering 170,000 acres (700 square kilometres) within Block L1B onshore Kenya while Polaris Seismic International Limited has been engaged to conduct a 2D seismic survey covering 125,000 acres (506 square kilometres) within Block L16 partly onshore and partly offshore Kenya.

“The objectives of the seismic surveys are to identify the geologic prospect elements that could lead to a commercial hydrocarbon discovery and meet the obligations of the work programme. There are five broad play types in the area that may extend onto CAMAC Energy’s acreage: the pre-rift Permian, Lower Jurassic Karoo equivalent sequences in tilted fault blocks, Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous synrift sediments in drape and roll-over anticlines, Upper Cretaceous fans, and the post-rift tertiary sequences that include stratigraphic plays and carbonate build-up/reef targets,” the company said.

Also CAMAC Energy acquired 2D seismic covering offshore Blocks L27 and L28 in March.

WorldStage confab holds Sept. 25

W

ITH the government still battling to address the problem of inadequate electricity supply postprivatisation, this year’s WorldStage National Electricity Power Conference, will gather experts to find solution to the problem.

The conference, which holds at the Lagoon Restaurant, Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, on September 25 and 26, will bring the policy makers and the private sector together to review the new development in electricity power sector. It will also address new challenges, deliberate on critical issues and chart the way forward for the realisation of the private sector privatisation objectives.

The forum will attract participants from the Presidency, Ministries of Power and Finance, Nigeria

Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the National Assembly, Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), Power Generation Companies (GENCOs), Distribution Companies (DISCOs), National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP), Independent Power Projects (IPPs), oil and gas firms, banks and insurance firms, local and foreign Investors, the media and other relevant stakeholders.

The President/CEO, World Stage Limited, Mr. Segun Adeleye, said: “The challenges that surfaced with the new dispensation are numerous, but not unsurmountable.” He listed them to include the rising activities of vandals, who burst gas pipelines and other power transmission equipment; power theft and bypassing of meters; gas supply limitation; drop in revenue collection, among others.

Seplat supports Ebola eradication

S

EPLAT Petroleum Development Company Plc on behalf of the NPDC/Seplat Joint Venture has joined other Nigerian corporate bodies in donating to the cause of eradicating the Ebola virus disease (EVD). It donated N30 million to First Consultants Medical Centre, Lagos and N20 million to the Lagos Isolation Centre.

According to the company, it recognised the great sacrifices the unfortunate outbreak has brought upon First Consultants Medical From left: General Manager, External Affairs & Communications, Seplat, Dr Chioma Nwachuku; General Manager, Health, Safety, Security, Environment & Community Relations, Seplat, Bryte Oghor; Director, Nursing Services, First Consultants Medical Centre, Lagos, Mrs. Florence Emeribe; Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Benjamin Ohiaeri; and the Director of Administration, Simon Nnamdi during the company’s presentation of N30 million cheque to the hospital for Ebola Virus Disease.

‘Rise in oil production ’ll increase govt’s revenue’

T

HE rise in crude oil production from 1.87 million barrels per day, in March to 1.98 million barrels per day last July should be sustained and increased to improve government’s earnings, stakeholders have said.

Industry stakeholders including the President, International Association of Energy Economics (IAEC), Nigerian Chapter, Prof. Adeola Akinnisiju, and the President, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association of Nigeria(LPGAN), Dapo Adesina, spoke on the issue.

They said the country has braced all odds to increase its crude oil production, the highest since March, noting that oil theft, spills, pipeline vandalism and other activities are slowing the industry’s growth.

Akinnisiju said Nigeria would achieve its 2.5 million barrels per day target once it is able to sustain the trend. He said the government’s

By Akinola Ajibade

earnings and the economy would improve as crude production increases.

Government’s ability to curb criminal activities in the Niger Delta, he said, means more production and revenue for the government.

He said the industry’s crisis has resulted in an increase in cost of production, reduction of revenues and abandonment of projects.

He said: “I foresee a revamp of government’s revenue, resumption of activities in projects that were abandoned due to funds, and remarkable improvement in the economy if the crude oil production continues to rise. However, government must help in stopping activities that have marred oil exploration and production to achieve this goal.”

Adesina said optimising indigenous cap abilities in areas such as

drilling and floating production, storage and offloading (FSPO) fabrication and assembly must be taken into consideration if Nigeria wants to increase its crude oil production.

“From the beginning to the end, it takes almost five years to discover oil sites, drill and carry out exploration activities. We need to start discovering more oil wells and develop them for growth. Even, if our production is three or four million barrels per day, if we do not have plans to expand our production, the figures would dwindle with time,” he added.

He noted that the divestment in some oil blocks by the International Oil Companies (IOCs) has given indigenous operators the opportunity to explore areas that were hitherto the preserve of foreignowned companies. ‘’This is the time for local operators to double their efforts and improve crude oil production,” he added.

Centre – Lagos, the hospital where the EVD was first handled in Nigeria. “Due largely to the professionalism they displayed in handling this difficult case, the nation has managed to keep the spread of the disease reasonably under control, howbeit, at great cost in human and material assets to the hospital,” Seplat said.

It appreciated the prompt setting up of Isolation Centre and the pivotal role being played in curtailing the spread of the disease.

Africa set for oil, gas boom

A

FRICA’S energy industry will boom in the future, if Mozambique and Tanzania can attract needed investment to become new frontiers, a report has said.

Six of the top 10 global discoveries last year were made in Africa, with more than 500 companies exploring the continent, a study by PriceWaterhouseCoopers has said.

According to AFP report, large gas finds in Mozambique and Tanzania would make the world “take note of East Africa as an emerging player in the global industry,” said the report’s advisory leader, Chris Bredenhann.

The boom has brought investment opportunities, despite the lingering challenges of corruption, lack of infrastructure and regulation. Transactions worth some $1 billion (760 million euros) occurred every 17 days in Africa’s oil and sector last year, the report said.

Still, the continent faces fierce competition for vital investment from other parts of the world, the PWC report cautioned.

“A huge obstacle to growth in

Tanzania and Mozambique is the cost of the infrastructure required, which neither country can afford without help from foreign investors,” it said.

Nearly nine million barrels of crude were produced everyday last year, more than 80 percent of which came from established players such as Nigeria, Libya, Algeria, Egypt and Angola.

In gas that is even more concentrated, with nine tenths of annual natural gas production of 6.5 trillion cubic feet coming from Nigeria, Libya, Algeria and Egypt.

Still, Mozambique could become a major player in the Asian market on a par with Australia, the United States and Papua New Guinea when it starts exporting gas, expected in 2020, the report said.

Already majors such as Eni, Chevron and BP have invested in its gas fields, some of the largest discovered in the past decade.

Demand for oil in Africa was also expected to “rise significantly” over the next 20 years, driven by population growth, urbanization and the emergence of a middle class, the report said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

51

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

52

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

With ekpoita :funtreatsvilla@yahoo.com / 08077706130

DOWN

ACROSS

1. Misfortune (4)

1. Canoe (4) 4. Price (4)

2. Keen (4)

7. Container (4)

3. Until (3)

8. Father (2)

4. Gonorrhea (4)

9. Tack (4)

5. Range (4)

11. Not Near (4)

6. Prostititute (4)

13. Final (3)

10. Insect (3)

14. Wasted (5)

12. Gave food (3)

15. Indicating location (2)

14. Pig’s pen (3)

17. Grain (3)

15. Skill (3)

19. Unit (2)

16. Verruca (4)

21. Aid in crime (4)

18. Asia (4)

24. Pain (4)

19. Exclamation (2)

26. Eggs (3)

20. Tide (4)

27. As it is (2)

22. Boyfriend (3)

28. Narrated (4)

23 Fish (3)

29. Net (4)

25. Expression of surprise (3)

WORD PUZZLE Find alternative words to the clues below and fill them in their spaces in the grid.When you are done another word for ‘APPEALING’ would be spelt. The first one has been solved to spur you on.

poetry

ShOwBiTz

Rosie O’Donnell Marries Michelle Rounds

A B A T E

ROMANCE Romance came at morning love story without end we stole a kiss by the river the haven of love way down in the glen soprano voices came hither ecstasy lingered then with the bliss of romance.

Only a shy young maiden was I how could my heart ever know that love was steadily seeping into the innocence of my soul?

A week after announcing that she had suffered a frightening heart attack, the TV host has revealed that she tied the knot with fianceé Michelle Rounds on June 9, her rep confirms to E! News. “Rosie and Michelle got married in a private ceremony in New York on June 9,” O’Donnell’s rep tells E! News...

Alba Unveils New Blond Hairdo for Stripper Role in Sin City Sequel

CLUES 1. Ebb 2. Fact 3. Vagrant 4. Awaken 5.Turn Away

Romance came with glory love’s fable now I pen we fell in love one September at a haven of love way down in the glen your kind caress I remember I was eager to dance on wings of true Romance.

HUMOUR

Teacher & Student Teacher :What happened in 1809?

Student: Abraham Lincoln was born.

Teacher :What happened in 1819?

Student: Abraham Lincoln was ten years old

- Joyce Hemsley.

Feelings

Gorgeous Jessica Alba took a lighter approach to life by debuting a new blond ‘do over the weekend. And it was all in the name of work: The 31-year-old is currently prepping for her role as stripper Nancy Callahan in the highly anticipated sequel to 2005’s Sin City.

Pep Talk

Hunger, temptation longing laughter, joy and tears.

Anger, loving, curiosity hopeful, happiness and fears.

All these are inside me And they all are coming out.

Don’t know if I’m coming or going Jennifer Or to scream or shout!-

6. Crawl 7. Flatter 8. Inaction 9. Speak out 10.Occurrence

Wilson.

Teacher: How old is********** your dad.

Student: He is as old as I am.

Teacher: How is it possible?

Student: Because he became a dad only after I was born.

A gift for girlfriend Man 1: I want to buy a gift for my girlfriend for her birthday but I don’t know what she would like. Give me a suggestion.

Man 2: Does she like you?

Man 1: Yes Man 2: Then she would like anything.

A well-cultivated mind is, so to speak, made up of all the minds of preceding ages; it is only one single mind which has been educated during all this time. - Bernard de Bovier de Fontenelle

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

53

54

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

25-07-14 DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 04-09-14

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 08-09-14

UACN, Wapco, UBN, others gain

N

IGERIAN stock market week began on a positive note yesterd ay following gains recorded by 28 companies led

by UACN, Wapco and Union Bank of Nigeria.

As the market moved on a new path, the value of listed equities appreciated by N18 billion as market capitalization closed at N13.609 trillion from N13.591 achieved on Friday. Equally, the AllShare Index increased by 54.79 points or 0.13 per cent to close at 41,214.81, against the 41,160.62 recorded on Friday.

Reviewing the sectoral indices showed that two of the five NSE sectoral indices posted gains. The Banking index added 1.15 per cent, while the Insurance index rose by 0.11 per cent. On the other hand, the Oil/Gas index topped the losers chart with a 0.65 per cent decline,

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

the Consumer Goods index fell by 0.30 per cent, while the Industrial index dropped 0.04 per cent.

UACN led the gainers’ table by N1.11 to close at N59.70 per share. Wapco came second with N1 to close at N118, while Union Bank of Nigeria appreciated by 86 kobo, to close at N9.42 per share.

Nigerian Breweries advanced by 42 kobo to close at N176.50 and ETI gained 33 kobo to close at N18.19 per share.

On the other hand, Guinness topped the losers’ chart by N5.20, to close at N175.80 per share. PZ Cussons trailed with a loss of N1.73, to close at N34.22, while Ashaka Cement dropped by N1.55 to close at N30.95 per share.

Forte Oil dropped by N1.01 to close at N217.99, while International Breweries lost 48 kobo to close at N28.02 per share.

