The Nation September 13, 2011

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

News ASUU to begin warning strike on September 26 Sport Taiwo to file out for AC Milan in Champions League Foreign Gaddafi’s son under watch, says Niger Republic

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VOL. 7, NO. 1892 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

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JONATHAN SPEAKS on security, power, judiciary, Libya, single tenure AND MORE •The President takes questions on many issues in his maiden media chat ... last night

•PAGES 6 & 64

Seven dead in police post bombing, bank robbery Defence chief gets presidential order to stop killings in Jos From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

F

IVE policemen were killed yesterday in a sudden attack on a police station in Bauchi State.

Gunmen operating in typical Boko Haram fashion bombed the Misau town police station and invaded a bank, where they killed a policeman, carting away a huge sum of money.

The hoodlums hurled a bomb at the police station, killing five policemen and a civilian.

They freed suspects detained in the police cell before setting the building on fire.

They left the area after shooting sporadically into the air to scare away people.

Misau is 163 kilometres from Bauchi, the state capital.

The unknown gunmen then moved to the Main Street Bank (formerly Afribank) branch, which is close to the police station.

They killed a policeman on guard and stormed the bank.

Eye witnesses said the hoodlums carted away huge sums of money.

Bauchi Police Commissioner Ikechukwu Ayo Aduba confirmed the incident on the telephone. He said details were being compiled and promised speedy investigation of the incident.

An eye witness said on the telephone from Misau that “five policemen and a civilian were killed at the police station, and the sixth policeman was felled at the bank”.

This is the third time the Misau Police station has been attacked. It was attacked durContinued on page 6

BOMB SCARE AT UI

•Security men checking vehicles entering the University of Ibadan (UI) following a bomb scare at the university ... yesterday. Story on page 9.

PHOTO: NAN

•SPORTS P15 •PROPERTY P25 •ENERGY P37 •AVIATION P44 •MONEYLINK P55

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THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

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NEWS New York, the city worse hit by the 9/11 attacks, is home to many Nigerians. What was their experience on that day 10 years ago? ADEOLA FAYEHUN spoke with some of them. Excerpts:

‘I witnessed the World Trade Centre come down’

• Dennis Anidi

• Alhaji Aliu Bello

• Ayo Samson

• Ogunjimi Abiola

I witnessed the World Trade Centre come down. I was across the street from the building. I just got to work that day and I saw the building come down from my office window. I had to walk like three miles to my house that day. I knew this country would never be the same after that.

There’s not much to the 9/ 11 remembrance than to appeal to the world to be peaceful. I don’t think there is a cause for any celebration than to appeal to people that we should all live as brothers and sisters. Whether you’re white, green, or blue, I believe that if they scratch your body, what will come out is red blood.

9/11, to me, means that life is too short. You never know what is going to happen or when it is going to happen. We should always be vigilant. We can be confident but never be too prideful, because we never know when we can be humbled. Therefore, we should be forever mindful.

9/11 is a symbol for us on why we need to be united. If there were to be something like that in Nigeria, looking at the way Nigeria is structured and how the police are handling things, we don’t have the experience we need to cope. I must tell you we don’t have the experience to handle such.

Lagos dismisses 90 KAI officials

By Miriam Ndikanwu

OVER 90 officials of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) brigade were yesterday dismissed by their employer, the Lagos State government for offences, ranging from stealing, extortion to truancy.

Commissioner for the Environment Mr. Tunji Bello described the decision as part of efforts to reposition the brigade to meet the daily environmental challenges confronting the state.

He said the ministry has embarked on a complete reorientation and capacity building programmes to strengthen the men and officers of the outfit to meet the government zero tolerance on environmental pollution.

Bello said the action would make the brigade to be more efficient and proactive.

The commissioner said: “The dismissal is based on various criteria, including absenteeism/ truancy, stealing, assault, extortion, obtaining money under false pretention, among others.”

• Ola Oduwole

• Adebayo Adedotun

I was in New York on 9/ 11. It was unbelievable. I couldn’t believe such a thing would happen in this country, especially using a plane as a tool of war, and I thought it was a war.

Innocent people were killed that day, including those trying to rescue others, and I always thought such a thing could never happen in this country.

We are still seeing the effects of 9/11. It didn’t just affect America, it affected the world. It’s not only an American affair but a world-wide affair because of the after effects. We all saw what happened that day; it’s a memory we can never forget. So, I will advise security consciousness for everybody.

ASUU begins warning strike Sept 26 •Over non implementation of agreement A NOTICE to stage a one-week warning strike beginning from September 26 was yesterday served on the Federal Government by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The union said its next line of action could be decided after the expiration of the one week.

ASUU spoke yesterday even as it took on the Federal Government over the increasing spate of bombings, kidnappings and other criminal activities across the country. It concluded that Nigeria was sliding into a state of anarchy.

The strike notice followed the alleged failure of the Federal Government to honour the 2009 agreement it reached with the union.

Serving the notice yesterday at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) at the University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan, ASUU National President Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, also urged the Federal Government to take steps to protect Nigerians stranded in troubled

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

Libya and other crises-ridden nations of the world.

Awuzie listed grey areas needing urgent attention by the government to include review of pension law to effect the 70-year retirement age for professors, implementation of the earned allowances component of the agreement as well as drastic improvement of funding of education in general and the universities in particular.

He said: “NEC after extensive deliberations of government’s refusal to judiciously implement the agreement it reached with ASUU, albeit having noted the commendable efforts of the Principal Officers, and other well-meaning Nigerians towards ensuring the full implementation of the agreement, decided to give the government up

to September 25 to show commitment to the full implementation of the agreement, review pension law to effect the 70-year retirement age for academics in the professorial cadre; implement the earned allowances component of the agreement and drastically improve funding of education in general and the universities in particular.”

The ASUU chief appealed to wellmeaning Nigerians, students, parents, civil society groups and the Organised Labour to intervene and ensure that the government implements the agreements in the interest of education and the country as a whole.

Emphasising that insurgence was growing by the day, ASUU said it was convinced that “the current state of insecurity is symptomatic of persistent policy failures by governments over the period as na-

tional security objectives and professionalism have been sacrificed for sheer corruption. It also lamented “that neither internal nor external security measures are in place to protect Nigerian borders and citizens from random encroachment by hostile individuals and groups.”

ASUU said it was time for government to expand its understanding of security to include provision of basics of life, healthy living and credible social living.

On corruption, ASUU said the vice has assumed a frightening dimension despite the efforts of the antigraft agencies. It urged that the causes of the menace should be addressed rather than the symptoms.

Also at the briefing were former National President of the union, Dr Dipo Fashina and the Chairman of the University of Ibadan chapter, Dr Ademola Aremu.

World leaders promise to fight cancer

•Ban Ki Moon

L

EADERS of the 193 United Nations member states have agreed to be more committed to the fight against cancer and other Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

In a Political Declaration yesterday ahead of the UN High level Meeting on NCDs, world leaders

said they have recognised the scale of the global NCD crisis and the urgent need for action.

President Goodluck Jonathan is a party to the agreement.

The High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly holds between September 19 and 20.

The Political Declaration shows that agreement was reached on several issues of contention during hardfought negotiations, including commitments on the Declaration to increase access to affordable, safe, effective and quality medicines; and to palliative and rehabilitative services, particularly at the community level.

It also includes a commitment to accelerate implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, to eliminate industrially-produced trans-fats in foods, and to implement interventions to re-

•Meet in New York next week

By Olukorede Yishau

duce consumption of salt, sugars and saturated fats.

In addition, member states have agreed to introduce policies and actions aimed at promoting healthy diets and increasing physical activity in the entire population.

A global civil society alliance against NCDs, the NCD Alliance, has welcomed the development.

In a statement, the group said: “The NCD Alliance and the 2,000 members in its global network have worked tirelessly to ensure the draft Political Declaration, to be agreed upon by governments next week, moves beyond rhetoric and vague pronouncements to include concrete commitments.”

The group’s Chair,Ann Keeling,

said: “While it falls short in several key areas, the Declaration is a strongly-worded document that will accelerate international progress on NCDs and provide a framework for saving millions of people from preventable death and disability due to NCDs. “An overarching goal and set of time-bound targets is missing from the draft. However, it contains an agreement to develop, in 2012, a comprehensive global monitoring framework for NCDs and a set of voluntary global targets and indicators. Member states have also agreed to hold a comprehensive review in 2014, which the NCD Alliance believes should include a follow-up High-Level Meeting. This review will provide an opportuni-

ty to track commitments made in the present Declaration and assess progress on the global targets and indicators that member states should deliver on. It will also provide an opportunity to ensure that NCDs are integrated with other health priorities in future internationally-agreed development goals when the current Millennium Development Goals end in 2015.”

Keeling added: “Regrettably, member states have ignored calls from the NCD Alliance to agree on measures to protect children from the marketing of alcohol but have committed to implement WHO recommendations to restrict the marketing to children of foods high in fats, sugar and salt; and to reverse the rising trends of obesity in children, youth and adults.”

The Declaration, once adopted on September 20, means NCDs will stay on the UN agenda for years to come.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

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NEWS

A failed economic policy MORE than two decades ago, 120 governmentowned companies were privatised. But an appraisal of the privatised firms shows that the managers of only 10 per cent of the enterprises have turned around their fortunes, reports LEKE SALAUDEEN

T

HE Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) was a child of necessity. Established in 1999, it got the mandate to breathe life into comatose public-owned companies by selling them to private investors. The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) was also established to supervise the BPE. These two agencies were given legal teeth through the promulgation of the Public Enterprises Privatisation and Commercialisation Act 1999.

Since then, it has privatised or concessioned no less than 120 companies.

But sadly, only a few can be pointed at as the success story of the much-taunted exercise.

By a recent admission of the BPE before the Senate ad-hoc Committee on the Privatisation of Public Enterprises, only 10 per cent of the 120 government companies sold are properly functioning.

Eighty per cent of the privatised concerns are finding it difficult to remain in business.

A recent BPE in-house stock-taking aimed at compelling the new owners to adhere to post acquisition plans found a huge chunk of them in bad shapes.

According the appraisal, the ailing enterprises are bedeviled by huge debts, energy crisis, infrastructure collapse, escalating production costs and unfriendly government policies.

Ever since it was sold, the Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN) has been involved in controversies and legal struggles related to the sale value as well as the allegations that the buyers (Messrs Folio Communications) have not revived the media organisation in line with terms as contained in concession agreement.

Most of the valuable properties of the company in Lagos and London have been sold by the buyer. Lately, a bench warrant was issued by the court against the firm.

Out of the six privatised hotels, the BPE singled out NICON Luxury

Hotel along with Sheraton Hotel & Towers (both in Abuja) as “lagging behind in the implementation of their rehabilitation projects.”

While NICON Luxury Hotel, acquired by Global Fleet, has failed to meet up with share purchase agreement, Hans Gremly, the Grman firm and new owners of Sheraton Hotel & Towers has not lived up to expectation.

The general debt profile of many of the privatised companies seems astounding, going by the details of the BPE report. The National Clearing & Forwarding Agency (NACFA), for instance, owes a staggering N10.2 billion incurred from huge investments that are apparently not yielding profit. The outfit was sold to Joroton International Agency Nigeria Limited.

Also, Vehicle Assembly Plants (VAP), Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) and the Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company Limited (ANAMMCO), are indebted to the tune of N25 billion and N3 billion respectively, as unpaid bank loans.

Acquired by ASD Motors, PAN has laid off 226 workers. Lack of patronage and unfavourable policies stifle its operations. The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), is owing the BPE a whopping N1 billion, which it used to recapitalise the outfit in 2007.

“Apart from the debt burden, ANAMMCO is presently in crisis and does not have a structure in place to run the company,” discloses the BPE, adding that “activities in the firm are almost coming to a halt due to conflict among shareholders.” The report stated that all the VAPs are struggling to survive in the face of the threats from unfavourable policy, and having difficulty accessing funds from banks due to high overhead costs and high interest rates.

The other VAPs are: VolksWagen of Nigeria (VON) Automobiles Limited, Leyland Nigerian Limited, Steyr Nigeria Limited and National

Trucks Manufacturers Limited.

The Vice President Namadi Sambo has set up a committee to look into the issues and address low government patronage challenges, poor and counter-productive fiscal regime, as well as high import dependency ratio for components.

The iron and steel sector appears the hardest hit by the energy crisis, which is typified by inadequate and unsteady power supply. In the report, the BPE described the resolution of the energy supply problem as crucial as, according to the body, cost of running generators in the plants to meet daily requirement “is

highly prohibitive and unsustainable.”

The oil palm companies (such as those at Ode Irele, Ihechiowa and Ayip Eku) have a peculiar power challenges, as they are all yet to connect to the national grid. They rely totally on generators with the attendant high cost.

The BPE frowned at the performance of enterprises in the iron and steel sector and particularly those that were privatised through guided liquidation.

The case of Jos Steel Rolling Mill is pathetic. Jardin Holding BV of Ukraine and Nigerian Zuma Steel

Company, who invested 75 and 25 per cent stakes respectively are locked in war of ownership that has stifled the resuscitation process of the plant.

Osogbo Steel Rolling Mill, which was sold to Kaura Holding, a subsidiary of Dangote Group is still moribund. No production has taken place since it was concessioned in 2006.

So also is the fate of Delta Steel Company, Aladja, which was acquired by Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited in 2004. It stopped production in October 2007 due to lack of raw materials. The company

A member of the Senate Ad hoc Committee probing the privatisation of public enterprises, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, identifies lack of transparency and due process as the major fallout of privatisation. LEKE SALAUDEEN met him.

Nigerians were shortchanged, says Ojudu

C

AN you give us your assessment of the BPE programme?

As a programme, there is nothing wrong with privatisation of government companies. If the government had gone into a business and failed and it now decides to privatise them, to me, there is nothing wrong with it. What we have seen so far, especially from those who had appeared before the committee and the facts that emerged at the public sittings, one can say that many things were not done right.

In some instances, Nigerians were shortchanged. I think government will do the necessary thing to correct the anomalies. There are issues of lack of transparency; there are issues of under valuation, lack of fair-

ness either to Nigeria as a country that invested so much money on the business or privatised companies and those who participated in the privatisation process. There are issues as to the refusal of those who are in charge (BPE officials) to keep to the laws guiding the process of privatisation.

Reports say majority of the companies privatised are not doing well.

How many are performing satisfactorily?

The Senate committee probing the privatisation exercise has not been able to determine how many of the privatised companies are doing fine and those that are not.

Certainly, some are doing well.

One of the good stories we heard is the concessioning of the ports to some

private companies. The evidence laid before us is that the companies are doing very well. We understand before the concessioning, that remittance coming to government coffers from the ports was very small. But since those companies have taken over the administration of the ports, things are being done effectively and more revenue now accrues to government.

What do you think should be done to salvage the ailing privatised establishments so that they can contribute to the economic growth of the country?

There are some that are clearly problematic like the Ajaokuta Steel Company and Delta Steel Company. Until we get to those places and look at what is on ground in relation

with what they told us at the public hearing, one will not be able to say this is what should be done to salvage them.

For now we have completed public sitting. One other thing we want to do is to visit the companies concerned to look at the realities on ground so as to know whether those who appeared before us said the truth or lied to us. That will start very soon. It is after we have done that that we can know what to do with the ailing companies.

Are you sure your committee’s report will be implemented?

Nigerians should get it right.

The National Assembly is not the executive. It is a law making body that have oversight functions on government agen-

•Ojudu

cies.

All we (Senate Ad hoc Committee) can do is to perform our over sight duties by looking at the privatisation process. Once that is done, the committee will present a report to the plenary session of the Senate and make recommendations to the executive. After that, it is up to the executive to do what it feels is right to be done with such reports and recommendations.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

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NEWS

called privatisation

PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI

•FACES OF PRIVATISATION: Ikoyi Hotels (now Southern Sun) is better than it was before it was privatised. The same cannot be said of Daily Times (above). Its compound now serves as a warehouse to a brewing giant. Delta Steel (down) is also a good example of how not to turn around an ailing firm. has laid off 2,878 workers.

The Osogbo Machine Tools which was privatised through core investor sale has not fared better. It is yet to commence production.

In the same vein, the Ajaokuta Steel Complex which had 60 per cent of its stake concessioned to Indian Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited on May 17, 2007 has since been returned to the Federal Government while its 5,000 workforce has been reduced to around 1,000.

BPE, in its report, said: “There is need for concerted efforts to

steer these enterprises to the right course initially through dialogue and subsequently the application of relevant sanctions were resolution proves unachievable.”

Good side of a failed policy But it is not all sad story. The hotels, whose performance, are regarded as being satisfactory and have either completed or carried out substantial repair and reconstruction of physical infrastructure, include Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, Central Hotel in Kano, as well as Ikoyi Hotel and Federal Palace Hotel, both in Lagos.

There are also other companies

doing well in other sectors. One of such is the Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON).

Located in Akwa Ibom State, ALSCON was almost dead before it was privatised. Though it produced its first metal in 1997, it never operated at installed capacity before it suspended production two years after.

In February 2007, a company, RUSAL wrapped up a deal to acquire a majority stake in the ALSCON, breathing life into it again. According to the terms of the deal, RUSAL purchased 77.5 per cent shares in ALSCON, a 193,000-

tonnes smelter, a port on Imo River and a power generating station.

The resuscitation of the firm worked and ALSCON has commenced large scale production of aluminum products.

Also doing well is the National Fertiliser Company of Nigeria (NAFCON).

It was sold to Notore Chemical Industries Limited in 2005. The company was one of the showpieces of Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, but it collapsed in a manner characteristic of most government enterprises.

The Eleme Petrol-Chemicals

Company Limited (EPCL), which was privatised in 2006 by the Federal Government has also shown good results. Prior to its take over

by Indorome Group, its core investor and majority share owners, the plants were in very bad shape.

But Indorome promptly carried out Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) on the plants and they resumed production in October 2006.

Within six months, the production of poly propylene and polyethylene begun at the new EPCL for both local and foreign markets.

Its high density polyethylene is now exported to France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Portugal, Turkey, India, China, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Napal, Vietnam, Ghana, Tanzania, Togo, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and Ivory Coast.

The exports are said to account for 10 per cent of Nigeria’s non-oil exports. EPCL now contributes US$80 million to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP) through its export earning. The company has also created more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians, especially in the oil-rich Niger Delta.

The National Trucks Manufacturers (NTM, Kano) was shut down for 15 years before it was privatised. Now it is fully operational with over 350 workers. The company now assembles agricultural tractors, light and articulated trucks, lorries and tippers, 14-seat buses, pick-up vans and motorcycles. Its turn over has grown from millions in 2003 to billions.

Another good side of the privatisation exercise is the Savannah Sugar Company Limited.

The company was acquired by Dangote Industries Limited and its Technical Partners, the Kenana Group. The Sudanese firm is the biggest sugar production group in the world. Before the company was privatised in 2002, its installed capacity stood at 50,000 to 55,000 tonnes per annum.

Dangote Industrial Limited officially took over in 2003 while its technical partners came on board in 2004. Since then, tremendous efforts have been made to resuscitate the company.

Katsina Rolling Mill was bought

by Dana Holdings in 2006, the rolling mill is performing till-date.

Dana Steel broke even at Katsina Rolling Mill within three years.

Before it was acquired, the rolling mill was in bad state of health.

This was evident by the refusal of private investors to bid for it in 2001 when the BPE put it on offer.

But, with the sad stories of the exercise overshadowing the good sides, analysts say Nigerians and Nigeria have lost rather than gain from it.

A Marketing lecturer at the Covenant University, Ota, Dr Omotayo Adegbuyi, gives an insight into why the privatisation of public companies has yielded little or no economic benefits to the country.

‘Why privatised firms are not performing’

W

HAT is your impression of the privatisation of public enter-

prises in the past decades?

The essence of privatisation of public enterprises was to give better and move efficient structure to the Nigerian economy while the numerous benefits will accrue to the teeming population.

However, Nigerian holds divergent views on the performance and contributions of privatisation in its two decades of existence. To many Nigerian, the innuendo of being a catalyst that has done more harm than good is glaring.

There is also a contentious

question unanswered as to whether the privatisation policy is not a breach of Section 6 (C) and other similar provisions in chapter two of the 1999 Constitution which states inter alia that it shall be the goal of the government to provide social amenities, education and economic welfare for the citizen. If public utilities and organisations like PHCN, NITEL, NPA, universities, polytechnics are transferred to people who now dictate the price, how will government discharge this obligation effectively to the citizenry? What legacies would this administration leave behind when all these valuable investments exchange hands?

How has the privatised estab-

lishments affected the nation’s economy?

Clearly, the effect of privatisation on the economy of this nation is worrisome if the existing economic indices and parameters are anything to go by. Inflation, as a critical issue is not being addressed, the health of the Naira in the foreign exchange market is deteriorating everyday, our foreign reserve is nose-diving, government deficit is rising, the expenditure profile is quite high. Prices of all items, including foodstuff are sky-rocketing beyond the reach of the common man. Foreign economic and financial institutions are adopting a wait-and-see attitude in the face of the seemingly

intractable situation. The standard of living goes from bad to worse.

What do you think should be done to ensure that government achieves its desired goal on privatisation of public enterprises?

There is need to review all enabling laws on privatisation to become pro-active, pragmatic and relevant. There are no enough laws to protect investment in Nigeria. For instance, it was alleged that the sale of NITEL was bungled because the nation does not have sufficient communication laws.

Efforts should be geared towards ensuring a solid agreement with core investors to protect the inter-

•Dr Adegbuyi

est of Nigerian workers and drive social ills like unemployment out of our society.

There is need to instill greater discipline in the entire public service; necessary rules and regulations should therefore be put in place to checkmate excesses of core investors.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

NEWS

•Managing Director/CEO, NDDC, Mr. Chibuzor Ugwoha (left) and the representative of the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Dere Awosika, at the provision of science infrastructure for basic and technical education in the Niger Delta States in Enugu ... last weekend

•Governor Umaru al-Makura of Nasarawa State, carrying an autistic orphan during his visit to the razed Gidan Bege Orphanage in Lafia ... yesterday

Defence chief gets presidential order to stop killings in Jos

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HE serial killings in Jos, the beleaguered Plateau State capital and its environs, got President Goodluck Jonathan cracking yesterday.

Dr Jonathan directed Chief of Defence Staff Air Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin to end the killings immediately.

No fewer than 100 persons – most of them members of same families – have been killed in attacks on homes in villages within the last few days.

The President also scheduled a meeting with Governor Jonah Jang today in Abuja over the security situation in the Northcentral state.

Rumours of attacks have been circulating through text messages in the state.

Many residents are having sleepless nights over threats of attacks.

The presidential directive,

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja, Yusufu Aminu Idegu and Marie-Therese Peter, Jos

which is with “immediate effect,” was delivered after yesterday’s security meeting at the Presidential Villa.

Vice President Namadi Sambo, security chiefs and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Andrew Azazi, attended the three-hour meeting.

A statement by presidential spokesman Reuben Abati said: “In keeping with his avowed resolve to ensure the full security of lives and property across the country, President Jonathan has directed the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Oluseyi Petinrin, to take full charge of the security situation in Plateau State immediately and take all necessary actions to stop the recent spate of killings in the state.

“Following a meeting of the

Seven killed Continued from page 1

ing the last general elections.

No organisation has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

Inspector General of Police Hafiz Ringim last month ordered the Bauchi Police chief to investigate attacks on financial institutions in the state.

Governor Isa Yuguda has consistently said that there are no Boko Haram men in the state but armed robbers.

National Security Council, President Jonathan also directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, to bring up all pending reports by recent committees set up by the Federal Government on the Plateau for immediate review and implementation.

“President Jonathan, who is scheduled to meet with the Plateau State Governor, Chief Jonah Jang tomorrow, further directed the National Emergency Management Agency

(NEMA) to take prompt action to address the plight of internally displaced persons in Plateau State.

“He renewed his call on parties involved in the crises in Plateau State to embrace tolerance, dialogue and compromise to ensure the success of ongoing efforts to achieve a lasting resolution of their differences.”

The state police command said it has uncovered the plan by some youths to invade Jos and cause further loss of lives

and property.

Rumours are rife of Muslims mobilising youths from outside the state to assist them in attacking Christians in Jos. Text messages are being circulated. People who have relatives in Jos have been calling their loved ones to alert them.

One of such messages indicated that many trucks had been assembled to convey youths from some parts of the North to Jos for the impending attack.

The police, who have been monitoring movements into the city in the last few days, confirmed that they had noticed an unusual influx of youths from some states in the North into Jos on motorcycles.

In a statement yesterday, the state police command said: “Consequent upon the influx of youths from other states of the North into Plateau with many unregistered motorcycles, the Plateau State

Police Command wishes to inform all owners of unregistered motorcycles to get them registered forthwith.”

The statement, signed by the Police Public Relations Officer Apev Jacob, an ASP, said: “This is to prevent them from being used for criminal purposes.

“We want to warn that any person who flouts this directive by using such unregistered motorcycle will be traced, arrested and prosecuted, in accordance with provisions of the road traffic Act. “The command also wishes to state in clear terms that security is a collective business and should therefore be devoid of ethnic, religious and political sentiments.

“Finally we want to reaffirm our commitment and determination to provide maximum security to all law abiding citizens in the state.”

Bombings won’t make Nigeria disintegrate, says Jonathan

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan last night assured Nigerians of his administration’s commitment to improving security.

But he noted that the rising security challenge is incapable of leading to this country’s disintegration.

“We are working on changing the security architecture of the country. We know we have challenges, but I can assure Nigerians that the security challenges will by brought under control,” he said.

Dr Jonathan said efforts were on to engage all stakeholders to ensure a permanent solution to the crisis in Plateau State, which has claimed many lives.

The President spoke in Abuja during his maiden media chat. It was broadcast on national television.

Silverbird’s Stella Din anchored the interview.

The President said he has no regret mooting the contentious constitutional amendment proposal of seven years single tenure for the President and Governors.

He said it was aimed at stabilising the country’s polity, and argued that without political stability, the economy would not grow.

He disagreed with the insinuation that the country will soon disintegrate because of insecurity. He said: “I, as the current President of this country, do not agree

By Eric Ikhilae and Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

with that insinuation that this country will disintegrate.

That people are throwing bombs does not mean that the country will disintegrate.”

He observed that it was not the first time people would express fears about the nation’s unity, but that the country, despite its differences and problems, has always survived as one entity.

Citing past crises, particularly the Civil War and the Niger Delta unrest, Jonathan argued that the level of economic and social integration achieved by the people does not indicate that the country would disintegrate.

“We will not disintegrate.

And I can assure you that between now and 2015, Nigeria will remain a single entity,” he said.

He justified his suggestion for a single tenure for the President and governors, saying although he is yet to send a Bill to the National Assembly to that effect; he was proposing a single term of seven years for president and governors while the Legislature should have multiple tenure of six years.

He based his push for a single term on the high cost of running elections. He said Nigerians would one day decide on the issue and assured that it has nothing to do with personal gains. Besides, said

the President, he does not have the fiat to impose the amendment.

Jonathan chided those commenting on the proposal when it was yet to be submitted to the National Assembly.

“I have no regrets over the single tenure proposal because it will stabilise the polity,” he said, adding: “I said seven years actually; I did not talk about six years.

My thinking is seven years for President and governors, but for the National Assembly, I said six years.

“The feeling that probably you have hidden agenda makes people to oppose it, but one day Nigerians will decide.

Now it is like a rumour.”

The President assured of his government’s commitment to improving power situation. He said the government was working on ways of ensuring enhanced private sector involvement in all power production efforts, including generation and distribution.

On the crisis in the judiciary, President Jonathan admitted that every Nigerian is concerned about the recent unhealthy development in that arm of government. He believed in the ability of the judiciary, he said, and advised: “We should allow the judiciary to reform itself.”

In his view, the peace in Plateau State is a function of the people’s resolve to bring about peace. No matter the number of soldiers deployed in the state, except the people

resolve to have peace, it could be difficult, he said.

The President expressed his support for dialogue among Nigerians as a way of resolving observed contradictions, but he ruled out the possibility of his administration organising any dialogue.

Many have been pushing for a national conference to resolve some critical national issues.

He said the government would rather set up a body to review past conferences and reduce issues which have been agreed upon to a bill for consideration by the National Assembly.

The President also spoke on the Wikileaks reports, which he described as mere beer parlour gossips.

He said the reports failed to find out the authenticity of the information provided.

Though he did not deny that most of the people mentioned in the reports spoke to American ambassadors, Jonathan questioned the authenticity of the report.

He refuted the report about the purported arrest of his wife Patience, with $13.5million at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in 2006, saying it was not possible for his wife to have attempted ferrying the said amount under four months of his administration as the governor of Bayelsa State.

He said the report should be taken with a pinch of salt.

He said because of certain

situation in Bayelsa State, where he was governor, he was not travelling.

“The recent one about me and one of my aides, who was alleged to have said that I contributed to the poverty of the people and that I belong to the old order. I was just 12months in office when they said the issue in reference or were they referring to when I was deputy governor,” he said.

The President said the country’s borders had been strengthened.

The issue of the border, according to him, came up during the emergency meeting of ECOWAS Heads of State last weekend.

He said the effort would not stop the free trade agreement within the West African region.

Jonathan pledged his administration’s commitment to the war against corruption. He admitted that the cost of running government is large. He vowed to curb waste of public funds.

The President gave details of his government’s plan to improve agriculture with a view to generating employment and feeding the people.

He said the government would discourage heavy reliance on imported fertiliser.

He said the nation would soon attain sufficiency in food production, even as the gov-

ernment has abolished waivers for fertilizer importation.

Jonathan blamed the high cost of cement on poor infrastructure, particularly roads.

He pledged the construction of the second Niger Bridge and the continuous dredging of the river channels.

President Jonathan justified the pro-Africa stand of his administration on international issues. He also justified the country’s recognition of the transitional government in Libya, arguing that the position was not at variance with that of the African Union on the issue.

He said the decision to back the rebels was to protect Nigeria’s interest, particularly its citizens, since it became obvious that Col. Gaddafi had lost his hold on power.

On National Conference, Jonathan said he was not aversed to it. “Yes; I support.

Nigerians have been discussing.” The government is looking at reports of past dialogues, he said.

He said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, has been asked to bring out all the reports on various dialogues in the past.

“It is when you don’t discuss that you have problem and we must encourage discussions,” Jonathan said.

CORRECTION The Ekiti State Governor’s wife’s first name is Bisi and not Olufunke as written in a page 4 photograph caption yesterday.

ADVERT HOTLINES: 01-280668, 08070591302, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 01-8962807, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

7

NEWS Retired Captain ‘invades’ PDP secretariat in Kogi

Jonathan: second Niger bridge will be ready in 2015

From Mohammed Bashir, Lokoja

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday assured the people of the Southeast of his commitment to complete the construction of the second Niger bridge by 2015.

He directed the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, to ensure that the bridge is delivered by the date.

The President said his administration has the political will to execute the project.

Dr Jonathan noted that budgeting was a problem hindering the execution of most projects, assuring that his administration would work with the National Assembly to have a working budget.

The President spoke when he received a Southeast delegation, led by former VicePresident Alex Ekwueme, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The other members of the delegation were: Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu; Deputy Speaker, House of Representativess Emeka Ihedioha; Southeast governors; ministers from the region; Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Achebe; and other senior citizens and clergy from the region.

Dr Jonathan said: “The issue of the second Niger bridge: luckily, the coordinating minister of the economy is here, though the minister of works is not here. I have already directed the Minister of Works to come up with a plan for us to begin work on that bridge.

“The coordinating minister will take it as one of our priority projects for the next three budget years or so. God willing, we should deliver the bridge before we conclude by 2015. You have also highlighted some roads projects, like the road to Obubra and others.

“The issue of road networks in the country is pitiable, not only in the Southeast but elsewhere too. I watched a television commentary one day and somebody was asking if the Southeast was not part of Nigeria again, considering the state of the roads. We must have a robust plan to look at all our roads.

“In terms of state government intervening to get refunds from the Federal Government, we discussed this even in the previous administration. That was why we set up a committee and worked out the blueprint from where a state government wants to intervene on a road project or any Federal Government infrastructure. We considered the conditions so that at the end of the day you will be paid.”

A

•Guest lecturer, Prof Ishola Olomola (left), Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, his wife and Chairperson, Technical Consultative Committee on Culture, Arts and Tourism, Bisi and popular Yoruba actor, Chief Jimoh Aliu at the consultative forum held in Ado-Ekiti...yesterday.

•Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State (right) receiving the report of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry on the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) crisis from the Chairman, Justice John Olagoke Ige, in his office...at the weekend.

Presidential tribunal rejects CPC’s witnesses, evidence

T

HE Presidential Election Petition Tribunal yesterday nullified the testimonies of two witnesses called by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) at the beginning of hearing of its petition for “human error”.

The witnesses are: the National Chairman, Prince Tony Momoh; and the National Secretary, Alhaji Buba Galadima.

But the CPC maintained that the rejection of the testimonies would not affect its petition.

The party is challenging the April 16 electoral victory of President Goodluck Jonathan.

General Muhammadu Buhari contested on the platform of the CPC. At the beginning of the hearing yesterday, the tribunal fixed tomorrow for hearing in the application for more witnesses and evidence

•Justice Akaahs becomes new chair From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

by the CPC. Tribunal Chairman Justice Kumai Bayang Akaahs refused the witnesses’ depositions and their oral testimonies, following the objection raised by the respondents that their statements on oaths were interchanged.

Galadima wrongly adopted Momoh’s statements on oath and the latter adopted Galadima’s as his.

Effort by counsel to the petitioner, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to convince the tribunal that the error arose during the arrangement of the witnesses, was resisted by the respondents’ counsel.

Galadima was the first petitioner witness (PW1) and

he had adopted the statement on oath on pages 17 to 55 as his own on sighting his signature. He was crossexamined based on the depositions.

Problems arose when Momoh, who came in as the second petitioner witness (PW2), adopted his statement on oath after confirming his signature. But it turned out that his signature appeared against the statement of Galadima.

It was also discovered that Galadima’s signature appeared against Momoh’s depositions.

To clear the mix-up, Malami urged the tribunal for a short stand-down.

On resumption after 25 minutes, Malami made an oral application to the tribunal to allow the

respondents to re-examine the first witness.

But counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), argued that the petitioner should apply formally by deposing to an affidavit stating the nature and source of the mistake, if he wanted a leeway.

Counsel to Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Wole Olanipekin (SAN), opposed the application, arguing that the error amounted to interchanging the witnesses and the evidence before the tribunal.

He said: “The question of coming before the court formally does not arise. Your lordships do not have the jurisdiction. It can only be an issue of appeal. We have reached the point of no return.”

GOVERNORSHIP aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada (rtd), has allegedly invaded the Odu 1 Ward secretariat of the party in Dekina Local Government, demanding to be registered.

Wada is said to be an inlaw to and the choice of Governor Ibrahim Idris.

The retired Captain and four others, including Ademu Agamah, were said to have demanded for the party’s register from its official.

Addressing reporters over the incident yesterday in Lokoja, the party’s ward Chairman, Ijeje Utonu, and Secretary, Hassan Akeji, alleged that Wada is not a registered member of the party.

The military officer allegedly stormed the ward at 10pm on Sunday with armed men in mufti, asking for Utonu and Akeji.

Utonu said the retired Captain and his armed men ordered the officials to produce the party register and register him.

According to Ijeje, when Wada was denied access to the register, he reportedly ordered his men to shoot into the air to intimidate the officials.

In the melee, some of the villagers reportedly ran into the bush for safety.

Wamako berates contractor From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

S

OKOTO State Governor Aliyu Wamakko yesterday berated the contractor handling one of Kware Local Government’s housing estate projects for allegedly sabotaging and betraying his administration, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the electorate for not completing the project after receiving 70per cent payment.

The governor also expressed dissatisfaction over the quality of work at the N172million project at the Government Secondary School, Kware, saying it lacked good finishing.

He said: “This shows there is no respect for authorities and for the people of the council, who are the beneficiaries of the project.”

1,957 discrepancies found in Kwara governorship result From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

•Belgore

T

ESTS conducted on the certified true copies of documents provid-

ed by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) uncovered about 1,957 discrepancies from the results announced in the Kwara State governorship election of Apri 26.

This was contained in the forensic analysis the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) tendered yesterday at the governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Ilorin.

The discrepancies are spread across the local government areas and electoral

wards being challenged by the petitioners – the ACN; its governorship candidate, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN); and his deputy, Joshua Adeyinka.

The tests carried out are: discrepancies between total votes cast and accredited voters; discrepancies between total votes cast and voters on the queue; discrepancies between total votes cast and ballots used to cast votes; discrepancies between accredited voters and queued voters; discrepancies between voters recorded on the queue and ballot papers recorded as

used on EC8A; discrepancies between voters ticked as having been accredited on the voters’ register and accredited voters recorded on EC8A; irregularity of non-accreditation; discrepancies between voters ticked as having voted on the voters register and total votes cast recorded on EC8A. It was found upon examination of the CTCs of the voters’ registers, that in 473 polling units, there were discrepancies between the number of voters ticked on the voters register and the number of total votes cast as recorded on the relevant Form EC8A for the 473 polling

units; irregularity of nonvoting because voters register for these poling units did not have any ticks in the boxes provided for such by INEC as evidence of voting; and lastly, differences between the total valid votes recorded on Form EC8A and actual ballot papers certified as used by the electoral bodies.

Test A discovered 14 discrepancies out of which PDP contended that three were not correct; Test B found 100 discrepancies out of which PDP faulted only two; Test 3 affirmed 181 discrepancies of which PDP disagreed with 11; Test 4 found 23 errors from

which PDP argued that two were not correct; Test 5 exposed 145 irregularities with PDP finding no error; Test 6 concluded that there was no accreditation in 645 polling units but PDP faulted the claim only in one polling unit; Test 7 found 123 discrepancies three of which the PDP faulted; Test 8 found 473 errors of which the PDP faulted none; Test 9 found there was no voting in 253 units, with the PDP faulting none; while Test 10 discovered that the total number of valid votes recorded on Form EC8A is at variance with the actual ballot papers certified as used by the INEC...

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

8

NEWS Flood victims, physically challenged persons protest in Lagos

F

LOOD victims and persons with disabilities yesterday stormed the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, in protest.

The flood victims were protesting their exclusion from relief materials that were distributed at the weekend to victims of the July 10 floods.

They were from Arigbanla, Oyekunle, Awofe, Adenekan and Araromi streets in Orile Agege Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

The flood victims arrived at the secretariat at about 12 noon, bearing placards with inscriptions, such as: “Araromi youths will not rest until justice prevails”; “We know our governor as a progressive, not a conservative”; “We believe our governor will not relief us with packages worth N500 two months and two days after the flood”; and “Babatunde Raji Fashola, help us”, among others.

Their spokesperson, Mr. Sulaimon Kogbodoku, said: “Government officials came to our communities last Sunday to share relief materials to residents. But we were disappointed when we found only bathroom slippers, tooth brush and tooth paste in the packs they gave us.

“We do not understand why we were excluded from the government’s benevolent gesture, after losing all our property to the flood.”

The General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Mangement Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Oke Osanyintolu, said: “Last Friday, we gave N50,000 to those whose houses would be demolished in Odejobi Street.

We have not finished taking stock of victims and I am sure the protesters have not been captured in the data.

“We are working in phases. We are not going to de-

E

By Miriam Ndikanwu molish houses in Arigbanla, but are going to repair their community by constructing drains.”

The physically challenged persons were protesting government’s plan to impound commercial vehicles not painted in the state’s approved colours.

Bearing placards, which read: “Leave us alone”; “Do you want us to be beggars”; “We will not comply”; and “Save the physically challenged”, among others, they urged the government to exclude commercial vehicles owned by the National Disable Sport Association, Lagos branch, from the law.

The President of the Disabled Transport Assisted Project, Patrick Ene, said the association has a distinct colour for its commercial vehicles.

A member of the association, Solomon Okechukwu, who claimed to have won medals for Nigeria three times in the Paralympics game, said: “The disabled are not reckoned with in this country. In the banks, there are no provisions for special entrances for the disabled, even though we save the same amount as others. The only mode of survival for some of our members is about to be blocked through this directive.”

Commissioner for Transportation Kayode Opeifa said the government does not disturb them from operating commercial vehicles, but they must comply with the new directive.

Opeifa said: “The law does not recognise anybody. The directive applies to all, including the military and students.”

He said government would begin to impound commercial vehicles that are not painted in the approved colours on Thursday.

Fayemi to meet with Ekiti indigenes in Lagos

KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi will, on Thursday, hold an interactive session with Ekiti indigenes in Lagos.

The meeting will hold by 5pm at the Events Centre, Plot 1, Block B1, Hakeem

Balogun Street, Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja.

The meeting is the second. All indigenes and other stakeholders are expected at the meeting.

‘Ondo needs better platform for transformation’

T

THE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday said the people of Ondo State need a visionary platform to develop and align with the regional reformation agenda in the Southwest.

In a statement, the party’s Director of Media and Publicity in the state, Gbenga Akinmoyo, said the level of development in ACN-controlled states would help the people decide at future elections.

He said: “What might obtain in other states of the federation is not necessarily applicable in the Sunshine State.

“Even at the federal level, the Peoples Democratic Par-

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

ty (PDP) is fast losing its grip on the reins of power and 2015 should be a litmus test on the party’s perceived popularity and self-proclaimed strength.

“As far is the Labour Party (LP) is concerned, the Governor Olusegun Mimiko-led administration has shown the electorate that it is not a viable proposition for the future.

“Mimiko’s romance with the Presidency, federal appointees and the recent remark by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo that the governor is a PDP-man in spirit are all inter-connected and a clear indication that LP is a failed project.”

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (middle); his deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (2nd right); President, Lagos Court of Arbitration Rules, Babajide Ogundipe (left); Mr. Supo Shashore (SAN) (2nd left) and the Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Bosun Jeje, at the launch of Lagos Homes’ website, held at the State House in Alausa, Ikeja...yesterday PHOTO BY OMOSEHIN MOSES

Oyo cholera death toll hits 13

T

HREE more people were killed yesterday by cholera in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State, bringing the death toll to 13 in less than four days.

Though control measures have been put in place by the state and local governments, many people have been hospitalised since the outbreak of the disease last Friday.

At the weekend, 30 persons were reportedly on admission at various hospitals.

The Caretaker Chairman of the council, Prof. Niyi Olowofela, confirmed that three persons died last night at an Hausa community, Oke-Pan, in Omi-Adio.

Olowofela said: “Some

•Govt treats water sources From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

health and environmental officers; and I went round the communities, especially the Hausa community at OkePan, where they reported that three people died last night of cholera.

“We visited virtually all hospitals in Omi-Adio to assess the situation and render assistance to victims.

“The disease has ravaged many lives in one of the 10 wards in the local government and I assure you that we are on top of the situation.”

He said a health centre in Omi-Adio had been converted into an emergency cholera centre, where people exhibiting symptoms of the disease can go to for treatment.

Olowofela said health officers had been moving round communities to fumigate wells and treat sources of drinking water with chlorine.

He said environmental officers were also going round to ensure that the people keep their environment clean.

The Deputy State Epidemiologist, Dr. Abass Gbolahan, said health officers from the

Ministry of Health had been mobilised to control the disease.

Gbolahan said: “We were in Ido yesterday. We moved round the hospitals where the victims were admitted and took stool samples for laboratory tests.

“While awaiting the result, our environmental officers are moving round the local government to educate people on the need to clean their environment and are treating wells with chlorine as well.”

A doctor at one of the hospitals, simply identified as Gbolahan, said one of the patients died within 24 hours on admission, but others were being managed.

Ekiti Varsity students protest high fees

S

TUDENTS of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), formerly University of Ado Ekiti (UNAD), yesterday protested an increase in school fees.

As early as 6:30 am, the students, in their hundreds, barricaded Ado-EkitiIworoko road, obstructing pedestrian and vehicular movement.