The volume of shares traded rose by 556.44 per cent as investors staked N50.71 billion on 479.79 million shares transacted in 4,168 deals. This is against the 306.684 million shares worth N2.73 billion traded in 4,407 deals on Friday.

Dangote Cement emerged the most traded stock, accounting for 243.63 million shares worth N48.73 billion.

UB Capital followed with a total of 49.41 million shares valued N105.45 million, while Transcorp exchanged 33.42 million shares worth N216.74 million.

FTN Cocoa transacted 20.41 million shares valued N11.43 million, while Ikeja Hotel sold 18.65 million shares worth N19.58 million.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

55

MONEYLINK

Union Bank sues firm over alleged N722m debt

‘Poor monitoring stalls budget implementation’

P

OOR evaluation and monitoring has largely militated against full budget implementation and projects execution in Nigeria, Kwara state Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Bode Ogunleye has said.

He added that lack of project monitoring and supervision has emboldened contractors to derail from contracts specifications.

Mr. Ogunleye spoke yesterday in Ilorin, the state capital while declaring open a five-day training programme for training officers of the ministry. The programmed was organised by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Zone C. He said: “Lack of evaluation and monitoring is a problem in terms of budget implementation and execution at federal and state government levels. Project monitoring has been a big problem because when contractors are awarded contracts and they are given specification, they derail most of the time. They derail

U

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

because there is lack of serious monitoring and supervision.

“But what obtains in Kwara State is that the state government has devised a means of not leaving the job to the department of monitoring and evaluation alone.

“The governor tasked the Special Assistant to the Governor on Budget and Monitoring so that most of the projects budgeted for in 2014 budget, should be monitored so that those projects would not derail from their specification.

“I want the federal and other state governments to emulate with what the Kwara State government is doing.”

The commissioner added that the newly created monitoring and evaluation department in the state was still hampered by many challenges impacting negatively on its performance.

He listed those challenges as “weak institutional and human

•Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

capacity; absence of trained professional monitoring and evaluation staff in the state ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

He said: “One of the first steps towards the successful implementation of the new monitoring and evaluation policy is to build the capacity of the existing staff in a result-based management.

“Training is highly essential to equip the monitoring and evaluation staff with relevant knowledge and skills needed to support the implementation of the new monitoring and evaluation policy across the state.”

Access, IFC partner on capacity building for entrepreneurs

A

CCESS Bank Plc has partnered International Finance Corporation (IFC) on capacity building seminar for entrepreneurs. The seminar, held in Lagos, focused on enhancing personal productivity skills through effective communication.

Its Head, Inclusive Banking, Ope Wemi-Jones said the seminar is in line with its value proposition to the ‘W in Business’, which supports female businesses and entrepreneurs

Stories by Collins Nweze

through business education and leadership seminars.

She also said the seminar was designed to enhance entrepreneurs’ personal productive skill using effective communication.

This not only gives the entrepreneurs a strong business edge but helps them identify and solve challenges that affect their businesses.

IFC Executive, Fatou Giwa said

the IFCs Business Edge product session is also in line with the firm’s subSaharan Africa strategy for private sector development through strengthening support for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) financing, filling market gaps and supporting women in the private sector.

She further said the partnership with Access Bank has been instrumental in developing many innovative offerings that encourage small businesses such as the recently launched “W Initiative”.

NION Bank Plc has sued Coronation Real Estate Development Company Limited, a member of the Sona Group of Companies, owned by the Mirchandani family over an alleged N722 million bad debt.

Union Bank, through its solicitors, Joseph Nwobike (SAN) & Co., filed suit No. FHC/L/CS/1080/ 2014 at the Federal High Court against the Mirchandani Company over its failure or refusal to repay a loan granted it to construct a shopping mall in Abuja.

The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos granted a Mareva injunction in favour of Union Bank,

Moody’s affirms AfDB’s ratings

M

OODY’S Investors Service has affirmed the long-term issuer rating of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and its senior unsecured debt ratings at Aaa/(P)Aaa. The rating agency has concurrently affirmed the AfDB’s Prime-1 shortterm ratings and its Aa1 subordinated debt rating. The outlook on all ratings is stable.

The Aaa long-term issuer rating of the AfDB is consistent with the bank’s strong capitalisation; very strong liquidity; and very strong shareholder support. These strengths, which are largely derived from the bank’s conservative riskmanagement policies and practices, offset Moody’s credit-negative considerations, including the fairly low average credit quality of AfDB’s loan portfolio, owing to the bank’s challenging operating environment across Africa.

AfDB performs well on Moody’s measures of leverage. AfDB’s debt as a percent of useable equity regis-

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 1.2451 1.2926 0.8892 1.0780

• UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

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 1.2367 1.2926 0.8721 1.0780

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CADBURY

35.35(55.08) 55.08

RETAIL DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (RDAS) Transaction Dates 27/08/2014 25/08/2014 20/08/2014 ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Amount Offered in ($) 350m 400m 350m

Amount Sold in ($) 346.43m 398.77m 349.67m

CBN EXCHANGE RATES September 2, 2014

Inflation: July

8.3%

Monetary Policy Rate

12.0%

CHANGE

Foreign Reserves

GAINERS AS AT 08-09-14

tered 222 per cent in 2013, just over the Aaa median of 209.7 per cent.

The AfDB’s liquidity position, which is very strong, also underpins its Aaa rating. The bank operates under a self imposed liquidity policy to ensure that it can meet all projected cash-flow needs for a rolling one-year period without recourse to external capital markets.

Moody’s assessment of the AfDB’s very high intrinsic financial strength is complemented by very strong shareholder support. Indeed, in addition to its own financial resources, the AfDB (if needed) could draw support (callable capital, in particular) from its shareholder governments (79 countries as of June 2014).

This large group includes many highly rated, non-regional countries, including the G7. Aaa-rated member countries accounted for 22 per cent its capital structure, while Aa-rated members accounted for 13 per cent as of the end of December 2013.

DATA BANK

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

to restrain Coronation Real Estate, owned chiefly by A.K Mirchandani, from transferring, withdrawing or otherwise dissipating the funds in any of the company’s accounts in any Nigerian bank.

The injunction was granted to ensure the company does not further mis-apply funds until the final determination of the main suit against the company.

Coronation Real Estate has, however, filed a motion seeking to discharge the order of Mareva injunction as well as set aside the main suit. The matter is next adjourned till today for a hearing of both parties’ motions.

Currency

Buying (N)

Selling (N)

$39.6b

US Dollar

154.73

155.73

$110.44

Pounds Sterling

256.465

258.1225

19.73

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

UBN

8.56

9.42

0.86

Money Supply (M2)

N15.9 trillion.

Euro

204.1662

205.4857

FTNCOCOA

0.52

0.56

0.04

IKEJAHOTEL

1.00

1.05

0.05

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N17.2 trillion

Swiss Franc

168.8455

169.9367

AGLEVENT

1.40

1.47

0.07

Yen

1.4876

1.4975

PREMBREW

3.17

3.32

0.15

CFA

0.294

0.314

EVANSMED

1.95

2.03

0.08

ROYALEX

0.57

0.59

0.02

234.7445

236.2616

AFRIPRUD

3.26

3.37

0.11

Yuan/Renminbi

25.1466

25.31

CONTINSURE

0.97

1.00

0.03

Riyal

41.2558

41.5225

SDR

235.0039

236.5227

LOSERS AS AT 08-09-14

SYMBOL O/PRICE UAC-PROP 19.18(15.34) NEIMETH 1.26(1.05) ABCTRAMS 0.76(0.69) FLOURMILL 71.24(64.76) JBERGER 71.50(65.00) PZ 35.95 ASHAKACEM 32.50 FIDSON 3.69 CAVERTON 5.00 COSTAIN 1.11

C/PRICE 15.34 1.05 0.68 64.76 65.00 34.22 30.95 3.52 4.77 1.06

CHANGE -3.84 -0.21 -0.08 -6.48 -6.50 -1.73 -1.55 -0.17 -0.23 -0.05

GUINNESS

175.80

-5.20

181.00

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

16.5%

NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

Tenor

Rate (%)

Rate3.37

(%) Overnight (O/N)

10.500

10.500

1M

12.175

12.101

3M

13.328

13.225

6M

14.296

14.-85

FOREX RATES

R-DAS ($/N)

157.29

157.29

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

162.75

Parallel ($/N)

167.50

167.50

WAUA

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

56

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

NEWS Imo community passes vote of confidence in Okorocha

T

HE people of Obinugwu in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State have passed a vote of confidence in Governor Rochas Okorocha.

The people, comprising their traditional ruler, Eze Stanley Anezionwu Nwangwu, the Council of Chiefs and other members of the community expressed confidence in the Okorocha administration.

They spoke yesterday in Obinugwu when leaders of the apex socio-cultural organisation, the Orlu Zurumee, visited the monarch.

The people urged the governor to run for a second term to enable him complete the projects he started about four years ago.

Eze Nwangwu thanked Okorocha for enabling Obinugwu to benefit from his administration’s “Rescue Mission” and transforming the community.

The monarch noted that the restoration of his leadership after 40 years was a thing of joy for the community.

He promised to carry everyone along in the development of the community.

Eze Nwangwu noted that despite the harassment and intimidation by his opponent, the people still kept faith with him until God installed him.

The monarch, who said he was a foundation member of Orlu Zurumee in the 1980s, thanked the group’s leaders for their visit.

He promised to make justice, equity and fair play his watch word.

The 78-year-old monarch said he is a grassroots son of the community from Obinukabia village.

APC is Pan-Nigeria, party tells Ohanaeze youths

T

HE Southeast chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has told the youth wing of the PanIgbo organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, that the party is PanNigeria and not anti-Igbo.

In a statement by its spokesman, Osita Okechukwu, the party said its goal was the welfare and security of every Nigerian, no matter where he or she hails from.

The statement said APC would build an egalitarian society where everybody would excel and showcase his or her talent.

The party was reacting to the threat by Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s youth wing that the party was an anti-Igbo following its comment on the alleged link of former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, with Boko Haram.

The youth wing asked the APC to withdraw its statement and apologise to the Ndigbo or face the wrath of Igbo youths in the Southeast.

But APC said: “For the avoidance of doubt, what our

•’We’re not anti-Igbo’ From Chris Oji, Enugu

National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, called for was for President Goodluck Jonathan to invite the International Criminal Court of Justice (ICC) to investigate and prosecute (former Borno State governor) Ali Modu Sherif and Lt-Gen. Ihejirika, consequent upon the allegation levelled by the Federal Government negotiator, Dr Stephen Davis, against them. Nigeria is a signatory to the ICC and its seems Boko Haram has overwhelmed Mr President.”

The statement added: “APC, in league with other Nigerian patriots, is of the candid view that unravelling the masterminds, sponsors, allies and sympathisers of the monster called Boko Haram is a sure bet to stamping out insurgency from the land.

“This is what our great party is patriotically demanding. We sincerely reassure

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing that we mean well. We have no apology to tender to anybody.

“APC, in the best tradition of democracy, is requesting President Goodluck Jonathan to use his good offices to invite the ICC to investigate and prosecute Senator Sherif, Gen. Ihejirika or any other person found culpable.

“It needs be stated that the Federal Government, more than a week after Dr Davis’s startling allegation, has neither made a rebuttal statement nor dismissed the Australian.

“Mrs Marilyn Ogar is spokesperson for the Department of State Services (DSS).

She is not Dr Reuben Abati or Mr Labaran Maku, presidential spokesman and Federal Government spokesman. To say that her statements recently are more or less unprofessional and less than transparent is a thought for food for Ohanaeze Ndigbo youths

and their co-travellers.

“Consequently, Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s youth leadership needs to be reminded of the old Igbo maxim that ‘you do not throw a stone into the market; for the stone may hit your mother or father’. The Ndigbo are spread all over Nigeria and so is APC membership. So, we must sing the Nigerian song not ethno-sectarian song.