They sang solidarity songs and carried placards, with inscriptions, such as, “We say no to 200 Level school fees”; “We demand extension of registration date”; and “Governor should come and address us”, among others.

The protesters threw stones at policemen who tried to get them off the road. They insisted that they would not disperse, unless Governor Kayode Fayemi intervenes.

The Student Union President, Shittu Olalekan, said: “The latest decision by the school authorities and the newly inaugurated Governing Council to make students pay school fees, which had earlier been waived through an existing

‘There is a circular regarding the reduction of school fees from about N100,000 to N50,000. The imposition of the outrageous fees came during the ousted administration of Governor Segun Oni’ From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado Ekiti

circular, cannot be justified.

“There is a circular regarding the reduction of school fees from about N100,000 to N50,000. The imposition of the outrageous fees came during the ousted administration of Governor Segun Oni. Students paid the fees then because they had no option.

“But some students, especially those that are now in 200 Level, were refunded

half the amount they paid, based on Governor Fayemi’s intervention, which was contained in a circular and published in the newspapers. Some students in the College of Medicine, who paid about N500,000 were told not to pay for the next four sessions.

“But the authorities are now asking students to pay the outrageous fees that Fayemi has reviewed before they can be allowed to register for the new session.

“Some of the affected students are yet to resume from the holidays and some are still on Industrial Training.

Should these ones fail to pay the fees on or before September 16, the authorities said they would be charged an extra fee of N2,500. This is unjustifiable.”

The Public Relations Officer of the Students’ Union Government, Adeeko Emmanuel, said: “The students’ union made attempts to meet with the state government to inform it on the development, but to no avail.

“Apart from school fees, the popular School Gate

Hostel, which houses about N5,000 students, does not have electricity. The best we got after several pleas was a transformer, which has not been connected till today. “Electricity has improved in Ado-Ekiti, but students suffer here because we are not connected to the national grid. What is our crime?”

The Commissioner for Youth and Sports, who addressed the students, blamed them for not exploring other means.

He said: “I have always been close to you and I am disappointed that you embarked on a protest without informing me. You did not explore all possible means before embarking on this protest. The governor has listening ears and will be ready to accommodate your views if you went about it the normal way.”

The protesters were eventually dispersed with tear gas.

The school’s Acting Registerer, Mr. Adeoya Babajide, in a statement, announced the proscription of the Student’s Union.

He said: “Students found in Breach of the directive risk expulsion.”

Verdict on PDP’s petition against Amosun put off

T

HE Ogun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, the state capital, has indefinitely reserved judgment in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) PDP against Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s elec-

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

tion.

The tribunal’s Chairman, Justice Bashir Sukola, yesterday refused to give parties a date on the delivery of judgment.

He said the court would notify them at the appro-

priated time.

Joined as respondents in the petition are the State Independent National Electoral Commission (OGSIEC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) and PPN’s governorship candidate Mr. Gboyega Nasir Isiaka.

•Amosun

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

9

NEWS

Panic as Boko Haram threatens to Akpabio, Udoedehe know fate today J bomb UNIBEN, UI T

HERE was panic yesterday at the Ugbowo and Ekenwan campuses of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State, over plans by the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, to bomb the university.

Visitors and students were frisked before leaving or entering the university.

Many students in the hostels were seen packing out.

Boko Haram had, last Thursday, sent an e-mail to the Registrar in which they said the university would be bombed.

It gave September 12-17 as their target date to detonate bombs at the university.

It warned that the message was “not a threat, but a notification which must be strictly adhered to.”

The group also listed 19 other universities it planned to bomb within the period.

The university’s spokesman, Harrison Osarenren, confirmed the receipt of the threat message.

In a September 7 letter, Osarenren urged “mischief makers to disassociate them-

•National Assembly tightens security

From Osagie Otabor, Benin, Bisi Oladele, Ibadan and Sanni Onugu, Abuja

selves from any evil plan as security operatives are on their trail.

“Management of the university views with serious concern plans by some persons who do not mean well for the institution to cause mayhem on our campus..”

At the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, motorists entering the campus had a hard time as the university authorities mounted an intensive security check at the gate.

The security measure, which left motorists sweating for hours, followed unconfirmed reports that the university had also been marked down for bombing.

Many motorists abandoned their mission at the university after spending hours in the traffic created by parking out-

side the gate and walking into the campus.

Others who could not take the decision endured the traffic snarl, which led to a long queue towards Sango.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof Elijah Bamigboye, said though the bomb scare came as a rumour, the authorities did not want to take chances in view of the experience at the United Nations house in Abuja.

His words: “We heard rumours that a group is likely to descend on institutions where education is being imparted.

“We heard that U.I is top on the list.

“When we heard the rumour, we did not want to take chances.

“The essence is to sensitise the community and to alert people on the rumour.

“We directed the security department to step up screening

of all vehicles into the campus. “ My car too was subjected to thorough search this morning.”

The authorities of the National Assembly yesterday introduced new security measures ahead of lawmakers’ resumption today.

Visitors and staff were made to go through a series of checks before being allowed into the complex.

Already, staff and visitors are not allowed to drive into the complex, following reports that Boko Haram has listed the Assembly and other government institutions as its next target.

To cushion the effect of trekking the about one kilometre distance into the complex, the Clerk of the National Assembly has provided two buses to convey both staff and security-cleared visitors to the complex.

USTICE Jafaru Makailu of the Court of Appeal sitting in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, will today decide on the appeal filed by the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), its governorship candidate, Senator John Akpanudoedehe and his running mate, Chief Ime Umanah.

The appellate court had fixed today as judgment in the appeal filed by ACN after entertaining arguments from parties on September 7.

ACN and others had challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) declaration of Governor Godswill Akpabio of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the April 26 governorship election.

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

The Election Petitions Tribunal, headed by Justice Adam Onum, had earlier dismissed the applications filed by the ACN and others on technical grounds.

The appellants, in their arguments, raised six issues for the court’s determination.

They include whether or not considering Section 294(1) of the constitution, the unsigned judgment of the tribunal delivered on July 18 is valid and not liable to be set aside?

They also want the court to decide whether or not the tribunal was right in dismissing their petition following their failure to seek and obtain leave to move the application for the issuance of pre-hearing notice.

Malaria campaign launched

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HE Bayelsa State Government has collaborated with the Federal Ministry of Health to fight malaria.

The government launched the campaign in Yenagoa in collaboration with Roll Back Malaria Agency of the ministry.

To this end, it is distributing Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN) to every nook and cranny of the state.

The governor’s wife, Mrs. Alayingi Sylva, was made the Net Ambassador.

At the event yesterday, Minister of Health Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu said malaria has been a major cause of morbidity and mor-

From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

tality in Nigeria and the most affected are women and children.

Represented by the National Coordinator of the National Malaria Programme, Dr. Babajide Coker, Chukwu said: “It is worrisome that despite its treatment, malaria still remains a source of death and the burden has continued to be significant.

“With the nets, Bayelsa State will witness more prosperous family units.

“It will lead to the emergence of quality health among the people of the state.”

Rivers Assembly deliberates on loans

T •President, New Era Foundation (NEF), Senator Oluremi Tinubu flanked by New Era Youth Camp’s Coordinator Mr Bajo Adebule (left), NEF’s Executive Director Mr Yemi Osilaja and some youths at the first New Era Youth Leadership Camp at Ibeju-Lekki...at the weekend

14 dead in Bayelsa cult killings

T

HE police in Bayelsa State have confirmed that 14 people have been killed in the last three weeks, following the activities of a killer squad that is terrorising the state.

Commissioner of Police Aliyu Musa, who confirmed the figure at a briefing in Yenagoa yesterday, said the ‘official figure’ recorded so far is 14.

He said: “The official figure is 14 but it could be more

From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

than that.

“I evolved a strategy, which had paid off and led to the arrest of some members of the cults.

“We raided black spots and conducted stop and search operations, which led to the recovery of arms, ammunition and various items.

“There is a suspect who we decided to keep with us because he has revealed

many peoples’ names.

“If we bring him out, the information may leak. We will keep him so we can investigate his allegations.”

Though the police said the killings were between two cults, Icelanders and Greenlanders, no member of the two groups were among the over 20 suspects paraded.

A suspected member of Vikings Confraternity was arrested.

Others include a suspect-

ed sea pirate found with a pump action gun and a rifle; an ex-militant who also had a rifle; another who claimed to be behind the recent killing of three persons in Kpansia area of Yenagoa and others.

But a source said: “The police are just being economical with the truth about the killings.

“They should tell us the truth; there is political undertone to the whole thing”.

Clark to Uduaghan: make public your achievements I JAW leader and elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark has challenged Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to convene a Town Hall meeting to announce his achievements.

Clark said he has nothing personal against the governor, promising to render a public apology to him if it is proven that his castigation was misplaced.

He said despite his face-off with Uduaghan, he has no personal hatred for the governor, adding that Uduaghan remains his ‘son’.

From Shola O’Neil, Warri

Clark spoke when the Director of Personnel Management, Burutu Local Government, Moses Adagbabiri, visited him over the death of his daughter.

The Ijaw leader described the condolence visits as a rehearsal of how Nigerians would react over his own death.

He said the outpour of emotions and sympathy in the wake of the death of his

third daughter was emotional and painful for him.

Clark opined that expression of love and visitations had further convinced him that he should always speak the truth no matter whose ox is gored.

He added that it was that principle that has made him to speak his mind on issues affecting the common man and the Niger Delta.

Waxing philosophical, Clark said he couldn’t question the will of God or suffer

•Clark

a bout of regret over his daughter’s death because it was her time to go.

He added that even if he had the chance to offer himself in her place, God would not have accepted the offer.

HE Rivers State House of Assembly is moving a bill to give legal backing to the loan management undertaken by the government.

Titled, “Rivers State Debt Management Office Establishment Bill 2011”, the bill which underwent second reading yesterday is being sponsored by House Leader Chidi Llyod (Emohua Constituency).

Llyod highlighted the merits of the bill and denied that it is meant to give the governor undue powers to borrow.

Despite his efforts to convince his colleagues to support the bill, many of them gave knocks to it, saying it is not in the interest of their people.

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

Victor Chinwo (Port Harcourt Constituency 111) said: ”Having studied the bill, he has come to the conclusion that the disadvantages are more than the advantages.”

Ikwuinyi Ibani (Andoni constituency) said: “If any government is capable of borrowing money, it should also be in a better position to repay within the life span of that administration.”

The Deputy Speaker, Leyi Kwanee, who presided over the sitting, said he was not going to end the debate on the bill, promising that the debate on the bill would come up again on September 23, when the House resumes sitting.

‘Stop politicising insecurity in Edo’

A

CHIEFTAIN of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo South, Okhomina Ifidon, has berated the party Chairman, Dan Orbih, to stop politicising insecurity in the state.

He urged Orbih and Prof Oserheimen Osunbor to proffer alternative solutions to security agencies in curbing the activities of hoodlums rather than instigating the people against Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

In a statement yesterday, Imafidon said: “I was shocked last week when I read reports calling for the probe of Oshiomhole’s security votes since he assumed office by Orbih and Oserheimen.

“I think as an opposition party, we should be careful

in hurling stones at the market place because, the potential victim could be a relative or a beloved one. What should concern us all is the collective security of the state and not that of Governor Oshiomhole as the party is wont to portray in its recent outing.

“Insecurity has assumed a global threat and Nigeria or Edo is not isolated from it.

The country is still held spell bound by increasing spate of insecurity and bomb blasts.

“It is therefore worrisome and smacks of double standard and irresponsibility for chieftains of my party and one that controls the Federal Government to engage in this voyage.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

10

NEWS Benue tribunal closes pre-hearing session From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

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HE Benue State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi yesterday closed its prehearing session after ruling on the three applications by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate, Prof Steven Ugbah.

The tribunal dismissed two of the applications for lack of merit and upheld the third, in which the petitioner sought to bring in additional witnesses.

Ruling on the first and second applications, in which the petitioner asked the tribunal to set aside its order granting Governor Gabriel Suswam (first respondent) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (second respondent) leave to file their reply out of time, Tribunal Chairman, Justice Munir Ladan said the law is clear on how a court sets its ruling.

According to him, if the order was obtained in a fraudulent manner, the applicant has not proved before the tribunal that it was so obtained.

“The Supreme Court is clear on this: once a court has decided a matter, the law does not allow the same court to change its decision, as court cannot sit as an appellate court over its decision,” Justice Landan said.

“There is no law that permits the court to be called upon to correct its mistake and we so hold that the application lacks merit and is hereby dismissed,” he added.

The tribunal also dismissed the second application, which sought its order to deliver judgment against Suswam and the PDP. It described the application as an abuse of court process, which it said had been tackled in the July 21 ruling.

The tribunal turned down an oral request by the counsel to Suswam, Mr D.C. Dewingwe, to call more witnesses during the trial of the substantive suit, saying it was strange to law.

The tribunal adjourned till today for reports and Wednesday and Thursday for the beginning of the hearing of the main petition.

Justice Landan advised the petitioner to assemble his witnesses ready for the day.

PUBLIC NOTICE RACE OF LIFE BIBLE CHURCH The general public is hereby notified that the above named association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied matter Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

Pastor Roland I. Ufomadu 2.

Evangelist (Mrs) Geraldine C. Ufomadu 3.

Deacon Richard E. Obioma 4.

Sister Beatrice U. Obioma 5.

Brother Emmanuel Okorie 6.

Brother Chukwuma J. Izuchukwu Ufomadu AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: a.

To spread the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ b.

To win Souls for Christ and encourage Christian living c.

To attend to the spiritual needs of members and be charitable d.

To contribute to the health and educational needs of man through establishment of educational and health institutions. e.

To pray and work for salvation, peace and progress of humanity and stability of the universe, as Christ died for the whole world f.

To uphold and maintain truth, love and righteousness Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Maitama, Abuja, within 28days of this publication.

SIGNED: BARR. G.U. AKOBUEZE

‘Hold northern leaders responsible T for insecurity’ HE Presidential Adviser on Ethics and Value Orientation, Mrs. Sarah Jubril, has said leaders of the North should be held responsible for the increasing insecurity and underdevelopment in the region.

She said northern leaders need to explain why youths in the region have gone wild in their quest for relevance in the socio-political equation of Nigeria.

Mrs Jubril addressed reporters in Minna, the Niger State capital, on the spate of bombings and killings in the country.

She said: “This is the greatest challenge to the government and the people of Nigeria, especially at this critical time of our national development.”

Mrs Jubril noted that bombings pose the greatest security challenge to the Federal Government, saying things would have gone out of hand if some mothers had not spoken to the army of restive youths about their agitation.

Urging the region’s leaders to rise up to the occasion, the Presidential Adviser said the North should not expect people from other regions, in-

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

cluding President Goodluck Jonathan, to solve their problems for them.

She traced the root of the region’s crises to economic under-development, asking its leaders to tell the people what economic agenda, especially youth empowerment and job opportunities, they have for the residents.

Mrs Jubril said: “I want to ask you: what is our joint economic agenda for the North?

Don’t we have political leaders? The leaders have had the best in this country, but how many kilometres of roads have they tarred for their communities? What have they done? Where were all our northern leaders when Bank of the North collapsed? Why is it that we don’t have infrastructural development in the North?

“How many community schools do we have with the huge monthly income from the Federal Government and their internally generated

revenues (IGR)? They were busy telling us they had the answers to our problems. Is it the answers of bombings they are going to give us? I challenge all of you: go and ask them. We have retired Generals; we have retired civil servants; we have retired politicians. Go and ask them.

“I am asking you all these questions as a northerner, as a Nupe woman from the North. Is this their dividend of democracy to the people?

Since 1960, when we had Independence, what have they done for the people? They should be courageous enough to go round and tell the people what they have contributed to our development since 1960.

“Why is it that northern leaders cannot talk to northern youths? Now, to worsen the situation, the southern youths are threatening that if bombs explode in any part of the South, all northern elements are in trouble. I am being plain with you: the threat is real.”

She said bombings are

against humanity and God, adding that they also defy any logic of human understanding.

“For how long do we continue this way? Let me tell you: bombing is against humanity; bombing is against development; bombing is against God. Or, is it Islamic or Christianly to kill people, when God says, ‘Thou shall not kill’? Bombing is hatred; bombing is not goodwill; bombing is destruction; bombing is anti-infrastructure; bombing is anti-development; it is anti-employment.”

She expressed worry that if the bombings continue, “nobody will come to the North for investment, and there will be no job for our teeming youths.

“Let me tell you, if there is no investment and no employment, there will be added frustration for our youths who are engaged in these bombings. The moment they are frustrated, the leaders, who have been engaging you in bombings, will abandon you to your fate and you become a nuisance to the society.”

Kano workers’ strike paralyses govt activities G

OVERNMENT activities were yesterday disrupted in Kano, following the strike by civil servants over the non-implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.

Bit it appears the state government may not pay the new salary, which prompted the indefinite strike by the civil servants.

At the first meeting of the State Community Re-Orientation Committee (CRC) held at the House of Assembly, Governor Musa Kwankwaso said his administration had received about N6 billion this month and that the money is not enough to pay

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

the new wage.

Though the government acknowledged that the workers were the backbone of the government, Kwankwaso said it cannot afford to empty its treasury to pay the new salary.

The governor recalled that the government had invited the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for dialogue over the matter, but labour turned down the invitation.

He said the government would not implement the

new wage without examining its consequences, adding that the workers’ population of 45,000 was too much compared to the state’s population of 9.4million.

“If the state government implements the new salary scheme to its workers, where will it source for funds to provide social amenities for the people?” he queried.

Kwankwaso urged the NLC to come up with a realistic figure to enable the government accept and implement the new salary for the benefit of all.

In a show of solidarity

•Kwankwaso

with the striking workers, some commercial banks in the metropolis were shut.

The customers of those that opened were rigorously screened, in line with the prevailing security challenges in the country.

Some bank customers resorted to panic withdrawals, in the fear that other banks might also go on strike.

NANS urges review of decree on students’ unionism

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HE National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has said there is need to encourage students’ unionism.

It urged the National Assembly to review recommendations of Gen. Emmanuel Abisoye-led panel of 1986, which gave birth to Decree 16 of 1986 by the then military government.

NANS National President, Comrade Dauda Mohammed, noted that this would curb violence and promote the emergence of quality leadership.

He said students’ unionism in tertiary institutions is a strategic training ground for future leaders.

Mohammed noted that since the Constitution empowers the National Assembly to make laws for peace and good governance, it is imperative for the federal lawmakers to expunge such a decree, which would wipe out students’ unionism for selfish reasons.

He said: “We hereby appeal for a review of the decree to promote democratic students’ unionism in Nigeria. The nation and its citizenry must

appreciate the positive and historic contributions of students in Nigeria to the attainment of democracy.

“We are confident in the ability of the National Assembly, which currently has several past leaders of students’ movements in Nigeria as its members, to ensure that this outdated decree is reviewed in the interest of Nigerian students and the nation’s democratic system.”

NANS also urged students

in higher institutions and members of the civil society groups to appeal to the National Assembly on the need to abrogate the Abisoye panel’s decree.

“The leadership of NANS has concluded plans to take our position to the leadership of the National Assembly as soon as they resume from their recess. We are certain that they will listen to us. This will enable us to get justice and bring back students’

union movements to enviable status of being in the vanguard of better future,” Mohammed said.

The NANS president added: “The recommendations of the Abisoye-led panel of 1986 and the decree, which was aimed at checkmating the activities of students’ unionism in Nigeria, contradict all international conventions and the Constitution...”

al-Makura donates N1m to razed orphanage •To sponsor 14 orphans to higher school

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ASARAWA State Governor Umaru Tanko al-Makura has donated N1million to an orphanage that was razed by a mysterious fire in Lafia, the state capital.

He promised to shoulder the education of 14 orphans.

The orphanage, situated at Gidan Bege and run by the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA), has been razed three times in a week, with its occupants becoming homeless.

The Co-ordinator, Pastor Paul Bulus, thanked the governor for his gesture, saying the fire was mysterious.

Al-Makura said he would not attribute the incident to any metaphysical force.

He donated N1million to the orphanage for the renovation of the buildings and promised

From Johnny Danjuma, Lafia

them stipends for the running of the facility.

The governor said he would provide N100,000 monthly to the orphanage for the maintenance of its facilities.

Al-Makura sought the assistance of religious groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to show more interest in orphanages, noting that the Gidan Bege orphanage has brought succour to the homeless, fatherless and motherless.

He said: “We will continue to relate with people who feel they are down-trodden and forgotten in our society.”

The governor said he was impressed and encouraged by the efforts of the Coordinator to give hope to the children.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

We are to revisit the concept of the Free Trade Zones across the country with a view to reviewing their operations in order to align them with the transformation agenda of Mr President and the new mandate of the ministry in the area of attracting FDI, job creation and employment generation.

-Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Trade and Investment

Lagos to launch software on energy use

FirstRand Nigeria entry stalls

F

IRSTRAND Ltd (FSR), Africa’s second largest bank, hasn’t met its two-year goal of expanding into Nigeria, unwilling to meet sellers’ price demands amid a push by financial regulators for takeovers and mergers.

“There’s a dislocation still in that market between the ‘bid-offer’ spreads,” FirstRand Chief Executive Officer Sizwe Nxasana said in an interview in Johannesburg on September 9. “You have banks that were declared by the central bank as distressed and broken. But look at their equity markets and they still trade. It’s a market that is completely inefficient.”

FirstRand, which announced in May 2009 that it intended to expand into Africa’s biggest oil producer, ended talks to buy control of Sterling Bank Plc in June.

Since then, Nxasana according to Bloomberg, said he has continued looking for targets, returning last week from the country, where FirstRand has set-up a representative office.

Nigeria’s 10 largest banks trade at 10.9 times reported earnings on average, higher than the 7.98 times for the 46- member Bloomberg Europe Banks and Financial Services Index.

The economy of Nigeria, which has Africa’s largest population with 150 million people, is set to surpass South Africa as the continent’s biggest by 2025, according to Morgan Stanley.

Nigeria’s banking industry is trading at its lowest in three years, according to Adesoji Solanke, a Lagosbased banking analyst with Renaissance Capital.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$109.7/barrel Cocoa - $2,856/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢78.07.pound Gold -$1,161/troy ounce Rubber - ¢146.37/ pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N7.3 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion RATES

Inflation -10.2% Treasury Bills -2.64% Normal lending 24% Prime lending -18% Savings rate -3% 91-day NTB -6.99% Time Deposit - 6% MPR -8.75% Foreign Reserve $32.3bn FOREX CFA 0.281 • 213 £ 241.00 $ 153.7 ¥ 1.5652 SDR 240.3 RIYAL 39.3

By Bidemi Bakare

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• From left: Mr Frank Nweke Jr, Director-General/CEO, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG); Mr Foluso Phillips, Chairman, NESG and Mr Phillips Oduoza, Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc, during the Board Meeting of the Group, hosted by UBA Plc in Lagos.

Govt plans electricity tariff review by January E

VEN as Nigerians wal low in epileptic power supply, the Federal Government is planning a major electricity tariff review, which will take effect from January next year.

This is coming on a day the Federal Government said it would stop estimated electricity billing to ensure that consumers pay for what they consume.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Commissioner in charge of Government and Consumer Affairs, Dr. Abba Ibrahim, dropped the hint on the proposed tariff review at a workshop for estate developers and residents in Lagos.

He said it had become imperative to enable inflow of private sector investment into the sector However, Ibrahim said the amount by which the tariff would be increased is yet to be determined as the variables that would be used to decide the increase are still being computed.

Part of the key input that

• Estimated billing to go, says minister

By Emeka Ugwuanyi and John Ofikhenua

would determine the level of increase, he noted, is to know the proper value of the existing assets of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) marked for privatisation and the operational expenditure. In view of this, he said the commission has begun an evaluation of power infrastructure (generation and distribution assets).

Ibrahim justified the planned major tariff review, saying it is in line with Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO). MYTO is a tariff pack, which is designed as a five-year tariff order that enables the commission to carry out a minor review of electricity tariff yearly. The review is premised on the level of inflation and exchange rate.

Besides, he added that the

commission had only reviewed electricity tariff upward by N1.50. The commission had announced tariff increase, which took effect from July 1, this year and shot up tariff from N8.50 to N110 per kilowatt hour (kw/h).

Ibrahim said: “Power generation is a long term business and we have a tariff pack in the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO), which is designed as a five-year tariff pack and every year, we do a minor review of that tariff, he said.

Speaking at this year’s Nigeria International Power Expo in Abuja yesterday, Minister of Power, Prof.

Nnaji, said the need to jettison estimated billing stemmed from the plans to provide pre-paid meters for electricity consumers.

He noted that electricity consumers were always worried since estimated

billing never tallied with their consumption.

“Metering is very important and people are worried that sometimes, they get estimated billing and the estimated billing wouldn’t conform at all to their consumption and we want to wipe that out in the country,” said the minister.

And to secure credit for the power bulk trader, which hitherto was not credit worthy, Nnaji said the World Bank had met in Washington for two weeks, where it identified the challenges in the power sector.

The meeting, he said, became expedient because the World Bank was the vehicle with which Nigeria could provide partial risk guarantee required by the bulk trader in the power sector.

He said without the bulk trader, there would be no partial risk guarantee in the sector.

‘Customs, ICRC, AGF, BPP not involved’ in $30b contract F OUR Federal Govern ment agencies have washed their hands off the concession agreement between the Federal Ministry of Finance and a software solution company, Single Window Systems Technology Ltd (SWST).

Under the agreement, the new concession of one per cent Freight on Board (FOB) on imports will be charged to indigeneous traders for an initial term of 15 years extensible to 20 years, and the projected 10 per cent annual trade increase, would bring disproportionate revenues to the concessionaries in the region of $30 billion.

The agencies that disputed

From Dele Anofi, Abuja

knowledge or contribution to the process of the agreement include the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

Despite being informed of President Goodluck Jonathan’s wish that the investigation be discontinued with the sudden the suspension of the controversial agreement, the House of

Representatives’ad-hoc committee investigating the concession agreement between the duo, has vowed to continue with the investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the process leading to the pact.

The committee has, however, directed the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, to appear before it today or face sanctions for failing to honour its invitation for the second time in a week.

The 12-member committee was conducting a five-day public hearing to ascertain

the processes leading to the agreement capable of generating an estimated $30billion in revenue for the NCS among other functions.

During presentations by the agencies, it was revealed that the contract was unilaterally awarded by Federal Ministry of Finance on behalf of NCS to a company registered in June last year with N1 million share capital.

The Ministry had in midJune 2009 given a letter of intent to the non-existing company as a consultant and later awarded the multi-billion naira contract for the implementation of the Automated System for Customs data (ASYCUDA) project.

HE Lagos State govern ment has said it will soon launch online software to give residents the means to calculate their energy usage through a user friendly calculator.

The state Governor, Babatunde Fashola dropped this hint yesterday at the opening ceremony of a fiveday workshop on training professionals on energy demand and supply projections in Nigeria - organised by the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) and the National Centre for Energy efficiency and Conservation (NCEEC) in Lagos.

Speaking through his Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Taofik Tijani, Fashola said the initiative is meant to complement the energy audit it carried out recently to collate data on installed capacity of energy from self generation (generators).

He said from the audit carried out in some selected areas, including Lagos Island, Matori, Ilupeju and Ikorodu industrial estates, show that these areas have a combined installed capacity of over 311MW from about 913 generating sets.

With this finding, he said, the state is provided with the necessary information for developing its power master plan.

ETI to buy 100% of Oceanic Bank

O

CEANIC Bank said yesterday it will transfer 100 per cent of its share capital to panAfrican lender Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) and merge its operations with ETI’s local unit to recapitalise ahead of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) September deadline.

Oceanic said ETI will pay N38.5 billion ($24 million) worth of its ordinary shares and N16.5 billion in preference shares for total control of the rescued lender.

It said the shares will be paid to existing shareholders and a state-owned Asset Management Company (AMCON), without stating in what proportion.

Oceanic will hold a shareholders’ meeting on September 27 to approve the deal.

“ETI will own 100 per cent of the share capital of Oceanic Bank, while existing shareholders of Oceanic and AMCON will become shareholders in ETI. Subsequent to this, ETI will merge Oceanic Bank with Ecobank Nigeria,”the rescued lender said in a statement.

Under the deal, holders of rescued lender Oceanic Bank will get one ordinary share and 0.428 preference share of ETI for every 20 Oceanic shares held on October 4, this year.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

12

BUSINESS NEWS Flight Schedule

Reps to consider bills on financial transformation

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

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rapid and sustainable economic growth in Nigeria and Africa.

Currently, Barau said 20 bills that would help transform the nation’s financial sector in line with the Vision 2020 are with the National Assembly. Four out of these bill, he said, would be considered before the end of this month when the lawmakers return from recess.

The bills are the Nigeria Financial Centre Bill; the Nigeria Financial Ombudsman bill; the Alternative Dispute Resolution and the Electronic Payment bill.

“These bills were passed by the House of Representatives, but because of the procedural requirement that if

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Editor), Abuja

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From Nduka Chiejina, Assistant

a bill is not passed by the second house (Senate), the current house needs to look at it again and transmit it properly to the Senate for it to be passed and I believe this will happen this month. These four bills are very important for the attainment of FSS 2020.

“The FSS 2020 had identified about 20 bills and we have a number of bills that is fundamental for the realisation of our objectives. Four of the bills have been passed and they will be reconsidered this month as soon as the house is back from recess.”

The workshop will feature Dr. Robert Kaplan of the Harvard Business School, while the CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi will deliver the keynote address at the event.

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HE House of Representatives will this month consider four bills to enable Nigeria have the safest and fastest growing financial system among emerging markets.

The Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) , Mr Suleiman Barau, disclosed this yesterday while revealing the details of a three-day workshop on the Financial System Strategy 2020 (FSS 2020). The workshop, which starts today, ends on Thursday.

The bills to be considered by the House of Representatives, the CBN Deputy Governor said, are critical for the attainment of a virile financial system by 2020. He said the bills are also capable of driving a

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• From left: Regional Director, Southwest, Skye Bank Plc, Mr Ayo Abina; Assistant General Manager, Retail Banking, Ms Nkoli Okoli; Orangun of Oke Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, conducting the draw with Head, Information Technology, Mr Richard Amafonye, at the bank’s savers promo draw in Ibadan.

Naira loses 87k in one week

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HE naira has in the past one week lost 87 kobo at last three trading sessions at the official market (Wholesale Dutch Auction System). At yesterday’s trading, the currency weakened to N153.35 to the dollar, down from N153.16 to the dollar at Friday’s close, losing 11 kobo.

The day’s low was $1 to N154.90, days high was N155.45. Also, the CBN sold $350 million, which was slightly lower than the $362.74 million demanded and $400 million sold at the previous auction.

Before then, the naira on September 7 weakened to N153.16 to the dollar, down from N152.81 to the dollar – culminating into a loss of 35 kobo at a go. The highest decline occurred on September 5, when the currency declined to N152.81 to the dollar at the official market, down from N152.40 to the dollar, losing 41 kobo.

The naira, which is exchanged at N148.18 at the beginning of this year,

By Collins Nweze

has lost N5.71. It has also depreciated by N7.80 or 5.05 per cent at the black market, where it trades at N162 per dollar as against N154.20 to a dollar in January.

On the interbank market, the demand for the dollar from bureaux de change operators put pressure on the local currency, traders said yesterday. The local currency closed at N155.45 to the dollar on the interbank market compared to 155.20 per dollar on Friday.

Some banks declined to sell dollars bought from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which would have helped ease pressure on the naira. NNPC sold about $400 million to some lenders on Thursday, boosting liquidity and providing some support for the naira, which had earlier on Wednesday fell to its 11-month low.

“Banks that have the NNPC funds are not selling and this has reduced

the available dollars in the market and is putting pressure on the naira,” one dealer said.

Traders said they expected that some of the banks who have NNPC funds would sell before tomorrow but the naira would continue to weaken if not enough liquidity came into the market.

“There is a lot of demand from the bureaux de change in the market and unless there are more dollar inflows, the naira will continue to be under pressure,” another dealer said.

Traders said strong demand for dollars from lenders to re-sell to their exchange bureau outlets coupled with the depreciation of the naira at the CBN’s bi-weekly auction put pressure on the local currency. The CBN had in August 19 removed the $1 million weekly limit on currency sales by banks to increase dollar supply and help stabilise the local currency, the naira.

Firm to invest $600m in power sector

A

Consortium yesterday un folded plans to invest $600million in the country’s power sector.

Proglobal International comprises Finagestion - a French Utility Company, Symbion Power - a United States Board Power firm and Progblobal Power, a indigeneous firm.

The fund, according to the Managing Director of the consortium, Mr Okezie Ofoegbu, who spoke during a courtesy call on Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) management, would come

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

from private equity, public funding and international technical partners in the US and Nigeria as well.

The consortium would invest the fund in generation of electricity in Enugu distribution company and Gerugu Thermal Power plant in Kogi State after their success in the ongoing bidding and application for licence at the NERC. He added that the fund could also be drawn from the US Export and Import Bank and African Export Import Bank .

Speaking, the NERC Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi, assured the consortium that Nigeria has zero tolerance for policy reversal, especially with the reform in the power sector.

He said as a regulator, the commission would not allow investor to incur loss, adding that NERC would ensure that the consumers’ tariffs are bearable.

Amadi disclosed that the commission was setting a new standard for the metering system.

He explained that later, the old meters would be transferred to rural electricity consumers.

Why audit report is being delayed,

by NEITI From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

T

HE Nigeria Extractive In dustry Transparency Ini tiative (NEITI) yesterday stated that though it has completed its work on the 2006-2008 audit report, it has to follow due process in releasing it to the public.

In a statement made available to our correspondent in Abuja, the Director of Communications Orji Ogbonaya Orji noted that NEITI’s attention was drawn to the civil society’s request for the report’s publication.

He said: “The attention of Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has been drawn to a press statement issued by some Civil Society Organisations including the CISLAC (Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre) urging NEITI to release the 2006-2008 Audit report.

“It is of public interest to note that NEITI released the first part of the 2006-2008 audit report covering financial flows six months ago, precisely on February 1, 2011. The report has been on NEITI website since that date till today.”

The media and some civil society organisations have continued to avail themselves of the content of this very important document in their engagement with NEITI, government and companies because it has always being in the public domain.

On release of the initial part of the audit, he said NEITI promptly informed the public that it will require some time to conclude the audits in view of its complexity.

The audit has been concluded and approved by the NEITI Board at its meeting held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on June 27, 2011.

Passengers to enjoy 25% in Qatar Airways promo

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

P

ASSENGERS flying in Qatar Airways Economy Class are to save up to 25 per cent , while Business Class passengers can save about 15 per cent in a promo from the airline. The promo offers a long travel period, enabling customers to book their travel up to March 31, 2012. The savings are based on return fares and taxes.

The Doha-based airline will launch its three-day sale from September 12-14 with customers across Africa enjoying tremendous savings when booking through the carrier’s website or through its travel agency partners.

Qatar Airways Vice-President Africa, Ihab Sorial, said: “These are incredible fares we are offering to our loyal customers and customers travelling with Qatar Airways for the first time.

“We want to thank our customers for their positive response, loyalty and appreciation of our award-winning Five Star in-flight product and onboard service. Our customers can have a world of choice from our ever-growing network which now includes more than 100 destinations across the globe, with convenient flights from Africa and beyond.”

The three-day promotion is valid for bookings made at www.qatarairways.com or through travel agency partners. The offer applies to return airfares only. Prices include taxes and fees.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

13

14

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

LONDON 2012

Dream Team V condemned to qualify, says Iroha Pg. 16

•Iroha

Nation Tuesday, September 13, 2011

PAGE 15

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE •Messi

Taiwo may debut for Milan Pg. 16

•Taiwo

MAPUTO 2011 ALL AFRICA GAMES

Why Obisia Nwankpa was decamped Pg. 16

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2011

16

49

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

NIGERIA V GUINEA

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Ugbade wants early goal

AAG Boxing: Why Obisia Nwakpa was decamped •Given retirement notice in Maputo •Boxers leave in batches

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ATIONSPORT has discovered why National Boxing Coach, Obisia Nwankpa had to return to Nigeria hurriedly from the ongoing All Africa Games holding in Maputo.

It was gathered from an impeccable source that Nwankpa was decamped because the National Sports Commission (NSC) saw him as a

distraction to the team's aim of clinching gold medals in the various weight categories in boxing.

Despite the fact that Nigeria’s boxing team ended up winning three silver and one bronze medals, NationSport’s source, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that the NSC felt that Nwankpa was influencing the boxers negatively. The effect of Nwankpa’s

Taekwondo will surpass 2007 record, says Chukwumerije

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APTAIN of Team Nigeria’s Taekwondo team, Chika Chukwumerije has assured that the team is battle-ready to sweep all the medals at stake when the 10th All Africa Games Taekwondo event kicks off today at the Pavilhao Desportivo Sporting Center, Maputo, Mozambique.

Nigeria won a total of seven medals in Taekwondo (2 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze) at the 2007 All Africa Games and in a chat with NationSport during the team’s training session at the Estadio Nacional, the 2008 Olympic Games bronze medalist said he is not only in Maputo to defend his Algiers 2007 title, but to also ensure

that the team surpasses the record achieved in the last edition.

“I believe we are in the right frame of mind to do the country proud once again,” begins the graduate of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Liverpool.

“Personally I am optimistic of defending my title and I will be very happy to see that we surpass the Algiers 2007 All Africa Games record of seven medals. Though I will not be underrating any country because everybody has prepared for the Games and are now targeting medals, however,I have the faith in our team that we are getting more gold medals this time”, he assured.

influence was also deemed to be so serious that he was also compulsorily retired from his employment with the Nigerian Sports Ministry right here in Maputo, thousand of miles from Nigeria.

The source said: "We have a Technical Adviser, the Head Coach (Nwakpa) and the Assistant. That is the problem; there seems to be a power tussle between the Technical Adviser and the Head Coach.

Meanwhile, the NSC has placed him on retirement. He was given his retirement notice here in Maputo. In fact, he travelled back to Nigeria yesterday (Sunday). Before then he was removed from the Games village. They moved him away from the boxers to a hotel in town. They felt that he was influencing the boxers negatively and that is why they had to remove him from the boxers.

"At the earlier stage of boxing they were losing. Out of the seven fights, they won only two. They attributed everything to him. They said he was the one causing the problems, so they moved him out to another hotel. The Director General of the NSC, Patrick Ekeji just travelled. You can ask AL Hassan Yakmut,” the source said.

Meanwhile, after Coach Nwankpa left the shores of Maputo alongside a boxer, it is expected that the remaining boxers of the Team Nigeria contingent including Technical Adviser, Idika Nsofor and Assistant Coach Tony Konyegwache will arrive in Nigeria on Thursday.

MAPUTO 2011 ALL AFRICA GAMES

Taekwondo camp comes alive as draws hold today

T

HE camp of the Nigeria taekwondo team came alive with the arrival of Beijing 2008 Olympics bronze medallist, Chika

By Innocent Amomoh Chukwumerije at the weekend just as the draws for the event in the ongoing

•Chukwumerije

10th All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique will be held today.

All the participating teams are expected at the draw.

The mood in the Nigeria camp has been positive and the 16 athletes are eager to take to the ring when the event kicks off tomorrow. Team Niger taekwando captain, Uche Perez Chukwumerije, also believes the team is battle-ready for the multisports championship in Maputo.

Chukwumerije, who will be competing in the men’s -87kg, had said before the team’s departure that he was sure the team would exceed the two gold medals won at the last edition in Algiers.

He said: “I think the entire team is ready to do the nation proud in Maputo because everybody is in top shape for the games especially with the presence of Chika Chukwumerije, who had a won gold medal in the previous edition. I also believe the attitude of the team is a major advantage because, despite the inability to embark on a training tour, the athletes now have the belief that they can do well and this is very good for the team in Maputo.’

He continues, “we are capable of doing better this year because from the way I see the team, every athlete has the ability to win a medal.”

Apart from the presence of Beijing 2008 Olympics bronze medallist, a quarterfinalist at the Beijing Games, Issah Mohammed Adam is also part of the taekwondo contingent to Maputo.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) has promised to use the All Africa Games to select the best athletes that will represent Nigeria at the continental Olympics qualifiers holding in January 2012 in Egypt.

Taiwo may G debut for Milan N

IGERIA left-fullback Taiye Taiwo may make his debut for AC Milan as the Italian giants battle Barcelona at the Nou

By Bimbo Adesina Camp tonight in a UEFA Champions League clash.

LONDON 2012

Dream Team V condemned to qualify, says Iroha

S

ECOND assistant coach of the National U-23 side, Ben Iroha has declared that the Olympic Eagles have no choice but to qualify for the London 2012 Olympics regardless of who they are paired against in the elimination championship in November.

Nigeria will on the 24th of this month know its opponents in the elimination qualifier for the Games. " It does not matter who we are paired against, we are condemned to qualify" the former Eagles star said.

He added: "After failing to give Nigerians the All Africa Games ticket, we don't have excuse not to deliver the Olympics ticket."

The former Heartland of Owerri gaffer also stressed the need for early preparation. "We need to start camping early, and I’m happy that the Federation understands the need for early camping, quality friendly matches and proper chemistry for the

team."

Eight teams will be participating in the tournament to be held in Egypt from 26 November to 10 December, 2011 and will serve as a platform for the qualification of the CAF representatives for the London 2012 Football Men’s Olympic Games.

The qualified teams are hosts Egypt, Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa.

The eight teams will be divided into two groups of four teams each to play on a round-robin basis with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals.

The top three placed teams automatically qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games whilst the fourth placed team will engage a team from Asia in a playoff.

The London 2012 Olympic Games will take place from 27 July to 12 August, 2012.

Taiwo was in the 21-man squad named by Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri after struggling with fitness issues since arriving Italy.

Taiwo joined Milan from Olympique Marseille of France on May 9, 2011. He becomes the fourth African on Milan's books - joining Ghana's Keving-Prince Boateng, Sierra Leone's Rodney Strasser and fellow Nigerian Nnamdi Oduamadi.

Taiwo had already won the Supercoppa Italiana with Milan.

With Milan forced to come from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw at home to Lazio in their Serie A season opener on Friday, the coach Allegriled Milan will face a blockbuster battle with Barca.

OLDEN EAGLETS assistant coach, Nduka Ugbade has charged the Super Eagles to strive for early goals in match day six of the 2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Syli Nationale of Guinea.

The outcome of the final Group B duel billed for the National Stadium, Abuja will decide between Guinea and Nigeria who will pick the automatic ticket for the biennial football showpiece in Equatorial Guinea/Gabon.

Guinea lead the group on 13 points followed by Nigeria’s 10 and it is reckoned that should Nigeria beat the fellow West Africans 2-0 she will qualify for the football fiesta on the head-tohead rule.

Guinea won the first leg in Conakry 1-0.

Ugbade told SuperSport.com that the only way Samson Siasia’s side will survive the expected onslaught from Guinea and pick the vital ticket is to go for an early goal in the first 15 minutes.

“Only an early goal will help us achieve our aim and qualification. That is the only way we will put them under pressure and disorganise them and this

will be followed up with a concerted push for more goals.

“Under no circumstances should we delay scoring late in the game as we did against the Barea of Madagascar in Antananarivo, a tough and experienced side like Guinea would have cashed in on the situation to make things difficult for us.

“Delay to score goals will build their confidence level and it could be disastrous.

“Guinea are not coming here for tea party, they will pull all tricks to rattle us to submission and hope to beat us for the ticket.

“We need to watch out for

Kaita upbeat on Eagles recall

S

ANI KAITA has told MTNFootball.com he believes he will soon return to the Super Eagles more than a year since his sensational World Cup expulsion.

The defensive midfielder last played for Nigeria against Greece at last year’s World Cup in South Africa during which he was sent off for an unnecessary

2011 Obudu Mountain Race gets Nov 26 date

T

HE date for the 7th edition of the Obudu International Mountain Race and the 3rd African Nations Mountain Running Championship have been confirmed.

The two races will hold simultaneously on Saturday, November 26 2011 at the prestigious Obudu Mountain Resort in Obudu, Cross River State.

Media chief for the race and Commissioner for Information and Orientation in Cross River State, Patrick Ugbe disclosed that the Local Organising Committee (LOC) is still headed by the irrepressible Sir William Archibong who was commended by the President of World Mountain Running Association (WMRA), Bruno Gozzelino for his near perfect organisation of the 6th edition last year.

'Sir William Archibong is still the head of the LOC for the race. He enjoys the support and trust of other members of the LOC ', revealed Ugbe, a seasoned journalist who was the erstwhile chief press secretary to the governor.

Acclaimed as the highest paying mountain race in the World, the race has witnessed tremendous growth and improvement since its inception seven years ago, culminating in the addition of an African Nations Mountain Running Championship.

The first edition of the Championship was held two years ago with the Ethiopian team winning, followed by Uganda and the Nigerian National team in second and third

positions respectively.

The sixth edition of the Obudu Mountain Race was won by Ethiopia's Abebe Dinkesa in 42.21 minutes. Another Ethiopian, Fikadu Awash came second with a time of 42.47 minutes while a Kenyan, John Sompol Minangat took the 3rd position in 42.58 minutes in a highly competitive male race.

The women's race was a clean sweep for Ethiopia as Meselech Haileyesus, (48:57 mins), third two years ago outran defending champions, Daska Mamitu (49:04 mins) as well as Genet Yalew Kassahun (50:06 mins) to win the race and the accompanying $50,000 top cash prize.

“With the successes recorded so far, we can’t wait for this year’s race to come. It promises to be bigger and better, with a stronger field expected.

His Excellency, Governor Liyel Imoke has continued to support the race, and we’ve continued to receive tremendous assistance from the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN), the WMRA and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), so we expect more innovations this year,” said Ugbe.

The main race and the African Nations Mountain Running Championship cover a distance of 11 Kilometres uphill, to an altitude of 1,575 metres above sea level, taking you to one of the finest tourist destinations in the world, the Obudu Mountain Resort.

complacency. The target looks simple but if we are not careful it may turn against us,” Ugbade said.

The former Nigeria defender also advised against experimentation, at least, for the match against Guinea.

“Coach Siasia should stick with the players who have been with him up to this moment. It will not be a good idea to start introducing new players at the last lap of the qualification.

“Of course, he could shop for new legs after qualification but for the sake of the Guinea match, I will prefer he keeps faith with the squad that played against Madagascar,” he said.

foul as the Eagles went on to lose 2-1.

Kaita told MTNFootball.com that a good showing at his new Ukrainian club SC Tavriya Simferopol will enhance his chances of a national team recall.

“I have a new mission now and that is to pick up the pieces of my career so as to bounce back into top reckoning again,” Kaita.

“Things have not been the same for me since the last World Cup and I believe that is part of life, to be a successful man is not an easy task at all.

“I am in Tavriya to rebuild my soccer and to prove that I can return to high level football that I rightly belong to.

So, I am devoted and very determined to help this club achieve greatness this season.

“What I do with my new club will also help me in my ambition to return to the Super Eagles. I believe that if I continue to play regularly and well, I will be reconsidered for the team.

He added: “The club’s target is to play in Europe next season which I believe we can achieve. We have good players in the team who are also very ambitious to achieve good things for this club.”

Kaita praised compatriot Lucky Idahor for helping him to settle down quickly in the team, which also parades Nigeria international defender Dele Adeleye.

“Lucky has been a very good brother here. He has said a lot of good things about me to the coach and my teammates here that have helped me a great deal to settle down quickly,” he revealed to MTNFootball.com He also downplayed the team’s loss at home to a Michael Babatundeinspired FC Kryvbas at the weekend.

“That is football for you. I still believe we can get over this shock and bounce back in our next away match. The league is still very young and we can still achieve our target despite this initial setback,” he maintained.

CAF CONFEDERATION CUP

Cooreman blames loss on naivety

M

AURICE COOREMAN has attributed Sunday’s weighty loss of his team, Kaduna United in the CAF Confederation Cup to their inexperience.

On Sunday, Kaduna United capitulated by 1–4 to Angola’s GD Interclube in Luanda in Group A of CAF’s second tier club competition.

The Nigerian club are making their first appearance on the continent and Cooreman believes the inexperience of his players led to the mauling in the hands of Interclube.

“We showed that we were too inexperienced against our opponents.

The boys could not withstand the Interclube side, who were better than us throughout the match,” said Cooreman.

But the Belgian coach is still confident that his team still stand a good chance of reaching the semis.

Kaduna United are currently third with five points in Group A of the CAF Confederation Cup. Cooreman’s men will still have the ambition of qualifying for the last four if they can defeat Club Africain of Tunisia in second position by threenil to tie them on eight points and edge them by superior goals difference.

The Kaduna United manager is confident his side can pick themselves up and run over Club Africain at the Kaduna Township Stadium on September 18.

•Cooreman

Hodgson expects more from Osaze •Ahmed Musa

W

EST BROM manager Roy Hodgson has stated that the combination of Nigeria international Osaze Odemwingie and summer signing Shane Long will get

•Osaze

better results for the club.

Osaze was paired with Long in West Brom's victory against Norwich on Sunday.

But Hodgson believes Sunday’s success was just the beginning for the duo.

“I saw a lot of promise and potential from them as a partnership.

They did well but I’d like to think there’s more to come from them and that they can play even better together than they did yesterday.”

Hodgson also sprang a surprise by leaving out captain Chris Brunt in favour of Graham Dorrans as well as recalling Jerome Thomas in place of James Morrison.

But the Baggies boss insisted he had no doubts about the decisions.

He said: “Chris and James both had two very, very tough games for their countries.

“Dorrans is, of course, now fit and able to play, which is something that hasn’t happened too often during my time here.”

17

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Plateau State has for some time now, remained a hotbed of violence. This has imposed a heavy responsibility on the political elite and institutions of the state. How has the state House of Assembly discharged its duties in the past 100 days? How has it performed its legislative functions?

Correspondent YUSUFU AMINU IDEGU spoke with the principal officers and reports the quality of motions and bills passed so far.

C

OUNTING from its inauguration in June, the 24-member 7 th Plateau State House of Assembly marked its first 100 days in office last week. Prior to inauguration, the lawmakers set the stage for the session by unanimously electing the leadership. And so emerged Hon. John Clark Dabwan, former Minority Leader in the 6th Assembly.

The foundation for Dabwan’s emergence as the head of the House was laid when he moved from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to the PDP in 2010.

“I moved to the ruling party because this was the desire of the people that elected me; they were the ones who elected me on the platform of ACN and they were the one that asked to move to the mainstream of Plateau politics and they promised to stand by me if I made the move. I have no option at that stage because as a leader of my people, I have no choice of my own especially in taking such political decision, I have to allow the wishes of my people to be my guiding principle. I moved to PDP and the people were so pleased to re-elect me for a second term,” he told The Nation.

Members of the House found in him the quality of leader that the House desires.

This was why they unanimously went for him. Other principal officers of the House who emerged in similar manners are Deputy Speaker Hon Johnbull Tiemlong Shekarau; Chief Whip Hon. Timothy Golu, Minority Leader; Hon. Wokdung Abbas and Majority leader, Hon. Gyang Fulani. Others are Hon Gondina Musa Sambo, Minority Whip and Hon Zainab Dogo, his deputy.

How has the House fared in the last 100 days under the leadership of Clark? Is he the leader the House really desired? The house has so far passed one bill and several motions and resolutions.

At a media conference organised last week, Dabwan said: “Though the first 100 days are not enough time to assess a House elected for a four-year legislative assignment, the period is enough to see what is to come up in future. When we came in, we were supposed to go on recess after our inauguration due to the rigours and stress of the electioneering, but we saw that serious legislative work was pending and they were so important for the people that elected us that we could not afford to them. An example is the 2011 Appropriation Bill. As at the time of our inauguration in June this year, the 2011 budget of the state had not been passed.

We had to resume immediately to deliberate on the budget.”

•Speaker Dabwan and his deputy, Shekarau.

Plateau Assembly takes stock, looks ahead Thus, within two weeks, the 2011 budget was passed after thorough defence by ministries, boards and parastatals. The House, it was learnt, used the same period to restructure the various committees of the House for their oversight functions.

Shortly after, the House received the list of nominees for appointment as members of the state executive council. With two sittings, the House screened and confirmed Governor Jonah Jang’s list. Few days after, the governor also sent another list of political appointees to the House for screening. Similarly, the House wasted no time on it and the appointees were all sworn.

The speaker explained why: “We give accelerated attention to those special issues like budget and political appointees because such things matter most in the discharge of government administration.

We considered the bases for such appointments, the capability of the nominees and what they could offer the state administration and the entire people. We did all these without influence from the chief executive and the appointees themselves because delaying action on such issues would amount to waiting to be influenced and we didn’t want anyone to influence our action. Gone are the days when legislators sit on such appointments, expecting the appointees or the chief executive to ‘see’ them before deliberating on the issues.

On the security challenges in the state, the Speaker led his members on a tour of government establishments in the state as well as religious organisations and tertiary educational institutions. This initiative was seen by political observers as the first of its kind in the history of legislative ac-

tivities in the state.

The Speaker said: “I initiated the tour because I felt, as legislators, we should not only sit down in the House and legislate without meeting one-on-one with those we legislate for.

Most of these establishments we visited, we approve their budget annually; we needed to see things ourselves, apart from the normal oversight functions. Some of those establishments we visited were for security reasons and federal government agencies that we think we should collaborate with for the benefit of the House and the state in general. Given the peculiar security situation in the state, we visited all the security agencies in the state so as to network properly on how to manage the situation” The House embarked on a recess shortly afterward, but the recess never lasted; violence broke out in the state again and the speaker invited his members back into the House to attend to issues of ‘urgent importance’.

According to the speaker, “After a rigorous beginning and having tackled important state matters before us, we decided to embark on recess for some weeks for us to have a rest and get refreshed for our full legislative duties, but it was obvious we had to suspend the recess because those that elected us were facing serious security challenges. It is only a mad man that will sleep when his house is on fire. So, we were back for sake of our people to see how we could liaise with the executive and security agencies to salvage the situation.

“Many members of our constituencies were in the hospitals and needed drug and funds to survive following attacks on them by unknown assailants. We needed

‘The executive invited us for the retreat where we deliberated extensively on government programme for the next four years. This shows that the executive has demonstrated its willingness to carry the House along it shows the executive would not hide anything from the legislature and it shows an executive that is ready to run a transparent administration’

to be there with them to give them courage at that moment of distress. Thank God normalcy has been restored and I will give the credit to the security agencies for a job well done. I also commend my colleagues who heeded my call to suspend the recess and reconvene on the floor of the House” The 100-day period has witnessed cordial relationship between the legislature and the executive. The state governor, Jang, in his usual fashion, organised a retreat in Obudu, Cross River State for all the stakeholders in the current administration including, members of the executive, the legislature, the judiciary and the traditional and religious leaders.

Jang used the retreat to fashion out a blue print of development for his second term government. This retreat served as basis of commitment of all the arms of government towards the focus of Jang’s administration program and polices.

The speaker also spoke on it: “The executive invited us for the retreat where we deliberated extensively on government program for the next four years. This shows the executive has demonstrated its willingness to carry the House along in his administration; it shows the executive would not hide anything from the legislature and it shows an executive that is ready to run a transparent administration.

“As it is, we have no reason to quarrel with the administration so far and we will not have problem with the executive, provided the governor runs a transparent and accountable government the way he has started so far. We will stand with the executive as long as the governor runs people-oriented programmes. Of course, the last four years of Gov. Jang was a proof that he runs a government of the people; he has proven that he is not just a politician, but a true man of God. The only area where we can have problem with the executive is when we become too selfish to the detriment of the people we are supposed to serve. But my confidence is that we had agreed as a house that we will put our people first in everything we do here and so far we have maintained that principle.

Replying some people who had accused •Continued on page 18

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

POLITICS Liberia and Nigeria share a lot in common. Ambassador Dew Tuan-Wleh Mayson, a professor, is a candidate in the Liberian presidential election slated for October 11. He met with reporters in Lagos on the situation in his country and assesses the Ellen Sirleaf’s administration. Assistant Editor DADA ALADELOKUN was there.

‘Liberia needs Nigeria’s support’

T

HE ‘acute ailment’ plaguing the Liberian nation would not allow him flash a mere smile at the moment. Dub him a living volcano on the loose, it is no misnomer. “Liberia, my dear country is in crisis; there is urgent need to rescue it,” he submitted with a deep sigh of agony.

Ambassador Dew Tuan-Wleh Mayson, is it! As a presidential candidate, he is bearing the flag of the New Deal Movement Party/ National Democratic Coalition, in the October 11 poll.

While his discourse with reporters lasted in Lagos at the weekend, the refrain on his restless lips was: “We must say bye to Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the incumbent president of my country and usher in an era of total rejuvenation in the lives of the country and its traumatised citizens.”

Mayson, in what he has tagged, “Declaration on Jobs, Rights and Rice,” said his party was poised for the rapid development of the people and the transformation of the country.

But why would he essay to spearhead a change in the government of Mrs. Sirleaf who not only rode to power with his support, but has succeeded in stabilizing the once-war-torn country? Mayson explained it: “Mrs Sirleaf covenanted with the Liberian people and the international community that she was going to serve only one term; now, she has shamelessly broken the covenant. Besides, with the situation on ground, Liberians need urgent liberation.”

“Yes, she has succeeded in re-building a few roads, re-opening some schools and restoring limited electricity, but her star-status as the first female President of an African country has hoodwinked a considerable section of the international community into believing that the President is running a progressive regime.

The fact is that Mrs. Sirleaf presides over a government which has been rated by Transparency International and the latest United States Department of State Report as “one of the most corrupt regimes in the world”. In fact, the President is running a “family affair” with her sister, sons, and brother-inlaw constituting what the Liberians have labeled the “breakfast table” cabinet.

“That is why I laughed when she was invited to talk about corruption in Nigeria.

It’s an irony indeed, because I don’t see how Nigeria can learn any lesson from Liberia in that regard,” he said.

Further speaking on the Liberian situation, he said: “The major indices of human development in Liberia are alarming. Eighty-five per cent unemployment, extremely high infant mortality rate (93 deaths per 1000 live births); widespread poverty (80 per cent of the population live below the poverty line of $1 US dollar per day); 80 per cent illiteracy; inadequate schools and even more inadequate health centres; growing insecurity occasioned by frequent armed robberies. Not surprisingly, therefore, life expectancy is short, estimated at only about 50 years.”

Revealing that there is no policy for the empowerment of Liberians to fully participate in the development of their country, the politician lamented: “No programme has been initiated to train our skilled professionals who will be needed in the exploitation of the iron ore and petroleum resources and no concrete help is being extended to the small Liberian businesses whose owners have shown an uncommon enthusiasm for entrepreneurship.”

“The reconciliation which is needed to bind our wounds and bridge the historical divide in Liberian society is being effected more in words than in deeds. There is an attempt to restore the “old order” of privileges for a

• Mayson

few at the expense of the vast majority of the people - a policy which led us to civil war in the first place,” he further bemoaned, adding: “In the realm of inter-African relations and cooperation, President Sirleaf partly resides in Liberia (partly, because the President could certainly claim the status of the most travelled president) but her orientation and mind set are in Europe and the United States. Thus is lacking the economic and political cooperation which Liberia should foster with other African countries.”

Citing unity of the opposition parties as his joker against the incumbent, Mayson said that the people were already tired of Mrs Sirleaf’s administration as reflected in a recent memorandum vote where the incumbent failed “woefully” to register her influence.

Sixty-year-old Mayson who first worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then went on to lecture at Cuttington University located in rural Liberia co-founded the Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA) which, along with the Progressive Alliance of Liberia (PAL), played the leading role in mobilising the Liberian people for progressive change in the 1970s.

Following the “rice rebellion” in 1979, he was jailed in a notorious prison and later placed on death row. And after the coup d’etat of 1980, he was appointed Chairman/Minister of National Investment. Three years later, he was appointed Ambassador to France, Spain, Switzerland, Greece, UNESCO, and Algeria. He resigned from his ambassadorial posts in 1985 in opposition to the excesses of the then Samuel Doe’s regime.

During the civil war, Mayson, it was gathered, worked as a mediator in the crisis and succeeded in opening a dialogue between the Interim Government of Dr. Amos Sawyer and the Taylor regime, culminating in the various peace agreements which eventually led to the installation of a new interim government and general elections in 1977.

He was a major provider of assistance to Liberian refugees in Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.

Professor Mayson has lectured widely in Africa and in the United States. He is the author of several publications on the political Economy of Africa and of Liberia in particular. The professor is also a businessman with interests in Nigeria and Liberia.

During the many years he has spent in Nigeria, he lectured at several universities. He adopted a number of street children. He headed several fund raising committees which renovated schools and built churches.

Back in Liberia, Mayson has acted as a facilitator for the establishment of Nigerian businesses in the country, including the United Bank for Africa (UBA), Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Mutual Benefits Assurance and Emzor Pharmaceuticals.

Danboyi blames loss of Nasarawa on Deputy Governor From Johnny Lafia

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ENATOR John Danboyi who represented Nasarawa North between 2003 and 2007 in the National Assembly has blamed the loss of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State on the immediate past Deputy Governor, Chief John Michael Abdul.

Danboyi who was summoned before an Anti Party Activities Committee at his home town in Akwanga said the former Deputy Governor, due to his blind ambition to rule the state in 2015 refused listening to reason why Barrister Solomon Ewuga should be given the senatorial ticket to keep him in the party. Ewuga who later defected to the CPC before the 2011 elections defeated the PDP candidate, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, for the Nasarawa North Senatorial seat which is being contested by another CPC candidate. The tribunal has ruled in Ewuga’s favour.

Danboyi said that the inability of Ewuga to pick the ticket on the platform of the PDP as objected to by Abdul, cost the party the 2011 elections in the state and wondered whether the party could recover from the electoral defeat.

Describing Akwanga as “the heart beat of Nasarawa State,” Danboyi explained that whatever happens there spreads to other parts of the state. He said, that “most times, decisions are taken from here; if you take them correctly, the whole state follows, if it goes wrong, something goes wrong too” “If Solomon Ewuga was in our team, I know, even you journalists know that PDP would have won Nasarawa State and this was what I preached to them and they refused to accept it and today they are looking for somebody to blame; that is why they have called for this kind of Kangaroo committee, he said.

“I told the governor (Doma) that there was the need for Ewuga to come in and he agreed to it, only for the deputy who comes from the same zone as Ewuga to kick against it. So as a matter of fact, there are so many other factors, but for the 2011 elections, knowing full well that Nasarawa State was like a one-party state, I cannot be too far from the truth that one person (Abdul) brought about the failure of the PDP. The Chairman of the Anti Party Activities Committee set up to investigate the allegations of anti-party activities in the 2011 elections, Ezekiel Maichibi and secretary of the PDP in Akwanga area however apologized to Danboyi for putting his name on the list of those that are supposed to appear before the panel.

Maichibi said the party and committee had no intention to embarrass the former senator and pledged to do all that is necessary to ensure that the party is reconciled and put on the winning path again.

ACN chief asks Mimiko to justify security vote From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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CHIEFTAIN of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Ondo State, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, urged the governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, to declare how much exactly he has collected as security vote since he assumed office in February 2009.

Abayomi, a constitutional lawyer and rights activist, also asked the governor to tell the people of the state whether he has spent the money purposefully.

The Akoko-born politician noted that security vote has become a veritable way for governors to steal public funds or abuse their offices.

The legal practitioner added that there was growing interest in Ondo State as well as in other states as to how governors use “security vote” allocated from public funds.

He alleged that Mimiko had collected unaccounted public funds of not less than N500,000,000 as security vote monthly or not less than N6 billion per annum or N12 billion in the last two years as security vote all of which, according to him, has been spent without accountability.

His words: “In Ondo State, there is no information whatsoever about security vote allocated to Governor Mimiko or just how or when he uses it or whether he uses the security vote allocated for public purposes.

“Serious questions that arise about security vote in Ondo State is whether the huge vote collected by Governor Mimiko from the peoples commonwealth, whether the governor ever accounts to the House of Assembly as provided by Section 125 of the Constitution for the vast expenditure as Security Vote.

“On the face of the continuing underdevelopment of Ondo State as well as the uncaring poverty confronting our people, Governor Mimiko, as part of his caring heart programme should tell the people of Ondo State exactly how much he has collected as security vote and whether he has spent the huge public money purposefully”.

•Abayomi

Plateau Assembly takes stock •Continued from page 17

the lawmakers of working too close with the executive and thus, become a rubber stamp, he said: “That is what we need to do to bring the dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots. The legislature is not supposed to be an opposition to the executive; we are supposed to be partners in progress and so long as the executive is doing the right thing, there is no need creating unnecessary political conflict in the state because we’ve had enough of it in recent past, development thrives only in an atmosphere of peace and mutual understanding of stakeholders.”

But what should the people expect from the assembly in the next four years? This 7th assembly is bound to be restless considering the prevailing security situation in the state. The establishment of the stateowned security agency named ‘Operation Rainbow’ is awaiting legislative endorse-

ment to commence full operation. The presidency has given its approval and the state legislature is expected to give it legal backing.

If the cordial relationship between the legislature and the executive so far is anything to go by, this 7th assembly will be the most peaceful and active so far in the state. Though most of them are facing another round of political battle at the tribunal over their respective elections, the members have shown courage in the discharge of their duties. Dabwan said: “Now, we have an assembly of vibrant politicians who are prepared for the challenges ahead. The House has been improving steadily from the 1st to the 6th in terms of legislative duties and execution of oversight functions. This 7th assembly is an improvement over the last one. We assure Plateau people that we will make them proud at the end of it all.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

Lost in the Fog

What human rights?

•We are surprised Kwankwaso wants Boko Haram suspects freed

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HE report that Governor Kwankwaso of Kano State has demanded for an unconditional release of members of Boko Haram in detention across the country is stunning. Couching it as the protection of their fundamental rights may be putting this misguided support to the sect mildly. Without any pedigree as a human rights activist, many commentators have wondered the motive behind the new interest of Governor Kwankwaso in the affairs of the group, considering their activities in many states of the north. While the incentive for this call may remain a conjecture, it is important to find out the full context of the governor’s request.

For instance, it will be interesting to find out whether the governor was

‘Whatever may have motivated Kwankwaso’s expressed love and support for members of Boko Haram, he must remember that his responsibility as the Governor of Kano State is to provide security for every person within the confines of the state.

He can only seek to support the group if he thinks it is lawful, within the confines of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which he has sworn to protect’

demanding for the human rights of members of the Boko Haram arrested for the various bombings across the country, or for their outright release without any indictment for the alleged offences. It is important to find out whether he is asking the country to recognise and treat the dreaded sect’s members with all civility, regardless of their criminal conducts or irrespective of the havoc they are visiting on the country. If the reports are correct, it is important to understand the mindset of the governor in asking for freedom for the group.

In may also be right to guess whether the governor is saying that in dealing with members of the sect, the security agencies, the judiciary and the government should ensure that the fundamental rights of the members are respected; or is it that when they are arrested for criminal conducts like bombing and other terror acts, they should be parted on the back and told to go, since any person could be accused or arrested for crime any other time.

Some commentators are also worried that Governor Kwankwaso’s new love for the group may be as a result of the group’s reported threat to attack Kano State. If this is the reason, then the governor deserves pity.

But while showing him pity, he should be encouraged to understand that the modus operandi of similar organisations is not met with merely

pretending to support their conduct.

The chances are that they would ask for a direct or indirect control of the levers of government. Governor Kwankwaso must be willing to tell Nigerians whether he is willing to turn his state over to the full dictates of the sect; with his recent support a means of testing the waters.

Whatever may have motivated Kwankwaso’s expressed love and support for members of Boko Haram, he must remember that his responsibility as the Governor of Kano State is to provide security for every person within the confines of the state. He can only seek to support the group if he thinks it is lawful, within the confines of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which he has sworn to protect.

While we agree that any member of the group arrested should be deemed innocent until proven guilty as our constitution provides, we have no doubt that the group represents a serious security challenge for the country.

We also doubt if the threat of bombing Kano will be arrested by the type of appeal made by Kwankwaso, since the modus operandi of the group does not support that. The national leadership must rise to the challenge posed by the Boko Haram; talking in their favour cannot be the solution to their menace.

Shoddy job •Nigeria has no reason to have left its nationals stranded in Libya NE of the greatest advantages of human existence well above the lower animals is the ability to evolve well reasoned and planned set of actions based on the critical appraisal of past events and or, occurrences, which serve as guide for the future; as opposed to random, instinct-based and probably predictable pattern of behaviour of the lower animals. The media has reported that more than 200 Nigerians are still trapped within the borders of war-torn Libya despite the fact that Nigeria has no official presence or formal link in that country, having closed down her embassy sometimes in March, pending the return to normalcy.

Facts emerging from the foreign affairs ministry revealed that planes sent to Libya only brought back home the embassy officials, their families and other Nigerians who fortuitously turned out at the airport for the evacuation – they were over 4,000 as against the projected 2,000, thus betraying the shoddiness of the exercise.

This is not the first time Nigeria would have to evacuate its nationals from crisis-ridden countries. The perplexing thing however, is the recurring decimal of dismal performance in an exercise that has not only become (almost) a routine, but perhaps anticipatory, once there is an escalated conflict situation anywhere outside the shores of Nigeria. It is clear for instance, that the Nigerian embassy did not have correct data of the Nigerian citizens living in Libya, and therefore, could not have assessed correctly, the needed logistics for the evacuation.

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Diverse reasons may be responsible for this lapse in administrative exactitude; nonetheless, when it became clear that more Nigerians than officially anticipated are living in Libya, we expected that a ‘Plan B’ designed to effectively handle the surge in human traffic should have taken care of that. This, the embassy and the Federal Government did not do.

Although, we note with delight that embassy officials and their families were flown out before it was too late, but it only aggravates the psychological trauma of dozens of other nameless citizens who remain trapped in the troubled country.

Indeed, it is in this light that we view the recent evacuation exercise as being unsatisfactory.

Evacuation is not a humanitarian exercise per se; it is the corner-stone of the responsibility of the State to its bona fide citizens. Nothing frustrates like a trust misplaced in a State without stately character. Whereas the exercise requires correct timing in order to succeed, the Federal Government has the annoying penchant for ‘fire brigade’ approach. Perhaps the exception to this was Egypt, where the government was able to evacuate Nigerians from that country before the crisis there got out of hands early in the year.

In spite of repeated calls for help, and warnings by other nationals, Nigeria did not go to Liberia until countless Nigerians had been killed. It took a distress call from one Siji Daramola from Libya that some Nigerians faced the risk of being eliminated, probably because of the recognition granted to that country’s Tran-

sitional National Council (TNC) by the Federal Government, for the foreign affairs minister to act. The politics of recognition and the accord secured with the TNC in Tripoli is as tenuous and fragile as the socio-political reality in Libya.

Therefore, we may not share the gleeful optimism of the foreign affairs minister that no harm will befall the trapped Nigerians, and we indeed shudder that he could entrust the fate and safety of many Nigerians in the interplay and dynamics of an unenforceable, technically defective international obligation.

If we could succeed in Egypt, there was no reason why we should fail in Libya.

Everyone knew Ghadaffi was not going to leave as easily as Hosni Mubarak did in Egypt; this was enough reason the Federal Government ought to have acted more swiftly in the Libyan situation before now.

‘Nothing frustrates like a trust misplaced in a State without stately character. Whereas the exercise requires correct timing in order to succeed, the Federal Government has the annoying penchant for ‘fire brigade’ approach. Perhaps the exception to this was Egypt, where the government was able to evacuate Nigerians from that country before the crisis there got out of hands early in the year’

A

S they debated at the Reagan library Wednesday night, the Republican presidential candidates seemed lost in a separate, frivolous galaxy from the sobering economic reality that President Obama was trying to confront. A public desperate for ideas about economic revival heard an astonishing argument about whether Social Security is a hoax, along with a fight about which states were more effective in luring low-wage jobs from other states.

The Republican Party has already demonstrated its lack of interest in rebuilding the economy, preferring instead to use stagnation as a club to dismantle President Obama’s agenda and damage his chances for re-election. Much of that was on display at the debate, where Representative Michele Bachmann wrongly insisted that health care reform was a principal reason for high unemployment. Other candidates blamed the minimum wage, or corporate taxes (widely evaded through loopholes) or unspecified “federal regulations” and bureaucrats.

If only the American entrepreneur could be free from a crushing burden of taxes and regulations, jobs would flow, bemoaned Gov. Rick Perry of Texas. He did not mention that federal income taxes are near a historic low and taxes on investment gains are even lower. He boasted of having “created” a million jobs in Texas in the last decade, leading to a ridiculous quarrel with two former governors, Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and Jon Huntsman Jr. of Utah, over who had a better record of job creation.

Governors, of course, don’t create privatesector jobs. Most often, they engage in raceto-the-bottom competitions to lure companies from one state to the other, or they take advantage of natural resources, location or climate. The job growth in Texas was largely the result of the oil and gas boom, increased American trade with Mexico and heavy federal spending. Many of those jobs are less than desirable: the state has one of the highest percentages of hourly workers who are paid the minimum wage and is dead last in health-insurance coverage.

Mr. Romney released his own prescription for growth this week, full of largely discredited ideas like cutting the taxes on capital gains and corporations, repealing health care reform and reducing regulations. But at least he stood up to defend Social Security from Mr. Perry’s charge that the program is a “monstrous lie” and a Ponzi scheme. It is mind-boggling that the Republicans should be debating the value of Social Security as the economy teeters and millions worry about their retirement. But Mr. Perry isn’t ashamed of his willful ignorance. As he said at the debate: “I don’t care what anyone says.”

• New York Times

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: Politics is the art and science of government or governance, especially the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal resources through parties’ structures. In politics, politicians struggle to control the administration of their people for the mutual benefits of all. The interest of the state is paramount even in the face of rive competition in politics. The type of politics played by people is a derivative of the degree of complexities of states.

Opposition is allowed in politics as it is the tonic that gingers meaningful development in a state. But opposition should have a human face. John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, first Baron Acton (1834– 1902), the historian and moralist, who was otherwise known simply as Lord Acton, expressed a popular opinion in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887 that “power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Great men are almost always bad men.”

William Pitt, the Elder, The Earl of Chatham and British Prime Minister from 1766 to 1778, put it aptly in a speech to the UK House of Lords in 1770 that “Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it”.

These sayings are coming to past in Osun State politics. It is apparent that arrogant politicians mismanaging the resources of Osun state before the current government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola believed that only them, and not even God, can run the affairs of the sate. They declared openly on March 25, 2005, in a national daily, that there was no opposition in Osun State. In April 16, 2005, God sent an opponent who today is in control of

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Opposition madness in Osun State power in the state.

Between April 16, 2005, when Aregbesola declared his intention to challenge the leadership of the People Democratic (PDP) government in Osun State at Osogbo Sports Club, till present day, not less than 35 people have been killed in circumstances believed to be politically motivated. Top of the list is Hassan Olajoku, killed on his way from Ilobu, after he was turbaned the Balogun Adinni of Ilobu Central Mosque on May 16, 2005.l On Oroki Day in Osogbo on August 6, 2006, Aregbesola was physically shot at. He was later whisked away to Abuja for two weeks de-

tention. The government was found guilty of unlawful detention, but up till now, the compensation of N5million to the injured has not been paid. In the same 2006, Aregbesola family-house was destroyed.

In the April, 2011 election in Osun State, Honourable Rotimi Makinde’s brothers were killed in a church alongside three other people including the pastor of a church and his son.

Of late, the oppositions in Osun State have changed their strategy from being physical to being mischievous. The governor and his wife went for a private visit to

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various litres of gas to customers according to demand but subject to its availability. If the station runs out of gas, it will be fool hardy for customers to blame the attendant for non - availability of the commodity.

To appreciate the magnitude of the problems facing the power sector, it is pertinent to factor in the different roles of both the Federal government and some Independent Power Producers (IPP) as the providers of power (electricity) for the nation, PHCN as the dispenser or distributor of power and the general attitude of customers who utilize the commodity.

IR: The opinion of Ayetigbo Oluwadamilola entitled POOR PHCN featured on page 20 of The Nation of August 18 made an ‘interesting’ read.

This reaction is not aimed at chastising Ayetigbo for feeding the public with half-truths but to serve millions of well-meaning Nigerians who must have been misinformed by this warped piece another unique dish of enlightenment: let them into taking a critical look at the other side of the coin on this important but intractable national problem.

PHCN could be likened to a gas station attendant who dispenses

Dubai, United Arab Emirate, in May. Before they came back, the Ojo-Williams-led PDP in the state started a rumour that the governor’s leg had been cut after he allegedly fell from the bathtub!

He came back hale and healthy and participated in the passing-out parade of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ede to the chagrin of the opposition.

In July, Aregbesola and Alhaji Hassan Sumonu had a working visit to China at the instance of Alhaji Sumonu and the deputy governor, Otunba Laoye-Tomori. The opposition in their callousness posited that Aregbesola was sick.

Re: Poor PHCN!

The rot in the power sector was an aggregate after effect of inadequate power supply, weak transmission networks, inadequate manpower development, customers’ indifferent to payment of their bills, policy summersault, failed governments and our inability to collectively hold those who toyed with our destiny in this direction accountable for squandering our resources without commensurate result. We are all transgressors.

In every 12, there must be a Judas. Needless to say that corruption is not domiciled only in PHCN as the article portrayed. It is a common calamity ravaging virtually

Harnessing the potentials of Nigerian youths

IR: Nigeria has remained a sleeping giant due to her failure to properly harness and develop her abundance of latent human resources as a result of which Nigerian youths remained incapacitated, indolent, underdeveloped, and potentially depressed.

An average Nigerian youth is today, faced with fear and hopelessness, unemployment and hunger, frustration and confusion, illusion and infections. At no other time in the history of Nigeria are the youths found in greater difficulties and challenges than now, most especially in the face of

Nigeria’s dwindling economic fortunes, falling moral values, crumbling social securities such as qualitative education and living conditions, gainful employment, provision of developmental activities, amongst others. The family institution is not left out in this devastating situation, full of uncertainties and shocks.

It is estimated that over 12 million youths under the age of 30 years are job seekers, while the national unemployment rate is now estimated at about 15 percent. A Federal Office of Statistic report indicate that school –leavers accounts for about 60 percent of all

unemployed persons in the country.

About 70 percent of unemployed persons are below 40 years of age.

Records also show that out of about 14 million pupils enrolled into primary schools yearly, only about 400 thousand were admitted into tertiary institutions. Less than 10 percent out of about three million persons turned out yearly from higher institutions into the labour market are absorbed, given the low capacity utilization. Previous development policies and poverty intervention initiatives of the federal government aimed towards the creation of job opportunities were more or less designed only to live

and die with the respective administrations. In the same vein, states and local governments have always instituted divergent schemes that are usually ad-hoc in nature without any lasting solution at sight.

Nigerian youths must be guaranteed a promising, secured and brighter future through effective, functional and abundant provision of all the basic necessities and amenities of life that would serve as pivot for genuine growth and development to engender the accelerated growth of Nigeria.

• Comrade G. Owolabi – Abdullahi Lagos.

The worst in the imaginations of the opposition came in August when the rumour mongers spread the rumour that the governor was afflicted with a terminal disease when he was actually at Um-rah, a tradition he started since 1997, to thank his God for what He has done for him and for all He has promised to do for him.

The Nigerian Compass August 21 edition published on its front page that “Aregbesola battles cancer”. It is certainly not Nigerian to wish another person ill-luck, including one’s enemy.

Though sociopaths and psychotics take part in politics, these people should apply decorum in what they do or say. Aregbesola assumed office miraculously considering the fact that their court cases’ record is unprecedented in Nigeria. These leaders are not without the consent of the God. Anybody that wishes them well, wishes himself well.

• Olufemi Oyedele, Osogbo, Osun State.

every strata of the nation.

The essence of carrying placards was not aimed at stopping privatisation which is a government policy thrust but to compel it to strictly adhere to due process and also acquiesce to labour demand of resolving all industrial issues before privatisation. Government is at liberty to sell its property to any ready and willing buyer but the rights of thousands of PHCN staff to decide their fate should not be suppressed or denied, toyed with or sold at the behest of government.

Going ahead to privatise without providing a better alternative to PHCN is a disaster waiting to happen.

The employees of PHCN cannot afford to fold their hands and allow the ugly fate of NITEL to befall them. Only trees comfortably wait to be cut down even when the hewer has issued a threat. If rules of engagement are strictly adhered to; there will be no need for roforofo.

At the back of carrying placards also was the unjust casualisation of Nigerians in the power sector for years and the impending customers’ predicament in pricing policies of electricity products and services when private investors eventually take over.

• Sunday Onyemaechi Eze, sunnyeze02@yahoo.com

Feedback 21

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

EDITORIAL/OPINION

“E

VEN then 12 years seem a long time to try anyone for conspiracy to murder. It’s time the courts set him free or convicted him so that, his antics notwithstanding, he may quickly be granted a presidential pardon having languished in jail long after all his other co-accused for the conspiracy to murder Kudirat, among other crimes” – so Mohammed Haruna, syndicated

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epublican ipples

lordbeek@yahoo.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please)

columnist with The Nation and Daily Trust, is capable of this infantile thinking?

In his People and Politics column, headlined “al-Mustapha: Time to set this canary free”, published on the back page of The Nation of September 7, Haruna concluded with the above italicised quote (italics mine). But even the most cursory analysis of that claim shows that it ripples with scandalous illogic and culpable presumptuousness.

Take the opening sentence: “Even then 12 years seem a long time to try anyone for conspiracy to murder.” Then take this phrase, a part of the second sentence: “ ...having languished in jail long after his other co-accused for the conspiracy to murder Kudirat, among other crimes.”

Both smack of base emotiveness, perhaps deliberately thrown in to confuse and confound the unwary. That could well show the contempt some columnists hold their readers, presuming many, if not most, would swallow the fallacious hook, and shed a bucketful of tears for a “persecuted” al-Mustapha.

But the counter-poise is simple, really: why has it taken 12 years to try al-Mustapha? And why have all his “co-accused” been freed, while he “languishes” in jail? The answer is simple: it is al-Mustapha’s courtroom pranks, as he was bent on stalling the trial so he could walk free, riding on some phoney and despicable sympathy that Haruna is now trying to drum up!

So, by Haruna’s curious illogic, the state should reward al-Mustapha for bad conduct, simply because he has some media campaigners, while telling others who faced the rigour of trial, though they ended up escaping conviction, that they were idiots to have submitted themselves to the majesty of the courts, and should in fact have behaved like courtroom outlaws, as al-Mustapha has done?

Why, Haruna conveniently forgets (and is it because it

‘With Haruna’s conclusion in his piece, there would appear to have arrived a journalistic boko haram, that bombs off reader’s faculty with their brazen illogic!’

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N a passing reference to the development import of outsourcing the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes to two super-committees – the National Economic Management Team (NEMT) and the 15-member implementation committee last week, I did state that President Goodluck Jonathan scored a bull’s eye in deftly playing up to the psychology of the moment.

How right I was! Between then and now, three new members have been added to the NEMT – and from what I have been told, the membership list would soon become open ended! The development seems to be vindication of my query on the desirability of super-committees to look at old, familiar problems anew, without prejudice to the prerogative of the President to summon additional skills at any point in time to help him deliver on the job.

The latest addition to the NEMT family makes even harder to see the rationale for the assemblage of private sector chieftains bundled with a subset of the federal cabinet now said to constitute task teams supposedly to get the business of government done.

The point, I believe bears further elaboration that not even the most permissive presidentialism would sanction the wholesale outsourcing of governance on the scale that we are beginning to see today. The systematic emasculation of the traditional institution of the civil service – said to be dictated by the current exigencies – ought to alarm enough.

This is hardly a denial that these are unusual times.

With a prostrate economy to manage and with unemployment rate officially put at 19.7 percent, the dire emergency is palpable enough to recommend drastic measures. There is also the huge factor of infrastructural deficit in the face of declining revenues and mounting public debts, compounded by the wave of deindustrialisation. In the face of this, the demonstrable lack of capacity by the civil service to implement government

‘The principal and the harder part of the NEMT job comes across to me as one of evolving creative ideas to bridge the gaps in infrastructure financing as well as helping to remove institutional obstacles holding back the private sector from investing its legendary wealth in infrastructure’

Olakunle Abimbola

Journalistic boko haram? didn’t fall within the teary, mischievous vision of his lobby?) that al-Mustapha openly ridiculed Gen. Musa Bamaiyi, for submitting himself to trial, trumpeting that he was spineless to have opted to break the trial stone-walling tactics, even though Bamaiyi is a General and al-Mustapha a Major?

And now that the others have had their day in court and got a verdict, for good or for ill, it is time for Haruna, on behalf of al-Mustapha, to turn up the teary tap, using the bogey of some sectional persecution, when it is clear Kudirat Abiola was gunned down in cold blood, by an even more cold-blooded state, for no crime at all but for the fact that her husband MKO Abiola won a free and fair election, and he was jailed for his perfectly legal and legitimate effort?

So long with pernicious illogic, playing up culpable appeal to pity! But, how about this for brazen presumptuousness? “It’s time the courts set him free or convicted him so that, his antics notwithstanding, he may quickly be granted a presidential pardon.”

Meaning? That the first option is to, at all cost, set alMustapha free, regardless of the weight of evidence against him? Then if that failed, fulfil all righteousness of conviction, knowing at worst it would be temporary? And then apply the final solution of a “presidential pardon”, so that the accused person could go out in a blaze of glory, popping out his tongue against a woolly-brained state, and the imbeciles that people that unfortunate territory?

And more: that the president of the Federal Republic is some vacuum, or some silly tendrils blown yo-yo by the wind and, with base sentiments, could be blackmailed to procure a phony “presidential pardon” to spring a convicted felon from his sentence, just to press some citizens’ divine right to kill others in cold blood and get away with it? How galling!

There is the classical boko haram – the bomb throwing mob whose mortal fear remains the beginning of wisdom for ev-

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

The many cooks of Jonathan projects would make radical measures not entirely out of place.

But a political by-pass is hardly an option. In the first place, the current approach would seem to suggest that fresh diagnosis of the problem is necessary. That of course is balderdash. Nothing of the current problems can be said to be new in any fundamental sense. If Jonathan would care to do the needful, there are already enough diagnoses begging for attention in the custody of government to point in the way of therapy. While it suits nearly every administration to pretend at seeing something “new” in the problem, what they conveniently mask is their lack of will and discipline to commit scrupulously to a programme of action and to see such through.

The point therefore bears reiteration that what is required is extraordinary political will – not some amorphous all-weather committee to get the business of governance going.

I need to add also that the wages of by-passing institutional mechanisms and procedures for the exigency of politics can sometimes come steep. There can hardly be a better illustration of this than the travails of the power sector which although seems well-meaning at the time, nonetheless suffered the conception in iniquity! The lessons from the now-orphaned National Integrated Power Projects – and which now threatens to be stillborn – ought to dictate caution when it comes to settling for exigencies.

After gulping more than $10 billion, several years after the announced gestation time, no-one seems sure of what the project is supposed to inject into the grid; even the completion dates have remained matters of wild guesses,

ery policeman – at least in Maiduguri, Borno State, and catchment areas. Now, the Jonathan presidency has hinted at a political boko haram, which it claims, has cognate expertise in suicide-bombing the fortress of the high and the mighty. With Haruna’s conclusion in his piece, there would appear to have arrived a journalistic boko haram, that bombs off reader’s faculty with their brazen illogic!