“Therefore, we candidly do not see anything wrong in Mr President, who agreed that Boko Haram has penetrated his Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, and under whose watch rascals are hoisting irrendist flags, formally requesting the ICC to intervene as the Boko Haram insurgency is a matter of urgent national importance.

“Let’s ask: Have Ohanaeze Ndigbo youths ever asked President Jonathan why our dear brother, Gen. Ihejirika, was sacked in controversial circumstances in January 2014? It is an issue for another day. But suffice it to say that the Ndigbo are second in

Anambra community gets new leader •Condoles The Sun over Igwe’s death From Nwanosike Onu Awka

T

Abia educates residents on Ebola From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

T

HE Abia State Ministry of Health has educated the residents on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

The awareness campaign was mainly on how the virus infects people, its symptoms and preventive measures.

A the beginning of the campaign in Umuahia, the state capital, Health Commissioner Dr Okechukwu Ogar said high risk people include health workers, those who handle bodies and relatives of EVD victims.

Ogar said everyone should be alert to the EVD because the disease is no respecter of persons.

He said: “The EVD is a case that calls for concern. It is so because it has been affecting high-profile people. This is the reason people should be concerned. I want to tell you that our state is well prepared for it.

“If the state could prevent the spread of EVD, then handling it will not be a problem. This is because once it is identified, the rapid response team will move in and evacuate the patient for treatment at the designated centres.”

In a lecture, titled: What is Ebola? Dr Andy Ukaegbu said the virus is transmitted through close contact with blood, secretion, body organ, stool and contacts with bats, monkeys and antelopes.

population to indigenes of Lagos, Kano and 25 other states; they are the first in five states and have good presence in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), meaning that if there were peace and prosperity in Nigeria, we are one of the greatest beneficiaries, given the law of proportion.

“APC does not need sanction or threat from any quarter. It is those who, despite the huge federal defence budget that underfund our military, under-equip our military and under-motivate our military that are antiIgbo and anti-Nigeria; not APC. “In sum, Ohanaeze Ndigbo youths should be reticent, careful and diligent to avoid unwittingly putting all our eggs in one basket, hence joining the Ndigbo ‘chop-sand’ band of politicians, whose only interest is like that of shegoat: the advancement of the nuclear family and no other goat.”

•From left: Brand Manager, Hot Robb, PZ Cussons Limited, Mr. Aro Olalekan; Brand Manager, Morning Fresh, Ifunanya Obiakor; a nurse, Malaolu Yetunde; Brand Manager, Robert Antiseptic Disinfectant, Akintimehin Kolawole; a nurse, Esther Philip and Trade Marketing Manager, Adeniyi Adegboyega, during the Robert Antiseptic Neighbourhood Activation campaign for personal and environmental hygiene at Obalende, Lagos...at the weekend

C

Clerics suspend rally over demolished church

LERICS of Anglican Church in the Diocese of the Niger at OyoluOze have shelved their rally to protest the demolition of their church.

The rally would have taken place yesterday with a followup next Monday.

But the clerics said the action was being put on hold for the meantime because the state government sent a delegation with other well-meaning individuals to appeal for calm.

The archdeacons said they decided to allow the government examine their grievances on alleged marginalisation and oppression of the church

T

•Anambra gets a month to fish out perpetrators From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

in the state.

A statement yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra State, by the Archdeacon of Oyi Archdeaconry, Ven. Joseph Nweke and Sub-Dean of the All Saints’ Anglican Cathedral, Onitsha, Ven. Obiora Uzochukwu, threw light on their grievances.

The diocese said it held a crucial meeting yesterday at the All Saints’ Cathedral in Onitsha to save the church from “unwarranted attacks” from “agents of darkness”.

The statement said: “We hereby postpone all our proposed rallies for today (yesterday) and next Monday, September 15, as planned.

“We ask the state government to do the needful and conclude efforts to root out marginalisation of the Anglican Church and other denomination in the state.

“The government should stop protecting the hoodlums who pulled down our church at Oyolu-Oze in Nkwelle-Ezunaka on Monday night (August 11) but rather to arrest, investigate

and prosecute them without delay.

“The government should also stop any provocative comments and actions against the Anglican Church forthwith.

“We have suspended all the proposed rallies for a month from today.”

The church warned that if, after the one-month grace, the state government failed to meet their demands, they would begin strategic actions to reclaim their land where the church building was demolished.

Houses submerged in Ebonyi flood

WENTY houses were submerged at the weekend in Ebonyi State following a downpour that caused flood in several communities.

The most affected communities were Ndibe, Ngodo, Amuro and Amasiri in Afikpo North Local Government Area.

Household items and other property were carried away by the flood.

The rain started at 11.30pm and lasted till the following day.

A victim, identified simply as Mrs. Ikechi, told our reporter that her family had gone to bed when the rain started.

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

She said the bleating of their goats woke them from sleep.

“By the time my husband rushed out of the house, the flood had destroyed the pen house, where the goats were kept. Our compound had been flooded,” Mrs Ikechi said.

Another indigene of Ngodo community, who spoke in confidence and whose vehicle was damaged, urged the state government to assist the flood victims.

Nigerian Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) State Coordinator Dr. Philip Echiegu said there was an action plan in place to assist the flood victims.

HE people of Oraukwu community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State have installed Chief Patrick Oyeduba as the Obi Ebubedike of Urua Amada village.

The community commiserated with The Sun on the death of its Vice Chairman Dimgba Igwe at the weekend.

The community’s Regent Samson Chiedu said the installation of the Obi marked the beginning of good things.

He added that the staff of office given to the new community leader signified authority and acceptance by the people.

The regent, who led the traditional rites and coronation of Oyeduba, advised the residents to unite for the community’s development.

The President-General of Oraukwu Congress, Prince Emeka Udodeme, presented a certificate of office to Oyeduba.

Chiedu described Igwe’s death as a loss to Nigeria, the Ndigbo and journalism.

The community leader said Igwe was a professional with incomparable verve.

He said the late journalist brought this to the management and workers of The Sun Publishing Limited.

Cleric dies at 97

O

NE of the founding fathers of Apostolic Faith Church in Africa, Rev. HectorAbimbolaElebute,hasdied.

The cleric died on August 31.

He was 97.

ThelateRev.Elebuteissurvived by a wife, Yemi, and a daughter, Mrs. Olufemi Adesanya.

HewasacloselieutenantofRev. Timothy Gbadebo Osokoya, the founder of the Nigerian arm of the international Apostolic Faith Church, with headquartered in Portland, Oregon, the United States of America. He followed Rev. Osokoya out of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC).

The late Rev. Elebute will be laid to rest at the Atan Cemetery, Yaba, Lagos, after a service at the Apostolic Faith Church, Anthony Village Campgrounds, on September 11 and 12.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

57

NEWS

T

PFN award for Imoke

HE Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in Cross River State has conferred the Most Church-Friendly Governor Award on Governor Liyel Imoke.

PFN President Bishop Emma Isong said: “Imoke has been very supportive of the church, right from the inception of his administration.

“It`s unfortunate that he cannot go for a third term; we would have supported him again. I assure him that the church would assist in “shopping” for a credible candidate for next year’s election.”

The governor said: “This administration has upheld its faith in God. By our work, we look to improve the lives of our people. God is indeed at the heart of our work.

“We have enjoyed a fruitful relationship not just with the church but with other faiths in accordance with our belief that everyone has the freedom of worship.”

Edo Assembly crisis continues

T

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

HE crisis rocking the Edo State House of Assembly is yet to abate as the lawmakers resumed at separate plenaries yesterday.

Nine Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers resumed at the Assembly Complex at the Oba Ovoranmen Square. The All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Speaker Uyi Igbe, resumed at the old Assembly chambers inside the Government House.

The PDP lawmakers adopted 77 sitting days. The APC lawmakers adopted 75 sitting days for the fourth session, second quarter of the Fifth Assembly.

Crisis erupted in the Assembly on June 9 when the impeached Deputy Speaker, Festus Ebea and three others were suspended for alleged misconduct.

‘Shun politics of bitterness’

A

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

NIGER Delta activist, Kime Engozu, has warned against “politics of bitterness” ahead of next year’s general elections.

He urged parties to shun acrimony and blackmail and embrace nationalism.

Engozu, who spoke in an interview at Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, said politics of acrimony would tear the country apart.

He said: “Whereas we appreciate the emergence of virile opposition parties, we plead that they should be nationalistic.

“They should always endeavour to shun politics of acrimony, blackmail, threats to national security and use of derogatory language.”

Community holds rally

E

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Ughelli

KU community in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State has staged a solidarity rally to reaffirm its commitment to the Emmanuel Uduaghan-led administration.

The community said there was no space for the opposition in the state. It thanked the governor for initiating several projects within its domain.

A community leader, Arthur Akpowowo, said: “This appreciation is coming from Eku community because of the developmental projects, such as the bridge linking Eku and Edo State.

“Our roads are now tarred and dilapidated schools renovated; our son is a commissioner. This rally is to show our commitment to the government that Eku is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fort and no opposition party will survive here.”

Trailer driver shot dead in Edo

A

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

25-YEAR-OLD trailer driver, identified as Anthony, aka Oshiomhole, was on Sunday killed by yet-to-be identified persons.

He was shot at the popular Iyaro Street in Benin City, the Edo State capital. Witnesses said he was shot in the chest and eye.

His colleague, Musa Zakari, said they were informed about the incident at 3am.

Zakari said he saw policemen taking the body to the mortuary.

He said the late Anthony was on his way to deliver some goods at Ughelli in Delta State, when he decided to park at Iyaro, where night drivers usually relax.

Zakari said: “They called us at about 3am that one of our colleagues had been shot. Before we got there, the police have taken the body away.

“We don’t know what happened. He parked at Iyaro for the night. You know Iyaro is a busy and popular place.”

Police spokesman Noble Uwoh said he was yet to be briefed on the incident.

T

Police warn vehicle owners

HE Lagos State Police Command has warned owners of abandoned and accident vehicles parked at Ogudu,Orile, Sabo and Iju Division to remove them or lose them through auction two weeks after this publication.

The vehicles are: Varagon Bus unregistered, Volkswagen Bus XH577AGL, Toyota Camry BDG 130 AL, Toyota Camry FJ 11 KJA, Toyota Corolla car unregistered, Toyota Camry BR 229 KTU

•Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan (left) receiving a copy of the Holy Bible from Pastor Odunayo Oke of the Avenue Baptist Church in Warri.

Ugborodo crisis: Peace deal suffers setback

T

HE peace process in Ugborodo community, Warri SouthWest Local Government Area of Delta State, suffered a setback yesterday.

Youths expelled security personnel drafted in the area.

Ugborodo is one of the host communities of a Federal Government $16 billion Export Processing Zone (EPZ) project.

The peace committee, set up by the Federal Government and headed by the Navy, convened an expanded meeting of stakeholders in the community, including members of the two sides in the crisis, last month.

The meeting agreed that the Federal Government

D

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

should take over the enforcement of the resolutions in the peace agreement, earlier entered into in Abuja, as well as the militarisation of the community to avert a breakdown of law and order.

Things went awry yesterday, as youths allegedly stormed one of the sites where men of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta were stationed, demanding their exit.

At 2am yesterday, eyewitnesses said the youths were aggressive.

A naval officer said: “The

people came to where our men were, they were shouting ‘we don’t want navy, navy should leave’.

“Our people sent for a boat at 2.20am and a local boat came and it was when they were inside the boat that they had an accident.

Two officers were injured.”

A member of the Ugborodo Export Processing Zone (EPZ) Interface Committee, Femi Uwawah, described the incident as a minor skirmish, which his committee was handling.

According to him, the youth who confronted the security men had been mis-

informed about the mission of the state’s agents.