But before the cold-blooded murder of an innocent woman becomes yet another unresolved controversy like June 12, the tragic annulment that sparked this running 18-year tragedy, let everyone know that the blood of twin matyrs, MKO Abiola and Kudirat his wife, cry for justice. The arrogance that propelled Haruna’s weird conclusion was the same arrogance that, in the first instance, led to the tragic annulment. If for 18 years running the ghost of that tragedy still haunts this country, and strictly no one knows how eventually it would be resolved, why would the latest emotional campaign to subvert justice end the conundrum?

Ibrahim Babangida annulled the election, though he alleged pressure from some unnamed lieutenants. Sani Abacha jailed MKO and almost turned Nigeria into a raging inferno just to sustain the criminal annulment. Abdulsalami Abubakar somewhat stanched the crisis by doing a hasty handover, after it was clear the disgraced political military could no longer hold the country together, under force of arms. But not before MKO died suddenly in jail, even if al-Mustapha insists, in his courtroom and earlier Oputa Panel histrionics, that he was murdered. That has put Abdulsalami himself on the spot.

The Army Arrangement (AA) that tried to clear the mess picked on Olusegun Obasanjo, who has turned to be a tragic megalomaniac who, again in his own words though he applied those words on IBB, has become a power bull in a china shop, as much a threat to himself as to the power caste that created him!

The blood of the Abiolas demand justice! Those who sentimentally delude themselves that the June 12 injustice could do with yet another pile of injustice had better know this: all those involved in the June 12 conspiracy, dead or alive, have destroyed themselves. It is even worse for the living: for they are all no more than living dead.

No one needs Haruna’s condescension on al-Mustapha’s courtroom antics. Sure, he has tried quite a few, not the least the stunt to posthumously batter Pa Abraham Adesanya’s integrity, a feat Abacha could not pull off, with all his tanks, material inducement and murderous goons, at the height of his mad rule.

Still, he is still presumed innocent until proved otherwise by the court, in which he has had his day. But let no one twist the hand of the court by, emotional blackmail, purporting to give the court a tutorial on what its verdict should be, as the Haruna piece so gratuitously projected.

depending on who is talking and on the occasion. Yet, we are supposed to be making progress even when the costs have become open-ended and indeterminate!

One recalls also the Power Sector Act 2005 – which is supposed to have laid both the legal and institutional foundations for the overhaul of the sector. Six years after the coming of the law, the sector is still hobbled by administrative and bureaucratic implementation bottlenecks with key targets largely unmet. Indeed, only last year did the federal government remember that a roadmap was necessary!

Needless to state that at the heart of the problems are governance issues manifested in stupendous manifestation of incompetence by officials, corruption and bad politics. It is hard to see what superfluous task teams – which aspire to supplant the civil service – would do to change things that a more painstaking attention to revamping governance procedures, processes and mechanisms of the service would not do more – in a systematic manner. In any case, where are the guarantees that they could alter the pace of doing business without taking the service into confidence?

To get back to the basic premise of this piece: is the everexpanding NEMT irrelevant at this time? The answer is – not exactly; it depends on what it considers its job brief.

While there is a lot to say of the need to improve on the overall efficiency of government at all levels, much more would certainly be said about needless duplication of tasks. The issue is how the NEMT can go about its job without courting itself the trouble of avoidable overlaps with the bureaucracy – traditionally the implementer of government programmes and policies. This is to say that overlaps will not only be costly, it will most certainly set back the hands of the clock.

It is not as if we do not know where the greatest source of government’s headache lies. It is the huge deficit gap between recurrent capital estimates in successive budgets on one hand, and what is required to make a dent on the infrastructure situation on the other. How to close or at least narrow the gap obviously requires deep thinking and hard choices. The principal and the harder part of the NEMT job comes across to me as one of evolving creative ideas to bridge the gaps in infrastructure financing as well as helping to remove institutional obstacles holding back the private sector from investing its legendary wealth in infrastructure. Nothing of course stops the NEMT from assisting government to prioritise its spending on infrastructure within the short-term goal of reducing unemployment and creating wealth. The danger is to fall into the fatal seduction of assuming a multi-purpose function for all times and seasons.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION HE May/June 2011 West African Senior Secondary School certificate Examination result released by WAEC shows the grave state of our secondary education. According to Dr. Iyi Uwaedia, head of WAEC National Office, only 30.9% of the 1,540,250 candidates made five credits and above, including English and Mathematics.

By implication 69.1% of these candidates do not qualify into tertiary institutions. This is a true reflection of the tragedy that stares at us in the face of obvious lapses in the system.

For too long, the secondary sector of our education system has been left to function at the whims and caprices of individuals, organizations and states. The sector continues to expand with no defined regulatory body.

Every nook and cranny of this nation has witnessed a surge in the proliferation of so called secondary schools with no single body calling the shot.

The secondary school population in Nigeria has been reported to be about 30.2 million in 2006/2007 academic session. By projection, the figure cannot be less than 32 million for 2010/2011 academic session.

The continuous rise in the growth of private nursery and primary schools are positive indicators of the emergence of new secondary schools which will eventually apply for inclusion of secondary school curriculum in their educational outfit.

As this sector continues to expand with no defined regulatory body, the consequences of this are epitomized in the astronomical decline in the standard of secondary education!

Secondary school education remains the most marginalized sector of the education system in Nigeria. It is very unfortunate for the Professor of Education Pai Obanya-led presidential committee on education to advocate federal government’s disengagement from providing secondary education when the same federal government has UBEC to cater for basic education sector, NUC for the university education, NCCE for College of Education, NBTE for monotechnices and polytechnics.

Secondary Education no doubt deserves parenthood. The contemplation and recommendation for a merger of senior secondary education into the Universal Basic Education commission as an alternative has it problems considering the huge population of pupils, human and materials resources as well as the large number of schools expected to be built

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I

Orphan status of Nigeria’s secondary schools

By Sylvester Onoja and maintained on a continuous basis. It is very pertinent to mention that UBEC came into existence under the purview of international policies and programmes such as Education for All (EFA) by 2015, (MDGS 1,2,& 3) etc. It is therefore inappropriate and defeatist to transfer the problems of secondary education completely into primary education just because they have similar objectives. If tertiary education can have as much as three parent bodies to manage them, primary and secondary education should at least have a separate body each to regulate and control it.

It is also important to remind us that government at all levels in this country are still contending with one of the most important provisions of the UBE act which is to make the basic education programmes universal, free and compulsory. UBEC therefore has an enormous responsibility of making all efforts to counter the factors that were impediments to the global realization of the previous programme UPE and then the current UBE. The only available form of intervention by the Federal Government to public secondary schools – ETF projects has now been stopped.

Sad enough, no substitute or alternative has been pronounced to shore the derelicts we call secondary school buildings across the nation.

It is worrisome and unfortunate that secondary education will no longer benefit from this gesture.

It is a known fact that various efforts by the states to prop their secondary education have not been very meaningful, consistent or well coordinated. Secondary education and its myriad essential inputs of adequate staffing, training and retraining programmes, curriculum demand and implementations as well as structural and physical facilities requirements are colossus enough to constitute an entire commission. The wave of increase in secondary school age students and the corresponding consistent increases in the number of schools call for concerted efforts to meaningfully charge a body with the great task of management.

Nigeria’s education data profile has it that the percentage of youths ages 12 – 17 attend-

ing secondary school increased notably and consistently from 1990 to 2008 with 44 percent being in school in 2008, compared with 35 percent of youths in 2003 and only 24 percent in 1990.

The post-basic education sector – senior secondary school – no doubt occupies a very critical and enviable place in the Nigeria’s educational system in the sense that it is designed to prepare the students for entry into the tertiary level and as well groom those that cannot go further for the labour market.

The recommendation that Unity Colleges be scrapped and two be established in each Geo-political Zone of the country and FCT can best be described as running away from confronting the real challenges of secondary education. This aspect of the report should be discarded in favour of an independent body to regulate and manage the secondary sector.

Basic Education should continue to function with structural adjustment under the existing body.

The sorry state of secondary education was recently highlighted by the Federal Ministry of Education ministerial committee that blamed corruption and ineptitude of some federal unity colleges across the country. The visit of the Honourable Minister of State , Nyesong Wike to Federal Government College Garki Abuja and his reaction to the deplorable state of the institution are factors that speak for the establishment of a new body. Federal Ministry of Education is saddled with enough constitutional responsibilities just as the current UBEC has enough challenges to address.

The May/June 2011 WAEC result has only drawn our attention to the cataclysmic nature of damage to Nigeria vision of 2020 if urgent steps are not taken. It is interesting to know that as far back as 1999, there is an Act which created “Secondary School Commission”. The frequent changes at the helm of affairs of our education have been a major setback to the take off of the commission. Between independence to date, Nigeria has had 47 ministers of education. As a matter of fact, the Ministry of Education has perpetually suffered from what could be described as ‘memory death’ which

is responsible for jettisoning approved polices on ground.

Secondary education is the sector that has been victim of employment embargo in virtually all the states of the federation and at the national level for a long time now. We all know that secondary school enrolment continues to grow with fewer hands to manage the sector. Retirement by the aged continues with no equitable replacement in the system.

Government must redirect huge sum of money expended on non professional teaching staff for the much needed recruitment and retention of qualified and competent teachers.

There is no dispute as to the need for a reform in this sector. Several committees have spoken. The time has come when a body – the much talked about Secondary Education Commission which already had an Act (NSCE 199 of 1999) be put in place to regulate and control all activities at this level of education.

It is on record that out of the Federal Ministry of Education headquarters’ capital budget of N24.2 billion between 2000 and 2006, over N18.7 billion was appropriated for the 102 Unity schools which account for only about two percent of the population of the students in the country and 80 percent of the total staff of the ministry. The outcome in terms of students’ performance in the last May/June WAEC examination is said to be unsatisfactory going by the fact that 85 percent of the students could not make the requirement for higher education in WAEC exams, even when 80 percent of the total budget was invested in that section.

The federal government needs to be commended for her interventionary roles in the basic and tertiary education levels. However, the situation on the field calls for greater attention to the secondary education sector as well. The federal government must bring its might to secondary education sector through massive intervention in the provision of classrooms, teaching and learning facilities and professional salary for the retention of capable hands in the classroom. Federal Government’s political will and intervention through the establishment of a vibrant secondary schools commission is the only apparent solution that can redeem the orphan status of secondary education in Nigeria.

Chief Onoja is the Kogi State Commissioner for Education and Chairman of the Ministerial Panel for Federal Unity Schools in Nigeria.

Merit, Corruption, Social Capital and Development in Post 50 Nigeria

N this fourth segment of my postings on the path to national development in post 50 Nigeria, I examine three phenomena namely, merit, corruption, and social capital. These are in addition to my postings earlier, in The Nation, on the imperative of developmental state, globalization and national development, and aspects of constraints to excellence in education.

The simple premise is that emphasis on merit and competence, an absence of corruption, and the invocation of national social capital facilitate development. While some argue that the federal character principle promotes incompetence, others counter-argue that the various states of Nigeria are demographically large enough to provide competent people for national appointments at any given time.

Individuals who occupy positions because of their records of excellence will be more challenged to live up to that public recognition than those who see their positions as a matter of natural or social right. The federal character principle created the ubiquitous practice of zoning which has consolidated in all segments of society, especially the public sector. A national development state, or developmental state, and its regional and local ancillaries must not allow the federal character principle nor the give us our share mentality to force it to appoint incompetent people to office. A society that does not honor competence and excellence will not attain national development because national development is achieved not ascribed.

‘Such social capital does not exist in hyper pluralist Nigeria. This structural problem, chiefly the result of colonial political economy, deserves a serious and candid attention

By Chikwendu Christian Ukaegbu Just as de-emphasis of merit constraints development, so does unbridled corruption cripple the ability of governments to steer development. There is no country completely free of corruption. But some countries have much higher and more developmentally devastating levels of corruption than others. It is heart wrenching reading about the large amounts of money lost to corruption in Nigeria. At the same time it is revealing to the point of shock of how much money there is in Nigeria. For the past two years a high number of cases investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have been cases of embezzlement of billions, not millions, of naira. Today, misappropriation of billions in both the public and private sectors has become the norm.

From what we know from development theory and practice, countries that have made it in the last 50 years have done so on the strength of high national savings. Loss of a significant bulk of national revenue to private bank accounts through corruption; the convolutions in external reserves even with astronomical increases in price of crude oil; the astronomical cost of government; and the absence of a national, state, and local tax collection regime constrain overall national savings. How can a society, which loses such unfathomable amounts of money to corruption build national, state, and local infrastructure that can facilitate development?

Countries that have succeeded in the march to development build and maintain world class physical and social infrastructure by investing public revenue wisely. Modernizing physical and social infrastructure (roads, bridges, electricity, water works, rail, air and sea ports, educational and health facilities) has several advantages. It is a sure source of creating jobs in the country. The developmental state can use it as avenue to broaden, deepen, and strengthen the skill capacities of indigenous technical manpower and the scale and scope of production of firms that supply

construction inputs. The items of infrastructure facilitate the movement of goods and people. And good infrastructure is a powerful pull of foreign investments.

National social capital is as important as factors mentioned earlier. ‘Social capital refers to the good will, fellowship, and social intercourse which individuals and groups in a social unit invoke to solve common problems’. The World Bank defines social capital as the glue that holds society together in its march to development. To say that such glue holds groups together across Nigeria is to engage in pervert intellectualism. It does not exist. Violent ethnic and religious divisions escalate.

Cultural homogeneity is a most important source of national social capital which national development states of South-east Asia mobilized to accelerate development. It was easy to mobilize their people to see that they as a community would benefit from the cooperation of all. Such social capital does not exist in hyper pluralist Nigeria. This structural problem, chiefly the result of colonial political economy, deserves a serious and candid attention.

What do all these mean? They mean that the governing groups of post 50 Nigeria at all levels of government, beginning with the cohort of the 2011 general elections, must tow a different path from that of their predecessors 50 years earlier. They will therefore be transformational leaders ready to bring nationalism, patriotism, imagination, courage and integrity to bear on steering Nigeria to a prosperous and better future. They must exert ownership of the development process and invoke the developmental state as the tool with which to achieve development goals. They should not be afraid to dismantle moribund institutions and replace them with what they sincerely think are more efficient structures; and appoint patriotic, knowledgeable and competent individuals to positions.

There is no room to sit in palatial offices and issue instructions. Leaders must constantly be on their toes to check the status of projects and activities of subordinates. Super-ordinates must select and empower the best

people to exercise leadership in their own positions. That is why the most important attribute of transformational leadership is that it makes leaders out of followers.

I have used some strong words in my opinion pieces in the past three months. Mine is a spontaneous reaction to years of study and watching Nigerian ‘leaders’ at federal, state and local levels let golden opportunities for national development go to waste. As the saying goes in Nigeria, ‘opportunity knocks but once’. Those lost years and lost resources will never come back. Some will also say that I emphasized the negative, therefore, pessimistic. There is virtue in pessimism. Pessimism challenges the target to act otherwise and in the process change the situation for the better to prove the pessimist wrong. That 90% of Nigerians struggle to make a living in the rough informal sector does not elicit a cheery disposition. The dumping of substandard goods in a society with a weak industrial base should not elicit optimism for industrial development. Should we cheer that 64 % of Nigerians live under $1.25 (N180) a day while newspapers regularly report tens of billions of naira lost to corruption? Should we for the sake of political correctness say that the popular concern about erosion of standards in education at all levels is no longer true? These are in addition to the dismal position of Nigeria in almost all global indicators of development 50 years after independence. These negative conditions are real and well documented. Even President Jonathan expressed that reality in his inaugural address when he said, “Our decade of development has begun.” Why would the decade of development begin in 2011, five decades after independence?

It is because he is aware of the lost opportunities of the previous 50 years. The maiden ‘leaders’ of the dawn of the second semi-centennial need to know that now and the future must not be run in a business as usual manner if the failures of the past are to be things of the past..

• Professor Ukaegbu is in the Department of Sociology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

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MARITIME NPA records 14.5 % growth

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HE Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says it recorded more growth in the first six months of the year compared to the same period in 2010.

According to a report obtained from the General Manager, Public Affairs Depa r t m e n t , C h i e f Michael Ajayi, port by port gross tonnage of ocean-going vessels’ that called at the ports increased by 14.5 per cent or 7.5 million tonnes. The total tonnage from ocean-going vessels for the period stood at 59.1 million tonnes, up from 51.6 million tonnes recorded in the same period last year. The traffic has been on the increase since the concession five years ago.

The port by port analysis shows that the Onne Port came first on the economy. It handled 20.9 million tonnes of goods from ocean-going vessels. The Lagos Port complex at Apapa handled 15.6 million

Stories by Uyoatta Eshiet

tonnes while the Tin-Can port handled 15.9 million tonnes of goods. Port Harcourt, Calabar port and Delta port handled 3.7 million; 1.6 million and 1.4 million tonnage of goods within the period.

Chief Ajayi also stated that the coastal trade recorded a growth rate of 25.4 per cent or 851.929 tonnes more than in the same period in 2010. There were no coastal transactions recorded from the two ports in Lagos, Apapa and Tin Can. The bulk of transactions again were recorded at the Onne Port as 2.4 million of coastal tonnage vessels passed through the port.

But Calabar and Delta ports handled 309.633 tonnes; 102.002 tonnes and 1.4 million tonnes, bringing the total to 4.2 million tonnes up from 3.4 tonnes million recorded in the same period in 2010.

MAN Rector seeks funding • Goods intercepted by Customs.

Smugglers on the prowl at T borders

HE smuggling of contra band into the country is on the increase, The Nation has learnt.

Investigation at Seme and IdriIroko borders revealed that smugglers are beat on carrying out their nefarious activities despite government’s efforts to stop the illegal trade.

Smuggled goods include second hand vehicles, textile materials, used cloths, bags, shoes, tyres, rice, frozen chicken, frozen turkey, vegetable oil, soap, furniture sweet, cigarettes, apples, pineapple and palm oil.

A senior Customs officer said smuggling is affecting their bid to meet revenue targets for the Federal Government, adding that the command would continue to find new ways to combat the menace.

He said officers and men of the command have made several seizures of various items, including textiles, furniture, vegetable oil, used cars, and other items in the last few weeks, but smugglers, he said, seem to be more desperate.

The story was the same at the Idi-Iroko border when The Nation visited the place.

Used car smugglers are said to

Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

be deadly in their operations.

Findings revealed that Customs officials and other security agents are helpless against them.

The Area Comptroller of Seme command, Sadiq Sahabi and the image maker of the command, Mr Ernest Olota, said the command is doing everything possible to stop the nefarious activities of the smugglers.

“The truth is that the smugglers would always try to evade duty, but our Area Comptroller is working round the clock to see that smugglers don’t have a field day in this area.

“The Comptroller does not just sit down in his office and give instructions, but he is involved in all the operations we are carrying out and I think you know the meaning of that,” Olota said.

Recently, the Area Comptroller of the Apapa Command, Adamu Garko, lamented the high rate of smuggling goods into the country through the nation’s borders,

saying the act was now a universal phenomenon that would need the input of all stakeholders to be addressed for desired result.

“Smuggling is human. Some people are used to a particular business. We try as much as possible to stop them. This is something beyond our own control.

What we can only do is to go against what they do, by trying to stop them, either by making seizure or confiscating the goods and prosecute them. So, if you have not learnt from what you have gone through and you feel you still want to continue, you go ahead with your nefarious business and we will also go ahead to arrest you and confiscate your goods.

“You can’t tell that somebody has not been hearing the campaigns on TV, radio and many other media, but there is still smuggling. It is a universal phenomenon.

There are some people, no matter the trouble or obstacle, they will still go into smuggling. It is just like armed robbery, people are being killed, caught and tried, and then, they are still going for it. That is why it has been on the high side,” he said.

NPA: maritime faring well No, it is not, says expert

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OW had the maritime sector fared under the present administration?

It has done well, says the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), a position which some experts disagree with.

According to a maritime lawyer, Mr Dipo Alaka, the Jonathan administration has not made any impact on the sector.

Alaka urged the president to organise a stakeholders’ summit to be abreast of the sector’s problems.

It was all at a seminar organised by the Agenda for Good Governance (AGNG), a non-governmental organisation in Lagos.

The lawyer said the maritime sector was still far behind other sectors in terms of infrastructural

development and urged the President to approve a $500 million intervention fund to develop the shipping sector.

After 18 months in office, Alaka said President Jonathan should be able to turn the sorry situation of the sector around in line with his transformation agenda.

But the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr Omar Suleiman, represented by the General Manager, Public Affairs, Chief Michael Ajayi, said President Jonathan’s effort is yielding results ship waiting time, turnaround time of vessels, dwell time of cargo, job creation and revenue generation.

He said the appointment of Mr Olugbenga Leke as Jonathan’s

Senior Special Assistant on Maritime Services, would allow him to get acquainted with maritime issues.

The Executive Director of the group, Mr Rotimi Onakoya, said the stakeholders should stop waiting for the government to chart a new path for the sector; urging them to be focused on how to address most of the industry challenges.

Onakoya said some of the laws and regulations guiding the industry had not impacted positively on the sector.

The sector, Onakoya said, is yet to receive the needed government attention when compared with other sectors, adding that this was caused by past leadership apathy towards the development of the sector.

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HE Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) in Oron, Akwa Ibom State has called on the Presidency and the National Assembly to increase the statutory allocation to the academy, saying what the institution receives is not enough to meet its needs.

The Academy receives N1.4billion yearly as appropriation. But the institution’s Acting Rector, Mr Joshua Okpo, said the allocation is insufficient for the academy.

He said: “Our allocation is N1.2 billion for the current year, out of this, N900 million is meant for capital appropriation while the rest is for overhead, this cannot in any sense enable us to develop.

We are a manpower training institution and we cannot attract resource persons because we cannot afford to pay them.”

He said lecturers are needed to ensure the accreditation of other courses in the academy preparatory to the transformation of the institution to a university.

Okpo also said the new management has sent a memo to the Minister of Transport to inaugurate a committee on the upgrading the school. According to him, the committee will be headed by the consultant to the school and it will draw members from the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Ministry of Education, among other stakeholders.

“This committee will lead us back to the NUC. The government had initially given its appropriation, but the money was returned because it was not utilised as at when it was given.

But now that we have come on board and we have been given a mandate to clean up the academy and upgrade it, we want to ensure that the appropriation is put in place by the National Assembly,” he said.

Besides, Okpo said the academy is preparing to send a bill to the National Assembly to ensure its the speedy transformation into a maritime university.

APMT assures freight forwaders

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HE Managing Director of APM Terminals Apapa Limited, Mr Dallas Hampton, met with officials of the Joint Action Committee of Freight Forwarders (JACOFF), the umbrella body of freight forwarders in the country, and assured it of continuous improvement in container handling.

The meeting, at the premises of APM Terminals in Apapa, provided both bodies the platform to discuss issues of mutual interests.

Members of the JACOFF team included Prince Olayiwola Shittu and Dr. John Ofobike, National President and Apapa Chapter Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA); Mr Eugene Nweke, National President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF); Chief Festus Ejiofor, National President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) and Dr. Frank Ukor, National President of the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders (AREFF).

APM Terminals and JACOFF officials agreed to meet regularly to address challenges of port operation and port users.

The APMT boss conducted the visiting freight forwarders round

the terminal to show them the extent of development at the upgraded Apapa Container Terminal.

Meanwhile, APM Terminals Apapa, Limited has faulted the claims made by an agent, published in one of the national newspapers recently. The Terminal Operator speaking through its media Adviser, Bolaji Akinola, said that contrary to the publication, it was not the responsibility of the terminal operator to conduct scanning.

“Scanning”, he said, “is the responsibility of Cotecna acting under Nigerian Customs instruction. Originally, it was the responsibility of the Consignee to hire trucks with which to move his container to the scanner at a significant cost. Due to the average waiting time for scanning of over two days and the high cost of truck hire, agencies including importers and clearing agents wanted to find a more cost effective solution.

“The original solution proposed by APMT, ‘scanning on discharge’ did not work due to the inability to harmonise the various risk assessments with the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and Cotecna after about nine months of negotiations.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

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MARITIME

200 vessels involve in illegal bunkering, says security official

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HERE are over 200 vessels transacting il legal business on the nation’s territorial waters.

The vessels, according to a top security official, are engaged in oil bunkering, illegal fishing, piracy and sea robbery, among other vices.

The cost to the nation’s economy is about $100 million per year, the source said.

The illegal fishing done with the aid of hi-tech is said to depleting the nation’s fish stocks. The source, craving anonymity, wants the Federal Government to empower the relevant government agencies to fight piracy, enforce regulations protecting fish and other marine resources, combat drug trafficking, perform search and rescue operations, prevent illegal immigration, and uphold safe shipping practices, among other duties.

The agencies, the source said, should also be empowered to solve the problem

• ‘Nigeria loses $100m yearly’

By Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

of uncontrolled importation of dangerous goods, serial illegal oil bunkering and economic sabotage, which the country has been subjected to by unpatriotic importers and fraudulent foreigners.

Investigation, however, indicates that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), which monitors and secures the nation’s water ways has the capacity to deliver.

The Director-General of the agency, Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi, admitted in an interview that there are many vessels performing illegal business and on the waterways and promised that the agency will leave no stone unturned to handle the situation.

He said: “What the vessels

are taking away is enough to make many Nigerians comfortable.”

If given the necessary support, NIMASA, Akpobolokemi said, would install powerful radars and Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras to monitor activities of ships and smaller vessels coming and going out of the country.

Apart from security issues, the equipment, he said, would record all vessels within the nation’s territorial waters, the type of goods they are carrying, their location, what they are doing, their arrived time and departure time from the port.

A vessel, MT Green Dolphin, anchored at about four nautical miles south of the Lagos Fairway Buoy, was last week arrested for allegedly posing security threat.

The NIMASA boss said the

ship was arrested after its captain turned down the request of the agency to carry out flag state control check on the vessel.

The vessel, he added, was laden with petroleum products (AGO).

Akpobolokemi said appropriate attention would be paid by officials of NIMASA to ships coming and going out of the country to ensure that deadly and illegal ships don’t find their ways in.

NIMASA, Akpobolokemi said, discovered that officials of another vessel, MT JACKSONVILLE carried out illegal electrical welding which resulted in a big explosion.

The repair, he said, was carried out without permission and approval from the relevant government agencies.

Ten Indians and all crew members of the vessel, he said, were saved from imminent death by officials of NIMASA. He said there was oil spillage from the tanker vessel and the agency is reponding to the situation accordingly.

Maritime Watch Sierra Leone emulates Nigeria Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda, Maritime Correspondent

THE Minister of Transport and Aviation of Sierra Leone, Mr. Vandi Chidi Minah, has said that his country wants to learn from Nigeria the modalities of the port concessioning programme of the Federal Government Minah made the statement when he led a delegation of top officials from Sierra Leone to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on what he described as a learning trip.

Minah said the delegation also wanted to create direct relationship beyond re-

gional forum for better economic ties.

Receiving the delegation from Sierra Leone, the Managing Director of NPA, Omar Suleiman, who was represented by the Executive Director Marine and Operations Ms Aina Egharevba, said that in order to strengthen the relationship with Sierra Leone, it is important for the two ports authorities to exchange programmes, stating that having had a successful concession programme, Sierra Leone has a lot to learn from the NPA.

Customs in Tin Can nets N17.8b THE Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Tin-Can Island Ports Complex (TIPC) says it surpassed its monthly target for August.

The NSC claimed it recorded an N17.8 billion as revenue for the month.

Public Relations Officer of the command, Chris Osukwo, who disclosed this in a chat, said was able to surpass its target revenue by over N2 billion.

He noted that with an average of N800 million per

day, the command would have generated about N20 billion last month but for the public holiday during Eid-el-Fitri.

He said the feat recorded is as a result of constant orientation and meetings with stakeholders particularly licensed customs agents.

He stated that of the N15 billion monthly target set for the command, the command would meet, if not surpass its target for the year.

Oyo Customs impounds N258m goods THE Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has impounded contraband valued at N258,001,968.72, this year.

The Comptroller of the area, Mr Hassan Mundu, disclosed this in Ibadan.

He also said some people were arrested and detained in their bid to smuggle in goods through unapproved borders in the two states.

The Customs boss, who lamented that car dealers have started a media war against the command over its insistence on paying duties on imported vehicles, said it

From Bisi Oladele

would not shrink it responsibility in ensuring that traders and buyers of imported vehicles do not evade tax.

He advised buyers to confirm the payment of duties on any vehicle before paying as, according to him, officers and men of the NCS would continue to seize those found to be evading duties.

Mundu said all NCS offices nationwide were open to anyone wanting to confirm the duty status of vehicles, stressing that registration has been computerised.

Port Act enactment

•The Jacksonville ship

Govt awards dredging of Calabar port

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HE Federal Govern ment has awarded the contract for the dredging of the Calabar Channel to the Lagos Channel Management (LCM). The firm got the job following its dredging of the Lagos channel to receive big vessels.

It got the contract after two foreign firms failed to dredge the channel to satisfaction.

Investigation revealed that since the channel became operational over 20 years ago, two major contracts estimated at N11.7

billion had been awarded by the government to salvage the port.

The first major dredging was undertaken in 1996 for N3 billion. In 2006, another $56 million (N8.7 billion) was sunk into dredging the 84-nautical mile channel.

A senior official in the Ministry of Transport, who craved anonymity, told The Nation the contract is to ensure that the port is put in the use in good time.

The six companies that bid for the contract and were

initially pre-qualified, according to the source, were Van Oord, Dredging International, Westminster Dredging, China Harbour Engineering, LCM and Jan De Nul. LCM was picked, primarily because it is an indigenous company and a joint venture firm it which NPA has 60 per cent controlling share. Besides, the company was said to have performed well in dredging and deepening the Lagos Channel.

Confirming the story, the General Manager,

Public Affairs NPA, Chief Michael Ajayi, said the Federal Government’s decision to award the contract to a Nigerian firm was in the nation’s interest.

“If Government has made its choice, then you can be sure that it must be in the overall best interest of the country. I think they went for the one they know could do the job best, after due diligence. In any case, we are not privy to their selection process,” he said.

THE Federal Government has been advised to assist in expediting action on the enactment of a Port and Harbour law in the country.

The government started the port reforms and concession of the infrastructure to the private sector in 2001.

So far, 24 of the 26 port terminals have been concessioned.

Speaking with The Nation in Lagos, the Managing Director of Global Industry Lim-

ited, Mr Adeola Adesanya, said fast-tracking the process would ensure that the interest of Nigerians is not sacrificed as a result of incomplete implementation of the port reform.

He was worried that the Port and Harbour Bill remains in the cooler four years after agreements had been signed with the terminal operators and the terminals handed over to them.

Promoting industry THE essence of developing capacity in the maritime sector came to the fore last week, as maritime lawyers urged the Federal Government to put all the necessary policies in place to promote the industry.

Speaking with reporters in Lagos, the lawyers said the dearth of human and material capacities has been a source of worry in the maritime sector.

They called relevant government agencies at the

port to complement stakeholders’ efforts in capacity-building, noting that businesses blink first in the event of any government policy breakdown.

A maritime lawyer and consultant in the industry, Mr Frannk Simpson, said the dream of the youths who are seeking employment is only realisable through job creation via the sector and human capacity building.

25

PROPERTY

Tuesday, September 13, 2011 Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

* The Environment * Mortgage * Apartments * Security * Homes *Real Estate

email:- property@thenationonlineng.net

•A luxury flat at Ikoyi, Lagos.

The Lagos tenancy law is in its infancy, yet it is enmeshed in controversy. Estate surveyors view the law with suspicion, claiming it ties the hands of property owners. The government denies the claim, raising fears over smooth implementation of the law. OKWY IROEGBU reports

Tenancy Law stirs controversy •Estate surveyors: it criminalises property ownership •No, the legislation is beneficial to all, says govt

I

T was a law made with good intentions, so the government thought. Little wonder that Governor Babatunde Fashola signed it with all fanfare at a ceremony attended by his key lieutenants and members of the House of Assembly: The law was informed by the frequent frictions between landlords and tenants.

Landlords charge what many tenants believe to be high rents and they also ask for highfront payment. The law is meant to address this and related issues.

But the “Law to regulate rights and obligations under tenancy agreement and the

relationship between landlords and tenants, including the procedure for the recovery of premises and for other connected purposes in Lagos State,”is shrouded no controversy. Estate surveyors and valuers are condemning the provisions of the law.

The law, in addition to others, provides that any landlord in Lagos State, who collects rent in excess of one year in advance from a new tenant,s would be prosecuted by the state government and, upon conviction, faces three years in jail.

Surveyors and other analysts have accused the government of criminalising house own-

ership by skewing the tenancy law in favour of tenants. But the government insists that the law does not take sides.

At a luncheon organised by the Lagos chapter of the Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors & Valuers (NIESV) in Ikeja, last week, the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, defended the piece of legislation as timely and in the best interest of landlords and tenants.

He said the government seeks to protect both parties as stories abound of how landlords also suffer in the hands of tenants, who exploit the loopholes in the law to live in a

house without paying for it.

He said: “Government is duty bound to protect the life and property of every citizen because we cannot encourage a situation where people take laws into their hands. I quarrel with that line of thinking that seems to suggest that we are not matured for that kind of legislation.

“It is like saying the government should create an ideal situation before the citizenry starts abiding by certain standards of behaviour. Even in advanced countries, they don’t get it right at first before they enact a law.”

•Experts advocate rent-to-ownership concept for stable polity

Jonathan for Archibuilt 2011

- PAGE 26

•CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Lagos demolishes buildings Travellers narrate ordeal on Benin-Ore Road on drainage channels - PAGE 27

- PAGE 28

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

26

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Tenancy Law stirs controversy in Lagos •Continued from Page 25

He argued that the piece of legislation is by no means a new way of thinking as far as tenant/landlord relationship is concerned in the state.

Ipaye said what people seem not to realise is the wisdom behind the controversial law. He said when a prospective tenant is seeking accommodation and he is made to pay advance rent, he would squeeze his family and acquaintances to raise the initial sum and, henceforth, may not be able to pay leading to altercation between the parties.

He said in such a situation, only a good and thorough lawyer can get reprieve for the property owner; and without that, a tenant may stay perpetually in a property that he is not paying for, if left unregulated He said: “If you can build a house with N50 million, is it the two years rent that will enable you offset the cost of your building? People are ready to pay the initial sum and then go to court afterwards; this enables tenants stay on a property though they are in default because they exploit the various loopholes in law.

In any case, laws have several composite laws which are made to test standards of behaviour so that in willful contravention penalty will be meted”.

Ipaye disagreed with the notion that the law will hamper development in the real estate sector, saying there is no rationale behind it. He stated that the landlord can engage in whatever parameter he likes in dealing with his tenant. He cited a case where a tenant stayed in a particular house for 15 years without paying to his landlord, exploiting the lapses in the judicial system due to stay of execution which deprived the landlord the use of his property.

He said: “For a tenant wrongfully evicted, the children and wife are affected, this is part of the basis of the law which serves to protect the weak. The argument that the weaker part is the tenant, does not hold water. The law often times gives latitude to the tenant to deprive a landlord of his property.”

He defended the portion of the law that stipulates that the party that engages a professional should pay for the services, wondering why a tenant should be encumbered with such fees. He also dispelled fears that the law may be thwarted by landlords lumping the professional fees with the rental figure making the tenant to pay indirectly.

Ipaye said government deliberately exempted certain class of property, especially those occupied by banks and other commercial outfits from the tenancy law, as well as those in Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki, Apapa and Ikeja GRA, saying those living in such areas have higher bargaining power.

He said the Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has promised to unveil his administration’s plan on housing by

•From left: Adediji, Fatoki and Ipaye at the event

the end of the month, and the institution of a virile mortgage system in the state.

A surveyor, Adebayo Belo, said not much work was done before the law saw the light of day.

Principal Partner, Kola Akomolede & Co, Chief Kola Akomolede, while disagreeing with the contents of the law, said some people may be willing to pay for fieve to six years in advance for security of tenure and will go ahead to make improvements on the property if they are allowed to pay for the number of years they desire. He wondered why it should be considered illegal and frowned at, criminalising property ownership.

The General Manager of NIC Properties, Samuel Ukpong, said the tenancy law in Section C tends towards the protection of the tenant against the landlord, wondering why the law is skewed against property ownership. He warned that the legislation will effect the real estate sector as developers may divest fearing that their investments may not be safe.

In his welcome address, Chair-

man, Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors & Valuers (NIESV), Lagos branch, Sola Fatoki, said though government has a right to make laws, such laws must, however, be acceptable to the generality of the people.

While cristicising the poor performance in housing, especially for the low income earners, Fatoki, said: “This law may further worsen the situation for the low income earners which it seeks to protect. It should be noted that rent control in the state since the time of Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson (rtd) in the 70s and that of Brigadier Buba Marwa in the 90s, though well intended, did not achieve the desired purpose because the demand for housing is usually higher than supply.”

Fatoki stressed the need for government to provide a conducive and an enabling environment for housing developments in the state which, he said, could be achieved through adequate land acquisition process, easy and non expensive title documentation system, prompt building approval process, access to mortgage through the Lagos State

PHOTO: BADE DARAMOLA

Building Investment Company (LBIC) as well as provision of infrastructure, among others.

He advised the government to reduce the cost of obtaining certificate of occupancy, consent and building approvals which acts as a disincentive to housing development.

He called for the streamlining of the approval process as it would invariably bring down the high rents in parts of the state.

Fatoki said: “If government provides houses for the poor masses under its social contract with the people, and there are enough houses at reasonable prices, private developers would be forced to review their prices. The Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) should be used for this as done by the Jakande administration in the 80s.”

Managing Partner of Laide Osikoya & Associates, Mr Laide Osikoya, said while he shares the concern of the state government in wanting to give succour to prospective and sitting tenants and sympatise with tenants for the rigours sometimes experienced while leasing properties, it is sad to note

‘If government provides houses for the poor masses under its social contract with the people, and there are enough houses at reasonable prices, private developers would be forced to review their prices. The Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) should be used for this as done by the Jakande administration in the 80s’

Jonathan for Archibuilt 2011

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HE 22nd edition of the yearly Archibuilt exhibition organised by the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) will be flagged off by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Archibuilt 2011 will take place from Saturday and end on Thursday at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Abuja.

Vice-President, Namadi Sambo, will be the chief guest of honour at the event.

Archibuilt is sub-Saharan Africa’s largest building materials, urban development and construction technology expo.

As usual, it will feature a threeday international workshop with experts from across the world sharing insights and perspectives on the theme Cities, urbanisation and development.

By Okwy Iroegbu Asst. Editor

The sub-themes for this year are: Sustainability and Livability, Rural-Urban Migration, Urban Renewal Initiatives, Sustainable Urban Transportation, Power and City Development as well as Urbanisation and National Development.

This year’s workshop is meant to build on the success of last year’s theme which was “The Development of Mega Cities in Emerging Economies.”

Last year’s workshop attracted seasoned professionals from within and outside the country.

This has led to the Nigerian Institute of Architects’ council’s approval of this year’s and subsequent Archibuilt workshops as a CPDP credits awarding pro-

gramme of the institute. This makes the workshop even more compelling and attractive for practicing architects.

President, Nigerian Institute of Architects, Olatunji O. Bolu, in his remarks said: ‘’Archibuilt 2011 will provide a platform where the best names and minds in the built environment industry will be on spectacular display for the benefit of stakeholders including government at all levels, professionals in the building and construction in-

dustry as well as the general public.

Archibuilt has over the years attracted good visitor participation with a cumulative of about 350,000.

It has evolved into a veritable tool which the institute utilises to contribute to national development by creating a framework for the infusion of international ideas and a cross fertilisation of local public opinion towards the success of the national agenda.

Chairman of Archibuilt Commit-

‘ It will be recalled that last year’s workshop attracted seasoned professionals within and outside the country’

that the implementation of the new law may be hampered in that the state government failed to consult widely with the stakeholders before enacting the law.

He said: “In the present situation where demand for housing far outstrips supply, control measures such as the new law will achieve very little.

“What the government should have done, as a first measure, is to regulate the practice of estate agency which had been greatly infiltrated by quacks. Afterall, most of the problems which the government seeks to redress emanate from these quacks.

“The practice of estate agency should be brought nationally under the control of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (N.I.E.S.V). Recently, I read of an innocent prospective tenant charged 40 percent agency fee by a quack. No estate surveyor will do that as we have our approved scale of professional fees. It is such sad and ancillary experiences that propelled government to enact the law.

“NIESV has a learning centre which can train and certify anyone who wishes to practise estate agency while the government should clamp down on quacks. For a long term solution, the government should introduce measures that will improve the supply of housing, such as mass housing, relaxed import duties,” he said.

President, Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors & Valuers (NIESV), Mr Bode Adediji, regretted that the tenancy law had no input from his members whose contributions would have proved invaluable to the objectives and intendments of the Act. He hinted that the state government must have enacted the law out of desperation to confront the hydra-headed monster which the housing crisis has become since previous efforts had proved inadequate.

He said: “Unless we confront housing shortages by way of addressing all the factors which are responsible for the pathetic situations, the newly enacted law would merely turn out to be a diversionary tactics.”

Adediji said housing shortage should be addressed by identifying factors responsible for the pathetic situation the housing sector has found itself.

He observed that a number of issues militate against housing development, such as finance, access to land, escalating cost of building materials, lack of specialists entrepreneurship and absence of well-defined and implementable housing policy.

Adedeji said without concrete efforts by the public and the private sector in building more homes, the housing crisis will escalate rather than abate regardless of any legislation.

He warned that the nation may unwittingly be re-primitivising a crucial sector of the economy if the tenancy law is upheld.

tee, A. S. Abubakar, is optimistic that this year’s event will deliver tremendous value to participants which include major players in the industry, from public sector, decision makers, architects, specifiers, contractors, manufacturers, urban designers and the end users with the combined objective of creating a better built environment for the Nigerians, explore new frontiers in business and expand market share.

He noted that Archibuilt has been getting better with every new edition.

This year’s edition is, therefore, going to be the most spectacular edition yet, he added. He enjoined those who love a perfect built environment not to miss the golden platform provided by the event.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

27

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Lagos demolishes buildings on drainage channels •Threatens to shut down Ladipo, Mushin, Cele markets, others

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N furtherance of its efforts to keep the state free of flood, the Lagos State government has embarked on the removal of structures obstructing drainages across the state.

Commissioner for the environment, Mr Tunji Bello, who stated this while inspecting drainage channels in Eti-Osa, Somolu and Kosofe Local Government Areas of the state, underscored the need to re-establish drainage alignments and remove all obstructions.

Structures affected in Victoria Island include perimeter fences of some banks, illegal buildings on drainages in Ajiran and Agunji in Victoria Island.

An affected resident, Mr John Herbert, who offered to bring down his fence as it was done on top of a drainage channel, said while he and other landlords affected by the demolition are willing to comply with government directives. He urged the government to ensure that an infrastructure is put in place before development is allowed in a given area to minimise losses.

He pledged the co-operation of the affected landlords to the exercise and agreed that they will bear the cost, but he insisted that it must, however, be people friendly and will protect their famies from avoidable harm.

Similarly, several structures on drainage were removed in Somolu, Bariga and Gbagada areas of the state.

Bello urged prospective property buyers to undertake due dili-

By Okwy Iroegbu Asst. Editor

gence and ensure that the land they a buying were free of encumbrances as the government would not tolerate the development of structures along its drainage channels to forestall flooding and loss of lives and properties.

As part of its de-flooding programme, the Commissioner revealed that the state has commenced the development of 10 major channels in Lekki in EtiOsa Local Government.

These channels which include Ajiran Channel, he said, would form the Lekki System Channels that would discharge into the lagoon while the government would intensify efforts at de-silting drainages in some major parts of the state, including Agege, Kosofe and Somolu.