“There was a little skirmish. They now told the naval men to leave based on the information they got that some people want to use the military to witchhunt them.

“We are ready for peace.

We have decided to work together based on the governor’s advice. We have told our brothers, who are displaced, to come home.

“As I am talking to you, we are leaving for Ugborodo to calm the situation,” Uwawah said.

The Commanding Officer of the NNS Delta, Navy Captain Musa Gemu, said two of his men were injured.

Bayelsa screens dignitaries at event

IGNITARIES invited for the 16th edition of the Bayelsa State Transparency Briefing were screened for the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) yesterday.

Political appointees, traditional rulers, captains of industry and journalists were scrutinised before they were allowed into the Banquet Hall in Yenagoa.

Health workers were at the entrance of the venue with some electronic devices and hand sanitisers.

Governor Seriake Dickson declared the state virus-free.

“The public should not panic. There is no known case of Ebola up till now in Bayelsa,” he said.

Dickson said the committee on Ebola, chaired by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ayibatonye Owei, has been

H

•Two naval officers injured

•We’ll meet our financial obligations, says Dickson From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

making efforts to protect the state from Ebola.

He, however, said the Ebola problem was not yet over, following its discovery in neighbouring Rivers State.

The governor advised the people to remain vigilant and ensure a high level of hygiene.

He appealed to them to report cases of Ebola symptoms to the government and to desist from seeking cure from religious and spiritual homes. “l call on all residents to continue to be vigilant. When you notice somebody with such symptoms, it is not the time to run to herbalists or prayer warriors.

“It is not the time for you to start hiding. Come out for

treatment when you have such symptoms.”

Dickson said his administration would continue to meet its financial obligations, including payment of salaries, execution and completion of developmental projects despite the drop in the allocations from the Federation Account.

The governor said the drop in allocation was not peculiar to the state alone.

"All the projects by our administration will be completed; new ones will be embarked upon and this will not stop, until all the communities in the state feel the impact of the government.

"Bayelsa State is on course, despite the nationwide drop in revenue allocation. The state is still meeting its salaries and

Voter card protest in Agbor

UNDREDS of protesters from Agbor and Abavo in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State marched on major roads yesterday to protest the cancellation of the voter register by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

INEC did not issue Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) to registered voters in Ika South last month.

The commission said the electronic copy of the regis-

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

ter had been corrupted, and it would conduct a fresh registration.

The President-General of Agbor community, Maj. Gen. Nick Agbogun (rtd), said INEC’s action “stands in breach of its statutory obligation to every constituent district of Nigeria and has disenfranchised eligible voters in our area and therefore decidedly unacceptable”.

He said: “An INEC official

said the electronic database was damaged by virus.

“He, however, said the back-up register was not affected and that the area was the only one affected in the 25 local government areas in Delta.

“Arising from poor planning, dysfunctional equipment and inadequate logistics, which marred the fresh registration between August 20 and 25, less than 40 per cent of a cancelled register of 73, 000 voters were captured.”

contractual obligations.

"In July and August, the shortfall is almost N2billion and it has been consistently so for the past two years.”

PUBLIC NOTICE AGBROKO

I, formerly known as RUONA JENNIFER AGBROKO now wishes to be known and addressed as RUONA JENNIFER MEYER. All former documents still remain valid.

First Bank Plc. and the general public should please take note.

OITE

I, formerly known as VICTORIA OSEMUDIAMEN OITE now wishes to be known and addressed as VICTORIA OSEMUDIAMEN OKOIRON. All former documents still remain valid. WAEC, Brainpoint College and the General Public should please take note.

OLOGHOBOH

I, former MISS OLOGHOBOH ABIDEMI LAURA, Female, Christian and Nigerian Citizen, residing at AA4, Federal Low-cost Housing Estate, Badagry Lagos State, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. EYIAROESE ABIDEMI LAURA. All former documents belonging to me remain valid. The General Public should please take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to notify the general public that the Original Deed of Assignment with Registered No. 10 at Page 10 in Volume 2222 dated on 15th day of January, 2009 at Land Registry Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos of property at 14, Obokun Street, Ilupeju, formerly known as Plot 9 Block L/B Ilupeju Scheme, Lagos State belonging to Prince Kolawole Abayomi Balogun is missing. The general public and Lands Bureau, Alausa please take note.

58

THE NATION TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

NEWS

Akume backs Gemade for second term

Bindow is Adamawa APC’s candidate

S

•Atiku lauds primary

S

ENATOR Muhammad Umar Jibrilla Bindow has emerged the All Progressives Congress (APC) standard bearer in the October 11 governorship election in Adamawa State.

At the party’s primary poll, held at its state secretariat in Yola, Bindow defeated the other five contestants with 2718 voted.

His closest opponent, Alhaji Ibrahim Yayaji, had 2268 votes.

Mr Boss Mustapha scored 515 votes; Senator Ahmed Barata, 452; Mr Yakubu Tsala, 187; and Mr Emmanuel Bello, 50.

Chairman of the Election Committee Dr Garba Abari said the primary was without hitches.

Bindow, a businessman, was elected into the Senate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2011.

Youths, others back Ahmed •Bindow addressing a news conference after the primary election. With him is his campaign coordinator, Alhaji Abdulrahman Jimeta. PHOTO: NAN From Barnabas Manyam, Yola

The lawmaker and 10 other senators dumped the PDP for the APC in January.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar congratulated Bindow on his victory.

In a statement yesterday, Atiku said the primary election was free and fair.

The APC chieftain urged the other contestants to sup-

port Bindow to win the governorship poll.

He said: “As a democrat, I accept the outcome of the primary and urge all members to do the same. As members of a truly democratic party, the outcome of the election is binding on everyone and we must all support the candidate of our great party in the governorship election.”

The Turaki Adamawa said the primary was not a personality contest, but a rescue mission, “which will pave the way for the transformation and economic development of the state and the wellbeing of its citizens”.

“It is a mission which all patriots and friends of the state must be a part of by ensuring victory for the APC in the October 11 election,” he added.

PDP’ll be humiliated in the Northwest, says Kwankwaso From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

•Kwankwaso

K

ANO State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) will humiliate the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Northwest in the 2015 general elections.

He spoke yesterday at the carnival-like inauguration of

the APC’s executive committee in Sokoto State, presided over by the National Chairman, Chief John OdigieOyegun.

Also at the event held at the Sokoto Trade Fair Complex were Governors Abdulazeez Yari (Zamfara) and Rochas Okorocha (Imo); former Governors Ahmed Sani (Zamfara) and Timipriye Sylva (Bayelsa).

Odigie-Oyegun said the party would transform Nigeria, if voted into power in 2015, adding: “This transformation will include the power sector, security, education, eradication of unemployment and poverty,

among others.”

Hailing Governor Aliyu Wamakko for promoting the APC’s vision for Nigeria by transforming the state, he said: “We are witnesses of your landmark achievements in developing Sokoto State since you assumed office seven years ago.”

Kwankwaso said the APC was determined to tackle the country’s security challenges.

He urged the people of the Northwest to end the PDP’s “misrule” in 2015, adding: “APC is determined to show the PDP the exit door and relocate it to the archives in 2015. PDP has failed Nigerians.”

Wamakko said: “Our party is the true symbol of unity

T

the primary election.”

Praising delegates for their orderly conduct, the party attributed the success of the primary to “the spirit of oneness in Adamawa PDP, effectively harnessed through the insistence by the national leadership on strict adherence to internal democracy, which provided accommodation for all in line with the ideology of the PDP and the principles of fairness, justice and equity”.

The leadership urged members to unite and support Fintiri to win the governorship election.

It congratulated Dr. Shem Zagbayi Nuhu on his victory in the Niger East Senatorial by-election, saying Niger State remains “a stronghold of the PDP”.

that gives hope to all classes of Nigerians. Nigerians want change and want to maximise the country’s God-given potential. APC governors and members across Nigeria are bonded by sheer vision and mission to effect change in the country.”

The Deputy National Chairman, Senator Lawal Shuaibu, described the rally as the beginning of a crusade for the change Nigerians need.

Sokoto APC Chairman Bala Hassan said: “APC will emerge victorious in 2015 at all levels.”

The Northwest National Vice Chairman, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, said people in the zone were ready to vote for the APC in 2015.

Waku picks nomination form

PDP hails Fintiri, Nuhu

HE leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated Adamawa State Acting Governor Ahmed Fintiri on his emergence as the party’s candidate for the October 11 governorship election.

It hailed other contestants for their “rare show of the spirit of sportsmanship and unwavering commitment to the party throughout the nomination process, in keeping with the ideals of the PDP and the visions of the founding fathers”.

PDP’s National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh, in a statement yesterday, said: “The party leadership is satisfied with the level of camaraderie and sense of purpose that characterised

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

ENATE Minority Leader George Akume has backed calls for Senator Barnabas Gemade’s re-election, describing him as an asset to Nigeria.

Akume spoke yesterday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Gemade’s country home, Korinja, Konshsisha Local Government Area of Benue State, at the lawmaker’s 66th birthday thanksgiving service.

Akume said despite their different party affiliations, he has always held Gemade in high esteem and maintained a cordial relationship with him.

Stressing the need for Benue people to be united, he decried the state’s “neglect” by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Gemade said: “We recall that under Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Benue had two ministers and a Senate president; under the late Gen. Sani Abacha, Benue had three ministers – myself, Dr. Iorwuese Hagher and Prof. Iyorchia Ayu. During the late Musa Yar’Adua’s administration, we produced the Attorney–General and Minster for Justice, Mike Aondoakaa (SAN); the NAFDAC director-general as well as the managing director NEXIM bank.

Under Jonathan, we only have one full-fledged minister and one assistant minister.”

He urged the people to support Gemade to return to the Senate.

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

•Waku

S

ENATOR Joseph Waku has bought the governorship nomination form of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State.

Waku’s campaign organisation, Solution 2015, spoke to The Nation yesterday.

It said Waku “intends to use his wealth of experience in politics, which spans many years, to turn around the for-

tunes of Benue State”.

If elected, Waku pledged to replicate the development model in Lagos, Edo, Ekiti, Rivers, Osun and other APCcontrolled states in Benue.

He urged residents to take a clue from the Osun election and protect their votes in 2015.

This brings the number of aspirants jostling for the APC’s governorship ticket to four.

Others are House of Representatives’ member Emmanuel Jime, former Head of Service Mike Iordye and former Permanent Secretary Akange Audu.

They are in the race to succeed Governor Gabriel Suswam.

T

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

HE Kwara State chapter of the National Youth Council (NYC) has endorsed Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for a second term.

NYC Chairman Kazeem Adekanye gave the endorsement at a visit to the governor in Ilorin, the state capital.

Hailing Ahmed for empowering youths, Adekanye said: “I have the mandate of over one million youths in the state to commend your administration for the excellent work you have done or initiated for the state’s development, especially in youth empowerment/employment through the KWABES, QuickWin, Entrepreneurship Scheme, payment of bursary and provision of scholarships to students and youth employment into the civil service.”

Ahmed urged the political class to equip youths for nation building and cautioned youths against selling their votes.

He said the government would establish a Ministry of Youth Development.

The people of Ifelodun Local Government Area and the Joint Motorcycle Riders Association in the 16 local government areas also endorsed Ahmed for a second term.

The people of Ifelodun council also pledged their loyalty to Senator Bukola Saraki.

Speaking with reporters yesterday in Ilorin, the Chairman of Ifelodun Elders’ Forum, Alhaji Kola Yusuf, said: “The people of Ifelodun plead with the leadership of our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and members to give Ahmed a second term to enable him continue with the good work he has embarked upon with the limited funds at his disposal.

“He has displayed sufficient proof that given a second chance, he is capable of further initiatives that will have more positive impact on Kwarans.”