He disclosed that the ministry will regularly carry out regular removal of structures blocking its channels. Asked if the exercise will prevent flooding in the state, Bello said, he is not promising a flood free Lagos as flooding has become not only a national challenge, but also international due to issues relating to climate change.

He said, however, that the state is poised to mitigate its effect on lives and property.

In a related development, Bello has warned that the state government would not hesitate to close markets that flout the environmental and sanitation laws of the state by dumping refuse into drainages and canals.

•A partly demolished house at Bariga, Lagos.

He regretted that traders in markets, such as Ladipo, Ojuwoye, Cele and Mushin markets were sabotaging efforts of the government in maintaining flood-free and clean environment by dumping refuse in the drainage.

He however, added that administration in the state would resort to closure only as last option.

He said: “We shall serve them warnings as we have already done for traders in Ladipo and Mushin markets.

We shall also invite them for

‘He regretted that traders in markets, such as Ladipo, Ojuwoye, Cele and Mushin markets were sabotaging efforts of the government in maintaining floodfree and clean environment by dumping refuse in the drainage’

PHOTO: OKWY IROEGBU

meetings and dialogue with them in the hope that they would desist from dumping refuse in drainage channels. However, if they persist in their bad acts, the government will be left with no alternative than to close any erring market.”

The commissioner for the Environment maintained that the unsanitary behaviour of some traders in the state contribute greatly to flooding.

He said no responsible government would fold its arms and allow the activities of a few people to endanger their lives and property of its citizens.

‘A model city will emerge from Alimosho’

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HE vision for Alimosho is to create a green, pleasant, func tional, well- connected, economically vibrant and sustainable city, says Managing Director, FirstPlus Planning Consultants, Mrs, Hellen Adesuwa Fadipe.

She stated this at the public presentation of the final plan of the Alimoshop model city (2010-2020) in Lagos.

She said the planning concept is underpinned by growth strategy, urbanity and infrastructure provision to sustain the anticipated growth with a well-co-ordinated and integrated public transport system that has seamless travel opportunities.

She said the new city would also incorporate the development of a high capacity and high quality public transport system, with MRT and BRT at its core.

Fadipe said the infrastructure incorporated are eight new sewage treatment plants with each serving 500,000 people, supplemented by electricity from energy-from waste (EfW) Plants.

On waste management she said the new Alimosho will utilise two existing landfill sites and waste transfer stations while major commercial hubs, such as ‘The Silicon City’ at Meiran, CBD at Iba New Town, Igando, Ikotun Isheri-Olofin markets will be redeveloped.

Other areas marked for improvements are industrial areas, major high streets and bridges that will run across the gorges to reduce travel time and make access to different areas easy. She also promisedproper erosion control measures in areas prone to erosion,construction more sewage treatment plants and making available pipe-borne water in every home in the city plan.

She urged government on the training of Development Control Departments/Agencies, rigorous enforcemen PPP, Private Investment (PI), costing and infrastructure fund-

•Property prices set to appreciate due to improved infrastructure

•From left: Fadipe, Ayinde and Ajayi, at the event.

By Okwy Iroegbu Asst. Editor

ing. In his remarks at the event, the Commissioner Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Toyin Ayinde, said: ‘‘Four years ago, when the state government prepared IkoyiVictoria Island Model City Plan, the thought of many people was that the programme was only meant for elite neighbourhoods.

“But we assured the people of Lagos State that sustainable development plans will be prepared for part

of the state.

“We consummated this plan on the premise that the available infrastructure in Alimosho and its environs is fast deteriorating, and, therefore, causing loss of valuable man-hour on the road”.

He said before idea of the plan, the government embarked on several projects within Alimosho to compensate for its deplorable infrastructure, which have been completed while other are ongoing.

He hinted that the state is not

unmindful that without proper planning document in place, all resources expended on the road, schools, hospitals, potable water, public transportation and recreation will be a waste of done. He said it was for this that a consultant to prepare a plan for Alimosho model city plan.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Oluwatoyin Ajayi, said planning paradigm has changed. There is the principle of inclusiveness (citizen participation) which the state has adopted, especially relating to the

planning of Alimosho, the most populous local government area in Nigeria.

She said : “The preliminary investigations of the consultants indicated the following facts: That Alimosho has a rich cultural history and traditions to be harnessed for tourism. It is facing development challenges arising from Federal and state governments acquisitions coupled with power lines, oil pipelines and natural gorges crisscrossing the cityscape with most most residents of Alimosho engaged in informal sector with few industries, hence making Alimosho a dormitory settlement.

She also said investigations revealed that it is confronted with several environment challenges which impair the air, surface and ground water quality, poor road networks, lack of parking spaces, pedestrian walk ways and blocked drains.

Ajayi regretted that the mini-water works in the area produce below capacity due to erratic power supply, vandalism of water and oil pipelines and facilities.

She commended the consultants for identifying and incorporating new components, which include include improved road and drainage networks, organised commercial precincts, defined recreational areas, zoological gardens, dedicated public cemetery, hotel and tourism, silicon city, preservation of biodiversity and historical sites.

She also observed that the plan also identified 12 action areas, the need immediate attention of government namely, Amikanle, Meiran, Kotangowa, Iyana-Ipaja, Ipaja, Ishefun, Egdeda, Isheri-Olofin, Igando, Ikotun, Ijegun and Ijagemo.

She projected that when all the action areas and the proposed infrastructure are fully in place, Alimosho will be an enviable and aesthetically-appealing city that will match any modern city.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

28

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

•Ore junction, Ondo State.

Travellers narrate ordeal on Benin-Ore Road

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HE FEDERAL Gov ernment seems to have reneged on its promise to put measures in place to enable travellers on the Lagos/Benin/Ore road to have smooth and pleasurable journeys.

Road users, who slow down to negotiate bends and potholes, are often attacked by armed robbers who way-lay them.

Last week Sunday, an Aba bound passenger on the road, Mr Ikem Uzo, recalled how he lost all his cash at Ofosu. He blamed the government for the various television clips on the high-

By Okwy Iroegbu Asst. Editor

ways, which he said has yielded no result.

A trader in Benin, Ogogo Efosa, who deals on bags, regretted that this season would have been her best for business if it were possible for her to come to Lagos every other day to buy school bags for pupils preparing to go to school.

She said: “ In the last one month, l have only come to Lagos once. l can’t afford to risk my life on this road.

Daily, we hear stories of mishaps and attacks on innocent travellers. What if

this bad people take the small money for my business? It will only mean one thing - going back to my village with my children. Our roads are in this sorry state because the government people do not go by road, but always fly living us to our fate”. She called on President Goodluck Jonathan to do something fast to save lives and property on the road before the situation gets out of hand.

A driver with one of the transport companies, who ply the road, Okorie Agu, regretted that of recent, he had to pass the night at Ore

due to deplorable condition of the road and attendant traffic snarl that not only led him on frequent visits to the mechanics, but also affected the profit he generates for his company.

He said he and the other drivers are apprehensive about the safety of their jobs because their managements have threatened to sack as they can’t keep up with the maintenance cost they are confronted with. He advised President Jonathan to know that the success of his government would be judged by what he is able to do with the road.

Soe Properties, others to hold real estate fair

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OE Properties, a leading property de velopment and real estate advisory companies, in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, and the Real Estate Association of Nigeria (REDAN) will hold the Sixth edition of the Real Estate Fair in Lagos next month.

Its theme is Investment Opportunities in Real Estate and Construction in Africa's Second Largest Economy. It will be declared open by Ammal Pepple, the Minister of Land, Housing and Urban Development.

Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer,

Olisa Ebigwei, Soe Properties,’ said in Lagos that the fair will create a platform for business opportunities locally and internationally, that will expand new business frontiers through product exhibition that would run concurrently with the conference.

Ebigwe said: “Through showcasing of businesses unique products and services, the fair will support participants’ drive strategy for customer acquisition and, most importantly, position their organisations as conduit pipes for foreign direct investment (FDIs) inflow aimed at developing the real estate sector of the economy.”

He also said the fair will also seek to proffer solution to Nigeria ’s housing problem by bringing together best brains in the real estate sector who would look into the earnest quest and yearnings of Nigerians for housing, thereby meeting the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) on affordable accommodation.

The fair featureS a workshop and a seminar. This year’s seminar, according to Ebigwei, would offer opportunities for professional and personal skill development through seasoned speakers.

He disclosed that there would be presentations and many interactive demonstrations and technical up-

dates, adding that the the business seminar would offer specialised networking and educational programme designed to assist participants learn, share, meet and build relationships.

Expected participants at the fair are real estate developers and managers, property companies; mortgage banks; insurers; fund managers, estate surveyors, federal and state ministries of Lands, Housing, Urban Development, Works and Investment while exhibitors will include architects, banks, block manufacturers, builders, producers and buyers of building materials, construction companies, contractors among others.

Developers scramble for Suzuka decorative stone

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UZUKA decorative stones are manufac tured building stones veneer offering excellent durability and authentic beauty of natural stone at a fraction of its cost. They fit all building plans and it can be used both interiorly and exteriorly, non toxic and easy to install.

The decorative stones ensure a natural fit, a perfect touch of colours and texture

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According to him, President Jonathan is from the south. If he fails repair the road, then the south is doomed in this country. He criticised what he called falsehood in select media where the impression is created that repairs and regular maintenance are going

on on the road.

He said: “The Works Minister should be advised to settle down and work rather than engage in publicity stunts. If he is facing any challenge, he should make Nigerians know, so that he will not blamed at the end of his tenure.”

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

Ever seen lawyers fully robed protesting? It happened in Lagos last Thursday when lawyers in wigs and gowns marched on the Governor’s Office, Alausa, protesting the suspension of President of the Court of Appeal (PCA) Justice Isa Ayo Salami. To them, the suspension is an illegal act, which should not be allowed to stand. Will the President agree with them? Their letter is on the way to him through Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN). JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU and JOSEPH JIBUEZE report.

•The lawyers during the protest march

PHOTO: MOSES OMOSEHIN

Lawyers in wigs, gowns march for Salami T

HEIR grey wigs, black gowns and white collars were sufficient announcement for their profession: law.

But something was unusual. Lawyers are not found robed on the street. They can only be found like that in court. Last Thursday was different as they marched for the suspended President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Isa Ayo Salami in Lagos.

Carrying placards with inscriptions denouncing Justice Salami’s suspension, the lawyers urged President Goodluck Jonathan to reverse the action. They insisted that the National Judicial Council (NJC) took the decision after it had been served with Justice Salami’s suit.

To them, it amounts to a threat to the rule of law and the judiciary for the NJC to treat the court with disdain. If the NJC could do that, where lies the hope for the judiciary and the rule of law, they asked.

The lawyers are wondering why Justice Salami was suspended when his suit on the subject-matter is pending before a court of law? Even the NJC, in claiming it did no wrong, failed to explain why it suspended Justice Salami when his case is in court.

The throng of lawyers finally got to the office of Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, himself a lawyer, to protest what they called a threat to legal order and rule

of law.

The lawyers from the Lagos, Ikeja and Ikorodu branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) trekked, under light showers, from the High Court, Ikeja, to the Governor’s Office in Alausa, where they handed two letters to their “learned friend” Fashola (SAN), one for him and the other to be delivered to the President.

Some of their placards read: “Mr Goodluck Jonathan, defend the Constitution. Don’t Kill it”; “Don’t kill the judiciary”; “Reinstate Salami now!”

“Politicisation of the Judiciary is injurious to our nation. Stop it!” “Mr Attorney-General, stop this lawlessness now” and “Rule of law must prevail”.

Others read: “We say no to the illegal, unconstitutional and political suspension of Justice Salami. President Jonathan, don’t kill the Judiciary. Don’t kill Nigeria!”, “President Jonathan, don’t send us out of our job”; and “NJC’s action is illegal”.

The lawyers said the president’s ratification of Justice Salami’s suspension when his suit was pending in court was not in order.

According to them, if Salami’s suspension is not reversed, it could set a dangerous precedent, as anarchists and enemies of law and order would disregard the court of law with impunity.

President Jonathan must “urgently reverse the suspension” of Justice Salami and allow the court to decide his case, the lawyers said in the letter jointly signed by Chairman, NBA, Lagos Branch, Mr Taiwo O. Taiwo and Secretary, Mr Alex Muoka; Chairman, Ikeja Branch, Mr Adebamigbe Omole and Secretary, Adesina Ogunlana; and Chairman, Ikorodu Branch, Mr Kazeem Adebanjo and Secretary, Lookman Ganiyu.

They expressed “great shock and disappointment” at what they called President Jonathan’s ratification of the hasty suspension of Justice Salami by the NJC. Following the accusations and counter-accusations of official misconduct between former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu and Justice Salami, the NJC set up a committee to investigate the matter.

The panel absolved Justice Katsina-Alu of any misdeed as regards arresting the judgment of Sokoto State government election dispute by a Court of Appeal panel. But it held that Justice Salami’s allegation that Justice Katsina-Alu asked him to stop the judgment, or alternatively, disband the panel, was false and unproved. The NJC accepted the panel’s findings and directed Justice Salami to apologise to it and the former CJN in writing within 10 days.

Justice Salami went to court to nullify the findings of the investigative panel and the NJC’s directive.

Despite being aware of the case, the NJC deliberated on the findings of the panel, accepted its recommendation, suspended Justice Salami and recommended his retirement by President Jonathan.

“It is our considered view that the NJC, in suspending Hon. Justice Salami, flagrantly flouted the well established legal principle of parties not taking any steps during the pendency of a suit that would foist upon the court a situation of fait accompli or render nugatory the eventual judgment of the court.

“More unfortunate, however, (in our respectful view) was your Excellency’s ratification of this premature and pre-emptive suspension – which could not have been well considered. The Presidency, we fervently believe, should be the ultimate champion of due process and the rule of law so as not to endanger our nascent democracy.

“In suspending Hon. Justice Salami and appointing an Acting President of the Court of Appeal whilst the law suit instituted by

•Judicial integrity at stake over investigation

•Continued on page 31

•’Why we are against death sentence’- P.30 •Lawyers in Media get new chairman - P.34

30

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

LAW PERSONALITY Pastor Benson Ngozi Iwuagwu is the African Regional Envoy for Prison Fellowship International for Anglophone Africa. He is also the Executive Director of Prison Fellowship International (PFI). In this interview with JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU, he speaks on prison decongestion, rehabilitation of ex-prisoners, reform of the criminal justice sector, and PFN’s conference.

‘Why we are against death sentence’ T HERE have been calls for the abolition of death sentence from our statute books. What is your position on

this?

We believe that the use of death penalty, particularly where the condemned ones have to tarry for a very long time, dying every day, is inhuman. It is degrading; it is a big psychological torment. As far as that goes, Prison Fellowship does not endorse that. Crime and punishment are contextual issues. There are far deeper issues than the immediate cause and effect. So, for us, death sentence is not the best option.

Death sentence is a clear manifestation of the principle or philosophy of deterrence, which has not really worked. So, it is from that perspective that Prison Fellowship International is not an advocate of death penalty because it has not really helped us.

How do we use the law to restore peace and order in the society?

This goes back to the basic social contract.

Our relationship in civilisation is based on that social contract where we surrendered our limited rights for our collective good, but it has turned out that those to whom we surrendered our partial rights now use it to their own advantage and our own detriment. It now becomes an issue.

So, most of these crimes we see society – Niger Delta militancy, Boko Haram – are reactions to the perceived socio-economic injustices that have been in the system. For us to use the instrumentality of the law to redress it, we have to go back to the spirit and letter of the social contract, which presupposes that all men are born equal and so, if you are coming to the committee of citizens, then we must have equal rights at least as it affects the basic social amenities.

Is this achievable?

I endorse the call for a Sovereign National Conference where we will look at our social contract again and define in proper perspectives our relationship and how our collective resources will be managed. What you see happening is the reaction of the people, of the citizens. It is an expression of dissatisfaction on how our collective resources are being dissipated.

Why was Prison Fellowship formed?

Prison Fellowship is a global movement of national associations of Christian church and ministries that go into the prisons to give the massage of salvation to prison inmates and to disciple them.

Prison Fellowship has the mission of being an organisation that provides counsel to governments for the development of a criminal justice system that is restorative in its outcome.

What do you mean by a criminal justice system being restorative?

Restorative means that justice is seen, from Prison Fellowship perspective, not just as it concerns the offenders and the punishment, but harms have been done, victims have have suffered hurt, society has been unsettled, relationships have been ruptured.

So, all these, from the restorative justice perspective need to be considered at the point of processing the offender. Prison Fellowship advocates this across the globe.

How is your relationship with local churches?

Prison Fellowship supports churches in providing technical training, so that those who go from these churches and ministries into the prisons will understand the psychology of the prisoner and the terrain within, where they propagate the good news for the restoration of the offenders.

What is the relationship between the Fellowship and other organisations championing prison decongestion and reformation?

Well, these are all agencies that collaborate even if not formally, but informally in that we all work in the same justice and prison sector.

What is the international status of PFI?

Prison Fellowship International holds a category two consultative status with the United Nations (UN). So, that gives us a wide network of collaborative resources within which we interact.

What is your status in Nigeria?

It depends on the programme we run. For instance, we have a programme we call the Onismus project, which is mentoring programme targeted at prisoners with six months to the end of their term. This programme is run in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and Covenant University. So, it is dependent on what programme we are running. We seek out the beneficial partners and organisations that will well advance the course on which we embark.

There have been calls for prison reforms in the country. What are your views on this?

For us, the issue of prison reform is one that is generic, beginning from our criminal jurisprudence. You’ll recall that we inherited the Anglo-Saxon criminal law, which largely advances the kings peace, which makes the prison system punitive.

For us to be able to redress this, and that is what the Prison Fellowship has been doing with the national seminars, our thinking is that the social contract has to be the basis of the review of the criminal justice system.

What does this involve?

This, of course, encompasses socio-economic justice. If you get into our prisons, a lot of the prison inmates are the underdogs of the society: those who were constrained by the socioeconomic handicap to find themselves behind the walls.

If truly law is the instrument of social engineering or re-engineering, then that law has to be looked at from the point that there has to be an even playing ground.

How do you mean?

No child of the well-to-do is in the prisons.

It is only the under dogs. So, if we want to talk about reforms, it has to start from redefining our criminal jurisprudence because the government still sees the prison as the place of punishment. The elites that are ruling have the mindset that the prison is still the place for the misfit, a place to punish offenders

•Iwuagwu

whereas a prison ought to be a correctional institution.

So, what we have done all over the years is to organise seminars, we have held one in Abuja, where the chairman of the National Law Reform Commission Presided over the event.

We also engage on legislative advocacy to advance the review of these things from the root and not just decongesting the prisons. If you decongest the prison and the guy goes out in the street, he has no job, he has no food, the next day he is back to the prison. So for us, it is not holistic at all.

What do you intend to achieve with your seminars?

Our seminars are aimed at public sensitisation and education. What we do is to get learned people in the law to examine, for instance the issue of prison decongestion.

We had to look at it from the angle of consid-

‘No child of the well-to-do is in the prisons. It is only the under dogs. So, if we want to talk about reforms, it has to start from redefining our criminal jurisprudence because the government still sees the prison as the place of punishment’

ering sentencing options. We know that our courts are heavy on the use of imprisonment, whereas there are other non-custodial sentences. So, in our programmes and seminars, we advance the use of alternative or noncustodial sentences.

What do you expect to do in the forthcoming conference?

In the forthcoming national conference, what we are seeking is to draw from the rich resources of Prison Fellowship International to look at some victim therapeutic tools, because you don’t go to the prison to just preach to them and go, no. There are definite, therapeutic, tools you apply in order to modify the behaviour, the attitude of the offender.

That is what we are doing.

Secondly, we want again to raise to the fore, the lopsidedness of our criminal justice system particularly against the victims.

Who are the speakers?

We have invited the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) to discuss a topic: Criminal justice and the common good.

From our understanding, criminal justice is for the common good, but how far has that advanced the cause or the losses or the pains of the victims of crime? So, the conference does not only seek to educate those who are coming to the conference, on what tools they can apply in prison ministry, we also intend to bring to the fore, to sustain the discourse, for the review of our criminal justice system in such a way, in the words of Justice Chukwudifu Oputa: “That justice is a three way thing, justice for the society, justice for the victim and justice for the offender.”

• Cross of section Class of 1986, Nigerian Law School after their special session at the just-concluded Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Cnference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

31

LAW COVER CONT’D

Lawyers in wigs, gowns march for Salami •Continued from page 29

him is still pending, your Presidency would appear to have set a very dangerous precedent – a threat to the legal order and rule of law.

“This precedent will, henceforth, be cited and relied upon by anarchists, enemies of law, order and constituted authority to take the law into their hands and disregard the court of law.

“It is in the light of all the foregoing that we call on your Excellency to urgently reverse the suspension of Hon. Salami and await the outcome of the case in court, for this is the only path of honour, decency, law and order. It is our prayer that our nation will progress and prosper greatly in your administration,” the lawyers said in their letter to Jonathan.

Fashola urged them to refrain from doing anything that will disturb or imperil a fair and impartial consideration of the issue which is now before a court of competent jurisdiction.

He said: “The fact that you are robed gives me concern because it is a most unusual development in the profession to be robed outside of the courtroom. The judiciary is the custodian of the rule of law. To that extent, I will say that your concerns are wellfounded.

“I remain confident that as slow as the process might be, it still has the capacity to do justice, according to the law. I urge all of us to keep faith and to be optimistic. Justice, according to the laws that we know, will be done and the interest of justice will ultimately be served.

“It is necessary that we keep the peace because it is only in an atmosphere of peace that justice can be done. We know the critical role the judiciary plays in enthroning democracy. Every step must be taken to protect and preserve the judiciary.

“The history of our country is replete with the facts that even those who have flouted the law have also gone back to the courts when they leave office.

“So, it is incumbent on everybody, therefore, to protect that institution, so that it will remain evergreen, ever indelible, ever impartial to continue to be the bastion of rights that it is meant to be.”

Taiwo said the lawyers marched to the Governor’s Office to express their displeasure about the state of rule of law and due process.

He added that the lawyers are protesting President Jonathan’s affirmation of the suspension of Justice Salami by the NJC while the issue was in court, because they believed that once a case is subjudice, no step should be taken on it.

“One of the first things we learnt in the law school is that once a case is subjudice, no step should be taken on it, because even if the NJC had recommended the suspension of Justice Salami, we would have expected the President to be circumspect in taking that decision,” Taiwo said.

He said the protest letter to President Jonathan is to the effect that he can still recall Justice Salami while everyone awaits the court’s judgment on the issue.

Omole said: “What we are saying is that the rule of law must prevail in all situations and all circumstances. Nobody is above the law. We don’t want a situation where you allow might to be right. The moment the rule of law is trampled upon, there is going to be problem.

“We don’t want a situation where the judiciary becomes an annex of the executive.

We don’t want the politicisation of the judiciary. We want its independence to be maintained. Salami, having gone to court, surrendered to the rule of law by saying ‘let the court decide my case’.

“But, unfortunately, unfortunately and unfortunately, the NJC, which is meant to be a body of people of high integrity, despite

•Jonathan

•Katsina-Alu

•Salami

the fact that the court processes had been served on them, still sat on that issue. They cannot tell us they don’t know what the law says! Maybe they believe that they are above the law because of their position.

“Unfortunately, the NJC decision was passed on to Mr President. He can’t tell us that with all his experience, he doesn’t know that the moment a matter is in court you must not do anything on it. But, Mr President went ahead and ratified the decision of the NJC. He was supposed to uphold the rule of law and not be seen to be supporting what is wrong.

“The NJC was wrong in going ahead to ask the president to suspend Justice Salami because he had already filed a matter in a court of competent jurisdiction and we know that when a matter is in court, that matter is sub judice – nobody should comment on it or do anything to stifle the hands of the court.

“So, what the NJC did was wrong. We thought that Mr. President would allow reason to prevail, but he went ahead to accede to the illegal and unconstitutional suspension of Justice Salami and we say no: We don’t want a situation where the judiciary would be put under the executive arm. We don’t want a situation where the judiciary is politicised.

“In the eyes of the law, there is not suspension. We are not fighting for Salami per se; we are fighting for the institution of the judiciary to be protected. We don’t want anybody to come and rubbish the judiciary.

What the members of the NJC have done is that they have rubbished the judiciary.

“But one thing you should know is that in every organisation, you have the hawks. We have the hawks in the NJC. We have the hawks in the judiciary, and when the time comes, we are going to go after them; we are going to chase them out of that place because they do not belong there.

“If they want to be politicians, let then go and join political parties, but they cannot be politicians and still be in the NJC. That we are not going to allow to happen.”

Adebanjo said: “The essence of this protest march is to tell the whole world that lawyers are not in support of what is going on at the top echelon of the judiciary. We are talking about what happened between the NJC and Justice Salami.

“Salami was recommended for suspension by the NJC in a matter that was not properly investigated and that was during the pendency of an action which he filed in court to challenge the authority of the NJC to go into the matter.

“We are saying that nobody, no matter how highly-placed, is above the law. We all must uphold the tenets of justice that say that there must be fair hearing to both parties. We are saying that Nigeria can no longer tolerate the politicisation of the judiciary. The judiciary must not be made an appendage of the executive; it stands on its own, though they are mutually dependent.

“This act of politicisation of the judiciary must stop. What is even more worrisome is the fact that while Nigerians were saying that the recommendations of the NJC were improper – it has no precedents whether in law or in fact – they went ahead and submitted that to the President and got his approval which saw Justice Salami leaving the bench, at least temporarily.

“So, we are saying that this should not continue. Nigeria is for everyone of us. Nobody is above the law. We must observe that principle of law. Nobody is above the law.”

Former Chairman, NBA Ikeja Branch, Dave Ajetumobi said: “This protest march is against the failure of the NJC to respect the rule of law which they swore to protect.

The issue is that whenever a matter is pending before a competent court of law, all issues arising from that matter should be stayed pending the resolution and final decision on the matter by that court.

“This is an age-long stand in the legal profession which the Supreme Court itself gave vent to in Ojukwu’s case. But the NJC now abandoned that long-standing principle to take a decision when a matter is pending before a competent court.

“There was already a pending matter seeking to restrain Justice Ibrahim Auta from reviewing the decision of Justice Umaru Abdullahi’s panel, but they still went ahead to suspend Justice Salami, which means that they had a hidden agenda.

“That is why we are protesting. The judiciary is the last hope of the common man, and if we allow this people to denigrate it, Nigeria will descend into chaos; we don’t want it. Moreso, this is exposing our pro-

fession to danger because people will now prefer to use thugs to resolve their differences rather than going to courts, which is the beginning of chaos and anarchy in the system.”

Former Chairman, NBA, Ikorodu Branch, Mr Nurudeen Ogbara said: “The protest march is a manifestation of total condemnation of unconstitutionality and illegality of what the immediate past CJN has done.

He has desecrated the judicial system and the effect is going to linger for a while.

“The NBA has been very constant and consistent in its condemnation and rejection of that unconstitutional act. It is a social anathema. It is not acceptable and is obnoxious.

We have rejected it. This protest is another face of our rejection of what has been done.

“That, in essence, means that we don’t agree with what the immediate past CJN has done; we don’t agree with what the President has done; we feel that it is a betrayal of trust.

“But it is not too late for Mr. President to reverse himself forthwith and reinstate Justice Salami. This is about the rule of law and due process. Democracy is seriously threatened. Today, it is the turn of Mr. A. Tomorrow, it may be the turn of Mr. President himself.”

Senator Jide Omoworale, representing Osun East, said: “The protest is legal and peaceful, that is what matters most. The moment you have issues, you must ventilate your grievances, you are entitled to it, but it must be done in a peaceful and legal manner and that is what has happened to day. It was not done in a riotous or rancorous manner.

“I think we have made a point. The Bar is not sitting on the fence. The Bar for posterity sake will be adjudged as having taken a position against injustice, against people infringing on the rule of law, due process, most especially when it has to do with the NJC and the Presidency. I think we have made the point and we insist that due process be followed.”

Ogunlana, publisher of the Squib magazine, said: “What is happening in the judiciary is going to undermine the judiciary. It is already undermining the country. The protest is about the unconstitutional, mischievous, malicious and political suspension of Justice Salami by the NJC, and its ratification by the President.

“Our protest is that there is a case in court.

When you have a case in court, it is trite law that no party should do anything to render it nugatory or invalidate the outcome of that particular case by the presiding court.

“What the president and the NJC have done is that they are encouraging anarchy, resort to self help, and for people to have disregard for the court, because when you have a case in court, they would ask: ‘What does that matter? After all, the President of the Court of Appeal went to court and was still dismissed.’

“All these things have multiplier and bandwagon effect down the line because, if you undermine the judiciary, you are undermining the nation. The peace, progress and the sustenance of the country is severely undermined by the very people who have sworn to uphold the Constitution and protect the country.”

‘I think we have made a point. The Bar is not sitting on the fence. The Bar for posterity sake will be adjudged as having taken a position against injustice, against people infringing on the rule of law, due process, most especially when it has to do with the NJC and the Presidency. I think we have made the point and we insist that due process be followed’

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

32

LAW & SOCIETY PROTEST MARCH TO LAGOS STATE SECRETARIAT, ALAUSA, IKEJA, ORGANISED BY THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION (NBA) LAGOS, IKEJA AND IKORODU BRANCHES

From left: Chairmen, NBA Ikeja, Lagos and Ikorodu branches, Adebamigbe Omole, Taiwo O. Taiwo and Kazeem Adebanjo

•Former Chairman, Ikorodu branch, Nurudeen Ogbara (left) and Lekan Alabi

•From left: Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN); Commissioner of Justice and Attorney-General Ade Ipaye and Commissioner for the Environment Tunji Bello, who is also a lawyer.

•Mr Jiti Ogunye (left) and First Vice-Chairman, NBA Lagos, Martin Ogunleye

•From left:Treasurer NBA Lagos, Marian Jones; Amaka Aneke and Secretary, NBA Lagos, Alex Muoka

•From Left: Seth Amaefula, Seyi Olawunmi and Happiness Osaghae

•Ifeoma Okeke (left) and Okenwa Lilian Igbasan

•From left: Patrick Arasanmi, Mike Umonnan and Wale Ogunade

•First Vice-Chairman NBA Ikeja, Yinka Faronbi and Olumide Oyewole

• A cross-section of participants at the event

PHOTOS: JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU

33

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

LAW & SOCIETY 2011 CHIEF CHIKE CHIGBUE ANNUAL MEMORIAL LECTURE, ORGANISED BY NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED LEGAL STUDIES (NIALS), AKOKA, LAGOS

• Director-General NIALS, Prof Epiphany Azinge (SAN) and Tony Idigbe (SAN)`

•Guest lecturer Prof Oba Nsugbe QC (SAN) and Chairman of the event, Justice Gladys Olotu of the Federal High Court

•Mike Agbamuche (left) and Institute Secretary, James Bathnna

•From left: Bestman Nnwoka, Kingsley Nnoham and Director of Research NIALS Prof Bolaji Owasanoye

•Prof Lanre Fagbohun and Dr Francisca Nlerum

•Mrs Uwem Etang and Thelma Osammor

•Elijah Adetunji and Gbenga Ojo

•Fidelis Ibhagbesoria and Dr Abiola Sanni

•From left: Abdullahi Adam Al-ilory, Augustine Tase and Joseph Oshoja Amosu

•From left: Dr Adebisis John Arewa, Helen Chuma -Okoro and Laura Ani

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

34

FROM THE COURT

Law pavilion launches product

L

AW Pavilion, an electronic legal research company, has launched a new legal research product called Law Pavilion 360 degrees.

It was unveiled at the just-concluded Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The product claims: ‘’If the authorities you intend to rely on have not passed the Law Pavilion 360 degree test, you might be at the risk of using overruled authorities.”

Director of the firm, Mr. Ope Olugasa, said: ‘’Lawyers and judges now have the necessary tools to enable them to compete at the same pace with lawyers in other advanced jurisdictions.

“This product is an is an automatic update on the status of each precedent and helps lawyers to test the veracity of the authorities

LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with

By John Austin Unachukwu

they are relying on in court.

“The one for the bench is such that when a High Court Judge delivers judgment and the case goes on appeal, if the appellate court makes any decision on it, the High Court judge who heared the matter in the first instance, is automatically alerted personally, on the decision on his or her own judgment. ‘’This same thing applies to the Supreme Court. If the apex court delivers any judgment, the Court of Appeal Judges that sat on the matter before it got to the Supreme Court are automatically alerted. ‘’In this way, it is very easy for Nigerian judges to continue with the trends of their cases and be able to revisit issues.

“If there are things to be corrected, they can easily do that without necessarily having to do the

gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com

Governors and federalism •Olugasa

same thing over and over again.

“Now when you search for any issue, it will not only give you the case law, it gives you the laws of the Federation.”

Lawyers in media get new chairman

•Odenigbo

A

GROUP, Lawyers in the Media Forum (LIM) has elected a new chairman. He is Mr Charles S. Odenigbo. He was elected at the group’s Annual General Meeting in Port Harcourt, dur-

ing the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference.

Odenigbo said: “Honestly, I would have loved some other person to be the chairman. I came here to participate in the Conference, learn a few things form those guest speakers that came.

“I was very very blessed by the things I have come to learn and it will take my legal practise to another level.

“Coming to LIM, honesty l feel challenged. This is an organisation that has been there for some years.

We media practitioners, coming in as a journalist and an editor who has practiced at the highest level of Nigerian Media.

“It is a call to duty. It is a serious challenge and I am telling you, no one single person called the chairman can single handedly lead lawyers in the media. You know how we journalists are, then you add

lawyer to it, you can imagine the quantum of challenges there because you are combining people with courtroom mentality and newsroom mentality. So coming into this thing requires a lot of wisdom. It requires a lot of humility, it requires a lot of networking, it requires a lot of support and among other things, it requires insight into human beings.”

“If one does not have the insight to understanding the people; then he is going to have problems leading this type of group.”

“So, for me I feel that it is a challenge. It is a call to duty and I believe that by the grace of God, we will deliver.

Other officers are: Theodore KioLawson (Secretary), Jude Igbanoi (Treasurer), Adelanwa Bamigboye (Publicity Secretary), Adams Adedimiji, Gbolahan Gbadamosi and John Austin-Unachukwu.

•Former Director of Library Services, Lagos State Judiciary, Mrs Flora Koleoso and her husband Emmanuel at a send-off organised by judiciary workers on her retirement after 35 years of service.

PHOTO: NNEKA NWANERI

LEGAL DIARY Prison Ministry holds conference The National Prisons Ministry holds its conference on September 15 and 16, 2011 at the Banquet Hall, Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, by 9:00 am Institute holds memorial Lecture The Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) will hold her Justice Teslim Elias Memorial lecture Title: Trends in International Law and Diplomacy: one step forward or backwards Venue: Ayo Ajomo Auditorium NIALS, University of Lagos Akoka Campus Akoka, Lagos Date September 27, 2011 Time: 4:00 pm Guest lecturer: Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof Bolaji Akinyemi Workshop on justice administration Lagos State government is to host a one-day workshop on Administration of Justice for Permanent Secretaries, state counsel, Directors of Finance and Administration and other management staff in its service.

It will hold on September 14, 2011, at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, from 8.am, with the theme: Attaining excellent disciplinary standard and avoiding government liability in employer/ employee disputes.

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ECTION 2 subsection 2 of the 1999 constitution as amended would have hidden her head in shame were it a woman. She would have been complaining to all who care to listen, that her family lied at her birth, and gave her a false name; a name that is strange to her biological and psychological make up.

Yes, she will admit she was born not by regular midwives, traditional or foreign. Yes, she was born in secrecy, amid subterfuge and sired by unknown fathers; but despite that her sexuality was clear by mere looking, the name givers called her Clement instead of Clementine.

I have no doubt that Governors Chibuike Amaechi and Sullivan Chime, among others would bear witness to this strange events. Governor Amaechi who has been celebrating his modest achievements, felt the absurdity recently.

Apparently before checking out the terms of his engagement he had promised to wipe out the inefficiency of the central behemoth, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria from his garden city. He employed the resources from the state’s natural resources, to build a new power plant to generate 400 mega watts of electricity.

He only realised lately that he had paid a bride price for a fellow man. Confusion, anger and angst set in as he tried to consummate the marriage. The 400 mega watts of electricity, he generated with Rivers State’s resources technically belong to the central authority, he is told, and will be used in far flung cities, to make up for the inability of the central authority.

He threatens fire and brimstone, blaming the messenger who brought the bad news. He is looked at with amusement, for in the revelry of the marriage ceremonies he failed to take note of the terms before the exchange of vows. He just realized he is wedded under the wrong terms. Poor him.

Governor Sullivan Chime, on the other hand is battling a centrally imposed labour wage and a centralised enforcement unit, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

A lawyer, in utter confusion, he jettisoned the terms and conditions of his engagement as a civilian Governor, in lieu of brash tag. The federal enforcers who came to enforce their laws, according to media reports, were sequestrated in their hotel rooms.

He cannot understand how the central government would determine the wag bill he will pay, and how a central labour organisation would choose his state of all the states in the federation to test their might. So he buckled. Poor fellow.

Governor Sullivan like many of his other colleagues would also not understand why the Governors of Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Bayelsa, Lagos and to a lesser extent, Cross River and a few other states would be wealthy enough to pay, while his state accountants are doing over work for a problem he did not create.

He would also be aghast that while Governor Amaechi and his copetro dollar governors are swashbuckling as they distribute the resources earned from their natural endowments, his state’s natural endowment is trapped beneath the earth, victim of the same unitary laws that gave a wage bill he must pay. He forgot that his state is dependant on the central government.

Welcome to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which in Section 2, subsection 2 provides: “Nigeria shall be a Federation consisting of states and a federal capital territory.”

A federation of states, it is called, instead of merely Republic of Nigeria. If you fail to dig dipper into the other provisions of the constitution, you will live the lie that we are under a federation of states.

You will not understand that buried deep in the belly of the constitution are clearly unitary laws, which make the states mere political outposts, with no economic rights. You would be misled to pay the bride price when you are wedding a Clement.

Governor Amaechi’s shock over his 400 mega watts of electricity appropriated by the central government should result in a resolve to pursue as a major democratic project; the amendment of all laws that impede the progress of the federal republic of Nigeria by centralising clearly regional prerogatives.

He can do that by agreeing with his brother governors to give Nigerians a system of laws that proclaim what it says it is. One of such laws is that which has appropriated all the minerals in the country as belonging to the central government, just because those who held the levers of power when the laws were made felt that way.

Governor Chime should also join in the crusade. As the laws of the country stand at the moment, he should get prepared to pay the minimum wage. He has no choice about that. The choice he has is to ask for a change; a change in the laws that makes it impossible for all governors to explore the mineral deposits in their states.

Where he to succeed in that direction, he should have no reason to want to pay a paltry sum of N18,000 as minimum wage. It is a sum not enough to feed him for one week, not to talk of one month salary.

The earlier Nigerians realise their main obstacle to development the better for everybody. That is laws that restrict free enterprise and initiatives among the competing states and zones.

Governor Kwankwaso, for instance, has shown that his state may be better off with some form of theocracy, and my take is, if a democratic referendum is conducted in his state and he is able to get the approval, why can’t he. Why deny the state the elements that will bring peace and stability to them, because a binding unitary law says otherwise?

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

ENERGY THE NATION

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

Ikeja targets 6000 prepaid meters

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• Omotosho Gas Turbine power station

Fed Govt may review pact on Egbin Station T

HE Federal Government may review the pact with the core investor in the Egbin Power Station in view of the funds it has pumped into the plant in recent times to boost generation.

The Minister of Power, Prof Barth Nnaji, disclosed this when he visited the company recently.

Nnaji, who was pleased with the efforts of the management of the

INSIDE • ‘Seismic-reflection

technology boosts exploration in deeper frontiers’ •••Page 38

• ‘We expect policy

on LPG to enhance growth’ •••Page 39

• ‘Flourmills

generate 62mw of power’ •••Page 40

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

company to ensure the power station generates optimally, said government may revisit the agreement.

The Federal Government has been in talks with a South Korean firm, Korean Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) to buy Egbin power plant but the two parties have not agreed on a any definite equity interest that would be sold to KEPCO. The former Minister of State for Power, Nuhu Wya, had said the equity shares that would be given to KEPCO would depend on cost and until concrete agreement is reached, it would be difficult to determine the percentage of shares to be sold.

Nnaji had promised during his visit that the ministry would renegotiate with the investor to accommodate the new inputs and funds government had put into the plant because the plant’s integrity is not what it was at the time of sale. He said the renegotiation would be done before the plant is formally handed over to the investor by end of the year.

Early this year, the government spent N1.922 billion on repairs of the plant and building of a new hydrogen plant for the cooling of the turbines. While N1 billion was spent on repairing the steam tur-

bine 1 (ST-01), N922 million was spent on building the new hydrogen plant.

Speaking on the development, the Chief Executive Officer of Egbin Electricity Generation Company, Mr Mike Uzoigwe, said: “The contract advertisement for the construction of the new hydrogen plant took place in 2004 and due process for award took three years and in 2007 the contract was awarded to Messrs Valenz Holding Nigeria Limited for N778 million.Due to delay, there was a variation of 21 per cent arising partly from cost of importation of foreign components needed for construction of the plant.This shot up the cost to N922 million in 2009.

“The repairs of steam turbine 1 (ST-01), which crashed in December 2009 also gulped N1 billion,” which makes five of the six turbines current functional with generation standing at 1080mw and Uzoigwe assured the former Minister of State for Power, Nuhu Wya, that if the government would make money available, the company would begin the repairs of ST-06, which has been out of use in the past two years, to be able to restore the plant to its full installed capacity of 1320mw.

During Nnaji’s visit, Uzoigwe also made a request for the govern-

OIL PRICES SEPT 1 -SEPT 9

Light Crude

Source: Rigzone.com

Brent Crude

ment to provide the company with between N1.4 billion and N1.5 billion to repair ST-06, which the Minister also promised to provide.

“We are serious minded here and we are simply asking you to provide us the tools. Some of us who started working here immediately after NYSC and others witnessed this station pulling full capacity at 1320mw. We will wish to retire and leave the plant at full capacity. We are passionate about completing the repairs of ST-06. We no more wish to cannibalise it in order to repair other units. Please provide us the N1.4 billion to N1.5 billion we need to complete the project. We will bring back extra 220mw with the repair of ST-06.

Nnaji said: “This plant has people in management that are really and perfectly skilled. As I go around, I found that most of the problems that you have had were addressed all by yourselves with energy, dedication and zeal. It gives me a lot of joy and I am very proud of you.

“From what you are doing, in fact, I will insist that anybody who is interested in this plant must come and see you at work. We will insist on that because it is only a fool that would want to get rid of what is good. The privatisation we are talking about is actually about money and value-added. Let all the units be working and 1320mw of power be provided for Nigerians and let us also consider expansion.

“I want to tell the workers they shouldn’t be afraid because what is going to happen here is not about getting anybody off work.

There is nobody that is interested in that but rather to make it possible for you to do your job better than the way you are doing it now because you are doing a fantastic work. If anybody says we want to take over the plant and get new people, where will he get the new people? ‘Where would anybody • Continued on page 38

HE Ikeja Electricity Distribu tion Company intends in crease its supply of prepaid meters to customers to between 4,000 and 6,000 from next month.

The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Chris Okaa Akamnonu, said the management’s target is to increase the supply level from October because about 2,500 customers demand for such metering in a month.

To meet the demand, the company has to move up from the current 3,000 meters per month.

The company is also discussing with its military and other corporate customers on ways to recover their debts.

Akamnonu said the company has installed over 10,000 prepaid meters in the last four months.

He said the company had challenges in the past, but has overcome them confronting it especially with regard to procurement and installation of meters, adding that starting from July the zone will step up its pre-paid meter installation from 3,000 to 4, 000 monthly and to more than 4,000 from next month.

He said even though the company has about 2,000 backlog, any new customer that pays for pre-paid meter, would have it installed within two weeks.

“Between February and end of May, we have deployed over 10,000 meters and that rate of deployment is quite high, an average of 3,000 in a month and we are hoping to increase it.

Group unveils hydraulic fracturing guidelines

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ANADIAN natural gas pro ducers had announced new guiding principles for hydraulic fracturing that guide water management and improved water and fluids reporting practices for shale gas development in Canada.

The principles were created by members of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and apply to all CAPP natural gas producing members, large and small, operating in Canada.

“Protecting Canada’s water resources is fundamental to our social licence to operate and to grow,” said CAPP President Dave Collyer.

“Canada’s upstream industry has a strong track record as a safe and reliable producer of natural gas. With the increase in natural gas production from unconventional sources such as shale, Canadians have told us they want more information as to how industry uses and protects water. We respect that request, and these CAPP principles articulate our water management objectives and water protection practices, as well as our focus on improving our water performance over time.”

The principles are equally important to be applied in Nigeria especially as the focus increasingly being turned to gas.

Canada has abundant unconventional natural gas resources, including shale gas. Technological innovations, particularly horizontal multiwell pad drilling and hydraulic fracturing, have made it possible for industry to economically develop shale gas resources in tight rock formations.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

ENERGY Oil price falls to $88/bbl on jobs bill announcement

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• From left: Mr. Ernest Nwapa, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB); Mr Christopher Bennett, Managing Director, Nigerdock and Mr Chijioke Okorie, General Manager Monitoring, NCDMB, at the opening of Wellmann’s Self Propelled Modular Trailers at Nigerdock’s Snake Island facility, Lagos.

IL price fell to near $88 a barrel on Friday in Asia as investors considered whether a new United States jobs package would help boost crude demand.

Benchmark oil for October delivery was down 62 cents to $88.43 at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Crude fell 29 cents to finish at $89.05 on Thursday.

According to Associated Press, in London, Brent crude for October delivery was steady at $114.55 on the ICE Futures exchange.

In a bid to spark economic growth, President Barack Obama announced on Thursday a $447 billion package for creating jobs.

The plan would slash the pension

‘Seismic-reflection technology boosts exploration in deeper frontiers’ The Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) just had its technical meeting in Lagos where the Managing Director of WesternGeco, a seismic arm of Schlumberger, Dele Aikhionbare, suggested the use of the seismic-reflection method to uncover deeper mineral targets. BIDEMI BAKARE, who was at the event, reports.

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NDOUBTEDLY, Nigeria is blessed with abundant min eral resources including gold, lead-zinc, tin, coal, bitumen and bauxite, among others, which are found in shallow and deep areas of the earth.

But while some of the low lying shallow prospects may have been exploited and depleted, the deeper targets, which are yet to be exploited might gradually be the new frontiers for exploration.

It is with the realisation of this fact that the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) held a technical meeting on how to enhance solid minerals exploration especially in the deeper areas where the minerals may be buried.

In his presentation entitled: Seismic methods for solid minerals exploration, the guest speaker and Managing Director of Schlumberger WesternGeco, Dele Aikhionbare, said for a long time the traditional methods despite their challenges of low spatial resolution, depth of penetration and volume of data acquired have been used to carry out mineral prospecting for the shallow or surface regions.

He said but with the depletion of the low lying shallow prospects, it is apparent that new techniques like the seismic exploration may be

needed.

“When the whole idea of mineral exploration started in Nigeria the traditional methods were in use then.

Some of these methods include the use of potential field geophysics, borehole drilling and surface prospecting to reveal mineral deposits for development. These techniques, however, sufficed for discovering surface or shallow laying prospects and not the deeper targets. But now that the shallow prospects are getting depleted by the day, attention would have to be shifted to the deeper regions. It is for this reason that we need the seismic method,” he said.

According to him, the seismic-reflection method is a powerful geophysical exploration tool which, has been in use in the petroleum industry for more 80 years with the ability to measure more different parameters than other traditional geophysical methods. The method, he added is based on the principle that reflection occurs when sound waves travel between earth layers with acoustic impedance contrasts.

When compared to the traditional methods, he stated that the seismic exploration apart from providing higher resolution images also enhance the calibration of data to predict structure and lithology.

For the method to be successful, he hinted that a seismic recording equipment, energy source and data acquisition parameters are critical.

He added that careful attention is required to avoid possible pitfalls in data collection, processing and interpretation.

He said the seismic methods rather than make the traditional methods obsolete will enhance interpretation of results, lead to more discoveries and reduce the footprint of the mining process.

He revealed that seismic exploration for solid minerals has gained currency particularly in countries, such as Canada, Australia and South Africa urging Nigeria to take a cue from these countries.

Citing the South African example, he said seismic exploration is what is being used for gold mineralisation in that country.

He said: ”South Africa is really exploiting the seismic method for its survey of its gold deposits. In the late nineties a low fold three-Dimensional survey, which was carried out in the country was able to match reflections from seismic image to known faults in the mining operation to within three metres. Seismic attributes perhaps for the first time in mineral exploration were used to enhance faults imaged in the seis-

mic data. These studies then made it possible to know how gold mineralisation is taking place in the sedimentary conglomerates.

“With this in place the gold deposits are uncovered and utilised for the country’s economic, development.”

Aikhionbare said Nigeria also has large sedimentary basins where most of these minerals being mentioned are found. If exploratory effort is enhanced through seismic, all of the inland basins from Anambra right down to Chad, which are open for exploration, would be exploited.

He noted that one major issue, which the seismic method may throw up is that of cost as the fund required for carrying out the task may be neckbreaking for the investor.

He said Schlumberger is prepared to provide an arrangement to ease the burden of this huge cost. This alternative, which he called speculative method, involves investors (multi-clients) getting together in a strategic partnership for the seismic exploration of the mineral deposits.

He said the company is also ready to enter an agreement with the government through the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) on transferring the acquired seismic data to the agency after the company might have recouped all its investment in the exercise.

Shell to raise production by 400,000 boe/d

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HELL’s management at an investor day in New York confirmed solid progress in starting up three world-class oil and gas projects in 2011, which at peak will add some 400,000 barrels oil equivalent (boe) for Shell.

Shell’s three-year strategic plan, outlined in 2010, is building the foundations for profitable growth for shareholders in the future. We are improving near-term competitive performance, and delivering a new wave of production growth, the company said.

Shell’s Chief Executive Officer, Peter Voser said: “we’re making good progress in delivering our strategy. Shell’s decision to maintain investment in new projects in the 2009 downturn is driving growth in the company today.”

In Canada oil sands, we have progressed with ramping-up of the

expansion project at our Scotford Upgrader, and ASOP-1 recently reached its full production level of 100,000 barrels per day (bpd). In Qatar, the Qatargas 4 LNG project reached production plateau earlier this year. Ramp up of Train 1 of the Pearl GTL project continues to make good progress, with Train 2 on track for start-up before yearend, as planned.

These three projects, representing some $30 billion of investment, underpin our targets for financial and production growth to 2012. We are on track to deliver our strategic targets for 50-80 percent growth in cash flow from operations from 2009 to 2012, driven by cost savings, operating performance, and an 11 percent increase in oil and gas production from one of the most substantial portfolios of new oil and gas projects in our industry today.

Building on this growth, the

company has launched 14 further upstream projects so far in 201011, which have a expected peak production of some 400,000 boe/d for Shell in the medium term, and underpinning our longer-term growth potential.

In Downstream, as we complete a major phase of asset sales, we are consolidating this reshaped portfolio, focusing on operating performance, and investing in selective growth, for example recently forming the Raìzen biofuels and marketing joint venture in Brazil.

Voser added: “we’ve continued with our growth momentum by adding to Shell’s medium-term project pipeline, during a period where development costs have been attractive, in the recent downturn. The scale and integration of projects such as Pearl GTL, Raìzen biofuels and Prelude floating LNG are unique in our

industry today, and are a solid platform to create long term value for our shareholders.”

payroll taxes for tens of millions of workers and employers. It would also include $105 billion in public works projects and the renewal of $50 billion in unemployment benefits for about six million Americans at risk of losing jobless insurance. Congress must approve the bill.

Crude prices were bolstered by slowing inflation in China. Annual consumer prices rose 6.2 per cent last month, cooling from a 37month high of 6.5 per cent in July.

Investors are hoping that China may stop raising interest rates and allow faster economic growth.

Some analysts argue that fears about weakening global economic growth, which helped push crude down to $76 last month, are overblown and demand will outstrip supply long-term.

“Stop fretting about the gloom and doom of oil,” Blue Ocean Brokerage said in a report. “We can’t make this stuff fast enough even in a weak economic scenario.

It’s a finite commodity with infinite demand.”

In other Nymex trading for October contracts, heating oil fell 0.5 cents at $3.04 per gallon and gasoline futures dropped 1.8 cents at $2.87 per gallon. Natural gas for October delivery gained 0.3 cents to $3.98 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Fed Govt may review pact on Egbin Station • Continued from page 37 get workers that can operate this plant the way you operate it? I don’t see how any investor can get rid of any of the people that I saw today because you are the critical elements to progress, so I don’t want you to be afraid of privatization or job loss because that is not what the whole programme is about.

Reason for privatisation Nnaji said the total power coming from all Federal Government power plants is less than 3500mw and Egbin provide almost half of that. But the installed capacity of Federal Government power plant is nearly 6000mw. What happened to the rest of them? You people in Egbin are doing much better than a lot of plants. We have Kainji with installed capacity of 760mw but it is giving us about 50mw. You are doing very well. Their turbines haven’t been overhauled in over 40 years. I think if a lot of plants were operating the way you operate, we probably will not been considering this privatisation initiative.

If the Federal Government power plants are doing well, we shouldn’t worry, but the only thing is that it continues to drain on budget, so government has to continue to fight to get money to do certain things.

Syria crisis: No release from emergency stockpiles, says IEA

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DROP in Syrian oil exports following sanctions on the country’s President Bashar al-Assad wouldn’t justify another release of emergency stockpiles by International Energy Agency (IEA) members, according to the agency’s new head.

“Syria’s exports aren’t quite as large as some people think,” Maria van der Hoeven, the 61-year old executive director of the Paris-based IEA, said in an interview. Europe’s decision to ban imports of Syrian crude “was a very important political signal.”

According to Bloomberg, Van der

Hoeven, former Dutch minister of economic affairs, began her fouryear term as IEA chief on Sept. 1, succeeding Nobuo Tanaka of Japan.

Syria will seek alternative buyers after the European Union banned its member states from buying the Middle Eastern state’s crude, Finance Minister Mohammad AlJleilati said.

The E.U. sanctions “shouldn’t be a problem” for the country, Al-Jleilati said in an interview in Abu Dhabi.

Syria hasn’t decided where to sell its crude, adding that Russia, China and Malaysia are allies, Al-Jleilati said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

39

ENERGY

‘We expect policy on LPG to enhance growth’

By Bidemi Bakare

• Ilu

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F the attention given to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) by the government is anything to go by, the Nigerian Liquefied

Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA) said it expects that policy statement on LPG would be issued in a matter of weeks or possibly months for the industry to grow.

The association’s President, Alhaji Auwalu Ilu, said the association’s optimism was hinged on the progress being made with the ongoing talk on LPG both at the state and national levels.

He said: “I think there is a lot of improvement now as there is a lot of talk going on at all levels. It appears everybody is talking.From the President to the Petroleum Minister and lawmakers and even those in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) are all talking about how we can move the LPG forward. I believe very soon we will see the outcome of this talk with policy statements,” Ilu said.

He said it has been difficult to bring investment to the industry

because the volume of the LPG market is absolutely insignificant.

But he reasoned that with a policy direction the situation is bound to change.

“One thing we must understand is that unless there is market people will not bring investment. Sometimes you say you can create a market but people like going to where the market exists. To them, there is no time to waste in creating any market. As for Nigeria we simply don’t have any reason not to have a tangible market.

“This is because for a country with a population of over 150 million people, it ought to have a consumption level that can attract investment.

“However, if you ask me, the size does not warrant any huge or heavy investment. You can’t compare the tonnes with how many litres of kerosene or petrol or diesel that is being consumed every day or annually in this country, so one should expect that there would be more investment in petrol or

diesel because the market is there.

Therefore, I think something must be done to strengthen the LPG market being created by investors.

“The government needs to work together with the private sector to provide all necessary incentives for LPG growth. This can only be possible if viable policy statements on LPG come into effect,” he said.

On recent effort made by private sector to boost investment in the sector, Ilu said private investors have been up and doing with the various growth strategies being deployed. “There has always been investment in LPG because investors are building new depots and plants. They are also introducing new concept like the skid plant.

New LPG plants are currently being opened all over the place. Quite very recently African Petroleum (AP) commissioned its Maitama bottling plant.

“Oando has opened many others too. NIPCO is also doing the same.

Many other companies are expanding their market bases. We too in

Ultimate gas are renovating our plant to give it a face lift. So there has always been a lot of investment in this direction. As investors, our desire is for government to provide a favourable structure that would enable us contribute more to the development, he said.

He said the association had also recently contracted some media consultants in a bid to take the LPG campaign to the homes of the consumers. “As part of the move to promote LPG, we contacted some consultants to come up with TV programmes, radio programmes and jingles that will highlight some of the advantages of using LPG including the safety, environmental and health aspects of it. Some of the presentations will be pictorial while some will be in form of drama. We are going to prepare the materials and later look for those who will sponsor the programme.

The programme will start at the last quarter of this year or early next year.”

Shell, Total, others find oil in French Guiana

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HELL and Total have an nounced hydrocarbon dis covery in French Guiana’s deep offshore Guyane Maritime license.

The acreage is operated by Tullow.

Located in about 150 kilometres northeast of Cayenne, the GM-ES1 well lies in just over 2,000 metres of water and has so far been drilled to a depth of 5,711 metres below sea level. Measurement while drilling revealed the existence of liquid hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone reservoirs.

The discovery follows the acquisition in late 2009 and early 2010 of 3D seismic data over a 2,500square-kilometre area in the eastern section of the license. The area includes the prospect in which GMES-1 is being drilled, as well as several other prospects in similar traps in an abrupt margin play.

After intermediate measurements, drilling will resume shortly to reach the planned total depth.

The production potential and the scale of resources will then be determined through delineation drilling.

“We are pleased with the preliminary results of this first ever deepwater well offshore French Guiana,” said Dave Lawrence, Shell’s executive vice president Exploration and Commercial. “We are early in the evaluation, but the initial results are encouraging for this new play. The joint venture will continue to drill ahead, evaluate the well results, and determine next steps.”

‘37% of GoM oil output still shut’

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BOUT 37 percent of crude oil production in US-regulated areas of the Gulf of Mexico remained shut in the wake of Tropical Storm Lee last week, according to a US government report.

Shut natural gas production was cut in half as oil and natural gas producers raced to return production.

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said 516,451 barrels per day (bpd), or 36.9 percent, of Gulf oil production remained offline due to Lee, the lingering after effects of which delayed a faster restart to production. The Bureau said 60.5 percent of crude output was shut on Tuesday.

Also, 958.4 million cubic feet per day of natural gas output, or 18.1 percent, was shut in as of Wednesday, down from 41.6 percent on Tuesday, Reuters said.

• From left: Mr. Ayo Ajose-Adeogun, Director, Mr. Femi Adeyemo, Director, both of Oando Marketing Plc, Mr. Wale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive, Oando and Mr. Yomi Awobokun, Chief Operating Officer, Oando Marketing, laying the foundation stone for the proposed Oando Marketing’s corporate head office at Apapa, Lagos last Thursday.

Mining society seeks stakeholders’collaboration

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HE Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) has called on stakeholders in the mining industry to come together.

The organisation’s Vice-President, Daniel Aboh, said although abundant mineral resources may abound in all the states, only a collaborative effort would do to unlock these resources.

Aboh, who spoke at the group’s September technical meeting in Lagos, said it is unacceptable that after several years, the mining industry in the country is still undeveloped as compared to that of other African countries, such as South Africa and Zimbabwe that have been harnessing the potential in the industry for the development of their economies.

He said: “Nigeria has simply not fared well in the development of the mining industry. If the industry after many years of existence is still at this immature stage, then this calls for great concern from stakeholders. Tell me how to explain it that other countries that started with us or who even came after us are far ahead of us. It is quite shameful. Imagine that countries, such as South Africa and Zimbabwe that don’t even have these mineral resources in abundance

By Bidemi Bakare

like we do are deriving greater benefits from their resources. South Africa, for instance, has been investing in its gold deposits and this has translated to huge returns for it. This, I think, is the way to go if the country truly wants to harness the potentials in this industry for the growth of the economy.”

Aboh also said the NMGS has been visible with its different programmes geared towards the promotion of the industry. “We, at the NMGS, have been at the forefront of the campaign for growth. We have technical meetings, which hold every two months making up six times in a year. These technical meetings are well attended.

So far, we have had the meetings in January, March, May and July and now September. We are going to have

another one in November.

“In each of these technical meetings, we bring eminent men from the industry and government circles. We have had presentations from Chevron, Total, NNPC, Mobil and we are expecting that Addax will make another presentation in November. This presentation today is from Schlumberger. We are definitely not resting on our oars as we poised to bring more others who are involved in the development of the mineral resources,” he added.

He said apart from the technical meetings the society is also gearing up for its international conference and exhibition billed for 2012 to showcase the mineral resources in the country.

“We are warming up for the international conference and exhibi-

tion holding in Lagos in the third week of March 2012.what we want to do with it is to showcase all the mineral resources in Nigeria. Every state will mount an exhibition stand to showcase the minerals that can be found in that state. We want to invite companies from Canada, South Africa and every where in the world to the conference. This is surely going to be an opportunity for investors to get first hand information on minerals available in the country,” he said.

He said the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) that is trying to improve on its services will also be on hand at the conference to disclose what it has been doing and how it is going to use the latest and modern technology it just acquired in Kaduna to uncover the mineral wealth of the country.

US cuts next year’s world oil demand forecast

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LOBAL oil demand will grow less than previously projected next year as the economy staggers, the United States government forecast. World consumption will rise by 1.39 million barrels per day or around 1.6 percent next year, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said, some 250,000 bpd less than it fore-

cast a month ago. This year’s growth forecast was unchanged at 1.37 million bpd.

The lower projection, which brings the EIA into line with the consensus of other analysts, is the result of throttling back U.S. economic growth estimates following a wave of data suggesting the recovery has stalled, Reuters re-

ported.

The cost of crude for refiners was expected to reach $103 per barrel in 2012 instead of last month’s forecast of $107 per barrel, the EIA said, with added pressure from higher than expected production growth from countries outside the OPEC, including Brazil, Canada and China.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

40

ENERGY

F

LOURMILLS of Nigeria (FMN) Plc has said it generates 62 megawatts (MW) of electricity through its diesel and gas powered electricity-generating plants.

The company said out of the 62mw, it makes use of only 24mw to 25mw, leaving and an excess of 37mw to 38mw.

At a press conference in Lagos, the Group Managing Director of the company, Chief Emmanuel Ukpabi, said the company intends to sell the excess power to private companies around Apapa or put it in the national grid after all deals on power purchase agreement have been concluded with the government.

He said the company considers private companies, Federal Government as prospective clients.

He also noted that Golden Sugar Company Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of FMN signed a $143.3 million, five-year syndicated dual currency, Medium Term Facility in January, adding that the sugar refinery will produce additional power.

‘Flourmills generate 62mw of power’ • Plans additional plant

By Tonia Osundolire

Responding to how far the company has gone, he said last week they met with the Minister of Power and discussed at length and have been assured of benefiting from the World Bank guarantee.

He said: “We are sure of selling to companies around us or put the excess power into the national grid.

Payment must be insured. There is no point making use of generator and transferring the excess power into the national grid and not get paid. The minister assured and guaranteed that payment will not be a problem that with the World Bank, payment is certain.”

On the extent of development of the Golden Penny Power Limited, he said the facility taken by Golden Sugar Company Limited is to fi-

nance the construction of a 750,000 metric tonnes sugar refinery complex in Lagos State. The design, financing and procurement phases of the project have been completed and construction of the complex now in full swing.

The Sugar Complex Power plant, which is designed to make a real difference according to him, would arrive on site this month. The power plant it was learnt, would be environmentally friendly with capability of reducing green house gas emissions. The sugar refinery will be inaugurated in the third quarter of 2012.

“The sugar refinery will start operation next year, when the sugar products starts, for others (from diesel and gas) we are ready to give the excess power when the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) says it is ready for us.

• From left: Mr Boniface Ikechukwu,Project Development Manager, AK-AY Elektric, Mr. James Abiodun Olotu, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited, and Mr M.L. Yankuzo of Kano Regional Transmission Station, Kumbotso, when the NDPHC boss inspected the installed 60MVA transformer at the station.

Free Trade Zone confab holds Thursday

T

HE second edition of the Free Trade Zone conference and exhibition to be hosted by Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) in collaboration with Century 21 Systems Limited holds at the Lagoon Restaurant, Victoria Island, Lagos on September 15 and 16.

Entitled: ’FTZ market outlook for Nigeria: Opportunities and challenges, it is expected to present an opportunity for foreign and domestic oil and gas firms looking to

extend their roles in Nigeria’s oil frontiers.

The Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, will deliver the keynote address entitled: The outlook for FTZ - How are the dynamics changing, which will focus on enhancing the capacity of oil firms to create jobs, generate wealth and contribute significantly towards the nation’s economic growth and development .

The Group Managing Director of

NNPC, Austen Oniwon, is expected to be the lead session speaker with the topic Promoting Nigerian shared prosperity through Free Trade Zones (oil & gas in FTZs).

The Chief Executive of Century 21 Systems Limited , Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson, said it has long been the goal of governments to diversify the country’s sources of income from oil and gas as well as develop the downstream sector particularly the refining and petrochemicals.

“It may also interest you to know that the FMN Bond issue, is acknowledged as one of the largest corporate bonds ever issued in West Africa; this helps to deepen the Nigerian Bond market.

“The proceeds will be utilised in refinancing existing term loans, invest in Golden Sugar Project, expand

UK oil output falls below 1m bpd

U

K oil production fell below one million barrels per day (bpd) the second time in more than 30 years this summer as maintenance exacerbated a decline in output from depleted North Sea oilfields.

The British sector of the North Sea pumped 984,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil in June, down from just over one million bpd in May and a peak of more than 2.7 million bpd in 1999, industry data showed.

“The decline is worrying,” said Mike Tholen, economics director of industry lobby Oil & Gas UK. According to Reuters, Britain first produced commercial quantities of oil in 1975 and the country has enjoyed billions of dollars in revenue over the last 35 years as its light, high quality grades of crude oil have become a benchmark for the international spot market.

It was a net oil exporter until 2005.

But British oil reserves, mostly deep below inhospitable waters far offshore, are gradually running dry and cost more and more each year to maintain and operate as the large, easily accessible oilfields are exhausted.

Oil & Gas UK says there are still billions of barrels of hydrocarbons in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS), but much of these reserves are in the form of natural gas and lie in very difficult areas to explore.

“The figures for the quarterly decline in production of oil and gas highlight the need to focus on investing in the UKCS and on longterm trends in the basin,” Tholen said.

Michael Wittner, head of commodities research at Societe Generale in New York, said Britain would still be an oil producer for many years but the trend lower would continue.

“The long-term decline will not be reversed,” Wittner said.

C

RUDE oil supplies fell last week, while gasoline sup plies grew, the US government said. Crude supplies dropped by four million barrels, or 1.1 percent, to 353.1 million barrels, which

Energy & Oil Prices OIL ($/bbl)

Companies

PMS

AGO

DPK

Conoil

65.00

160.00

140.00

AP

65.00

160.00

140.00

Total

65.00

160.00

140.00

PRICE* CHANGE % CHANGE TIME Nymex Crude Future Dated Brent Spot WTI Cushing Spot OIL (¢/gal)

87.24 112.24 87.24

Oando

65.00

160.00

140.00

Mobil

65.00

160.00

140.00

Texaco

65.00

160.00

140.00

Nymex Henry Hub Future 3.92 Henry Hub Spot 3.96 New York City Gate Spot 4.17 ELECTRICITY ($/megawatt hour)

Energy

65.00

160.00

140.00

Fagbems

65.00

160.00

140.00

Nipco

65.00

160.00

140.00

Mid-Columbia, firm on-peak, spot 33.45 Palo Verde, firm on-peak,spot 41.12 Bloomberg, Firm On-peak, Day Ahead Houston 51.25 • Bloomberg Oil Buyers Guide

INDIGENOUS

-1.81 -2.06 -1.81

-2.03% -1.80% -2.03%

09/09 09/09 09/09

PRICE* CHANGE % CHANGE TIME Nymex Heating Oil Future 298.58 Nymex RBOB Gasoline Future 277.10 NATURAL GAS ($/MMBtu)

Tholen added that production data emphasised the need to encourage sustained investment in mature oil and gas assets. “Recent increases in tax will not make this challenging journey any easier,” he said.

Oil & Gas UK have said British oil and gas output could fall to around 500,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) by 2020, or just 12 percent of the country’s expected demand.

But if sufficient investment were brought into the industry, output could be as much as four times that level and still meet around 40 percent of the country’s projected consumption.

Improvements in technology now allow companies to pump an increasing proportion of oil and gas reserves to the surface and to collect hydrocarbons from fields that would previously have been out of reach.

But costs have escalated and unit operating costs jumped 10 percent last year as production fell. The UK oil and gas industry also faces decommissioning costs of more than $40 billion over the next 30 years.

The only other time in recent years when UK oil production has fallen below one million bpd was in August 2009, when maintenance work also affected output.

The decline in UK North Sea output this year has coincided with the loss of Libyan oil exports due to the uprising against former leader Muammar Gaddafi.

This has helped tighten supply of light, high quality oil and pushed the value of North Sea Forties crude to its highest levels above the spot market benchmark for over three years.

The tightening of supplies in the North Sea, home of the dated Brent benchmark used to price up to 70 percent of the world’s physical crude oil cargoes, is also supporting the price of Brent futures relative to U.S. crude futures.

Crude oil supplies tumble by 4m barrels

Energy prices

Domestic prices of petroleum products

flour milling capacity and augment working capital requirements, which have commenced.

“Backward integration in line with government policy has commenced with planting of imported sugar cane variety on a 17,000 hectares of land at Sunti, near Mokwa in Niger State,” he said.

-5.85 -11.42

-1.92% -3.96%

09/09 09/09

PRICE* CHANGE % CHANGE TIME -0.07 -0.01 -0.07

-1.63% -0.25% -1.65%

09/09 09/09 09/09

PRICE* CHANGE % CHANGE TIME -4.92 -12.82% -0.88 -2.10% Spot/Ercot -3.75 -6.82%

09/09 09/09 09/09

is 1.9 percent below year-ago levels, the Energy Department’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in its weekly report.

Associated Press report said analysts expected a decline of 1.7 million barrels for the week ended September 2, according to Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos. Gasoline supplies grew by 200,000 barrels, or 0.1 percent, to 208.8 million barrels. That was 7.2 percent below year-ago levels.

Analysts expected gasoline supplies to fall by 900,000 barrels.

Demand for gasoline over the four weeks ended September 2 was 2.9 percent lower than a year earlier, averaging nearly 9.1 million barrels a day.

U.S. refineries ran at 89 percent of total capacity on average, down 0.2 percentage point from the prior week. Analysts expected capacity to drop to 88.1 percent.

Supplies of distillate fuel, which include diesel and heating oil, rose by 700,000 barrels to 156.8 million barrels. Analysts expected distillate stocks to increase by 600,000 barrels.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

41

HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Nigeria’s health profile still deplorable, says Minister H AS there been improvement in the national health profile? No, it is “deplorable”, says the Health Minister Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, who is advocating public-private partnership (PPP) to enhance health care delivery.

Speaking at the opening of the Sixth West African Health conference/exhibition in Lagos, Chukwu said: “However, the Nigeria National Health profile remains deplorable as shown by high infant and maternal death; HIV/AIDS prevalence and the proportion of Nigerians at risk of malaria and non-communicable diseases.”

The theme is PPP in health care. PPP he said, was the way to go to redeem the situation.

Represented by Dr Tolu Fakeye, a Director at the Federal Ministry of Health, Chukwu said the policy would also ensure minimal prevalence of non-communicable diseases, as well as meet global targets in the elimination and eradication of diseases to increase life expectancy.

Chukwu said one of the major strategies

By Wale Adepoju

for achieving effective health care delivery is strong partnership, among actors, especially across the public and private divide, stressing that PPP is essential in health care delivery.

He said the National Health Policy permits the participation of all tiers of government, health practitioners and communities including individuals in the provision and financing of health care services.

His ministry, he promised, would develop and implement policies and programmes and undertake necessary actions to assist the National Health System to deliver effective, qualitative and affordable health services.

He recalled that his ministry was the first to mobilise relevant stakeholders to undertake the processes of developing

the first sector specific national policy on PPP. “Among other essential information, the PPP policy outlines the principles, concepts and objectives of PPP in the Nigerian Health Sector as well as the implementation of the policies,” Chukwu said.

Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Dr Jide Idris, said for decades PPP have been used to finance health care across the world. “The application of the various PPP models in this regard has significantly improved access to quality health care in the developed world. A significant number of these initiatives have actually been driven by the private sector,” he said.

Chairman of the exhibition Dr Wale Alabi, said PPP is quite stimulating and a reminder that the development and future of the health sector in Nigeria lies in the hands of stakeholders including practitioners, investors, government an d regulatory agencies, non-governmental organisation (NGO), and international community and other relevant bodies.

Ophthalmologists seek experts’ collaboration on eye treatment

•From left: Eugene Ivase, Head, Public-Private Partnership, National Primary Health Development Agency (NPHDA); Fabian Blank, Principal Partner, McKinsey & Company and Akinwale Goodluck, Corporate Services Executive, MTN, at the stakeholders’s workshop on m-Health services, hosted by MTN in Ikoyi, Lagos.

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

T

HE challenges of dwindling life expectancy in Nigeria is on focus as intellectuals and medical experts converged on Markudi,Benue State for the 47th annual scientific conference and general meeting of Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN).

The four-day event, which is holding at the Royal Choice Inn, started yesterday. There will be cross fertilisation of ideas on factors affecting the life expectancy of Nigerians and health delivery in line with the Millennium Development Goals in the country.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof James Epoke, will lead the discourse on the theme of the conference: Challenges of Dwindling Life Expectancy in Nigeria.

Dr Aniete Moses of the University of Uyo and the First Vice-President of AMLSN, Dr G. C. Okara, will speak on the sub-theme: Impact of Globalisation/Urbanisation on Disease Emergence and Persistence.

Senate President, David Mark, was expected to be Special Guest of Honour during the opening, which will be chaired by Vice- Chancellor of University of Benue State,Makurdi, Prof Charity Ashimen Angya.

Other Guests of Honour are Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Torwua Suswam and Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Christian Chukwu.

President of AMLSN, Mr Manason Rubainu, said the event is part of the association’s programme towards ensuring effective contribution of medical laboratory scientists in the country’s health delivery services.

Nigeria hosts conference

F

ROM the urban centres, ophthalmologists are heading to the rural areas to ply their trade.

They hope that at the end of treatment, the number of patients being attended to in clinics will be “significantly” reduced.

Ophthalmologists undertake the study, diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases.

Rising from their 36th conference with the theme “Extending the frontiers of ophthalmology in Nigeria,” with the sub-theme: “Reaching the unreached,“ in Lagos, they said it was time to address the need of rural dwellers because of the prevalence of eye problems where they live.

The conference was organised by the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria (OSN) in conjuction with the African Ophthalmology Forum.

OSN President Dr Kunle Hassan said, ophthalmologists alone cannot prevent blindness or their causes like glaucoma, trauma to the eyes or catarract. But, he said as the rest of the world is embracing team work for the benefits of the patients, so can Nigeria.

He said the need for the formation of a National Alliance for Sight, involving the OSN, the Optometrist Association of Nigeria (OAN), the Ophthalmic Nurses Association of Nigeria and other eye health care stakeholders cannot be over emphasised.

Experts discuss life expectancy

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

N •Dr Hassan

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

“The time has come for the ophthamologists as a body, to provide an effective and participatory leadership to the eye care professional team,” said Hassan.

The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Dr Mosunmade Faderin, said the frontiers of ophthalmology needed to be extended, adding that eye care providers must move out of their comfort zones to the rural areas, so that all can be covered and the rural dwellers too will have access to quality and affordable eye care delivery.

“Also, the theme and sub-theme imply the need to embrace newer, evidence-based best practices in our approach to rendering qual-

•Dr Faderin

ity eye care. And in addition, they mean providing sound technology to improve outcome in the care of our patients,” he said.

The society held an eye camp to herald the conference, in line with its practice. This year, no fewer than 200 less-privileged people. The camp served as hands-on and skill acquisition training. Four sub-specialties, namely glaucoma, vitreo-retina, paediatric ophthalmology and community ophthalmology equally had their sub-specialty day.

The OSN founded in 1969 has as objectives the promotion of excellence in the practice of Ophthalmology in Nigeria and to provide a forum for the study and discussion of problems related to Ophthalmology, the care of the blind and the prevention of blindness in Nigeria.

UTRITIONISTS and other health experts gathered in Abuja yesterday for the international conference of the Federation of African Nutrition Societies (FANUS). It will end on Thursday.

Over 500 delegates from Africa and other parts of the world are expected at the forum which is taking place at the International Conference Centre.

One of the main issues to be examined at the conference is the obesity epidemic that has become topical in many parts of the world.

Among the key speakers is a renowned nutritionist and endocrinologist, Dr Maria Pilar Riobo Servan currently the Associate Head of Endocrinology and Nutrition Department at the Fundación Jiménez Díaz Hospital, Universidad Autonoma in Madrid, Spain. She will lead the discussion on the topic “The Obesity Epidemic and the Metabolic Syndrome”, at a plenary session tomorrow.

“The biological cause of obesity is simple: an imbalance of calories IN and calories OUT. But the social factors contributing to the imbalance are complex; changing food habits, declining physical activity in the home and in schools, increasing sedentary habits and changing physical environment are significant factors. But new factors are now being addressed, such as psychological and sleep abnormalities”, stated Dr Riobo Servan in an abstract of the paper she will present at the conference.

•Dr Servan

42

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

HEALTH

Hospital to curb foreign medical trips coming A WORLD-CLASS hospital is to be built in Nigeria to curb the practice of going abroad for treatment by the rich.

A branch of the New Delhi, the Indian-based multi speciality hospital, Medanta may be built here in the next two years.

The proprietors have already entered into dialogue with the government on the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Medanta is a conglomeration of multi-super specialty Institutes led by exceptional medical practitioners from all over the world who are leaders in their respective fields.

Medanta, also called Medicity, is spread across 43 acres. It has 45 operating theatres, 1250 beds, and over 350 critical care beds. It offers a wide spectrum of clinical care, education, and research.

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha and Wale Adepoju

Renowned Cardiologist, Dr Naresh Trehan, said the hospital had identified where to build the hospital.

“We have already identified the areas where we can build one those super hospitals where Nigerians can get care at home, near home in Nigeria at the cost, which will be half the cost of going overseas. So, hopefully, in the next two years, we will have a hospital present here, and we are talking to the government for the public-private partnership model,” said Dr Trehan.

Trehan, the Chairman and Chief Executive of the hospital in New Delhi, India, said India offers more advantage to Nigerians medically, which explains the increasing number of patients from Nigeria

seeking medical attention.

“The advantage we provide from the healthcare that has been developed through us is that we can provide treatments for ailments like heart, kidney, liver, cancer at a much higher level of success and the cost is very affordable. People do not have to spend large sum of money going to Europe. We can do a much better job at a much less price –one fifth of the cost,” he said.

According to Naresh, who spoke on Creating a world class medical city, the Medanta Experience, the monthly health distribution of patients that visit Medanta Hospital from different parts of the world shows that between 40 and 50 are from Nigeria.

Trehan spoke of plans to have bilateral exchanges with Nigerian hospitals and medical institutions on various areas as a first step to build-

ing a multi-specialty hospital in Nigeria in the next two years. ”What we would like to do is to develop some combined programme where we can have bilateral exchange of doctors, scientists, and if there are gaps, we try to develop those specialties in Nigeria so that the people of Nigeria can progressively access the best care in Nigeria.

“We have some expertise in public-private partnership domain, and we are now talking about sharing some experiences of ppp and doing things together. So, hopefully in the next two to five years, we will have a hospital present here, and we are talking to the government for the ppp model,”he said.

Trehan, while decrying the high rate of child and maternal mortality due to basic lack of knowledge, ideas

and facilities at the level where they are needed, said Medanta was willing to provide education and training in medicare.

Medanta is a conglomeration of multi-super specialty institutes with medical practitioners from all over the world.

Medanta also has nine specialist medical institutes covering heart, neurosciences, bone and joint, kidney and urology, cancer, critical care and anaesthesiology, digestive and hepatobiliary services, minimally invasive surgery as well as transplant and regenerative medicine.

Medanta, the Medicity seeks to participate in the public-private partnership in health care articulated as the theme of the conference, Dr Trehan stated. Medanta already has a training with the government of Kenya.

Fashola’s deputy advises kids on milk

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AGOS State Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire has recommended the new re-launched Peak milk for children to provide them needed nutrients to sharpen their brain.

According to her, the milk, which is fortified with 28 vitamins and minerals, would complement the effort of the state, under the Child Right Act, to provide nutrients to children.

Mrs Orelope-Adefulire spoke at the re-launch of Peak Milk in Lagos, tagged New Peak extra fortified plus.

The product, she said, is recognised and consumed in Nigeria and West Africa, adding that Lagos State was happy to be its host over the years.

Managing Director, Frisland Campino WAMCO Nigeria PLC, Bob Steinskerd said: “Peak’s premium position is based on its rich, creamy and best tasting milk with the highest nutritional values, enriched with 28 vitamins and minerals and endorsed by the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN).”

He said the milk as market leader

By Wale Adepoju

in the country dairy market also takes leading initiatives in innovation and product upgrades. “With a good understanding of consumer needs in line with required dietary allowance of diary nutrition, the milk is now fortified to provide even stronger bodies and sharper minds.”

He said Peak Extra Fortified Plus would enhance body performance because it contains calcium, Vitamin D3, Vitamin B Complex, low glucose index and folic acid that strengthen the muscles and bones, and promote the release of energy and provide energy for a longer period. “It will also enhance mind performance because it contains Tyrosine, Iodine, Vitamin A Plus, Vitamin B12 that support memory function, mental alertness and gives clear, bright sight,” he said.

Steinskerd said the milk’s ambition is to continually sustain its quality image and be more accessible and affordable to the generality of the consumers. “Peak Extra Fortified Plus is

•Mrs Orelope-Adefulire flanked by Steinskerd (right) and his deputy, Peter Eshikema, at the launch

in line with the recommendation of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to reduce nutritional deficiencies in the diet of Nigerian families.

Ministry steps up battle against cholera

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HE Lagos State Government is taking proactive steps to prevent the spread of cholera in parts of the state.

They include working on slum areas; stoping all acts that can further disturb the table water of the state that is already at par with the water level; legislating against harmful cultural practices like the burying of corpses in compounds/homes.

Using human faeces as manure for home garden or farming; not treating sewages before disposal into the

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

sea and building soak away close to wells, without clearance from the state Ministry of Environment.

Briefing reporters in Lagos, the Commissioner for Health Dr Jide Idris, said the huge number of cholera outbreaks recorded so far is traceable to unhygienic behaviours resulting from inadequate awareness of health problems.

He advised Lagosians to look out for signs characterising cholera such

as sudden onset of profuse painless watery stools, otherwise called rice water stool; nausea and profuse vomiting early in the course of illness.

Dr Idris said though cholera is preventable and treatable, it is disheartening that people out of sheer ignorance still die from it.

“So once there is a suspected case, it is best to give oral rehydration solution (ORS), popularly called sugar salt oral solution, so as to reduce body water loss; and report to the nearest health facility,” said Dr Idris.

“It is the only milk brand that offers the fullest range of dairy products with several line extensions like the unsweetened evaporated milk

(peak regular and peak gold), sweetened condensed milk, instant milk powder, choco and 1-2-3 growingup milk,” Steinskerd said.

Causes of fatigue FATIGUE is a normal reaction to exertion, stress, sleeplessness and boredom, according to MedlinePlus.

Fatigue is a serious condition if it is characterised by a lack of energy that is not relieved by sleep, nutrition or the removal of stress. Fatigue can result from psychological or physical conditions, mayoclinic.com suggests that fatigue is a profound and constant state of weariness that often is corrected by lifestyle changes. Your doctor can evaluate your fatigue to identify the cause.

and some anti-depressants can cause fatigue. If you take medication for heart disease or high blood pressure, you might experience fatigue.

Lifestyle Unhealthy eating habits, caffeine, frequent use of alcohol and substance abuse can cause fatigue. If you fail continuously to get enough sleep you can experience fatigue, according to mayoclinic.com Both inactivity and excessive physical activity can cause fatigue.

Sleep disorders Sleep disorders that consistently disrupt your sleep can cause fatigue. If you suffer from insomnia, narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea, you will eventually experience fatigue, according to: mayoclinic.com.

Medical diseases and conditions Allergies, like hay fever, are a common cause of fatigue. If you have asthma or another respiratory condition, the conditions can cause you to feel fatigued.

If you suffer from anemia or iron deficiency anemia, you probably experience fatigue, according to MedlinePlus. Other conditions that can cause fatigue include chronic pain, overactive and underactive thyroid, restless legs syndromes, diabetes, heart disease and kidney or liver failure, according to: mayoclinic.com.

•Governor Abiola Ajimobi (in white), hosted the 107-member team of the medical mission, at the end of the Free Medical Mission programme conducted in 11 local governments in Oyo State. From right: Head of the team Dr Quaee Ogunnaike, Dr Dolapo Fasawe and Dr Nike Oluwo.

PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI

Medications Fatigue is a side effect of many medications, according to MedlinePlus.

Antihistamines, cough and cold remedies, prescription pain medications

Emotional and psychological problems Depression, especially major depression, can cause fatigue, according to mayoclinic.com. Other psychological causes of fatigue are anxiety and stress.

The emotional toll of grief can cause you to feel fatigue that is not improved with sleep.

Menopause Sleeplessness is a major symptom of menopause. Menopausal women have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, often because of hot flashes and night sweats, according to WomensHealth.gov.

According to 34 Menopause Symptoms, hormonal imbalance causes fatigue in menopausal women by interrupting sleep patterns.

Chronic fatigue syndrome Mayoclinic.com. defines chronic fatigue syndrome as a disorder that causes extreme fatigue that is not alleviated by rest and is often made worse by physical or mental exertion. MayoClinic.com notes that medical professionals disagree on the causes of chronic fatigue syndrome, but effective treatments are available if you have the condition.

•Source: www.livestrong.com.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

43

HEALTH One of the consultant nephrologists, Dr Toyin Amira, who was in the team that undertook the first kidney transplant at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba speaks with OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA.

‘Team work paid off’ H

OW was the experience before and after the surgery?

I feel great to be part of the team that successfully carried out the first kidney transplant at LUTH. It was really a team work. I thank God for making it a success. I must add that it was not easy. We’ve been preparing for it for almost two years. And it looked like it will never come. I thank every member of the team for working together. The experience has brought out the expertise in us.

This kind of sophisticated treatment is not without challenges.

Some of the tests had to be sent abroad because they could not be done in Nigeria. The medications are very expensive because the drugs were mostly orphan drugs (drugs developed specifically to treat rare diseases). Be it as it may, we put in our best within the available resources. The result laid in the fact that it was performed as a team work. The waiting period of almost two years is something else. But now, it has been justified.