Commercial motorcyclists, led by their Chairman, Alhaji Abdulraheem Akanbi, stormed the Government House, pledging their support to Ahmed and Saraki.

They thanked the governor for not banning commercial motorcycles and urged him to provide revolving loans for them.

NMA gets officials

D

By Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

R Adamu Bojude of the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Gombe State, has been sworn in as the state chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).

Other members of the executive are Dr Kashere Yau, the deputy chairman; Dr Yunusa Mohammed, vice-chairman; Dr Bile Nuhu, secretary; Dr Adedojah Paul, financial secretary; Dr Abdullahi Salihu, welfare secretary; Dr Yusuf Abubakar, PRO; Dr Lambatu Karatu, assistant secretary-general; and Dr Sambo Sanusi, treasurer.”

Gombe youths dump PDP for APC

T

From Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

HE Gombe Youth Vanguard for Change, comprising 400 members, and six other similar groups have dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Leader of the Gombe Youth Vanguard for Change Malam Ibrahim Muhammed said they pulled out of Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo’s campaign because of his “unpopular policies and lack-lustre approach to governance”.

He said leaders of the groups realised that continued support for the governor was not in the interest of the people, adding: “Governor Dankwambo has continued to remain insensitive to their plight. The people’s efforts to better their lot have defied all solutions due to policies introduced by his administration.

“There is no concrete road map for transforming the state from its state of decay and humiliation of citizens. Since he assumed office, the governor has continued to show that he is saddled with a task he is ill-prepared for.

“Residents live in hunger and nothing is being done to alleviate their suffering. The hardship in the state is gradually becoming militarised and we are worried. So, we decided to join the APC, under the leadership of Senator Danjuma Goje, which we believed will bring change in 2015, if the mandate is given to the APC.”

59

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

NEWS

Obasanjo’s son injured in Boko Haram ambush

‘Boko Haram can’t declare funding sources’ Continued from page 4

the insurgents are taking over towns and villages, pointing out that if not curtailed, it is capable of discrediting the Armed Forces that have performed creditably in peace keeping missions across the world.

The statement reads: “The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, is worried about the recent incursion into some towns and villages, especially in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states in the north eastern part of the country by the Boko Haram terror group.

“These violent attacks and reported seizures and declaration of an Islamic republic remain unacceptable and must never be allowed as a republic cannot exist within a republic.

“While we appreciate the commitment of Nigeria’s security agencies, particularly the armed forces, to the battle against insurgency in Nigeria, we strongly warn that the consequence of allowing any part of the country to be

forcefully seized by any group will be overwhelmingly harmful to our collective unity and socioeconomic advancement, just as it would also endanger the growth of democracy.

“We are worried at the speed with which the insurgents are taking over communities even in areas reported to have heavy security presence. It is time the Nigerian armed forces prove their preparedness to protect and defend the Nigerian people and their territories by using all within their armoury to protect our territorial integrity.

“The credibility and professional image of our armed forces would be at stake, even in global ratings, if our forces who have been widely acclaimed to have performed so well during peace keeping operations in different parts of the world would allow themselves to be overrun by insurgents back home.

“While we commend the Federal Government for providing necessary human and material needs for the battle

against these insurgents, we believe the government can do more in ensuring the troops are well kitted with modern weapons and all that is required to fight contemporary wars as the situation has obviously moved beyond mere insurgency.

“We must never allow any part of Nigeria to be subjected to perpetual fear and nightmares, which the entire north east seem to have been boxed into. The need for an urgent intervention in the funding and provision of appropriate equipment to the Nigerian armed forces as well as proper policing of communities across the country cannot be over emphasized at this juncture.

“The failure to do this will be a monumental discredit to the Federal Government under whose direction and authority the armed forces as well as the overall safety of all residents is constitutionally placed.

“It is clear that the insurgents have decided to massively move out of their hide-

Continued from page 4

•Omar

outs to launch massive attacks on the country and this must be seen as a declaration of war and should be repelled with the best weapons, which must be made available for our collective defence.

“Every part of the country is as important as other parts and our collective interests and future would be subjugated if any part is taken by antiNigeria forces. The events of the last few weeks clearly indicate the determination of the sect to violate Nigeria’s territorial integrity”.

Ebola fully controlled, says minister Continued from page 4

was treated for something else and discharged.

“Right now we have another admission, an 18 months old infant but yet to be tested.

The commissioner expressed gratitude for the first victory and said about 479 contacts were under watch in the state, and 94 per cent of them are already being followed up; the remaining fraction would be covered before the end of yesterday.

He believes that the spread of the virus would be controlled in the state as has been done in Lagos.

“Agree that the disease has not yet got any cure, but it

M

can be successfully managed, and we have done it, not just in Lagos, but now in Port Harcourt. Let us give God the glory and be confident in ourselves, and go about our normal duties,” Parker said, adding: “We all need to be on bended knees, this week and next, and then we will be coasting home. Ebola is a 21-day disease; most of the people under surveillance will be rounding up by within this period. So, if we are not flooded up this week and next, then we will be coasting home. All hands must be on deck to make sure that we’re prepared for any eventuality.

“We have about 479 con-

y wife and I are trying to have a baby. So far, we have not been lucky so we have started taking the fertility medicine Repro Aid. But I also would like something that will make the sperm plenty because after sex, the sperm will just pour out of my wife. Thanks – Kenneth Kenneth it is normal for semen to flow out from the woman after sex. Semen is not magnetic so part of it must flow out. Women who are trying to have children are advised to lay on their backs and lift their legs after sex for 10 to 15 minutes. This will ensure that the semen gets to the egg during ovulation. So your wife should do that.

But if you still want to increase the volume of your semen, then take Explosion supplement. Explosionis a natural semen volumizer for men that also enables men enjoy intercourse– Uche I am 63 years old and I suffer from weak erection. My friends advised me to take the supplement X again enhancer while some recommendRhino 5. I need advice on what to use – Ikimi Both supplements are good and basically do the same thing. However, Rhino 5 is a stronger formula that lasts for about five days on one capsule while X Again Platinum Enhancer lasts for about three days. X Again Platinum Enhancer is cheaper too so it all depends on you. But yes both products will strengthen your erection and give you the stamina to perform as if you are 21 years old - Uche I am interested in your penis sleeves. I am using Stud Extender now and it is getting old so I need a replacement.

If you have nothing new, I will just take Stud Extender again. Thank you – Sola There is a new penis sleeve called Enter the Dragon. The head is shaped a bit like a dragon so it is great for female stimulation because the texture and feeling is different.

So you can try that. It is also reusable, makes you look bigger and helps control premature ejaculation- Uche Do you have adult movies that teach sex education? I

tacts now, about 94 per cent of them are being followed up; by today, we will cover all of them. Our points of entry are now well covered. Activities there have improved and going on very well and our workers fully on ground.”

“On the announcement of resumption of schools on September 22 by the Federal Government, Rivers State is at the peak of our battle against Ebola outbreak; so, the state government will review the situation as it is before adopting that date.

“We will sit down and review the whole situation and come up with a date. It may be the same date or a differ-

“The mission is to force the insurgents to vacate these towns and prevent them from advancing to Mubi and other nearby towns.”

“The military believes that some of the Boko Haram members fleeing air strikes on Bama and Gwoza are behind the seizure of some towns in Adamawa.

“They cannot hold on to these towns; we will rout them out of these places any moment from now,” the source stressed.

On Kirchinga, the source added: “The insurgents are still there, but soldiers are making advances.”

A former top official in the Presidency, who spoke with our correspondent, said: “The governor told the stakeholders that there was ‘a remarkable control’ by troops. I was with the governor when he gave the assurance based on security reports at his disposal.

“Troops are really advancing and attacking these insurgents on land and in the air. We expect normalcy to be restored to these areas.

“Some of us spent the night in Hong, which is about 50kilometres to Michika. This is to tell you that troops have made significant advances to chase away the insurgents.”

But a top state government official spoke of the inaccessibility of Michika where, he

said, thousands are trapped and at the mercy of the insurgents.

“My aged mother and sisters have escaped to nearby hills, which are homes to deadly reptiles,” he said, adding: “We made attempts to move to Michika; but we were turned back in some villages near Uba because the insurgents had blocked entry points to this town and troops were engaging them.

“As I talk to you, my old mother, who recently broke her wrist, is hiding in one of the hills around Michika.

A man, who managed to send a text message from Michika after about five hours, said: “Kindly assist to tell the Defence Headquarters and military formation in Mubi to come to our rescue.

“We have been in hiding since 10am on Sunday.

These insurgents have killed many people since they took over Michika.

Some of us only managed to escape to the top of the hills in the area because of our knowledge of the terrain.”

Another source said: “The insurgents have destroyed GSM masts in and around Michika and nearby villages to demobilise telephone service in the area.

“But some of us have been taking advantage of the epileptic service to send text messages.”

El-Zakzaky rejects Jonathan’s ‘sorry’ Continued from page 4 •Chukwu

ent date. Remember, also that the Federal Government has said the date already released is still subject to review.”

here you have moviesfor couples – Jane Yes we do. Ask for the Guide to Kinky Sex for Couples or Sex: A Life Long Pleasure. You can see other titles as well on www.zeevirtualmedia.com – Uche When I am having intercourse the first time, I ejaculate quickly. By the second time, I tend to last a little longer.

But first impressions matter so I want to impress my woman in the first round. What can I use for this? Andy Andy there are many solutions to premature ejaculation.

You can use delay condoms like Safex Delay Condoms or you can use a variety of lubricants, sprays and penis sleeves. A spray like the Ultra Maximum delay spray can help you and so can the Kamasutra Prolonging Gel. The choice is yourreally. They are many – Uche There is an instant penis enlarger you wrote about some weeks ago. Please I am interested in it. My wife also needs an arousal gel or something for vaginal dryness – John I believe the penis enlarger you are talking about is the Optimale Instant Penis Enlarger and yes it is available.

For your wife, I recommend the Fifty Shades Come Alive Pleasure Gel – Uche I used to buy your 69 Nipple & Clit Arousal Gel but the last time I asked for it, it was out of stock. I need it or something similar. Thanks – Kolawole Kola it is back in stock. Call the numbers below for assistance – Uche That is all for today. The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 07086754515 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

amination.”

El-Zakzaky said the military created the Boko Haram sect.

“It has become obvious that the military has created a faceless and anonymous sect

called Boko Haram. “We have never seen a Boko Haram member nor their schools, mosques or newspapers. All we hear of them are bomb blast and videos issuing threat of attack, promoted by the government as the only source of information.”

60

THE NATION TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

NEWS

Why barons of fake products are smiling to the banks Continued from page 3 The public affairs analyst also identified lack of conviction by the judiciary as another factor. According to him, in China, offences relating to dealing in substandard products carry life sentences or even death penalty.

“Ask any of the agencies to give you statistics or data on conviction of offenders, you will be disappointed they don’t have any,” he said.

For Omotoso, SON appears to be overwhelmed.

“Maybe because the scope SON is covering is so wide, from table, pin, electrical cables, bulbs, all sort of things; the scope they have to police is so wide, maybe that’s part of the problem of their inability to do all that they need to do,” he said, noting that this perhaps explains why the war against substandard products is not being won, and is not limited to paint manufacturing alone.

“Put your mind to tyres. Till date, I don’t think we have fought the battle of preventing fake tyres from coming into this country. Fake tyres are as dangerous and life threatening as fake malaria products,” he said.

In fairness to SON, however, the nation’s porous borders through which most of the suspected substandard products find their way into the country, are not helping the fight.

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), David Parradang, recently revealed that there are over 1, 400 illegal routes into Nigeria – 1,316 more than the approved number of border control posts. He said the 84 approved border controls cover 4, 047 kilometres, the total length of Nigeria’s land border.

Ogun and Adamawa states, for example, have 83 and 80 illegal posts.