You are emphasising team work as central to the successful transplant. Can you throw more light on this?

Well, LUTH is a multi-speciality tertiary hospital. A doctor cannot be jack of all trades, professionals have their specialties, and if everybody does his speciality well, then the patient is better for it. So, it will be selfish of a doctor to say I know it all. No member of that team can claim to be master of all or say I know it all. People should work together collectively to achieve great feat as done by us. The difference between us medical practitioners here in Nigeria and developed countries is the issue of team work. Outside, everybody practices its specialisation. At the end of the day, the patient is better for it. And because

LUTH is a pace setter teaching hospital in Nigeria, we have seen the result of what team work can achieve. Others should emulate us and let the team spirit continue.

As a Nephrologist, what message do you have for the government as well as the governed?

For the government, the treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is really expensive, be it dialysis or transplant, so it should come into it. And in most countries where these treatments are available, it is the government that is anchoring it. My passionate appeal is that government should come in and subsidise.

Most of the sufferers are young, and in their economically productive age. Most of them are dying because there is no money for treatment. The expertise in kidney management is improving in the country, so government should provide the enabling environment and affordability.

To the governed, let us learn to

•Sitting: Pastor Akinwunmi Oladeji (kidney donor), his wife, Funke (recipient). Standing from left: Dr Habeeb Tijani (Consultant Urologist), Dr Amira and Dr Taslim Bello (Consultant Nephrologist).

look after our health. Most Nigerians don’t pay attention to their health. They won’t go for routine check-ups. A lot of these diseases are silent at the initial stage, routine check-up can pick them up early and be treated. Prevention is the best form of care. One should be health conscious, go for routine medical check-up and adopt healthy lifestyle. We should also pay taxes so government can use the money to upgrade the fa-

cilities.

I will also like to chip in that, other factors that affect our health system is our cultural and religious beliefs. It has pleased God to give man wisdom to discover these diseases and medications to tackle them. I am not saying people should not exercise their faith, but most times, they do it wrongly. If you are hypertensive, for instance, and acting only on faith, it’s risky. People should use

‘I could not go home before and during the surgery’

C

ONGRATS ma. How did you receive the news of your son’s wife’s ailment in 2009, and the decision to undergo kidney transplant?

I am Mrs Felicia Oladeji. When I heard of the condition as far back as 2009, I was not happy. I started praying. And at times I will burst into tears, asking God which day, He will answer me concerning the healing of my daughter in-law.

When my son told me of his desire to donate his kidney, as human, the news was shocking. But since he has already taken his

decision, I gave him my support.

I stood by him. I am grateful to God that it was successful. I want to encourage people that if they have great faith in God, all things are possible.

I understand that right from the day she was being prepared for the transplant, you decided to stay back at the hospital and did not go home. Why? I drew my decision from what the disciples did when Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane. The disciples interceded for him, at least to a point.

If I had gone home, I won’t be able to sleep. I will be restless. So, I opted to stay back.

In the cold and not minding the mosquitoes?

Well, what can I do? There is no accommodation for relations of inpatients in the hospital’s premises. And if one has a son and a daughter in-law undergoing major surgery, can one sleep in a mansion and even be relaxed? Not at all. I did not feel the cold. And I thank God all is not in vain. The two of them are now okay.

their medications and then ask God to touch you with His healing power. The complications we see are as a result of cultural and religious beliefs that are not keeping in current with medicine.

Also, the use of so many herbal concoctions, people don’t know what they contain. Such contain metals and substances injurious to the kidney. We should eat healthily, eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Keep our weight within normal limit of age and once a year routine check up is not too expensive.

‘If you are hypertensive, for instance, and acting only on faith, it’s risky.

People should use their medications and then ask God to touch you with this healing power’

‘Health Insurance Scheme exists only on paper’

A

MEDICAL expert, Prof Sam Ohaegbulam, has called on the Federal Government to ensure that Nigerians accessed medicare under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) irrespective of their financial status.

Speaking at a book launch, Devil at Bay, held at the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Prof Ohaegbulam explained that when the sick could access medicare, death rate would drop, stressing that some patients who could not afford simple drugs unfortunately die.

He noted that the much-talked about only exists on paper.

Ohaegbulam, the medical di-

From Chris Oji, Enugu

rector of the Memfys International Hospital for Neurosurgery, Enugu, raised the alarm on the high incidence rate of the hydrocephalus patients in the country.

Statistics released by the Hospital, show that more than 700 patients have been diagnosed to have hydrocephalus (excessive water in the head) since its inception in 2002. Of this number, only about 400 of the patients went for surgery while the remaining could not afford the minimal operational cost of surgery.

He lamented that the prevalence rate of the ailment had risen within the past 10 years, perhaps

owing to the availability of better diagnostic facilities for detection.

The medical icon said that hydrocephalus surgery in Nigeria costs between N150,000 to N300,000, while patients needed to cough out at least a million naira do it abroad due to transport and cost of hospitalisation.

Ohaegbulam further explained that after the surgery, the patients’ medical condition needs frequent follow up monitoring for life, as it requires a shunt (tube) implantation, which is prone to such complications as infection, blockage and other risk factors, even as he noted that prevention of the ailment was difficult, except the

option of early detection to avoid brain damage.

In answer to a question on what hydrocephalus is, the renowned professor of Neurosurgery said: our bodies produce a clear colourless fluid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that circulates inside and around the brain, normally, we produce about 500cc of this fluid daily to continuously replace the one that is absorbed, there is a delicate balance therefore between the rate of production and the rate of absorption, if the balance is upset either by increased production or diminished absorption, an excess of this CSF fluid accumulates in the head, resulting in hydrocephalus (big head).

The neurosurgeon also identified infections such as (Meningitis), bleeding, stroke, brain tumours, head injury and other factors as some of the major causes of hydrocephalus ailment, pointing out that it could be present at birth while acquired hydrocephalus occurs after birth.

According to him “this is why it is important to watch very carefully the people who have had these conditions so as to detect it from the onset of the complication, many patients especially children who were successfully treated for meningitis or head injury, may subsequently die from unrecognised hydrocephalus that might develop long after the original disease.

n airlines 44

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

AVIATION

Fed Govt won’t sell NCAT, says Minister T

HE Federal Government will not privatise or commercialise the Nigerian College of Aviation (NCAT), Aviation Minister Mrs Stella OduahOgiemwonyi has said.

Mrs Oduah-Ogiemwonyi, who made this known in a statement in Abuja, has also warned foreign airlines against what she described as their “discriminatory” practice against Nigerians.

Reacting to speculations about the privatisation and commercialisation of NCAT, the only training school for pilots in the country, Mrs OduahOgiemwonyi said the government was not contemplating taken such step.

“Rather, the government is working to ensure that NCAT enters into collaboration/affiliation with reputable aviation training institutes outside Nigeria to boost the college’s capacity to produce adequate and highly-qualified manpower for the aviation industry,” she said.

In a statement by her Special Assistant, Media, Mr Joe Obi, the Minister said: “While we do not ques-

• Frowns on foreign airlines ‘discrimination’ against Nigerians Stories by Kelvin Osa-Okunbor Aviation Correspondent

tion the right of any Nigerian to comment on the policy thrust of government, we, however, make haste to state that most of the commentaries regarding the government policy, going forward, on the best way to achieve the goals for which NCAT was established are a product of misinformation, reluctance to accept change and in some cases, deliberate mischief”.

She said the government was not satisfied with the prevailing situation whereby only about 50 graduates were produced annually from NCAT from its five faculties/departments.

The dream of the present administration, she said, was to ensure that at least, “1,500 graduates are produced from the college annually. The attainment of this objective requires huge investment in equipment, facilities and expertise which, under the sole funding arrangement by government cannot be achieved”.

Under the planned collaborative arrangement, the foreign partners are expected to provide skilled manpower, training equipment and funds for the expansion of infrastructure and other facilities in the college. The partnership will pave the way for exchange programmes for students of the college. The exchange programmes will expose the students more to the industry’s international best practices, and ensure synergy in course contents with the foreign technical partners.

The Minister said it was not true that any collaborative partnership with foreign institutes would automatically jack up the tuition fees beyond the reach of Nigerian students or that they will be disadvantage in the admission policy.

According to her, the prevailing tuition fees will be maintained as the government would not abdicate its regulatory responsibilities.

The economies of volume through higher students intake would more than make up for the desire to raise

tuition fees.

The Minister said: “The admission policy will further be liberalised and made more transparent to give every Nigerian student intending to pursue a course of study at NCAT equal opportunity. The arrangement where admission policy is dictated by exigencies of quota system as a result of space constraint will no longer subsist as expanded facilities will give room for more student intake.

The overall benefit to the industry and the nation will be increased qualified manpower for both local and foreign consumption.”

At an interactive session with airlines’ representatives in Abuja, Mrs Oduah-Ogiemwonyi said it was time foreign airlines desisted from their discriminatory practices against Nigerians using the services, warning that such unfair, deceptive and uncompetitive acts will no longer be tolerated by the government.

She lamented that the aviation industry is riddled with what she

called unfair and deceptive practices that violate Nigerian and international laws.

But repesentatives of some of the airlines, including, Kola Adeyinka (British Airways), Paulos Legesse (Emirates), denied discriminating against Nigerians.

They, however, appealed to the ministry to improve facilities and infrastructure at the nation’s airports to boost customer service and satisfaction.

Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Harold Demuren, accused some foreign airlines of blocking seats on cheaper fares and forcing Nigerians to buy more tickets. He said the quality of service on the Nigerian segment of trips is so poor compared to others. He also accused cabin and other crew members of disrespecting indigenous passengers.

Demuren noted that the condition of service for employees is different from that of non-Nigerians, adding that the airlines also bring non-qualified people to man senior positions instead of training Nigerians for such positions.

Bombings: Airport manager urges passengers to be safety conscious

A

• L-R: Dr. Anuforom and Director, Weather forecast, NIMET, Mr Ifeanyni Nnodu, at the briefing.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

Why wind alert device was installed at MMIA, by NIMET boss

T

HE Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has ex plained why it installed a low level wind shear alert system (LLWAS) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. Apart from assisting to improve air safety, it will also complement the six Doppler weather radars for real time detection and tracking of hazardous weather.

NIMET Director-General, Dr. Anthony Anuforom, told reporters in Lagos that the installation of the device is a significant move towards improving safety and rebuilding public confidence in the aviation sector.

“MMIA is the largest and busiest airport in Nigeria. On the average, about 240 aircraft land and takes off from this airport each day, with a total of 17,000 passengers per day.

“The successful installation of the LLWAS at this airport, therefore, represents a significant landmark, especially as this is the first time this airport is being equipped with

this system. This development has further enhanced the level of safety at this airport,” Anuforom said.

The NIMET chief, who said the alert system had been fixed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja promised that NIMET would install the device at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) and Port Harcourt International Airport before the end of this year.

“The aerial surveys of the two airports, which is a component of the project, have been completed and the installations of the sensors are at an advanced stage of completion at Port Harcourt,” he said.

Anuforom said the setting up of the agency’s radar was on course as civil and mechanical installations at NAIA had been completed while the one at the Port Harcourt Airport was still ongoing.

He said: “You will recall that the aviation industry in Nigeria witnessed its darkest period in its history between 2003 and 2006 when several aircraft accidents and inci-

dents occurred resulting in loss of lives and series of injuries. Reports on these unfortunate accidents suggest that wind shear is a contributing factor in some of these accidents.

Although aviation is proven to be the safest mode of transport, the spate of air crashes at that time created unnecessary panic and affected the confidence of Nigerians in air travel. It, therefore, became necessary for the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Aviation and its parastatals, to take steps to reassure Nigerians that safety and security in our air space were still paramount in its programs. Significant success has been recorded by the Ministry of Aviation and its parastatals in this regard.

For instance, Nigeria has since then completed the Total Radar Coverage of the country (TRACON) and achieved FAA category one certification. Our weather observatories and forecast offices at the airports are now better equipped and more functional.

IRPORT users have been advised to be safety conscious and report suspicious movements to law enforcement agents fllowing the bombings in public places.

The manager for Benin airport Mr Ayodele Olusegun Sunday told reporters that both passengers and airport workers should be vigilant at all times because of the sensitive nature of airports.

According to Ayodele, the bombings should be a source of worry to Nigerians especially airport users.

He said security has been beefed up at the Benin airport, with men of the Air Force and Aviation security operatives put on round the clock patrol. Vehicles are put under strict scrutiny, he added.

Ayodele, who said his greatest challenge was how to relocate the administrative building closer to the terminal building, explained, that the shortage of operational vehicles at the airport was affecting the running of the airport.

He said that facilities at the airport needed to be upgraded for passengers comfort, adding, that re-

structuring of offices and toilets at the airport was almost completed.

While commending the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for allocating two fire tenders to the airport in the FAAN/World Bank project, Ayodele said the vehicles have further boosted the fire cover at the airport.

He said the airport fence that collapsed during the ongoing construction of road by the Edo State Government has has exposed the airport to danger. He urged the government to expedite action on the road construction in order to rebuild the fence to ward off intruders.

The airport, he said, now relies on generating plants as it’s primary source of power because epileptic electricity supply by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

Ayodele said airport business was all about expansion stressing that there was need for the expansion of the Benin airport to accommodate the increasing passenger traffic.

FAAN awards contract for Kaduna Airport

T

HE Federal Airports Author ity of Nigeria (FAAN) has awarded the contract for the perimeter fencing of Kaduna Airport to curtail animals’ incessant incursion into the runways.

The Airport Manager, Alhaji Garba Ringim, said the contractor was at the site last week in preparation for work.

Ringim, however, said in the interim, FAAN security men were on constant patrol to prevent animal incursion on to the airside.

He said: “There is a standing directive to the patrol team to always ensure that all obstacles, especially

of cows and human intruders are cleared before the take-off or landing of any flight with the assistance of the Air Traffic Controllers.”

Ringim said he was surprised to read the danger alarm raised by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), adding that the AON spokesman, Alhaji Garba Tukur had earlier called him and explained the efforts being made by the management and that the villagers who live very close to the airport and were owners of the cows have not been co-operating in keeping their livestock in their shed.

Arik opens sales offices in Calabar, Uyo

A

RIK Air has opened new sales offices in Calabar and Uyo. These offices were opened by the airline’s Senior Vice-President Commercial, Kevin Steele.

The opening of the new sales offices follows the appointment of Remlords Travels and Tours as Arik Air’s first General Sales Agent (GSA) in Nigeria. Remlords will promote and sell Arik Air’s prod-

ucts and services in both Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.

Elaborating on the agreement, Steele said: “The new offices will bring Arik Air’s products and services closer to our guests in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states. It is now easier to book tickets from Uyo and Calabar to fly to Lagos and Abuja and enjoy Arik Air’s services.”

Chairman of Remlords Nigeria Limited, Mr Nkereuwem Onung, said:

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

45

NATION SPORT

PREMIERSHIP...PREMIERSHIP...

Victorybetterthan goals—Aguero R

ECORD signing Sergio Aguero insists Manchester City winning is more important than the number of goals he contributes to his new club.

Aguero has made a seamless transition into the Premier League following his summer arrival from Atletico Madrid and he has scored six goals in four appearances.

The Argentine grabbed a hattrick in Saturday's 3-0 victory over Wigan Athletic which maintained City's 100 per cent

start to the season.

However, while the striker was happy with his first treble in English football, he outlined the importance of City collecting a fourth successive win.

"It was great to get the three goals but the most important thing is that we keep winning," Aguero told the club's official website.

"A hat-trick is good but for me the most important goal was the first one, as we needed to score."

Aguero started the Wigan

game alongside compatriot Carlos Tevez, who earned praise from his manager Roberto Mancini despite seeing a first-half penalty saved.

Mancini said: "Carlo is not 100 per cent at the moment but I am happy for him because for me he played very well with Sergio, he missed a penalty but this can happen - usually he scores.

"It was important for him to start, to play and to play well and maybe in two or three games he will be 100 per cent."

•Aguero

FERGUSON TO MAN CITY

You are in the Champions League ‘group of hell’

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ITY, in the competition for the first time, have to overcome five-time winners Bayern Munich, plus Italy’s Napoli and Villarreal from Spain.

And Man United boss Fergie said: “You hope to be lucky and I think we have been quite lucky with the draw. Then you look at City’s group – hell!

That is a bloody difficult group.”

Sir Alex Ferguson steps back on to the European stage this week with a warning to neighbours Manchester City that they are in the group from hell.

The Manchester United boss reveals his Champions League overview today as he prepares for Wednesday night’s glamour game against old rivals Benfica. And Fergie insisted: Champions League debutants City are in a “hell of a HARD group” from which to qualify.

It’ll be England v Spain again in the battle for the European Cup, with Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid a threat and his target is a re-match with Barcelona in this season’s final, after losing to them at Wembley in May. The United boss said of the group stages: “You hope to be lucky and I think we have been quite lucky with the

•Sir Alex Ferguson

draw.

Then you look at City’s group with Napoli, Bayern Munich and Villarreal – hell!

That is a bloody difficult group. You have four teams there who are capable of being in the top six or seven clubs in their countries.

“That is a hell of a tough group. Unlike Spain and England, Italian football has not been in a great cycle of success recently but they say Napoli are very decent.

“I watched their home game with Lazio last year and they were 3-1 down and won 4-3.

It was a antastic match. And then, outside of the English and Spanish sides, there is a team like Bayern Munich, who host the final this season.

So I am quite happy with our draw. Also, you hope for decent matches in terms of travelling and we have avoided problems there, too.

“The important thing about the whole competition is to accept challenges and everyone has to try to match Barcelona.

“We hope to play them again in this season’s final at Bayern Munich’ s ground, which is a great stage. It’s a fantastic stadium like Wembley – but maybe it has a better atmosphere.

Real Madrid will also be be

there or thereabouts – they will improve. But with the squad we have, we should challenge.”

Ferguson, however, admits it’s a tough start in Lisbon for United and he’ll put experience before the club’s youthful talent with Darren Fletcher, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs all in the frame to play.

The United boss added: “Benfica away is one game you have got to respect.

Whoever wins has a head start in the group.

“The home games will be better for our younger players.

“The important thing is to qualify. Fergie is confident his side will do that – but clear

Capello warns Lampard over England starting shirt

F

ABIO CAPELLO has warned Frank Lampard there are no guarantees of more starts for England.

Frank Lampard has been a mainstay of the England side for 12 years but was only a substitute in Friday night’s impressive 3-0 win against Bulgaria.

And he is now involved in a battle for a midfield place with Scott Parker, Gareth Barry and injured pair Steven Gerrard and Jack Wilshere.

When asked whether Lampard, 33, will still start games for his country, England boss Capello admitted: “I don’t know.

“I need to wait because he’s got two training sessions before Tuesday’s match against Wales and I don’t know what will happen.

“He’s part of the squad. He’s Lampard is fighting for his England place one of the best English midfielders but as the manager I need to choose the players and not the name.

“At this moment, Gareth Barry is in really good form and at the start of the season, Lampard needed to play more games.

“I remember Frank Rijkaard, who for the first two months of a season was not a player – then he found good form.

“The first two games that Lampard played this season were not good but the last one was better.

“I need to choose the player in a good moment of form.”

Capello said of Lampard’s reaction to starting on the

bench: “He’s a professional – a really professional player.

“And when he came on, he was really focused. I will be really happy when Gerrard and Wilshere are fit – when

all the midfielders are fit.

“Then they need to accept my decisions.”

After 87 England caps, Lampard can no longer think he is still an automatic choice.

A win against Wales at Wembley on Tuesday will leave England six points clear of Montenegro and on the brink of qualification for Euro 2012.

Gyan to take $3 million from Al Ain

F

INANCIAL details of Asamoah Gyan’s shock move to Emirati club Al Ain are now coming in a day after it was sealed.

The entire package is said to be $2.8 million but when a few add-ons are added, rises to $3 million dollars. The player would be given $1 million dollars immediately with the rest sorted out during the year-long loan deal.

His weekly wage packet would be $200,000 a week.

Even then, there are performance-related clauses that include bonuses that increase it to $240,000.

The Ghanaian left English Premier League side Sunderland who signed him for a club record £13 million last summer. Both clubs have confirmed the move, with Cats boss Steve Bruce saying it “left a sour taste in the mouth” Al Ain, owned by the Emirati royalty took Gyan on board in their bid to dominate the game in their sub-region.

Gyan had told SuperSport.com earlier: “I have signed for Al Ain. I know this move will come as a surprise to many, considering the things that I have said in the past month.”

“Sometimes fans would not understand why we do certain things, but in due course everything will come to light.”

However, we have exclusive insight on the move on our Africa homepage.

•Gyan

Meanwhile Gyan told SkySports on Sunday that "The offer was too good to refuse.

But I did not have a choice once Sunderland accepted AlAin's proposal. I am now looking forward to playing in the UAE."

46

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

NATION SPORT EUROPEAN

FOOTBALL...EUROPEAN FOOTBALL...EUROPEAN FOOTBALL...

AC Milan very dangerous, Busquets warns B

A R C E L O N A midfielder Sergio Busquets is warning his team of the potential pitfalls they face when AC Milan arrive on Tuesday for their Champions League group H opener.

Busquets, who featured in the 2-2 draw away to Real Sociedad in La Liga, has tried

•Busquets

to alleviate concerns ahead of the European showdown.

But, he knows the Italian champions will arrive in Spain with intent.

"The main danger is Milan's quality. They are a historic club with great players," Busquets is quoted as saying on El Mundo Deportivo.

"They have [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic, [Antonio] Cassano, and Robinho, very dangerous players.

"But, it will be important for us to start with the three points. Milan are a strong rival who will be fighting for the top places in the group.

"We hope to win in front of our fans."

Forlan poised for Inter Milan debut

A

LL eyes will be on Diego Forlan when he makes his debut with Inter Milan tonight at Palermo.

The Uruguay striker joined the Nerazzurri last month from Atletico Madrid and is eager to start his Italian adventure with a bang.

Inter, who finished runnersup behind city rivals AC Milan in Serie A last season, acquired Forlan shortly after selling Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o to Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala.

Eto'o finished as Inter's top scorer last season and helped the club win the treble the previous year.

Forlan is set to partner former Lazio striker Mauro Zarate and Diego Milito in attack.

Robben to miss CL game against Villarreal

B

AYERN Munich have been dealt a blow by the news that Arjen Robben will not be fit for Wednesday's Champions League game against Villarreal, and that he could be out for a further month.

The Dutch winger last featured for the Bavarian club in their 5-0 victory over Hamburg in the Bundesliga on August 20 but has since suffered with a groin injury.

Robben has yet to return to training, and even the club's doctor, Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt, is unsure when he will return to action.

"It makes no sense that he could play [against Villarreal] because he hasn't even returned to training yet. There

are no reliable predictions of when he may return," the doctor told Kicker.

Bayern chief executive KarlHeinz Rummenigge also

Despite the winger's absence, the Bundesliga giants have been in fine form of late, beating Freiburg 7-0 on Saturday afternoon.

Joe Cole: 'I want to help Lille win trophies'

J

OE Cole admits the French Ligue 1 is tough following his loan move to Lille from Liverpool, but he is quickly finding his feet after setting up a goal in its 3-1 win over Saint-Etienne on Saturday.

"I am still not at 70 per cent fitness and I still need a few games to reach my best level," Cole told France Football.

"However, I am happy with my performance and I hope to continue helping the team."

The former Chelsea man made his league debut with some encouraging signs on the pitch as he assisted Ludovic Obraniak for Lille's third goal. He admits there is still plenty more hard work ahead.

"I am really happy to have

started playing again. France is a new experience for me, a new league, a new challenge," said Cole. "But, I want to help Lille win trophies and help them to do their best in the league and Champions League."

Lille's European campaign starts on Wednesday night when it welcomes CSKA Moscow of Russia.

Fabregas: Barcelona will get back

B

•Robben

confirmed that Robben is unlikely to return to action anytime soon, stating: "I do not know if it will be two, three or four weeks."

Palermo striker Abel Hernandez has warned his team-mates of the dangers they face against Forlan, having played with him for Uruguay in their victorious Copa America campaign this summer.

"I know Forlan well so I fear his qualities ahead of the game on Sunday," Hernandez said.

"However, starting the season against Inter at home gives us great motivation and it is better for us to start against a big team."

Palermo lost three times to Inter last term, twice in Serie A and in the Copa Italia final.

The Sicilians are desperate to put a turbulent summer behind them.

Palermo sacked coach Stefano Pioli last week and appointed youth team trainer Devis Mangia as caretaker coach.

The Rossaneri also begin life without playmaker Javier Pastore, who moved to Paris St Germain this summer following his two impressive campaigns in Serie A. "A new cycle has started for us,'' said Palermo captain Fabrizio Miccoli.

"We need time to adapt and I think we will struggle this

A R C E L O N A midfielder Cesc

Fabregas is not showing any concern after his side were given a wake up call

by Real Sociedad in La Liga.

Fabregas, who scored in the 2-2 draw on Saturday night, saw his side pegged back by the home side in the second-half as a 2-0 lead crumbled.

However, with a Champions League clash against AC Milan on Tuesday, the former Arsenal man is taking things with ease and insisted there was no real worry following the

slip.

"We know how to win, how to lose, how to play and how to get back and this is what is important," Fabregas told Sport.es.

Adriano, who also

•Fabregas

featured at the Estadio Municipal de Anoeta, is eager to move on.

"It was a tough game for us, but now we have to think about the Champions League," said the Brazilian defender.

Thiago Alcantara, meanwhile, was asked what he thought of Real Madrid's leap to the top of the table following their 4-2 win over Getafe.

"This league is not just made up of two teams," said the midfielder.

Barcelona are third in the league, two points behind Real.

•Forlan

season. We will need the support of our fans.''

Inter coach Giampiero Gasperini will be without several players for this weekend's game at La Favorita with Thiago Motta, Christian Chivu and Maicon sidelined through injury.

Giuseppe Marotta: Juventus could buy more players in January Juventus director general Giuseppe Marotta admits the club may find itself spending more equity during the winter transfer window after seeing a flurry of players arrive in the summer.

"We had a satisfying transfer campaign, but we must always improve, and so we will operate in January if we need to," Marotta told Sky Sport Italia. "We did well, but in Italy you cannot spend •50 million on one player."

Players such as Eljero Elia, Mirko Vucinic, Arturo Vidal, Marcelo Estigarribia and Emanuele Giaccherini were just a handful of stars to arrive during an active market.

But, Marotta has hinted there could be more as he wants his squad to be competitive with the rest.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

47

NATION SPORT

Klitschko wants to knock out Haye A

FTER defending his WBC belt heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko

has said he wants to now fight – and knock out – Britain's David Haye.

The 40-year-old Ukrainian beat challenger Tomasz Adamek with a 10th-round technical knock-out.

Klitschko out-classed Adamek, a former cruiserweight and lightheavyweight world champion, on Saturday night in Wroclaw, Poland, and Klitschko is now eager to get Britain's Haye into the ring to settle a score.

Haye lost his WBA heavyweight belt to younger Klitschko brother Wladimir in Hamburg in July with a unanimous decision, but after the Brit's constant trash-talking, Vitali Klitschko has said he wants to floor the Londoner.

The Klitschko brothers were insulted when Haye appeared at a press conference in 2009 wearing a t-shirt showing an image of him in the ring brandishing the severed heads of both Ukrainian heavyweights.

Haye has said he will delay plans

to retire this October, if either Klitschko sibling will fight him and Vitali Klitschko says he wants the fight to go ahead.

"Haye is the best boxer – in trash talking," said Klitschko after beating Adamek.

"I am saying that I want to fight him. Why? Because he has personally insulted me deeply. I want to knock him out."

Haye has told German daily Bild that he wants another chance at a world title.

"If I am given a rematch against Wladimir – which I do not believe I will – or Vitali will fight me, I will postpone my retirement for six months," said Haye, who turns 31 next month.

"Vitali should give me the chance, if he dares. He is supposed to have a dangerous punch, which I doubt."

Klitschko had few problems against Adamek and out-classed the 34-year-old, who fought on bravely before the referee put a stop to the fight.

"Tomasz is the best boxer in the world, but not in the heavyweight division, it was a mistake for him to step up," said the WBC champ.

Murray admits he must improve to win major

A

NDY Murray has admitted he must improve if he is to win a Grand Slam.

Murray, 24, lost to Rafael Nadal in four sets at the US Open, the third successive time the Scot has lost to the Spaniard in a Grand Slam semi.

"I've got to improve," Murray said. "I need to work on my game and get physically stronger.

"If you play the right way against Nadal you can make him do the running and dictate play. But I didn't do that in the first two sets," he added.

Murray, who went down 6-4 6-2 3-6 6-3, has won only two sets in his three Grand Slam semi-final defeats

by Nadal this year.

"It's always tough playing Nadal who, in my opinion, is the greatest player to play tennis," said the Scot.

Continue reading the main story It's always tough playing Nadal who, in my opinion, is the greatest player to play tennis "I was disappointed with the first two sets but the third and fourth were better. I know the right tactics

• Murray

for playing against Rafa but I didn't implement them in the first two sets.

"It's very easy from the side to suggest what I should be doing out there - you should see some of his passing shots. There's many things I could have done a bit better but I didn't."

But Murray maintains belief that he can win a Grand Slam.

"If you want to judge someone's whole career based purely on slams then I would have had a terrible career but I don't really feel like I have," he said.

"There have been things I've done well and I've still got three or four years where I'm playing tennis at my peak."

Australian tennis legend Rod Laver believes Murray has the talent to win a Grand Slam but must make some fundamental changes to his game.

"Andy tends to play a wait-andsee game rather than taking the game to the opponent," Laver told the BBC's Sportsweek programme.

• Klitschko

Olympian, Eric Prabhakar passes away

E

RIC Prabhakar, a versatile athlete and one of India’s oldest Olympians, passed away here on Saturday.

Eric PrabhakarHe was 86.

Prabhakar is survived by his wife Saro Prabhakar and three sons — Dev, Sathi and Jay. Prabhakar represented the country in the 100 metres at the 1948 London Olympics where he made the quarterfinals.

The Chennai-born sprinter dominated the national sprinting scene in the 1940s. He also excelled in academics and was the first Rhodes’ Scholar from the country.

After finishing his Masters in economics with first class from the Madras Christian College, Prabhakar got the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford, where he met athletics legend Roger Bannister, the first man to break the four-minute barrier in the mile.

Prabhakar, who later became an Oxford Blue in athletics, got an opportunity to train with Bannister on the cinder tracks of Oxford, where the Briton was a professor in clinical psychiatry.

He also cultivated a friendship with US legend Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Prabhakar cherished those moments, as recounted by him in an interview with this paper. “That was the best part of my life. It was just such a nice thing to have such legends as friends,” he had said.

Prabhakar’s love for sport started during his school days at the Baldwin Boys' High School in Bangalore. Though Prabhakar shot to fame as a sprinter, during his five years at the Madras Christian College he was their opening bowler in cricket and also played as centre-half for the college’s

hockey team.

Prabhakar, always keen to spread his knowledge, also authored four books, including 'The Way To Athletic Gold' that has a foreword

by Bannister.

He also served as a sports administrator and was the Tamil Nadu Amateur Athletic Association president besides serving as the

vice-president of the Amateur Athletic Federation of India.

Veteran athlete Kenneth Powell, who followed in Prabhakar’s footsteps and went on to represent the country at the Olympic Games in 1964, expressed his condolences.

“He was an excellent sprinter and his demise is a big loss to the sporting fraternity,” Powell said.

Westwood, McIlroy off the pace in testing conditions

W

ORLD number two and four, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy, ended a trying Dutch Open first round five shots off the lead yesterday.

The pair had had to wait until Thursday evening just to play eight holes after bad weather and an overnight vandal attack on the greens caused severe disruption.

Both birdied the last to finish off rounds of 70, leaving them five strokes adrift of leaders Simon Dyson of Britain and Germany's Marcel Siem.

• Westwood

Westwood and McIlroy then had just 40 minutes break before starting their second rounds.

After battling with a saturated course, Westwood reckoned conditions had only just been playable.

"When you're dropping a ball because it has plugged and it then plugs again, it's borderline," the Englishman told Reuters. "I feel sorry for the organisers."

McIlroy said the testing conditions were not all he had to think about.

Advertisement "It was a struggle to get yourself mentally prepared but considering the way I played I have to be happy with level-par," McIlroy said.

"I'm going to hit a few balls before going out again to see if I can do better."

Dyson, looking for a third win in the event in six years, maintained his oneshot overnight lead with Siem after 65s on Thursday.

Britons Ross Fisher, Simon Khan and Robert Dinwiddie, Swede Johan Edfors, India's Shiv Kapur and South African James Kingston hold third place and are a shot back.

Germany's world number three Martin Kaymer trails the lead by nine strokes but will have to wait until well into the afternoon to try to repair his position after carding a 74 on Thursday.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

48

NATION SPORT

• Carroll

Having Having aa pop pop at at Andy Andy Carroll Carroll is is not not Capello's Capello's move move T

HE only things I know about Andy Carroll's private life have been gleaned from newspaper reports of his previous court appearances, a few headlines in the Sunday tabloids and some unsubstantiated local gossip.

I don't know whether he has shaken off past drinking issues, or whether he has continued to revisit his bad habits on Merseyside or during his occasional visits back to Tyneside.

However, England manager Fabio Capello gave everyone the impression he knows precisely what is going on. Why else would the England manager say: 'If he wants to be a good sportsman, he needs to drink less than the others. He is not at the top of his form at the moment.'

First question, which 'others' is he talking about? Second question, what hard information does Capello actually have about Carroll's alcohol intake?

If the £35million striker had been drinking on England duty, the disciplinarian boss would have expelled him from the camp by now.

We can, therefore, assume that is not the case.

So, even allowing for the inevitable language difficulties, Capello is either suggesting Carroll has been partying to excess in between games for his club - and has

direct knowledge of this.

Or he is peddling the whispers and tittle-tattle that can often be traced back to some Merseyside cabbie, who picked up a man from a pub, who told him what a 'friend' said…

That's the trouble with Capello making such a bold pronouncement about the life of one particular player. Because I doubt he has the faintest inkling what the lad is up to away from England duty.

Carroll could have taken up reading Tibetan poetry and be living solely on a diet of organic vegetables and tofu and Capello wouldn't have a clue.

The Italian is the most detached manager in the game. The media and the public automatically - and, on a salary of £6m per year, justifiably assume that England's boss has the inside track on the movements of his squad of international players.

But this is a boss who dumped his captain Rio Ferdinand without even bothering to call him beforehand; a manager who has seen a succession of England players drift away from the squad, with various gripes about how he makes them feel like an afterthought. He has built his reputation on being aloof and coldly judgmental, not entwining himself in any player's wellbeing.

That doesn't make him a terrible coach and his medal collection

speaks for itself. But it does make him a questionable sounding board for the merits of Carroll's progress behind the scenes.

I doubt he talks to him much, if at all, beyond pointing out some tactical flaws or grumbling in complaint as a mobile phone appears in the dining room.

So does he know Carroll is drinking, or just suspect it? Frankly, I wouldn't stake my reputation on saying the England manager is entirely wrong, even if his remarks are based on guesswork.

Carroll has let himself down in the past and there is just as much chance of the player being pictured in a Sunday newspaper drunkenly stumbling out of a nightclub, as not.

But Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has staked a great deal of his considerable reputation on Carroll. He has invested a £35m chunk of faith, handed over by the club's American owners. With that in mind, he is furious Carroll's capacity for reinvention is being doubted.

'It's totally unfair on Andy,' said Dalglish. 'We don't have any problem whatsoever with him. We are delighted to have him here and he will be a fantastic asset for us. Just judge him for what he does on the pitch.'

Club before country: Liverpool

boss Kenny Dalglish is best placed to comment on Carroll's condition Club before country: Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is best placed to comment on Carroll's condition Pointing an accusatory finger at the media, he added: 'You don't know what his lifestyle is like. Who knows his lifestyle? Andy is wiser than a lot of people think. I don't think Andy's lifestyle is anything like what you want it to be to write a story.'

Someone should have told Capello that. But I agree with Alan Shearer's remarks that little good came out of the England manager suggesting Carroll remains a problem drinker.

It is hardly a revelation that he likes a pint. The player has said it himself and the effects of alcohol have landed Carroll in trouble before.

But Dalglish is best placed to know whether it remains a problem, while Capello won't see Carroll from one month to the next. The Liverpool boss insists his striker is still shaking off the effects of injury and scorns the idea the player is hampering his own recovery with booze.

The argument was undermined somewhat when pictures emerged of Carroll on a Caribbean holiday with beer in hand while he was excused from England Under 21 duty to recuperate from those same injuries.

But maybe we're guilty of making 2 + 2 = 5 here and the cynicism is too bleak. Contrary to the prevailing opinion, people do change. It happens all the time. Anti-social traits are shed, new perspectives open up and individuals move on because they learn something new.

Usually a few key factors need to be in play. First, they have to want to change. Second, they need to alter their environment if it's part of the problem. And third, they have to feel the pain and consequences of what will happen if they stay the same.

Surely Carroll knows he has the chance of a lifetime at Anfield? He has already changed his surroundings, now we'll find out whether he has changed himself, or whether Carroll still needs to feel that pain and Capello was right all along.

“But this is a boss who dumped his captain Rio Ferdinand without even bothering to call him beforehand; a manager who has seen a succession of England players drift away from the squad, with various gripes about how he makes them feel like an afterthought.

He has built his reputation on being aloof and coldly judgmental, not entwining himself in any player's wellbeing.”

50

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

51

52

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

53

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 12-09-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name CAPITAL OIL PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 10,000 5,000.00 10,000 5,000.00

No of Deals 1 16 17

Quotation(N) 0.50 6.70

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 1,000 500.00 154,102 1,039,678.30 155,102 1,040,178.30

Quotation(N) 1.95 5.94

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 13,400 25,465.00 225,534 1,341,087.20 238,934 1,366,552.20

AGRICULTURE/AGRO-ALLIED Company Name FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

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

No of Deals 2 37 39

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

No of Deals 15 15

Quotation(N) 1.30

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 202,416 256,099.46 202,416 256,099.46

Quotation(N) 5.29 4.00 2.70 4.57 2.02 10.52 0.50 12.48 9.25 0.70 1.15 5.45 1.48 3.88 2.09 0.51 0.68 12.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 1,422,132 7,573,928.05 1,597,222 6,248,929.82 207,928 558,279.90 3,310,800 15,130,369.00 13,983,641 27,823,247.26 9,200,020 97,291,266.11 120,700 60,350.00 17,342,592 224,148,038.72 1,583,262 14,948,160.10 482,000 337,400.00 30,568 35,153.20 608,657 3,232,986.25 4,356,408 6,385,161.66 5,538,613 21,712,197.14 180,735 377,736.15 2,362,430 1,185,791.06 1,089,997 746,465.98 16,653,828 208,497,512.56 80,071,533 636,292,972.96

Quotation(N) 228.00 6.06 84.00

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 1,138,963 251,404,164.50 1,500 8,640.00 3,000,204 252,006,325.76 4,140,667 503,419,130.26

BANKING Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC FINBANK PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC. OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC SKYE BANK PLC. STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 117 50 17 24 96 538 6 502 52 14 2 40 37 233 14 33 25 424 2,224

Equities’ return worsens to -15%

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

T

HE Nigerian stock market opened yet on a negative note, pushing the year-to-date return further down to 15.1 per cent.

The All Share Index (ASI), the benchmark value index, dropped by 0.34 per cent to close lower at 21,036.53 while market capitalisation of all equities dropped by about N19 billion to N6.71 trillion.

All other sectoral indices except NSE Insurance Index also shifted downward with the NSE 30 reduced by 2.30 points to close at 944.04 points.

The the sectoral indices NSE Food Beverages Index, NSE Banking Index and NSE Oil/Gas Index also dropped 2.58 points, 5.97 points and 1.56 points respectively. However, the NSE Insurance Index added 0.91 points.

Turnover moved up to 129.38 million valued at N1.51 billion in 4,046 deals as against 128.34 million shares worth N1.12 million exchanged in 3,677 deals in the previous trading session.

Banking stocks led the activity chart with 80.072 million shares worth N636.293 million in 2,224 deals. This was followed by the insurance sector with 23.444 million shares worth N21.697 million.

Other most active sectors included Maritime, Food Beverages, Breweries and Conglomerates which recorded 5.102 million shares, 5.055 million shares, 4.141 million shares and 3.358 million shares respectively.

The negative market situation reflected losses suf-

fered by many highly capitalised stocks including Dangote Flour, GT Bank, Dangote Sugar, Zenith Bank, Oando Oil and UACN. The market remained weak with eight gainers and 25 decliners. Roads Nigeria led the gainers table with a price increase of 18 kobo to close at N3.82.

It was followed by Custodian and Allied Insurance with 12 kobo to close at b2.64 while Flourmills, Nigerian Breweries and Eterna added N3.20, N3 and 10 kobo to close at N83, N84 and N5.39 respectively.

On the losers table, Forte Oil led with a drop of 71 kobo to close at N13.49.

Also, First City Monument Bank, Dangote Flour, Honeywell flour and GTBank lost.24 kobo, 36 kobo, 19 kobo and 57 kobo respectively.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 12-09-11

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

No of Deals 101 3 211 315

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

No of Deals 52 7 47 17 123

Quotation(N) 19.18 7.36 100.00 42.55

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 421,799 8,067,443.86 35,246 257,702.56 286,326 28,757,333.63 74,715 3,211,345.00 818,086 40,293,825.05

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

No of Deals 9 11 15 35

Quotation(N) 9.41 25.50 1.14

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 254,228 2,320,191.58 16,957 425,661.14 99,915 109,598.55 371,100 2,855,451.27

IHS NIGERIA PLC STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

1 3 8

No of Deals 2 1 28 31

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.84 2.40

No of Deals 41 51 42 45 179

No of Deals 35 4 23 3 19 5 17 2 15 123

Company Name C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 9 9

No of Deals 8 1 3 12

Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 61 61

Company Name AFROMEDIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1

No of Deals 1 1

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 203,728 6,035,112.49 2,347,800 1,950,794.00 409,270 15,966,158.86 396,934 10,708,902.94 3,357,732 34,660,968.29

Quotation(N) 55.00 0.50 3.82

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 42,168 2,291,949.04 125,000 62,500.00 111,000 424,020.00 278,168 2,778,469.04

Company Name ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC Sector Totals

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 2,000 4,160.00 2,000 4,160.00

Company Name NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC BETA GLASS CO. PLC GREIF NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 6,321 271,803.00 609,851 10,120,982.45 681,075 4,672,174.50 949,977 8,827,242.40 1,610,441 127,683,353.66 125,500 460,585.00 50,000 81,000.00 220,500 882,958.00 11,490 4,599,449.57 500 10,740.00 789,650 394,825.00 5,055,305 158,005,113.58

Company Name BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. FORTE OIL PLC MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N) 2.18

No of Deals 7 49 44 56 240 8 1 16 19 1 15 456

Quotation(N) 43.00 16.97 6.86 9.15 83.00 3.67 1.62 4.00 401.00 22.61 0.50

HEALTHCARE Company Name No of Deals FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC 12 GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC 7 MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. 7 NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC 4 Sector Totals 30

Quotation(N) 1.56 26.00 3.80 1.21

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 119,218 185,927.75 2,753 72,596.50 24,500 88,445.00 9,000 10,350.00 155,471 357,319.25

Quotation(N) 7.50 4.32

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 2,500 18,750.00 550 2,376.00 3,050 21,126.00

HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name CAPITAL HOTEL PLC TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 3 4

No of Deals 10 10

Quotation(N) 6.00

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 191,740 176,953.00 191,740 176,953.00

Quotation(N) 0.88

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 5,101,950 4,533,907.96 5,101,950 4,533,907.96

Quotation(N) 0.51

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 40,000 20,400.00 40,000 20,400.00

MORTGAGE COMPANIES Company Name RESORT SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 1,000 500.00 1,000 500.00

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS No of Deals 3 3

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 4,000 2,000.00 4,000 2,000.00

No of Deals 21 1 1 23

Quotation(N) 1.86 12.71 13.97

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 118,175 219,397.10 17,140 207,051.20 100 1,397.00 135,415 427,845.30

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) No of Deals 1 16 17 26 6 16 159 17 258

Quotation(N) 0.50 63.86 34.36 5.39 13.49 148.00 28.75 203.32

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 2,460 1,230.00 60,347 3,744,214.12 73,467 2,520,934.15 391,105 2,003,345.65 114,421 1,543,539.29 11,783 1,684,466.90 2,446,645 70,446,277.71 10,229 1,983,681.84 3,110,457 83,927,689.66

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

No of Deals 1 9 10

Quotation(N) 2.60 3.60

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 5,000 13,000.00 96,131 334,482.02 101,131 347,482.02

Quotation(N) 17.55

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 86,400 1,485,210.00 86,400 1,485,210.00

Quotation(N) 0.60

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 8,031 5,059.53 8,031 5,059.53

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

No of Deals 6 6

Company Name UNITED NIGERIAN TEXTILES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2

TEXTILES

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N) 0.95

PACKAGING

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC NORTHERN NIGERIA FLOUR MILLS PLC UTC NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 1,474,803 957,704.05 315,921 322,429.59 2,204,840 5,607,896.80 93,229 46,614.50 10,153,700 10,161,297.00 70,000 35,000.00 6,405,000 3,202,500.00 29,600 14,800.00 2,696,730 1,348,365.00 23,443,823 21,696,606.94

MEDIA

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name CUTIX PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N) 0.67 1.03 2.64 0.50 1.00 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

LEASING

Quotation(N) 28.76 0.82 39.00 27.00

CONSTRUCTION Company Name JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC MULTIVERSE PLC ROADS NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

5,320.00 17,250.00 122,570.00

MARITIME Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 1,000 500.00 1,000 800.00 733,320 1,673,272.80 735,320 1,674,572.80

CONGLOMERATES Company Name PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

2,000 34,500 236,500

INSURANCE Company Name AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Sector Totals

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name COURTVILLE INVESTMENTS PLC Secure Electronic Technology PLC RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

2.80 0.50

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 27,362 156,358.87 27,362 156,358.87

Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals

No of Deals 45 45

Quotation(N) 12.07

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 1,291,380 15,641,940.80 1,291,380 15,641,940.80

4,042

129,374,073

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name CHAMS PLC

No of Deals 4

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 200,000 100,000.00

Overall Totals

1,511,575,462.54

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

55

MONEY LINK

Cash-in-transit firms eye cards, other securities businesses

C

ASH-in-transit (CIT) firms are gearing up to extend their services to other markets such as electronic cards, cheque books, bank passes, share certificates and other security documents, The Nation, has learnt.

Chairman, Bristcoe Technologies, Emmanuel Ekong, said cash movement is just one of the several items transported by the CIT firms.

He said that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) policy limiting cash transactions to CIT firms is more of an opportunity than setback to their businesses.

“As we transform from cash to near cash products, we still have need to transport those instrument, whether they are in cash or near cash in a secured manner. Our duty is to ensure that cards or cash being transported are guaranteed from one point to the other,” he told The Nation.

He said the firm is not just securing paper or equipment, but lives and therefore must ensure that even the lives of people that carry the sensitive materials are secured. “Our equipment is targeted at those people who by virtue of their business, have to go along with valuables. The valuables also have to be protected from people in the society who are not supposed to have access to them,” he said.

Ekong said the expectation of operators is that banks would deploy more Point of Sale (PoS) terminals, thereby creating further opportunities to move cash to sites. “We are also going to have more vehicles transporting cash to PoS terminals, instead of to the banks. I see our business being o the rise rather than decline despite the cash policy,” he said.

Already, plans by the CBN to

By Collins Nweze

test-run its cash transaction limit policy in Lagos has compelled banks to prepare for the implementation of the policy in the state.

Lagos, with a population of about

minals to strategic points, such as shopping malls, airports, higher institutions of learning and the markets to make cash readily available to customers.

This is being done preparatory

17 million, is arguably the economic capital of the Nigeria The Nation’s findings showed that banks have started deploying Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and Point of Sale (PoS) ter-

Banks’ shareholders ready to endorse EGMs

S

HAREHOLDERS of the res cued banks have expressed their willingness to approve the acquisition deals with their core investors at the forthcoming court-ordered Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs).

Five of the eight rescued banksIntercontinental Bank Plc, Oceanic Bank International Plc, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, FinBank Plc and Equatorial Trust Bank have signed Transaction Implementation Agreements (TIAs) with their core investors ahead of the September 30, 2011 deadline given by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to recapitalise or be liquidated.

Intercontinental Bank Plc signed

said to be finalizing the date for its EGM. The Chairman of Ibadan Zone Shareholders Association, Chief Sola Abodunrin, said it is a good development that these banks have been able to find partners that would assist them in their recapitalisation.“Shareholders should therefore, support the acquisition deals. All of us should go out and vote in support of the acquisition deals,” he said.

Also, President, Association for the Advancement of the Rights of Nigerian Shareholders (AARNS), Dr. Faruk Umar said that shareholders have no alternative but to support the acquisition.

By Collins Nweze and Tonia Osundolire

with Access Bank; Oceanic Bank signed with Ecobank Transnational Incorporation. Others are Union Bank which signed with African Capital Alliance; FinBank signed with First City Monument Bank and Equatorial Trust Bank (ETB) signed with Sterling Bank.

Oceanic Bank International Plc, Finbank Plc, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and Finbank Plc are to convene their court-ordered meetings in respect of their proposed recapitalisation transactions respectively on September 27, 2011; September 29, 2011, September 30, 2011 and September, 29 2011. ETB is also

T

RADE Union Congress (TUC) has assured former staff of Un ion Bank Plc of its commitment to ensuring that management of the bank pays their severance benefits before the conclusion ongoing Transaction Implementation Agreement (TIA).

Briefing the aggrieved workers yesterday, TUC General Secretary, Comrade John Kolawole explained that the Congress and management of the bank have agreed to work out amicable solution to the lingering issue of severance benefits of about 2,000 retrenched workers of the bank. The affected workers were laid off by the bank between 2006 and 2008.

He assured that negotiations between the labour centre and the bank over the

By Dupe-Olaoye Osinkolu

ance benefits in line the management working conditions. The bank has also agreed to compile the list of the ex-workers, and workers the modalities of settling their severance benefits in agreement reached between the two legal personnel’s on the negotiating team,"he said.

He noted that the labour center has taken over the negotiation from the union in the financial industry-Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institution (ASSBIFI) in order to fast track the process of negotiation and ensure that the bank settles the ex-workers and the management as well as the current workers are not affected in the process.

Speaking further, he explained that while the Congress would not the bank

issue of severance benefits was nearing completion. He also noted that grey areas such as actual number of workers involved and what is accruable to each of the workers are being looked into for harmonization.

Kolawole further explained that both parties as well and their lawyers have also resolved to settle the lingering crisis out of court, while the bank also agreed to reverse the sacking of the exworkers to redundancy and be treated as retired workers so as to work out their severance benefits in line the bank working conditions.

“Union Bank management has agreed to reverse the sacking of the ex-workers to redundancy and be treated as retired workers so as to work out their sever-

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

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

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($)

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 12-9-11 SYMBOL ROADS

O/PRICE 3.64

C/PRICE 3.82

CHANGE 0.18

CUSTODYINS

2.52

2.64

0.12

FLOURMILL

79.80

83.00

3.20

NB

81.00

84.00

3.00

UNITYBNK

0.50

0.51

0.01

ETERNAOIL FIDELITYBK

5.29 1.99

5.39 2.02

0.10 0.03

CILEASING

0.94

0.95

0.01

LOSER AS AT 12-9-11 SYMBOL FO FCMB DANGFLOUR HOLYFLOUR MULTITREX GUARANTY JAPAULOIL NAHCO PRESCO WEMABANK

O/PRICE 14.20 4.81 7.22 3.86 1.70 13.05 0.95 9.21 7.00 0.71

to go into crisis, it will not fold its hands and watch the bank conclude is TIA without paying the benefits of the aggrieved members.

“We do not want Union Bank to fall into crisis while tacking the ex-workers’ crisis, because the labour center has the interest of all parties been taken careof amicably” “We have made it clear to the management that our interest is to see how all parties involved will not be adversely affected in the settling of the severance benefits exercise”, he added Kolawole made it clear to the exworkers that it will be detrimental for them to create any crisis in the bank, adding “We do not want any crisis to come up in this severance benefits issues because, it is only through peaceful resolutions that all parties will enjoy”

DATA BANK

Tenor

OBB Rate Call Rate

The President, Nigerian Constance Shareholders’ Association, Mr.Shehu Mikail, said the CBN should be commended for the efforts to stabilise the financial system, adding that shareholders should complement the efforts by approving the rescued banks preparing to merge with other stronger ones.“The reform by the CBN will lead to stronger financial system, which will be beneficial to all stakeholders. We should support the rescued banks by approving their merger deals. When we do that we will be saving our investments, saving jobs and saving the entire economy from another major dislocation,” he said.

TUC assures ex-Union Bank staff of severance benefit

FGN BONDS

NIDF NESF

to the CBN’s cash withdrawal limit, which pegs cash transactions to N150, 000 for individuals and N1 million for corporate organisations. It takes effect from June 2012.

C/PRICE 13.49 4.57 6.86 3.67 1.62 12.48 0.88 5.94 6.70 0.68

CHANGE 0.71 0.24 0.36 0.19 0.08 0.57 0.04 0.27 0.30 0.03

Amount Sold ($)

Exchange Rate (N)

Date

450m

452.7m

450m

150.8

08-8-11

250m

313.5m

250m

150.8

03-8-11

400m

443m

400m

150.7

01-8-11

EXHANGE RATE 26-08-11 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD NGN GBP

147.6000 239.4810

149.7100 244.0123

150.7100 245.6422

-2.11 -2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

Bureau de Change 152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

(S/N) Parallel Market

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N)

23-08-11 N7.137tr 22,313.23

24-08-11 N7.135tr 22,308.22

% Change -0.03% -0.03%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

(S/N)

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Aug ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.75%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 9.4%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 117.50 107.46 0.79 1.01 0.96 1,628.78 8.70 1.39 1.87 7,745.89 193.00

9.08 1.00 117.22 107.10 0.76 1.01 0.96 1,625.40 8.28 1.33 1.80 7,502.11 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 24 Aug, 2011 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 26, Aug, 2011 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 July, 2011

07, Aug, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

56

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 2011

57

NEWS IBB to Obasanjo: explain $16b power project From Osagie Otabor, Benin

F

ORMER Military President Ibrahim Babangida has urged former president Olusegun Obasanjo to account for the $16 billion spent on power projects in the country.

Babangida said he took on Obasanjo to put records in the right perspective for Nigerians to see.

Babangida spoke through his media aide, Kassim Afegbua, at Benin Airport last weekend. He said the figures emanated from the National Assembly.

“We are making allusion to that and maybe Obasanjo felt that it is unfair and then gave us a scathing remark by calling IBB a fool at 70. We would not tolerate that for God’s sake.

“Whoever you are, if you say anything unbecoming to IBB, we would react, we are ready to take that person up on issues.

We are not going to manufacture figures, go and check your record. Eighteen trillion naira was shared among the three tiers of government during his tenure, according to the Ministry of Finance. It is not my record, you can go and confirm. They are there for everybody to see and there is nothing to show for it.

“Status has nothing to do with it, it is all about history. Why are people condemning IBB? Because the man has been keeping quiet, people just haul abuses at him.

“Everybody wants to blame all the halitosis in this country on him because people felt that the man is humble and will not react. They always want to blame him for everything negative and positive, it is not done. But the position of history is different from what the man is.

“The man has children. Tomorrow, somebody will say they called your father a fool, what did you do about it? So, we need to put issues in the proper perspective, we are not attacking Obasanjo, we are just stating statistics and we challenge him to contradict the statistics,” he said.

FCT Minister decries poor result in schools

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INISTER of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Bala Mohammed has urged the FCT Education secretariat to reverse the downward trend in the performance ratio of FCT students in SSCE/ NECO examinations.

The minister, who spoke yesterday during a briefing by themanagement of the FCT Education Secretariat’s, said a 15 per cent performance in the examinations is unacceptable.

Mohammed said the FCT Administration has invested so much in the education subsector and deserves better results.

According to him, the 15 per cent performance last year is not good enough, even if the

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

average nationally is 30 percent, considering the level of educational infrastructure .He demanded an average of 50 per cent from the pupils.

On project implementation in FCT schools, Mohammed said money spent on projects would be monitored to ensure the actualisation of set goals.

The minister directed that all agencies under the FCT Administration to, as a matter of policy, set up a quality control unit to guarantee that government projects are implemented and monitored in consonance with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Agency petitions IG over impersonators

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OBILE Advert/Loading and Offloading Agency of Nigeria (MOAN/LOLAN) has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Hafiz Ringim, over the activities of some of its former members.

In a petition written through its counsel, Falana & Falana’s Chambers, entitled: Petition Against Illegal Collection of Levies; Taxes, Impersonation of Kogi State Board of Internal Rvenue and Forgery of MOAN/LOAN Letterhead With With Former Secretary-General’s Signature, Using Same To Defraud Companies, the agency said it had earlier forwarded a petition on the same issue to the IG on February 2, 2010.

Besides, it reminded the police boss that the earlier petition was assigned to the IGP Monitoring Unit (IGMU) for investigation and the unit assigned the case to one Inspector Oluchi, who with Otunba Mike Osimen Eboziegbe, the President of MOAN/LOLAN, went to Ilorin, Kwara State, in search of the suspects.

The petition said the former members, Gan Adewunmi, Alhaji O. Baki and Alhaji B. O. Balogun, engaged in the printing of Kogi State Board of Internal Revenue documents, and sold same to such firms, as Julius Berger Plc, Wema Bank, Guinness Nigeria Plc., as well as members of MOAN/LOLAN, purporting to be representing the board’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Moses Atakpa.

Specifically, the petition said the suspects “personally supplied Julius Berger those fake stickers without receipts and collected over N500,000 without remitting same to the Kogi State Government”.

It added that those who bought the alleged forged documents were instructed by the suspects to deposit the proceeds in the account of Adewunmi at Skye Bank.

Meanwhile, the IG’s office has confirmed receiving the petition and directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), IGP Monitoring Unit, Dr. Ogbonna, to investigate the issues raised in it.

The directive letter was signed by Murtala U. Mani, Principal Staff Officer II to the IG, asking Ogbonna, on behalf of the IG, “to investigate and bring up a report”.

Based on the petition, the three suspects were arrested by the IGMU in Lagos and Kwara respectively.

•Major Lawrence Loye being handcuffed by security operatives... yesterday

Task Force chair arrested

C

HAIRMAN of the Edo State Task Force on Demolition of Illegal Properties, Maj. Lawrence Loye (rtd) has been arrested for allegedly carrying out illegal and unauthorised demolition of buildings in Benin City, the state capital.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole gave the arrest order yesterday while inspecting a building belonging to wife of former Governor of Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, that was demolished by the Task Force.

The Task Force had embarked on demolition of buildings that encroached on the ancient Benin moat.

Oshiomhole, while inspecting the building, said the demolished building does not affect the moat.

He said: “There is enough space between the property and the moat. The fact that you work for government does not give

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

you license to visit harm and destruction on innocent people.

I am convinced that he acted in bad faith; he acted in mischief.

He is a sadist and his purpose is to bring confusion to the community and confuse the people about the genuineness of our intention.

“Loye on his own, without authorisation from the commissioner, moved to this location and brought down this building. He is not a Town Planning Officer. He is only to carry out demolitions after a competent Officer identifies a property that offends the right of way. He has assumed the powers of the Ministry of Land and Environment. On his own, without being told, he goes about marking houses indiscriminately.”

Anambra electoral body assures of council polls A

NAMBRA State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) yesterday declared its intention to conduct credible and transparent local government election in the state.

Acting Chairman of the commission Sylvester Okonkwo, while addressing the workers yesterday, said ANSIEC did not conduct the council poll before now following pressure from the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) not to use the old voters register.

Okonkwo said the commission would embark on workers training to ensure a hitch-free election, adding that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

stakeholders would also be engaged.

He said the commission would embark on what he called Basic Electoral Administrative System (BEAS).

ACN has urged the electoral body to conduct the council poll without further delay.

State chairman of the party Amechi Obidike yesterday told The Nation that political parties were no longer interested in hearing the same story, adding that the commission should not allow party’s preparation to be in vain.

He said:”We are sick and tired of the same old stories, we want ANSIEC to release the timetable for the election if they are serious in conducting it.

“But what I want to say here is that we are not going to fold our arms to allow unserious people to continue to deceive us, all we want is the local government election.”

Okonkwo assured that the poll would soon be conducted and solicited for prayers for the success of the council polls.

“The only thing that can stop us from conducting the

elections is natural disaster, which we know cannot happen in Anambra.

“We have just taken over, we need to be given time for a proposal to be drawn, we need adequate funding and security to function effectively and I am proud to say that no agency in this state gets what this commission gets as overhead from the state government,” he said.

The ACN chairman said the party would continue its sensitisation of all the 21 local governments in the state and condemned the sacking of the ANSIEC chairman Titus Eze by the Anambra State House of Assembly over what he called frivolous issues.

Women protest nude over 19 kids

A

MILD drama played out yesterday at Obosi in Idemili North Local Government of Anambra State when aggrieved mothers whose kids were arrested by officials of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP),protested the continued detention of the 19 kids half nude.

Some of the mothers tore their blouses while they marched on the premises of the Christian Compassionate and Motherless Babies Home in Obosi.

The Nation had reported last week the arrest of 19 kids

by NAPTIP officials, but the Ministry for Women’s Affairs said at the weekend that the ministry rescued 30 kids from suspected child traffickers in the state.

Addressing reporters in Obosi, a 25- year-old widow, Mrs. Patience Jacob, whose two children were arrested, lamented that the children had been detained under horrible conditions for two weeks. She said the adult workers, who were arrested at the Motherless Babies’ Home, have been released.

Patience, who works in the Home as a cleaner, said her children were arrested by officials of NAPTIP, when they

From Adimike George, Onitsha

stormed the Home and whisked away 19 children, among them 12 inmates and seven children belonging to the centre.

She said efforts to secure the release of the children have been abortive. “Since they made away with our children, they have denied us access to them, even when we have showed all evidence to prove that we are their mothers. I am a widow and my kids are very tender. The eldest, Emmanuel, is about three years while the last is a year old. My appeal is that they should release my children to me.

“I have been working here since last year, I never noticed any illegal activity in the Home as alleged by NAPTIP. But if they have facts, let them investigate and make it open. But they should release our children before they start dying,” she said.

The protesters carried placards with inscriptions: “NAPTIP don’t let our children die; Release our children, they are innocent; Enough of this intimidation and harassment; We are poor mothers.”

58

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

NEWS UNIABUJA raises panel to probe decline in academic standard

EFCC detains Catholic priest over alleged $44,000 scam

T

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arrested and detained a Catholic priest, Rev.Fr Remigius Onyelu for allegedly defrauding an Abuja businesswoman, Mrs. Ijeoma Ugwah of about $44,000.

The Catholic priest was said to have been arrested at the Pope John II Guest House in Wuse 2, Abuja at about 10am.

The priest, who was interrogated for hours yesterday, is being detained at the EFCC headquarters pending the conclusion of investigation.

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

A source said: “The priest was alleged to have conspired with her younger sister, Princess Ebere David to obtain the money from the victim under the guise of helping her to process university education for her daughter in Canada where Rev Fr. Onyelu claims he has been on pastoral assignment for 15 years.

“Two years after making the payments, the victim was shocked to discover that she has fallen into a wrong hand who hides under his pastoral duties to defraud

unsuspecting parents seeking admission for their children in Canada.

“She subsequently sent a petition to the EFCC Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, who promptly assigned a team of operatives to put the priest on watch-list and arrest him any time he returns to Nigeria .

“While the Rev Fr. is being detained for interrogation, operatives were said to have declared a manhunt for his accomplice who has gone into hiding.

The EFCC spokesman, Femi Babafemi confirmed the arrest of the priest and declined further comments.

T

•EFCC boss Mrs. Waziri

“The case is still under investigation, I cannot give you the details,” he added.

LP okays Fayose‘s return bid to PDP

T

HE Labour Party (LP) in Ekiti State yesterday passed a resolution urging the former governor of the state , Mr Ayo Fayose, to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

At an enlarged meeting of LP officials presided over by its Chairman, Chief Gabriel Falayi in Ado-Ekiti, the party resolved that since the PDP voluntarily approached the former governor to come back , he was at liberty to accept the invitation.

The resolution was reached after LP leaders from the 16 local govern-

ments deliberated on the matter.

Chief Falayi, who read the communiqué said: “After hours of comprehensive deliberation, members have decided to inform you that we have concluded plans to return to our former party, and we only want you to take us back.”

A woman leader ,Mrs Alice Emiloju said it was not surprising that the PDP wanted Fayose back having been disgraced in the last election. She said that PDP must look for Fayose if the party wanted to return to reckoning.

Some aspirants on the

platform of the party (LP) also disclosed that some leaders of the PDP had approached them to prevail on Fayose to return to the party, which he left following unresolved differences.

Tayo Egunlusi , a chairmanship aspirant said his political ambition would not be jeopardised if he moved to PDP. Already posters asking Fayose to return to the PDP have flooded Ado- Ekiti, the state capital, and its environs.

The posters, which bear the PDP’s logo (umbrella) carry a bold headline “Come Back! PDP is your

party”.

Fayose, in his reaction said he remained in the LP but was ready to accept any resolution on the matter. He explained that he would not force his wish down the throat of his supporters .

The ex-governor clarified that he had no pact with the LP, saying majority of PDP supporters in Ekiti State joined the party because of him.

he Governing Council of the University of Abuja has raised a fiveman committee to look at the issues raised by the local chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

This followed alleged decline in academic standard.

The panel has four weeks to meet with the stakeholders and submit its findings to the Council.

Investigation confirmed that the committee was set up on September 6 with the following members: Prof. Ejembi (Chairman); Senator Haliru Idris and Alhaji Mas’ud Salvador ; Prof. S.E. Kakulu and Prof. Mabel Evwhierhoma.

A source said: “The Council constituted a five-man committee to investigate alleged administrative incompetence, decline in academic culture and ethics leveled against the Vice-Chancellor.

“The committee is expected to meet with the university community and other stakeholders. It has four weeks to submit its report.

“We are all prepared to appear before the committee raised by the Council.”

According to findings, the Council decided to step into the crisis of confidence between the Vice-Chancellor and the academic community following a 21-day notice of industrial dispute issued by

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation the UNIABUJA chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

ASUU, in a communiqué signed by its Chairman, Dr. C.D. Chup and Secretary, Dr. W.D. Nafarnda, said: “The ASUU, University of Abuja chapter held a Congress meeting on Wednesday, 24th August; and deliberated on national and local issues, as well as an update on its previous resolutions.

“Congress expressed disappointment with the University Administration on its refusal to address all issues earlier contained in the last three resolutions, and resolved to request the Administration to as a matter of urgency address all the outstanding issues.

“These outstanding issues are as follows: Drastic decline in academic culture in the university within the last two sessions, as observed in the following: (i) Lack of due process in admission; (ii) Non-adherence to University guidelines on the screening and registration of students; (iii) absence of regular academic calendar. (iv) Irregular Senate and Standing Committee meetings (For instance, only two Senate meetings were held in the past eight months).”

Commercial drivers protest in Lagos

C

OMMERCIAL drivers in Ikotun, a Lagos suburb, yesterday took to the streets to protest what they called high tolls foisted on them by the Ikotun branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the drivers complained that the NURTW, through its agents (popularly called ‘Agberos’), extort money from them unjustly.

Their spokesman, who identified himself as Mr Lekan Baba Ele, said the drivers were being forced to pay ex-

By Adegoke Adebisi and Titi Banjoko

orbitant tolls, irrespective of the time of the day.

Baba Ele also claimed that the police had asked them to vacate the roadside where they usually pick passengers without providing alternative.

He said: “The unfortunate thing is that after this directive was made, we were not given an alternative place.

“We are made to pay high charges, three times a day, in the morning, afternoon and evening. When you calculate it , the amount is almost

N7,000.”

But a detachment of the police deployed in the scene pacified the drivers to sheathe their sword with a promise that the government would investigate the allegation.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. A. A. said: “We don’t want to cause obstruction on the road here anymore because parking cars here cause traffic congestion.

The drivers need to leave here and queue up inside the petrol station. As for the high chargers, it is an internal problem, I have told them to meet their officials and settle their differences internally.”

Senator mourns ex-governor

A

FORMER Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu has described the

From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

demise of Group Captain Usman Jibrin (rtd) as a loss

PUBLIC NOTICE CURTAIN AND DRAPES DESIGNERS ASSOCIATION This is to inform the general public that the above named association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No.1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

Chukwuma Eleanya 2.

Isaiah Anya Ude 3.

Friday Agbai Okocha 4.

John Chukwuemeka 5.

Isaac Ndukwe Uche AIMS AND OBJECTIVES i. To provide mutual understanding among members of the Association ii. To provide security for members and their goods iii. To create and maintain peace, order and unity of the members iv. To promote and ensure progress of all members of the Association v. To give moral and financial assistance to members and settle all disputes among members amicably vi. To harmonize trading within the Association and check the influx of touts and touting within the market.

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

Onwuka Egwu Onwuka Egwu & Co. 7, Ogun Street, Surulere, Lagos.

not only to the people of Nasarawa State but also to Nigerians.

Senator Adamu, who spoke at the weekend at his country home in Keffi, Nasarawa State, said the former military Governor of the old Kaduna State was a rare breed who would be hard to replace, adding that he was a man of integrity, a good Muslim who was renowned for his honesty and discipline.

Adamu, who is representing Nasarawa West Senatorial district at the National Assembly said he would miss the late Jibrin as he was one of those who encouraged him to contest the governorship of the state back in 1999 and was also pivotal to his decision to take farming more seriously.

“When I was contemplating the idea of contesting the governorship, he was the first person I consulted and in his usual honest manner, advised me to be sure I knew what I wanted to do when I become governor.

He also encouraged me to go into farming having made a success of it himself after his retirement,” he said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

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THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

THE NATION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

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THE NATION TUES DAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

FOREIGN NEWS

Gaddafi’s son under surveillance, says Niger Republic

•Al-Saadi Qaddafi

N

IGER Republic said on yesterday it is keeping Saadi son of Muammar Gaddafi, under surveillance and has not detained him.

“Nothing has changed in the government’s position.

There is no international search for him. Like the others he is just under surveillance,” a government spokesman said, referring to other Gaddadfi loyalists who have recently fled to Niger.

Saadi Gaddafi was among 32 members of the fugitive former Libyan leader’s inner

T

circle, who have arrived in Niger since September 2, according to Niger’s Prime Minister.

The Libyans crossed the border in four separate groups over the last 10 days and had been taken in by Niger for “humanitarian reasons,” Prime Minister Brigi Rafini said during a meeting with foreign diplomats in Niamey.

The most recent arrivals included Saadi and eight other close associates of Col. Gaddafi, added Rafini in comments carried by public radio.

But Rafini said none of those known to have crossed over the border were being sought by the Hague-based war crimes court.

In Washington, Nuland confirmed that Saadi Gaddafi was not on the list of wanted individuals under UN Resolution 1970, but urged Niger to cooperate with Libya’s National Transitional Council on Gadd-

afi loyalists crossing over.

Niger “has made clear … that it is prepared to cooperate,” she said. “We are encouraging dialogue between them.”

Muammar Gaddafi loyalists killed 17 guards outside an oil refinery yesterday in an apparent attempt to disrupt a drive by Libya’s new rulers to seize the ousted ruler’s last bastions and revive the oil-based economy.

A Syrian-based television station that has broadcast messages from Gaddafi in the past said he was still in Libya, but it was unable to air a televised appearance for security reasons.

“It was meant to show the leader among his fighters and people, leading the struggle from Libyan lands, and not from Venezuela or Niger or anywhere else,” Mishan Jabouri, owner of the Arrai channel, told viewers.

Abdumutallab’s trial begins

HE young Nigerian accused of trying to blow up a packed transatlantic airliner over Detroit on Christmas Day 2009 in one of the most significant terror plots of the past decade heads to court today. The trial of Umar Fa-

rouk Abdulmutallab - popularly known as the underwear bomber - is set to kick off days after the United States marked the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Abdulmutallab, 24, allegedly aimed to kill nearly 300 peo-

ple aboard the Northwest flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. Passengers and crew members were able to restrain Abdulmutallab after the explosives stitched into his underwear failed to detonate and instead simply caused a small fir.

75 killed in Kenyan pipeline fire

A

T least people have died after a petrol pipeline explosion and fire in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.

The blast took place in the city’s Lunga Lunga industrial area, and police and troops cordoned off the area as firefighters battled fierce flames in the surrounding shanty town.

A Red Cross official, Pamela Indiaka, said at least 75 bodies had been recovered. Some reports put the toll at more than 100 dead.

More than 110 people were injured.

The pipeline runs through the densely populated Sinai slum area between Nairobi’s city centre and the airport.

The scene is horrific, with charred bodies all around. I cannot differentiate between men and women or boys and girls. All that is left are bones, and the only way to identify the children is from their smaller skeletons.

Many houses - shacks roofed

with metal sheets - have been razed to the ground and plumes of smoke hang in the air.

The police, paramedics and firefighters are here but have not yet started picking up bodies. They are still assessing the situation.

Residents are walking around in a state of shock. Most have lost family or friends, and they feel helpless, as there is nothing they can do.

Reports suggest the blast may have been sparked by a cigarette butt being thrown into an open sewer that was filling with fuel.

The fuel had leaked into a storm drain from the NairobiMombasa pipeline, the Kenya Pipeline Company said in a statement.

Residents said the spill had prompted many people to rush and collect leaking fuel.

Parts of bodies littered the remains of burning shacks for some 300m (1,000ft) around the site of the blast, locals said.

Some of the shacks were

Sarkozy ‘received cash from West African leaders’

N

ICOLAS Sarkozy received cash from West African leaders, it has been alleged, following claims that Jacques Chirac and his Dominique de Villepin received an estimated $20 million stuffed into briefcases over eight years.

The scandal has cast fresh light on France’s historically murky ties to African dictators, who for decades allegedly doled out dirty petrodollars to French politicians in exchange for diplomatic and military support in a set-up known as “Françafrique”.

Robert Bourgi claimed on Sunday he personally handed millions of francs from five African leaders to Mr Chirac when he was mayor of Paris and later president, along with Mr Villepin, his right hand man.

Mr Bourgi, 66, says the money, which he variously transported in a sports bag, a poster and even a ceremonial African drum, came from Burkina Faso, the Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast and Senegal.

built on top of the pipeline, residents say.

“Then there was a loud bang, a big explosion, and smoke and fire burst up high,” resident Joseph Mwego told Agence FrancePresse.

Bodies were also seen floating in a nearby river, into which burns victims had reportedly leapt after catching fire.

TV images showed survivors staggering around in a daze, with skin peeling off their faces and arms, and schoolchildren running in all directions.

Strauss-Kahn grilled over 2003 alleged sexual assault

D

O M I N I Q U E Strauss-Kahn, the former head of the International Monetary Fund who returned to Paris last week after New York prosecutors dropped rape charges against him, was questioned for three hours yesterday about a sexual assault complaint dating to 2003, his lawyers said.

In that case, a writer, Tristane Banon, now 32, has accused Mr. Strauss-Kahn of trying to rape her as she was interviewing him for a book.

She lodged the complaint in July, saying that she had been advised not to press charges on the advice of her mother, a prominent member of the Socialist party, as is Mr. Strauss-Kahn. She said she changed her mind after his arrest in New York in May.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

63

SPORT EXTRA MAPUTO 2011 ALL AFRICA GAMES

NFF’S ORDER TO NPL

Don’t dissolve electoral body

257 thieves caught in Games Village T • 25 accidents recorded

T

HERE appears to be a huge surge in the crime rate in Maputo, the Mozambican capital during the ongoing All Africa Games.

NationSport gathered that as at Monday afternoon, 257 thieves had been caught in the Games Village. They were arrested by the Mozambican Police for varied offences. About 25 road accidents had also been recorded.

Meanwhile, it feels rather strange that as big as the Estadio National is, very few spectators can be seen at any event inside the forty-two thousand capacity stadium.

However, it is not because Mozambicans are not sportsloving, rather there seems to be a restriction to one of the biggest stadiums in Southern Africa. NationSport gathered that the gates of the Estadio National were not thrown

From Akeem Lawal and Stella Bamawo in Maputo open; hence the few number of spectators.

Nevertheless, NationSport observed that the beauty and structural integrity of the Estadio National makes it a gift any African country should desire.The Chinese, Portuguese and South African governments, all played major roles in the construction of the beautiful edifice and the foot mats and rugs are all made of synthetic grass. Everything in the stadium depicts sports.

So far so good, cleanliness has been adhered to. Cleaners abound everywhere. Every second and minute, a cleaner can be seen mopping the floors or picking dirt. Waste

2011 ALL AFRICA GAMES TABLE As at Monday 12th September 2011 SN Country 1. South Africa 2. Egypt 3. Tunisia 4. Algeria 5. Nigeria 6. Kenya 7. Senegal 8. Zimbabwe 9 Cameroon 10 Mauritius 11. Angola 12. Mozambique 13. Botwsana 14. Congo 15. Mali 16 Namibia 17 S. Rep. Congo 18 Seychelles 19 Sao Tome & Principle

PUBLIC NOTICE CHANGE OF NAME NGOZI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ngozi Theresa Nwozor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ngozi Theresa Agbo. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.Ngozi

Gold 46 10 9 7 6 4 4 4 4 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

Silver Bronze Total 30 27 103 5 7 22 16 7 32 12 18 37 9 11 26 5 9 18 3 8 15 6 1 11 1 8 13 2 3 8 3 3 7 2 4 6 2 5 8 1 4 5 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 2 2 0 2 2 0 1 1

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to notify the general public that INDENTURE Registered as No. 72 on page 72 in volume 1760 dated this 28TH Nov. 1978 at Lagos State Land Registry, Alausa, belonging to Alhaji Mohammed Awesu Babatunde Coker go lost in transit. All effort to trace it proved abortive.

paper bins are placed at strategic points in the stadium.

The beautiful volunteers always asking if everything is okay - are always willing to help even in their faltering English. A rather curious explanation for their good nature was given by a South African journalist. He told NationSport that the volunteers have no choice but to be nice.

Hear him: “This is new to them. They have been enslaved by the Portuguese for so long. To them they are rendering services in their own patriotic way to their fatherland.”

Recently, the catering services have improved with varieties of cakes being served, unlike the meal of bread and butter stuffed with cabbages and chickens (sandwiches) that was the norm.

HE Executive Board of the Nigeria Football Fecderation (NFF)on Monday reversed the decision of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) to dissolve its electoral body, ordering that elections into the positions of the Chairman and Chairman of Chairmen be held on Wednesday 14th September at the FIFA Goal Project National Stadium, Abuja.

The Board also resolved that only the 20 Premier League clubs that participated in the election held in 2010 would be accredited to vote

at the election. They insisted that the election would be in accordance with the directives of the Federal High Court siting in Abuja, as ruled by the Ibidapo Obe Arbitration Panel.

The Board agreed that the football body will supervise the election and would ensure that winners would be sworn in immediately. They acknowledged the resignation of Tony Raufu and Felix Anyansi Agwu from the electoral body,instructing that the remaining members should go ahead to organize the election.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 7

NO.1,882

TOMORROW IN THE NATION

‘There are so many glaring cases of corruption in our national life to attract the attention of the EFCC instead of harassing innocent DELE AGEKAMEH people all about’

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

M

ORE than four years after Dr Goodluck Jonathan was catapulted from obscurity to national reckoning and nearly two years after he gained international standing as president of Nigeria, he remains essentially an enigma.

His phenomenal run of good fortune has become the stuff of legend. We know that he walked daily to and from school and his chores because his parents had no car, and that he did so barefooted because they could not afford to buy him a pair of shoes. We also know that he had no raincoat, and that his young body and the school books he carried on his head because he had no school bag enjoyed no protection from the rains that were almost a constant companion.

He never went to bed hungry, but he could not always take it for granted that food would be available whenever he needed it. His parents could not afford to hire a special teacher to prepare him for the almighty Common Entrance exams.

We know that the young Jonathan persevered, went on to secondary school and from there to university, taking a Second Upper and capping it later with a doctorate earned while he was holding a full-time job as lecturer in a College of Education.

As deputy governor of Bayelsa, he came through as a dependable subordinate when he spurned every opportunity to supplant his beleaguered principal. He would demonstrate this same attribute as vice president by refusing to make a precipitate dash to become president when it became clear that his stricken principal was too far gone to return to office.

But beyond this, we know little is known about Dr Jonathan, or even his antecedents.

Take his antecedents first. Vanguard enterprising columnist Ochereome Nnanna reported spending several days in Jonathan’s registered hometown, Otuoke, in an effort to deconstruct the “Ebele” in the name and learn something about his parents. He got nowhere. It was almost as if everyone he interviewed was sworn to secrecy.

If Nnanna is minded to resume his research, here are some suggestions. Comb the census records going back to the 1940s to see how the Jonathan family has been profiled. Examine church records, as well as school records from primary through secondary. In those days, they even required you to enter your “tribe” on your dispensary or hospital card. So, examine all such records as well.

It won’t be glamorous, but investigative journalism is never glamorous except in the movies. Good luck this time, Nnanna, and remember me at your eureka moment.

Leaving aside Dr Jonathan’s antecedents,

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

Enigma at Aso Rock ‘What does Dr Jonathan do to unwind? How does he find time to do his Facebook gig? What would it take to make him shed that plastic smile and have that hearty Nigerian laughter that comes from the pit of the stomach?’

•Dr. Jonathan

does anyone really know him – anyone except perhaps Herself the First Lady, Dame (Dr) Patience Jonathan? The stories he has told about his growing up have to some extent humanised him. But nobody knows what lies beneath the cool fedora and the starchy gait.

Who is the essential Dr Jonathan?

What kind of student was he, and what was his lifestyle on campus? Was he by any chance a member of the Pyrates Confraternity or some other counter-culture group? Did he belong in the Palmwine Drinkers Club or a club dedicated to quaffing the riverine equivalent of that beverage?

What kind of lecturer was he? Was he a stingy grader or a generous one? Was he amenable to “sorting” — I hope I use that term correctly — or was he the type you confronted with that kind of proposition at

RIPPLES 100 DAYS: No sign of promised transformation by Jonathan– ACN

Who says...just take a look at our ROADS

your peril?

At OMPADEC, the development agency for the oil-producing areas, was his management style laid back or hands-on or somewhere between? How well did he master his brief? Was he concerned mainly with the larger picture, or was he a micromanager? Was he a problem-solver, or did he prefer to stay splendidly above the fray and hope that everything will shake out in the end? How did he rate in the vision department?

United States .President Dwight Eisenhower was once asked to name one specific contribution his vice president and putative presidential candidate of the Republican Party, Richard Nixon, had made to the Administration in roughly seven years. After a long, meditative pause, he asked to be given two weeks to think about it.

As far as I know, nobody has asked Gen-

HARDBALL

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan’s first media dialogue has proved to be more interesting and revealing than

anticipated. It was a departure from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s imperial shows in which he spoke down to the country and even to his interviewers, and cracked jokes that sometimes caused the viewers to wince in embarrassment. It was also a far cry from the kind of answers that were designed more for effects than for reality. Obasanjo spoke better, though slower, but Jonathan came across as more sincere and more believable. But whether the president will translate that believability into reality is a different kettle of fish; for on some disturbing occasions, particularly in politics and the rule of law, he has not always been very successful in bridging the gap between the two positions.

Jonathan’s responses, notwithstanding his tortured elocution, reinforced his simplicity, innocence and eagerness. He communicated his near absolute trust in his ministers, though he adjusted his seat repeatedly, perhaps an indication of the discomfort he felt organising his thoughts.

On certain occasions, his answers flowed smoothly, and his eloquence enjoyed bursts

Jonathan’s first media chat of fresh air and traction, an apparent indication that his tortured elocution was at bottom a reflection of elementary nervousness. But better a fluctuating elocution than the offending cocksureness of Obasanjo. Jonathan’s answers did not always reflect the best option available, or even the best logic possible, but he presented his position as forcefully as his clipped speech could afford. For instance, the single tenure boondoggle, which he facetiously described as rumour, elicited a surprising answer. He would propose a single seven-year tenure he said, not sixyear tenure. How seven years of a bad government could be tolerable, he did not say, except to draw the bewildering conclusion that it would stabilise the polity.

Headline sorcerers in newspaper houses would be tormented to find an earthshaking banner, but on the whole, the country cannot fail to notice that the approximately two-hour media chat is a relief in many respects – sincerity,

eral T.Y. Danjuma and Professor Ben Nwabueze, chair and vice chair respectively of Dr Jonathan’s Presidential Advisory Commission until last May, how conversant he was with the details and nuance of policy, and how engaged he was during meetings of that body.

What is Dr Jonathan’s daily routine? How many hours does he spend in the office attending to official work, and how many does he spend in his study at the residence?

What does he read? What book is he reading currently? I know instinctively that I am not his favourite newspaper columnist, but who in our pesky, rascally guild has earned that distinction?

What is his taste in music and movies?

We can safely assume that he no longer touches the fiery brew that is the staple of Delta revelry, assuming that he ever touched it. But what does he drink now, in what quantities, and in whose company?

What does Dr Jonathan do to unwind?

How does he find time to do his Facebook gig? What would it take to make him shed that plastic smile and have that hearty Nigerian laughter that comes from the pit of the stomach?

Has he any siblings? Where are they, and what do they do for a living? More crucially, has he any children? Where are they, and what are they doing?

Dr Jonathan rose rapidly from deputy governor through governor to vice president without being vetted by the media.

As vice president, the humiliation he suffered at the hands of the cabal that was ruling Nigeria in Yar’Adua’s name won him more sympathy than scrutiny from the media So he arrived at the Presidency virtually unknown. Not that vetting would have made much difference, for the grandees and the veteran Fixer of the PDP would still have foisted him on the public even in the face of the most damning revelations.

But it will at least have humanised him and dispelled the perception there is not much more to him than the blandness and the starchiness so evident in his conduct.

It is no credit to the media that Nigerians know so little about the man who now rules the country for better or for worse.

Some of the questions posed here might at first blush seem fragrantly intrusive, designed more to advance gossip than to serve any overarching public purpose. But I would argue that, taken together and pursued diligently, they could help crack open the enigma that is President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and humanise him.

•For comments, send SMS to 08057634061

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above humility, passion and a commonsensical approach to general issues. However, typical of his responses to many questions, his answer to the Jos crisis, while retaining its complexion of simplicity and genuineness, lacked absolute depth and wisdom. He described the crisis as essentially economic, but with a sectarian hue which he compared to a wind fanning fire, and then ended his response incredulously by suggesting that the people of Plateau State must agree to have peace in order for peace to reign. Law and order, he said, were not quite as straightforward as they seemed, and prosecution of offenders could be justifiably slow. Really? No wonder impunity has festered all over the country.

It is not certain whether Jonathan’s handlers can get him to talk, act and pose presidential. And he seemed to be too serious and agitated to indulge in seemly humour. But it is engaging that he is at least earthy, if a little flustered, and evasive and too cautious to make an average subeditor spit on the palms, rub them together and cast a sizzling headline to warm the cockles of the heart. Move over, the morose Umaru Yar’Adua and the boisterous and haughty Obasanjo.

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