To make matters worse, those en-

trusted with the task of securing the borders are ill-equipped to effectively monitor the 84 regular routes let alone the 1,400 illegal ones.

The threat posed by illegal borders to the fight against substandard products is not lost on the agencies.

“We are not at the borders; the CPC is not allowed to be at the borders, and there are substandard products that come in from the borders, its difficult for us to know,” Tamunokonbia said.

He explained that once the substandard products are in the country, they are taken to warehouses from where they are moved into the various markets and unless the agency knows, they cannot arrest the perpetrators.

“We think that if we arrest them from the border, it will make more sense. In fact, what you will be doing is that you will have a large cache of those products because they will come in their trailers. But in the market place, we are only seizing drops of the products,” he stated, adding however, that he recently paid a courtesy call on the Lagos Zonal Comptroller of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to solicit his assistance since CPC is not at the borders.

Tamunokonbia expressed optimism that his approach will work, as the Zonal Comptroller admitted that the Customs too also needs information “because as customs they do not necessarily know which product is fake and substandard. Their duty is just to collect tax. Their training does not allow them to know which one is fake and which is not, but if NAFDAC is there and it is a product of food and drugs they should be able to know.

Also, if SON is there they will also know, same CPC. So, we want to partner with them, we want to work with them.”

•Sir Omotoso

The need to work with relevant agencies is underscored by the perceived lack of coordination and sometimes, overlap of interests and activities, which sometimes result to disagreements amongst the agencies. Dr. Odumodu admits that Nigeria’s standard operation was faced with many challenges arising partly from the lack of NQP to hold the system and make it functional and efficient enough to earn global confidence.

Indeed, over time, operations of government agencies set up to regulate and ensure good standards, such as SON, NAFDAC, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Universities Commission (NUC), National Judicial Council (NJC), Police, and Public Service Commission, among others, have been uncoordinated because of the lack of a framework. Each of the agencies operates independently and, in some cases, on ad hoc basis, diminishing the fighting spirit of the agencies.

If the war must be won To begin with, Akabogu suggests

that the fight against substandard products must be inculcated into the national ideology and included in the school curricula from primary to university level. He said that way, enough awareness would be created.

He also said the hands of the regulatory agencies, including SON, NAFDAC, CPC, and NCC, among others, must be immediately strengthened through adequate staffing and funding. He added that there is need to weed out bad elements within the agencies and allow only people willing to leave a legacy remain. Besides, laws against the business must be made punitive to serve as deterrent.

Omotoso could not agrees. He insisted that punitive measures should be enforced.

His words: “The laws are there, but somehow there is a lot of compromise. Who are those people that compromise? Those that are supposed to be enforcing the law. When they are taking to court, somehow the process is slow and those that are perpetrating this evils know that the courts won’t get round to them even before they pass on so, they just do the most havoc they could. I don’t want to say the courts are corrupt. No. But the process of justice is too slow to make the enforcement of the laws effective.”

The industrialist is not done. He said civil servants who are employees of SON should also be a little bit more aggressive in pursuing the culprits, while their facility for detection must be upped. He added that staff of the agencies should be encouraged by way of some forms of motivations for them to be able to do their job such that they will even want to say no to any offer of bribe from any of the perpetrators of the evil. “I am passionate about this because I know they

do a lot of damage to the economy of this country, he concluded.

Oladipo aligns with Bassey who earlier noted that standards is not a one man job, so everybody must come on board. “SON cannot go it alone,” Oladipo told The Nation, arguing that since manufacturers are more spread “they should go all out to look for those who clone their products.”

He admonished manufacturers to rise up to the fight.

For Champions of Development Nigeria (CDN), an integrated approach to quality management in Nigeria is required. The group’s President, Mr. Jonas Yomi, stated that the harmonisation of regulatory agencies and quality policies was overdue if Nigeria was determined to establish a national quality infrastructure, which is an important tool for implementing NQP. The group also lamented the non-existence or insignificant number of accredited laboratories in Nigeria, noting that accredited labs are the backbone of valid testing results without which products or services cannot be said to be certified or conforming to requirements. He added that there is need to reach out across the whole spectrum of stakeholders through road shows as well as sustained mass media campaign.

Sound and far-reaching recommendations, no doubt. But again their implementation, to a very large extent, depends on how far government musters the political will to prosecute the war, and of course, how far Nigerians and concerned stakeholders put their hand on deck to contain the upsurge. But until and unless this is done, unscrupulous businessmen importing substandard products will continue to smile to the bank while local manufacturers groan under the stiff competition from imports.

FOREIGN NEWS

Book Haram: Pupils desert schools in Cameroon border towns

T

HE 2014-2015 academic year began in Cameroon with thousands of students and teachers deserting schools in towns along the border with Nigeria’s Borno State, which is home to the Boko Haram terrorist group.

With some schools either destroyed or occupied by the militants, Cameroon officials said they will relocate populations to more secure areas.

In Kolofata this week, 1,000 children were expected to start in government schools, but only a few students showed up.

Foncha Rene, 17, who was one of the few who arrived, said Boko Haram attacks in the area have scared his fellow students away.

“There is no way we can go to school. Some time ago the Boko Haram kidnapped some students in Nigeria and they have been attacking schools in

the border zone of Cameroon,” Foncha said.

Foncha’s school was attacked two weeks ago. Walls were knocked down in an armed confrontation between the Nigerian insurgents and Cameroon soldiers.

English teacher Pamela Singeh, who works at the government school in Kolofata, spoke to VOA while taking refuge in a military camp.

“I cannot advise any child to go to school in the border zone because it is dangerous,” Singeh said. “Look at some classrooms, they have been destroyed by Boko Haram.

They even come here to pray, so I would not advise or allow any child to go to school in this area.”

In Mora, 100 of the 700 expected students showed up only to find more than 2,000 Nigerian refugees in their school building.

The area’s senior administrative official, Babila Akao, said he has asked the Ministry of Education to postpone the beginning of the school year.

“So what we are expected to do is to make proposals to the ministers of basic and secondary education to postpone the date of the school year here.

People are suffering; the situation is a bad situation,” Akao said.

Kolofata and Mora are just two of the 25 localities on the border with Nigeria’s Borno State.

Cameroon Secretary of State for Secondary Education Monouna Fotsou said the government plans to move students for security reasons.

“Where the situation is so bad, we will de-localise some schools,” Fotsou said. “At that moment also, we will bring the staff and the students to the new sites. The objective of this

In 2012, the UN recorded 1,700 rapes in camps for displaced people in Somalia.

Many were thought to have been carried out by members of the Somali security forces.

Last year, there was a huge public outcry following claims that AU and government soldiers had gang-raped a woman in Mogadishu.

Tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes because of conflict Al-Shabab carries out periodic attacks in Mogadishu A joint investigation by the

AU and government dismissed the allegation as unfounded, even though neither the woman nor independent witnesses had been interviewed.

Most of the women who were abused lived in camps for displaced people after fleeing violence and the 2011 famine, HRW said.

“The AU can no longer turn a blind eye to the abuses on Amisom [AU Mission in Somalia] bases, as it’s undermining the very credibility of the mission,” said Liesl Gerntholtz, HRW’s women’s rights direc-

Ebola: Liberia ‘faces huge surge’

E

•Paul Biya

Boko Haram is to traumatise our citizens.”

Boko Haram group has massacred, kidnapped and looted villages along Cameroon’s 2,000 kilometer border with Nigeria - with attacks becoming more frequent as the group has gained momentum in its fight for its own caliphate in northern Nigeria.

Military action by Cameroon and Nigeria armed forces has done little to stop the violence.

Africa Union troops ‘raped’ girls in Somalia

A

FRICAN Union (AU) troops raped women and girls seeking medical aid or water from their bases in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, a rights group says.

The troops had “misused” their power over women fleeing violence and poverty, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said.

One Muslim girl, aged 15, reportedly had her headscarf ripped off before being raped.

The AU, which has some 22,000 troops fighting militant Islamists in Somalia, says it will investigate the claims.

tor.

It interviewed 21 women and girls, some as young as 12, who described being raped or sexually exploited by Ugandan or Burundian soldiers in the AU force, HRW said.

Only one rape case, in which the victim was a child, is before Uganda’s military court in Kampala, it added.

“Some Amisom soldiers have used humanitarian assistance, provided by the mission, to coerce vulnerable women and girls into sexual activity,” HRW said.

BOLA is spreading exponentially in Liberia, with thousands of new cases expected in the next three weeks, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.

Conventional methods to control the outbreak were “not having an adequate impact”, the UN’s health agency added.

At least 2,100 people infected with Ebola have died so far in the West African states of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria this year.

The WHO says 79 health workers have been killed by the virus.

Organisations combating the outbreak needed to scale-up efforts “three-to-four fold”, the WHO said.

It highlighted Liberia’s Montserrado county, where 1,000 beds were needed for infected Ebola patients but only 240 were available, leading to people being turned away from treatment centres.

Transmission of the virus in Liberia was “already intense”, and taxis being used to transport infected patients appeared to be “a hot source of potential virus transmission”, the WHO said.

“As soon as a new Ebola treatment facility is opened, it immediately fills to overflowing with patients, pointing to a large but previously invisible caseload,” it added.

“When patients are turned away... they have no choice but to return to their communities and homes, where they inevitably infect others.”

The Ebola disease spreads between humans by direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids or organs, or indirectly through contact with contaminated environments.

Egypt orders arrest for gay wedding

P

ROSECUTORS ordered the arrest Saturday of nine men on criminal charges of “debauchery” after a social media video purporting to show a gay wedding went viral.

In a statement, the prosecutor’s office accused the men of “debauchery” and “undermining public morals” and ordered a physical examination by a forensic doctor, a common practice in Egypt when arresting homosexuals.

While homosexuality is not overtly outlawed in Egypt, gay people can face criminal charges under statutes that broadly claim to protect social “morality.”

The short video that went viral last week appears to have been filmed at a party on a Nile riverboat and appears to show two men in dark suits exchanging rings. The prosecution’s statement described it as a “satanic ceremony” with images that were “shameful, regrettable and anger God.” The statement claims the event took place in April, but was only recently posted as an act of revenge against one of the men filmed in the video.

In April, four men were sentenced to prison for similar morality charges.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

61

SPORT EXTRA

‘Bafana won’t be easy, but Eagles will fight’

SOUTH AFRICA V NIGERIA

Prepare for war, Mashaba warns Stephen Keshi B

AFANA Bafana head coach Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba has warned Nigeria boss Stephen Keshi that he must 'brace himself for war' ahead of their clash in Cape Town tomorrow.

South Africa welcome the Super Eagles to the Cape Town Stadium in the second round of 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers in midweek.

The Group A clash will see a confident Bafana take on nemesis Nigeria, who are wounded by their 3-2 opening weekend defeat to Congo-Brazzaville in Calabar.

South Africa, meanwhile, are brimming with confidence following their 3-0 win in Khartoum on Friday, but will face a different challenge all together when they face the Eagles on South African soil.

Keshi's men famously won the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa while the West Africans trounced Bafana 3-1 in the 2014 CHAN tournament at the very stadium where the two rivals will meet tomorrow.

"This Nigeria team has been giving us nightmares, but we will fight in every game," said Mashaba.

"When two Elephants meet, it is grass that suffers. Watch out, brace yourself for war that day [when Mashaba meets Keshi], because, like I have indicated earlier on, they [Nigeria], have given us sleepless nights.”

Mashaba, who took over from

T

Gordon Igesund in July, feels a win tomorrow would change a lot of things football in South Africa for the better.

"This is one time they must brace themselves for war up to the fullest, it won't be an easy walk in the park for both teams, but what we are looking for is to come out victorious and that win will change a lot of things in our football, both in administration, media wise, any structure that you talk about," Mashaba added.

"We win that game [and] things will change for the better."

T

A

C Crotone forward Nnamdi Oduamadi has promised the Nigerian fans a better outing when the Super Eagles tackle the Bafana Bafana of South Africa tomorrow.

The Super Eagles arrived in Cape Town yesterday after departing Nigeria on Sunday evening, and will know the importance of getting three points after the defeat to Congo on Saturday.

"We know how important this game is for us and we will work towards getting maximum points.

"It means a lot to us and the fans and we hope to make

•Bafana head coach Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba

Amadu: Nigeria will bounce back

HE general secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Barrister Musa Amadu has expressed confidence in the Super Eagles to bounce back from Saturday’s defeat to Congo’s Red Devils and qualify for next year’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) holding in Morocco.

Speaking at the NFF Secretariat in Abuja on Monday, Amadu called on Nigerian football fans to retain faith in the Eagles and continue to give them adequate support in the campaign.

“We quite understand that Nigerians were disappointed in the result of the match against the Red Devils from Congo. But there are five more matches in the qualifying se-

ries and we see Saturday’s loss as a wake –up call for the African champions.

“The boys themselves have realized that they have to now double their effort to get to the finals in Morocco, and that is what they have promised for tomorrow’s match against South Africa in Cape Town,” Amadu stated.

The NFF general secretary returned to office in deference to a FIFA letter of Wednesday last week, asking that he be allowed to do his work without let or hindrance.

In company with NFF’s Director of Competitions, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi and Director of Marketing, Mr. Adama Idris, Amadu took full control of the secretariat and charged

members of staff to continue their work without any fear.

Saturday’s 2-3 loss to Congo was the Eagles’ first home defeat in 33 years, since bungling a 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifier 0-2 to Algeria’s Fennecs at the National Stadium, Lagos.

The Eagles’ delegation, led by NFF Director of Competitions, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme, arrived in Cape Town yesterday morning, after flying to Johannesburg from Lagos overnight on Sunday and connecting a two–hour flight to Cape Town from Johannesburg.

The reigning champions have other matches against Sudan (away and home) in October before traveling to Brazzaville and hosting South Africa in November.

FRSC plans collaboration with NSC

HE Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has thrown its weight behind the National Sports Commission (NSC) by specially requesting to assist the NSC in whatever way the commission deems fit for the development of Nigerian sports.

Corp Commander Adebisi Kazeem, who is the Head of Sports, led a delegation to the NSC’s Abuja National Stadium office yesterday and met with the Director-General of the NSC, Gbenga Elegbeleye, to

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja deliver the FRSC’s message of partnership with the NSC. Kazeem identified the positives of keeping fit through sports which he claimed had helped the FRSC officers in quick, effective and efficient discharge of their duties, a reason why the FRSC desires partnership with the NSC. He also enumerated the contributions of the Corps to the development of sports in the

country.

“The (FRSC’s) sports section was created in 2007 with the primary aim of keeping fit,” Kazeem began. “The section later introduced the monthly jogging exercise which is now popular in the country and has gone a long way in keeping our officers very fit for the task before us.

“Besides this the commission also has two popular handball teams in the country now, namely, the Safety Strikers for men and Safety Babes Hand-

Serena not thinking about 22 Grand Slams yet

W

With 18 Grand Slam titles, Serena Williams' tally is now on par with that of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.

Four more could take her level with Steffi Graf's Open-era record of 22.

Still, she knows her next goal is 19 after she won her 18th on Sunday at the US Open to match Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.

And should she get to 19, she figures she'll then want 20.

If she keeps playing the way she did in Flushing Meadows, maybe Steffi Graf's Open-era record of 22 will start to sound realistic.

It was an unusual scene after a major sports event late Sunday night: Williams and the player she defeated in the final, Caroline Wozniacki, were celebrating together.

Wozniacki took over her good friend Williams' phone and was posting photos to Instagram with singer Joe Jonas and model Gigi Hadid.

them proud on Wednesday.

We know it won't be easy but we will fight," he said.

The Super Eagles are yet to lose any competitive game to South Africa but Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba's men know beating Nigeria will mean more than three points to them.

And it is this much that the former AC Milan attacker recognises.

"South Africa have always wanted to beat us and they think this is a good opportunity for them. But we are ready too, the loss to Congo was bad but we will make up for it," he says.

•Wozniacki and Williams share a laugh after the trophies presentation in New York

ball team for the ladies. The Federal Road Safety Commission also at present has a club in the Nigerian National League (NNL) and I would say we have also contributed our quota to the development of Nigerian sports.

“But we want to do more and that is why we have come to see the Director-General of the National Sports Commission to seek ways of collaboration with the NSC, I mean to ask for the areas where we can be of assistance to the NSC”, Kazeem disclosed.

In his response, the D-G of the NSC, Honourable Elegbeleye thanked the Federal Road Safety Commission for seeking a partnership with the NSC and called it a welcome development. He also praised the contributions of the FRSC to the development of sports in the country.

“I appreciate what the FRSC has done and is still doing for Nigerian sports. The former Corp Marshall Osita Chidoka has done so well in sports and we got a lot of athletes from the paramilitary forces which FRSC has really performed well.

“Some of the athletes that performed well at the last Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, came from the FRSC. So, NSC will always like to cooperate as well as collaborate with agencies like FRSC that have the wherewithal and capability to improve sports in the country,” Elegbeleye said.

•Oduamadi

World Cup injury wrecked my transfer – Babatunde

N

IGERIA World Cup star Babatunde Michael has told AfricanFootball.com a hand injury cost him a transfer from Volyn of Ukraine.

Babatunde fractured his wrist during a World Cup group game against Argentina in June.

"My hand injury stopped me from moving this summer. I had so many offers, but they were giving unbearable conditions and I can't withstand such, so I decided to stay back and concentrate on helping my team Volyn do well this season," Babatunde told AfricanFootball.com "My club had several offers, but no club wanted to risk the injury until it’s 100% healed.”

Volyn have now therefore registered the Nigeria inter-

•Babatunde Michael

national for the 2014/2015 season.

On Sunday, Babatunde featured for 45 minutes in a friendly.

"I have been registered for the league now by my club Volyn, meaning that I am back to continue from where I stopped with Volyn before the World Cup,” the player further disclosed.

He was philosophical about the collapse of a summer switch.

"As a matter of fact, I don't feel bad that I couldn't move this summer. I have always liked to maintain an obedient personality. And I know God's time is the best,” he said.

"My club has showed me a lot of support and they are happy to have me back in the squad after the deals collapsed."

62

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

63

SHOWBIZ

wishes al er n fu s’ er iv R an Jo ts ee m d oo w Holly

I

F the dead do see, then, late comedian, Joan Rivers, who passed on last Thursday, may be satisfied with how her funeral turned out.

“When I die, I want my funeral to be a huge showbiz affair with lights, cameras, action…I want craft services, I want paparazzi and I want publicists making a scene! I want it to be Hollywood all the way…,” the deceased had said during her lifetime.

Indeed, there was all of that, and perhaps more on Sunday morning, as she was interned at Manhattan’s Temple Emanu-El, New York. It was a star-studded affair with all of the security and paparazzi and fan attention of a red-carpet event.

However, it was not clear if in line with other instructions left in her 2012 book, I Hate Everyone… Starting With Me, she got a wind machine to blow her hair in the casket, or if Harry Winston, the celebrated American jeweller made her a toe tag.

A huge crowd of fans, p h o t o g r a p h e r s , videographers and members of the media lined Fifth Avenue and 65th Street, hoping to catch a glimpse of the action outside of the private, invitation-only ceremony.

Giving boost to the funeral of the star of Fashion Police, the title of her celeb-

rity fashion critique TV show, reports said there was a large police presence, with officers stationed at every corner of the adjourning streets to the venue.

Guests at the event included Whoopi Goldberg, Sarah Jessica Parker, Barbara Walters, Diane Sawyer, Joy Behar, Paul Shaffer, Hoda Kotb, Kathie Lee Gifford, Giuliana Rancic, Bernadette Peters, Clive Davis, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Steve Forbes and Kyle MacLachlan and his wife, Desiree Gruber.

The ceremony, according to reports, was filled with laughter and tears, as Howard Stern, while delivering a eulogy, not only praised Rivers but managed to elicit laughter

from her friends and family, describing the deceased as “the best friend in the world ... a big sister ... a crazy aunt at a bar mitzvah.”

The funeral programme also included the excerpts from I Hate Everyone … Starting With Me in which Rivers described the star-studded send-off she wanted as well as a page with three of Rivers’ classic lines: “Can we talk?” ‘’Who are you wearing?” and “Because I’m a funny person.”

Meanwhile, fans outside of Temple Emanu-El shared some of their favourite memories of Rivers.

Quoting a source, Hollywood Reporter wrote: “When she was on Fashion Police, she

created this absolutely hilarious way of taking the high and mighty out of people, in a way that was just so hilarious and so right on ... and I think that we need that. We need that sort of reality check,” said Saly, who was carrying a copy of Rivers’ 1986 book Enter Talking.”

Rivers died Thursday at 81, a week after she was rushed to the hospital when she reportedly stopped breathing during surgery.

Her autopsy results failed to determine the cause and manner of her death and both the New York State Department of Health and the NYPD are investigating her death.

Double Trouble from Psquare

T

HEY have been rated as one of Africa’s biggest singing group, but the duo of Peter and Paul Okoye, aka Psquare, have shown that they are yet to relinquish that title, as the twins have fixed September 12 for the release of their sixth studio album titled Double Trouble.

The new album, which has 13 tracks, including the popular Alingo, Personally and Testimony as bonus tracks, features top artistes such as American rapper, T.I, Awilo Longomba, Dave Scott, Don Jazzy and Jermaine Jackson, brother of the late music icon, Michael Jackson.

By Adeniyi Adewoyin

In previous years, Psquare has been able to stand out among their counterparts, always introducing new dance steps in their music videos. They are also known to record large sales within a short time of their album releases.

It will be recalled that their third studio album, Do Me, sold over a million copies in the first six days of its release, setting a record in the Nigerian music industry.

Their previous albums include Last Night, Get Squared, Game Over, Danger as well as The Invasion.

K1 breaks tour for Osolo’s 10th anniversary HERE are strong indications that Fuji music star, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, aka K1 The Ultimate, will rush back to Nigeria today, halting a pre-scheduled itinerary binding him to the Diaspora until November, for his usual world music tour.

According to information, the short return of the musician is in honour of the Osolo of Isolo, Oba Kabiru Agbabiaka, who will be celebrating his 10th coronation anniversary. He is billed to

T

perform at the event.

This is not the first time the artiste will be making such return, as not too long ago, he extended the same courtesy for L a n r e A k a n n i

Mohammed, aka Lamex, who celebrated his 50th birthday.

After Oba Adelaja’s show, the musician will be going to the UK, for the second leg of the road-show tour that will take him to four continents.

Already, the musician and his group have covered North America and the Caribbean, and will proceed to Malaysia, Australia and South Africa after the UK shows.

Tinsel star lauds Mansard

for the unsolicited publicity, Omeili replied: “I don’t have to be paid to commend any good service because good service is so difficult to come by these days.”

Narrating her experience with the insurance company, Omeili, who was recently listed as one of the 25 hottest new talents in Nollywood by the Nigerian Entertainment Today (NET), said she was pleasantly shocked and surprised that not only did the insurance company pay her indemnity, it was also done promptly.

“I went to see a friend and parked my car outside, which was not unusual. When I returned later, I noticed that my trunk was partly opened, which was not the way I left it.

Dazed, I went into the car and discovered that it had been ransacked and my glove compartment cleaned out. That

was when I realised that the brain box of my car had been removed.” Omeili said she promptly got across to the friend who had introduced her to Mansard. “The incident happened on a Thursday and before the end of that day, the company sent me the claims form. I filled everything and the following Monday, I got the Discharge Voucher which I filled and sent back to them.

On Tuesday, I got an alert from my bank that payment to fix my car had been made

by Mansard. I was pleasantly shocked and surprised. For me, that was really commendable.”

According to the University of Lagos-trained medical doctor-turned actress, in a country where mediocrity and inefficiency are the order of the day, Mansard has proven to be a refreshing and heartwarming difference. “Though people see insurance as expensive, in all fairness, the risk insurance helps to mitigate is unquantifiable. Without Mansard, how convenient do you think it would have been for me to replace the brain box of my car?” she asked.

I

N a move that is likely to inspire her colleagues who seldom patronise insurance schemes, popular Tinsel actress, Nkiru Kiki Omeili, has openly commended the efficiency of Mansard Insurance, debunking insinuations that she might have been paid to do so.

“I’m really impressed with Mansard Insurance. I received my claims within three working days. They really are as good as they say they are. Kudos,” said the awardswinning actress and star of flicks such as Lekki Wives, Married But Living Single and Footprints in a slew of tweets.

Asked whether she was paid

•Tuface with Project Fame contestants

Tuface Idibia’s stint on Project Fame excites contestants

A

S though under a fresh anointing, MTN Project Fame contestants, last Sunday, delivered one of their best performances in this season, with Innocent Idibia, aka Tuface, literarily supplying the wind for such ‘ascension’.

Sharing the stage with a superstar like Tuface is one of the practical values typical with the Project Fame contestants, even from the preliminary stages. Such tutorial, according to the organisers, is meant to remove any emotional or psychological deficiency that could hinder a promising talent from hitting the winning line, in the music competition.

From Christian’s rendition of African Queen, Daniella’s emotionally laden True Love, Ruky’s See Me, Geoffrey’s Only Me to Ugo’s Implication, the energy and vocal dexterity put into each performance was incredible.

The approval from the judges suggested that the contestants are coming up as real stars, even for the likes of Clement, Emeka and Shola, including Debbie whom they thought should put in a little more effort.

There was so much for the contestants to learn from Tuface, who sang with ease and an amazing stagecraft – with every song, the guest artiste affected the crowd, as

they danced and sang along.

Meanwhile, the reality show broke another record over the weekend, recording over 4.7million viewership on its Youtube channel. The feat was the highest ever aggregated on any similar platform in Africa.

However, without the viewers’ votes, the contestants are never far from elimination, no matter how well they sing. The organisers urged viewers to send their favourite contestant’s number to 306 for Nigerian participants, and 1745 for those in Ghana via text messages, if the contestant must make the final stages of the show.

TODAY IN THE NATION

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.9

NO. 2,964

‘It is indicative of how much the Nigerian consumer has come of age in terms of cost-consciousness and service delivery as a whole. But more significantly, the debate is reflective of the understanding of the dynamics in the sector in the last few years...’

SANYA ONI

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

I

N late July 2010, some three weeks before the launch of Diary of a Debacle, my chronicle on military president Ibrahim Babangida’s duplicitous transition programme, I called up one of the nation’s most accomplished technocrats to confirm whether he had received my invitation to the event, and whether he would be coming.

I had not talked with him since the NADECO years, when he was forced to take refuge in the United Kingdom. He was one of the most valuable political and intellectual assets of the exiled opposition.

His broadcasts on Radio Kudirat, delivered with quiet authority –the type you could not dismiss as the fulminations of a fugitive wanted back home to answer for the most abhorrent crimes – rattled the regime of the loathsome even more than the street protests challenging his maniacal rule.

He had received my invitation but could not say for sure that he would attend.

I had thought that, as one of the stalwarts of NADECO and the struggle for the restoration of democratic rule, he would be enthusiastic in taking part in an event that was going to bring together the pillars of the movement and provide a forum for them to relive the experience, reminisce about what might have been, and contemplate what lies ahead.

But he did not sound enthusiastic.

Rather, he sounded distant, remote.

I was aware that he had shown little if any interest in sharing in the spoils, such as they were, which resulted directly from NADECO’s titanic struggle against the dictatorship, and had withdrawn altogether from the political process, unless it was a national assignment requiring his technocratic expertise.

But why would he now shun the company he once kept and revelled in?

“Look, Tunji,” he said, “Is it right that those who tormented us at home and hunted us all over the world should now occupy positions of influence and eminence in our ranks?”

He said it with a sigh. You could almost feel his pain.

And the person he mentioned as an example of a one-time tormentor turned chieftain was none other than Tom Ikimi, the rambunctious foreign minister of the odious regime of Sani Abacha. He was the regime’s international face, and what an unflattering face it was. I will get to that presently.

With the return to some semblance of democratic rule, Ikimi roamed the political landscape until he found his natural home in the PDP. There, he had a falling out with Tony “The Grand Fixer” Anenih, his one-time godfather in the PDP.

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

Annals of careerism

•Ikimi

And then, Ikimi the reactionary and the scourge of June Twelvers switched camp to the ACN, home to the rump of June Twelvers and began sounding off as Ikimi the beacon of progress, Saul the tormentor transmogrified into Paul the Apostle without a road-to-Damascus experience.

This was what the technocrat I was talking about found so discomfiting in the emergent politics, so discomfiting in fact that he decided to withdraw entirely from the political process. And that was even long before the ACN tapped Ikimi to head its negotiating team in the merger talks with the CPC and the ANPP. To Ikimi, the whole thing was a game, a way of getting on.

To be fair, he is not the only figure enmeshed in this game of politics without principle. One of his colleagues in the Abacha cabinet used to ask “June Twelvers” in genuine puzzlement why they were so worked up when all that was going on was just a game. He parlayed into a family business the fortune he amassed running un-

RIPPLES Ejide begs Nigerians: COME AND CHEER US

We CHEERED you against CONGO but ended up with HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

W

HEN our amiable President Goodluck Jonathan mounts the podium to tackle some knotty Nigerian situations; particularly such ‘inspired’ moments when he speaks off the cuff, you are bound to recoil in your seat and expect the worst. Depending on whom you are and where you lean, you either laugh, cry or simply punch the air in frustration. But react you must after listening to our president.

Now how did you, fellow Nigerian, react when you heard President Jonathan say recently that 60 per cent of fuel subsidy funds are smuggled abroad? He said this at the unveiling of the first phase of the national identity card scheme. Let us hear it from the horse’s mouth: “I’m particularly pleased with the National Identity Management Commission because a number of things we are supposed to do well as a nation, we are not doing well. And sometimes we blame the government because of the failure of the system and the credibility of the process.

“If you take the issue of subsidy of transport; what we do is subsidising hydrocarbon, it does not go to the ordinary people.

Government spends huge sums of money,

conscionable errands for Abacha and prostituting his considerable learning, and has been living in quiet obscurity since then.

Then, there is Sani Ahmed Yerima, the governor who set off a religious ferment, the like of which has not been seen in the Sahel since the jihad of Usmanu Dan Fodiyo by proclaiming sharia law in Zamfara. The last time we heard from him, he was fervently defending his marriage to a childbride. He did not only decamp to the ACN, he even threatened to seek its ticket for the presidential race.

To these political acrobats and their kind – please add Dr Bukola Saraki – one political party is as good as another, provided it helps you realise your ambition or offers you the best chance to get on.

In keeping with this orientation, Ikimi saw his assignment as chief ACN negotiator as an escalator to the national chairmanship of the APC. And when the position went instead to Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, you knew that it was only a matter of time before Ikimi would explode with his accustomed biliousness and denounce the organisation he had helped build and the officials he has accused of blocking his ascent.

As I see it, those who blocked his ascent did the APC and the progressive cause a good turn.

What message would they have been sending to the party faithful, to Nigerians still traumatised by the murderous rule of Sani Abacha and indeed the international community that suffered Ikimi’s tantrums – what message would these groups have taken away from the designation of Ikimi as national chairman of the APC, and its public face as such?

As Sani Abacha’s foreign minister, Ikimi was also the nation’s chief diplomat. But nothing about him was diplomatic. Not his tailoring, which was gaudy, nor his deportment, which was brash and overbear-

ing, not yet his tone, which was stentorian.

He came across as someone who would sooner challenge you to single combat than engage you in civil discourse.

Sonala Olumhense, my Rutam House contemporary and syndicated columnist, once reported how, in an encounter with the Editorial Board of The New York Times, the editors had asked Ikimi how he could in good conscience serve as the international spokesperson for a regime that had put a price on the head of the Nobelist, our own Wole Soyinka.

To which Ikimi had replied, with characteristic hauteur, “What is so special about the Nobel Prize? Anyone can win it.”

That fatuous remark ended the encounter.

Ikimi’s tenure destabilised the usually sedate foreign ministry. He set aside established practice and ran the place on the principle that anyone answering a Yoruba name had got to be a June Twelver and hence an enemy who must be defenestrated. And he went about the task with gusto, armed with Abacha’s carte blanche.

It is not for nothing that, during a public lecture in Lagos, Professor Gabriel Olusanya, then Nigeria’s ambassador to France, described Ikimi as an exponent of “area-boy” diplomacy, an “area boy” in Lagos idiom being the neighbourhood thug or troublemaker. Olusanya was too circumspect. He should have called Ikimi’s conduct in those days of infamy by its proper name: gangsta diplomacy.

But the blame is not entirely Ikimi’s.

Ikimi was a competent architect in private practice when former military vice president and fellow Esan, Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, with Babangida’s connivance, planted him as the “newbreed” head of the National Republican Convention, one of the two political parties they had decreed into existence.

When politics was politics and not a game Babangida devised to amuse himself and confound everyone else, Ikimi would have found it difficult to win election as deputy publicity secretary of a political party. But there he was, starting his political career as the national chairman of the party that was “a little to the Right.”

He made a hash of it. He could not give what he did not have then, and he cannot give it now.

Oyegun, who was voted APC national chairman, is in every respect a more suitable person than Ikimi for that office. He is brainy, suave, contemplative, sober, measured and well-respected. He is a consensus builder. He is not combative, but he is not afraid of a fight.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Jonathan’s subsidy sobs

would have saved yourself a worse fate of shoving your foot in your mouth. That of course would be utterly un-presidential. This is what has happened at this ID card event and had happened to our president several times before.

However, this idiotic and peculiarly Nigerian fuel subsidy debate has been with us for more than three decades. It is expected that President Jonathan would better understand the entire dynamics of it having been ‘this and that’ over the years. It is even expected that with his experience, he would have an instant antidote to the monster upon becoming number one. Yet subsidy remains an albatross even to Jonathan.

Today he sobs that he pays out hundreds of billions to ‘fraudulent’ Nigerians in the guise of ‘subsidy’. They simply ship the money abroad and turn around to make trouble with his government. Well folly has its repercussions, doesn’t it? But Hardball in his magnanimity would love to rescue Mr. President here with this little tip on how to ‘kill’ ‘subsidy enemies’: build and concession refineries with the subsidy billions and pronto, your ‘enemies’ will become history and you will in turn make history. Simplicita.

hundreds of billions of naira every year in the budget, ask the National Assembly.

“Sometimes it is controversial subsidising kerosene; yet, it is going very high in the market, subsidising PMS and so on.

“We are thinking about how to subsidise the transportation system such as the person going to school, the person going to the market, the person moving from Lagos to Enugu or Lagos to Kano and not paying subsidy 60 per cent of which will be smuggled out of the country.

“And those who make the money will come and use that money to induce the people suffering to even riot against government.”

Because not all of us are gifted with that rare facility of ex-tempo public speaking, Hardball always admonishes public officials to stick to prepared speeches. That never fails; you just reel it out or even chew up your paper if you will, but you would have read your speech at the end of the day. But most important, you

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025,Oshodi, Lagos.

Telephone: Switch Board: 01-8168361. Editor Daily:08099365644, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14 Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790 WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO