The Nation September 16, 2014

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•Lawmaker for Supreme Court

News Doctors: let schools resume P6 Sports Siasia tips Iheanacho for Eagles P41 Business Govt to sell $20b power assets P11

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

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VOL. 9, NO. 2973 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

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Synagogue: Sniffer dogs deployed as death toll rises to 49 M

North to form united front for 2015 polls, says ACF From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

T

HE North has resolved to form a united front with the intention to vote en bloc in next year’s general elections, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) said yesterday.

The decision was taken after a two-day meeting of the ACF and the North’s stakeholders in Kaduna. Many nongovernmental organisations were represented.

A communique of the meeting signed by ACF Secretary General Col. John Ubah (rtd) and Code Group Secretary Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said the need for imContinued on page 4

•www.thenationonlineng.net

•Dr. Jonathan

ANY foreigners are among the dead and injured in last weekend’s collapsed building at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), it emerged yesterday.

The death toll, which was initially 17, rose to 44 on Sunday and climbed to 49 by 6pm yesterday.

Rescue efforts continued as police sniffer dogs were brought in to locate possible areas where people could still

By Precious Igbonwelundu, Staff Correspondent

be trapped.

More than 130 people have been retrieved from the rubble.

They are receiving treatment in hospitals in Lagos.

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) spokesman Ibrahim Farinloye confirmed the casualty figure.

He said: “The Commission-

er of Police has ordered the release of five dogs after a collective decision to use the dogs by responding agencies.

“NEMA has asked the Police’ Disaster Management Unit to facilitate and manage the dogs immediately. We are still working, we cannot say at what percentage we Continued on page 4

•INSIDE: AIR FORCE RULES OUT SABOTAGE ON JET P4 TINUBU’S AIDE REPLIES METUH PP21 21

•Some of the soldiers awaiting the verdict after their court martial at the Sani Abacha Barracks in Abuja...yesterday

PHOTO: GBADE OGUNWALE

South Africa seizes $9.3m from two Nigerians, Israeli

?

WHEN WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15 BE FREED?

Presidency demands report from military attache in Pretoria

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HE Presidency has demanded a status report from Nigeria’s military attaché at the High Commission in Pretoria, following a report that two Nigerians and an Israeli smuggled $9.3 million into South Africa.

Some intelligence agencies were trading blames last night because they were kept in the dark on the deal.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

They queried why the National Intelligence Agency(NIA) was not asked to liaise with its counterpart in South Africa to prevent such a national embarrassment.

A top official of the Department of State Security (DSS) said the “deal had nothing to do with our agency”.

According to a source, who spoke in confidence, the Presidency is ex-

ploring diplomatic channels to get the details of the $9.3m deal that may have gone awry.

The source said: “The Presidency is aware of the arrest and ongoing investigation of the deal and it has asked for a status report from our military attaché and High Commission in South Africa.

“It is when we get the preliminary report that the Federal Government

will be able to react to the development.

“Diplomatic interactions are ongoing to get to the root of the case being investigated by South Africa. The good dimension to the investigation is that it is South Africa that has opened the lid. It means it is beyond what anyone can hide if it is true.”

Another source said: “For instance, Continued on page 4

•BOKO HARAM KIDNAPS WOMEN P58 •NYSC DEFENDS ONLINE REGISTRATION P58

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

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NEWS

Guinness battles

• From left: Eddie Egesi of Port Harcourt Golf Club, CEO, MTN Nigeria, Mike Ikpoki, General Manager, Planning and Customer Management, MTN, Mrs Odunayo Sanya,Amanyanabo of Twon- Brass, Bayelsa State, HRM King Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff and Manager, Regional Operations, South, MTN, Obinna Nweje, during the MTN World Golfers Nigerian Championship 2014 in Akwa Ibom State... at the weekend.

• President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr Chidi Ajaegbu discussing the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Ms Arunma Oteh when the ICAN chief visited her in Abuja...yesterday.

•From left: Mr Haruna Rilwan; Nigerian Ambassador to Ghana Ademola Onafowokan and Managing Director, Medview Airline, Alhaji Munir Bankole on arrival at the Accra International Airport during the airline’s inaugural flight from Lagos to Accra...yesterday.

•From left: Managing Director, Microsoft Mobile Devices & Services (MMDS), West and Central Africa, Mr Nick Imudia; Head of Marketing, MMDS, West & Central Africa, Ms Debbie Shepard; Divisional Director, Retail Business, Mansard Insurance, Mr Yomi Onifade and Senior Product Manager, MMDS, West & Central Africa, Mr Olumide Balogun during the launch of Lumia 930 Smartphone in Lagos.

Nigerian Breweries Plc and Guinness are the biggest players in the country's brewing industry. This comes with rivalry.

The latest centres on allegation of one destocking the other.

Does this have anything to do with decline in beer revenue, which a player blamed on a competitor's aggressive trade practices?

ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI reports •NB Plc chief Nicholas Vervelde

I

T is not uncommon to see a bar in a nite club decorated with Guinness Stout. Another club may choose to brand its bar with a product of the Nigerian Breweries Plc. Bar branding is not new in beer marketing. But, it is now at the heart of a crisis between Guinness and Nigerian Breweries Plc. This practice also includes brewers offering incentives to sales men and bar owners. The incentives come in form of branded materials, coolers or chillers. The intention is simple: to build their brands.

Significantly, the practice does not mean the bar owners cannot sell other products. In the last two weeks, however, a new meaning appears to have been given to this practice.

It started with an advertorial by a Non-Governmental Organisation, the Consumer Rights Advocacy Network of Nigeria (CRANN).It accused a major and dominant brewery of engaging in “pirate marketing”. According to the NGO, Nigerian Breweries offered distributors and bar owners incentives to destock Guinness brands and prevent consumers from making a choice.

The series of adverts published in major newspapers displayed silhouette of two bottles, with various headlines, such as “Wake up Call to Consumers,” “A Call for Fair-Play”, “Unfair land-grabbing in the Alcoholic Beverage Industry”. The adverts said Nigerian Breweries was bullying its close rivals through what it termed as pirate marketing. CRANN displays two bottles. One looks like the Nigerian Breweries’ Legend Extra stout chasing the other which looks like the Guinness stout. The body copy gave an impression that Nigerian Breweries was offering incentives to distributors to remove Guinness brands from shelve, hence, preventing consumers from making a choice.

The advertorial are estimated to have cost the NGO N20 million plus.

TV presenters at Channels Sunrise programme monitored by The Nation wondered what the interest of an NGO was in a matter of competition between major brands in the beer sector.

Experts have faulted the message of the advertorial.

“If going by the branding of the bottles of one of the ad series, one can easily decipher that the small bottle branded ‘Ogba’ is referring to

Guinness Nigeria Plc and the big bottle branded ‘Surulere’ is Nigerian Breweries Plc. If my guess is as good as yours, could it be that the disappointing results recently released by Guinness Nigeria Plc is attributable to what the NGO described as ‘Pirate Marketing’ and ‘De-Marketing?” an industry observer told The Nation.

Guinness is located at Ogba on the outskirts of Nigerian Breweries is located in Surulere, Lagos mainland.

The adverts have raised posers about the decline in sales in the sector. The beer industry recorded a decline in growth in the third quarter of 2013. The market witnessed a decline of about 10 per cent in 2013.

Financial Derivatives Company (FDC), a diversified financial institution, said the nation’s beer market has seen a decline in the super-premium and mainstream brands to the benefit of value / growth brands (8.3 per cent growth in 2013) characterised by relatively lower prices. Such brands include Trophy lager, Hero beer, Goldberg, Life beer and Dubic beer.

“From our analysis, we conclude that the industry is attractive. We note that though the barriers to entry are high, the bargaining power of suppliers is moderate, while the bargaining power of buyers is low. There is little threat of substitutes for the products produced in the industry and favourable complements for the products,” FDC said.

In its latest company’s audited result for 2013, Guinness experienced a 19 per cent drop in its profit after tax, from N11.864bn in 2012 to N9.573bn in 2013. The company’s revenue at N109.202bn was 11 per cent lower than the N122.464bn it posted in 2012.

Its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Seni Adetu, said the revenue decline was due to pricing disadvantage, growth in the value segment where the company is a relatively small player, competitor’s aggressive trade practices and increased finance costs.

The Director of Communication, Guinness Nigeria, Mr. Sesan Sobowale, told The Nation that its major rivals are destocking its brand by offering incentives to distributors so that they will have preference for their brands when consumers call.

“We see a situation whereby the sales men of this company will go to bars, not just in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Ibadan but in all of the major

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

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NEWS

es Nigerian Breweries over sales tactics ‘

We see a situation whereby the sales men of this company will go to bars, not just in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Ibadan but in all of the major towns and cities of Nigeria and offer bar owners or bar men incentives to destock us, or not to stock certain of our brands or whereby they stocked them in terms of the fact that they had bought from the wholesalers to hide them

•One of the contentious advert

towns and cities of Nigeria and offer bar owners or bar men incentives to destock us, or not to stock certain of our brands or whereby they stocked them in terms of the fact that they had bought from the wholesalers to hide them,” he said.

With a profit after tax shrinking after spending over N1.6 billion on advertisement in 2013, Guinness has embarked on one of the most aggressive advertising campaigns in recent times through its “Colourful World of More” campaigns.

In a report by Media Fact, a publication of MediaReach OMD for West African media market on top 20 brands in Nigeria, The Nation’s calculation showed that of the N6.5 billion spent by Lager (beer) category, Guinness accounted for N2.7billion as against Nigerian Breweries’ N3.8 billion. According to the report, Guinness led the NB brands in the brand categories in above-the-line media, spending N1.6billion as against NB’s Star. Despite this, Guinness’s brands have suffered many notches which made it impossible to recoup its media investment and remain the second major player in terms of market share.

“We have spent billions of naira

•Guinness chief Adetu

to promote and build these brands but of what use is this when a consumer gets into the bar with his friends and say give me Malta Guinness and the bar people say there is no Malta Guinness. Of what use will that be?

That is really where we were hurt most. We are spending money promoting and building this brand but as a result of a deliberate action of a competitor, these brands are not available for consumers to make a choice. And so, the value of our investment has been lost. You can only get the value of our loss if you look at our advertising and promotion spends in the last five years,” Sobowale said.

This, perhaps, is the reason why industry observers believe Guinness may have hired CRANN to tactically advocate for it against what it perceived as ‘Pirate Marketing’ activities

by Nigerian Breweries.

Speaking at a press conference on Pirate Marketing in the Alcoholic Beverages Industry in Lagos, CRANN’s coordinator Sina Loremikan, decried what he described as a “de-marketing endeavour,” which “negates the principles that promote fair competition in the Nigerian corporate sector – inclusive of the alcoholic beverages industry.”

CRANN stated that it was very concerned in recent times as many Nigerians had made complaints to it of “how one of the prominent breweries in Nigeria has embarked on a vigorous campaign of de-marketing its key rival and competitor, with the brewery in question going to major retailers across Nigeria to induce them with very juicy incentives so as not to stock, display or sell the products of its said competitor.”

Hammer for CRANN When contacted, Nigerian Breweries spokesperson Edem Vindal said: “No comment.” But, CEO, Marketing Services International, Friday Emeka, defended the brewing giant.

Emeka said:”Curiously, my first worry was why an NGO should see itself as an advocate for and on behalf of competing brands in the industry? While studying CRANN’s advocacy ads in the national dailies and the lop-sidedness of the campaign and obvious misapplication of marketing terms contained therein, I asked myself ‘what is the role(s) of an NGO in a society? Don’t NGOs need to do their homework well before embarking on campaigns? Do NGOs exist to bring one down to

promote the other? A robust civil society is one with the active participation of millions of citizens. This can only be achieved by people have adequate understanding of the role of NGOs in modern societies. These are essential credentials found wanting among the profiteers, hustlers, and attention-seekers and political jobbers that are driving CRANN. Is it not curious that issues being raised have nothing to do with ‘demarketing’ and ‘pirate marketing’ as concepts in modern marketing as claimed by Loremikan and his sponsors? It is quite unfortunate that Loremikan’s sponsors failed to educate him on what ‘pirate marketing’ and ‘demarketing’ as marketing concepts mean.”

The Chief Executive Officer of a marketing firm, Kentesy, Mr. Kennedy Nwagwu, noted that the brewer’s war has given rise to misuse of marketing terms.

“I think these are wrong choice of words. What is being pirated here?

Is NBL packaging their products in the name of Guinness? Piracy is simply an unauthorised use of other company’s brand name(s) mainly for economic purpose. This act is not pirating marketing since NBL did not

‘

use any of Guinness branding icons illegally,” said Nwagwu.

While it is not clear whether Guinness is the sponsor of CRANN or not, Sobowale told The Nation: “I have set the fact before you. I will let you and your readers conclude that.”

Whether the fighting for the brand concerns an NGO or not, Loremikan, in an interview, said: “Essentially, within most marketing spaces, the sanctity of the consumer’s ability to choose from a range or variety of products is usually guaranteed and protected by legislation. The consumers’ space for choice should ordinarily be expansive and protected, and most organisations offering goods and services are generally aware of this, which is why we have fair competition and anti-competitiveness laws in our legal books in Nigeria,” When The Nation sent a follow up mail to Guinness to respond to the allegation that it sponsored CRANN to launch an onslaught against NB, the company failed to respond as at press time but industry watchers believe an NGO should concentrate on consumers’ protection and not an issue that is purely competition.

Has the last been heard of this matter? It does not look so.

UN Security Council to meet on Ebola as Obama gives details on outbreak tomorrow A

UNITED Nations diplomat says the U.S. is calling an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the Ebola crisis in West Africa.

The diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity yesterday ahead of an official announcement, said U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power, who chairs the Security Council this month, has scheduled the meeting on Thursday.

The diplomat said it would be only the second time the council, which deals with threats to international peace and security, deals with a public health issue.

The late former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Richard Holbrooke, organized a council meeting in January 2000 on the AIDS pandemic, which was addressed by then vice-president Al Gore.

U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to detail tomorrow a plan to boost his country’s involvement in mitigating the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The plan would involve a greater involvement of the U.S. military in tackling the worst recorded outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus, the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the proposal.

The outbreak has now killed upwards of 2,400 people, mostly in Liberia, neighbouring Guinea

and Sierra Leone as poorly resourced West African healthcare systems have been overrun.

The U.S. government has already committed around $100 million to tackle the outbreak by providing protective equipment for healthcare workers, food, water, medical and hygiene equipment.

Obama could ask Congress for an additional $88 million to fund his proposal, the WSJ reported. Plan details are expected during Obama’s visit Tuesday to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

The move would come just days after Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf appealed to Obama for urgent aid, saying that without it her country would lose the fight against the disease.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the epidemic is spreading exponentially in Liberia, where more than half of the deaths have been recorded.

The U.S. military said recently it would build a 25-bed field hospital in Liberia to care for infected health workers but it would hand it

to Liberians to run.

On Friday, the U.S. Ambassador to Liberia Deborah Malac said Washington would train security forces in isolation operations, after a boy was shot dead last month when Liberian soldiers opened fire on a crowd protesting at a quarantine in a Monrovia neighbourhood.

Malaysia will send more than 20 million medical rubber gloves to five African nations battling the deadly Ebola virus, addressing a crucial shortage faced by overwhelmed health workers, the country’s Prime Minister Najib Razak announced yesterday.

The Southeast Asian nation is a leading manufacturer of rubber gloves, producing about 60 percent of the world’s supply of latex medical gloves. Health authorities say that a shortage of rubber gloves in affected African nations has led to more deaths and raised risks that the virus will spread among doctors and nurses.

The outbreak has now killed upwards of 2,400 people, mostly in Liberia, neighbouring Guinea and Sierra Leone as poorly resourced

West African healthcare systems have been overrun.

“Malaysia can make a unique and vital contribution to the fight against Ebola because we are one of the biggest manufacturers of rubber gloves,” a Malaysian government spokesperson said in a statement.

“We hope this contribution will prevent the spread of Ebola and save lives.”

Among the companies supplying the shipment are Sime Darby , Top Glove Corp Bhd, Kuala Lumpur Kepong, and IOI Corp., the Prime Minister’s office said. Top Glove alone has a production capacity of 42 billion gloves a year and exports to 200 countries.

Shares in the big rubber glove companies have rallied in recent weeks as fears grow that the virus could spread.

The Malaysian government did not say whether it or the companies were footing the bill for the shipment.

Malaysia will send 11 containers, each holding 1.9 million gloves, the statement said.

Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea will each receive three containers, while Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo will each receive one container.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

Conference report not yet with National Assembly

T

•All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun (second left), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (second right), Adamawa State APC governorship candidate Senator Umar Jibirilla Bindow (left) and others at a meeting on Adamawa State by-election at the National Headquarters of the APC in Abuja…yesterday.

Synagogue: Sniffer dogs deployed as death toll rises to 49 Continued from page 1

are now. We are looking at strategic areas were we can recover trapped persons.”

On the chances of survival of the injured, Farinloye said those rescued early have over 80 per cent survival rate.

Farinloye said: “It is not possible for the church to have any list. Nobody is praying for a disaster. At present, we have no challenges, we have synergised the differences and we are moving forward.

“I just received a call from the Australian Embassy and they made enquiries on their nationals involved. South Africa and other countries in-

cluding France and Germany, have been calling.

“They are not specific whether any of their nationals are involved or not. We contact the church when anybody sends in any request so that they can check and tell us from their head count.”

The church still has not spoken on the number of people in the building, when it collapsed.

Some foreign nationals have been going around looking for their relatives.

A woman, who had a white paper containing the details of a Zimbabwean, Greenwich Ndanga, said the church had refused to tell her his where-

abouts.

She alleged that he was among the occupants of the foreign guest house, adding that they had not been able to get across to him since the incident occurred.

“No one is talking to us. I have been here since Friday, looking for him but no one is saying anything. Please help me because I do not know what to do again,” she said.

Relatives of Mr. Dayo Abbas, a carpenter who was said to have been working in the building, brought a coffin to the church premises, demanding for his body.

The casket, which was inside a “danfo bus”, was not al-

lowed to drive in and security personnel stopped reporters from taking shots of the scene.

A Television Continental (TVC) cameraman who tried taking visuals of the coffin was beaten up by a policeman who threatened to damage his camera.

There was a fire as excavation work continued. The Fire Service personnel put it out within 20 minutes.

The fire, which emanated from the rubble, was said to have been caused by combustible materials which must have reacted to excessive heat.

It started around 8:55am.

“There are lots of combustive Continued on page 59

South Africa seizes $9.3m from two Nigerians, Israeli Continued from page 1

the report was talking of Nigerian Intelligence Service whereas some agencies, like the DSS and NIA, have said that they had nothing to do with the deal.

“Such purchase of arms ought to put the NIA in the picture. It will be the duty of the NIA to liaise with its counterpart in South Africa if it would involve cash movement.

“Even within the intelligence agencies, issues are being raised on why electronic transfer was not adopted by the team-in line with the nation’s cashless policy.

“It is actually faster paying the suppliers of the arms through e- payment than cash movement.”

As at press time, no government official or agency was willing to identify those involved in the deal.

In South African, the police are investigating the two Nigerians and an Israeli citizen, who were said to be coming from Abuja. They were not identified, according to a report by Reuters.

The plane, a Bombardier Challenger 600, had a Nigerian flight crew on board. It was piloted by Captain Tunde Ojongbede, according to City Press.

Adrian Lackay, spokesper-

son for the SA Revenue Service (Sars), confirmed that customs officers became suspicious when the passengers’ luggage was unloaded and put through the scanners just after 7pm. The officers then investigated and found three suitcases full of cash.

The passengers apparently told officials they were acting on behalf of the Nigerian intelligence service.

Continued on page 59

HE report of the National Conference is not yet with the National Assembly, lawmakers said yesterday.

They resume today after two months recess.

The insecurity in the Northeast and the request for approval of a $1b loan request by President Goodluck Jonathan to procure arms and ammunition top the agenda of the final session of the sixth National Assembly.

“When it comes from Mr. President, we will address it in the normal legislative process but we cannot speak on the matter, which is yet to be seen because we do not know the form, the time and the character it will come,” Senate Business and Rules Committee Chairman Ita Enang said yesterday on the report of the conference.

Participants and a cross section of Nigerians have been clamouring for the implementation of the conference’s report by the government.

President Jonathan promised to send the report to the lawmakers whose responsibility it is to integrate relevant portions of it into the constitution.

Enangs said the Senate would address the emergence of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), with a view to finding a way out of the problem.

He said: “As the Senate resumes from the annual vacation,

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

we will consider the health challenge that is facing the country, the way to handle it, the way forward particularly the Ebola question.

“It (EVD) cannot be unnoticed; it will be addressed by the Senate.”

Enang also said the Senate would consider the request for $1 billion loan by President Jonathan to buy arms to fight the Boko Haram insurgency.

He said that a letter from the President asking for fund to address the Police Reform Programme which is still pending before the Senate, would also be looked into.

He added: “We will also put that forward for consideration by the Senate, as we resume, we are conscious of the fact that elections will hold soon and the time table and prioritisation of matters will take account of that particularly the Electoral Act which we have passed; we are waiting for actions from our brothers and colleagues from the House of Representatives.

“Other bills, such as Constitution Amendment and private bills relating to electoral processes and finances, we will also take account of them and consider in priority. This is September; we Continued on page 59

Missing jet: Air Force rules out sabotage

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HE military has ruled out sabotage in the disappearance at the weekend of an Air Force fighter jet on a mission in the Northeast, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Adesola Amosu, said yesterday.

The military chief spoke with State House reporters after a meeting with Vice President Namadi Sambo at the Presidential Villa. He said the search for the aircraft was on.

According to him, the Armed Forces will soon be able to provide credible information on the plane’s location and on the pilots, adding that Nigeria is in full control of its airspace.

The Alpha jet marked NAF 466, with two pilots aboard, left Yola at about 10.45am on September 12 on a routine operational mission and was expected back by noon. It had since not returned.

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

On the possibility of sabotage, Air Marshall Amosu said: “No sabotage. The plane moved a short distance of just from Maiduguri to Yola. We are in full control of the air space. But don’t forget that when you lose radio signal, it becomes very challenging.

“There are so many possibilities but we are working on it.”

He went on: “One of our Alpha Jets went on routine operation in the North East and they lost contact with the control towers and that made us to immediately initiate a search. The weather has not been helpful as we have deployed all our surveillance capability. The citizens have been very, very helpful and we have got good information from them.

Continued on page 59

North to form united front for 2015 polls, says ACF Continued from page 1

proved unity in the North to

mitigate the potential damage of partisan politics and attempts to use religion and ethnicity to weaken the region was imperative.

The communiqué said: “The North has a majority in population and should use this advantage to negotiate and support candidates and programmes that will address the current challenges of the region and its need for massive rehabilitation and economic reconstruction in the future.

“We have also resolved to mobilise Northern leaders to engage leaders from other parts and sections of the country in discussions and activities aimed at finding solutions to common problems and longterm strategies for improving the nation’s security, unity and prosperity.”

It added that the North recognisesd the necessity of collaborating with all other Nigerians, including those living outside, on the basis of mutual respect and knowledge that Nigeria could only overcome its current challenges if all

North’s elders divided over Jonathan’s re-election bid

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HE yet-be-declared intention of President Goodluck Jonathan to seek re-election in 2015 is tearing the ranks of Northern leaders apart.

The Arewa Consultative Forum had, at a forum in Kaduna on Sunday, accused the President of a deliberate plan to emasculate the the North economically and divide the region politically.

But another group of northern elders, on the platform of the Northern Elders Council, at a news conference in Abuja on Monday, countered the position of the ACF, accusing the group of playing the opposition card.

Leader of the NEC, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, said the ACF has derailed and veered off the mission and vision of its stakeholders are genuinely involved in shaping its future.

The communique added that the north will reject any excuse to prevent any citizen from participating in the 2015 general elections. “Similarly, any attempt to secure extension of tenure under the cover of security will be resisted by people of the North.

“Like all Nigerians, Northerners expect the administration of President Goodluck

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

founding fathers.

Yakassai said: “A motley crowd of desperate opposition politicians have hijacked its machinery. It is becoming more and more isolationist even within the region. This has greatly degraded the respectability and non-partisanship of the ACF. “The comments by the ACF leadership is a confirmation of the allegation of partisanship and the claim that ACF is hub nobbing with opposition elements and unrepentant critics of the Jonathan administration” Denouncing the ACF, the Yakassai group said the apex northern group

Jonathan to provide a secure and safe environment for the 2015 elections and avoid any attempt to jeopardise the democratic process in Nigeria.

“We reject the recent allocation of additional polling units

by INEC which deliberately conferred undeserved advantages on states in the south. The creation of additional polling units should be revisited, using standard criteria that INEC is aware of.

could not be said to be representing the interest of the north, asking the ACF to stop making itself available as platform for the opposition to thrive.

“The NEC wishes to affirm that the ACF’s statements in no way represent the general opinion in the north, nor does it represent the attitude of majority of Northern leadership to the Jonathan administration.

“The NEC once again wishes to caution the current ACF leadership against allowing the organisation to be hijacked by people who do not mean well for the country.

“The ACF must not allow itself to be thrown into the cesspit of partisanship”, Yakassai stated.

“Attempts to blackmail and stampede INEC into abandoning its hallowed responsibilities to do justice to all Nigerians, or sacrifice the rights of Northern voters are hereby condemned. The North expects INEC to re-allocate the polling units in strict compliance with its standard guidelines without fear or favour.”

The meeting also reiterated that efforts must be made to ensure that during the 2015 elec-

tions, all votes must count and the will of the people must not be hijacked or subverted under any guise.

On the former Presidents, the meeting “resolved to invite the attention of former Heads of State and President - General Yakubu Gowon, President Shehu Shagari, General Muhammadu Buhari, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and General Abdulsalami Abubakar, to recognise that they are severe-

ly under-utilised assets and northerners expect them to improve their input into influencing events around the region’s security and economic wellbeing.

The communique urged Senate President David Mark, House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and all legislators from the North to note that Northerners expect them to exercise greater commitment towards ensuring that President Goodluck Jonathan’s government is made more accountable to Northerners and the citizens of Nigeria in the manner it handles national security and the management of resources of the nation.

To the Northern Governors, the stakeholders meeting said citizens were disappointed over their seeming neglect of the security and welfare of the people of the North, adding that “in the next few weeks, activities of joint committees will approach governors and Continued on page 59

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

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NEWS NIMC cries out over fake enrolment agents

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HE National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has warned applicants to beware of fraudsters posing as its workers.

Reports making the rounds say applicants must pay certain amount of money before they can be allowed to enrol for the National Identity Number (NIN).

The Deputy Director, Corporate Communications, NIMC, Mr. Abdul-Hamid Umar, said enrolment into the National Identity Database (NIDB) is free, and no citizen or legal resident is expected to pay for it.

He said: “It has come to the attention of NIMC that certain business centre miscreants, posing as NIMC agents, use banners bearing the NIMC or presidential logos at their business centres, and charge eligible applicants for pre-enrolment, making applicants believe they are paying for the NIN or the National e-ID. “NIMC is not oblivious of the fact that persons who visit business centres and cyber cafes for online preenrolment must pay for the use of the Internet, which is cost of the services rendered by the business owners, but condemns the report that the payment is either for the NIN or the National e-ID Card or that the money goes

From Franca Ochigbo and Halima Farouk, Abuja

to NIMC. “NIMC has no business charging anybody for enrolment into the National Identity Database (NIDB); enrolment is free, and anyone who is asked to pay by an NIMC official, must report to the nearest security post.

“It is safer and faster for eligible applicants, who have access to the Internet, to pre-enrol themselves via the NIMC Pre-enrolment portal http:// ninenrol.gov.ng, using their personal computers (PCs); Internet-enabled phones or tablets at their convenience.”

Umar urged Nigerians, who do not have such access, to visit the NIMC enrolment centre where they will be attended to. He said the NIN and National e-ID Card can only be issued to applicants, who have completed the enrolment process at the NIMC enrolment centres, and no business centre or individual has the right to do that.

Umar cautioned Nigerians to beware of fraudsters posing as NIMC agents or workers, saying applicants could call the NIMC call centre number 0700CALLNIMC or 07002255646 for enquiry about the enrolment process and procedures.

APC primaries: Kwankwaso begins nationwide campaign

•From left: Chairman, May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma; Managing Director/CEO, May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okafor and Senator Daisy Danjuma, at the 70th anniversary dinner of the company, held at Muson Centre, Lagos.

Jonathan, Shekarau, others meet over abducted Chibok girls’ SSCE results

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and three other top government officials held a crucial meeting yesterday on the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

Over 200 female pupils of the school were abducted during the examination on April 14.

“The result of that examina-

From Barnabas Manyam, Yola

K

ANO State Governor Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has begun a nationwide mobilisation and sensitisation drive of the All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters across the nation, ahead of its primaries scheduled for next month.

When his team visited Adamawa State, the presidential aspirant was represented by the Director of Strategy of the Kwankwaso Campaign Organisation, Alhaji Nura Mohammed Dankadai.

The organisation toured the 21 local governments to woo members and interest groups.

Dankadai said Kwankwaso is the best man for the job and urged well-meaning Nigerians to support him.

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‘Why prosecuting terrorism cases is tough’

ROSECUTION of crimes, especially terrorism, is difficult in the country due to lack of proper record keeping, statistics and data collection, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Ahmed Raji, has said.

He said the Terrorism Prevention Act (TPA), the principal tool in prosecuting terrorism, can be effectively applied where there is adequate birth, immigration and other forensic records.

Raji said the steady rise in terrorism was not due to defects in the extant laws, but because other factors that aided the effectiveness of the statutes were lacking.

According to him, despite the prosecution challenges, the Terrorism Act has been employed to prosecute at least 40 cases out of which judgments have been delivered in about 15 since the law came into effect in 2011.

This, he said, is remarkable because criminal trials in the country are reputed

By Joseph Jibueze

to last for over five years.

Raji said the fight against terrorism might not be won if its causes were not tackled.

“We must have a correct diagnosis for there to be an effective solution. Until the cause is known, I am afraid we are in the woods,” he said.

Raji said the Terrorism Act was enacted to ensure that the judicial process was not activated against the perpetrators of terror in the absence of a legislation that not only expressly criminalised the acts, but also provided for appropriate penalties against perpetrators.

The law, he said, emphasised respect for the fundamental rights of suspects or accused persons, adding that before an individual is detained for investigation for a period in excess of the constitutionally- permitted time, the investigating body must seek and obtain an order of the Federal High Court.

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From Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

tion has been released,” Shekarau said.

The minister, who spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Education at the National Assembly, noted that the meeting was necessitated by the fact that “the result is haphazard.”

His words: “In fact, by 1pm today (yesterday), the President has scheduled a meeting,

which I am attending, specifically to address some of the issues of girls education in that troubled zone.

“By this morning (yesterday), I got an information from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

The result of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok has been released. But we have to look at it vis-a-vis the security situation and implication before the formal release. It’s right now in my

possession.

“Because when the abduction occurred, some remained, completed their exams, some were taking exams and they were abducted. So, the result is haphazard. We’re addressing that this afternoon (yesterday).

“This is just for the information of the members. It is also a matter of great concern to us.

I’m sure by 1pm, four, five of us will be sitting with Mr. President to address this issue.”

Ebola: Closing of borders not solution, say EU, ECOWAS

HE European Union (EU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have appealed against the closure of borders or isolation of countries affected by the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

The bodies warned that such an action could be counterproductive.

Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea are most hit by the virus, killing over 2,000 people in the last six months. Nigeria also had a share, as the virus was brought to the country by a Liberian-American, the late Patrick Sawyer. It has killed seven people.

The appeal was made at the 10th edition of the ECOWAS/ Development Partners Annual Coordination Meeting held in Abuja. Officials from both regional bodies are meeting for the next three days with other institutions to discuss the virus, terrorism and other issues.

European Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mich-

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

el Arrion, said closing borders against Ebola-ravaged countries was not a solution to containing the spread.

“There is need to isolate the virus, but there is no need to isolate the countries,” he said.

Arrion said if the sub-region’s ability failed, West African countries might face a dangerous threat to public health and security with the scourge of the disease.

The EU ambassador noted that of the 15 countries in West Africa, three have been seriously affected, with two more having to deal with reported cases, while the other 10 have not had reported cases.

Arrion, who urged member- countries to step up effort against the diseases, warned that one cannot rule out fresh cases in the region.

The ECOWAS Commission’s President, Kadre Desire

Ouedraogo, speaking with reporters, said although it was important that borders be closed, member-states must be conscious in terms of surveillance.

“I appeal to ECOWAS member-states not to close their borders, not to isolate the affected countries because this will be counter-productive. We should cultivate the spirit of solidarity,” he said.

Ouedraogo said recommendations had been made by the regional ministers of health on measures to be taken by every ECOWAS member-state to contain the epidemic by controlling the passengers at the exit and entry points in order to avoid contamination.

“They have proposed the creation of Humanitarian Corridors, which we are implementing and we are working with ECOWAS memberstates to establish these corri-

dors. That is for each country.

There should be a designated land entry point, air entry point and maritime entry point, which will be monitored by two neighbouring countries to ensure that the epidemic will not travel with the passengers. We should open the borders, but should be very vigilant to control the epidemic,” he said.

The ECOWAS chief, who appealed for more funding from member-countries and development partners to tackle the disease, hailed Nigeria for contributing $3.5million to fight Ebola.

“The West African Health Community has been at the forefront. The only thing is that we lack the financial resources to respond as quickly as we need. And right as we speak, I still appeal to our partners to provide us with the necessary financial support in order to be more efficient.

ECOWAS is coordinating the fight against this epidemic and the West African Health Organisation is on ground.

Fed Govt to spend N3b on fixing infrastructure

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HE Federal Government has earmarked $3.0 billion to fix infrastructure, the Minister of National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Suleiman, has said.

He said about two weeks ago, Federal Government approved the national integrated master plan to fix infrastructure.

Suleiman told reporters yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital that “to achieve this target, we are expecting 48 per cent of this investment from the private sector and 52 per cent from the public sector. In the framing of this plan, government has observed that fixing infrastructure has been lopsided and haphazard. Therefore government has prioritised the sectors and projected certain investment cost for each sector.

“The level we are now in the area of

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

infrastructure in the country is between 20 and 25 per cent and for us to be one of the leading countries in the world in 2020, we must get to at least 70 per cent. We have made projection by breaking the master plan into phases. For instance, between 2014 and 2018, we are expected to have spent $1.6 billion to fix infrastructure so that in the next 30 years, Nigeria will boast of being a developed country.”

He said although only 120,000 Kwara indigenes of the 1.5 million people in the Northcentral participated in the collection of the signatures on President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid, “that is not the issue.”

About 400, 000 Kwara indigenes registered as members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the last registra-

tion exercise conducted by the party, it was learnt.

The minister said: “It is about the high poverty rate in the state. It is about how do we take Kwara away from the capital flow to the state?”

He said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had mapped out strategies on how to wrest power from the APC during the coming general elections in the state.

Suleiman decried what he termed as ‘high poverty rate’ in the state, saying the situation had remained the same.

He alleged that funds accruing to it were being siphoned.

The minister stressed that the Federal Government was working to diversify the economy, which, according to him, informed the attention given to the agricultural sector in the last few years.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

NEWS Minister effects shake-up at board

Ebola: Fed Govt, NMA agree on schools’ resumption date

•Plans town hall meeting for stakeholders

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HE Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, approved yesterday the re-organisation of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB).

He appointed Mr. Baba Shehu Lawan as the acting director.

Mohammed made the changes during the bi-weekly FCT Operational Briefing Session (OBS) in Gwarinpa.

Until his appointment, the new acting director of AEPB was a deputy director, Parks and Tree Maintenance in the Department of Parks and Recreation of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC).

The re-organisation affected the former acting director, Mrs. Aisha Adebayo; three deputy directors and one assistant director, who were redeployed out of the board.

As part of the reorganisation, Senator Mohammed also directed the new management team of the AEPB to organise a town hall meeting with the stakeholders to address the grey areas.

According to a statement is-

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

sued by the Asst. Director/ Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Sule, the minister said plans were underway to source 3,000 plastic environmental waste bins to enhance solid waste management in the FCT. On waste collection in estates around the FCT, the minister instructed the new management to liaise with the estate managers and residents to collect wastes in order to take off such burden from the shoulders of the Abuja Environmental Board.

His words: “The FCT administration has started the implementation of the policy of self-service of housing estates by owners/residents association with a successful stakeholders meeting.”

Mohammed announced the establishment of additional dumpsites at Dutse Makaranta and Bwari to ease pressure on the existing dumpsites, thereby reducing the turnaround time of waste collection vehicles.

HE Federal Government and the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) harmonised positions on the September 22 resumption date of pupils yesterday.

NMA said the date set for the resumption of pupils by the Federal Government was acceptable and that schools should resume “in order not to feed into the fear monster in the country.”

The association, toeing the position of the government at a stakeholders’ meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Education, however, gave six provisions to be followed to make the country safe.

NMA President Dr. Kayode Obembe said the association changed its mind on the condition that the Federal Gov-

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•Committee warns against mass gathering From: Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

ernment would, among other conditions, maintain “highest level of vigilance” at the entry points, resuscitate infectious disease hospitals in states and ensure comprehensive screening of travellers.

NMA said international port health services should be put in the highest level of vigilance and preparedness to screen immigrants for fever.

“Recent travellers to the provinces of the endemic countries of the Ebola disease- namely Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Sudan and Gabon-must be scrutinised for the presence of the virus

and epidemiologicallytreated,” it added.

NMA’s new position negates its previous stance that schools should remain closed until those suspected of having the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and under surveillance are cleared.

Education Minister Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, debunking allegations that the Federal Government was influenced by private school owners to adopt September 22, instead of the earlier October 13 resumption date, said government’s decision was hinged on the professional advice by the Health Ministry.

He said: “It was a unanimous decision taken after a meeting with the Education

commissioners and the Health Ministry. The Ministry of Education also wrote to the governors to give the directive more weight.”

Shekarau added: “At no point did anybody influence this decision. There were reports that the private sector influenced the decision. That is not true.”

The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Ports of Entry against Ebola, Dr. Sani Gwarzo, informing the lawmakers of his committee’s efforts, warned against mass rallies and gatherings until the EVD is put under check.

Said he: “I will really want to warn against mass gathering at this time.”

Activists ask Emefiele to provide information on ‘money laundering’

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HE Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Mr. Godwin Emefiele to “provide information about the persons involved in alleged money laundering through the bank to fund the activities of the Boko Haram.

It also asked him to provide “within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter, information on the nature and duration of any such transaction.”

The organisation threatened “appropriate legal actions under the Freedom of Information Act to compel you to comply with our request.”

In the letter dated September 15 and signed by the Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, SERAP said: “Given the involvement of the CBN in this matter and the fact that you are the governor of the bank, we believe you will use your position to provide information on what happened.

“SERAP is concerned about the damaging allegation, especially given that the CBN as a regulatory body has a responsibility under the UN Convention against corruption and other national laws to prevent money laundering in banks and ensure that its systems are transparent and accountable to the people.”

The body added: “It is necessary to provide clarity as to what happened through the CBN if the bank is to play a leadership role in the fight against corruption and money laundering and enjoy public trust and confidence essential for its effectiveness.

“Providing the information will also help ensure accountability for those involved in international crimes and contribute to providing effective remedies for victims.”

Cleric faults schools’ resumption date HE Senior Pastor of the Bible Believing Mission Incorporated, with headquarters in Abia State, Pastor Kingsley Innocent, has faulted the September 22 resumption date of schools.

He said measures should be put in place to ensure that the virus did not spread among children, especially those in primary schools, because, according to him, they were vulnerable to diseases.

The cleric said if not handled with care, the situation might become uncontrollable and might spell doom for the nation’s future.

He said: “I don’t subscribe to schools, especially primary schools, resuming on September 22. We don’t pray for it, but how ready are we to manage the situation if something goes wrong? “These are children.

Once the Ebola disease gets into the system of our little children, then, curing it becomes impossible. It may become an epidemic. Once it gets into the children, it has gotten into the fu-

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By Evelyn Osagie

ture of our nation. Let us put the right measures in places and ensure things are in order before the schools will resume.”

Praising government’s effort so far in curbing the spread of the virus, Innocent said it should come up with proactive measures that would prevent children from contracting it.

According to him, the onus lies on the government to protect the nation’s future.

He said: “Although the approach may be slow, I think our government is doing better than other governments in West Africa. However, government at all levels should look into that direction and find a way that will ensure our children are well-protected.

The three tiers of government should work together with school authorities to ensure this Ebola disease does not spread.

“I advise that schools should not resume now because if children are safe from the disease, we are safe.”

•Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau (left), Commissioner for Education, Cross River State, Offiong Offiong and President, All Nigerian Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Abdulrahman Fatima, during a meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Education, on schools resumption in Abuja... yesterday PHOTO ABAYOMI FAYESE

More U.S. support coming for INEC

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HE United States (US) has said it will offer more support to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Africa’s Deputy Director of US Department of State, Mary Angelini, according to INEC’s daily bulletin, gave the assurance when she visited the commission in Lagos.

Angelin, the bulletin said, promised that the United States would not shy away from supporting the commission in democratising the country.

INEC said it was ready to learn from criticisms.

The commission’s directors of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Chidi Nwafor, an engineer; Voter Registry, Emmanuel Akem, an engineer; and Voter Education and Publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, a lawyer, reaffirmed INEC’s willingness to learn from stakeholders’ criticisms.

The directors, while presenting a dialogue on INEC’s implementation of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) organised by

•Commission ‘ready to learn from critics’ From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

the Nigerian support Civil Society Situation Room, the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), stressed the commission’s open policy in terms of accepting constructive criticisms and suggestions on ways to improve on its mandate of delivering free, fair and credible elections in 2015 and beyond.

Akem said: “We have learnt and are still willing to learn,” adding that the success recorded in Osun and Ekiti states could not have been achieved if the commission had not learnt from previous mistakes.

He noted that “every eligible voter needs to have his/her permanent voter card because we intend to use card readers in 2015. This will check electoral fraud.”

Nwafor said: “We are still learning. We learn from criticisms and questions to improve on the integrity of the electoral process.”

He explained the processes involved in the collection of PVCs and participation in the

‘

We are still learning. We learn from criticisms and questions to improve on the integrity of the electoral process

’

CVR exercise, saying previously-registered voters could still collect their PVCs at INEC’s local government offices across the country.

Chidi admitted that the PVC distribution exercise experienced logistic problems as men and materials getting to locations.

He said the problems were being addressed, adding that there were improvements in the second phase of the exercise.

Uzzi said that the owners of the election (citizens) needed to be enlightened on

how to participate in elections: when, where, why and how, citing examples of strategies and reforms put in place by the commission to elicit massive participation in 2015.

The Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, (PLAC), Mr. Clement Nwankwo, hailed the progress made by the commission in improving elections in the country, but noted that there was still more to be done.

He urged civil society organisations to play their part in nation building by contributing to the improvement of the electoral process.

The Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi A. Odinkalu, praised INEC for its achievements.

He said: “For once, we have an INEC that is working; that is not to say we have a perfect situation, but we have an INEC that is ready to work.”

Odinkalu advised stakeholders to desist from destructive criticisms, which could destroy the integrity of the electoral process.

THE NATION TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

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NEWS Ogun empowers 250 widows, traders, others

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BOUT 250 traders, widows, farmers and community leaders in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State have benefited from the third phase of the State Community Empowerment programme.

The programme, which was initiated by the wife of the governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, is aimed at creating opportunities for the less privileged to improve their earning potentials to fight poverty.

Speaking while distributing the small scale business items at St. Mary Primary School in Abigi, Mrs. Amosun explained that the programme was aimed at maximising growth opportunities among the less privileged in Ogun State and support them to reach their full potential.

She said the programme was part of efforts of her Uplift Development Foundation Projects to complement the numerous existing empowerment opportunities provided under Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration to uplift the lpeople at the grassroots.

She noted that the Community Empowerment Programme was borne out of the needs assessment carried out the exercise with community leaders and associations to ensure that their communities’ needs were met.

She said: “This initiative is part of effort by the Senator Amosun administration to increase small and medium scale enterprises among rural dwellers, thus improving the quality of lives of the citizenry through capacity building. It is when our people are employed that they put food on their table and become self-sufficient.”

Appeal Court declares Ondo Rep’s seat vacant T

Germany to establish centre in Ogun

HE Appeal Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital declared vacant

G

ERMAN Minister of Economic Cooperation Mr. Gerd Muller has said the German government will establish a green agricultural centre in Ogun State.

He spoke at the end of a meeting with Governor Ibikunle Amosun in Berlin, Germany.

The minister hailed the conducive economic environment in Ogun State and expressed his country’s readiness to strengthen their economic ties.

Muller, who visited Ogun state in June, said the trip changed his perception about Nigeria, expressing confidence that great potentials that can be tapped abound in the state.

The minister explained that the centre, to be cited within a tertiary institution, would serve as an innovation centre where his government and the government to intensify their ties.

He highlighted other areas of possible cooperation between Germany and Ogun State as human capacity development, wealth creation and promotion of vocational education.

Amosun bemoaned the

•Senator Amosun slow pace of growth in most African countries, attributing the trend to the insensitivity of successive leaders.

The governor spoke at a conference in Berlin, Germany with the theme “Africa Continent of opportunities: Which role for development cooperation”.

He urged governments in Africa countries to work towards creating wealth and tapping into the opportunities that abound in the real sector to create jobs for the youths.

LAUTECH wins 2014 Google online marketing contest

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TUDENTS of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso have won this year’s online marketing contest organised by the Internet search firm, Google.

The contest is entitled: “2014 Google Online Marketing Challenge Contest for the Middle East and Africa.”

A statement by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the institution, Mr Lekan Fadeyi, listed members of the LAUTECH team in the contest as Adedoyin Jelili , Olayanju Abiodun, Adeosun Oluwole all of Mechanical Engineering Department.

Others are Adesina Jamiu, Akadiri Olawole, both of the Urban and Regional Planning Department and Salami

•From left: Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, representative of Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mallami Maccido (Ubandoma of Sokoto); Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Serikin Yorubawa of Sokoto, Alhaji Isiaka Usman and a member of the General Purpose Committee of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni during a condolence visit to Aregbesola on the death of President General, League of Imams and Alfas Southwest, Alhaji Sheik Mustapha Ajisafe at the Government House, Osogbo.

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

Ismaila of the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry. The team was led by the university’s Director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Dr Tayo Arulogun.

The statement quoted the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Adeniyi Gbadegesin, as commending members of the team for the feat while receiving them in his office.

Gbadegesin also hailed the founding fathers of the institution for bequeathing to it a legacy that has continued to stand the test of time.

“The team would be leaving the country for Dublin any moment from now to see the workings at the Google office,” the statement added.

yesterday the seat of the lawmaker representing Akure South/North Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Mr Ifedayo Abegunde.

Abegunde’s counsel Segun Akanmode condemned the judgment, saying he would file an appeal today at the Supreme Court.

The lawmaker approached the appellate court to set aside the judgment of Justice G.O Okeke of the Federal High Court, which earlier declared vacant the seat of the legislator in May 2012.

Abegunde, a former member of the Labour Party (LP) defected to the defunct the Action Congress (ACN). He took

•Lawyers file appeal today

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

the LP to court, justifying his defection and claimed that his former party had crisis which led to divisions.

While upholding the judgment of the lower court, the appellate court, presided over

by Justice A.G Mishella, said Abegunde’s appeal lacked merit, saying that there was no division in his former party.

The court then asked the appellant to vacate the seat, having violated Section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution.

Abegunde, through his aide, Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, urged All Progressives Congress

(APC) members to remain calm, stressing that justice awaits them at the apex court.

He said: “We have seen the judgment coming in the same direction since the last sitting for adoption of addresses by counsel to both parties. In fact, we learnt about this judgment was not issued to our lawyers and kept us guessing just in a way to ambush us from further exercising our fundamental rights.

“We will file our appeal and other necessary things will follow to challenge this miscarriage of justice. We have decided to take the matter to the apex

court and confident that we will get justice there.”

Ogunleye noted that Governor Olusegun Mimiko has indicated interest to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) from the LP. He added that Senator Boluwaji Kunlere defected from LP to PDP a few weeks ago.

Kunlere is the senator representing Ondo South.

“We don’t know the moral justification why Mimiko is using tax payer’s money to pursue Abegunde, while he has abandoned his electoral promises.

“However, our hope on judiciary is not lost despite our inability to get justice at the lower and appellate courts. We are keeping hope alive that the apex court will right the wrongs.”

Battle to lead Jonathan’s Southwest campaign continues T

HE bid by Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Olabode George to take over President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign in the Southwest has failed.

The President, according to sources at a meeting last week in Abuja, insisted that Ekiti State Governor-elect Ayo Fayose, should lead the campaign.

The meeting was held on the platform of the South West Unity Forum of the PDP to strategise on how to take charge of the presidential campaign structure in the zone ahead of the 2015 elections.

At the meeting were former Ogun State Governor Gbenga

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By Musa Odoshimokhe

Daniel, a Labour Party chief who has been campaigning for Jonathan and former House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole, among others.

“After the meeting, a delegation was sent to the Villa to meet with the President alongside other leaders of the party, including Vice-President Namadi Sambo; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih; the National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu and Deputy National Chairman, Chief Uche Secondus, among

others,” the source said.

“But the greatest undoing of the conveners of the meeting was that they left out some notable leaders of the PDP in the Southwest. After their meeting they sent a delegation to meet with the President.

“They were also asked the place of Fayose to which the leaders said had not been decided because of unresolved issues among them.

“The President advised them not to create any organ/group outside the party structure, and that they should collapse whatever group or plans into par-

•Dr. Jonathan

ty’s structure to ensure unity and cohesion.”

The President also reportedly advised them against opening an office in Abuja but in Ibadan, the headquarters of the Southwest.

Amosun’s aide quits APC for PDP

HE Special Adviser to Governor Ibikunle Amosun on Environment, Abimbola Lanre-Balogun, has resigned her appointment, citing dissatisfaction with Amosun’s style of governance.

Mrs Lanre-Balogun also said she was leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

The governor’s former aide said she resigned her appointment and joined the PDP because it has dawned on her that Amosun runs a government of what she termed: “me, myself, and my family.”

Speaking at the PDP stakeholders’ meeting at the Goodluck Jonathan Political Centre in Ijebu-Igbo, the former Special Adviser also hinted that many top members of Amosun’s government would soon join PDP. She said: “I have been in this government (Amosun’s) since inception. I was sworn in as Special Adviser on Environment precisely on the 21st of July, 2011 and we swung into action. Like I always say, I have passion for hard work. I set out to do so and

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

began to do what God sent me to do for the good people of Ogun State.

“I began to work day and night when I was in the Ministry of Environment. It got to a stage that the governor himself called me to the Exco to take a bow, saying, I was up to the task.”

She noted that she was later made redundant as no more work was sent to her desk despite complaining to the governor.

She said the governor told her that: “The position is just for me to occupy and that the people doing the work were there.”

“And who were the people doing the work? Just five people – himself, his brother, his cousins and members of his family.

“We were not given anything to do. I am a proper Ogun woman, born in Abeokuta. Both of my parents are indigenes of Abeokuta.”

Commissioner for Information and Strategy Yusuph Olaniyonu said the government would make its position on the issue known later.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

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NEWS

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Chibok girls: Senators join Abuja protesters

WO senators from Borno State, Mohammed Ali Ndume and Senator Khalifa Ahmed Zanna, joined the #BringBackOurGirls protesters yesterday, calling on Nigerians not to make the mistake of returning the government of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

The senators, who spoke yesterday in Abuja during the sit-out of members of the advocacy group, said if Nigerians do, the country would not be able to survive.

The senators said the government was allergic to the truth and criticism.

They accused the administration of telling lies about doing everything to bring back the Chibok girls, revealing that the insurgents have installed an emir in Bama.

But the government, according to them, has never taken any action about the girls and was only misleading Nigerians.

They promised to join the protesters until the government takes up its responsibilities of securing the lives and property of its citizens.

Ndume and Zanna said the group, which has been sitting out for over 139 days in pro-

•’Insurgents installed new emir in Bama’ From Grace Obike, Abuja

test of the abduction of the over 200 girls from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, comprised of honest Nigerians.

Zanna’s words: “In the history if Nigeria, we have never had a more irresponsible government like the one we have now. When this incident happened, they played politics first before action. I have never seen any action being taken by the government on these girls.

“I did my own investigations and whenever I say anything, it will be the truth and nothing but the truth. I don’t know where we are going to place this government in the history of Nigeria or Africa.

If they say that the #BringBackOurGirls are from the opposition, I am not from the opposition; I am a PDP senator. To me, party is secondary. If my party is not doing the right thing, I will come out and say it.

“How on earth, for 155 days, that the daughters of some people are taken by some rascals and the government is

doing nothing about it. They are now even allowing them to pick more and more. Instead of 200, maybe there are even 3,000 or 4,000 with them (Boko Haram members). Because within the last one week, in Bama alone, they might have taken 500 or 1,000.”

The senator said the insurgents were now taking other people’s wives, adding that when the women complained that they were married, the militants would say that they were married to infidels.

He added: “I don’t know what religion they are practicing. These are pure criminals and being supported by somebody who is supposed to protect us; that is the basic truth.

“If care is not taken, this thing will continue. It will not end in Borno, Yobe or the Northeast alone. According to my own analysis, it will continue beyond. It is just a matter of time and if Nigerians make the mistake of brining this government back, I am afraid, we are not going to survive in this country. The truth must be told because

what I am seeing, maybe some of you don’t see.

“Today, according to my own investigation, an emir is being installed in Bama. What will be their mission again?

They are trying to attack Maiduguri and all this intelligence are being relayed to the intelligence headquarters. If they don’t take action, then it is their own problem, their own fault; not ours. Any information we get, we relate.

“If the world has a conscience, they must come to the rescue of Nigerians. We are in a very deep trouble. This is not only affecting Muslims, but including Christians and those who don’t have religion.

“What they are after is just to destroy Nigeria and they are using the Boko Haram to do it. What was Boko Haram three years ago? Two and half years ago, I asked the military to leave Maiduguri because I observed what they were doing.

“They did not take it likely, they went and ransacked my house and brought out my family unto the street and humiliated them. And not stopping there, they went and ar-

rested the boy they claimed was a high profile Boko Haram commander in their mentor’s house - that is Sheriff’s house. But they came out to claim that he was arrested in my house. I came out and told them that they are lying and up to today, they cannot prove that they arrested that man in my house.”

Ndume, in his own speech, said: “I want to tell you that we in the National Assembly, and particularly I can speak for myself and Zanna, we would do our best and we are open to your suggestions and criticism because we believe that this your cause is because you only want the girls back and alive.

“The National Assembly, especially the members from the Northeast, we are trying to stay away because one of the things that is now common with the government is to say that anything that one does is opposition sponsored.

This government is so allergic to criticism that anything you do is opposition.

“Why we came here today is to join you in pushing and making the government to bring back our girls now and alive; we are with you.”

LASU’s external students stage protest at Alausa

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

S

CORES of students of the Lagos State University External System (LASUES) staged a protest yesterday at the office of Governor Babatunde Fashola over alleged fraudulent practices and mass failure of undergraduates by the institution’s management.

This came barely a month after Fashola reversed the tuition for the students to N25,000 at the last matriculation held at the school main campus, Ojo. The external system students were excluded in the tuition reversal.

The students arrived at the office about 10a.m and barricaded the entrance, demanding that Fashola must resolve their demands before they would vacate the entrance.

They brandished placards with inscriptions, such as, “Lack of proper academic calendar”, “Missing scripts and withheld results”, “Increment in tuition and poor management”, “We say no to one year academic semester”, “Our future; our life”, “Fashola, please save us” among others.

Mr. Abolaji Azeez, who spoke on behalf of the protesters, complained aboutthe management of the system, adding that since 2012, LASUES has only conducted three examinations.

He noted that this was not in accordance with global practices on education.

They demanded for reduction in tuition fee from N68,700 to N38,700 for 500Level, and N75,700 to N45,700 for students in 400-Level and from N95,700 to N65,700 for those in 300-Level.

Cleric warns against ‘looming danger’

T •Senator Oluremi Tinubu (middle) flanked by some of the beneficiaries of Widows Economic Empowerment Scheme (WEES) at the 12th Edition of Lagos Central Senatorial District Town Hall meeting hosted by the senator at Victoria Island, Lagos.

PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN

Osun’s bill for teaching of Yoruba, others From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

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HE Osun State House of Assembly has passed a bill for compulsory teaching of Yoruba language, culture and tradition, civic education as well as physical and health education in public and private schools.

The bill was passed after a motion moved by the Deputy Leader, Mr. Afolabi Atolagbe and seconded by the member representing Egbedore, Mr. Abiodun Awolola.

Reading the policy trust of the bill, “Osun State Education Amendment Bill 2014”, Atolagbe explained that it would promote the use of Yoruba language, culture and tradition in schools.

The lawmakers unanimously supported the passage of the bill, which they said would help prevent the language from going into extinction.

They maintained that physical and health education, as part of the law, would enable the students to be physically fit.

T

Ekiti transition panel begins work

HE Transition Committee put in place by Ekiti State for the October 16 inauguration of the new administration began work yesterday.

The transition committee, which is made up of some top functionaries of the incumbent administration and nominees of the governor-elect, at the inaugural meeting, promised to work in harmony in the interest of Ekiti people.

Its Chairman and Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Ganiyu Owolabi, inaugurated the committee on behalf of Governor Kayode Fayemi at the Executive Council Chambers of the Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti.

The governor gave an approval that the chairman of the governor-elect’s Transition Committee, Chief Dipo Anisulowo, be appointed a co-chairman to ensure equity and fairness.

Anisulowo was represented at the inauguration by Mr. Owoseni Ajayi.

In his opening remarks, Owolabi said the committee is composed of members he described as “veterans,” who had acquired experience through their service in government.

He promised the readiness of the committee to ensure a seamless transition expected to climax in the inauguration of the governor-elect on October 16.

Owolabi noted that the fusion of the nominees from both sides of the divide into a single committee would give opportunities to clarify issues where necessary rather than resort to falsehood.

He stressed that the Fayemi administration still has the mandate and legitimacy of the people of Ekiti State till October 15, promising that actions would be taken only in the interest of the people.

The committee chairman said government officials superintending over the affairs of 193 ministries, departments and

agencies have been directed to prepare handover notes to guide the committee in taking decisions.

He explained that the committee would break into sub-committees to bring various proposals to the table ahead of the inauguration.

Ajayi, who spoke on behalf of Anisulowo, expressed satisfaction with the relationship existing between Fayemi and Fayose after the announcement of the June 21 election result.

He stressed that the maturity displayed by the duo was aimed at ensuring Ekiti people get the best.

The chairman stated that the committee members were not oblivious to the fact that both sides had traded words in the media, adding that the committee is an opportunity to bridge the gap between them.

Party faults NBC’s stoppage of jingles in Ondo

O

NDO State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has decried the interference of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in suspending its mobilisation jingles.

The party Chairman, Mr. Isaac Kekemeke, in a statement, noted that the jingles

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

were not offensive, but mainly to mobilise party members and other interested persons to APC. “Our party wonders why the NBC, if it so efficient, has not stopped the Transformation Agenda of Nigeria’s (TAN) numerous campaign

jingles for President Goodluck Jonathan on television stations.

“We decry in strongest terms the unpretentious and despicable descent of government agencies into the arena of partisan politics,” the party said.

APC urged the commis-

sion to lift the stoppage of the party’s mobilisation jingles.

The party also appealed to the citizenry to reject the new contraption, “Labour/ Peoples Democratic Party (LPDP), of Governor Olusegun Mimiko after an alleged“unfruitful adventure” with LP.

HE General Evangelist of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Worldwide, Prophet Samuel Abiara, has warned the nation against a “looming danger.”

Abiara, who spoke ahead of a one-day programme billed to hold at the CAC, Agbala Itura, Lagos on Friday and Saturday, said God instructed the church to pray for the people for one day to ward off the impending danger.

He said the programme tagged, “God of Refuge,” was organised “because this country needs protection.

God said we must pray for 24 hours no stopping, starting from this Friday to the early morning of Saturday, to pray for Nigeria, the government, those who are travelling by air, by road, businessmen, women and to pray for the churches so that will not have any calamity before the end of this year.”

He said God revealed to him about serious epidemic that was about to break in Nigeria sometimes in 2012, adding that Ebola virus is part of it.

“This Ebola is small thing from what is going to come.

Nigeria should expect something more terrible than what we are currently experiencing. That is why you need prayers and everybody should be involved.”

The general evangelist said that if not for prayers, things would have been worse in the country.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

9

CITYBEATS

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Era of unknown soldier is gone, says tribunal

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HE era of unknown soldier is gone, the Tribunal of Inquiry into the road accident and vandalism of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses said yesterday as it began sitting.

Its chairman, Justice Ebenezer Adebajo, said Nigeria is no longer where soldiers could engage in barbaric acts.

Addressing members of the audience including lawyers and representatives of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), he pledged that the tribunal would be fair to all.

Justice Adebajo urged those who witnessed the July 14 incident to come and testify, adding that the tribunal would ensure confidentiality of witnesses where required.

This, he said, is the only way to ensure the tribunal does “a thorough job and makes appropriate recommendation that would ensure such ugly incident does not happen again”.

Last July 14, some soldiers were said to have burnt some BRT buses around

•Justice Adebajo (left); Igbanoi and Disu at the tribunal ... yesterday

By Adebisi Onanuga

Palmgroove Bus Stop following an accident in which their motorcycle riding colleague was killed.

Although, the military was not present, Justice Adebajo said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah and the Brigade Commander of the 9th Mechanised division, Ikeja Cantonment, Brig.-Gen. Lubo have promised to ap-

pear before the tribunal.

Another member of the panel, Jude Igbanoi, said the tribunal has expanded its scope to take memoranda from people who want to remain anonymous.

Igbanoi said during sitting, the tribunal would protect and take evidence from anybody who prefers anonymity.

The director, Centre for Free Speech, Richard

Akinnola, who represented CSOs, recalled the burning of Kalakuta in 1977 by soldiers and cautioned the tribunal against returning a verdict of “unknown soldiers”.

“Because if at the end, the tribunal finds the driver of the BRT guilty of negligence, he would be charged accordingly and so, it should be the case for soldiers found culpable”, he

Police smash six-man gang

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HE police have smashed a six-man gang, which specialised in robbing banks, killing four of the members.

The remaining two were arrested when the gang attempted to rob a Bureau De Change (BDC) at the Airport Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos.

They are Saheed Amao, alias Argentina and Tajudeen Rasheed.

Police Sources at the Lagos Command Headquarters in Ikeja, said detectives, who were acting on a tip off, cornered the gang in front of Rodeo Shopping centre at the hotel.

“Two of the suspects escaped with bullet wounds, while one who ran into Airport Hotel, was later arrested from where he was hiding not too far from the

How to curb insurgency

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HE Neighbourhood Watch Lagos Central, Area C Command, has implored for the public to be more vigilant.

The Area Commander, Bashiru Giwa-Bioku made the call at an investiture and awards dinner in Lagos.

In a paper titled: “See something, say something’’, he said people should be extra vigilant especially now that the country is battling with insurgency, noting that every body must be involved in the security of the community.

Giwa-Biobaku said:”The Neighborhood Watch in your community must be recognised, spiritually, morally and financially in collaboration with the state government”.

The country, he said, would overcome its security challenges if Nigerians take the problem more seriously.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos Central, was honoured as the command’s grand patron in recognition of her service to the community.

•Four killed, two others arrested

By Jude Isiguzo

pool side. He took the police to where his second was arrested,” a source.

The suspects trailed a would be victim to the hotel.

Amao said: “ I was invited for the operation by a member of our gang known as Okanlawon.

It was Okanlawon who knows the identity of the victim. We had barely settled down for the operation when the police arrive”.

The Commissioner of Police, Cornelius Kayode Aderanti, who confirmed the arrest, said two locally made single barrel guns, one AK 47 rifle fully loaded, some cartridges, a dagger and one cut-

lass were recovered from the suspects.

Aderanti said he got intelligence information that some robbers were planning to operate around the hotel.

He said on receiving the information, he detailed the Officer in Charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Superintendent of Police (SP) Abba Kyari, to investigate.

Aderanti said: “On arrival, the police team sighted the robbers, but they never knew that the robbers had earlier spoted them. The robbers opened fire on the policemen.

Four of the robbers were killed in the operation, two escaped while one was arrested. It was the one that was arrested who led Kyari to where the second suspect was hiding”.

•The suspects ... yesterday

said.

The Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Mr. Dayo Mobereola called for a thorough investigation to ensure that such incident does not recur.

General Manager of LAGBUS, Mr. Babatunde Disu urged the public to assist the tribunal to do a good job.

Chairman, Ikorodu Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Dotun Adetunji urged the tribunal to encourage people to come and give evidence.

Adetunji said it is only when justice is done that people would have confidence in the system, adding that the tribunal’s decision to make recommendation to avoid a recurrence is good.

Chairman, Lawyers in the Media John Unachukwu urged the tribunal to provide security for those who may be vulnerable.

“All interest groups must be protected in order to get to the root of the matter”, he said.

Robbers kill man

By Jude Isiguzo

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OBBERS have killed a man in Ajegunle, Lagos, while attempting to dispossess him of his valuables.

The bandits numbering over 40, dispossessed other residents of cash and valuables.

It was gathered that the deceased ran into the hoodlums.

Residents said the hoodlums have been terrorising them every other Sunday night, with cutlasses, iron rods, axes and other dangerous weapons.

It was gathered that as soon as the gang arrived, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ajegunle, Abayomi Agbana, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), led a team of policemen to the scene.

Sources said upon sighting the police patrol vehicle, the hoodlums fled. Policemen took the body to the mortuary.

Last week, the police arrested three members of the gang.

Suspected kidnapper charged

By Amara Okoye

A

34-year-old man, Cephas Jonah Udoka, has been arraigned at the Surulere Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for alleged kidnap.

He was arrested at the National Stadium in Surulere for allegedly abducting a 19year-old Ugochi Paul in order to have sex with her.

The police said on August 3, the accused at 7:30am in the Lagos Magisterial district did unlawfully take Miss Paul out of the custody of her guardian, Ada Iwuoha.

According to the prosecution, it was “with the intention to have carnal knowledge of the said Ugochi Paul.”

The alleged offence is punishable under section 267 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

Udoka pleaded not guilty to the charge.

He was granted N200,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum. The sureties must swear to affidavit of means and their addresses verified by the court.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

10

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CITYBEATS LINE: 08078425391

Congolese prophet predicts collapse of Synagogue’s main auditorium

Four bodies recovered

By Jude Isiguzo

•‘I predicted what happened on Friday in 2012’

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C O N G O L E S E Prophet, Jean-Claude Kibonzy, has predicted the collapse of the main auditorium of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN).

Kibonzy, who claimed to have predicted last Friday’s incident two years ago, said he was maltreated by the security and disallowed from seeing Prophet T.B. Joshua to give him the message.

Showing copies of printed mails dated August 2012, the Sweden-based Kibonzy said he was forced to speak to the media because the church authorities have prevented Joshua from receiving his messages and emails.

Kibonzy, who came with his Kenyan wife, Christene and their two children, warned that if anything happens to Joshua, there would be “ceaseless rain in Nigeria”.

“My ministry is Rock of God Ministry. I got revelation in 2012 about the falling of this church. God showed me everything and I saw the part of the church where people eat collapse. I

By Precious Igbonwelundu

came here at the end of 2012 and before I came, I called but they did not even want to pick the phone.

“I paid my air ticket and came. Most of the evangelists and security people know me. That is why they do not want to see me today and treated me the way they did.

They know that if Prophet Joshua should know about this, he will cast them out.

“I informed them in 2012 that God showed me this. I told them they have to act in order to safe lives but because they want to embarrass me and think that there is only one Prophet in the world.

“They do not know that God showed me the vision so that I can pass the message to them to save people.

It is because God loves Nigeria. Afterall, I am not Nigerian. So, why should I be concerned about Nigeria?

But it is God who sent me.

“But they embarrassed me even in 2012. I even began to cry and I said they do not know what they are doing

because their people will die. I told them they are playing with fire.

“I went back and God sent me again with another message that Boko Haram want to attack Synagogue church.

I came three months before it happened and I informed them but they assaulted me here.

“I told them I am here because God wants to save the Prophet but they are threatening his life. They denied receiving my emails and I showed them copies of all the mails I have sent from Sweden.

“I do not know if they deleted all the mails and yet they did not act. God showed me the last attempt to bomb the Lagos airport and I wrote to the police. Two weeks after, they caught a suspect at the Lagos airport.

“Before I came, God showed me that it is the life of the prophet that is in danger. Anything can happen today or tomorrow because there are people threatening his life. This is the reason I came.

“I came with a message to

F

•Kibonzy and his family

the Nigerian nation. I am warning that if anything happens to Prophet T.B.Joshua, there will be a flag here. There will be a rain that will never stop and the leadership will take control but no leadership will be alive.

“It is a warning to the people of Nigeria. All seven prophecies I gave earlier have come to pass and this is another one. I am here to show the power of God because I have tried to talk to the prophet. I have been here

seven times but no one will allow me talk to him.

“They have tightened the prophet inside a cage. I am going back as soon as possible because I have passed the message.

“God has also shown me that another building will collapse in this church. This time around, it will be the overflow of the main auditorium. Prophet T.B. Joshua should take this warning seriously and act fast now in order to avert another major disaster,” he said.

OUR bodies were recovered yesterday from the murky waters of Ojo, on the outskirts of the city, where a boat capsized four days ago.

The deceased were among the 22 persons travelling in a commercial boat on Saturday when it sank.

The boat owned by Okera Nla Boat Association took off from Okera Nla, a riverine town, about 7.30pm. It was heading to Bayeku when it capsized.

The Public Relations Officer of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the Southwest, Ibrahim Farinloye, said about 18 persons were rescued on Saturday. The boat owners alleged that two persons were missing.

“However, four bodies were yesterday recovered by rescue workers comprising local divers and some fishermen in the area. All four deceased persons were among those declared missing on Saturday when the boat they were travelling in sank.

“The bodies of the deceased persons have since been deposited at Ikorodu General Hospital mortuary by officers attached to the Marine Police”, he added.

Farinloye said the cause of the mishap was attributed to an unknown object that pierced the boat.

Farinloye advised boat operators to always exercise caution when in transit with passengers on board.

He described the incident as unfortunate, adding that most accidents on the Lagos Waterways can be traced to recklessness of the boat boys.

The boat boys, he said, were only concerned with how much they make daily and not with passengers’ safety.

Suspected vandal electrocuted •Rubble of the collapsed building

Victims in public, private hospitals

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ICTIMS of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) building collapse are receiving treatment in some public and private hospitals in Lagos.

However, no visitors are allowed to see them on the church’s instruction, sources told The Nation yesterday.

A source said the remains of those who died, have

T

HE Ogun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (N IS) has generated N672,209,653 last month.

According to a statement by the command’s spokesman, Abubakar Usman, the revenue figure is “the first

By Wale Adepoju

been deposited at the Isolo General Hospital mortuary.

Some victims are presently at the Accident and Emergency (A and E) Ward of the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Igbobi; others are in the In-patient Ward.

The matron in-charge of the A and E said some of the victims, who were brought

in, with broken legs and arms have been relocated to the in-patient ward because they are responding to treatment.

They were taken to the ward for comprehensive treatment since they were out of danger.

At OohBee Hospital, Ikotun, close to the church, visitors were prevented from seeing the victims.

The front desk officer said visitors must be cleared by the church coordinators, before they can see the victims.

The coordinators said people looking for victims should go to the church for information. “It is the church that can tell which hospital a victim is admitted.

Nurses at Igando General Hospital said victims brought to the facility have

been taking to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) for specialist care.

A nurse said the condition of the patients were critical, adding that this was why they were referred to a tertiary facility.

“We no longer have the victims here at Igando. They have since been taken to LASUTH,” she said.

Some victims are said to be receiving treatment at Gbagada General Hospital.

Customs records N672m revenue

By Kunle Akinrinade

of its kind in the history of the command.”

He said the figure shows a progressive revenue collection difference of

N166,422,584.47 when compared with the N505,787,068.53 recorded within same period in 2013.

Usman said: “The Command in August, 2014 made

a total of 143 seizures with Duty Paid Value(DPV) of N144,301,372.00 as against 93 seizures with DPV of N47,382,156.00 recorded same period in 2013. This

shows a progressive seizure difference of 50 seizures with DPV of N96, 919,216.00. The seizures include; 5,531 bags of rice; 67 Tokunbo(imported second

A

MAN, who attempted to vandalise a transformer belonging to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), has been electrocuted.

He was operating when electricity was suddenly restored.

The incident occurred near Lonlo bus stop, along Iju - Ishaga road.

Policemen were on the scene with PHCN officials, who confirmed that the deceased was about removing something from the transformer when he was electrocuted. hand) cars;1,258 cartons of frozen poultry products;10 motorcycles;25 bags of second hand clothings; nine bags of Indian hemp and 1,480 live cartridges of live ammunition concealed in 15 bags of rice among others.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

‘Private sector investment in agric hits $5.6b’ From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

T

HE Federal Govern ment yesterday said it has attracted $5.6billion investment from the private sector to agriculture in four years.

The government said it developed the agricultural value chains to promote the investments.

It also said it would continue to develop innovative policies and institutions that would expand opportunities for the private sector.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who spoke yesterday at the launch of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Policy Working Group in Abuja, said the group would document the agricultural policies of the government and institutionalise it.

He said: “The private sector has woken up to see agriculture as the new wealth sector. Between 2011 and 2014, the agriculture sector attracted over $5.6 billion of private sector investments.

“Private sector investments in fertiliser manufacturing have also expanded, with $5 billion of private sector investments in fertiliser manufacturing within the past three years.

“To drive this new approach, we decided to focus on promoting investments and development of agricultural value chains. Not only would we produce more food, we would add value to all the commodities, all across the agricultural value chains.”

According to the minister, government must boldly support their farmers through sustainable and subsidised subsidies.

“Nigeria cannot become a museum of poverty. Poverty is not tradable and is not an industry, so we must not grow poverty.

“What is important is to develop ways of effectively targeting support to reach farmers, while ensuring that the private sector, not the government, delivers farm inputs to farmers.”

Dr. Akinwumi added that the Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reduced the risk in banks’ lending for farmers and increased the lending rate to farmers across the country.

• Adesina

Sovereign Wealth Funds are managed conservatively.

They don’t borrow money the way banks do, so you can’t compare this business to banking business. This business does not expose itself to that kind of risk. It is not the same thing as private equity •Managing Director/CEO, NSI A, Uche Orji

Govt to sell $20b power transmission assets

N

IGERIA is consider ing offers of more than $20 billion for the assets of its national electricity transmission company as it struggles to provide adequate power to Africa’s largest economy, Power Minister Chinedu Nebo said.

The sale of state-owned Transmission Co. of Nigeria may start “in a few years,” Nebo said in a chat with Bloomberg Television Africa in Abuja. The government will also focus on developing renewable energy projects to diversify its supply of electricity, he said.

“The interest now for transmission is over $20 billion; People are coming from everywhere,” he said.

Transmission is the only segment of the power industry that the government still controls as it seeks to curb

• $3.5b spent on transmission

By Akinola Ajibade with agency report

regular blackouts in a ountry which generates about a 10th of the power that South Africa does even though its population of about 170 million is more than three times larger.

The Federal Government has spent $3.5 billion to boost transmission capacity by 50 per cent. Nigeria sold 15 state-owned generation and distribution firms to raise funds.

The transmission capacity of Abuja-based TCN is 5,500 megawatts (Mw) compared with an installed generation capacity of 8,000Mw, Nebo said. This means that if generation firms were operating at full capacity, the grid

would be unable to transmit all of the power to homes.

The government wants transmission capacity to exceed 6,000 Mw by 2016, Nebo said.

Power generation is significantly lower than capacity, partially due to problems of transporting gas to power plants.

Many companies and individuals are compelled to use diesel-powered generators to ensure adequate electricity.

“Gas supply has been a limiting factor,” said Nebo, who is working with Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke to make enough gas available to generation companies to match the transmission capacity by the end of next year.

“Nigeria is moving in the direction of trying to have a

robust energy mix,” he said.

Coal is another resource that co u l d g e n e r a t e b e tween 3,000 and 5,000 Mw of power “in the next several years” after government reclaims unused coal blocks, the minister said.

“We are working on making sure those coal blocks are taken away from those who have refused to develop them over the decades and are given to those who can actually develop them,” he said.

Officials are deciding which model to adopt for the company’s sale. Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board o f C a n a d a ’ s t h r e e - year management contract ends next year. The process could take the form of a public-private partnership, a concession or a build-operate-transfer, Nebo said.

Local Content Board summons NAOC chief over dispute with Arco

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HE Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has invited the Managing Director of Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Mr. Massimo Insulla, to a meeting on the dispute between it and Arco Petroleum Engineering Company Limited over the maintenance of Obob/Ebocha/Kwale Gas plants.

The invitation followed NCDMB’s receipt of a letter of complaint dated September 10 from Arco Petroleum on the matter.

In the letter, Arco alleged, among other things, that NAOC and General Electric “are ganging up to forcibly remove an established indigenous contractor like Arco that can prove its mettle in the maintenance of such hitech equipment exclusively for six months”.

On the intervention, the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Ernest Nwapa, said the Board would continue to ensure that the provisions of the Nigerian Content Act were adhered to in relation to any contract or operation in the oil and gas industry.

Afromedia makes N742.9m turnover

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• From left: Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga; Chief Executive Officer, Videsh Limited, Narendra Verma and Permanent Secretary, MITI, Amb. Abdulkadir Musa, at an interactive session between the Confederation of Indian Industries in New Delhi, India.

Lawyers urge sack of CAC chief

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AWYERS under the aegis of accredited Corpo rate Affairs Commission (CAC) have asked for the removal of the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Mahmoud Bello and its management team, as activities in the commission have been stalled for the past two months.

One of the lawyers who spoke with The Nation reporter during the protest, Kenneth Osaze said the CAC has been making empty promises, stating that the Registra General must resign as services in the commission is getting worst.

He said: “The Registrar General and his management team should resign since they cannot meet up with their promises. We have lost clients and revenue, yet there has not been any expla-

• ‘Its cheap blackmail’ From Franca Ochigbo and Halima Farouk, Abuja

nation from the CAC. There is practically nothing happening in the commission.

Lawyers now lose clients; we now appear like fools in front of our clients.

“On name search and availability, we have put in for this procedure for over two months now and it still has not come, In fact, someone fainted on queue waiting for name search. For six weeks we have been on the line and nothing is happening.”

Reacting to the allegations, Bello said its cheap blackamil orchestrated by unseen hands bent on frustrating the Commission. He said no service had been paralysed for two months but only had

hitches for two weeks. He said the reason for this is that the vendor the commission was using shut the commission’s system down making the system inaccessible, adding that it was shortly after getting part payment for work done.

Bello said: “He did that because the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Mr. Olusegun Aganga brought in a new company to manage the software of the commission and now that the Commission is switching to a new software, we had an agreement with the old vendor that we will continue our contract with his company, but he still went ahead and shut down the system.

“I gave him assurance, even wanting to go into written

agreement with him, but he was not convinced. I assured him we will continue to do business, but he still went ahead and shut the system, stating that he cannot imagine someone else coming with a new software to take over his job. Luckily, CAC has a database which the new vendor used for installation; that is what has helped the commission.

“I want to categorically state that there is no law stating that it is only lawyers that can register a company. For lawyers registering a company, it is an internal arrangement. The government has given the go ahead for any one to register his company without the help of a lawyer.”

Bello said it was obvious that there were lots of unseen hands working against the management of the Commission.

FROMEDIA Plc has recorded a turnover of N742.9 million in the financial year ended September 30, 2013, as against the N1.64 billion turnover in the corresponding period of 2012, its Chairman, Idowu Iluyomade, has said. The figure represented a decline of 54.8 per cent over the corresponding period.

Iluyomade, who spoke at the company’s 48th Annual General Meeting (AGM), said the firm recorded a net loss before tax of N851 million for the period under review, which is a remarkable improvement of 81 per cent against the deficit of N4.47 billion it recorded in the previous financial year.

He said the turbulence that hit the company in 2012 as a result of the protracted remodelling of federal airports nationwide, contributed largely to the poor fortunes of the firm, adding that the consequence was that it experienced continuous adverse disruptions of its operation at all its major and exclusive airport advertising concession sites as a result of the infrastructural upgrade by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

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BUSINESS TRANSPORTATION

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Fund, others stall Lagos light rail

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HE delay in the completion of the light rail project has been attributed to dearth of funds, complications in the concessionaire’s terms of agreement and issues relating to the right of way of the project.

A source in the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), who does not want his name mentioned, told The Nation that though its speed might be slow, the project is still performing well in relation to the fund available.

He said there is no truth in the rumours making the rounds that the project is being funded by the World Bank, adding that the light rail project is wholly funded by the state’s internally generated revenue.

The light rail project, as part of the integrated public transportation system being managed by LAMATA, is envisioned to consist of seven lines. However even the initial construction of the first planned two lines have suffered delays.

Governor Babatunde Fashola who inspected the project last Wednesday, lamented the project’s progress.

Stories by Adeyinka Aderibigbe

He was, however, optimistic of its completion and expressed satisfaction on its progress. The governor ,who identified funding as part of the challenges of the project, said the project would have been completed in another 12 months.

He, however, failed to give a new timeline for its completion.

The source said though the large spectrum of the project is still ongoing, government could go ahead and commission the National Theatre to Mile 2 route as that is substantially ready. “Getting it (the project) ready up to Marina is where we still face some hitches,” the source said.

He said the pace of work would have been much faster, if the Federal Government had supported the state in financing the project as part of its holistic national blueprint on public sector transportation.

The light rail project has been a tortuous journey for the state’s transportation sector. First conceived in 1981, by the Second Republic Governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the project was scrapped in 1985

• LAMATA’s Managing Director, Dr. Dayo Mobereola (second left) explaining a point to Governor Fashola(second right) during the inspection.

by the Military headed by Muhammadu Buhari at a loss of over $78 million to the Lagos tax payers.

The idea was revived by former Governor Bola Tinubu in 2000, with a formal announcement of its construction in December 2003. The initial $135 million proposal was part of the greater Lagos Ur-

ban Transportation Project to be implemented by then newly formed Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA). LAMATA initially concentrated on developing a Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT) before embarking on the rail project, which it supposed to flagoff with the blue line and the red line.

Rail, union agree on welfare demand

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•Sijuwade

HE proposed strike by workers of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) to press demand for enhanced welfare package has been shelved.

A statement from the NRC management said, the two in-house unions which had indicated their readiness to down tools agreed to shelve the idea and work with the management in the implementation of a new welfare package.

The statement signed by the NRC’s spokesman, Mr David Ndakotsu, said the agreement was brokered with the leadership of the two unions-Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NUR) and the Senior Staff Association (SSA) at a meeting with

FRSC warns against overloading

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HE Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has advised motorists and transporters nationwide, against overloading their vehicles with passengers, especially with the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in some parts of the federation.

The Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi made the plea in an interview with newsmen after receiving the National Executive Committee, Zonal Officers and State Chairmen of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

He said: “The transmission of the Ebola virus are much faster if the vehicles are overloaded, though overloading is a traffic offence, the Ebola outbreak has brought it again to the front burner.”

Much as we are apprehensive about its outbreak in Nigeria, Oyeyemi said one must praise the robust efforts of the Federal Government to contain its spread, adding that all hands must be on deck to ensure that overloading is reduced to the barest, if not completely avoided.

The Corps Marshal urged the transport union to sensitise members on the consequences of overloading according to him pose a two-pronged challenges-as traffic hazards and a medium that could facilitate the spread of the disease.

Oyeyemi said the FRSC will need the support of the NURTW to ensure the reduction of road

crashes throughout the ‘Ember’ months through strict compliance with traffic regulations.

Responding, NURTW’s National President, Alhaji Najeem Yasin said the union was already organising a nationwide programme to sensitise its members about the Ebola Virus Disease, (EVD)adding that members of the union had been directed not to overload their vehicles as part of measures to check the spread of the disease.

Earlier, Yasin had congratulated the Corps Marshal on his appointment.

He said Oyeyemi’s appointment was a clear departure from the past, when FRSC Chief Executives were appointed from outside the system.

He praised the Federal Government for the initiative, adding that it would ensure stability in FRSC. He urged the Corps Marshal to take measures to discourage underaged driving, speeding, drunk driving, non-use of seat belt, as well as use of phone while driving.

The Chairman, FRSC, Chief Felix Chukwu commended the NURTW for the visit and urged them to remain steadfast in supporting FRSC’s numerous initiatives towards enthroning safer road use in the country.

He also implored the FRSC management to forge closer ties with transport unions in order to engender sound road culture among commercial drivers in Nigeria.

the management on September 5.

“The NRC management and the unions commit to work together harmoniously in order to realise the objectives of the corporation and continue to provide adequate staff welfare,” the statement said.

Ndakotsu added that both parties have also agreed to review the progress of the deal in two weeks.

The NUR in a letter dated July 28 had served notice on the NRC management to proceed on strike following the failure of the manage-

C

ment to accede to the demand for an enhanced pay cheque and improved welfare package.

They had also demanded the recruitment of more hands to replace the aging and depleting workforce.

The two unions had however at a joint meeting decided to shelve the action on the intervention of the NRC chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

A review of the new working relationship is slated for September 23.

The blue line, being built by China Civil Engineering Construction Company, will run 27.5 km, with 13 stations, and journey time of approximately 35 minutes. It is being built as a high capacity, electrically powered rail mass transit system. Most of the route will be on the surface, but a part of the line will run on elevated structure.

The entire Blue Line will operate over a secure and exclusive right-of-way, with no level crossings and no uncontrolled access by pedestrians or vehicles.

Lagos State is financing construction of the Blue Line from its own resources.

A concession contract is being awarded to finance, supply and operate the railway equipment, including electric power, signaling, trains, and fare collection. The Red Line will share the existing 30-metre wide Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) right-of-way, according to the planning.

Govt sets Oct 15 as horn-free day

AN you imagine a day in Lagos without the jarring din from horning automobiles ranging from bicycles, tricycles and other types of vehicles? Impossible? Not exactly anymore, as the Lagos State Government has concluded plans to set a date aside to be observed as a horn free day yearly.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Kayode Opeifa, who made this known in his Alausa, Ikeja office said the government has approved Wednesday, October 15, as horn free day in the state.

Opeifa said the day would help reduce noise pollution. He said motorists would be encouraged to stop blaring their horn throughout the day. Hopefully the habit would linger and gradually a horn free consciousness would sprout.

He urged motorists to support the government in ensuring a reduction in noise pollution through strict adherence to the exercise.

“The observance of the day would help in instilling road discipline on motorists and help in the cultivation of the right use of the horn. It would also improve road courtesy and lane discipline and draw motorists’ attention to the need for mutual respect for other road users,” Opeifa said.

He said Governor Babatunde Fashola has approved the plan as part of his continued advocacy for improved road discipline and courtesy among motorists.

“Governor Fashola has challenged road users in the state to observe a horn free day and this is designed to complement the on-going efforts by the Lagos State Government in the provision and upgrading of traffic infrastructure across the state,” he added.

He said the government would seek the active engagement of radio and television stations in generating discussions challenging

road users to observe a horn free day, endorsement of the initiative by relevant stakeholders.

Other platforms that would be used to sensitise the people, he added, are the ‘Ember’ months safety campaign by Vehicle Inspection Service, (VIS), to enlighten road users on road safety, especially during the last quarter of the year and the Law Enforcement Training Institute’s (LETI) community outreach programme which involves market women and vehicle operators. These fora, Opeifa said, would provide avenue for discussion of the horn free culture among motorists.

Opeifa said the Traffic Safety Ambassadors (TSA) would also be engaged to partner with the Ministry of Transportation to support the successful observation of the horn free culture beyind the day.

143 prosecuted for disobeying traffic law

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O fewer than 143 traffic offenders were prosecuted within Zone RS2, of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) during the just concluded Special Intervention Patrol tagged “Operation Sheild IV” on Lagos/ Ibadan Express way.

The RS2.2, Ogun State Sector Legal Officer Uzoma Chinedu Enwereuzo, said the operation focused on public enlightenment, clearing of obstructions and enforcement of road vices, such as lane indiscipline, violation of speed limit, overloading violation and driver licence violation.

Enwereuzo, who prosecuted the traffic offenders, said they were arraigned for committing various traffic offences, namely lane indiscipline/failure to move over

By Olalekan Ayeni

(FMO); overloading violation (OVL); drivers licence violation (DLV) and seat belt use violation (SUV) among others.

The three-day mobile court sittings was held at RS2.25, Sagamu Unit Command premises on Tuesday August 26 and RS2.23, Mowe Unit Command premises on August 27 and 28.

The 118 of the traffic offenders, he said, were arraigned and convicted to various jail terms ranging from one week imprisonment to six months imprisonment, while 25 offenders were cautioned and discharged by the presiding Magistrate Mr I. O. Olayinka.

One of the offenders, according to Enwereuzo, Mr Benjamin

Oyekunle was sentenced to six months imprisonment for dangerous driving (DGD), assaulting marshal on duty (AMD), driver’s licence violation (DLV) and lane indiscipline/failure to move over (FMO).

The RS2 Lagos Zonal Commanding Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Godwin Ogagaoghene, who spoke on phone with The Nation, urged road users to maintain utmost discipline while on the road.

Ogagaoghene said only a good driving culture and obedience to traffic rules/laws would bring roads crashes to zero level.

He advised road users to imbibe defensive driving this ‘Ember ‘months and beyond, saying there is no sucking blood demon on the roads during these months as it was being contemplated.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

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BUSINESS MARITIME

e-mail: maritime@thenationonlineng.net

Customs deploys over 90 officers to combat T smuggling at Yuletide HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operation Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ has deployed over 90 officers to comb most of the unapproved routes in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states as the Muslim Eid-lKabir festival is fast approaching, The Nation has learnt.

Its Area Controller, Turaki Usman Adamu, it was gathered, took the step to reduce the smuggling of rice and other prohibited items during the yuletide.

Adamu, it was learnt, had also directed that any vehicle intercepted by his officers would no longer be on detention list, but be forfeited to the Federal Government.

Sources close to the command said the aim was to discourage the influx of vehicles, which may be used for smuggling before, during and after festivals.

Officers of the zone, a source said, had been positioned in strategic locations to deal with smugglers who might attempt to bring into the country all prohibited items.

Turaki is employing measures to make smuggling unattractive and

Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda Maritime Correspondent

un-lucrative for those engaged in the illegal business, it was learnt.

Officers of the zone, findings revealed, had stepped up their antismuggling efforts to boost the nation’s revenue.

The zone seized over 700 prohibited goods.

The seizures, investigation revealed, included rice, frozen poultry products, vegetable oil, used tyres, fridges, spaghetti/ noodles and other goods with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N936 million.

FOU officers, it learnt, also apprehended more than 100 suspects.

A senior official of the command, who craved anonymity, said the area controller had vowed to make the remaining days to the Eid-lKabir Festival tough for smugglers.

“Over 90 officers and men of the

zone have been directed go the extra mile in dealing with the smugglers in view of the fast approaching Muslim festival and the adverse effects of their illegal activities on the security and economy of the country.

“The unit will continue to justify the confidenc which the Federal Government reposed on us. The remaining part of the year will witness a serious boost in our antismuggling crusade.

“The area controller has assured compliant importers that they will always receive the support of the unit while those who specialized in illegal trade and smuggling will have bad stories to tell before, during and after the festival.

“The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Ikeja-Lagos is the hub and flagship Command of anti-smuggling in the Nigeria Customs Service. The Unit among other responsibilities is vested with the task of

suppressing smuggling, facilitation of legitimate trade and monitoring compliance with the fiscal policies of the Federal Government in terms of trade.

“Our areas of coverage remain the states in the Southwest namely: Lagos, Ogun, Oyo/Osun, Ondo and Ekiti. Some of these states have wide landscape in terms of geographical latitude and as such the task of policing them effectively requires resilience, commitment, dedication and strategic planning.

“It is, therefore, in view of these critical roles that the unit continues to evolve action plans which were tailored towards ensuring that our effort in actualising our core mandate is not jeopardised by some unpatriotic elements in the country whose stock in trade is to circumvent the laws guiding import and export.

“In realisation of the need to deal

with such scenario, we have put appropriate operational measures in place to deal decisively with the antics of smugglers during the yuletide and beyond,” the official said.

The Zone Public Relations Officer Uche Ejesieme confirmed that the Area Controller had directed all officers and men of the unit to be at alert as the Muslim festival draw near.

“The truth is that our officers are combat ready to arrest anybody who may attempt to do illegal business in our ports or border stations.

“Our officers are everywhere within the zone to suppress smuggling activities and deal with smugglers. From Lagos to Ekiti, our officers are there patrolling 24 hours to prevent smuggling of rice, tokunbo vehicle and other prohibited items through the porous borders.

Although Ejesieme refused to disclose the number of their officers on patrol, he confirmed that his boss has deployed his officers to man all routes.

Ebola: No increase in freight rates on cargoes

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• Coordinator, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Alhaji Taiwo Mustafa (left) during the election of Chief Henry Njoku as the PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA Chairman, Board of Trustees of the association in Lagos.

Shippers Council to make ports competitive

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• Bello

HE Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) is set to make the nation’s seaports competitive, The Nation has learnt.

The Council, it was gathered, is not happy that the ports have lost the comparative advantage in terms of cost and others to ports of neighbouring countries, especially in cargo clearance hence the need to appoint an economic regulator for the ports.

Its Executive Secretary Mr Hassan Bello said the loss informed the decision of the Federal Government to appoint NSC as regulators of the ports.

He said the country will regain the loss, adding that the Council and the affected stakeholders must see themselves as partner in progress.

Bello said the absence of an economic regulator after the ports were concessioned made it difficult for Nigerians to reap the full benefits of the port reform programme of the government.

“After the implementation of the Federal Government’s port reform programme which led to the concession of port terminals to private operators, the government noticed a disturbing vacuum in the sector, namely, the absence of an economic regulator that will act as a referee in the industry.

“This vacuum made it difficult for Nigerians to enjoy the gains of the programme “The inefficiency in the procedures and operations of agencies and service providers and even users is adversely affecting and under-

mining Nigeria’s competitive advantage in international trade.”

He said effective regulation requires much more than just competent economic and financial analysis, but must also being able to manage complex interaction with the regulated firms, consumers, politicians, courts, the media, and other interests.

Bello said much was being expected from the council, adding that the benefits of a regulated port industry would lead to improved revenue generation, infrastructural development, creation of efficient market, reduction of cost of business and improved Global Competitive Index and consequent attraction of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

HE Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) Mr Hassan Bello has allayed the fear of importers and consumers, saying that there is no increase in the cost of freight on Nigeria-bound cargoes.

He said the report that the European ship owners had increased freight rates on cargoes and also imposed surcharge on vessels and crew coming to Nigeria and other West African countries affected by the Ebola virus is not true.

“There is no truth in the allegation. We have checked with the line carriers and their agents in Nigeria and they have all denied the increase. Ordinarily, when something like that is happening, it ought to be published.

“What we have are the normal rates; the congestion charge, risk insurance and so on,” he said.

Bello, however, said there was need to eliminate touts in freight forwarding practice, and urged practitioners to seek requisite knowledge in their chosen profession.

According to Bello, the freight forwarding is a profession and the practitioners need to be trained to meet international best practices.

He said as the economy continues to grow, freight forwarders also have a key role to play and that is why they should undergo training in freight forwarding.

He said: “We must all do away with thugs and touts in the freight forwarding profession because we cannot afford to have them in port operations.

“I don’t want to see touts as a freight forwarder, rather I want to see someone that is educated and can have the knowledge of international in the practice.

“A freight forwarder needs training constantly, he needs to have an office where he must operate from because it goes beyond clearing of a cargo from the port.

“If we have a strong freight forwarders in Nigeria, then most of our profession is also solved.”

The secretary further described freight forwarders as vital to trade, adding that there is need for professional training for the practitioners.

THE NATION TUESDAY SEPTEM BER 16, 2014

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

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THE NATION

BUSINESS AVIATION

How to keep airlines afloat, by experts Many domestic airlines are going through hard times, owing salaries for months, among other problems. If not addressed, this ugly trend, experts warn, could have ripple effects on safety. KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR reports.

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HAT these are difficult times for domestic carriers, is an understatement. Many of them are on the throes of death. Even paying salaries regularly, is a challenge.

Apart from this, they are indebted aviation services’providers and terminal operators, as well as fuel and catering suppliers.

Unpaid and delayed salaries have become major feature among airlines, raising concerns on the implication of this on air safety.

The real issue is that most of the airlines are unable to recover operating costs.

This has been attributed to high cost of aircraft maintenance, insurance, fuel, landing and parking fees, among others.

Some experts have projected that soon, some domestic operators may close shop over the huge indebtednes.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), it was learnt, was having a parley with the affected operatorss.

The operators have declined comments on the matter.

Experts, including former chairman of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Dr Steve Manhonwu; a former director of engineering Nigeria Airways Limited, Godwin Jibodu, and an aircraft engineer, Alex Anene, have described the situation as frightening.

They adduced poor planning, failure to carry out feasibility studies, wrong use of aircraft as part of the reasons airlines’revenue are dwindling.

They said failure by some operators to carry out detailed studies be-

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fore embarking on the business accounted for their inability to pay salaries.

Domestic operators include: Arik Air, First Nation Airways, Dana Air, AZMAN Air, Medview Airlines, Overland Airways, Discovery Air, Air Peace, Topbrass Aviation and Aero Airlines.

Operators that have suspended operations include: Chanchangi Airlines, IRS Airlines and Afrijet Airlines.

Staff of some of these carriers last years protested to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) the failure of their management to clear the arrears of salaries.

Worried over this trend, NCAA has warned operators to fulfil their obligation to their staff.

The authority said it would continue to carry out financial audit of airlines to ascertain their operational health, safety, security and above all economic viability.

The authority said it would be forced to shut the operations of the affected carriers.

Its acting director general, Engineer Benedict Adeyileka said the authority is constrained to take this step to save the industry a lot of damage.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) last week warned domestic operators defaulting in the payment of salaries.

This was a fallout of a meeting with operators alleged to be culpable.

At the meeting, Adeyileka expressed serious concern over the non – payment of salaries.

He said the development was detrimental to the growth the industry.

According to the him, the action

became necessary when consistently the financial health reports from the airlines were indicating gaps in financial stability.

He said: “As far as the NCAA is concerned, the issue of non-payment of salaries is critical to safety.

“The moment an airline cannot meet its financial obligations, it is believed that the staff morale will be down and this can impact negatively on safety and security of its operations.

“The NCAA will not condone a situation where their staff will disrupt operations which will affect the travel plans of passengers who have purchased their tickets.”

Consequently, NCAA has written a warning letter to the affected airlines, informing them that non-payment of salaries was unacceptable.

NCAA warned airlines that if the act persisted, it would sanction them, one of which may result in suspension of Air Operators Certificate (AOC).

Last year, three airlines suspended operations due to their inability to pay salaries. In fact, NCAA is insisting that until all the arrears of salaries are paid these airlines will not be cleared for further operations.

It said: “The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) therefore wishes to reiterate that it will continue carrying out financial health audit of airlines to ensure that our airline operations are healthy, safe and secure.”

Also Jibodu said: “I have said this many times that the problem of owing workers salary may linger for some time because many operators embark on airline business without

carrying out detailed studies on the viability and otherwise of the business.

“Such operators did not examine the market deeply. They did not carry out feasibility studies and operating costs. ‘’Such operators never factored into their plan the cost of aircraft spares, aviation fuel, catering, aeronautical charges to be paid to service providers, aircraft insurance and workers salaries.

“They just plunge into the business, convinced that the revenue from ticket sales is good profit without considering other operating costs. ‘’Some of them also make the make the mistake of buying the wrong aircraft type that is not suitable for their their operations.

He continued: “An aircraft that is relatively old would require huge amount of money for spares and maintenance; all these eat up into the cost of operations, thereby narrowing profit margins. ‘’With this kind of scenario, it would be difficult to run profitable and pay salaries.

“Some operators also make the mistake of employing too many staff, opening up many offices and flying on unviable routes with an aircraft type that would consume all the expected revenue owing to cost of aviation fuel and maintenance . ‘’It this poor planning that makes airline business unprofitable, resulting in inability to pay salaries.

“Most of them fail to carry out adequate feasibility on the business. ‘’Many of them buy any kind of aircraft, and would not match it with

the suitability of the operations. ‘’The maintainability of the aircraft should be given serious consideration by any operator before buying the aircraft. ‘’Often times , the cost of aircraft is very critical. ‘’Most of them embark on unviable operations.

“The second challenge Is the challenge of offshore maintenance of aircraft? ‘’The whole money earned in a year is put into major aircraft maintenance checks. ‘’That is why many airlines that took their aircraft for major checks are seized abroad ,because the operators could not pay for the checks.”

Also, Manhonwu said: ”The problem of salaries should be addressed airline by airline. It is a serious problem that should be addressed, even the so called big airlines are owing salaries. ‘’This is not good for the safety of airline operations. ‘’The NCAA should step up its oversight and ensure that airlines are solvent to keep their operations safe. ‘’Even, if an airline is having problems, its managers should look for a way around the issue of owing salaries.”

Anene added: ”I lost my job as the chief engineer of a domestic airline because I offered advice on the quality of aircraft the airline should buy to run a profitable operation. ‘’Most airlines do not do their home work. That is why many of them cannot pay staff salaries. You cannot do aviation without money.”

21 air traffic controllers graduate at NCAT

WENTY-ONE Cadet Air Traffic Controllers have graduated from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, (NCAT), Zaria in Kaduna State.

Speaking at the graduation, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Ibrahim Abdulsalam, urged the students to justify the investments in their training by being committed and dedicated to duty, in the interest of safety of the airspace.

Abdulsalam noted that as part of the transformation of the sector, resulting in the remodelling of airports and the deployment of sophisticated communication, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management infrastructure among others, across the country, NAMA is investing on the training and retraining of personnel, particularly the critical manpower resources to ensure the safe, effective, economic and efficient use of these equipment and to keep pace with the dynamics of new technology.

NAMA boss said: ”The increasing demand for air traffic services over the years, occasioned by the rapid growth in population and the establishment of state and privately owned airports nationwide vis a vis the high turnover of critical manpower arising from retirements and deaths prompted the agency to resort to contracting retired Air Traffic Controllers and Air Traffic Engineers as a shortterm remedy.”

He assured that with efforts at

training young ATC cadets, the challenge would soon be tackled.

He praised the graduates for their perseverance and hard work. He also gave kudos to the management of NCAT for the tremendous support and co-operation accorded the students during their stay.

The Rector of NCAT, Capt.

Samuel Caulcrick, pointed out that the high academic standard and rigorous training offered by the institution makes it stand out as a centre of excellence and one of the best in the world.

He urged the graduating students to be worthy ambassadors of NCAT by impacting positively to the growth of the nation’s aviation industry.

In its determination to bridge the manpower gap in ATC services, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency in 2012 recruited 50 ATC Cadets with batch AC 57 and 58 resuming at NCAT in February, last year while AC59 resumed in July, same year.

Earlier, the Managing Director of NAMA, Abdulsalam, accompanied by a top management delegation, including the Director of Human Resources, Dr Uwem Akangson and the Acting Director of Operations, Mr Edward Ogedegbe, toured facilities at the institution.

Places visited include the Area Airways Department, General ATS Department (which boasts of a 3D 360 Visual Tower Simulator for aerodrome control training), Flight Line and Hanger as well as the Flying School.

•The new power plant at the Lagos Airport.

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Air Seychelles to fly into Dar es Salaam

IR Seychelles has announced the launch of twice-weekly flights to Dar es Salaam from December 2, this year, marking the next stage of growth in the airline’s regional strategy.

The Tanzanian capital becomes the third destination in Air Seychelles’ Indian Ocean and African network, after Mauritius and Johannesburg.

The route will be operated with a two-class Airbus A320 aircraft with 16 Business Class and 120 Economy Class seats.

Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Officer, Manoj Papa, said: “We continue to build strength and depth in our global network, and the addition of Dar es Salaam, one of Africa’s fast-

est-growing business and tourism destinations, will enhance traffic flows to the Seychelles and beyond, fulfilling our mandate to be a key economic enabler for the Seychelles, supporting tourism and trade.

“These flights will serve as an attractive travel proposition for business and leisure travellers in Tanzania, offering a direct link to our archipelago and convenient onward connections to Abu Dhabi and beyond, including the Indian Subcontinent.”

The A320 aircraft will also offer 7.2 tonnes of weekly bellyhold capacity to and from Tanzania, giving a further boost to trade opportunities. Air Seychelles expects the

service to carry a mixture of electronics, machinery and pharmaceuticals into Dar es Salaam, with primarily perishable goods loaded for the return flight.

Seychelles Minister for Home Affairs and Transport and Air Seychelles Chairman, Joël Morgan, said the new route would support airline to improve regional connectivity as well as enhance commerce and leisure travel to the archipelago.

“Dar es Salaam is a great addition to our network. The direct link between the capital of Tanzania and the Seychelles underscores our ongoing commitment to serve the region,” Mr Morgan said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

17

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* The Environment * Mortgage * Apartments * Security * Homes * Real Estate

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The first phase of a renewed effort by the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has been concluded with the validation workshop on a Roadmap for the housing and urban development sector. Based on the recommendations in the draft, one million houses are expected to be constructed annually over the next 10 years.

MUYIWA LUCAS reports.

• • Affordable housing: Will the New Roadmap guarantee its affordability?

Govt, experts agree on how to tackle housing deficit

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XPERTS in the sub-sectors in the housing and environment industry have met to proffer solution to housing deficit.

The setting was the Rockview Hotel, Abuja.

The mission was to deliberate and validate submissions by the various committees that had painstakingly prepared a draft document that is expected to drive housing and urban development for the next 30 years - 2014 to 2043.

Following the validation, a threestage approach was adopted for implementing the roadmap for the Housing and Urban Development sector. These stages include presentation of the Validated Roadmap to the Economic Management and Implementation Team (EMIT), so as to have their input and buy-in; presentation of the document to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for consideration and approval, followed by the public presentation / launching of the Roadmap.

One point agreed on by stakeholders and participants at the validation exercise, is that the country does not lack good plans, but that the implementation of such plans remains the problem.

To address the challenge, the need for setting up a unit in the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (FMLHUD) to supervise this was canvassed.

Under the draft roadmap, there are nine strategic goals to be achieved.

This includes the provision of one million housing units to be built annually over the next 10 years, if the country is to truly tackle the housing deficit in the country headlong.

The one million housing units are to be build employing a two- way Public-Private Partnership approach, with the private sector delivering 800,000 units and the remaining 200,000 by the government.

At present, no government agency has delivered 300,000 housing units in a year. The strategy to achieving this goal, will include collaboration with the Ministry of Finace to promote a private sector led housing and infrastructure fund institution, in collaboration with the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), to promote group mortgage as a strategy to ease access to housing for households not currently qualified for individual mortgages.

It will also rquire the promotion of local production of high quality critical building materials. The collaborating agencies to actualise these goals, include the Federal Ministry of Finance, Securities and Exchange Commission, state’s ministries of Housing and Urban Development, developers, insurance companies, international development partners and financial institutions.

Former minister of the defunct Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, the late Maj-Gen Mamman Kotangora, had estimated that there were about 4, 000 uncompleted or abandoned projects worth about N300 billion across the country.

To meet up with delivering its 200, 000 housing units, the Federal Government, through the FMLHUD, will adopt legal / policy instrument for the completion of the abandoned projects, establish a Task Force for completion of abandoned projects, develop and execute a national programme for completion of abandoned projects, phased over a 10-year period.

Other goals in of the roadmap in-

clude, establishment of an information management system for planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of projects and programmes; establishment and enforcement of building standards based on the National Building Code to ensure quality, functionality, aesthetics and safety.

The scheme will require making serviced land with secure tenure easily available, accessible and transferable at an affordable price for housing development; building adequate capacity of professionals and artisans in the built environment; making cities and human settlements inclusive, productive, safe, livable, resilient and sustainable, as well as transforming the way FMLHUD is structured, to operate as the industry regulator and facilitator, in addition to promoting research and development.

Prof Bade Falade, a former UN Habitat Representative in Nigeria, reckoned that the roadmap is a measure of filling a long gap in the operation of the FMLHUD. “There is a need for proper planning. In the UN that I come from, there is always a five-year plan.

So with the Ministry putting in place two robust policies - National Housing Policy and Urban Development Policy, then we are on course.

“Nigeria was the first African country to have a housing policy in 1981, others came to borrow from us,” he told The Nation, regretting that the country achieved nothing with the 1981 policy until it lapsed.

He said there is a need for the Roadmap to drive the implementation of those policies that are put in place.

This, he said, will give the country a vision for the future, indicating substantive things to be achieve and also contribute to the transformation agenda of the government.

As the largest economy in Africa, Prof. Falade, explained that there is a lot for the economy to benefit from the sector.

“This sector holds a lot of solutions to our economic problem because the city is the vehicle for growing the economy. The business is in the city, everybody lives in the city, and that is where the demand is, and that is where services are required and where people are willing to pay.

“If you plan the cities very well, then the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country will go up. It can also contribute to huge employment as several people are employed in building sites,” Falade said, adding that urban planning is the preventive arm of deadly sicknesses, as it will eliminate sicknesses such as malaria, and cholera, among others.

“In fact, town planning grew out of public health law in 1875,” he added.

For the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban development, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, it is a fulfilment of a policy that would change and impact positively on the lives of Nigerians.

She said the revalidated Draft Roadmap, once approved, will provide the pathway for navigating through the housing and urban development sector over the next thirty years.

This is with a view to consolidating on the gains recorded under the

‘This sector holds a lot of solutions to our economic problem because the city is the vehicle for growing the economy. The business is in the city, everybody lives in the city, and that is where the demand is, and that is where services are required and where people are willing to pay’

Transformation Agenda and making sustained, goal-oriented and innovative interventions to optimise the contribution of the sector to accelerated national development.

Through the instrumentality of the Roadmap, Eyakenyi said the culture of focusing almost exclusively on low-hanging fruits will be replaced with a new paradigm of action orientation, meticulous planning and well-articulated programmes for enhanced performance and impactful results towards repositioning the housing and urban development sector effectively as one of the key sectors for advancing the agenda of sustainable national development and prosperity.

Tracing the genesis of the berthing of the roadmap, Eyakenyi recalled that the foundation for the roadmap was laid in December 2011 when stakeholders in the housing and urban development sector validated the Draft National Housing Policy and the Draft National Urban Development Policy. The two Draft Policies were subsequently approved for implementation by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in June 2012. Thereafter, a Ministerial Implementation Team (MIT) for Housing Delivery in Nigeria was constituted by the Ministry to provide it with modalities for translating the two Policies into action.

It is in this regard that the Ministerial Implementation Team recommended the development of a Roadmap for the Housing and Urban Development Sector as a strategic tool to set a clear direction for the transformation of the housing and urban development sector. This is with a view to achieving the envisaged targets and aspirations for the Sector, in both the short and long terms, as outlined in Vision 20:2020, the Transformation Agenda and other emerging National Development Plans.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

•From left: Acting Managing Director, Federal Housing Authority, Mr. David Kpue; Permanent Secretary, FMLHUD, Dr. Ezekiel Oyemomi; Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi; Vice-Chairman, NFPDCL, Sir Isaac Chuks; Company Secretary, NFPDCL, Chief Odein Ajumogobia; Director, New FESTAC, Dr. Sola Ayandele, and Managing Director, New FESTAC, Mr. Goody Egbuji, at the signing and handing over of the FESTAC Phase II concession agreement in Abuja.

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HE Federal Government has signed a 30-year concession for the reclamation and infrastruc-tural development of FESTAC Town, Phase II, in Lagos.

The concessionaires Messrs New Festac Property Development Company Limited (NFPDCL), is said to be a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), comprising four companies - Fung Tai Engineering Limited; PW (Nigeria) Limited; SCC (Nigeria) Limited and Energo (Nigeria) Limited.

The concession is to transform FESTAC Town into a modern city, in line with the mega city status of the state, yielding great benefits both in the infrastructural and socio economic development of Lagos.

Besides, the Federal Government, through this transaction, is to earn an estimated N25.765 billion as premium for the 30 years of concession and an additional N150 million as ground rent, yearly, with three years moratorium period. However, the earnings may increase on annual basis as agreed by both parties in the concession, to reflect market situation. The premium and rent are subject to periodic reviews.

As part of the agreement, the ser-

Fed Govt, firms sign N25b FESTAC town concession • N150m ground rent yearly coming Stories by Muyiwa Lucas

viced plots to be realised through the concession, are to be complemented with green areas, off street parking, power supply, petrol station, shopping malls, hospitals, hospitality centres, well laid roads, water works, street lights, sewage disposal systems, incinerators and all other necessary support infrastructure. The agreement also has provision for the active involvement of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), in the implementation of the project.

The Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Etim Eyakenyi, who signed the concession on behalf of the federal government, described the effort as “another great milestone in the transformation agenda of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan”, on infrastructural development.

Mrs Eyakenyi explained further that part of government’s earning from the concession will be ploughed back to rehabilitate FESTAC Phase I. Beyond the financial benefits derivable from the concession, the Minister said that an approximate 50, 000 housing units will be delivered, adding that the project is capable of generating over 3,000 jobs every year.

The minister revealed that efforts to reclaim and develop the outstanding 1, 126 hectares of land in the FESTAC Phase II had remained unsuccessful because of the huge cost of the project, until 2006, when the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), capitalised on the public-private partnership platform and advertised for expression of interest for the reclamation and infrastructural development of FESTAC Phase II to produce 7, 000 serviced plots complete with standard infrastructure and all

Grenadines Homes initiates scheme

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RENADINES Homes Limited has commenced a process that will deliver a 25unit luxurious estate at Katape area in Abuja.

The construction and subsequent management of the estate will be handled by two firms- Cubic Contractors and CPMS. The Managing Director of Grenadines Homes Limited, Mrs. Noimot Olatunji, said the 25-unit luxury estate is the latest addition to the growing list of home ownership initiatives which the company has launched over the years.

She said the Abuja estate aligned with the vision of the company in empowering Nigerians to meet one of the critical components in man’s hierarchy of needs.

“Shelter is one of the most important thing everybody think of after food. This project is therefore strategic because it speaks to that critical need in the life of every human being. We are convinced that the launch of this new estate would afford prospective home owners great opportunity to own their own homes, more so, in an enchanting neighbourhood a little away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre of the FCT”, Olatunji said. She added that Grenadines Resort Katampe, Abuja, would boast of well finished and furnished terrace duplexes and complimentary

amenities that make bold statement about luxury living.

The Construction Manager, Cubic Contractors Limited, Mr. Majid Mulani, assured that the company would bring its experience to bear in ensuring excellent service delivery across all the phases of the project. He further assured prospective owners that the company would deliver houses as well as maintain best global practices from the beginning to the end of the project.

Also, the Project General Manager, CPMS, Mrs. Nike LanreLadenegan, assured of her company’s commitment for the delivery of a quality estate. CPMS, said promised, would coordinate the activities of all parties involved in the construction process to ensure effective synergy and timely delivery of the houses. ‘‘We will ensure that quality is not compromised. This project will be delivered at the agreed time,’’ she assured.

NESREA to enforce vehicular emission control

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HE National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) is planning to begin the implementation of the National Vehicular Emission Control Programme (NVECP) in Abuja.

The agency said it would use the FCT as a pilot scheme before extending it to other states.

NESREA’s Director-General, Dr. Ngeri Benebo, made this known at the weekend in a meeting with stakeholders in Abuja.

The agency will establish testing centeres in the FCT which will be operated by qualified consultant, and subsequently, only tested

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

vehicles with NVECP sticker will be allowed into the FCT, once the programme is implemented.

She said: “We have had a number of stakeholders’ meeting and you can see that this meeting is for a select group; the Customs, the Police, FRSC, the SON, the directorate of road transport and the Civil Defence. These are they key people who will work with us in the implementation of the compliance monitoring and enforcement of the programme. As an agency we can’t do it alone so we need to bring them on board.”

essential services.

“Today we are witnessing a major step in the long overdue process towards the development of Festac Phase II in Lagos,” Eyakenyi said.

By the concession, the Concessionaire is expected to fully fund the implementation of the project and recoup its funds mainly through the sale and management of plots of the land over the concession period.

The Vice Chairman of NFPDCL, Sir Isaac Chuks, while assuring that the firm would not disappoint in delivering on the project, thanked the federal government and other stakeholders in the concession.

In the 1970s, the Federal Government acquired 2,024 hectares of land in Lagos for housing development in preparation for the hosting of FESTAC ’77. The Phase 1 of the project, which is the FESTAC TOWN, was developed, leaving a balance of 1,126 hectares of swampy land as Phase II of the project. Regrettably, significant sporadic areas

of the land has been encroached upon by illegal squatters over the years.

The Concession project was first advertised in June 2006 by the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development through its implementing agency, the FHA. Many firms responded to the advert but only two companies including New Festac Property Development Company Limited (NFPDCL) were pre-qualified to submit technical and financial proposals.

The concession biddingpassed through three Federal Government Administrations before final award to the New Festac Property Development Company Limited in April, 2013. The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) also consented to the concession for the reclamation and development of the 1,126 hectares of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) land in Lagos.

Low price mall for Abuja

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VERLY & Sam Properties has concluded the development of a low priced estate and shopping mall in the Apo and Kuje, Abuja.

The Managing director of Beverly & Sam Properties, Mrs. Lilian Agbakoba, said the mall has everything going for it and holds a lot of attraction for prospective shop owners.

She urged the government to create an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive insisting that without it, individuals will forever strive to own houses of their own which may not be feasible for some categories of people.

She said her vision is to provide first class and affordable housing infrastructure for residential and commercial purposes in order to impact quality living in both high and medium income earners.

“There is a housing deficit of 17 million units and we have taken as part of our corporate social responsibility to play a role to close this wide gap by making housing affordable. We are set to expand the PurpleStone brand of properties to 20 cities,” Mrs. Agbakoba said.

The mall, which sits on over 2,000 square metres, has such fea-

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

tures as 32 available letting spaces; five units on the ground floor suitable for banking hall, food court and supermarket; 17 units on the first floor suitable for shops, and 10 units on the second floor suitable for corporate offices.

The rent and service charge in the mall comes at 30 per cent reduction than the popular shopping malls in the capital city, with the ground floor costing N40,000 per square metre, first floor, N38,000 per square metre and the second floor costing N36,000 per square metre.

Other features in the facility include a standby 250 KVA and 60 KVA generator set; 24 hours security services, constant water supply, cleaning of common areas, waste management and ample parking space for over 80 cars.

Mrs. Agbakoba said the firm is mindful of the needs of the young and upwardly mobile segment of the society in terms of their housing needs. This, she said, made her firm give consideration to building self–contained apartments in the Guzape luxury housing estates in Abuja to cater for their housing needs. The apartments cost between N1.5 and N2millon per year.

THE NATION TUESDAY,SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

19

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

Strange company •Jonathan and Modu-Sheriff

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HE picture of President Goodluck Jonathan sitting aside Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff, former Governor of Borno State, at a meeting with the Chadian President Idris Deby, in Ndjamena, Chad, last week, surely rankled most Nigerians. The president, according to his media aide, Reuben Abati, had gone to Chad to discuss how to combat the Boko Haram insurgency, which has heightened recently.

Also, according to the Department of State Services (DSS) the president’s companion in the pictures, Ali Modu-Sheriff, who has been questioned twice over his alleged sponsorship of the militant group, is due for another round of questioning by the security agency. A similar allegation of complicity against the former governor was made last week, by an Australian hostage negotiator, Stephen Davis. There is also an adverse security report against him, pending

‘While Mr. Modu-Sheriff should be deemed innocent until his guilt is proven, we doubt whether the picture of his closeness with the Commander-in-Chief of the national security agency that has invited him for questioning, will not totally derail the investigation’

since 2011.

Like most Nigerians, we are shocked that despite these grievous allegations, bordering on national security against Mr. Modu-Sheriff, the president still finds comfort in his company. To make matters worse, President Jonathan chose the company of the alleged sponsor of the same group that he had journeyed all the way to Ndjamena, to discuss ways of curtailing their atrocities against his home land. While Mr. Modu-Sheriff should be deemed innocent until his guilt is proven, we doubt whether the picture of his closeness with the Commander-in-Chief of the national security agency that has invited him for questioning, will not totally derail the investigation.

With President Jonathan’s exhibition of comfort with Mr. Modu-Sheriff while he is a subject of investigation, just as he did with the former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, at the height of her investigations over the purchase of bullet-proof vehicles; we ask, does it mean that President Jonathan does not appreciate the moral authority of the office of the President?

In our view, the person of the president should represent that which is most noble and patriotic. He or she must, with all diligence, avoid the company of those who have weighty moral questions hanging on their necks. Indeed, to associate with such persons publicly becomes a double jeopardy when the issue is one that borders on the well-being of the very nation that the president presides over.

As we said in an earlier editorial, the

allegations made against Senator ModuSheriff and the former Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika, by the Australian negotiator Davis, deserve to be investigated. We had thought that the president would quickly take steps in that direction, more so when we recall that President Jonathan had claimed that the sponsors of the Boko Haram insurgency were in his government. So, an investigation will ordinarily enable our country fish out those collaborating with the hideous murderers who have brought war to our country. We hope that the president’s body language will not dissuade the security agencies from dispassionately taking this very important step.

We also urge President Jonathan to take steps to assuage the feelings of Nigerians over his attitude to corruptly exposed persons. His penchant for giving the impression that he does not care about public opinion over his moral conduct must stop. If restating it will help, President Jonathan must always realise that he is the president of the country, and that his words, actions and inactions represent the country’s mirror. If he does not give a damn about how he is seen, we have no doubt that most Nigerians care about their national integrity.

Regardless of the choices made by the president, we urge the security agencies to remember that ultimately, they owe their allegiance to the corporate well-being of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not to any individual. They should therefore be thorough in their investigation of Mr Modu-Sheriff.

Soaring sub-standard products •It is unacceptable that our markets swarm with them

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HE scandalous scale of substandard products in the country is not only detrimental to economic growth but also constitutes a serious threat to healthy living. The rise in the manufacturing, distribution, importation and consumption of substandard products in the country deserves stern measures, far above the current tepid stance that has yielded very little result.

A report by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) under the leadership of Dr. Joseph Odumodu disclosed that substandard products in the country as at 2012 accounted for between 80 and 85 per cent of total products in the marketplace. The organisation’s claim that this has since dropped to 50 percent in the last two years because of its ‘Zero Tolerance’ campaign remains to be felt because Nigerian markets are still replete with substandard/expired products. A corroboration of this position is the revelation that certified domestic products improved to negligible 13 per cent from the less than 10 per cent obtained in 2011.

In sharp but better contrast, less endowed countries like Egypt and Kenya have 40 per cent and South Africa, 30 per cent of substandard products in their markets.

The other government agencies saddled with the responsibilities of regulating standards and protecting the interest of consumers, apart from SON, include the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Consumer Protection Council (CPC). And, except for NAFDAC under the late Professor Dora Akunyili’s leadership that

reportedly succeeded in reducing substandard products by 60 percent, the current rating of these bodies could be described as below average.

The CPC, in particular, has done very little to protect consumers’ interests. The body that began operation in 1999 after having been established by Act No. 66 of 1992 under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment has done very little to take manufacturers of fake products to task. Yet, it has the mandate to eliminate all hazardous products from our markets; ensure provision and initiation of the process of getting swift redress by aggrieved consumers and to undertake awareness campaigns in the public domain. How effective has the CPC and others performed these important tasks?

We find it quite confusing why it has always been easy for substandard items to have unfettered access into the country despite the presence of these statutory agencies and other security outfits at the nation’s border posts. Does it mean that these institutions of state have compromised their mandates to the detriment of the nation’s interests? David Parradang, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) reportedly gave some startling statistics of illegal routes in the country. He revealed that there are over 1, 400 illegal routes into Nigeria that has an approved 84 border controls covering 4,047 kilometres. This is a clear scandalous difference of 1,316 illegal routes. Two states: Ogun and Adamawa reportedly have an alarming highest number of illegal routes of 83 and

80, respectively, in the land.

Under the prevailing low motivation of Immigration officials, with equipment deficiency, it is quite apparent why the country has very porous borders spurring thriving illegal routes. This compromised situation gives impetus to substandard and expired product importers who travel to China and other industrialised countries to induce manufacturers to produce fake/substandard products to be imported and sold solely in the country.

This nefarious trend, within and outside the country by local manufacturers/importers, cannot continue if the government indeed loves its citizens.

We call for serious enforcement strategies and a quick restructuring of existing seeming compromised agencies of state if the country truly desires to conquer the war against substandard/fake products.

‘This nefarious trend, within and outside the country by local manufacturers/importers, cannot continue if the government indeed loves its citizens.

We call for serious enforcement strategies and a quick restructuring of existing seeming compromised agencies of state if the country truly desires to conquer the war against substandard/fake products’

Lessons from Scotland referendum

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IR: History will be made on Thursday, September 18, when the Scots decide whether to break away from or remain part of the United Kingdom (UK). Will the ‘yes’ vote carry the day, or will it be the ‘no’?

Whichever way the vote goes, there is an important lesson that should be taken away from that exercise.

The UK has endured for centuries and has not fared badly. But now some Scots for some reason(s) want out. In a demonstration of commonsense, the UK government and the ‘separatists’ resolved to put the question to the entire Scottish people. No one is threatening the other; no one is reiterating how the unity of the UK is non-negotiable. Rather it has been a contest of ideas. Each side has approached the Scottish people with arguments to win them over. This indeed is democracy, liberalism in action; a testimony that in an enlightened world, a people reserve the right to determine their destiny.

Contrast it with what obtains in Africa and Nigeria in particular.

Most African states are the creation of imperialist Europe. Just very few Africans founded their country or chose the name they bear. The boundaries of the countries are mostly artificial being the outcome of the 18841885 Berlin Conference. Africans rail against the European scramble and partitioning of the continent yet have left its faulty products largely untouched. We all acknowledge change as the only constant yet are so scared or unwilling to make changes where necessary.

We see bitter enemies co-habiting the same ‘house’, refusing to work together, refusing also to go their separate ways. This is madness! Consider the case of Sudan where incompatible Arab and African tribes visited horrific injuries on each other for decades until the West had enough.

Coming back home, millions of souls (mostly Igbos) were violently dispatched to the other side in order to keep the country ‘one’. After such hemorrhagic sacrifice, one may imagine that the people would live happily ever after. Decades after, there’s little love (if any) lost between the various nationalities.

Calls for secession ring out from different parts of the country. The army is battling a vicious insurgency in the North-east. The country is said to be failing; there’s prediction that it could cease to exist by next year. Yet the people are not moved enough to seriously confront the main issues.

Responsible societies are not only confronting present challenges but also peeping into the future to see what problems they could nip in the bud thereby lightening the burden of future generations. Here, we push present problems to future generations and sometimes even create new ones for them. At this rate, their yoke will be heavy indeed, unless we quit playing the ostrich. In our best interest and that of generations unborn, we must start confronting the so-called sensitive issues.

Commonsense demands it.

• Nnoli Chidiebere Aba, Abia State.

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

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

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: The acrimonious relationship between the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Electricity Management Services Limited (EMSL) is indeed unfortunate, a needles rivalry between sister agencies.

Nigerians got wind of it at the public hearing on the Bill for the establishment of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Authority (NEMSA) organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Power on Wednesday, July 16. The Bill seeks to grant EMSL the authority to enforce Technical and Safety Standards, Inspection, Testing and Certification in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry among numerous other mandates.

Those who couched the draft bill must have relied on the transfer of the duties and responsibilities of Electrical Inspectorate Services (EIS) of the Federal Ministry of Power to EMSL. The initiators of the bill, Senator Phillip Aduda and Hon. Patrick A. Ikhariale believes that the strengthening of enforcement, standards, safety and certification of

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Needless feud between NERC and EMSL operations in the sector, hitherto performed by a mere department in the ministry of power, ought to devolve to a new agency created by law.

This view is not shared by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) which sees the bill

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as derogating from its sole duties of regulating the power sector. It contended that the bill would be at complete variance with the ESPR Act 2005.

The two agencies should be mindful of the ripple effect this war of words would create on the psyche

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religiously and efficiently. These proprietors most of whom are educated do not see beyond the need to make profit. As a result, they go to the extent of cooking their students result, there by misleading the ignorant parents and also the children who believe they have performed well and grow complacent. Some of these victims might realize too late that they have actually learnt nothing when they meet their counterparts from better schools.

Like the mythological Pandora’s box that did not stop at one evil, when such schools are faced with standard exams like WAEC or JAMB, they know that their halfbaked students will inevitably fail, since it is garbage–in-garbage-out all the way, particularly as you cannot teach a man to use his left hand in old age. In the effort to salvage the school from the likely prospect of losing customers, they resort to all forms of vices, exami-

• Sunday Onyemaechi Eze Samaru, Zaria

Why APC is best for Igbos

IR: As the general election is fast drawing near, a lot of dust is being raised by different political players and parties. All the six geo-political zones of the country are hosting the political rallies of one party or the other and the cacophony of noise is making rea-

sonable assessment difficult especially for the real interest of the people.

Igbos are concentrated in the five South-east states of Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra, Enugu and Imo. All the South-east states have been governed by the People Democratic

Still on our endangered educational sector

IR: The suggestion made by one Muyiwa Idowu in The Nation of September 11, drew my attention. It was captioned ‘Still on 2014 WAEC result’. He recommended preliminary exams in SSII before WAEC examination as one solution to reduce, if not stop the recurring decimal of mass failures in the exam. This idea would have been feasible if Nigeria were a bit a better nation than it is now.

In Nigeria, what is practiced today is not fit to be called education. The educational system is in doldrums.

This is because the love most Nigerians have for proper education can be likened to the to one that exists between a cat and mouse. It is not unusual to see fungus-like schools sprouting in every cranny of the nation. They are owned by business men who view the so called schools as another profit making enterprise.

Like saprophytes, these schools carry out their job of educational decay

of potential investors in the power sector. The clash and struggle for responsibilities is uncalled for at the moment. The public war of words should not undermine the essence of the power sector reforms which established the two agencies in the first place. Both were established to

work in synergy, cooperation and unrestricted interface to further the interest of the sector. In fact, only robust collaborative effort and positive interface can speed up attainments of the goals of the power sector reforms.

The blame for the ruckus should be placed at the door steps of the National Assembly. The National Assembly ought to have done its home work on the bill to remove possible areas of conflict and overlap. One expected the National Assembly to be at home with previous laws they passed and the limit of their operations.

nation malpractice being the most prominent.

Even in the most unlikely as common entrance exams and junior WAEC , the rate of malpractice is appalling.

Going back to Muyiwa’s proposition, where are the assurances that preliminary exams in SSII would not be infected with the ravaging expo virus? What of mock examinations that are supposedly taken to prepare the students? What of that tentative feeling created by majority of the students that they would never be able to pass standard exams unaided?

Unless stringent measures are taken to properly accredit and monitor schools, and to curtail the already acute academic decadence, we might as well form a procession and drop wreaths at the sepulchre of quality education.

• Akunna James-Ibe, Imo State.

Party (PDP) from 1999 until 2006 when Peter Obi of Anambra came in through the All People Grand Alliance (APGA). APGA extended its hold into Imo State through Rochas Okorocha in 2011. But as APGA has woefully failed to identify what Igbo interests are, not to talk about championing them.

Okorocha and a faction of APGA defected to the APC. The PDP has held on to the three states of Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi since 1999. The PPA that ruled Abia State between 2003 and 2007 was just another face of the PDP. The lie was that the Igbo has to be in the PDP to be fully integrated in the mainstream of Nigeria politics and thereby have the opportunity of taking a shot at the nation presidency which has for the 53 years of post-colonial Nigeria eluded them, if not for the ceremonial Presidency of late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and the six months of late Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi as military head of state. A most unreasonable agreement was mouthed during 2011 election campaign by selfminded politicians that supporting President Jonathan will pave way for an Igbo man to contest come 2015. With 2015 in close view, the goal post has been shifted again.

It is only the discerning patriotic

Igbo leaders like Governor Rochas Okorocha, Senator Chris Ngige, and few others that are able to see through the facade of lies. As it is now, the Igbo are at the greatest disadvantage in the PDP contraption and for as long as they remain therein.

If the South-west, North-west, North-east and North-central see the sense in joining the APC, only short-sightedness would debar the entire South-east from embracing the APC. The South-south rode on their back and will lose nothing if Igbo misses it again or forever. The greatest leader of the Igbo, late Dim Chwukuemeka Ojukwu, would have so directed, if alive today.

Simple calculation of another four years for President Jonathan, followed by eight years for anybody from the North will mean 12 years of waiting for the ultimate South-east dream. But with the APC looking set to put a northerner as candidate if even for two terms, the coast will be clear for a candidate from the zone.

To tell the hand truth, come 2015, it is either the Igbos vote APC and position themselves for 2023 or vote PDP and push their chance to 2027.

• Wale Lagoke, Ibadan

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

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COMMENTS

T

RAGEDIES have a way of reminding us of our frailties.

Indeed, no matter how much humanity can claim to have conquered the forces of nature, there are simply some things that are beyond him. In the circumstance, the best he can do is either to reduce the frequency of occurrences or mitigate the impact once they show up. One of humanity’s greatest lessons of adaptation must therefore be in his ability to learn from disasters, and to put in place, structured responses to when they occur. It is the absence of the latter that makes him different from lower animals.

It is amazing how ordinary things come to remind us of how far down the nation is on the evolutionary ladder, so to speak. While yours truly has been doing some reflections on the state of the nation in recent time particularly our manmade disasters, this piece is actually prompted by the death of veteran journalist Mr Dimgba Igwe, penultimate week.

Ten days after the passing of the journalist, everyone who matters have extolled the late journalist’s qualities as humanist, thorough-bred professional, an outstanding Nigerian and many more. Nearly everyone I have heard speak on the death somehow agree that his death was tragic as it was unfortunate. Whereas the closest to “inevitability” of his death was probable outcome(s) from the injuries suffered after being knocked down by the criminal now on the run, I haven’t heard anyone succumb to the fatalistic nonsense that his death was anything “decreed”. In all, there was a sense of admission that he was yet another victim of cold, indifferent and uncaring society.

Accidents are of course, sometimes inevitable. However, death, in the circumstances in which he was alleged to have been killed, in a relatively busy neighbourhood, should ordinarily provoke deep, probing questions much of it about what we have become as a people. I hasten to say here that while the outpouring of outrage and grief, are in order, it comes to nothing without the larger society’s acceptance of moral culpability in its making. For while it was bad enough that an innocent man was knocked down in the course of an

‘As for the student movement – NANS – giving President Goodluck Jonathan administration, uncritical, unthinking and above all, unqualified endorsement for another term at a time one out every two youths are out there looking for a job, theirs’ at best is a catalyst to the coming self-help republic where everyone is on its own’

P

OOR Olisa Metuh. In him, we see a man who derives perverse enjoyment in publicly demonstrating that he occupies a position that is much too big for him. Through his own actions, he is found wanting. Through his own words, he shows that silence would be his best policy.

In his latest tirade, Metuh seeks to criticize the APC because of the party’s reaction to the departure of the dour yet overly ambitious Tom Ikimi from the APC. Strange that Metuh feels he must leap to the rescue of such a ruthless and shameless political fighter as Ikimi.

Stranger still is that Metuh seems more concerned about the Ikimi departure than the APC is as a party. Ikimi suffers from delusion of grandeur and in the PDP he will find his co-travellers. He needs his ego constantly fed and in PDP he will be lucky not to have it starved.

His recent attempt to denigrate the leadership of the APC, its leadership and the person of Bola Tinubu is merely the ranting of an ant. It falls within the same time worn and tenuous arguments. It offers no fresh thinking, but simply offends our nostrils. Like, his paymaster, Olisa is shadow boxing where there are no shadows. He is engaged in dynamic inactivity. His feeble attempt to talk down Tinubu is easily dismissible. If not for the PDP that gave him a job, his ilk will never have such temerity to speak the garbage they spill out.

Metuh seems to occupy a strange universe where the personal feelings of Ikimi are more important to him and his mission as PDP mouthpiece than are the national security and welfare of millions of our people. Strange man. Strange party. The PDP represents everything that is wrong with Nigeria. A party of ill-breds and career politicians. Metuh’s babysitting services is more needed by a cruel Presidency that profits from the misfortunes

‘While Boko Haram attacks us with guns, bombs and bullets, our very government fights us with deceit, trickery and lack of moral courage.

Boko Haram assaults the body but this government and ruling party ambush our national spirit. So that we may reach our finer destiny, both need to go and to take their broken megaphone, Olisa Metuh, with them’

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

When we can’t take care of little things exercise to keep his body in shape, that the culprit could take to flight in such circumstances obviously says a lot about the state of our humanity, but even more about the urban jungle which we now live. Obviously, it starts from the onlooker programmed to indifference; the numb public who wouldn’t care that a fellow citizen was cut down, right down to the atomistic players in the half-way home described as hospices – all – including the larger society – must see themselves as principal casts in the long play that evinces our collective retrogression – our famed descent to the state of nature.

As they say, there’s no need crying over spilt milk. Clearly, no amount of outrage will bring the dead back. However, if we agree that the society is served when appropriate lessons are learnt from tragedies such as that, we can begin at least to make some headway.

The question is – are we ready to learn?

If it seems any reassuring, the Inspector General of Police has assured the public of the “determination” of the police to arrest and prosecute the killer. I say big deal. The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on its part wants information from the public. Story, story…

At the moment, the much we know is that the killer drove a Toyota Corolla car. Was the vehicle registered or not? None of the eyewitnesses claim to know and there has been no suggestion of anyone stepping forward to assist the police with vital information on the basis of which it might proceed with serious investigation. This unfortunately in the age of phone cameras and mobile phones. Save for the lone corpse in the morgue, the incident of September 6 may well have passed as a fiction. That’s how bad things are. In the circumstance, Nigerians are left to wonder whether police assurances mean anything. It comes close to a classic Nigerian tale of citizen-indifference reproducing class inaction with the usual suspects – the police –tasked to play the magician.

Metuh, PDP’s broken megaphone

By Sunday Dare of the citizens.

The fact of the matter is that Metuh thought Ikimi’s departure would be a bombshell, fatally wounding the APC. He was set to take advantage of the matter. He may even have huddled with the carpetbagging Ikimi to help him craft his evil epistles against the APC. However, the bomb Metuh expected turned out to be a small, damp firecracker that could not even illicit a spark much less an explosion.

Investing hope that Ikimi’s departure would seriously injure the APC, Metuh was not only barking up the wrong tree, he had entered the wrong forest. Metuh had entered deep into fantasyland. Thus, let us endeavor to give him a piece of reality so that he might stop these flights of fancy and actually devote some time to the serious questions most Nigerians now ask of his party, PDP when it comes to their security and economic welfare.

In a sane party, Olisa Metuh would be confined to the fringes. But here he is given a national platform to insult the sensibilities of millions of Nigerians with his twisted logic and rationalization of the actions of Nigeria’s most inept and clueless leadership. Rather than face up to the failures of the PDP government, he seems have been placed on full time detail attacking the APC and its leaders. When you have no positive account of your own, and then attack that of the other party. This seems to be his motto and strategy. It is both naked and corrupt.

Olisa Metuh represents the pettiness and arrogance that has made this government blind to the fact that unprecedented tragedy had occurred on their watch while they were busily preening themselves and reveling in the sweet soft things that high office provides to those who care mostly about themselves.

While Boko Haram attacks us with guns, bombs and bullets, our very government fights us with deceit, trickery and lack of moral courage. Boko Haram assaults the body but this government and ruling party ambush our national spirit. So that we may reach our finer destiny, both need to go and to take their broken megaphone, Olisa Metuh, with them.

Where do we go from here? Tough question. Just as the culprit may never be found, we console ourselves that the tragic death and the equally tragic circumstances surrounding it are somewhat mitigated by a life of solid accomplishments.

We are supposed to move on, hoping and praying as we are wont to do – that such occurrence never happens again. Just like that? That is what I call the big delusion – the idea that a problem will disappear by wishing it away.

Moving on – I believe that we have a big problem in this country. Admittedly, the problem is a complex one. I have heard it said that the problem with Nigeria is leadership.

While there can be no overstating the leadership dimensions of our problem, it seems to me also that the problem of follower-ship has been somewhat understated. I am not here referring to flashes of aberrant behaviour that is routine and commonplace, but rather the pervasive delinquency, which very much like cancer, now runs through the entire gamut of the normative order, particularly among the class described as followers. It’s seems now only a matter of time before anarchy is loosed upon us all.

By then, the question of how to build a society of the future on a wobbly sub-structure of citizenship would be superfluous. It’s like seeking to erect a 10-storey building on straw foundation – an impossible task.

Clearly, omens are bad. The symptoms of the anomie are obviously as engulfing as they are unsparing. The deluded but now regular Jonathan-forever TAN-crowd now plaguing the nation with their rallies – stomping stadiums across the country may have just become the latest raw materials for the looming anarchy. As for a section of the student movement –NANS – giving President Goodluck Jonathan administration, uncritical, unthinking and above all, unqualified endorsement for another term at a time one out every two youths are out there looking for a job, theirs’ at best is a catalyst to the coming self-help republic where everyone is on its own.

Think it’s far fetched? Think again.

‘It starts from the onlooker programmed to indifference; the numb public who wouldn’t care that a fellow citizen was cut down, right down to the atomistic players in the half-way home described as hospices; all – including the larger society – must see themselves as principal casts in the long play that evinces our collective retrogression – our famed descent to the state of nature’ It would behoves the errant messenger of the errant ruling party to waste less time in his sophomoric examination of the APC internal dynamics and spend more time trying to figure out and explain the grand failures of policy and promise committed by the party to which he is so proudly a member. Why hasn’t this government rescued the girls of Chibok who have now been missing for nearly six months? It seems we are no closer to their freedom then we were the day they were abducted from their families.

Why did the government deploy so vast an array and arsenal of security forces and weaponry, including hooded gunmen, to intimidate and scare people during the recent elections in Ekiti and Osun? Is this a harbinger of what is to come during the 2015 general elections? If government musters such an energetic armed presence in peaceful states, how come it can’t deploy such a massive contingent in order to checkmate Boko Haram advances in northern Nigeria. Book Haram appears to be gaining ground daily, even declaring a caliphate. Yet, Metu is silent to this momentous challenge to national sovereignty and safety. Yet, his pen drips with poison because some APC members and Tinubu tell the truth about Ikimi.

The APC is undergoing a winnowing process. Those whose personal views or ambitions are incompatible with the party will leave. Instead of hurting APC, this helps the party because it makes it more coherent and united to her core principles. That the PDP can be home to anything and anybody no matter how craven is not a virtue. The ability of the PDP to be an indiscriminate receptacle only shows the party’s moral bankruptcy; it is not evidence of ecumenical appeal.

In this winnowing process, numerous people may depart but again the APC will be the better, more harmonious for it. Ikimi left and the APC still stands.

• Dare is Special Adviser, Media to Asiwaju Tinubu

‘APC is undergoing a winnowing process. Those whose personal views or ambitions are incompatible with the party will leave. Instead of hurting APC, this helps the party because it makes it more coherent and united to her core principles’

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

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COMMENTS

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T is over 150 days now that over 200 Nigerian secondary school girls were abducted at Chibok by the Boko Haram terrorist group and taken to Sambisa forest.

As the battle to defeat the group by the Nigerian military hots up, the whereabouts of the girls remains unknown the reassurances from the military high command to the contrary notwithstanding.

Following the girls abduction, it took our president, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan three weeks or thereabout to publicly acknowledge the dastardly act, and over five months after no serious rescue effort has been mounted to bring the girls home.

In the face of the seeming silence of the federal government on the plight of the girls at the outset of the abduction, it took the patriotic act of some Nigerians, particularly women through the #Bringbackourgirls campaign to draw global attention to the issue and wake up the president and his team from their seeming indifference.

And instead of proving to the rest of Nigerians and indeed the whole world that it was serious about bringing our girls back home, all what President Jonathan and his supporters could do was to add salt on the injuries being suffered by the parents of the girls following the abduction of their daughters by hijacking the #Bringbackourgirls slogan with their own #BringbackJonathanin2015 campaign slogan.

What a bunch of callous and insensitive people.

That the #BringbackJonathanin2015 slogan ran for several weeks before it was ordered off by a presidency which wanted us to believe it knew nothing about it showed the seriousness or lack of it that Jonathan and his group attach to the plight of the Chibok girls.

If any of the girls were to be the daughter of anyone in Jonathan’s inner circle would that person allow the trivialization of the suffering of the Chibok girls and their parents?

I can’t resist bringing our so called ‘mother of the nation’, the First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan into this. How would she feel if her daughter is in the hands of terrorists somewhere she couldn’t reach and a group of people supporting a president second term ambition is busy using the only symbol that

Shame of a president serves as a reminder of their plight, to promote selfish political agenda?

I know Madam might not understand this, but none of the parents of the Chibok girls will be happy with her and her husband.

Whether solicited or not, the fact that the #BringbackJonathanin2015 slogan/campaign was allowed to go on until there was a public outcry against it showed that the first family actually supported the campaign and was enjoying the ‘fun’. No sane parent should support such campaign. This was no way to be one’s brother’s keeper.

And continuing the show of shame called the Jonathan 2015 campaign is another group by the name Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN). The group, like the Neighbour-To-Neighbour organization that spearheaded the Jonathan 2011 presidential campaign, has been going about drumming support for the second term ambition of the president. While I find nothing wrong with such an endeavour, coming out now months ahead of the lifting of the ban on political campaign by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is a flagrant disregard for the law. And the fact that leading members of the Jonathan administration have been appearing at rallies called by TAN showed that the group enjoys the support, both moral and financial of the presidency.

Where is the level playing ground that INEC and even President Jonathan is promising for all the political parties in the run up to the elections if the president and his TAN are allowed to go about campaigning when a ban is in place and other parties being prevented from doing so by security agents?

A

S we count down towards the ground-breaking 2015 General Elections, everyone can play a significant role in changing the course of the country and their state’s history. Good governance should have been depicted as well; our state’s just like the Nigeria has being in dire need of visionary, courageous, intelligent, focus, charismatic and competent leadership. The next general election will be about the human development, security of lives and property, job creation and infrastructural development. Zamfara is among the states in the country that solely depends on the revenue allocation from the federation account as its means of survival.

Regrettably, the state is endowed with vast land suitable for agricultural purposes but has been neglected by successive administrations. Ironically, agriculture is the main occupation of Zamfarawas. Since its creation 18 years ago, the state is lagging behind its contemporaries in all human development indices as released by both the National Bureau of Statistics and the United Nations Development Programme.

The three critical success factors namely a functioning democracy, fighting corruption and building human talents leads to good governance and dividends of democracy. Bad governments that fail to deliver are replaced through democratic elections by candidates with good policies that will result in progressive reforms and development of the state. Corrupt leaders are replaced by those with integrity to enable the followers follow by example. Our state’s prosperity is underpinned by building and retraining human talent which will help meet the demand of human resources in a globalised world. The greatest gift that a good government can bestow to our future generation is not cash handouts, but knowledge, education, affordable health care, infrastructures,

‘The state deserves a chief executive whose policies are realistic and innovative, a leader who will stand by his words and promises to the electorates and a leader who knows the yearnings and expectation of the masses. It’s time we vote for a governor with fresh perspectives and foresight for a changing world, a type who understands the challenges we face and who can lead us to overcome them’

By the way, where is TAN getting its funding from and who are the people behind it? Definitely not one Mr. Udenta Udenta who calls himself its Director of Communications? Where on earth is TAN getting that stupendous money it has been expending on its rallies, TV commercials, radio jingles and newspaper/magazine advertisements coming from? Not from Udenta Udenta’s pocket I am sure?

And in line with the insensitiveness of the Jonathan administration to the plight of Nigerians, TAN even had the guts to organize its South/south rally in Port Harcourt Rivers State at the height of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the Garden city. Who knows now whether by that action the disease has been spread to unsuspecting members of the public? Our politicians should learn not to play politics with the lives of Nigerians.

Whoever advised TAN to take that campaign to Port Harcourt at the time it did surely does not love the people of Rivers State.

The dignitaries that attended the Port Harcourt rally of shame surely would be able to take care of themselves in the event of an Ebola infection; but definitely not the ordinary man out there who attended the rally probably because of the money given to him or promised him by the organizers.

Most of the people out there on that day surely had no interest in the rally or share the belief of the organizers. They were just looking for what to eat and in the process TAN exposed them to avoidable danger.

If the president is serious about tackling the issues of state that are threatening the security and well being of Nigeria and

2015: Zamfara deserves better

By Yahaya Ibrahim food security and jobs. Only then can we live with dignity and our younger ones live better than us. By practicing good governance and democratic principles, the state’s graceful decline can be arrested by a transparent, incorruptible and patriotic government. With that, we can turn deficits into surpluses, reduce our debts, increase our assets and reserves, and save billions of public funds. It is high time Zamfara join the league of truly progressive states whose leaders have the people at heart.

We deserve a state that educates and nurtures talent; one that promotes and rewards diligence, expertise and entrepreneurship; one that is safe and secure for all; industrious, and healthy for investors; and one whose cardinal principles is integrity, justice and people-centric policies and programmes. It’s no longer news that taxpayers’ money has been spent for useless travels, feasts, footing, or servicing of so-called godfathers’ jamborees. White elephant projects capital projects that are not beneficial to the masses. By simply daring to change, it brings a brighter future for our state free from fear, free from intimidation, free from ignorance, free from sycophancy, free from godfathers and free from corruption. With its vast land and huge gold reserves and other solid minerals, Zamfara’s future will be very bright if its present resources are managed efficiently by its leaders. Our state has the capacity of creating thousands of jobs for our people and the country at large thereby making it self-reliant. This however, cannot be realised under the present leadership. The state deserves a chief executive whose policies are realistic and innovative, a leader who will stand by his words and promises to the electorates and a leader who knows the yearnings and expectation of the masses. It’s time we vote for a governor with fresh perspectives and foresight for a changing world, a type who understands the challenges we face and who can lead us to overcome them.

Engineer Ibrahim Shehu Gusau is armed with the leadership rudiments to help get the state back to its core functions and provide future generations with the dream they deserve.

Courage and tenacity are what makes a good leader, and those qualities are glaring in him. In the House of

Nigerians, he would do well by calling off all TAN rallies as he has done with the #BringbackJonathanin2915 sloganeering. It is a shame on Jonathan’s presidency that these rallies are being allowed to go on not just because it violates our electoral laws but it is against the mood of the nation. And even the gods are not happy as exemplified by the podium collapse at TAN’s Minna rally.

At a time when the federal government is seeking special funding for the military for the war against terror, all the money being wasted on TAN and its rallies could be deployed to adequately arming our military for the task at hand. If the money was coming from government it should stop. If the so called friends of Jonathan are behind it, they should show more patriotism by donating such money to the military to buy arms and ammunition to fight Boko Haram. Nigerians would appreciate that more and thank them.

Watching how Washington and the rest of the western world have been responding to the threat posed to global security by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria or ISIS as it is called, it suddenly occurred to me that little or no mention was being given to the threat posed by Boko Haram. Could it be because BH is less dangerous to the world than ISIS? I think not. The west is responding vigorously to ISIS because they could find competent allies in the Iraqi government, its military and their Kurdish counterparts. Can we say the same about our own government and military in this war on Boko Haram? I leave the answer to you.

‘It is a shame on Jonathan’s presidency that these rallies are being allowed to go on not just because it violates our electoral laws but it is against the mood of the nation. And even the gods are not happy as exemplified by the podium collapse at TAN’s Minna rally’

Representative, he has displayed commitment and potentials of leadership. Love or loathe him; Gusau is one who has distinguished himself even among his colleagues in the House through his contributions and debates on bills and motions.

He did not only represent his constituency in the Green Chamber, but has always voiced out in support of policies and programmes that has direct impact on the masses in the country. He is intelligent, focused, thorough, vibrant and a worthy representative who can be trusted. We want to build a state where our small businesses, tertiary institutions, healthcare facilities, agricultural development, infrastructure will thrive.

His election would curb the growing power of pockets of special interests, which so often conceal their self-serving agendas behind a facade of fist-in-the-air patriotism and unfulfilled promises. He is both the key to a brighter future and the bulwark to move the state to a greater height. He is meticulous and responsible to a fault. He represents the fountain of humility, wisdom, loyalty, discipline, hardworking, patriotism and accountability. His deep knowledge of public and private sector will be a great asset in opening the doors of investment opportunities in the state that will help to create jobs through the establishment of skills acquisition centres and small scale industries, transfer of knowledge and technology. His experiences as former commissioner, Senior Special Assistant and a former General Manager in M-Tel Communications are worth mentioning here. Armed with academic PhD degree, a professional engineer, successful businessman, philanthropist and a politician; there’s no denying fact that he has all it takes to lead the state to a sustainable path, with an economy built on human capital development. Now that we are prepared to make another choice, let’s choose wisely in order not to put our lives into the hands of gamblers, deceivers or chance takers. The choice is therefore ours to either choose to rebuild our future, by positioning the right candidate or continue to sustain what we will inherit; unfulfilled promises and disappointments.

• Yahaya sent this piece from Talata Mafara, Zamfara State.

‘Now that we are prepared to make another choice, let’s choose wisely in order not to put our lives into the hands of gamblers, deceivers or chance takers. The choice is therefore ours to either choose to rebuild our future’

THE NATION TUESDAY SEPTEM BER 16, 2014

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

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With few months to the end of her tenure, many can testify that, though we have not got to the Promised Land, remarkable progress has been made towards that direction since Justice Mukhtar assumed office over a year ago.

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See page 39

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega stirred the hornet’s nest last week when he unveiled additional polling units. The exercise is generating heat, some alleging that it is designed to favour the North to the South’s detriment. It has also brought Jega’s integrity to question. Is he compromised? Should he be sacked as demanded by his critics? Lawyers weigh in with their views, reports ADEBISI ONANUGA.

Jega sparks huge fire with polling units

THE QUESTIONS

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, came under fire last week when he announced the creation of additional 30,027 polling units nationwide ahead of the 2015 elections. At a news conference in Abuja, Jega said INEC’s decision to re-configure polling units and create additional ones was driven by Nigerians’ collective aspirations to reform and improve upon the electoral process for free, fair, peaceful and credible elections in 2015 and beyond.

“There is no sectional or parochial agenda in this decision,” he said.

According to him, the commission used the “2011 postAutomated Fingerprint Identification Software (AFIS) voter register figure of about 70,383,427; and, based on a figure of 500 voters per polling unit, there should be, at least 140,000 polling units in the country.”

He added that from the exercise, “there is no political advantage to any individual or any party or any region.”

It is to ease voters’ access to the ballot box in 2015 and beyond; decongest over-crowded polling units and distribute voters evenly.

More polling units, Jega said, would also reduce voters’ stress in walking long distances to cast their ballot as movement is usually restricted on election day.

According to him, some polling units in front of private homes were also relocated; some are to be located inside classrooms or such other suitable enclosures, in line with international best practices; splitting large polling units such that they have an average of 500 registered voters; and creating additional polling units to cater for new settlements not serviced by any existing ones.

The creation of the additional units, based on the powers conferred on INEC by the 2010 Electoral Act, has brought the number of polling units in the country to 150,000. The law states that no polling unit shall have more than 500 voters, compared to past experiences where registered voters in a polling unit are sometimes over 1,000.

How the new polling units are allocated A breakdown of the polling units, based on the six geopolitical zones, showed that the commission would allocate 21,615 polling units to the North and 8, 414 to the South. The total figures as further broken down per geopolitical zone are as follows: Northwest, 7,909 polling units; Northcentral, 6, 318; Northeast, 5,291; Southwest, 4,160; Southsouth, 3,087; and Southeast 1,167.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will get 1,120 polling units. When broken down further, it showed that Lagos got 2,870, increasing the polling centres in the state to 11,565.

Kano came second with 2,053 polling units to bring its number to 9,809. Kaduna got additional 2,878 polling units, bringing the state’s total to 7,878; Bayelsa got 121 polling units, bringing its number to 1,925.

Criticisms

INSIDE:

Since the announcement, Jega and the commission have come under strident criticisms, with some questioning his integrity and calling for his sack. There are complaints that the newly created polling units favoured the three political zones in the North.

The critics are worried about the timing of the exercise as they suspect that it could be part of a purported design

NBA election: Why reforms must succeed -Page 27

•Jega to undermine the South’s chances in next year’s election.

The Middle-Belt Justice Forun For A Stable United Nigeria, in an advertorial, dissociated its people from the arrangement. In what it called “INEC’S divide and rule (21,000) polling units for North,” the group said it would not be party to a political plot that will “enslave and decimate our people anymore.”

Southern elders said Jega has lost his credibility. They called for his removal, saying he was biased in proposing the polling units.

The elders, under the umbrella of the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly, queried the rationale behind increasing the polling centres when the number of registered voters has reduced from 70 million to 57 million.

The pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, also rejected the additional 30,000 polling units barely five months to the general elections. They have passed “a vote of no confidence” in Jega over his ability to conduct a free and fair election next year.

Its spokesman, Yinka Odumakin said “the imbalance in the distribution is unacceptable.”

“A war ravaged Northeast where people are fleeing was

40 indigent students get Fawehinmi’s scholarship -Page 37

•Are new polling units needed when the number of voters is dropping?

•Who are those going to use the new polling units?

•Is the sharing of the new polling units in line with federal character?

•Whose script is the INEC chairman acting?

•Is Jega not compromised?

•Is the clamour for his sack justified? allocated 5,201 new polling units while the entire Southwest, which is brimming with people, is allocated only 4,160 additional polling units. The entire Southeast was allocated 1,166 new units while FCT alone was allocated 1, 200 units. We do not know of any country in the world where you would change electoral law one year to the election, not to talk of creating additional polling units six months to the election,” the group said.

But Jega defended his integrity, saying he is not a religious or ethnic jingoist. The need factor, rather than political, he stressed, necessitated the planned distribution of the polling units.

Jega noted that the criticisms were unjustified, as the initiative was aimed at developing the country. He told reporters that the units would not give political advantage to anybody or group.

Jega faulted the critics for focusing on the planned 150,000 polling units rather than considering their distribution.

According to him, under the current 120,000 polling •Continued on page 26

Mukhtar ‘s relentless war against judicial rot -Page 38

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

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LAW COVER CONT’D •Continued from page 25

units, some states have more polling centres than they should have.

He noted that it was regrettable that people viewed every national action with suspicion.

“INEC’s decision to re-configure the structure of polling units and create additional ones is driven by our collective aspirations as Nigerians to reform and improve upon the electoral process for free, fair, peaceful and credible elections next year and beyond. There is no sectional or parochial agenda in this decision and there will never be any such agenda under this commission,” he said.

Analysts are questioning INEC’s credibility as an umpire in future elections. Their questions are: Are new polling units needed when the number of registered voters is dropping? Who are those going to use the new polling units where people are leaving in droves from, such as in the North? Is the sharing of the new polling units in line with federal character? Is the INEC chairman acting a script? Has Jega, a man known for his integrity, been compromised? Is the clamour for his sack justified?

Observers are worried about the development and are watching whether Jega would shift ground.

The Imo State House of Assembly said the creation of the 30,000 polling units was intended to give undue political advantage to the North. In a motion sponsored by the member representing Isiala Mbano Constituency, Simeon Iwunze, and supported by all members, the lawmakers rejected the additional polling units.

The House, which resumed sitting after three months’ recess, called on the Federal Government to prevail on INEC to stop the ongoing review of the voters’ register in the state and distribution of the Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) till the polling units were adequately distributed among states, according to the number of registered voters.

Lawyers weigh in Lawyers, especially those versed in electoral laws, are expressing divergent views.

Those who spoke include University of Lagos (UNILAG) law teacher and public commentator Wahab Shittu; Constitutional lawyer Ike Ofuokwu; Lagos lawyer Mr Emeka Nwadioke, Abayomi Omoyinmi, Ikechukwu Ikeji and Yemi Omodele.

Nwadioke agreed that the creation of additional polling units seemed an after-thought, having not featured in any of the earlier commitments of INEC towards credible elections.

Nwadioke admitted not being in a position to determine whether Jega has been compromised. To him, the distribution of polling units should not have been done through federal character. He saw it as “essentially an operational issue” which must however, be done with utmost transparency.

According to him, the controversy also begs the question as to whether the political parties were carried along in the run-up to this action.

To him, it is difficult to determine the utility of the new polling units in the absence of credible data. He argued that in climes where public institutions are more predictable, perhaps Prof.

Jega would have been accorded some degree of good faith.

Omoyinmi , a member of Ogun State Judicial Service Commission, disagreed with critics of the newly created polling units. He

•Shittu

•Ofuokwu

•Ikeji

said Jega is an appointee of the PDP government, who takes instructions from the government of the day directly or indirectly.

“He professes what his masters want. He cannot bite the fingers that feeds him. He wants the incumbent to be returned in 2015 elections and as a political scientist he is strategising ahead of the deal day.

He wants a situation whereby the opposition is weak at their strong holds, particularly the northern part of the country, hence, he segregationally and discriminatoril y created poling units.

To him, “Jega is from the North, therefore, his decision to create more polling units in the North is to favour his brothers and sisters and his region. It is unfair. He should have done the creation equally without fair or favour on all parts/regions or geo-political zones in Nigeria,” he said.

The way out

•Omoyinmi

•Nwadioke

•Omodele

Jega sparks huge fire with polling units said there is no indication so far that Jega has any ulterior motive and no one is able to prove otherwise thus far. The numbers of registered voters cannot be said to be dropping in view of the fact that so many voters, who were below the voting age in last election election, would obviously be qualified to vote this time around. He said where polling units are created in line with population of eligible voters, which is clear from the past figures that the north has more registered voters than the south, this may have justified Jega’s reason for the creation of new and more polling units in the North and same would ever be controversial even if done in utmost good faith.

Omoyinmi recalled that it was not long ago after the election of Ekiti and Osun that Jega was given thumbs-up for jobs well done regardless of the polling units available to voters. He said what was important is the credibility in the conduct of the election. Jega, according to him, has given explanation to the world in response to the suspicion about the creation of the additional polling units in preparartion for the 2015 general election. There is no indication so far that he, Jega, has any ulterior motive; and no one is able to prove otherwise thus far.

The numbers of registered voters cannot be said to be dropping in view of the fact that so many voters who were below the voting age in last election election would obviously be qualified to vote this time around.

Shittu and others however, feel different on the matter. To Shittu, INEC ought to avoid needless controversy and suspicions ahead of the 2015. According to him, there is need for INEC to tread softly on the creation of

additional polling units. He said whatever the merits of INEC’s arguments with reference to decongesting the polling units and easing the logistics and challenges ahead of the elections, the move is controversial for several reasons.

“Some may consider the move as allegedly an attempt to give the North a political advantage over the South in view of the breakdown of the poliing units involved. Secondly, the introduction of the automated finger identification system by INEC is intended to drastically rduced the incidence of ghost voters, therebyaddressing the issue of congestion of voters.

Thirdly, the number of registerd voters is now reduced fdrom 73million to 57 million. Therefore how can a reduced voter strtength of 57 million require more polling units of 150,000 as against 119, 973 polling units which previously covered 73 million registered voters. Fourthly, there is no justification for increasing the polling units in the North East whre there is rising incidence of Boko Haram insurgency as against zones in the south where the political climate is relatively stable,” he said.

Ofuokwu said there can be no justification for this impunity which even members of the commission from other zones find strange and curious. “If the truth must be told Prof Attahiru Jega has outlived his usefulness (if any) in INEC. He has requested for and gotten so much more than any of his predecessors have gotten, yet with little to show for it and without been challenged by anyone. He has been given so much freedom and independence by this administration. This step of creating additional polling units

Ws sponsors?

at a time when the numbers of registered voters has dropped is arbitrary and an impunity designed to achieve a northern agenda. It is a well known fact that the INEC chairman is a well known apostle of a clear agenda to favour the North,” he said.

Ikechukwu Ikeji said there is no need for additional polling units at this time, “and if indeed it becomes so imperative to establish more units, they ought to be shared at least as equally as possible not the present situation where 80 per cent of new units have been dished out to the northern part of Nigeria.

“It is no surprise that even the middle belt people, people from the north central zone, have come out to condemn and reject the new structure even where they were beneficiaries of the skewed distribution. “One is at a loss as to the real reasons why INEC did what they did since additional polling units should always be a function of increase in population or intervening exigencies based on human population. Geographical size without human beings cannot be a justifiable ground to create additional polling units”, he stated.

Ikeji cannot say for sure if Jega has been compromised or not.

“Compromise happens in the dark, but its effects are seen in the actions of the affected person. So, while there may not be evidence of compromise, there are reasons to suspect it.

“We should all be vigilant and careful. The call for his sack is justified although it may not be exigent given the extent of the preparations for the elections in which he, Jega, is a central figure. He just needs to be called to order and pressure put on him to rescind his new polling units programme,” he said.

Lagos lawyer, Yemi Omodele,

‘I expected Jega to be able to appreciate what a vote of no confidence implies and throw in the towel. His northernisation agenda of the top hierarchy of the commission is enough damage that would take years to correct’

Ikeji said it is clear that Jega is playing out a predetermined script but for whom is not yet clear. He should be scrutinised closely to understand where he is heading because his latest actions are unpopular and clearly tilted in favour of a particular region, a region that is desperately bent on regaining presidential power by all means, even violently. “The sharing of the new polling units is clearly against the principle of federal character, which requires the diversities of Nigeria to be taken into cognisance in the distribution of positions and sundry benefits and burdens. This is the intendment of Section 14 (3) of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999, as amended.

“So, while there may not be evidence of compromise, there are reasons to suspect it. We should all be vigilant and careful. The call for his sack is justified although it may not be exigent given the extent of the preparations for the elections in which he, Jega, is a central figure. He just needs to be called to order and pressure put on him to rescind his new polling units programme,” he advised.

Nwadioke said this is one case that Jega must clearly address with facts and figures in order to lay to rest the demons unleashed by these grievous charges and assuage the concerns of his critics. “Otherwise, the 2015 Elections would have been severely compromised by a huge credibility deficit even before the first ballot is cast. Jega has a duty to save Nigeria such odious prospect,” he said.

Omodele said Jega should have had a wider consultations before jumping into conclusion.

“He should be careful with his autrances, decisions and polices. His decision in creating more poling units may lead to uproar and confusion. I advise him to hear the voice of the masses and not otherwise.

“I also state that if he has intergrete, he should resign where and when his appiontors are dictating for him. I say Jega should go. He pretends like a saint, but he is not so though he has made some imparts in the political history of Nigeria. However, he is not perfect. He is not intelligent more than the entire country,” he said.

Said Shittu: “Jega may be lacking in integrity, but the sensibilities and consciousness of Nigerians across the geo-political zones must be recognised and respected.”

Ofuokwu added: “I expected Jega to be able to appreciate what a vote of no confidence implies and throw in the towel. His northernisation agenda of the top hierarchy of the commission is enough damage that would take years to correct. If the President does not do away with Jega then Jega will do away with him sooner than expected. He should be sacked without delay for bringing the commission to disrepute.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

27

LAW PERSONALITY Mr. Ogochukwu Joseph Okeke is the immediate past chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Nnewi Branch in Anambra State. He was Chairman, Security Committee of the Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) of the NBA Annual General Conference held in Owerri, the Imo State capital, last month. He speaks on lawyers’ expectations of the Augustine Alegeh-led executive and national security, among others, in this interview with Legal Editor, JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU.

NBA election: Why reforms must succeed A

S a former branch chairman, what do you consider as the greatest challenge in branch administration?

Basically, assuming office, a lot of people and members will feel that there are some economic gains to be made. But actually there are none because you basically accept a position of leadership, a position where all you need to do is to protect the interest of your members. So, it is a question of selfless service to the people and the Bar. And when there is an issue in the branch, you begin to run from here to there and from pillar to post. You attend to branch meetings, National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings and your private business will always suffer. But because you are at the helm of affairs at the branch you don’t have an option other than show leadership. It has nothing to do with economic gains, but a lot of people don’t see it that way. For me that is one of the problems you normally have with members who do not understand the actual workings of the leadership of the Bar. You were actively involved in electoral campaigns at the last NBA elections, how do you think the cost of running NBA elections especially, the office of NBA President can be reduced?

I hold this view that the most difficult election to run in Nigeria today is the office of NBA President. I say so because once you aspire to be the President of the NBA you must traverse the nooks and crannies of this country. You must traverse the entire Nigeria, not just visiting the state capitals. Let me use the campaigns for the election of Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN) as NBA President as an example. Compare and contrast it with that of President Goodluck Jonathan.

President Goodluck Jonathan would hold his campaign rally in Awka for example, where everybody would come and listen to him.

He would also hold one in PortHarcourt, Rivers State where everybody would also come. So also he would have it in Kano, where everybody would come. But an NBA Presidential aspirant who just comes to Awka branch of the NBA and stops there will definitely have problems.

Why? In Anambra State for instance, you have seven branches, he would have to go Awka , Nnewi, Aniocha, Ihiala, Aguata, Idemmili and Onitsha branches. That means he has seven branches to visit within the state. He is not going to call them collectively to Awka and say, look, gentlemen, I want to see all of you in Awka because if he does that the man in Aguata will feel slighted and ask, why will you invite me to Awka when I can also host Awka in Aguata? So, you find out that the NBA Presidential aspirant traverses the entire NBA branches in the federation if he is serious about winning the election.

I commendAugustine Alegeh for successfully carrying out this difficult assignment. At times the President sits in Abuja and may not know what is happening in distant branches like Isiokpo. When issues of Isiokpo branch comes up, he wouldn’t know where it is. He just knows that it is in Rivers State or Ungogo branch in Kano State.

What are your expectations from the

•Okeke

‘If electoral reforms come from us, then the larger society and other organisations will learn from us. If all these other organisations are able to learn from what the NBA has successfully done, then Nigeria will be a better place’ new executives, given the contents of the President’s inaugural speech concerning electoral reforms in the NBA? My expectations are very high indeed, I have always known our President, Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN), as a man of his words. I sincerely believed in his manifesto during the campaigns. I f you recall, during the campaigns, he was called a stranger to the Bar. So, I always teased him whenever he wanted to do something like a stranger to show that he was not an orthodox NBA politician bound by the way others had done it. This is a new revolution and you can see it manifested in his inauguration speech. He has made a lot of changes within the short time and by time he spends two years in office, the NBA is going to see a complete revolution to the advantage of the members of the Bar. Given the lack lustre performance of the immediate past regime of the NBA, with the alienation of lawyers from the NBA, how do you think the new administration can connect lawyers back to the association with maximum benefit to Nigerian lawyers?

Well, the President would always say that the Okada riders have a union and the first reason for their coming together is their welfare. If one of them dies, there is a contribution made by other Okada riders within the association to ensure that the body is

sent home. What has the NBA done for its members? Practicing fees are expectedly paid by every lawyer, and a lawyer in Lagos, who probably has the advantage of charging high fees, pays the same fees with those practising in another state where he may not have the advantage charging such fees. But at the end of the day, nobody gets the benefits for actually paying those fees. With the insurance scheme introduced by Augustine Alegeh (SAN), we are for once, going to have something in return for the practicing fees being paid by lawyers. That is a plus for us. That is wonderful and it is the kind of thing we expect from our association as members.

There was not a single incident of insecurity at the venue of the just concluded Annual General Conference of the NBA in Owerri, Imo State. As the chairman of the security committee, what was the secret?

Well, the first secret I may tell you is that my father is a retired police officer. By virtue of that natural training, I think I have that in-built capacity to be a security man. Again, as a lawyer, you are trained in almost all areas. I was able to adapt a couple of things I have known to the situation. Unlike the Calabar Conference, this one was more difficult because of the diverse venues and the long distance. The security men were able to sit down together.

We were able to have joint security

sessions and mapped out operational programmes. It was great working with the Police. It was also great working with the State Security Service (SSS). There was a great understanding, even at the very short notice they were able to respond rapidly. The Civil Defence was also brilliant, Imo State government civil guards were also fantastic with the control of traffic. We all worked together. So, it was not a single individual effort. I also praise my fellow committee members, who also ensured that it was a success, although the major venue, the Imo State International Conference Centre, was porous because there was not any fence. There are a lot of entrances into the place, yet we were able to provide maximum security for the conferees. At some point, we used police dogs to ensure that people entered the venue through designated points.

The NBA President, Alegeh, announced in his inaugural speech that one of his major focus is to reform the association electoral process, to begin the e-voting experiment from the branches, seek the amendment of its constitution before the next election in 2016. What is your reaction to this?

It is, indeed, a wonderful development in view of the fact that it is extremely difficult to contest for the office of the NBA President.

Remember, what I said before about traversing the entire 109 branches of

the association in the name of campaign, then you will appreciate the fact that e-voting is an absolute solution if done well.

Why do you hold this view?

This is because it will cover a lot of risks of travelling, the money involved and all the risks involved.

It will be a wonderful development and if we start with the branches, by 2016 when another election will come, almost everybody will be used to the system. And as lawyers, we would be able to lead the society in this kind of reforms. We shouldn’t be going backwards. If electoral reforms come from us, then the larger society and other organisations will learn from us. If all these other organisations are able to learn from what the NBA has successfully done, then Nigeria will be a better place.

You were named a member of the select committee by the President in his inauguration speech, how do you feel about it and what do you think is the reason for setting up of such a committee?

Well, I respect the NBA President for recognising that I should be in that committee and for setting it up at this point in time. If I may go back to the reasons for this committee, over the years a lot of things have been done in the name of NBA appointments. The leadership of the NBA had lost track of what was available to the NBA. Just like he said in his inaugural speech, there are people, who have turned such positions into their private businesses. Those appointed more than 30 years ago are still there and the Federal Character issue comes into question andI think that it is part of what we will look at in the committee. If you have 10 committees for instance, and nine out of them are occupied by people from one state of the Federation, that is not fair at all to other parts of the country, or nine of such from one particular branch. A branch that calls itself a big branch for that matter while the rural branches will actually get nothing yet practicing fees are being paid across board, equally.

The President announced a significant reduction in conference fees during his tenure, how do you think this will impact the conferences positively?

Yes the President announced that there are a lot of corporate bodies that are willing to sponsor the NBA programmes, so it is really going to affect whatever conferences that may be run by the NBA any more. If these organisations have an understanding with the NBA and they are able to come up with good packages with respect to running the conferences, I don’t think that these reduction in conference fees will be an obligation on the part of members.

As a member of the Augustine Alegeh campaign organisation, what do you feel about his inauguration, his inaugural speech and his agenda?

Well, people had always called the President a stranger at the Bar and I believe that this stranger will do what the son can never do. I believe that he will do what the lantern can do that the sun can never do, which is shining at night.

Alegeh will shine, the NBA will shine, Nigerian lawyers will shine and Nigeria will be a better place with this administration.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

28

LAW & SOCIETY

‘Domestic, sexual violence perpetrators must not escape justice’

L

AGOS State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Mr. Ade Ipaye has urged the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) to ensure that offenders are brought to book.

He observed that domestic and sexual violence was on the increase because of impunity and the victims failure to give information that would ensure offenders’ prosecution.

Speaking while inaugurating the team, which he chairs, Ipaye lamented victims’ lack of awareness of their right under the law.

Members of the committee are from the Police; Office of the Public Defender (OPD); Directorate of the Citizen’s Rights; Directorate of Public Prosecutions; Office of Youth and Social Development; Ministry of Women Affairs; Poverty Alleviation; the Civil Society and the media.

The prosecutors, Ipaye said, have the responsibility to ensure that victims get justice at all times, saying no offender should be made to think that he or she is above the law.

He urged the committee to coordinate and develop a community response to prevent domestic violence, protect and support victims and bring perpetrators to justice.

“DSVRT is a specialist team and the purpose of the establishment of the team is to increase victims’ safety and offenders’ responsibility by providing a cross jurisdictional response that is uniform in approach in domestic violence cases across Lagos State,” he said.

The establishment of DSVCT, he said, will be instrumental in the reduction of domestic and sexual related crimes and ultimately provide some succour to victims of the heinous crimes in the state.

Ipaye stressed the need for awareness on the part of victims and advised the team to be devoted to education and creation

By Adebisi Onanuga

of awareness among all interest groups in order to reduce and prevent incidences of sexual and domestic violence in the state.

The team, according to Ipaye, would be devoted to education and creation of awareness among all interest groups in order to prevent or reduce the incidence of sexual and domestic violence in the state.

According to him, some of the responsibilities of the team include risk assessment and safety planning for victims and children; conduct research on issues of sexual and domestic violence to improve the knowledge and appreciation of stakeholders and refer victims of sexual and domestic violence to relevant stakeholders for follow up action, proper investigation and prosecution of alleged offenders and treatment of victims.

Ipaye said an e-mail address and website have been created and a dedicated telephone lines (Toll-Free lines) would be available to members of the public, particularly, victims who may wish to call in and register a complaint.

The Attorney-General commended Police efforts and other community service organisations, who he noted, are ‘working passionately with a view to tackling this menace’.

He pointed out that it is important to harmonise the efforts and provide a coordinated response to the issue while working towards a common goal.

The OPD Director, Mrs. Rotimi Omotola demanded that domestic and sexual violence should be one of the cases that should fall under the fast track system in the

•Ipaye (right); Mrs.Ibirogba (middle) and Mrs. Rotimi.

•From left: Mr. Adeniran; Mr. Bajulaiye; Mr. Martins and Mrs. Balogun.

•From left: Mrs. Awosika; Mrs. Ironsi and Mrs. Eze-Anaba.

courts. According to her, it will quicken dispensation of justice and reduce stress on the victim.

She advised that government should take issues of preservation

of evidence very seriously, noting that lack of evidence and inability to protect it have been the reasons why cases are thrown out of court.

The Director, Directorate of the

‘DSVRT is a specialist team and the purpose of the establishment of the team is to increase victims’ safety and offenders’ responsibility by providing a cross jurisdictional response that is uniform in approach to domestic violence cases across Lagos State ... The establishment of DSVCT, will be instrumental in the reduction of domestic and sexual related crimes and ultimately provide some succour to the victims of these heinous crimes in the state.

Citizen’s Rights, Mrs. C.O. Ibirogba suggested the publication of a handbook which will list all legal steps to be taken by victims and other stakeholders to get justice.

Other members of the team include Senior Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Legal Matters, Mr Gbolahan Adeniran; Ironsi Bose; Itoro Eze-Anaba; Keziah Awosika; Oke Mobolaji Olamide; Modupe Aladelusi; Adegboyega Bajulaiye; Babajide Martins; Mosunmola Balogun; Alaba Fadairo; Titilope Akosa; Okoro Uche; Vweta Chadwick; Oghogho Olabisi and Chinwe Onyeukwu.

Ex-NBA chief: only judicial panel can clear suspected Boko Haram sponsors

By Adebisi Onanuga

•Adegbite

O

NLY a judicial commission of enquiry can clear those fingered as Boko Haram sponsors, a former Secretary of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA)

Ikeja Branch, Adesina Adegbite, has said.

Adegbite, who urged the Federal Government to raise a panel to investigate those suspected as Boko Haram sponsors, said the Australian, Dr. Stephen Davis should not be discontenanced.

Davis claimed in an interview with Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that former Chief of Staff, Lt Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika and former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff are Bko Haram sponsors.

He said the exoneration of Ihejirika by the spokesperson of

Directorate of Security Service (DSS), Marilyn Ogah was too hasty.

Adegbite said Nigerians expected more from the government in its handling of insurgency., “It is, indeed, very pathetic that we have to rely on a foreigner to reveal the identity, albeit suspicious sponsors and backers of Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria.

“I carefully and deliberately used the word terrorists because that is exactly what these mindless murderers are. However, dealing specifically with this issue, let me tell you without mincing words that the least the Federal Government should do is to institute a commis-

sion of enquiry. Nigerians actually expect more from the government,” he said.

According to him, Boko Haram scourge could not have lasted till now but for official silence and complicity of some very high ranking politicians and military officers.

The former NBA scribe wondered why the former governor of Borno State, Alhaji Modu Sherrif was not exonerated by the spokesperson of alongside the former chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika “I feel personally embarrassed that the DSS through its spokesperson came out to exonerate the former Chief of Army Staff in such

a hasty manner. I wonder why she failed to exonerate the former Governor of Borno State in similar blanket manner. Anyway, as far as I want to believe, most Nigerians are concerned, irrespective of whether Dr. Davis is a self acclaimed negotiator as stated by Mrs. Marilyn Ogar or not. Everyone mentioned must be scrutinised and properly investigated.

Such an open and hasty exoneration is certainly not healthy,” he said., The government, Adegbite said, must convince everyone through proactive and effectively coordinated military action against the Boko Haram insurgents.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON NORTHERN STATES

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

PAGE 29

Jigawa, 23 years after •PAGE 31

Journalists undergo training on election coverage •PAGE 32

A committee’s fight against flood, insurgency

•PAGE 33

•Record office at the staff school

T

Bacita: Kwara’s forgotten industrial town

HE mention of Bacita immediately evokes memories of the now comatose Nigeria Sugar Company. The image of the defunct firm still lies in the town which used to be a commercial hub in Kwara State.

But today, the town is a shadow of itself, with the once-known industrial town lacking in development.

The absence of good roads may have contributed to the deplorable nature of the town. The collapse of the sugar company and Nigeria Yeast and Alcohol Manufacturing Company has made life in the town unattractive.

Located in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, Bacita used to be the envy of Nigeria because of the presence of the Nigerian Sugar Company and others.

But the situation has changed drastically as the town can no

From Faith Yahaya

longer boast of any development.

For example, because of the status of the Nigeria Sugar Company, the staff school, which residents said, used to be the joy of students and parents has become an eyesore.

The buildings and classrooms are in a deplorable condition. As evidence of the decay of the school, the signpost no longer bears the name of the school as years of neglect seem to have taken toll on it. The name has been erased and replaced with an inscription which reads: “No King as God”, written in a handwriting that depicts that of an idle child trying to master the craft of

‘The condition of the school can be likened to the state of the community whose growth has stunted over the years. Many people have, however, relocated from the community and many more are said to be on their way out due to lack of development’ handwriting.

A few meters from the gate stood a huge book-like sculpture with the

inscription, “Education is the bedrock of any development, allow •Continued on page 30

‘Fed Govt committed to ending Boko Haram insurgency’ •PAGE 36

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

30

THE NORTH REPORT NEMA seeks support in disaster management

Bacita: Kwara’s forgotten industrial town

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

T

•Continued from page 29 your children to be educated”, an indication of why the school was set up.

Our correspondent gathered that apart from the overgrown grasses, there was nothing to suggest that this was a place that was once a centre of academic excellence. The classrooms had been converted to some kind of store by farmers and other people who see some industrious use of the classrooms.

They dry their shear butter seeds, cassava and other farm produce.

Result sheets, text books and receipt booklets were seen scattered in what used to be the headmaster’s office and other offices.

Ironically, the condition of the school can be likened to the state of the community whose growth has stunted over the years. Many people have, however, relocated from the community and many more are said to be on their way out due to lack of development.

They have, however, cried out; alleging that the government, both at the federal and state levels, has abandoned them. Some of the residents of the community expressed sadness that government has decided not to remember them.

Our correspondent also discovered that out of the two roads leading to the community, visitors prefer to use the Old Jebba Road known to many as the Tsaragi/Share Road because of the deplorable condition of the major road, the Mokwa/Jebba Road.

It was further gathered that visitors to Bacita have abandoned the 18-kilometre road because, instead of spending about 20 minutes to get to the community, travellers spend almost one hour because of its bad nature. The alternative route which is the Share/Tsaragi Road, which most people prefer is peculiar with the plain landscape.

The road is tarred, which explains the preference. Some of the villages on the road are Patidzuru, Kpankorogi, Manfu, Emigbadzi, Mamu and Emiworogi. Heaps of firewood, which might never be sold are displayed in most of the villages. With about one kilometre separating the villages, our correspondent observed that villages, which appear to be smaller than Bacita enjoy good road network and constant power supply, even though they lack schools, markets, banks and hospitals. In view of that, they have to travel always to Bacita to access these facilities.

Ironically, the good road enjoyed by smaller villages on the way to Bacita are not present in Bacita as the roads in Bacita still maintain that natural state, with erosion eating into parts of them.

Motorcycles appear to be the major means of transport in the community where roadblocks and bumps are made with firewood. Unfortunately, the usual bustling that characterised the once-popular industrial town in the Old Kwara State is gone. Walking round the town, it was discovered that most people just move around with little activities going on. Tattered attires of farmers returning from farm also speak about life in the community, with only a few of them with the opportunity to own old bicycles and motorcycles that are better placed off the road. Residents are not happy about the seeming pathetic situation in Bacita. Even with the state of lack

•Pieces of paper in the Principal’s office

•One of the dilapidated buildings

of development, worship places adorn the town with only one functioning hospital, few private schools and thick green grasses.

A view from afar gives you hope because of the company structure which stands out, but on approaching, the hope is dashed as the structure stands among bushes. The community has one government secondary school and one mini-fuel station called Green Space Nigeria Limited.

Investigation revealed that the major source of water in the community is well water while their major occupations remain farming and petty trades because of the collapse of the companies.

Dominated by the Nupe, the women have mastered the art of using the abundant groundnuts in the community for commercial purpose. With the groundnut, they make and sell ‘kuli-kuli,’ a local snack and also extract oil which they sell to those who like organic food.

Residents told our correspondent that “Bacita used to be tourism and excursion centre for students and visitors who came to the state. It really assisted the economy of the country then because of the Sugar firm and NIYAMCO that were functioning. But now, the moribund nature of the companies has led to the collapse of most activities in the community.”

‘Bacita used to be tourism and excursion centre for students and visitors who came to the state. It really assisted the economy of the country then because of the Nigerian Sugar Company (NISUCO) and Nigerian Yeast and Alcohol Manufacturing Company (NIYAMCO) companies that were functioning.

But now, the moribund nature of the companies has led to the collapse of most activities in the community’ Some of them regretted that the “government has forgotten us completely but we will not be surprised if we start hearing that they will come to pay us a visit soon just the way they usually do when general elections approach.

As election period draws near, they will find their way into the town with blaring siren and party flags for campaign. They act very honest and promise heaven on earth but after the election, they

completely turn their backs on us.

That is why the community remains the same or worse than what it used to be.”

A resident, who lives in an estate popularly called Housing Estate, said: “If the politicians don’t remember us by putting something significant such as good road, potable water and probably help restore what is dying in this village, I doubt if this town will exist for long.’.

O prevent a recurrence of the flood disaster that ravaged several states in the country in 2012 and other disasters, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has urged state governments to have functional emergency management agencies.

Specifically, NEMA appealed to state government to establish a formidable state emergency management agency (KWASEMA) and local government emergency committee (LEMC) in all local government areas.

The Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Mohammed S. Sidi, spoke in Ilorin, the state capital at the workshop on “Emergency evacuation and mass sheltering for communities prone to flood disasters,” organised by the agency.

Sidi solicited adequate support and equipment for the agency to enhance disaster management in collaboration with stakeholders.

He said: “This will further showcase the laudable efforts so far put in place by the federal and Kwara State governments in disaster management activities.”

The director-general, who was represented by Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Minna Operation Office, Mr. Slaku Bijimi, emphasised community participation, saying disaster prevention and management is everyone’s business.

Noting that the 1,000 staff strength of the agency is grossly inadequate, he stressed the need for people to help the government and its agencies to help them.

The NEMA boss, who said enforcement, had always been a major challenge in cases of erection of illegal structures at river banks and dumping of refuse on water ways, called for attitudinal change, adding that people should be mindful of the health hazards their unwholesome behaviours may cause.

He said early warning system would help to reduce casualties, help victims to be evacuated to safer places and move their movable items.

He said: “Action taken before flood arrives reduces loss of life and amount of damage suffered. Prewarning and evacuation planning should, therefore, be part of overall emergency plans.”

Also, the Special Adviser to Kwara State Governor on Emergency and Relief Services, Alhaji Ayodeji Abdulazeez, regretted that about 90 per cent of structures erected on water ways in parts of the state had no approval of the town planning authority, saying the owners did the construction at weekends when town planning officers won’t be on duty.

He, however, said action would be carried out on unapproved structures built on water ways and those erected on river banks that had already been marked for demolition or removal, adding that government would compensate owners with approved plans.

Abdulazeez said the state government had also embarked on pro-active me0asures in form of dissemination of information on both print and electronic media on early warning and disaster management against flood.

He further said the agency had also met with stakeholders in flood-prone areas in Patigi and Edu Local Government Areas, even as he said it had provided relief materials for victims of flood disasters.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

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THE NORTH REPORT

•Governor Lamido (middle) and former governors of the state at the celebration

O

N August 27, this year, Governor Sule Lamido and the people of Jigawa State rolled out the drums to celebrate its creation 23 years ago by the administration of former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida in 1991. This has been the tradition of the Lamido administration since he assumed office over seven years ago.

The anniversary began on Friday, August 22 and end on August 27; the date the state was created. Several activities were lined up which culminated in a grand rally at the Aminu Kano Triangle where five people were honoured with awards to recognise their outstanding contributions towards the development of the state.

But before the grand finale, other activities took place beginning from the first day of the celebration.

For instance, the anniversary began with special prayers in all the Mosques across the state. The Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal was the Guest of Honour.

On the fourth day, a lecture was organised where lectures on topics, such as the economy, infrastructure, politics and leadership were given by professors from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Bayero University Kano (BUK), Federal University Dutse (FUD) and University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID).

As part of the anniversary, an over 300-page book written by a principal of one of the private secondary schools in Dutse about the state and Governor

W

ORRIED by the mass failure recorded in Mathematics in the just-released results of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Women in Technical Education and Development (WITED) has recommended counselling to address the irrational fear students have on the subject in the bud.

The group also suggested public enlightenment campaigns aimed at dispelling students’ apathy on Mathematics and other Science subjects.

President of WITED, Mrs. Osiki Francis disclosed this to reporters in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital at the sideline of the association’s National Coordinating Committee (NCC) meeting.

Mrs. Francis, a civil engineer and lecturer at the Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, added: “There is no place whatever for fear of the course. Fear already defeats the individual even before he or she confronts the problem. So, that self-defeatist attitude should be addressed through counseling. We need public enlightenment campaigns; so information is necessary in allaying the fears of students about Mathematics and Sciences.”

She said that WITED was borne out the desire to encourage the girlchild, who has the God-given flair to appreciate Mathematics, science and technical courses for the country to

Jigawa, 23 years after From Ahmed Rufa’I, Dutse

Lamido’s leadership style was launched. Former Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, was chairman of the launch during ehere over N25 million was realised.

The last day witnessed special awards to some citizens of the state for their honesty. They found and returned to their respective owners large sums of money ranging from N300, 000 to N7 million.

A junior staff member at a three star hotel, Yusif Umar who found 100,000 US dollars (N17 million) outside the hotel premises retuned the money lost by one of the guests at the hotel.

Speakers praised Governor Lamido’s efforts towards transforming Jigawa into a modern state, efforts, they said did not begin when he assumed duty as governor; as he has been in the vanguard of developing the area even before the state was created and has remained firm in the quest for the transformation of the state.

With an uncommon steadfastness, courage and wisdom, Lamido turned around the fortunes of Jigawa State, together with those of the people. Developmental projects are evenly distributed across the 27 local government areas. Even his critics salute him for the equitable distribution of projects for the development of all the

‘With an uncommon steadfastness, courage and wisdom, Lamido turned around the fortunes of Jigawa State, together with those of the people. Developmental projects are evenly distributed across the 27 local government areas’ nook and cranny of the state.

Those who observe the politics of the state are of the view that since his assumption of office, Governor Lamido has been committed to the development of the state.

From what one may consider a pariah state, Lamido has cautiously brought Jigawa and its rural people to limelight. Lamido believes that physical infrastructure help in enhancing the well-being of the people.

This explains his administration’s concentration on road construction and rehabilitation across the state, provision of adequate education and health infrastructure, encouraging the rural farmers with incentives and award of scholarships to students.

As if those are not enough, workers are also highly motivated. Sources say

that Lamido wants to justify the consensus of opinion that his long years of experience in politics and personal qualities are helping him significantly to rebuild the state In his compassionate spirit and enthusiasm to bring new leas of life to all sort of people in the state, shortly after mounting the saddle of leadership, Governor Lamido introduced social security programme. Under the programme, the state government pays a monthly stipend of N7, 000 to no fewer than 4, 200 physically-challenged persons in the state.

As at the end of last year, the state government had spent at least N4 billion in taking care of the less-privileged; a gesture that has enhanced their status. Again, economic empowerment has been consciously incorpo-

Group tackles exam failure From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

march forward technologically.

She said: “For meaningful national development, the female folks that constitute about half of the population of Nigeria should not be left behind.

“Government can encourage the girl-child to take up Mathematics and technical courses by giving scholarships and awards to those excelling in these subjects. Besides, science laboratories should be well equipped; Science and Mathematics teachers should also be encouraged. This is because when they are happy, they will be at their best in their works and the students will do well.

“Parents’ roles cannot be overemphasised. They are the starting point of the life of the child. Parents should be enlightened as they have the right attitude to the girl-child in pursuing these subject areas.

“Women who have the ability are being encouraged to come on board.

There should be no force, no coercion. Those who are able to fit into the programme are encouraged to come on board.

“Our approach is to go to the primary and secondary schools to sensitise the girl-child that she

should have no phobia for courses such as Mathematics, Sciences and Engineering.

“The grassroots is our first target; from there, we move to the traditional rulers who are the custodians of cul-

ture to help us pass the message to their subjects; to allay fears of Mathematics and technical subjects.”

On the challenges hindering women from taking up Mathematics and technical education courses, Mrs.

rated into the rehabilitation of beggars.

Lamido’s administration also declared free education from primary to university levels for any child with disability, established board for the welfare of physically-challenged, appointed one physically-challenged person as Supervisory Councilor in all the 27 local government areas.

Considering education as bedrock for any social and economic development, Jigawa State government has consistently allocated more than 25 per cent of its annual budget to the education sector in the past seven years. It has enabled the state to offer free girlchild education from primary to university levels, renovating over 1, 040 primary and junior secondary schools comprising 4, 128 classrooms that were in serious stages of dilapidation. Also, additional 7,546 classrooms were constructed.

Lamido’s administration had renovated all senior secondary schools and constructed additional 180 hostels for student. More classrooms, libraries and laboratories were equipped with modern facilities.

The government also established the Jigawa State University, College of Nursing and Midwifery, School for the Gifted in Bamaina, renovated and constructed structures at all the state’s tertiary institutions, including Gumel College of Education which was upgraded to a degree-awarding institu•Continued on page 32 Francis said: “The challenges are varied. It could be socio-cultural factors.

There are some places where women are to be seen and not heard. They just have to be in the kitchen. That perception is changing, although fundamentally our place is in the kitchen.

Religion is another of the factors, among others.”

•Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission, Boboye Oyeyemi (middle); flanked by the Director, Road Sector Development Team, Federal Ministry of Works, Ishaq Mohammed (left) and National President, National Union of Road Transport Workers, Alhaji Najeem Yasin, during the stakeholders’ forum on the implementation of National Standards on Maximum Road Speed Limiters for Vehicles in Abuja.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

THE NORTH REPORT

Jigawa , 23 years after •Continued from page 31 tion.

More than 1,487 teachers were also employed, while the existing ones were encouraged to further their studies in line with the new education policy of the state.

In mass literacy, over 180,000 adults were trained in basic education. This intervention engendered rapid increase in school enrolment and the establishment of a federal university.

Lamido’s administration has constructed over 1,636 kilometres of roads and built an international airport in Dutse with a view to making the state investors’ haven and facilitating the transportation of goods and services from the rural to the urban areas for rapid socio-economic development.

In agriculture, which is main source of livelihood for over 90 per cent of the state’s population, the government has spent over N2.6 billion in subsidising some farm implements to farmers in the past seven years.

This includes N400 million loan facilities to farmers under a revolving fund system.

More than 3,800 farmers benefited from the scheme, 175 tractors were distributed to farmers and agricultural associations as loan.

Over N3 billion was also spent to procure fertiliser for farmers at subsidised rate. N200million was expended to subsidise tractors to peasant farmers, construction of thousands boreholes for irrigation. Distribution and supply of improved seeds, insecticide, herbicide and other farm imputes at highly subsidised price was also part of government’s efforts improve agriculture.

The state also embarked on free artificial insemination of high breed cattle to improve meat and milk production, even as it constructed 200 wind mills, planted 200 hectares of high quality pasture grass at 50 graz-

ing reserves. These aim at curbing the migration of herdsmen from the state and to proffer lasting solution to the perennial herdsmen/ farmers conflicts.

The health sector also benefited from Lamido’s administration as the state established Gunduma primary healthcare system under which over 135 hospitals were built. The number of professional health worker increased from 2,000 in 2007 to 7,000 last year, Rashid Shakoni Hospital Dutse was also establishment as all state general hospitals and clinics were renovated and equipped where free maternal and child treatment were rendered to the people. Accident victims, pregnant women and children below the age of five also enjoy free medical treatment.

A lot was also achieved in youth and women empowerment where over 10,000 people were trained on various trades to make them self-reliant.

To curb the menace of environmental degradation, especially desert encroachment, over 15 million different varieties of plant seedlings were planted.

Lamido’s administration has also sunk hand pumps and motorised boreholes to provide potable water for the people, even as the proposed Dutse Water Scheme is being pursued. As a result, 75 per cent of the population has access to clean drinking water.

Through the Ministry of Rural Infrastructure and Community Development, the state government has mobilised the people to participate in various selfless community services, while hundred of villages have been connected to National Grid. Feeder roads are also being provided.

In housing, Lamido’s administration has constructed over 1,000 housing units in the state capital, the Malam Aminu Kano Triangle Square, State High Court Complex, Second Phase Of State Secretariat

•Governor Lamido presenting award to Idris Ginsau who returned lost money in Saudi Arabia.

‘Considering education as bedrock for any social and economic development, Jigawa State government has consistently allocated more than 25 per cent of its annual budget to the education sector in the past seven years. It has enabled the state to offer free girl-child education from primary to university levels, renovating over 1, 040 primary and junior secondary schools comprising 4, 128 classrooms that were in serious stages of dilapidation.

Also, additional 7,546 classrooms were constructed’ Complex, Chief Judge, Grand Khadi, Deputy Governor, Speaker and Deputy Speaker’s residents, Dutse modern market, the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp and

Journalists undergo training on election coverage

T

HE Nigeria Press Council (NPC), in conjunction with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and international donor partners, has organised training for journalists in the Northeastern on the coverage of the 2015 general elections.

The journalists and others from the academia and government agencies from the six states in the geo-political zone converged on Bauchi to share ideas about electoral reporting. The theme of the seminar was “Ethical conduct and effective coverage of the 2015 general elections by the Media”.

The training, which was put together by the Nigeria Press Council (NPC), was supported

by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), UKaid, Korea International Co-operation Agency (KOICA).

In attendance were 66 participants drawn from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe as well as federal and state government officials and the academia.

Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, urged the media to ensure adequate coverage of election activities beginning with the politicians to the commission.

He regretted that INEC is one organisation, that has been misunderstood by Nigerians, adding that the commission deserves more commendation than the accusations it receives from Nigerians.

He said: “If there is any industry today in Nigeria that is highly misunderstood, it is INEC and we need to go beyond misunderstanding to the level of appreciation. People talk about Ekiti

•Prof. Jega From Duku Joel, Damaturu

and Osun elections as if we had never conducted elections as good as those ones.” Represented by the Director of Voter Education, Alhaji Mohammed Garba, the INEC chairman said the commission did not do anything new in Ekiti or Osun states, stressing that the presence of security operatives only made the people to obey the law and respect the system.

Jega confirmed: “These two elections are being discussed as the best elections because of the security presence and the fact that the people respected the system. We didn’t do anything different than what we have been doing. But this time around, the security presence made the people to respect the system.

“Nigerians takes pleasure in breaking the laws. People have to understand that election is water, hospital, road and agriculture. People have to assist INEC to work fine and not to stand by the side and condemn. Everybody should be involved.

“Election is everybody’s business and if we don’t see it that way, you will come to see it through water, roads and any other means of livelihood. The elite must come to the aid of INEC by partnering with the commission, believing that is your own project and without, it cannot succeed.”

He challenged Nigerians to be part of election processes at all levels, even if they are active or non-active politicians so as to effect the desired change.

He said: “INEC’s business is

many projects that have enhanced Dutse’s status from that of a glorified village to a befitting capital city.

To facilitate free flow of infor-

mation, the state installed modern transmitters in the state radio station, even as it sent members of staff for training within and outside the country.

In his speech at the ceremony, Governor Lamido blamed lack of unity and development in the state on the people. He said: “It is not justifiable to blame one or few individuals for the blunders committed during Ibrahim Saminu Turaki’s administration.

“Saminu Turaki, as a young man, assumed office as governor with exuberance and zeal to work, but you the people lured him with all sorts of blackmail when nepotism was the order of governance and he served you in accordance with your expectations from him.”

Governor Lamido further stated that “the journey of building the state was fraught with difficulties but with our collective resolve and perseverance, we were able to overcome most of the difficulties”.

everybody’s business and the elite must bridge the gap between the nonelite.

“It took Americans 200 years to get to where they are today. Nigerians have the best brains in the world but Nigerians would have to help INEC in order not to take us 200 years to put the country’s democracy in shape even though, ‘our democracy is just 16 years.’”

The Acting Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council, Nnamdi Njemanze, urged the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), government, security operatives and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) to do everything possible to protect journalists during elections, especially in the troubled northeast geo-political zone.

He urged journalists to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the Electoral Act as well as the ethics of journalism profession if they must effectively educate the electorate on things that are expected of them during campaigns, elections and holding government officials accountable.

Chairman of the Bauchi State Council of NUJ, Comrade Garba Mohammed Dahiru advised journalists to work hard to ensure the sustainability of the country’s democracy which they fought for, adding that the constitution has empowered the media to monitor government’s policies and programmes and report to the masses to make their decisions on the government.

Dahiru solicited support for INEC and other donor agencies and nongovernmental organisation in the training of journalists, especially those in the Northeast region on special tips for reporting election in view of the security challenges in the region.

In a communiqué at the end of the training, participants agreed that the media have so far not been sufficiently critical in analysing the various campaign promises of parties and their

candidates. They also agreed that some media professionals project subjective political biases as objective critical analyses.

They lamented that certain mindsets about power and politics; the role of the state on society, ethnicity, religion and political succession oftentimes cloud journalists’ judgments in their reportage; while most media organisations jettison the provision of the Broadcasting Code as well as those of the professional Code of Ethic for journalists.

They also agreed that the media has been found wanting in the screening of the electoral process, while the rural areas have been largely marginalised and have not had adequate media coverage. They also agreed that the mass media can meet its expected role of sustaining the electoral process with the provision of substantial resources and with changes in key areas.

However, the situation is that media platforms, such as the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) need to be strengthened to be more vibrant.

They recommended the repositioning of the Nigeria Press Council to enable it to execute its crucial role of providing information that would enhance public knowledge about the electoral process so that voters can make informed decisions; journalists should adopt the proactive measures of self-censorship and utilise the best defence of reporting accurately, impartially and responsibly.

They also recommended that the mass media confers on voters their status as partakers in decision-making structures by participating in elections.

Journalists should therefore, establish cohesive partnership with INEC to ensure appropriate election coverage and mutual dissemination of information that would aid the process rather than denigrate it.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

Page 33

•One of the areas affected by the flood

In 2012, the country witnessed an unprecedented flood that destroyed homes in many states. A Presidential Committee was set up to raise funds to ease the suffering of the victims. In this report, BUKOLA AMUSAN examines the committee’s handling of the assignment.

A committee’s fight against T flood, insurgency HE response to the flood disaster that ravaged many states in 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated the Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation last year.

The committee was saddled with examining the effects of the disaster on victims, causes of the flood and prevention.

Though the committee had done some tangible work in raising funds to assist victims, it may have less work to carry out this year compared to the amount of work it carried out in 2012 when many communities witnessed great devastating effects of the flood.

The scale of damage prompted the inauguration of the committee, which is co-chaired by business mogul, Aliko Dangote and human rights activist, Olisa Agbakoba.

Fortunately, the committee has, so far, had less work to do during this rainy season as there is no major flood disaster.

To avoid the funds raised to fight flooding being redundant and useless, it had to be channelled to tackling insurgency in the Northeast.

A member of the committee, who is also the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, told reporters that part of the N17 billion raised to support victims of flooding has been deployed in

‘We didn’t have much flooding in 2013 and the rain is not heavy this year. We believe that millions of Nigerians are in need, and that calls for the need to provide between N750 million and N800 million to assist them…Considering the effects of conflicts in some parts of Nigeria, perpetrated by the Boko Haram insurgents and feuding communities, decided to extend its interventions to non-floodrelated emergencies’ support the fight against insurgency.

Dangote had announced that a sub-committee, headed by Ambassador Godknows Igali, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, was working on plans to intervene in a various disasters and would submit its report in the first week of April for immediate consideration and implementation.

“We didn’t have much flooding

in 2013 and the rain is not heavy this year. We believe that millions of Nigerians are in need, and that calls for the need to provide between N750 million and N800 million to assist them,” Dangote said.

Many communities are affected by communal conflicts in recent time. This, according to the committee, propelled it to move beyond its terms of reference and wade into the problems of the

people.

The committee, considering the effects of conflicts in some parts of Nigeria, perpetrated by the Boko Haram insurgents and feuding communities, decided to extend its interventions to non-flood-related emergencies.

This intervention, according to Alhaji Dangote, was also informed by the fact that anticipated high level floods in the country, did not occur last year.

Omeri, said the agency was working with others to create disaster mitigation awareness at the grassroots.

He assured Nigerians of fair, balanced and equitable distribution of disaster relief projects, which he said would be sited devoid of political and other sentiments.

Calling for support from Nigerians and international donor agencies, Omeri said there was no limit to contributions towards saving human lives, urging Nigerians, including those who had made pledges towards assisting victims of disaster with relief and rehabilitation to come forward and fulfill such promises.

The relief committee also established an 11-man committee headed by former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria

(CBN), Dr. Tunde Lemo, in April to implement the relief efforts.

Although the mandate of the committee was well spelt out when President Jonathan announced its establishment during a nation-wide broadcast on Tuesday, October 9, 2012, among which was to organise a fund raisers for the relief and rehabilitation of flood victims in the aftermath of the ravaging floods that affected many states that year, the committee was also expected to advise the government on the judicious utilisation of funds raised and had the president’s authority to co-opt any other persons or organisations that it may deem useful in carrying out its assignment.

The committee had 12 months to complete its assignment and report to the President.

The 34-man Presidential Committee set out to raise about N100 billion through a fund-raising dinner, though donations and pledges made by prominent Nigerians during the dinner only amounted to N11.35 billion. This was despite tax incentives announced by President Jonathan for all corporate organisations that would donate to the flood relief fund.

Dangote and the Federal Government topped the donors’ list with donation of N2.5 billion, while business giants, Chairman of Visafone Jim Ovia, and Tony Elumelu came second with N1billion each.

By June 13, last year, the com•Continued on page 34

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ABUJA REVIEW

A committee’s fight against flood, insurgency •Continued from page 33

mittee had invited technical and financial bids from reputable companies for building of houses as well as provision of essential amenities in the 22 states affected by the 2012 flood disaster.

The states were Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Rivers and Taraba.

The projects to be sited in the states include two-bedroom and three-bedroom flats as well as construction of community centres.

They also include procurement and

Ajaokuta chairman supports TCN James Azania, Lokoja

T

HE Chairman, Ajaokuta Local Government Area

and Kogi State chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Aloysius Okino, has said his administration will support the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to improve electricity supply to the area.

The chairman spoke at the weekend during the inauguration of the 30MWA,132/33KV “MOBITRA” transformer and the commissioning of the newly constructed 3x33KV feeder-bays built in-house at the Ajaokuta-2, 132/33KV substation.

According to Okino, his involvement and financial contribution were borne out of the belief that Ajaokuta was the power base of the nation.

He noted that the presence of two of the newly constructed Independent power plants (Geregu 1&2) should guarantee efficient electricity to the local government and its environ.

He praised the management of the TCN for their hard work, commitment to duty and prudent management of resources which he said was responsible for the timely completion of the projects.

He promised that his council and the people of the area would continue to protect PHCN installations in the area, assuring that adequate security arrangement has been put in place to secure their equipment.

The Director in-charge of the Abuja TCN, who was represented by Isaac Okpe, praised the chairman for his assistance towards the completion of the project.

While maintaining that the TCN will ensure uninterrupted power supply to Nigerians, the director noted that work has reached advanced stage to hook Adogo, headquarters of Ajaokuta LGA to the Ajaokuta substation.

Balogun A. O, an engineer, noted that the newly commissioned 3x33KV feeder-bays was designed to feed the Adogo/Eganyi community, the West African Ceramics Company and Ajaokuta Steel Plant.

installation of mobile solar-powered packaged water treatment plants and generator-powered water treatment plants, procurement and installation of solar-powered hand pumps and rehabilitation of boreholes. The committee had announced that it would give preference to contractors from the affected states to ensure timely completion of the projects.

More cheering news came from the Presidential Committee after a meeting on March 28, this year that all was set for the commencement of the award of contracts for the provision of disaster relief infrastructure, this time in more than 24 states of the federation, from the second week of April.

•Some houses submerged by the flood

‘I’ll serve the country the best way possible’ M

INISTER of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed at President Goodluck Jonathan, adding that he has not resigned or considered resigning, contrary to speculations.

Senator Mohammed spoke during a meeting with some community leaders from the FCT. He said: “If President Goodluck Jonathan says I should continue and stay here, of course, I will do so. Any assignment the President gives me, I will carry out according to the will of Almighty Allah.”

The meeting, Mohammed said, was convened to sensitise the people on the deepening the democratic process in the FCT. Speakers at the meeting commended the minister on his good administrative style, describing him as a true democrat.

Hon. Zephaniah Jisalo representing Abuja North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives said they were grateful for the assistance being extended to the party and the area councils by the minister.

He advised chairmen of the area council to complement the efforts of the minister in mobilising and sensitising the people.

Contributing, the member representing Abuja South Federal Constituency, Hon. Isah Ega Dobi, also spoke.

He said residents of the FCT appreciated Senator Mohammed’s efforts.

According to him, since the minister’s assumption of office, things have been functioning in the FCT.

‘If President Goodluck Jonathan says I should continue and stay here, of course, I will do so. Any assignment the President gives me I will carry out according to the will of Almighty Allah… We want you to continue here with us so that you will continue the laudable service you have been rendering to us all in the FCT From Gbenga Omokhunu

He said: “We want you to continue here with us so that you will continue the laudable service you have been rendering to us all in the FCT.” Dobi vowed to continue to explain the various programmes and policies of the Mohammed administration to the people at the grassroots.

“We will do so because all he has been doing is for the development and well-being of the people,” he said.

The Commissioner representing the FCT at the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission, Danjuma Busa, said the minister had brought new impetus to development in Abuja.

He described the minister as a leader who cares for the welfare and future well-being of the people indigenous to the FCT, stressing that he has done more than any other minister of the FCT.

He said the people would wish he continues to actualise his initiatives, such as the land swap programme.

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the FCT, Senator Yunusa Suleiman, also commended the minister for his contributions in advancing the fortunes of the party at all levels.

He recalled that under the minister, the party has gained control of five out of six area councils in the FCT contrary to the situation in the past when PDP was in control of between three and four area councils in the territory.

Others present at the meeting included the Minister of State for the FCT, Oloye Olajumoke-Akinjide, members of National Assembly representing the FCT, chairmen of area councils, Ward chairmen, women leaders and other stakeholders of the party from the six area councils that make up the territory.

•Ex-military pensioners protesting non-payment of their allowances at the Federal Secretariat Abuja.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN.

Council sets up committee on Ebola From Gbenga Omokhunu

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HE Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), has inaugurated a technical committee to tackle the ebola virus disease.

The Chairman of the council, Hon. Micah Jiba, told reporters that the council had mapped out strategies to curb any possible outbreak, noting that the council had to be proactive considering the central location of the council.

Jiba, who praised the media for the level of awareness, created about the disease, also enjoined them to sustain the tempo until cure of the Ebola virus is found by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The council chief also praised both the Federal Government and FCT Administration for what he described as “proactive steps” to address the scourge, even as he called on religious and traditional leaders to assist government in spreading the awareness campaigns which aim at curbing the spread of the virus.

“I praise the media for the awareness created about the Ebola virus. I have a publication of one of the national dailies on Ebola virus.

Through the media, we have known that routine cleaning and disinfection of animal houses with sodium hypochlorite (bleach) or other detergents are effective in inhibiting the virus.

“Restricting or banning movement of animals from infected farms to other areas can reduce the spread of the disease and segregation of infected animals from others. This type of awareness can go a long way in checking the spread,” Jiba said.

Jiba revealed that the Supervising Councillor, health and other senior primary health workers are members of the committee, adding that the committee will collaborate with other relevant bodies for positive result.

I praise the media for the awareness created about the Ebola virus.

Through the media, we have known that routine cleaning and disinfection of animal houses with sodium hypochlorite (bleach) or other detergents are effective in inhibiting the virus

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

ABUJA REVIEW

•From left: Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo; President Goodluck Jonathan; Chairman Ministerial Committee on World-Class Hospital and Diagnostic Centres, Tony Elumelu and Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu during the inauguration of the committee on hospitals at the Presidential Villa PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN Abuja.

•From left: Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke; Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed and Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Chukwuemeka Wogu at a meeting in Abuja.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

•From left: Director-General of National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Mrs. Chika Balogun receiving handover notes from her predecessor Alhaji Abdul Maji Sherif on her resumption at the headquarters of the institute in Abuja. With them is Director of Finance and Accounts, Biodun Ilesanmi.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•From left: Director-General,National Sports Commission (NSC), Gbenga Elegbeleye; Head of Section, Federal Road Safety Commission, Bisi Kazeem and his deputy, Bola Balogun during the visit of FRSC Sports team to the NSC in Abuja.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•From left: Project General Manager Consulting Managing Training, Nike Lanre-Ladenegan; Managing Director, Grenedines Homes Noimot Olatunji and Construction Manager, Cubic Contractors, Majid Mulani during the handover ceremony of Grenadine Terraces Project site to the Cubic Contractors in Abuja. PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN.

•From left: Immediate past President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Bisi Balogun Omidiran; President, Chidi Ajaegbu and Chief Randle at the ICAN dinner night in Abuja.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN.

•From left: Former Governor, Zamfara State, Alhaji Aliyu Shinkafi; Principal Consulting Partner, Africa Infrastructure Summit Group Research Centre, Mr. Onuoha Nnachi; Minister of National Planning, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman and Executive Secretary, National Planning Commission, Fidelis Agbo during a press conference on National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan in Abuja.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•From left: Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Chief Bisi Onasanya; Executive Chairman BAU International Limited, Alhaji Abdusamad Rabiu and Group Managing Director, United Bank of Africa Plc, Philip Oduoza during the inauguration of Job Creation Committee at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

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ABUJA REVIEW

Where are the bats and monkeys?

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ATS and monkeys used to be seen at the Presidential Villa in large numbers. But it appears these common animals at the seat of power seem to have relocated from the Presidential Villa.

The two species of animals were listed among those that could carry and spread the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Before the disease was brought into Nigeria by the late LiberianAmerican, Patrick Sawyer in July, many monkeys freely move around the Presidential Villa from the thick forest around the seat of power.

It was a common sight during the day and night to see some of the monkeys in groups sitting on or playing around staff vehicles parked in the State House.

Many bats, before the outbreak of the disease in Nigeria, could also be seen hanging on almost every tree in the Villa.

This is no longer the case. It has become almost impossible to sight a monkey in the Villa in the past few days. The number of bats on trees in the Villa has also reduced drastically.

Before the Ebola outbreak, it would be a miracle for any car parked under a tree in the Villa to go unstained as such cars are always stained with bat or monkey faeces within 30 minutes after parking.

But now, very little faeces can be found on few cars parked under the trees.

Some cars parked for over eight hours under such trees don’t even have any bat or monkey faeces on them as stains in the last few days.

In the wake of the disease in Nigeria, members of staff of State House were warned on how to avoid contracting the disease through the animals.

Apart from the campaigns against the disease at different forums in the society, the Chief Physician to the President, Dr. Fortune Fiberesima issued internal circular outlining simple procedures on how to keep away the disease from the Villa.

Jonathan, Sambo and the Economic Management Team

From the Villa

A

By Augustine Ehikioya

The circular reads: “In view of the recent outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease and certain animals (bats and monkeys) have been linked with the virus, the following precautionary measures are deemed necessary: “Avoid physical contact with bats and monkeys, whether dead or alive.

“Do not pick dead bats and monkeys. Please, immediately notify the Public Health Unit of the State House Medical Centre (SHMC) for proper disposal.

“Avoid using hands to clear animal droppings (animal faeces) on parked cars. “Hand gloves are available at the SHMC on request.

Water-hose vehicles parked under trees (with or without animal droppings on them) properly before washing.

“Sanitise hands or wash your hands with soap and water as often as possible.

“The aforementioned measures are purely precautionary, in view of the large number of bats and monkeys in the Villa.”

What is now not really clear is why have the two species of animals suddenly disappeared from the Villa?

Are they just being sensitive to the Ebola alert raised in the Villa and now know that they have become endangered animals?

Or are members of staff of the State House becoming so unfriendly to make them leave the environment they have lived in over the years? Or still, have they just migrated to return at a later date? Only time will tell.

NOTHER record was broken in the State House on last Tuesday when Vice-President Namadi Sambo presided over the Economic Management Team (EMT) meeting.

It has never happened before since the beginning of the Jonathan/Sambo administration.

But Sambo had presided over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings several times when President Goodluck Jonathan was away on official engagements.

The EMT meeting, which comprises President Jonathan as the Chairman and Sambo as Vice-Chairman has Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as the Coordinator of the Economic Management Team.

Other members of the team are Minister of National Planning, Minister of Trade and Investment, Minister of Power, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Works, Minister of Education, Minister of Health, Minister of State for Finance, Minister of State for Health, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Chief Economic Adviser, Special Adviser, Monitoring and Evaluation, Director-General, Budget, Director-General, Debt Management Office, Director-General, Bureau for Public Procurement, Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission.

Also in the team are Honorary Adviser on Agriculture and Governor of Adamawa State, and Honorary Adviser on Finance and Governor of Anambra State, Honorary Adviser on the Economy and President, Nigerian Economic Society, Mr. Atedo Peterside and business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

Even from the period of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, similar meetings were normally presided over by the President.

President Jonathan had permitted Sambo to preside over the EMT meeting on Tuesday last week as he was away in Chad holding talks with his Chadian counterpart, Idriss Deby on how to end terror attacks in the sub-region.

Sambo relocated the venue of the meeting which normally brainstorms and charts a new course for the Nigerian economy to his Conference Room at the Vice-Presidential Wing of the State House.

Either out of ignorance or because they were not used to the Vice-Presidential Wing, many of the EMT members first reported to the Council Chamber at the President’s Wing of the State House which normally is the venue of the meeting.

They were redirected to the Vice-President Wing by the security officials on duty.

As usual, the team members filed out at the end of the meeting without briefing journalists on the outcome of the meeting.

‘Fed Govt committed to ending Boko Haram insurgency’

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ENATE President David Mark has re-assured Nigerians that the Federal Government is committed to fighting Boko Haram and other criminals. He urged Nigerians to co-operate with security agencies in order to overcome security challenges in the country is experiencing.

Senator Mark spoke in Abuja at the inauguration of the Board of Trustees (BOT) and Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association of Licenced Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN) which is regulated by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Mark advised security operatives to shun rivalry and tackle in security.

Represented by Dr. Peter Keshi, Senator Mark said: “It is time for action. This is the appropriate time to fight together insurgence to a standstill. We should not let anything hinder us. Nigeria must remain one united entity and we must remain one indivisible nation.

“It is important that we act immediately. We must ensure that the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN) is constitutionally recognised.

“Push it at the National Assembly and I will give it an accelerated hearing when the time comes. We must get a law establishing it to avoid crisis in the future.

“The Federal Government is very committed to keeping Nigeria one; government is committed to fighting insurgence (Boko Haram) and all other forms of crimes. This is

From Gbenga Omokhunu

the time for inter-agency collaboration and not competition within security agencies”.

Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, urged the private security operatives to work with other security operatives to end insurgency.

He said they should be provided with more sophisticated equipment to further assist the government.

Moro, who was represented by the Director of Paramilitary, assured the association of government’s support.

Commandant-General of NSCDC, Dr. Ade Abolurin, pointed out that ignorance makes security agencies fight with one another over superiority.

He further said the private security outfit is expected to be involved in intelligence gathering and keeping government aware of happenings across the country.

He condemned the incident that occurred in Lagos where some policemen threatened to kill him on duty.

His words: “Men of this private security outfit are not gatemen neither are they just ordinary security men. Boko Haram is the current security challenge we as a country experience now and Nigeria and Nigerians need you now more than any other time to respond and fight. You should encourage synergy.

•Chairman, Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, Dee Dawkins-Haiglerý (left) presenting the African Regulator of the Year Award to the Director-General, Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Mrs. Dupe Atoki, during the African Magazine Awards in Abuja.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

LAW & SOCEITY Excerpts of inaugural speech by NBA President Augustine Alegeh (SAN)

NBA is alive, says Alegeh •Continued from last week

Financial Autonomy for the Judiciary

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HE reluctance of the Executive Arm of Government to comply with the provisions of the Constitution, despite the oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office sworn by the persons holding the office leaves much to be desired. How they expect the citizens to comply with the provisions of the Constitution, which they so flagrantly violate beats my imagination.

For relish, the judgments obtained by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JASUN) and Olisa Agbakoba, SAN on Section 162[9] of The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 are not obeyed and executed by the Executive.

The respect for constitutional provisions and obedience of Court Orders are integral parts of rule of law, which is the hallmark of democratic government.

The recent JASUN strike was merely suspended for 45 days and may be resumed in the middle of May if there is no traction from the government. The NBA would take an active role in ensuring that this does not happen.

Legal Education In Nigeria The state of Legal Education in Nigeria must remain a critical concern for the NBA. Consequently, this administration would organise a summit on the state of legal education in Nigeria to enable the NBA develop a policy position of all tiers of legal education in Nigeria.

Prof. Epiphany Azinge, the Immediate Past Director-General of The Nigerian Institute of Advance Legal Studies has graciously agreed to act as the summit facilitator. The date and venue of the legal education summit would be announced shortly.

The continued closure of Courts in Rivers State is sad and shameful. Our members in Rivers State are essentially out of work apart from those engaged in corporate practice.

At a time when other countries are striving to ensure that trials start and end within six (6) months, we have courts closed for almost four (4) months and litigants and lawyers bear the brunt. Even if the strike persists for two (2) years the judicial staff would get paid, but nobody would assuage the losses suffered by the Lawyers and litigants.

This cannot be allowed to continue.

We urge all those involved in the Rivers imbroglio, whether as named or unnamed parties or as Counsel for either of the Parties, to apply their best endeavours to resolving this matter promptly.

I will as NBA President personally intervene in the issues leading to closure of Courts in Rivers State with a view to ensuring a

Human Rights, Economic Right and Consumer Protection The NBA shall strengthen its Human Rights institute and its work on human rights. At the same time we must pay heed to economic rights of citizens which are being constantly violated by Electricity Distribution Companies and Telecommunication Companies.

In the face of the abysmal failure of the regulatory agencies to deal with these issues NBA shall offer pro bono services in institution of class action suits against these Companies who have negotiated away persons charged with ensuring that they don’t rip us all off.

Pending bills at the National Assembly There are several bills which are backed up at the National Assembly. There are several justice sector Bills, which if passed would have enhanced justice delivery system in Nigeria.

Our Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is old enough in the National Assembly to qualify as an “ELDER”, “BABA” or “ODIONWERE” in any place other than the National Assembly yet, it has not been passed till date.

A child conceived at the same time as our PIB would have finished school, started work and be married with children by this time.

Countries that came to Nigeria to get a peek at our PIB when it was conceived has since passed and amended their PIBs several times.

We are a country dependent essentially on Petroleum yet our National Assembly is playing poker with our collective fortunes and future. I believe we still have men of integrity, courage and valour at the National Assembly and I call on them to take up the challenge of ensuring that the PIB is passed without further delay.

The NBA under my watch will not standby and watch when those entrusted with the constitutional duty of passing laws drop the ball on the entire country and get interested more in matters of scant legislative relevance.

The 2015 general elections

Closure of courts in Rivers State

We urge all Politicians involved in the 2015 Elections to play by the rules as NBA is willing to partner with INEC to prosecute electoral offenders.

speedy resolution.

NBA will take a very keen interest in the 2015 General Elections. The legitimacy of the ballot box determines the quality of government and also determines if the governed would ever enjoy the true benefits of democracy.

It is a relief to note that the elections in Anambra, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun were better conducted than previous elections. It would seem that INEC is improving, but it must be noted that these were single state elections and we cannot truly determine if INEC has improved until the 2015 General Elections.

We hope that the internal democratic structures in the different parties have been improved and that pre-election cases would be a rare occurrence this time around.

The Election Working Group (EWG) of the NBA under the leadership of Dafe Akpedeyi, SAN has done an excellent job at monitoring elections and has acquired experience and

Insurgency in North Eastern Nigeria •Alegeh

expertise in execution of its mandate.

The NBA as the leader of civil societies and professional bodies in Nigeria, as the voice of the oppressed, the defender of human rights and proponent of rule of Law must not continue to limit itself to monitoring elections and reporting what transpired during the election. Our position requires the NBA to do more. Nigerians demand that we do more and certainly we can do more.

Consequently, the NBA using its network of 109 Branches and over 2000 Bar leaders would engage in VOTER EDUCATION AND VOTER MOBILISATION for the 2015 General elections on a strictly non-partisanbasis. Simply put, this means that only Lawyers who do not belong to any Political Party and who are totally committed to the noble ideals of our great Association would be allowed to participate in this exercise.

All lawyers participating would be required to make statutory declarations of nonpolitical affiliation which would if found to be false lead to disciplinary measures against such a lawyer.

To help the NBA drive this new area of its engagement in the electioneering process I have established a Committee with the following terms of reference: •To organise voter education and mobilisation seminars and workshops.

•To organise youth workshops to discourage thuggery and youth violence during elections.

•To take all other such steps as may be required to give effect to the above objectives.

The members of the committee are as follows: • JB Daudu, SAN - Chairman • Aliyu Nassarawa - Member • Ogbonnaya Igwenyi - Member • Seun Ajoba - Member • Pat Igwebuike - Secretary.

Alternate chair and other members to be announced

The inability of the Nigerian Armed Forces to deal effectively with the threat of Boko Haram is a cause for serious concern. When the Airforce Barracks, Mobile Police Training School and Military installations fall prey to BH shows a total failure of Our Military.

I have my doubts about the effect that this $1bn now sought for the Military would have on the War. It is surprising that the Military only realized in the middle of the insurgency that they had no weaponry. Strange indeed!

The Military should at least help locate and free the Chibok girls to redeem our collective pride. That is the least we expect from our Military.

Ebola Virus I must not fail to state that the holding of this conference successfully without any incidence of Ebola speaks volumes of the efforts of the Okey Wali, SAN administration and the precautionary steps they took to handle the situation.

We must also thank God from keeping Ebola away from this conference.

Conclusion I want to assure you all that our Association is alive, well and in capable hands with the 2014-2016 national officers. We would dedicate ourselves to service of the Association and do all within our powers to make the Association better, more efficient and more responsive to the needs of its members and the nation.

I want to express my special thanks and appreciation to my family who endured long periods of loneliness during our campaigns.

I also, on behalf of all national officers, express thanks and appreciation to their families and loved ones who must certainly have had a similar experience.

Our God, who made it possible for us to ascend office would give us the wisdom we require to succeed.

40 indigent students get Fawehinmi’s scholarship

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O FEWER than 40 indigent undergraduates have been awarded Gani Fawehinmi Scholarship Awards.

In a lecture titled: “The Law, the Lawyer and the Public Spirit: Gani Fawehinmi in Historical Perspective”, delivered at the award ceremony held last week, Professor Ademola Popoola of the Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), IleIfe, decried the continuous falling standard of education in the country.

The .

Popoola who spoke on issues affecting the education sector in Nigeria, at the event, which held at the late Fawehinmi’s Nigerian Law Publication House, Otunba Jobi Fele Way, CBD, Alausa, Ikeja, said anyone who has the interest of Nigeria at heart cannot but share the late Fawehinmi’s passion for education.

The late Fawehinmi, according to him, beleived education to be the bedrock of sustainable na-

By Adebisi Onanuga

tional development and the pivot of progress.

He said the problems of Nigeria’s educational system are legion, adding that access to it, funding, governance, quality and relevance are more telling.

“It is indeed, a sad commentary that in 2014, education, in the appropriate metaphor of Professor S.O Awokoya, is still “The Crisis Child of Our Time”.

“The percentages of failure recorded in the past four years ranged from 75.06 per cent in 2010, 44.66 per cent in 2011, 61.19 per cent in 2012 and 35.74 per cent in 2013, up to a whopping 70 per cent in 2014,” he said.

According to the Law Professor, what the falling standard portends for the country includes threat to the hopes and aspirations of the youths, who are the future and bedrock for any effective and sustainable development.

“Regrettably, in most developing and underdeveloped countries of the world, including Nigeria where corruption, abject poverty, unemployment and disease have assumed a frightening dimension, the youth have become endangered species with bleak and uncertain future,” he said.

The don commended the late Fawehinmi for his initiative in addressing some aspects of the crisis of education at the individual level. He blamed the crisis on long years of neglect, maladministration and policy somersaults.

“The late Chief Gani Fawehinmi had passion for education as he had for Law. In his life time, he meant many things to many people. Even in death, the memory of him and his good deeds is indelibly etched in the hearts of his teeming compatriots, particularly the down-trodden and the oppressed, whose lives he had touched in a lasting and remarkable way,” he said.

Prof Popoola said the Senior Advocate of the Masses (SAM) conferred on Chief Gani Fawehinmi long before he became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) was not by accident.

The late Fawehinmi, according to him, was the only recipient of such title, adding that any other claim to the title of SAM is fake and should be ignored.

Dr. Dipo Fashina, who chaired the Gani Fawehinmi Scholarship Awards Board, said the number of recipients was reviewed upward from 20 in 2012 to 40 this year because the award was not given last year due to incessant strike of the tertiary institutions across the country.

The number of recipients, he noted, may be increased in the future as the need arises.

Dr. Fashina, a former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) said the late Fawehinmi was concerned about Nigerian children who were very brilliant, but indigent.

“There was another thing the

•The late Fawehinmi

late Chief Fawehinmi was concerned about, the disparities in the distribution of education in Nigeria. That there must be a reflection of the fact that there are bright students all over Nigeria,” Fashina said Over 1,000 students have so far been empowered through scholarship since the awards begun in 1973 by the Gani Fawehinmi Scholarship Awards Board.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

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FROM THE COURT Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Mariam Aloma Mukhtar’s media aide Ahuraka Yusuf asses his boss’ achievements since she assumed office over a year ago.

Mukhtar ‘s relentless war against judicial rot P RIOR to Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar’s assumption of office as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), many had lost hope in the Judiciary’s ability to dispense justice independently. The state of affairs in the Judiciary was aptly captured in a report by the United States’ Department of State on Human Rights practices for 2011, which was tendered before the US’ Congress in May 2012 by then Secretary of State Mrs. Hilary Clinton. The report had observed copiously that the Nigerian Judiciary was very corrupt and susceptible to manipulations by the rich elite in business and politics.

While many were still in doubt about her capacity to tackle the rot in the system, some who, knew Justice Mukhtar as an incorruptible judicial officer and an individual with rare sterling qualities thought otherwise.

One of such persons is the foremost human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana. Falana, in providing a picture of the kind of person Jusice Mukhtar is, said ‘‘I first met the CJN as a High Court judge in Kano in 1984. My client, a trade union, had sued a powerful Lebanese company in the Kano State High Court for illegally withholding the check-off dues deducted from the wages of all the workers in its employment. “The company, which had boasted that it had the judiciary in its pocket, was taken aback when the trial judge, Justice Muktar, granted the reliefs sought by the plaintiff and ordered the company to refund and pay to the union the check-off dues which it had illegally withheld. Since then, I have watched the judge from afar and followed her impeccable judicial carrier. “In a country where judicial corruption has been virtually institutionalised, I make bold to say that Justice Muktar has never been associated with corrupt practices or any form of abuse of office. She is conservative but ready to take a radical stand in defence of the rule of law.

She is quiet, but aggressive in dealing with cases of corruption. “Her decision to team up with Adesola Oguntade JSC (as he then was) and Walter Onnoghen JSC in writing powerful dissenting opinions in the controversial case of Mohammadu Buhari v Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) convinced the reactionary forces in the legal establishment that she could rock the boat if allowed to become the head of the country’s judiciary.

“The clean bill of health given to Justice Ayo Salami, the suspended President of the Court of Appeal by a Committee of the National Judicial Council (NJC) chaired by Justice Mukhtar was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. A plot was therefore hatched to prevent her from becoming the CJN’’.

On her eventual assumption of office, the general expectation was the need to cleanse the Judiciary of its rots. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a candidate in the 2014 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) election, Mrs. Funke Adekoya stressed this in her article titled ‘‘NJC as Hercules’’ in the Thisday newspaper of March 5, 2013 when she noted that ‘‘Hercules did the job by using unconventional methods, he diverted two rivers flowing near the stables off their course, to flow into the stable yards and out through the rear, before rejoining the river course, while taking all the filth and dung along with it.

“From this Greek tale, the phrase ‘cleaning the Augean stable’ emerged to mean performing a large, unpleasant and seemingly impossible task that has long called for attention. When the incumbent Chief Justice of Nigeria Hon. Justice Miriam Aloma Mukhtar was sworn into the office in July last year, there were many calls upon her to restore the Judiciary to its pride of place in the body polity by investigating the rumours of corruption that were rife, and acting on the many complaints about judicial behaviour. As she has only two years in office as Chief Justice of Nigeria, this is her Augean stable.’’

With few months to the end of her tenure, many can testify that, though we have not got to the Promised Land, remarkable progress has been made towards that direction since Justice Mukhtar assumed office over a year ago. A highly respected British magazine, Newsweek attested to this when in its April 8-15, 2013 edition, the publication named Justice Mukhtar as one of the ‘’125 women of impact’’ in the world.

The magazine premised Justice Mukhtar’s

nomination on her judicial cleansing reform and avowed determination to get rid of judges involved in fraudulent practices or judgment for sale.

Specifically, the magazine noted that, ‘’in a country notorious for its crooked officials, Nigeria’s first female Chief Justice, Mukhtar, has built a reputation as an unwavering reformer unafraid to root out criminals.’’

Also, the World Justice Project (WJP), an independent, multidisciplinary organization working to advance the rule of law globally, scored Nigeria high only in civil justice among the nine factors it studied in its report recently released. The Washingtonbased WJP accessed the 99 countries studied on compliance with the rule law.

The WJP Rule of Law Index 2014 report awarded Nigeria a pass mark only in Civil Justice, ostensibly the Judiciary headed by Justice Mukhtar. The WJP’s Rule of Law Index is a quantitative assessment tool designed to offer a detailed and comprehensive picture of the extent to which 99 countries and one jurisdiction around the world adhere to the rule of law.

The WJP Rule of Law Index seeks to embody these outcomes by means of performance indicators the extent to which countries attain these outcomes. In attempting to capture a broad view of the rule of law in a nation, the WJP’s Rule of Law Index looks at 47 outcomes (or sub-factors) organized around nine dimensions (or factors) which include: constraints on government powers; absence of corruption; open government; fundamental rights; order and security; regulatory enforcement; civil justice; criminal justice; and informal justice. 99 nations were scored and ranked on each of the nine factors.

Specifically, the group’s report on Nigeria is as follows: ‘‘Nigeria ranks 93rd overall and

near the bottom half of lower middle income countries in most dimensions. The country ranks 69th for checks on the executive branch and 76th for open government, putting it slightly behind the average rankings of SubSaharan African countries. Yet, in most of the other dimensions, the country remains one of the poorest performers of the region.

Corruption is widespread (ranking third to last in the world), the criminal justice system has deficiencies (ranking 91st overall and second to last in the region), fundamental rights are poorly protected (ranking 88th overall), and a deteriorating security situation continues to raise significant concerns (ranking 2nd to last overall) Nigeria’s best performance is in the area of civil justice, where it ranks 52nd globally and 7th among its income peers’’.

As understood by the WJP, the delivery of effective civil justice requires that the system be accessible and affordable, as well as free of discrimination, corruption and improper influence by public officials. The delivery of effective civil justice also necessitates that court proceedings be conducted in a timely manner that is not subject to unreasonable delays, and that judgments are enforced effectively.

In its editorial of July 15 this year, The Guardian newspaper commented thus; ‘’Speaking at the opening session of a conference on judicial reforms organized by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), in conjunction with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and some Non-Governmental Organisations, the Chief Justice accused SANs working in tandem with corrupt judges being investigated by the National Judicial Council (NJC) of being guilty of corruption and misconduct.

“She cited a particular instance where a judge accused of corruption invited about six SANs to represent him before the NJC. The conference on judicial reforms, in which the Chief

• Justice Mukhtar

Justice spoke, could not have come at a better time in view of dwindling public confidence in the judiciary. It is indeed noteworthy and commendable that Chief Justice Mukhtar has waged a relentless war on corruption in the judiciary since she assumed office.

“Lawyers may very well hide under the guise of their rules of professional practice to defend anyone that seeks their legal representation and the issue of fair hearing which some of the judges being investigated raise is always germane to the cause of justice.

“Nevertheless, the CJN’s position remains a call on lawyers to be more alert to their responsibility as ministers in the temple of justice. Where senior lawyers rise to defend judges accused of corruption to the extent that the accusation is not allowed to see the light of day, let alone the accused judge allowed to defend himself, there is obvious danger to law and order.

“In such a situation, the society is threatened and ordinary law abiding citizens are not motivated to remain so; indeed they are encouraged to embrace impunity, knowing that the judiciary can be compromised.’’

So far, not less than hundred editorial comments have been published in the dailies and magazines in reactions to her onslaught on rots in the nation’s judiciary.

Traders vs Tecno: Court orders detainee’s release

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HE Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has ordered the release of an electronics dealer, Mr Oscar Modebe, who is being held by the police.

Modebe, an executive of the Phone and Allied Products Dealers Association, was detained since July 12.

He was said to have been arrested as he sought to prevent a fracas when officials of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) stormed the Computer Village in Ikeja and carted away phones and allied products from the traders.

Ruling on an ex-parte application dated August 8 and filed by the applicant’s lawyer James Ogunyemi seeking to enforce Modebe’s fundamental rights, Justice Michael Savage held that his continued detention was illegal.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police Zone 2, Commissioner of Police Lagos State and Tecno Telecoms Limited are the defendants.

The judge, after granting leave that the appli-

Stories by Joseph Jibueze

cation be heard during the long vacation and urgently, held: “It is further ordered that the 2nd defendant should release forthwith the applicant who had since 12th July 2014 been in custody of and is still in the custody of the 2nd defendant now at the office of the Commissioner of Police (SARS) Ikeja, Lagos.”

It was learnt that the police insisted Modebe must identify and produce the “unruly street traders” who caused a breach of the peace when SON officials came to perform their duty before he is released.

Modebe had sought a declaration that his arrest and detention without charge is unlawful and in breach of his fundamental rights to liberty, freedom of movement and his dignity as a person.

He sought an order enforcing his fundamental rights to dignity of his person, liberty, fair

haring and movement as enshrined n the constitution by directing his immediate and unconditional release by the 1st and 2nd defendants or in the alternative, an order of the court admitting him to bail.

The traders’ association also petitioned the Inspector-General of Police and Minister of Interior over the alleged harassment, wrongful and unlawful arrests and detention of their members.

In the petition copied to the Senate President David Mark, House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and the Director General, State Security Service, the association said it was concerned about Modebe’s fate in police detention for over two months without charge at Tecno’s alleged instance.

Tecno, it was learnt, alleged that the traders are selling sub-standard products bearing its name, hence its complaint to the police and SON. The traders, however, denied the allegation.

Coroner summons Civil Defence officials over woman’s death

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HE District Coroner in Yaba, Lagos, Mrs A. Ipaye-Nwachukwu has summoned two senior officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to explain the circumstances surrounding the death of a trader, Mrs Angelina Dansu.

The summons is in line with Section 32 (1) of the Coroners’ System Law of Lagos State, 2007.

The coroner warned that should NSCDC fail to attend or produce the officers or any documents which would assist her in delivering a verdict, they would be liable to sanctions.

Those summonsed are NSCDC Commandant, Zone A, Lagos Island, Mr Donatus Ikemefuna and Mr Lugard Osaro Osemwegie, also of Zone A. They are expected to give evidence as well as produce the officer who allegedly shot Mrs Dansu on May 7.

“In addition, you are to produce document(s) and/or investigation report(s) conducted by your office in respect of the death of the deceased,” the District Coroner ordered.

The inquest was initiated by a human rights group, the Access to Justice (AJ), on behalf of the Dansu family. It wrote the District Coroner on June 17, requesting an investigation.

According to AJ, the late Mrs Dansu was allegedly shot and killed by an NSCDC official attached to Zone A, Lagos Command at Saponkoji Village, an island in Apapa Local Government Area.

The group said eye witnesses claimed the officials stormed the deceased’s shop and attempted to cart away her goods (kerosene).

They were said to have beaten up the woman for daring to resist them.

She was reportedly molested and her clothes torn. As she struggled to escape, one of the NSCDC men allegedly shot at her. She died on the spot.

It was alleged that the NSCDC officials were randomly carting away traders’ wares.

When Mrs Dansu resisted, she was physically abused and eventually shot. Effort by onlookers to save her life failed.

AJ said the inquest would determine the certification of the death of the deceased as alleged; the culpable officers; the true circumstances of the alleged killing; and any

other facts that could help prevent a recurrence of such incidents in future.

The group also requested that summons be issued on the Officer-in-Charge (OC) Legal, Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba; all other officers present at the scene of the crime on the date it occurred; and Dr N. Alao Nassifou of the Emergency Unit of Clinique Mutualiste De Cotonou.

“We also request that the order should require that the proposed invitees produce all documentary statements (if any) made by the culprit officers as well as the death certificate and autopsy report,” AJ wrote.

When the inquest came up before the District Coroner at the Yaba Magistrate’s Court, Sabo area, at the weekend, no NSCDC official attended.

AJ’s lawyer Mr Onyeka Omofia said the corps was informed about the inquest. He, therefore, sought an adjournment.

NSCDC had acknowledged the summons, a copy of which our correspondent obtained.

It was signed by one of its officials, who wrote: “Original received by me NSCDC Zone A Alagbe Segun A. (IC), 18-08-2014.”

Mrs Ipaye-Nwachukwu adjourned till October 3 for resumption of proceedings.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

39

LEGAL OPINION LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com For comments: 08033054939 (sms only)

Rochas and council election aspirants

S • Director, Coalition against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Mr Debo Adeniran (left); Mohammed Fawehinmi (seated); the author Richard Akinola (fifth right); Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Kayode Opeifa (third right) and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Publicity Secretary, Gbolahan Gbadamosi (right) at a book presentation on the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) in Lagos.

‘How to defeat Boko Haram, rescue Chibok girls’ As the military and Boko Haram insurgents battle for the control of some towns in the Northeastern states of Borno and Adamawa, a Lagos lawyer, Mr. Kunle Uthman, examines the sect’s origin and its activities. He gives tips on how to rescue the Chibok school girls abducted by the group last April.

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OKO Haram, an Islamic sect, a terrorist organisation and a Jihadist group has attacked Nigeria’s police and the military, rival clerics, politicians, schools, religious buildings, public institutions, and civilians with increasing regularity since 2009. Analysts and historians view Boko Haram as an armed revolt against the government’s corruption, abusive security forces, and widening regional economic disparity in an already impoverished country.

The sect calls itself Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad, or “people committed to the propagation of the Prophet’s teachings and jihad”.

Colloquially translated as “Western education is sin”. While Boko Haram was not initially an insurgency or terrorist organisation its origin is rooted in grievances over poor governance and sharp inequality in the Nigerian society.

“The emergence of Boko Haram signifies the maturation of longfestering extremist impulses that run deep in the social reality of Northern Nigeria” writes Chris Nwodo. “But the group itself is an effect not a cause; it is a symptom of decades of failed government and elite delinquency finally ripening into social chaos”.

It is noteworthy that despite a per capital income of more than US$2,700 and vast wealth in natural resources, Nigeria has one of the world’s poorest population. An estimated 70 per cent of the population lives on less than $1.25 a day. Economic disparities between the north and the rest of the country are particularly stark and indeed, appalling.

In the north, 72 per cent of people live in abject poverty, compared to 27 per cent in the south and 35 per cent in the Niger Delta. The high poverty level among the low class and the stupendous wealth of the feudalist and the oligarchy have resulted in palpable disaffection among the generality of the northerners.

As such, Egbunike described Nigeria as “A plane on autopilot, a battle ground between those who vowed to make the country ‘ungovernable’ and a government that lacks the courage to put them behind bars. Little wonder that the peace we all crave for may remain an illusion for quite some time”. Another dimension of the Boko Haram insurgence is the effect on the

corporate image of Nigeria within committee of nations. Internationally, the image of the nation is dented while prostitution, crime, drug trafficking, fraud and high level of corruption are the issues that are negatively affecting the reputation of Nigeria and Nigerians anywhere in the world. There is no amount of image laundering that can influence the impression of the international community if negative news on a daily basis continue to emanate from Nigeria.

Therefore, the violent uprising in Northern Nigeria are ultimately due to “the fallout of frustration with corruption and the attendant social malaise of poverty and unemployment”. Poverty and unemployment make crime very attractive and irresistible to our teaming youth as an idle hand is the cheapest instrument in the hand of the devil.

Terrorism is a globalised phenomenon confronting the international community. It has grown both in strength and trend and its impact felt in different parts of the world including Nigeria, due to the activities of Boko Haram creating growing concern with the level of loss of lives in tens of thousands since its transformation from a sect in 2001 into a terrorist organisation.

In an article titled “Boko Haram: A religious Sect or Terrorist organisation”, Mike Okemi described terrorist as actors, who do not belong to any recognised armed forces or who do not adhere to the laws of war and who are, therefore, regarded as vogue actors’.

Today Boko Haram has expanded its tentacles from the Northwest to the Northeast, Northcentral parts of Nigeria and the impact of its terrorism acts resulted in capital flight in these areas including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. A mere sms message widely circulated in Lagos and its environs that the group was operating within the Lagos to Ibadan Expressway, resulted in traffic gridlock and commuters were stuck for 12 hours in a journey that ordinarily would be 60 minutes.

Mike Okemi further stated that the economic situations in many countries lead many individuals to seek refuge and comfort within the confines’ of a terrorist organisation due to high level unemployment. These

organisations offer food, shelter and consistent income for the members and their families. This extreme poverty leads to vulnerability and insecurity and while poverty does not always lead to terrorism, terrorism does take advantage of misery, knowing that despair create favourbale conditions for terrorist projects and actions.

An “Insurgent” is properly defined in Black’s Law Dictionary 6th Edition as “one who participates in an insurrection, one who opposes the execution of law by force of arms, or who rises in revolt against their constituted authorities. An enemy.

Therefore, the Boko Haram insurgents are enemies of the Nigerian nation and should be appropriately treated as such. Boko Haram is not a sect, a group of insurgents but a terrorist organisation which falls within the definition of the word as a group that uses violence, especially murder and bombing, in order to achieve political aims or to force a government to do something.

David Anderson Q. C., an Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation and the Operation of the Terrorism Act 2000 and Part I of the Terrorism Act 2006 of the United Kingdom, in his report of July 2013 stated that there are 3 cumulative elements to the UK’s current definition of terrorism. Namely: (a) the actions (or threat of actions) that constitute terrorism, which encompass serious violence against a person; serious damage to property; and actions which endanger life, create a serious risk of health or safety, or are designed seriously to interfere or seriously to disrupt an electronic system. (b) the target to which those acts must be directed; they must be designed to influence a government or international organization, or to intimidate the public or a section of the public and; (c) the motive that must be present; advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause.

In 2012, Ansaru, A Boko Haram splinter group suspected of the killing of a British hostage in Nigeria in March 2012, was proscribed by the British Parliament in December, 2012 pursuant to the Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2012.

•To be continued next week.

INCE the election of Governor Rochas Okorocha as the executive Governor of Imo state, I have refrained from joining those who pillory him for his eccentrics. Some others prefer to call it, his love for the mundane. Others will rather call him, a fake democrat. However, one wants to see it, one glaring attribute of Governor Okorocha is that he loves the world of theater. Well, that is no sin. Whether in the way he governs, with his so called fourth-tier of government or his audacious claims of unprecedented achievements in the state, which many of his critics insist exists only in the media. Even his loquaciousness and the many battles with his potential rivals for the 2015 gubernatorial elections, all speak of his character.

But one disturbing attribute of Governor Okorocha is his dishonorable treatment of the local government elections aspirants, since he became the executive governor of the state in 2011. On assuming power, he sacked the elected local government officials that he inherited from the former administration. His grouse was that the departing Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) led administration had arranged the election to foist their surrogates on his incoming administration. The jury is still out on the propriety of that action, with the many battles in court. However, as a counter to the sacking of the elected local government officials, Rochas initiated the process of conducting another local government election since 2012. And that is the crux of this piece. The fact is that those who embarked on that democratic journey, appears to have entered a vehicle which in the Nigeria local parlance, is called “one chance”.

The ‘one chance’ vehicle is usually manned by mean hearted miscreants who pretend to be normal transport operators, and who while on the excruciating journey to nowhere, rob and disposes the distrusting and unlucky passenger they pick on the road, of all his or her belongings, before shoving him or her out from the moving vehicle, to either death or permanent incapacity, before zooming off with the items stolen from the victims. In Imo State, Governor Rochas has since 2012 encouraged the local council election aspirants that an election would soon take place, with all the material and physical exertions that go with that prospect. To keep the aspirants hopeful and engaged, the governor has continuously and disingenuously encouraged the aspirants to engage in one meaningless and expensive gambit or tour of the communities or other form of trickery or another.

Now with just about five months to Governor Okorocha’s personal reelection battles, the aspirants who have spent all they have worked for in life, and who may have borrowed to satiate the insatiable pilots of this ‘one chance’ vehicle; may yet go for the last lurch, unless Rochas changes his mind to act honourable. Without knowing it, Rochas is creating an army of disposed political activists, and that is not good for his image and the state. For while many usually dismiss Governor Okorocha for his theatrics, I have always held hope that the man has his peculiar style.

After all, before he became a governor in the current political dispensation, Rochas had already made his name as a philanthropist, even if he may be showy about that. So if as a governor, he makes a drama of every political opportunity, he is only behaving true to character.

But, while Governor Rochas may have other fellow comrades in other states, playing poker with democracy at the local government level, it appears Rochas has elevated his maltreatment of the aspirants to a new level. This is because Rochas the man of theater and constitutional absurdity, dose not see the incongruity of giving instruction to local council aspirants, to engage in expensive and time consuming community tours, as if they are state officials, under his command. Rochas also appears not to appreciate that most of the aspirants are completely distraught with the process, but are merely hanging on, having already been encouraged to go full throttle on several occasion, in the earnest believe that the elections where by the corner.

As a governor on the platform of a party that professes progressivism, the All Progressive Congress (APC), I encourage Governor Rochas to immediately take steps to redeem his image and that of the party by conducting the local council elections that has seen many turns and twists in his state in the past three years. I hope he knows that such a matter will be a campaign issue in his bid for reelection and also for other party aspirants to national offices, particularly the presidency.

Unless he has other plans, Governor Okorocha should realise that if he doesn’t conduct the local council election before the next gubernatorial elections, the malcontent that he has mobilised at the local level, is enough to jeopardize his chances and that of his party candidates in the other elections.

Governor Rochas must also realize that the grassroots contestants, who have been mobilizing the local electorates in the past three years, can be persuaded to join his numerous detractors to derail his own ambitions. Indeed, as the foremost APC political office holder in the south-east zone, Rochas must begin to act as the rallying point for the party in the zone. To do this, Rochas must act in a manner to inspire confidence and exude leadership discipline. Thus his word must be his bond. He can not afford to be seen as untrustworthy. He must rally his followers and expand the frontiers of the party. He must not reduce his party interest to what will benefit Governor Rochas Okorocha and nothing else. Immediately conducting the local government election in consonance with the provisions of Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution is in the state’s best interest.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

LAW REPORT IN THE COURT OF APPEAL IN THE ENUGU JUDICIAL DIVISION HOLDEN AT ENUGU ON MONDAY, THE 11TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2014 BEFORE THEIR LORDSHIPS AMIRU SANUSI, J.C.A. MASSOUD ABDULRAHMAN OREDOLA, J.C.A. MISITURA OMODERE BOLAJI-YUSUFF, J.C.A. CA/E/146/2009 (2014) LPELR-23560(CA) BETWEEN JUKOK INTERNATIONAL LTD. & ANOR. ……………………………….….… APPELLANTS AND DIAMOND BANK PLC. …………………….…………………………….……….... RESPONDENT LEAD JUDGMENT DELIVERED BY MASSOUD ABDULRAHMAN OREDOLA, J.C.A.

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HE Respondent in this appeal as the Plaintiff commenced an action at the Federal High Court, sitting at Enugu against the Appellants as Defendants by means of an originating summons for the determination of two questions: (1) Whether having regard to the specific provisions and clauses of the All Assets Debenture between the Plaintiff and the 1st Defendant dated 17 February 2006 the 1st Plaintiff is not entitled to appoint a Receiver/Manager (as it has already appointed and registered same with the Corporate Affairs Commission) over the affairs and endeavours of the 1st Defendant upon its failure or refusal to liquidate its huge outstanding indebtedness to the plaintiff as covenanted in the All Assets Debenture, and (2) Whether the Peter Nwabunike Eze having been appointed Receiver and Manager of the 1st Defendant by the Plaintiff, the 2nd Defendant has the right to further act as Managing Director of the 1st Defendant and to deal with its assets the subject of the All Assets Debenture. Predicated upon the likelihood in the positivity and negativity of answers to both questions, the Respondent sought some reliefs from the Court. The Defendants at the Federal High Court in opposing the originating summons, filed a motion on notice and affidavit wherein they sought for the dismissal of the “suit for being incompetent” on the ground that the Respondent “lacks locus standi” to institute the action as presently constituted.

At the trial court the learned counsel for the parties agreed and sought that both the originating summons and the Appellants’ motion on notice be consolidated and heard/argued

together. At the end of it all, A. Abdu-Kafarati, J. in his reserved judgment found and held that: (1) The Respondent had a good cause of action which entitled it to commence the instant suit, (2) That in the given circumstances of this case; Exhibits “DB7”, “DB8”, “DB9”, “DB14” and “DB15” attached to the affidavit in support of the originating summons were not required to be certified, and (3) That going by the facts of the case and documents placed by the parties before the lower court; the appointment of Mr. Peter Nrvabunike Eze as the Receiver/ Manager of the 1st appellant, “was made in accordance with the law and is therefore proper”.

The Appellants were dissatisfied with the said decision of the learned trial judge and appealed to the Court of Appeal vide a notice of appeal.

The Appellants distilled three issues for determination in this appeal and the Respondent also distilled three issues for the determination of the appeal. The Court having perused the record of appeal, grounds of appeal and the issues distilled therefrom by the learned counsel for the parties, stated that the issues identified by the learned counsel for the respondent, succinctly captured the essence of the complaints or challenges mounted by the Appellants against the decision of the trial court. The issues formulated by the Respondent were accordingly adopted by the Court for determination of the appeal.

The issues were couched in the following terms:Was the trial court right when it held that the Respondent had locus standi to institute the action and seek the reliefs sought in the originating summons?

Certificate of incorporation is prima facie evidence Was the lower court right when it refused to expunge Exhibits DB7, DB9, DB13, DB14 and DB15?.

Is the Respondent a legal person which can sue and be sued?

Arguing issue 1, learned counsel for the Appellants fired the first shot with the question thus: “why did the Diamond Bank Plc. commenced this action and in its own name rather than the receiver/manager who had already been appointed as such for more than one and half months?” He referred to Section 391 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990 and faulted the finding by the learned trial judge in this regard, to the effect that this is not an action by the receiver seeking direction but by the Plaintiff Bank seeking confirmation whether it has right under the All Assets Debenture to appoint a Receiver upon the 1st Defendant’s failing to fulfill its obligation. He made the point, that in order to determine jurisdiction of the court over a matter, the totality of the claim and the reliefs have to be examined. He cited and placed reliance on Adeyemi vs. Opeyori (1976) 10 S.C. 31; (1976) LPELR171(SC), Tukur vs. Govt. of Gongola State (No. 2) (1989) 4 NWLR (Pt.117) 517/549; (1988) LPELR-22(SC), Mandara vs. Att.Gen. of the Federation (1984) 1 SCNLR 311/312; (1984) LPELR8048(SC). It was then contended that the reliefs relate to or are connected with the performance of the functions of a receiver as none of the reliefs sought by the Respondent at the trial court, deals with the point whether the Plaintiff/Respondent has a right to appoint a receiver. The learned Appellants’ counsel argued that it is the receiver/manager who is vested with the locus standi to commence the action. It was his submission in essence that since the Respondent instituted the instant action by means of originating summons in its name and without stating on the face of the originating summons, that it was being instituted in a representative capacity and or on behalf of the receiver/manager, that the action was not proper and competent as the respondent lacked the requisite locus standi to commence the suit in its name.

In response to the submissions made above, learned counsel for

the Respondent on his part, submitted that the reliefs sought from the trial court relate to the questions submitted for determination by the Court and arise from the contract between the parties that is the All Assets Debenture made between the parties. That the declarations sought by the Respondent are merely consequential thereto. It was also contended, that a close look at the reliefs sought shows that they are such that protect the interest of the Respondent under the debenture deed. The mere fact that such reliefs relate to the rights of the Receiver/Manager are irrelevant. According to the learned counsel, the reliefs sought in this suit are directed at empowering the receiver/ manager to take necessary steps to protect the interest of his principal. Learned Respondent’s counsel, cited the case of Intercontractors Nig. Ltd vs.

U.A.C. of Nig. Ltd. (1988) 2 NWLR (Pt. 76) 303/307; (1988) LPELR-1521(SC) on the point that once a Receiver is appointed, he becomes the alter ego of the company. It was then argued, that it would amount to the Receiver suing himself if he brings an action against the company which by virtue of his appointment, he has become the alter ego.

The main question or complaint is whether or not the Respondent had locus standi to institute the instant action. Put differently, whether the Respondent is the proper party to request for adjudication in this case. In determining the appeal, the Court stated the trite law that once a Receiver/Manager is appointed, he becomes the alter ego of the company. The Court further stated that the law is also well established that where a creditor enforces his security by appointing a Receiver/Manager, the assets belonging to the debtor company now come under the Receiver/Manager.

See Inter-contractors (Nig.) Ltd. vs. National Provident Fund Management Board (1988) 2 NWLR (Pt.76) 280; (1988) LPELR-1520(SC). The Court held that asking, insisting or suggesting that it is compelling on the Receiver/Manager to sue in such a circumstance/ situation as in the instant case, is tantamount to requesting the

Receiver/Manager to sue himself. Issue No. 1 was thus resolved in favour of the Respondent.

On issue 3, the Appellants counsel urged the Court to either dismiss or strike out the suit and set aside the judgment of the trial court; among other reasons, for failure of the Respondent to prove its legal personality. On the part of the learned counsel for the Respondent, it was opined that the Appellants, overlooks the fact that the they had always treated the Respondent as a legal entity and cannot now wake up to deny the fact that the Respondent is duly registered as a limited liability company. It was thus his submission, that it is too late in the day for the Appellants to now wake up from slumber to argue that the Respondent to whom they acknowledged that they are indebted to the tune of N300,000,000.00 is not a legal person. According to the learned counsel for the Respondent, the Appellants are estopped from denying the legal personality of the Respondent.

On this issue, the Court stated the position of the law to the effect that where it has been duly pleaded and issues joined by the parties on the legal personality of an incorporated body, that the legally admissible evidence by which the incorporation of such a company can be ascertained and or established is the production of the certificate of incorporation.

The Court stated that Section 36(6) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990 provides that the certificate of incorporation shall be prima facie evidence of compliance with requirements of registration and due registration of a company under the Act. On the whole, all the issues in the appeal were resolved against the Appellants. The Court held that the appeal lacks merit and it was dismissed. The said decision of the learned trial judge was accordingly affirmed by the Court of Appeal.

Edited by LawPavilion LawPavilion Citation: (2014) LPELR-23560(CA)

•Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Aguata Branch, Mr E. N. Ezeonwuka (ninth from left); Mr Jude Ogamba and his wife, Pamela, when they hosted members of the branch in their Owerri country home at the last Annual General Conference of the NBA in Owerri.

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THE NATION TUESDAY SEPTEM BER 16, 2014

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TUESDAY SEPTEM BER 16, 2014

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

AKWA IBOM POLITICS The succession battle in Akwa Ibom State has polarised stakeholders. In the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it is believed that Governor Godswill Akpabio, who has championed the agitation for power shift to Eket Senatorial District, is projecting the Secretary to Government, Udom Emmanuel, as his successor. Many PDP elders seem to agree on zoning. But, they also want a level playing ground for all governorship aspirants. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU reports.

Akwa Ibom’s politics of zoning and imposition C

RISIS is brewing between Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio and his predecessor, Obong Victor Attah.

The bone of contention is succession. Prominent indigenes have alleged that the governor is planning to impose a governorship candidate on the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of next year’s election. To them, it is worrisome that Akpabio has not cleared the air on this allegation. In Attah’s view, there is the need for a level playing ground for all aspirants.

Akpabio will bow out of office next year after completing his two terms of eight years. In the PDP, no fewer than 20 aspirants are itching to succeed him. Two of them, according to sources, seem to have an edge. They are former Secretary to Government, Umana Umana, a grassroots politician, and his successor, Udom Emmanuel, a banker.

Umana is from Etinan. Emmanuel is from Eket.

The contenders include Effiong Abia (Oron), Bassey Albert (ItuIbiono), Nsima Ekere (Ikot Abasi), Prof. Richard King (Eket), Michael Onofiok (Oron), Senator Helen Esuene (Eket), Benjamin Okoko (Ikot-Abasi), Mike Sebastine (IkotAbasi), Okpolum Etteh (Eket), and Barrister Ekpem. Other contenders are Ekpenyong Ntekim (Oron), Peter Esu (Oron), Justice Nya Edito (Oron), Ime Albert (Itu-Iniono), Chris Abasieyo (Oron) and Assam Assam (Eket).

In the All Progressives Congress (APC), aspirants are still lying low.

Potential contenders are holding consultations across the three districts. However, a lot of attention appears to be focused on Senator Akpanudoedehe, who was the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) flag bearer in 2011.

The main issue that may likely shape the contest is zoning. Akpabio has reiterated his support for the unwritten rotational principle, saying that it is the turn of Eket to produce the next governor. This has earned him the appellation of an advocate and defender of equity and natural justice. However, zoning is also a subject of discord. Some have argued that the PDP had adopted zoning when former Governor Victor Attah, who was in the saddle between 1999 and 2007, was succeeded by Akpabio. The former governor hails from Uyo Zone.

Akpabio is from Ikot-Ekpene Zone.

The third zone, Eket, has not enjoyed the slot. That probably accounts for the intense agitation for power shift to the district.

But, PDP chieftains, who are opposed to zoning, have maintained that it is not sacrosanct. Their argument is that, in 1999 and 2007, there was no guideline on zoning or power shift. According to them, politicians from the three zones threw their hats into the rings. Attah and Akpabio emerged at primaries after intense competition for the slot by contenders.

Sources said that Eket has a bright chance next year. Unlike 1999 and 2007, it is now very glaring that, by next year, Eket would have been left in the cold for 16 years. Therefore,

• Akpabio

• Umana

there appears to be a consensus in the PDP that a chieftain from this heart of Ibibioland should succeed Akpabio.

But, while zoning to Eket may scale through, how the candidate will emerge is a challenge. At a reception for Attah after he was installed as the Ibibio leader, the former governor bared his mind on the succession process. He did not opposed zoning to Eket. But, he emphasised that while zoning will be a major factor, there are other compelling factors that cannot be sacrificed on the altar of zoning. The elder statesman was silent on these factors. Opinion is divided on the Attah’s remarks.

Some have hailed him for standing up as a leader. But, to some people, the remarks were also confusing.

Two years ago, many believe that the former SSG, Umana, who

• Attah

• Akpanudoedehe

was Akpabio’s ally, would be backed by the governor. In a dramatic twist, the hammer fell on the rich, powerful and charismatic politician. He was on a state assignment when the news of his sack was relayed on the radio. His sack by the governor generated controversy.

There were insinuations that Akpabio removed him because it would be difficult to tame him, if he assumes the reins. But, despite the misfortune, Umana has insisted that he would contest for the number one position.

Few days after he left office, the former Executive Director of Zenith Bank, Emmanuel, was appointed as the SSG. Sources said that the appointment was strategic. The promising banker is from Eket, which is agitating for the slot. Following his appointment, eyes have been on him. At a thanksgiving service held in Awa, some

• Etiebet

• Udom

stakeholders from the district endorsed him for the governorship.

Since then, many individuals, groups and associations have also endorsed him. However, while Emmanuel has goodwill, he is perceived as the anointed successor.

This has irked forces opposed to Akpabio, his benefactor.

In Akwa Ibom, the dust stirred by the 2007 succession battle has not settled. Reminiscent of 2007, Akpabio and his predecessor, who loathed his candidature, are on a collision course, as the state prepares for next elections. But, Attah is not alone. Other PDP elders, including former Petroleum Minister, Chief Don Etiebet, also have an axe to grind with the governor.

He criticised the elements of zoning, saying that it has a pre-determined objective. Etiebet said that it may have been distorted and skewed in favour of a particular

‘In Akwa Ibom, the dust stirred by the 2007 succession battle has not settled.

Reminiscent of 2007, Akpabio and his predecessor, who loathed his candidature, are on a collision course, as the state prepares for next elections. But, Attah is not alone. Other PDP elders, including former Petroleum Minister, Chief Don Etiebet, also have an axe to grind with the governor. He criticised the elements of zoning, saying that it has a pre-determined objective’

candidate.

Etiebet’s position slightly differs from the idea Attah was trying to articulate. He said, instead of power shift to Eket, he said it should be power shift to Oron, one of the ethnic groups in Eket. The former minister condemned what he described as “targeted zoning”, adding that it will not work.

Speaking at the 55th birthday of Umana, he said the gospel of zoning by Akpabio is discriminatory.

The party elder alleged that the governor was scheming to anoint his friend as a successor. But, he declined to mention the friend’s name. He said: “I do not agree with the governor over the targeted zoning. It is zoning to a friend. The targeted zoning cannot work; the targeted zoning cannot produce the next governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2015.”

Etiebet alleged that the governor was trying to scuttle the tripod arrangement on which the sharing of positions in the state is based, despite the fact that he had benefitted from the arrangement.

He said, if Akpabio had stuck to the arrangement, the next governor would have come from Oron.

“If we had stuck to that consensus arrangement, peace and tranquility would have reigned and it would have aided the development of Akwa Ibom State by harnessing all materials and natural resources.

There would have been no problem because we it would have been obvious that the next governor would come from Oron. This was an agreement Akpabio was a party to. But, he does not want to keep that consensus arrangement as he wants to bring another Ibibio man to succeed him. This is not fair. That is why I have fallen out with him.

That is why we are not agreeing.

“We as a people are saying that we can never allow one man to cook the food and make all of us eat and go to sleep and he goes about gallivanting to put his man in position. We cannot eat that food. As I am standing here, I have 15 governorship aspirants that have consulted me officially, traditionally and legally. I have not heard from any other one outside these 15 that have consulted me.”

Attah seems to share some of these sentiments, although he is not categorical on where the slot should be zoned to in Eket. once again, there is a conflict of interests and a clash of ego. For eight years, there have been a gap between the predecessor and successor. Ironically, the former governor who had wanted to anoint his in-law as successor has criticised Akpabio for mirroring his steps.

While his bid to project an aspirant failed, it appears the scheming

by Akpabio to achieve what he failed to achieve at the twilight of his tenure in 2007 is psychologically injurious.

Attah reflected on his tenure, lamenting how the 2007 succession battle was waged, won and lost.

Apparently venting his anger, the great politician waxed philosophi-

•Continued on page 44

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THE NATION TUESDAY SEPTEM BER 16, 2014

POLITICS

Ocholi: Kogi APC should put its house in order

Mr. Ademola Solalu is the Special Assistant to Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Information and Orientation. In this interview with Tayo Johnson, he speaks on the Ajimobi Administration and the chance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in next year’s elections.

The National Deputy Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC), James Ocholi (SAN), spoke with JAMES AZANIA on the way out of the crisis in the Kogi chapter and other issues.

‘APC ‘ll defeat PDP in Oyo’

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HAT are the achievements of the Ajimobi Adminis tration?

When the governor came on board, his agenda was to restore, transform and reposition Oyo State. Before he came on board, Oyo State was nowhere in terms of developmental projects. The image of the state was so bad that nobody wanted to identify with us. I was living outside the state then. Each time they talk about my state, they talk about negative things. It was either we were celebrating Tokyo or Auxilliary and so on.

But, today, we have a lot to celebrate in Oyo State. The peace we are enjoying today is unprecedented. Peace and security are the major duty of any responsible government. We have never had it so good. Since the administration started, things have been peaceful in Oyo State. In fact, people have forgotten and we have to remind them that there was a time in this state that people will tell you not to pass through Iwo Road, Ibadan. I was based in Abuja. Whenever I came home, my father used to advise me not to pass through Iwo Road. In December 2008, armed robbers took over the whole state. In fact, all the banks around Iwo Road were raided. At that time, in front of the police Area Command, the robbers laid siege for more than two hours and nothing happened. I cannot forget it because I lost a cousin in that incident. He was hit by stray bullet.

Since Ajimobi came on board, there has not been a single bank robbery in the state.

There are governorship aspirants, Ladoja, Akala, Seyi Makinde and others, who want to dislodge Ajimobi...

Let me start from Ladoja. He was governor for four years. His tenure was the worst, as far as I am concerned. We witnessed unprecedented violence during his tenure. He was impeached because of his conduct.

He should not blame anybody, if he could not manage the people that put

him there very well. It means he was a failure. When you were campaigning, you asked some people to help you get there. You got there and they became a liability to the state. Whose problem is that? It was his problem.

Ladoja’s failure paved the way for the emergence of Akala. If Ladoja did not fail, Akala would not have become governor. I was also involved at that time. Akala would not have nursed the ambition of being a governor, if Ladoja was not impeached. Ladoja is a failure because he could not manage his success very well. As for Seyi Makinde, he is the only person I have not had interaction with among the people declaring that they want to be governor. I have gone through his profile. I don’t think he has what it takes to governor for now. Maybe, he should start from somewhere else, but not as a governor because experience matters in politics. What is his pedigree politically? Oyo State is not a place someone can come from nowhere and emerge as the governor. People will ask questions. Has he been having interactions with other zones, like Oke Ogun? You just believe you have money to throw around and all that.

I doubt, if he will emerge at the primaries. None of the candidates can defeat Ajimobi. Akala is like Omisore of Osun State. He is the easiest person for the APC to defeat in Oyo State. I won’t say more on that, until the time is ripe. Senator Teslim Folarin is no match. We will not lose sleep at all over him.

APC does not have any senator in Oyo State. The two senators that won in 2011 have defected to the PDP and the Accord Party. Will this not affect your chances in 2015?

The fact that the senators are not with us should give us concern politically.

But, when we look at it deeply, the problem was that they wanted to be governor and there is no way they can be because Ajimobi is interested in second term. It is not Ajimobi’s problem that they left the party. It is

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• Solalu

because of their ambition. And there is nothing anybody can do about it.

What should be our concern is who were those that left the party with them? I can talk about Senator Lanlehin because he is in my senatorial district. I am from Ibadan North Local Government. Senator Lanlehin’s defection has not in anyway affected us. Where we are supposed to have problem with Lanlehin’s exit is Ward 2, Ibadan North Local Government, which is his area. I can tell you today, if we conduct election there tomorrow, the APC will win the election.

People feel his defection will create problems for us because he is well known. But, looking at it critically, did he move away with people? No, he did not move with his followers.

As he was leaving, other people equally joined us. The kind of people I have been able to attract to the APC that are working for us today were people that worked for the Accord Party in the last election. These are not politicians with big names, but they were mobilisers and I am comfortable with people like that than politicians with big names, who will not be able to deliver. They have come to us now and the kind of work they are doing for us at the grassroots is so fantastic that, in 2015, we are hopeful that we will win again.

Is Oyo APC learning from the electoral misfortune of the Ekiti APC? We have learnt a lot from Fayemi’s experience. We have tried to reconcile stomach and physical infrastructure in Oyo State. Before then, Ajimobi has been doing it. I addressed some ‘Yes O cadets’ in my local government sometimes ago. They are almost 1000.

I asked them: do you know how much the government spends on the ‘O Yes’ every month? It is not less than

HAT is the fate of the APC in Kogi State?

It is a very pitiable situation. One or two persons, who claim to leaders of the APC in Kogi State, are frustrating the fortunes of the party. The governor is not performing. He had no idea of governance before he came and unfortunately, even after a man like Prof. Idachaba chaired the committee to produce a blueprint for him, he could not implement it to bring about transformation. What we are seeing in Kogi State is a sorry sight. Many teachers are not being paid regularly. It is a sorry sight for Kogi State. I hardly would want to talk about it these days because I am a professional. I do well in my job. I enjoy my job and I thought by giving quality attention one could correct a bit. Some people like Prince Abubakar Audu, who does not know when to throw in the towel; he behaves as if it’s not him, no other person can become the governor of Kogi State. Some of us did our best to build credible democrats, who have the idea of good governance. But, the old way of doing things is tainted by corruption. We went to do congress. Some people came to scuttle it. Today, the APC is in limbo. That’s the basic truth. The party is in limbo in Kogi State. Even if we win the Presidency next year, how much benefit would acrue to Kogi State from the centre? Maybe, the allocation, the normal one, will come. Apart from that, what else can you tap into? You need to have a governor, a leader who can tap into so many things other than allocation. There are many things at the federal level other than the monthly allocation. Too many things.

What about the National Assembly members from the state?

The National Assembly members that we have, how are they relating with the governor? You have nine members of the House of Representatives, you have three senators. That is twelve. How are they relating with the governor? How is he maximising the offices they hold for the benefit of Kogi State? Any office anybody holds at the federal level must be for the benefit of his constituency. But, the APC is in limbo at the moment.

We are working. We are asking the APC national executive to help us.

Once we do that and the national executive begins to correct the anomalies, it doesn’t take more than a month to build a party for an election because the indices are right. If our governor is an extremely performing governor, then, we’ll have problem. But, he is not. Once the APC is able to put their acts together in Kogi State, we don’t have problem.

You sounded very confident about your party winning the presidential election. What is the secret?

I won’t tell you. It’s in our chest. But, the APC in Kogi does not seem set for such optimism. It’s not set because the party is in limbo. I have told you already that the party is in crisis.

Are you worried that Prince Abubakar gave a clean bill of health to the current governor?

He is already campaigning for Wada now. So, he has become the campaign manager • Ocholi for Wada.

Zoning divides Akwa Ibom PDP

•Senator Esuene •Continued from page 43

cal, saying: “I have also quite often been reminded that success without a successor amounts to failure. So, with the benefit of time, I must now confess that I do have one painful regret. The one regret is that, though I left office with a successor, I left office without succession.” The statement is pregnant with meanings.

There was a succession process, which produced a successor, Akpabio. But, as it now turned out,

it was never endorsed by the former governor with his whole heart. While Attah was not indifferent to the tendency and sentiments of a successor in his own image, some forces prevented his emergence.

If that plan failed eight years ago, can he have a leeway next year?

Can he now achieve the feat he failed to achieve, even when he wielded the power of incumbency?

The former governor urged Akwa Ibom people to collectively evolve a succession plan. The interpretation is that he has rejected the governor’s private succession plan, which Etiebet also discredited.

Another interpretation is that, instead of foisting a candidate on the state, as he allegedly attempted to do while in office, he is pushing for a candidate who will be the product of consensus or collective will. “Collectively, we shall choose a successor to implement our succession plan. The collective will of us, and only our collective will, shall prevail,” said Attah.

The former governor also dissected zoning, saying that it can only be meaningful and achieve the desired result, if certain conditions are met. The conditions he de-

scribed as “certain other competing determinants.” He feared that these determinants may be sacrificed on the alter of zoning.

“As I look around, I see a number of faces here of people I know are aspiring to the high office of governor of this state. A large number of those aspirants are from Eket Senatorial District. This is as should be expected because of the sequential logic that, after Uyo and Ikot Ekpene, it should be Eket. But, there must be a level playing field for all aspirants,” Attah said.

The former governor explained that there is need for a level playing ground for contestants to restore people’s confidence in government. His words: “This is particularly true at this time when there is such a crying need to give hope back to our people; to restore their confidence in their government and to rebuild the state. Zoning will certainly be a major consideration, but at a time like this, certain other compelling determinants cannot be sacrificed on the altar of zoning”.

Since the determinants were not explained by Attah, there are puzzles begging for resolution: What manner of zoning? Should the slot

be zoned to only Ibibio in Eket?

Should it go to Oron? Should aspirants from local governments go to primaries? How can the governor marry his interest with the interests of stakeholders? Can there be a new power sharing formula to ease tension, ahead of primaries?

Can it be fashioned out in an atmosphere of new understanding and reconciliation?

The camp of the governor had anticipated Attah’s remarks, ahead of the installation ceremony. In an open letter to him by Etteh, leader of the House of Assembly and governorship aspirant, the legislator cautioned that some politicians behind the ceremony held in his honour must not be allowed to use the medium to orchestrate tribal schism for personal political gains.

Etteh urged Attah to bear in mind that “ in the coming elections, to select its flag bearers for the general election, the PDP will deal with delegates, who are party members and who will abide by the party’s policy of equity, justice and fair play.” It is another tactical way of reminding the former governor that, since politics is a game of number, this may play itself out at the primaries. So far, Akpabio ap-

pears to have a firm grip on the state, the party structure and resources, which are critical in any electioneering. He also has followers.

The legislator also enjoined Attah to take a clear position on zoning.

He said: “As a man who fought severally to make sure that justice, equity and fair play are not stood on their head, I believe you will join us in Eket Senatorial District to ensure that the rotation and zoning, which started in the state in your time and for which the current governor is standing in, is respected.”

But, Etteh, also emphasised the limitation to zoning, which he has asked Attah to endorse. He acknowledged the right of all contestants from other districts to vie.

Urging the former governor to defend the agitation for a level playing field, he said no aspirant should be edged out, based on rotation or zoning.

‘You should also fight to ensure that there is a level playing field for all those who want to contest to lead our state to the next level, including those who, in defiance of the policy of rotation and zoning, still have the democratic right to join the race,” he added.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

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HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

In the aftermath of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak,nurses in private and public hospitals are wary of patients.Their umbrella bodies are asking the Federal and state governments to provide adequate materials, such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), for them, report OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA and WALE ADEPOJU.

Ebola: Nurses demand better equipment N

URSES, who are important in the care industry are gradually losing their

steam.

The practitioners are becoming complacent in giving their best for fear of contracting Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), a disease brought to Nigeria by a Liberian-American, Mr Patrick Sawyer, on July 20.

Nurses are breaking the silence by demanding a better health care system- preventing vulnerability in nursing care.

President, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Mr Abdulrafiu Adeniji, said the government was slack in providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and insurance coverage for nurses.

According to him, the government concentrates more on doctors whereas more nurses have died from EVD than other healthcare workers in the sector.

He decried lack of PPE in most hospitals, adding that nurses need to be protected against the infectious disease.

“By our ethics, we cannot say we would not attend to patients but we must do so with the right equipment and facilities. The government should enroll all nurses on life insurance coverage because of

the hazard of their job, so as to encourage them to perform creditably. Life insurance coverage will motivate nurses to go the extra mile on their job.”

Adeniji said the fight against Ebola should be collective and not restricted to health workers alone.

He said:“We can only do our best when they bring them to hospitals for treatment. Everybody has a responsibility to discharge in the fight against Ebola.”

President, Association of General Private Nursing Practitioners (AGPNP), Mr Olusola Oyebode said equipping nurses with PPE in private hospitals is a problem.

He said the government had not been proactive to ensure PPE are available in the private sector facilities.

Oyebode said he spoke with the officials of the Ministry of Health, adding that no positive response has been received from them on the availability of PPEs for the private sector.

He said prevention is the best way to prevent contracting the disease,adding that victims of ill equipped facilities are nurses.

This, he said, was why NANNM urged its members to treat patients with high index of suspicion with utmost caution. “We are using barrier nursing to ward off infectious

diseases. But getting PPEs is a problem in private sector. To this end, nurses have disposable wears, which is quite expensive and it cannot be compared with standard PPEs. Use of Infrared temperature equipment, which can be used to detect an infected person from a distance, is not available as well,” he said.

Oyebode charged nurses to take extra precaution to be safe from Ebola.

Chairman, Lagos State Branch of NANNM, Mrs Olatunde Omisola, thanked the Lagos State government for making PPEs available to nurses and other healthcare professionals managing cases of Ebola at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Yaba.

She said the equipment were in abundance at the facility, which is designated to treat Ebola cases.

Mrs Omisola said if a nurse needs to render three procedures, there are PPEs for him or her to use. “Nurses have been attending

• Adeniji to patients at IDH, many of the patients have been discharged but not a single nurse has contracted the disease, since the unfortunate incident with Mr Sawyer ,” she said.

She said the treatment centre at the IDH is well-coordinated, adding: “When a nurse enters through a door, she gets out through another, so as not to leave any room for errors. Nurses on their own,

• Oyebode she said, are taking precautionary measures, because they are not ignorant. We have gone beyond the knowledge we have before to acquire new skills to make our job easier.”

Mrs Omisola said the association had not relented to ensure its members are adequately protected. “The most important strategy we employ is creating awareness,” she said.

Church partners doctors against disease

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IGH Life Church has donated 30 Infectious Disease Control (IDC) kits and 30 non-contact thermometers to Etiosa Local Government Area Branch of the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN).

The church said the donation was done having realised that EVD is an existential threat to society, and in an effort to halt the spread of the disease in the country. The items are for the use in the early detection of the disease in the zone.

According to Head Pastor of the church, Pastor Babatunde Carlton Williams: “Everything that brings healing to people must be encouraged. This makes doctors ministers of God; as derivable from the fourth verse of the 13th chapter of Apostle Paul’s letter to the believers in Rome. This sits right at the heart of the Empowering Our Community strategy of High Life. ”The church considers the donation to be a civic duty as representatives of Jesus Christ, in support of the commendable commitment of the Federal and Lagos State governments to subdue the EVD.” The items were received on behalf of the Etiosa Local Government Area Branch of the AGPMPN by Dr Efosa Aruede, Dr Aruede, Proprietor of BAEFEM Specialist Hospital in Victoria Garden City, said the EVD is another problem that has

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

added to the problems of health care delivery in our society. “The donations would therefore become useful even in the control of some other infectious diseases that bedevil medical practice in our nation. This is the reason that the Association would ensure that the donations would be put to responsible use.”

A past Zonal Chairman of the association, Dr Babatunde Palomeras, thanked High Life Church for being in the forefront of fight against the EVD, saying that the church is truly “taking the message right from the pulpit to the warfront”.

Seeing the initiative as commendable, he said this had motivated him to think that strategically, this could open new vistas of collaboration between government and her health agencies on one hand and institutions such as the Church on the other. “This should lead the church to consider further initiatives in the Community Health Insurance sector, of the overall healthcare delivery system; a gesture that would generate an incredible multiplier effect in improving the quality of life of the people of our nation.”

Beyond the gesture of halting the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease, High Life has a strategic goal: to make relevant contributions to the marketplace of ideas that will lead to improvement of the systems in all spheres of life in Nigeria.

•From left: Dr. Fagade presenting keys of one of the ambulances to Dr Alex-Okoh. With them is Coordinator, PGPA Corp Resp and National Programmes CNL, Sunday Okegbemiro.

Chevron donates ambulances to Lagos

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HEVRON Nigeria Limited (CNL- NNPC/CNL Joint Venture) has donated two ambulances to support the fight against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Lagos.

The ambulances, which are equipped with emergency life support tools and oxygen for optimum care of EVD patients, were donated to support the core operations of the Ebola Operation Centre (EOC) and for Point of Entry (POE) activities of the EOC at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Health Services in Lagos.

The first ambulance was handed over to the EOC, at the Public Health Central Library, Yaba, while the second one was presented at the Port Health Services office at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja.

Dr. Olubukunola Fagade, CNL’s Medical Director, who made the donations on behalf of the NNPC/CNL Joint Venture, said the donations were a part of the Joint Venture’s so-

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

cial investments in the area of health for the benefit of the people of Nigeria. “We see the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) as a threat to the collective health and socio-economy of the country.

We, therefore, reiterate our commitment to partner with other stakeholders to stem the tide of Ebola,” he said.

Receiving the ambulance at the EOC headquarters in Yaba, Lagos, Dr. Faishal Shuaib, Head/Incident Manager EOC, who is also the Technical Advisor to the Minister of State of Health, lauded the Joint Venture’s effort and described the contribution as invaluable in the concerted efforts at containing the disease. “This donation will definitely assist in dealing with this emergency. It is important to acknowledge the fact that Nigeria has done a very good job in acting quickly.”

At the presentation to the Port Health Services, Dr. Morenike AlexOkoh, Head, Port Health Services,

Lagos who was accompanied by Mrs. Faleye, Head Nurse, received the ambulance designated for Port Health assistance. She described the donation as critical to the services rendered by her organisation. “We are grateful to the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture for this wonderful support and with more of this kind of gestures; Ebola will soon be a thing of the past”.

Dr Fagade reinforced CNL’s commitment to Nigeria, especially in the aspects of economic and social development in the three thematic focus areas of health, education and economic development. He promised that the company will partner other stakeholders to ensure that the dreaded disease is contained and stopped from spreading in the country. “We have a very strategic ongoing approach to support the work of the Ebola team in Nigeria and we are collaborating with other stakeholders in the oil and gas sector of the Nigerian economy.” he said.

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS ENERGY

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

NNPC tackles Brass’, OKLNG’s problems, others

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HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is finding solutions to the troubled multi-billion dollar Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas (OKLNG), Brass LNG, and expediting action on the building of the NLNG Train 7 plant, which has been on the cards for years.

The construction of OKLNG suffered a setback when three major shareholders in the project pulled out. The project was conceived in 2007 by NNPC, British Gas (BG), Chevron and Shell. BG and Shell withdrew from the project in June 2012 and July, last year while Chevron

By Akinola Ajibade

withdrew in August, last year. With the withdrawal of these international oil companies (IOCs), NNPC is the only shareholder left in the project.

In 2012, ConocoPhillips, a major shareholder in Brass LNG, withdrew from the project and ever since, no significant progress has been made in the project. The Nigeria LNG Train 7 project has been on the table for a couple of years and yet the final investment decision (FID) is to be taken.

The Group Executive Director, Gas

and Power, NNPC, Dr David Ige, said the corporation was back to the table to see how it could bring these projects on course.

He said this was line with the government’s policy and strategy to create value in the gas sector and keep Nigeria’s share of global LNG market at 10 per cent.

Ige told The Nation, that the discussions were initiated to address problems, such as investments, regulatory and community issues, among others, facing the projects.

He said the projects were critical to the growth of the domestic and international

gas market, hence the decisions to address the problems. “We have concluded the exit of ConocoPhillps from Brass LNG. We have seen the exit of Chevron and Shell from Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas. We are back on the table to address all the problems hindering OKNLG, Brass LNG and Train 7 projects. On Train 7, stakeholders are working to move the project to the next stage. We are back on the table to identify the potentials in the three projects, and galvanise them for economic growth,” he said.

He also said the discussion would determine the government’s next action, adding that the projects are of great importance to the economy.

The General Manager, Development, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Bayo Ojulari, said: “We don’t have fiscal terms for deepwater gas. A country as big as this with all the resources, we don’t have a term for deepwater gas, which means that deepwater gas is being stifled because the policy we need to put in place to allow people to participate has not been

provided.”

Earlier, NNPC’s Group Managing Director, Joseph Thlama Dawha, said the development of the huge gas resources in the country’s offshore would help in fostering the energy sector’s growth.

“We are working on an integrated approach to ensure that much of the gas being found in deep offshore is made available for LNG projects, among others, so that the three LNG projects will be fed from that opportunity. ‘’We are working on a master plan to do this and we have commissioned consultants to look at that. Thirdly, we are committed to making sure that gas is available and affordable domestically.

“We have a necessity to ensure that all of these projects go ahead. That is a necessity mandated by the law. Whether it is Train 7 or Brass or OK LNG, we are consistently putting those projects forward because strategically, our policy towards LNG is to keep our market share up. So, strategically we are committed to that and as far as government policies are concerned, we will pursue this.”

‘Oil still dominates Nigeria’s export market’

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•Group Executive Director, Engineering & Technology, Adebayo Ibirogba (right), presenting a book to Dr. Yussuf, at the NNPC IT Forum in Abuja.

Forte Oil eyes strategic investments

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ITH the increasing competition in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, Forte Oil is focusing on some strategic investments that will enhance its opportunity to capture more share of the market and make more returns for its shareholders, it was learnt.

Its Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Akin Akinfemiwa, told The Nation during the launch of new 100 delivery trucks in Lagos that every investment the company makes is targeted at value creation having the shareholders’interest at heart.

Forte Oil used to be the market leader in terms of number of retail outlets, but Akinfemiwa he said the management doesn’t look at having the largest number of retail outlets, which add less to the balance sheet of the company but having less outlets that add the expected value.

“We are not looking at numbers of retail outlets; we are looking at the volume. What we are doing is that our acquisitions are strategic in the sense that there is no point having 700 filling stations that give maybe just one million litres; we rather have 500 stations that will give us two million litres. So, we look at strategic acquisitions that will give us volume because that will shorten our operating and maintenance costs,” he said.

He said the acquisition of the 100 delivery trucks will add positively to Forte Oil’s stock and bottomline. On how the acquisition will impact on the company’s stock’s price, he said: “Basically, we have

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

the confidence to bring in more customers because with an efficient and effective logistics, what we can do is to have that confidence to bring in more customers on board and also make that drive revenue. When it drives revenue, we are able to translate that into robust returns to our shareholders and of course when the dividends and returns are high obviously the share price will go up.”

On how the trucks would be managed, Akinfemiwa said the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) have roles to play but Forte Oil will still be in charge of the supply and distribution plan in order to meet customer satisfaction.

He said: “We have identified components of customer service delivery, which we are also committed to implement such but the way the downstream works is that we have the owners and the operators.

“Operators are the NARTO and PTD. In terms of distribution, it is what we tell them to distribute that will be distributed. So we are still in charge of own supply and distribution plan, which is driven basically by customer service or request of the customer. It is the request of the customer that goes into own supply schedule and we advise the logistic operators and they carry out what we advised.”

He also said because health and safety is a key component of the

company’s transformation strategy, the management appointed a tested and competent operator in the industry, PSL, a skills development firm, to train the drivers that will drive the trucks. The firm is giving the drivers who have been recruited adequate training that will guarantee not only the safety of lives but also the safety of the trucks on the road, he added.

As part of the strategic investment programme, Akinfemiwa said Forte is carrying out tremendous renovation on Geregu Power Plant, which it acquired last year. He said: “On the power investment, we have awarded the contract to Siemens at approximately $90 million for the major overhaul of the Geregu Power Plant. Once the major overhaul is carried out and also the inception of the Transition Electricity Market, power will contribute about 40 per cent to the company’s revenue. It is something that we look forward to as a business and it is something that is expected to drive our revenue and ultimately shareholders returns or value.

“The overhaul has started and will take approximately 18 months. Geregu was bought as almost a brand new plant; there is no need for expansion but we want to consolidate on what we have to be able to get the kind of result we expect.

“The value of these 100 trucks put together is about N2.5 billion and this is the first batch. The second batch, which will also be 100, is expected to cost N2.5 billion bringing the total investment on delivery trucks to N5 billion.”

IGERIA’S export market is still dominated by crude oil despite an appreciable improvement in the non-oil export, the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Olusegun Awolowo, has said.

Nigeria is the world’s seventh biggest crude exporter. The country sustains its economy through oil, deriving a substantial amount of its capital expenditure from the product.

Awolowo, who spoke at a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos, said oil is Nigeria’s biggest product for export, given the fact that Nigeria has huge crude reserves. However, he said the government has shown its readiness to increase the non-oil sector for growth.

He said the country realised $2.970 billion from non-oil export in 2013, a 15.9 per cent increase over the non-oil export proceeds in 2012.

He said the non-oil export potential had not been fully exploited. Besides, Nigeria is endowed with natural resources, including solid minerals and agriculture, he said, adding that some of the chal-

By Akinola Ajibade

lenges facing the non-oil sector are infrastructure, energy, finance, skills, security and capacity.

He said: “The non-export challenges in Nigeria are infrastructural deficiency, poor standardisation of products, high cost of production, falsification of documents, weak linkages to chain supply, unwholesome trade practices, and exports dominated by primary products. Others are inability to meet export orders and restricted access to credit and trademark.’’

He said for Nigeria to position itself effectively in the global market, its goods for export must meet the competitiveness and standards required. He said the country must identify international benchmarks, invest in skills, technology and innovation, provide conducive and stable export policy and environment to be able to compete well.

Awolowo said there was no better time than now to critically address issues that would enhance the development and promotion of the country’s non-oil export.

Dawha urges workers on innovation

T

HE Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Joseph Dawha, has challenged the Information Technology Division of the Corporation to evolve ideas and strategies to support the management’s three-point agenda.

He challenged the staff at the corporation’s IT knowledge sharing and direction setting workshop in Abuja.

He said NNPC in the short term would focus on three key areas of ramping up production by its upstream subsidiary, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) to 250,000 barrels of crude oil daily; boosting gas supply and expanding gas infrastructure to enhance availability of gas for power generation and feedstock for gas-based industries; and driving performance management and improving core processes to instill a culture of performance and boost productivity.

Dawha, who was represented by the Group Executive Director, Business Development, Dr. Attahiru Yussuf, urged the Division to be proactive in generating ideas and deploying cutting-edge technologies that could promote the efficient and speedy achieve-

ment of the three key short-term objectives of management.

“I urge you to re-equip yourselves in order to play a leading role in accelerating change across the entire Corporation. To lead this transformation, our IT executives must re-imagine their roles by seeing themselves – and encouraging others to see them – as chief executives of an information business.

“Like any chief executive, our IT leadership should bring vision, direction, and organisation to NNPC’s big data investment priorities. That means engaging internal customers on their biggest challenges while attracting the best talents and suppliers; most importantly, it means being accountable for execution and results,” Dawha said.

He said he anticipates “firm decisions on five levers that are required to step up the impact of IT in NNPC to enable us achieve the above corporate aspirations.”

He listed the five levers to include: effective IT governance; availability and stability of connectivity; supportive technology adoption programme; pace of technology assimilation capacity; and consistent use of proven methodology.

52

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

ENERGY

Heirs Holdings to increase power supply to 1000mw

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HE Tony Elumelu’s pan-African investment vehicle, Heirs Holdings, one of the investors that bought the privatised successor companies unbundled from the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), has said it will generate a quarter of Nigeria’s power consumption needs in the next five years.

Heirs Holdings’ interests in the power sector include the Transcorp Ughelli Power, a thermal power plant, which it acquired last year under the privatisation programme of the Federal Government.

A senior official of the company, who told The Nation about Heirs Holdings’ plan to embark on mass power generation through the expansion of the Transcorp Ughelli Power, said the industry is a catalytic sector, and the development of the country and that the continent cannot happen without fixing it.

He described the United States’ Power Africa Initiative as an amazing opportunity to democratise access to power for Africans, adding that Heirs Holdings’ $2.5 billion investment and commitment to the initiative reflects

From Nduka Chiejina (Assistant Editor), Abuja

how excited the management of the company is about it.

The administration, he noted, made a bold decision when it decided to effect changes envisaged by the Power Sector Reform Act that had been on the books since 2005.

The source noted that the government’s bold step was reinforced during President Barack Obama’s last visit to Africa. We felt more strongly than ever, the need to help power Africa, the official added.

The source said: “Our experience so far at Ughelli power plant is a testimony to the size of the opportunity. Our team has taken that plant from 150MW capacity, when we took over in November 2013, to 450MW today; we expect it to increase to 700MW by October and to achieve 1000MW by the second quarter of 2015. At that rate, we’ll be contributing 20 per cent of Nigeria’s total power generation.”

Furthermore, he said, the firm was working on a Greenfield project that would expand the capacity of Ughelli by 1000MW in

the next five years and that they had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the General Electric (GE) and Symbion Power to facilitate the deal.

The official identified unreliable transmission infrastructure, access to uninterrupted gas supply and timely settlement of invoiced payments as three main challenges to the power sector.

He said: “In Nigeria, one of the biggest challenges to power generation is transmission and in fact, while Ughelli Power Plant generated at full capacity for the first time in July, we’ve been asked to scale down generation because of the outdated transmission system; for every 100MW generated and sent to transmission company, 40 per cent is lost, partly due to this infrastructure issue.”

While regulation is not a key challenge, the official said it was an issue in the sector that if addressed, could speed up growth.

“We need pragmatic regulation that recognises that in Nigeria, the sector is nascent and so policies must be designed to encourage growth. In fairness, the Federal Government is confronting these challenges head on,” he added.

•Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Joseph T. Dawha (left) in a hand shake with Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu at the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters in Abuja, when the two collaborate to enhance exploration in Chad Basin.

IPMAN seeks govt’s intervention in kerosene, HE Independent Petroleum illegal collections, and which Marketers Association of diesel supply were were not accounted for.

Nigeria (IPMAN) has called

T

on the Federal Government to intervene in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry to ensure adequate supply of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) popularly called kerosene and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) commonly called diesel, to avert scarcity.

IPMAN’s Chairman, Mosimi depot, Comrade Dele Tajudeen, made the request during a meeting of the association at Mosimi, Sagamu, Ogun State.

He told reporters that while premium motor spirit (PMS) - petrol - is available at the depot and is distributed to the members’ filling stations, kerosene and diesel don’t get to the depots.

He said the absence of storage facilities for kerosene at Atlas Cove makes it impossible for the product to be transported to Mosimi depot for distribution.

Tajudeen also said the association was not opposed to deregulation of petroleum product but before then, the Petroleum Industry

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

Bill (PIB) must be passed to ensure a level playing ground for stakeholders.

Tajudeen, while reacting to the allegation of misappropriated N500 million by IPMAN, said the allegation was baseless. “The association did not make N500million in turnover and there is no way it could have been misappropriated. Although they did not have legal standing to have access to our account, where did they get such figures? We will sue them for libel if they cannot substantiate their claims with evidence.”

A faction of IPMAN led by Adeleke Dada alleged that the Dele Tajudeen-led faction misappropriated N500 million belonging to the IPMAN. Dada said: “They misappropriated about N500million during their tenure because they made about N10 million per month from all of the unnecessary levies, which

“During the period of fuel scarcity, the government did not increase the price of petroleum, it was their administration that increased the price in their own capacity to the rate of N110 per litre, which is very wrong, the government didn’t tell them to increase it.

“We had enough of the product in Mosimi depot, so, whenever there is scarcity, they used that opportunity to hike fuel price so as to enrich their pockets, which was not good on the masses. We are going to call on the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe them because they embezzled the unnecessary levies that were paid to them.”

However, Tajudeen said the meeting was to sensitise the members on the forthcoming election scheduled to hold on October 15, having been elected into office in 2010.

He said all parties are invited to participate in the election to move the association forward.

T

Sector lacks engineers, NAPTIN chief

HE Director-General, National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), Rueben Okeke, has decried the dearth of qualified engineers in the power sector.

Speaking during a conference in Lagos, Okeke said there is shortage of manpower in the sector following the sack of 60 per cent of workers of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) by private investors this year.

He said many of the workers were sacked due to old age, though many of them were good. He said the development made the government to recruit more engineers to fill the gap in the industry.

Okeke said NAPTIN has graduated 241 engineers since 2012, adding that more engineers would be trained to handle the technical and critical component areas in the electricity industry.

He said: “The sector is far from having enough trained engineers to man the huge expansion that we have in Nigeria today. From the manpower planning, which we did in 2012 to sup-

By Akinola Ajibade

port 20,000 megawatts (MW) of power, you will require no fewer than 6,750 engineers. And you will be looking at 17,441 technical personnel to support the planned 20,000MW generation.

“Since the inception of NAPTIN in 2009 to 2012, we only trained those that were already in the sector; that is, existing workers. But from 2012 to date, we have graduated 241 engineers. These are fresh engineers from the university who have completed their National Youth Service Corps.

“And we have in enrolment 336 and these ones should be graduating in October, this year. We have another set supported by SURE-P, 220 in number; they were inducted in April this year.

They will graduate by March, next year.

We have about 520 engineers recruited by the Transmission Company of Nigeria. So, if you check these figures, we will only have about 1,140 plus. The existing personnel, that is, the old engineers in the industry who keep the industry working, are less than 1,500 across the country.’’

BASF buys oil, gas assets from Statoil

B

ASF's oil and gas arm has agreed to buy assets from Norway's Statoil for $1.25 billion, diversifying energy supplies for Germany's biggest chemical maker as relations between Europe and Russia worsen.

According to Bloomberg, BASF's Wintershall is acquiring a share in two producing fields, two development projects, the Polarled pipeline project and a share in four exploration licenses, the Ludwigshafen, Germanybased company said.

Wintershall's daily production in Norway will increase 50 percent to about 60,000 barrels of oil equivalent.

The Norwegian deal will make BASF, Germany's largest industrial user of gas, less reliant on supplies from Russia as the U.S. and European Union ratchet up sanctions in response to the conflict in Ukraine. An asset swap with OAO Gazprom (OGZD), agreed to in 2012 and expected to close soon, was set to boost Russia's share of BASF's supply to more than half the total.

"With domestic production in Europe, we are strengthening the European supply security. We want to become one of the leading oil and gas companies in Norway."Rainer Seele, chief executive officer of Wintershall, has said.

The EU is concerned about the reliability of gas supply from Russia because of the Ukraine crisis and the resulting sanctions. EON SE, Germany's largest utility, said earlier this week it sees "minor supply limitations" from

Russia's Gazprom, which also limited natural gas flows to Poland.

The Statoil transaction will be financially effective retroactively to Jan 1, BASF said. A further payment of $50 million will be made if the field development project is executed according to plan.

Two years ago, the world's largest chemical maker paid Statoil $1.35 billion for stakes in oil and gas sites that helped it boost North Sea output more than 10 fold.

"With the acquisition of these shares in oil and gas fields, we are continuing on our growth course in Norway and intensifying the cooperation with our partner Statoil," said Kurt Bock, chief executive officer of BASF. For Statoil, the deal fits into a strategy of reducing investment plans as the company seeks to increase shareholder returns amid rising costs and stagnating energy prices. The deal with Wintershall will reduce the company's investment commitments by $1.8 billion until 2020, it said in a separate statement.

Statoil, which has said it will continue to sell assets in the future as it becomes increasingly selective on projects, has gotten proceeds from the sale of offshore fields and downstream assets of about $20 billion since 2010.

The 67 percent state-owned Norwegian company is also deploying an efficiency programme aimed at reducing annual costs by $1.3 billion by 2016.

Saudi output drops, OPEC cuts demand forecast

T

OP oil exporter Saudi Arabia reduced its oil output in August by 400,000 barrels per day (bpd), a cutback coinciding with a drop in oil prices and cut in OPEC’s oil demand projection.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in its monthly oil market report cut its forecasts for demand for OPEC crude this year and next, pointing to a supply surplus of more than one million bpd in 2015 if it keeps output at current levels.

According to Hellenicshippingnews, oil prices have slid due to concern about weakening demand and ample supplies, raising the question of whether Saudi Arabia, holder of the world’s largest spare output capacity, will curb output.

Brent crude fell below $100 last week for the first time in 14 months.

Saudi Arabia supported by Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, has boosted supply informally to cover

for unplanned outages in other OPEC members in recent months including in Libya, which is now seeing its production recover.

Saudi Arabia told OPEC that it produced 9.597 million bpd last month, down from 10.005 million bpd in July.

Still, analysts noted its output often falls when domestic demand for air conditioning declines from its summer peak and lower production does not necessarily mean lower exports.

“I think we can be pretty sure the Saudis are cutting,” said Samuel Ciszuk, analyst at the Swedish energy agency. “But maybe the crude burning has come down a bit and I’m sceptical that they have reduced exports by as much as 400,000 bpd.”

So far, OPEC officials have not expressed a pressing concern about the drop in prices, seeing it as a temporary dip and predicting prices will rise as higher seasonal demand kicks in due to colder weather.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

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54

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

25-07-14 DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 15-09-14

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 15-09-14

Market rebounds as Dangote, Union Bank top gainers list

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HE bulls resurfaced yesterday at the Nigerian bourse after trading predominantly in negative territory last week, with the NSE-ASI gaining 24bps to close at 40,769.00 points.

Incidentally, gains in bellwethers stocks — Dangote Cement (2.3%), Union Bank (5.0%) and ETI (2.6%) with a cumulative weight of 32.0% in the ASI drove the index higher.

Compared to weekend’s performance, market activity levels measured by aggregate volume and value surged by 727.5% and 1605.8% to 2.1bn and N47.7bn respectively, due in part to Qatar National Bank’s (QNB) purchase of an 11.0% stake in ETI which commenced yesterday.

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

Meanwhile, the Oil and Gas Index led sector losses shedding approximately 2.2% against the backdrop of selloffs in Forte Oil (5.0%), Japaul Oil (1.9%) and Eterna Oil (1.6%). In the same vein, the Banking Index waned 1.1% - majorly due to profit taking in Sterling Bank (4.8%), GTB (3.1%) and Fidelity (2.5%). Similarly, selling pressures resumed in the Consumer Goods Index today after Friday’s marginal rebound. Notably, the Consumer Goods index shed 0.3% with Dangote Sugar (4.9%), Honeywell (0.7%) and Nigerian Brewery (0.6%) leading losses within the basket.

Conversely and in line with

our expectation, bargain hunting resumed in the Industrial Sector. The NSE Industrial index advanced 1.7% with Ashaka Cement (3.0%) and Dangote Cement (2.3%) leading gains within the sector.

Market breadth closed negative (0.7x Advancers/ Decliners ratio; 26 gainers Vs 39 losers’). At the close of trading, Ikeja Hotel (9.9%), Vono (9.5%) and Premier Breweries (5.0%) paced gains, while Forte Oil (5.0%), Dangote Sugar (5.0%) and Sterling Bank (5.0%) topped the market laggards. The modest uptrend in the equities market today was broadly in line with our expectation of bargain hunting in the market, especially within the Industrial sector.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

55

MONEYLINK cardholders Qatar National Bank raises stake UBA promisesVerve e-cash rewards in Ecobank with $283m U Q ATAR National Bank (QNB), yesterday, acquired 11 per cent additional stake in Ecobank Transnational Incorporated with $283 million fresh investment.

In a statement, the company said the acquisition of an additional holding of 11 per cent brings its holdings in Ecobank to 2,047,877,260 ordinary shares.

QNB Group had last week acquired 2.5 per cent stake in Ecobank and with the additional stakes, the bank said its total stake in Ecobank is now 23.5 per cent.

The statement read in part: “The cost of this additional holding is equivalent to $283 million. Today’s (yesterday’s) acquisition was funded through existing resources and QNB will account for Ecobank as an Associate in accordance with International

By Lucas Ajanaku

Financial Reporting Standards.”

According to the statement, QNB Capital and Morgan Stanley are acting as financial advisors to QNB in relation to the transaction. “This enables QNB Group to become the largest shareholder whilst strengthening the partnership with Ecobank, a leading pan-African bank and is a fundamental step towards QNB’s strategy of being a (Middle East & Africa) MEA Icon by 2017,” the statement added.

Ecobank is one of the top three banks (by assets) in 14 of the countries in which Ecobank is present. As at June this year, Ecobank had $23.4billion of assets and had generated $255million of profit before tax for the six months ended June 30, this

year.

The bank operates across its unique network of 1,241 branches, 2,500 automated teller machines (ATMs) and 16,245 point of sale (PoS) terminals servicing over 10.8 million customers.

According to the statement, with 20,114 employees, Ecobank is the largest employer in the financial sector industry in Middle Africa, the statement indicated.

The QNB Group said its ambition of being a MEA Icon by 2017, has been brought closer to realisation through the potential opportunities and commercial benefits resulting from the partnership with Ecobank.

“This move further consolidates the growth strategy pursued by The QNB Group over recent years,” the statement added.

Sterling Bank disburses cash via Facebook, Twitter

S

TERLING Bank Plc has again set a standard in online transactions with the disbursement of quick cash to over 2,000 online customers under the Social Lender Scheme.

The lender, which launched the scheme two months ago, said it received over 3000 applications out of which 2000 have been processed.

Social lender is a peer-to-peer lending solution using Twitter and Facebook social media channels, which play a significant role in influencing decision making among young Nigerians.

The scheme according to a statement from the bank, is open to all Sterling Bank Account holders with provisions made for non-account holders to apply through the Sterling Bank Mobile Money application.

The bank’s Group Head, Strategy & Communications, Shina Atilola, explained that users who make requests via the Social Lender website are rated by the algorithm that calculates their social reputation using various criteria, Based on this, the request is either granted or rejected.

He explained: “As a bank, we cannot overlook the importance of Social Media in today’s society and the increasing role it plays in the lives of people on a daily basis. This new line of service has put Sterling Bank in a vantage position to sustain its position as an organisation that understands the needs of its customers and leverages relevant platforms to proffer innovative solutions which in return enriches their lives”.

Atilola, who assured that the bank

NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc in partnership with Verve International has launched an offer tagged “UBA Verve Rewards” in which Cardholders could win ecash, free airtime, Nokia mobile phones and up to N35,000 cash-back Cardholders who use their UBA issued Verve cards to initiate a minimum of five Point of Sale (POS) or value-added service transactions on Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) worth N1, 000 or more stand a chance to win N1,000 airtime.

Those that carry out transactions worth N2, 000 or more on these channels stand a chance to win N3, 000 airtime plus mobile phones.

A statement from the lender said value-added Services on an ATM occurs where the bank’s customers use the ATM to pay for transactions like phone bills, cable television bills or transfer funds from their UBA bank account to another.

It said a minimum of 40 custom-

Firm invests N1b to modify mills

H •Sterling Bank CEO Yemi Adeola

will continue to introduce innovative ways to ensure the empowerment of Nigerians irrespective of their social status, said he was impressed by the attitude of beneficiaries who have been faithful with their repayments.

ONEYWELL Flour Mills Plc has invested about N1 billion to modify its mills for increased cassava flour inclusion in support of the Federal Government’s Agriculture Transformation Agenda.

Its Managing Director/CEO, Lanre Jaiyeola said the company is also exploring viable backward integration options to further boost cassava flour availability in demonstration of its belief in and support for the initiative.

Speaking ahead of the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) holding today in Lagos, he urged the Federal Government to provide palliatives to encourage increased investment in cassava growing, pro-

Offer Price

AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND

168.45 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.69 1.39 1,676.09 1,118.84 121.30 121.16 1,117.51 1.2526 1.2909 0.8897 1.0796

• UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

Bid Price 167.01 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.69 1.33 1,676.09 1,118.03 120.45 120.30 1,116.70 1.2439 1.2909 0.8725 1.0796

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

CADBURY 35.31 (55.01)

CHANGE

Foreign Reserves

55.01

19.70

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

C/PRICE

0.14

VONO

1.05

1.15

0.10

PREMBREW

4.22

4.43

Yen

1.4876

1.4975

CFA

0.294

0.314

234.7445

236.2616

Yuan/Renminbi

25.1466

25.31

1.03

ASHAKACEM

32.31

33.29

0.98

1.38

1.42

0.04

LOSERS AS AT 15-09-14

CHANGE

15.18

-3.80

1.30(1.08)

1.08

-0.22

ABCTRANS

0.77(0.70)

0.67

-0.10

JBERGER

70.39 (63.99) 63.99

-6.40

FO

235.60

223.82

258.1225

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

34.95

0.53

256.465

169.9367

33.92

0.58

Pounds Sterling

168.8455

PZ

70.40 (64.00) 64.00

$110.44

Swiss Franc

0.02

ROYALEX

155.73

N17.2 trillion

0.55

FLOURMILL

154.73

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

0.53

NEIMETH

US Dollar

0.21 0.21

C/PRICE

$39.6b

205.4857

0.48

O/PRICE

Selling (N)

204.1662

4.55

18.98(15.18)

Buying (N)

Euro

10.75

SYMBOL

Currency

N15.9 trillion.

4.34

UAC PROP

Amount Sold in ($) 346.43m 398.77m 349.67m

Money Supply (M2)

10.27

MAYBAKER

Amount Offered in ($) 350m 400m 350m

CBN EXCHANGE RATES September 2, 2014

12.0%

1.56

INTENEGINS

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Monetary Policy Rate

1.42

UBN

Transaction Dates 27/08/2014 25/08/2014 20/08/2014

8.3%

IKEJAHOTEL

REDSTAREX

RETAIL DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (RDAS)

Inflation: July

GAINERS AS AT 15-09-14

cessing and utilisation.

He revealed that there is better understanding and collaboration between flour millers and the ministry of agriculture on the cassava initiative; he hopes this is sustained for successful implementation of this initiative.

Jaiyeola said works has commenced on the firm’s 63-hectres land in Sagamu, Ogun State in preparation for the construction of the factory buildings. He confirmed that the project is on course for completion and start of commercial production within the next 24 months. This is expected to notch up the company’s top and bottom line to provide better returns to our shareholders.

DATA BANK

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

ers, who on a monthly basis, initiate a minimum of five POS or web transactions worth N10, 000 or more would win N5, 000 top up on their e-Cash account.

A grand reward of monthly cash back of N35, 000 will be won by 10 cardholders who initiate transactions at any Verve Reward Merchant location valued at a minimum of N2, 000 or more.

The promotion has created excitement among UBA customers with many of them using or reactivating their Verve Cards to stand a chance of winning the attractive prizes on offer.

Speaking on the promotion, CEO Verve International, Charles Ifedi, expressed his delight in partnering with UBA to reward new and existing Verve cardholders.

“We are always looking for ways to improve our offer and encourage card pick-up and usage so that everyone can benefit from a cashless society,” he said.

NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

Tenor

-11.78

NIG-GERMAN

7.36

7.00

-0.36

DANGSUGAR

8.80

8.37

-0.43

STERLNBANK

2.30

2.19

-0.11

WAUA

Rate (%)

Rate (%)

Overnight (O/N)

10.500

10.500

Riyal

41.2558

41.5225

1M

12.175

12.101

SDR

235.0039

236.5227

3M

13.328

13.225

6M

14.296

14.-85

FOREX RATES

-6.40 -0.05

16.5%

R-DAS ($/N)

157.29

157.29

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

162.75

Parallel ($/N)

167.50

167.50

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

Rates

T-bills - 91

10.00

T-bills - 182

10.07

T-bills - 364

10.22

Bond - 3yrs

11.37

Bond - 5yrs

11.41

Bond - 7yrs

11.86

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

56

NEWS 2015: Ohanaeze to decide Sept 29 From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

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HE apex Igbo sociocultural organisation, Ohanaeze, will on September 29 decide on its presidential candidate.

The decision will be taken at the Igbo day celebration at the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, Anambra State.

Chairman of the organising committee Chris Eluemunoh said Ndigbo would review the 100 years of amalgamation, the role of Ndigbo in Nigeria past, present and future and the way forward.

He said seven governors would attend the ceremony, including Igbo sons and daughters in Nigeria and Diaspora.

Businessman kidnapped in Abia From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

A

BUSINESSMAN, Mbah Emeh, has been kidnapped in Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State.

It was gathered that the victim’s Toyota Highlander was recovered by the police at Umule on the outskirts of Aba. Sources said the abductors have demanded N10million, but no family member could be reached for comments.

Commissioner of Police Adamu Ibrahim was also unavailable.

Traders protest levy From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

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OMEN traders at the popular Eke Awka market in Anambra State marched on the market yesterday to protest an alleged levy by a factional leader.

The factions are led by Emeka Jude Agumadu and Nze Christian Igwebuike Chinwuko.

Their leader, Mrs. Chinwe Ezeigwe, told reporters yesterday that the women decided to carry out a peaceful protest to reject a levy being imposed on them by a factional leader in the market.

Mrs. Ezeigwe is also the Anambra State market women’s leader.

“Our protest is to let the women and even men in the market know that the levy is a fraud, and that we will not pay it.”

•Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha (fourth left) in a group photograph with Hon. Justice Ibrahim Auta (fifth right), Deputy Governor Eze Madumere (fouth left), Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Chukwuma Machukwu Umeh (SAN) and others during a function at the Government House, Owerri

Ohakim under fire for comments on Okorocha F

OR challenging Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha to a public debate, former Governor Ikedi Ohakim has come under severe attacks from the government.

The former governor challenged Okorocha to a public debate, where he said their individual achievements would be xrayed by the people.

In a statement by Okorocha’s Senior Special Assistant on Media Sam Onwuemeodo, the government said the former governor “talks without exhibiting any iota of respect for

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

the office he once occupied for four years”.

“Since Ohakim joined the governorship race, he has apparently made repeated media attacks on Governor Rochas Okorocha the crux of his ambition. But as a responsible government, we had skipped reacting to his attacks.

“We don’t bother ourselves about such claim. If the PDP believes he is the only one who can defeat

Okorocha in 2015, let the party give him the ticket, and we’ll live to see how it goes.

“The former governor has talked much about his projects which the current administration has abandoned. We also want to exercise caution in talking about a former governor and what he did and what he didn’t do.

“The truth of the matter is that Ohakim served Imo people for four years as governor to the best of his abil-

PENGASSAN, NNPC meeting deadlocked

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HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) arm of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) are to shut down NNPC branches nationwide as from today. This followed a deadlock in their ongoing meeting in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, with the management of the Corporation and officials of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

A statement by spokesperson of PENGASSAN, Comrade Babatunde Oke,

•Strike begins midnight

By Chikodi Okereocha

said that the deadline issued the NNPC management to address the Union’s demands on Friday expired midnight yesterday.

Oke said that the Union’s demands for approval and adequate funding of the pension system, as well as embarking on Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of refineries and restoration of crude to refineries, have not been met by NNPC management.

However, the management of NNPC on Monday assured members of staff and the general public that it was

taking steps to avert the looming industrial action by the Corporation’s arm of NUPENG and PENGASSAN, it said the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) had given a 12-month window for the Corporation to comply with the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014 as amended.

PENCOM had earlier directed the Corporation to “immediately take all necessary steps to transit to the Contributory Pension Scheme under the PRA. In a fresh directive dated 15 September 2014, PENCOM stated: “In order to accommodate your concerns, the Com-

INEC yet to create additional polling units

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HE Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Attahiru Jega has said the commission is yet to create additional polling units (PUs).

Jega in a statement explained that the commission had only approved the framework and guidelines to facilitate the creation of additional 30,027 polling units by the Resident Electoral Commissioner and the INEC State offices.

Refuting alleged disproportion in the

ity and Rochas Okorocha is also doing so, to the best of his ability.

“And it is not for Ohakim and Okorocha to begin to score themselves. Only Imo people and Nigerians of goodwill can do that to make it creditable.

“We challenge the former governor to tell Nigerians, if he would have tolerated all these insults and abuses when he was governor. The governor tolerates such insults and abuses because he said his administration has brought into Imo a new lease of freedom.”

distribution of the polling units, Jega said “the need factor” more than political sentiments informed the pattern of distribution of the Pus that we are creating.

He said “the Commission took the view that no state should lose any polling unit as a result of this exercise because it would be unrealistic to reduce the number of polling units from any state, notwithstanding the fact they had exceeded their numbers. Thus these states were allowed to retain their excess polling units”.

The Commission, he said, went on to give further relief to such states by providing that 15 per cent of the 30,027 additional polling units be distributed equally across all states, including the states that had already exceeded their numbers’ “This s in the spirit that each state have, no matter how small,some additional polling unitsduring this exercise, in order to cater for new settlements, due to demographic shifts. As a result, even the states that had exceeded their numbers,

received additional 121 polling units over and abovetheir retained excess.

“The motive of INEC in restructuring the existing polling units and creating more is sincere and well intentioned.

The Commission implores all Nigerians to set aside primordial sentiments and view the exercise with dispassion and patriotism, taking into account the lofty objectives that the new structure of polling units is intended to achieve.”

mission hereby grants the NNPC a transition period of 12 months within which to ensure full compliance with the provisions of the PRA 2014,” a statement by NNPC’s Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division, Ohi Alegbe, said.

The Corporation appealed to the leadership of the industrial unions to exercise restraint while it embarks on extensive engagement with PENCOM to resolve the issues. The NNPC noted that since the commencement of the scheme in 2006, the management and its staff have made a lot of sacrifices to maintain the existing scheme and any premature cancellation of the scheme may lead to avoidable labour disaffection across board.

While acknowledging the existence of some funding gaps in the scheme, the Corporation informed stakeholders that measures have since been put in place to steadily bridge the funding deficit, which stood at N298 billion in 2010 and has now been provisionally reduced to N85 billion as at June, 2014. The statement stated that NNPC is in the process of transferring additional real estate property valued at several billions of naira to the scheme which is currently before the NNPC board for approval.

‘Elections in Nigeria should count’

By Evelyn Osagie

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CLERIC, Pastor Kingsley Innocent, has said to prevent rigging in next year’s elections, Nigerians should come out to vote en-masse.

The Senior Pastor of the Bible Believing Mission Incorporated with headquarters in Abia State advised Nigerians to ensure they choose the right leaders by protecting their votes He urged voters to shun the freebies and deception of some politicians, saying such do not mean well for the country.

Innocent said: “Next year, Nigerians should be decisive. They should make up their minds and come out en-masse and choose their leaders. Elections in Nigeria should count.

“If we all come out enmasse and insist there is no rigging at each polling centre, there won’t be rigging.

Firm holds business leaders’ forum

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IRM, Service Desk Limited, has introduced a bi-monthly networking event for top executives and entrepreneurs, known as The Business Leader Forum (TBLF).

In a statement, it said the initiative aims to bring together entrepreneurs and business owners for the purpose of networking and sharing successful business ideas.

Service Desk said the first TBLF was held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry on August 9, during which participants gained insight on running businesses successfully in Nigeria.

There was also a practical session in which participants honed their business and entrepreneurial skills, while learning about specific areas of interest.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

57

NEWS

Crisis hits Edo PDP over zoning

PDP loses 2,000 members to Edo APC From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

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VER 2,000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo

State.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who received the defectors, led by Eronmosele Aisabor, said the government has upgraded the College of Education, Igueben, to a campus of the University of Education, Ekiadolor.

“I have come to assure you in the next two years and half of my stewardship, there is more good news for the people of Igueben. The future of our state would be replaced from the politics of wuru wuru to the politics of educating our people. That is why we are building schools. We need teachers who are properly trained to teach our children.

“Don’t listen to them when they tell you to defect to a torn umbrella that has failed to produce any meaningful development in years. Did the umbrella build schools, roads and water? So ask before you act.

“I call on you to listen so that we can rescue Nigeria. I won’t listen to anybody who wants me to do the politics of the individual rather than politics of development. I would not listen to these people because Nigeria is failing as leaders are putting themselves before their people.

“Today, we have not fixed all the problems in Edo State but I stand to be corrected that when I came here for campaign in 2007, to go from Igueben to Ewohimi was impossible.

“Every road in Igueben was bad. It was already failing.

Today, how is that road? Who did it? What is good the eyes see and what is bad the eyes also see.”

Aisabor said he decided to pitch his tent with the APC because of the development undertaken by the government in the state.

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HERE is disarray in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, following the alleged zoning of elective offices ahead of next year’s general election.

It was learnt that three PDP lawmakers from Edo Central have threatened to leave, if the party failed to provide a level playing field for all aspirants.

Senator Odion Ugbesia, Patrick Ikhariale (Esan Central/West/Igueben Constituency) and Friday Itulah(Esan North East/Esan South East Constituency) are seeking reelection after the expiration of their second term at the Na-

•Lawmakers threaten to leave party From Osagie Otabor, Benin

tional Assembly.

Itulah earlier spent eight years at the House of Assembly.

It was gathered that the zoning arrangement in Edo Central by a senatorial caucus of the party did not favour the three lawmakers.

A statement by the PDP Edo Central senatorial secretary, Richard Okosun, after the caucus meeting at Uromi, showed that the Edo Central senatorial seat was zoned to the old Okpebho Local Government

Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio presenting a souvenir to the Commissioner of Police, Paul Achong, at the Governor’s Office, Uyo.

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

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‘We didn’t endorse Wike’

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GROUP, the Opobo Patriots, has denied endorsing Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike for governor.

The group, in a statement by Charles Mietamuno Jaja and Ibim Joseph Ogolo, said: “As bona fide members of the organisation, we know that the purported endorsement is a grand forgery concocted by the junior minister and his cohorts to hoodwink, confuse and enlist the unmerited support of the club members and the public.

“We would like to state that as a deliberate club policy, the Opobo Patriots has never forayed into politics. That remains the club’s position till date.

“However, should the need arise for the club to consider endorsing anyone for governor, such a decision will be guided by such principles as character, capacity, consistency, equity, justice, fairness, loyalty and patriotism.”

I didn’t charter plane to Miami, says Oshiomhole From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has denied allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that he spent N18million to charter a jet to Miami, United States of America.

Oshiomhole said the PDP state Chairman, Dan Orbih, had a penchant for making what he termed “ludicrous claims”.

Orbih at the weekend alleged that the government spent over N400million to attend the Edo Convention in USA. But the governor, who spoke through the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Louis Odion, said he travelled on a commercial airline to honour Edo Community in the US. Odion said:”Anyone who bothers to double-check would find that Governor Oshiomhole is perhaps one of the few governors today who travel with the smallest entourage, if not totally alone, to save cost.

“By his latest claim, we are left wondering what Orbih’s motive is. Whatever it is, one thing is clear. Orbih, a poor student of history, is obviously against building and cementing the bond of unity in Edo State.”

“Otherwise, Orbih, sworn apostle of divide-and-rule politics, would not have dared this time to profane something as sacred as the coming together of all Edo people in United States when indeed proud and true Edo sons like Comrade Oshiomhole are toiling tirelessly to unite the people.”

He said: “It is a nullity. Let us meet at the primaries to decide who represents the zone.”

The three lawmakers were said to have stormed the home of the state Chairman, Dan Orbih, to express their displeasure.

It was learnt that the crisis was further fueled by an alleged automatic return ticket for nine PDP lawmakers in the Assembly.

Petrol station sealed off From Osagie Otabor, Benin

Nine killed in Rivers’ cult clash INE persons have been killed in Ibaa, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, following renewed cult activities in the area.

Police spokesman Ahmad Muhammad confirmed the incident yesterday in a text message to our reporter.

Muhammad said: “Nine people were killed. The suspects are in police custody. My men are there. They visited the community yesterday morning to assess the situation.”

Eyewitnesses said there was a supremacy battle among members of Islanders, Dewell and Degbam groups.

A victim’s brother, Anthony Davies, said his brother was shot while trying to escape.

“My brother is not a cult member, when we heard gunshots that morning, he was frightened. One of the killers called him by name the next thing I heard was the sound of a gun, he bled for 30minuts before he died.”

A community leader, Francis Woke, said the cult groups resumed their hostility after a cult member was murdered.

Area as against old Agbazilo, where Senator Ugbesia hails from.

The statement said the seat of Ikhariale, who hails from Esan Central, was zoned to Esan West or Igueben; Itulah’s was zoned to Esan South East.

The motion for the zoning arrangement was said to have been moved by Tony Aziegbemin and endorsed by a voice vote.

Ugbesia’s twin brother, Akhere, said the zoning arrangement by the caucus meeting was an arrangement by a senatorial aspirant.

PETROL station belonging to a major marketer in Benin City, Edo State, has been sealed off by the Petroleum Monitoring Committee for allegedly selling adulterated fuel.

The station dealer and fuel attendants were arrested.

Some motorists, including an aide of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Tony Kakaka, were said to have complained about the fuel sold at the station after their vehicles became faulty after refuelling.

At the petrol station, an inscription, “Bad fuel”, was written on the wall.

Chairman of the Monitoring Committee Soni Idahagbon said investigations were still on.

He said officials are testing the remaining products.

Itsekiri youths reject 500 amnesty slots

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FACTION of the Itsekiri National Youth Council (INYC), led by Esimaje Awani, has rejected the 500 slots allotted to the Itsekiri by the Presidential Amnesty Office.

Addressing hundreds of Itsekiri youths yesterday at the front of the palace of the Olu of Warri, Awani accused those administering the 500 slots of favouring non-indi-

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

genes.

He alleged that those administering the slots refused to honour the invitation by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and head of the Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku.

He vowed that his leadership would stop the deduction of N15,000 from the am-

nesty beneficiaries.

The factional leader said 500 slots were not enough for Itsekiri, when compared to the 32,000 allotted to the Ijaw.

The protesters, who marched from the Warri GRA Secretariat of the Esimaje Awani led INYC Secretariat to the palace, sang solidarity songs and carried placards.

The leader of the other INYC faction, David Tonwe, described the claims by the

Awani group as unfounded.

He said the N15,000 deduction was a unanimous decision.

Tonwe said all the 500 names on the list are Itsekiri.

"The information is not true, all the beneficiaries are from Itsekiri and the deduction was agreed upon by all the beneficiaries. We didn't force it on them. Their claims are just unfounded, not true," he said.

‘Fed Govt didn’t just start intervening INISTER of State for in Rivers schools’ Education Nyesom completed a Federal Junior

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Wike has said the Federal Government’s intervention in Rivers State’s schools started long ago.

Wike, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, said Governor Rotimi Amaechi erred by asking the Federal Government to stop renovating state schools.

The statement said: “The Federal Ministry of Education remains committed to completing the boy-child and girlchild schools flagged off by the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike last Friday at Ogu and Omoku in Riv-

ers State.

“The third school will be built in Andoni as a deliberate design to reach out to school children in the three senatorial districts of Rivers State.

“These schools form part of the critical ongoing interventions of the Jonathan administration as regards the creation of access to basic education in Rivers State and other states. “ “Before the commencement of last week’s construction of three additional schools in Rivers State, the Federal Government had successfully

Model Girls School in Aluu and an Almajiri school in Omerule in the first phase of construction work.

“This is in addition to key interventions in 10 secondary schools in the state. While some have been completed, others are ongoing. One of the most prominent schools being rehabilitated is the Community Secondary School, Ubima.

“Since, 2011 when Wike joined the Federal Executive Council, he has worked towards the transformation of education in the country.”

Wike added: “The history of the Federal Government’s in-

•Wike

terventions in Rivers State is known to the public.

“It is rather late in the day for the Rivers State government to play the ostrich as regards the monumental interventions of the Federal Government in redefining education in the state.

Bayelsa police commissioner denies political agenda

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AYELSA State Commissioner of Police Valentine Ntomchukwu resumed work yesterday and denied reports that he was in the state for political reasons.

There were speculations, before his arrival, that the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, influenced his appointment as part of a plot to replace Governor Seriake Dickson with her preferred candidate in 2016.

As part of his briefs,

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

Ntomchukwu was allegedly asked to adopt the Joseph Mbu style in policing the state.

Ntomchukwu replaced Hilary Opara, who has been appointed deputy inspector general of police in charge of Finance and Administration.

Before his appointment, he had served as Deputy Commissioner of Police in Benue, Kogi, Federal Capital Terri-

tory (FCT) and Kaduna.

When asked about the political insinuations, Ntomchukwu said: “I have not read it. I have not come for political reasons. I have told you that I have not read the report you are referring to.

“I heard somebody saying something like that. I think it is a figment of the imagination of the reporter. I don’t think it is real.”

The commissioner, however, described Bayelsa as a

strategic state.

He added: “I want to say that Bayelsa State is a strategic state. Everyone knows the President hails from Bayelsa State and Bayelsa is also geographically located in such a way that three quarter of its landmass is occupied by water.

“There is problem in terms of riverine policing. So we are going to concentrate on riverine policing, particularly during elections.”

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THE NATION TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

NEWS Minister makes case for bitter kola

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•Guest Speaker and Founding Matron, Band of Faith Society, Mrs. Ebun Olufunmilayo Onabanjo (left); President, Band of Faith Society, Mrs. Toyin Ogedengbe; Bishop of Lagos west, Anglican Communion, Rt Rev. James Olusola Odedeji, Mother of the day Mrs. Lydia Odedeji and Guest Speaker, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye during the Band of Faith Seminer on Family Value, Christian Families in today's world held at Vining Hall, GRA Ikeja...Lagos

‘PDP is corrupt’ From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

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ANO State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso has described the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a haven for corrupt people.

Kwankwaso spoke with reporters in Benin when he visited Edo State as part of his nationwide consultation for the 2015 general elections.

He said he was also in the state to felicitate with the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, on his 80th birthday and interact with Kano indigenes schooling in Edo State.

The governor said he left PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC) because the PDP’s ideologies were different from his.

He said the APC was working hard to effect positive change in Nigeria.

Kwankwaso said the PDP-led Federal Government had not shown the “political will” to address insecurity in the country, adding that about 4,000,000 Nigerians have been displaced by Boko Haram’s activities.

He urged Nigerians to unite in the fight against the insurgents.

A delegation of the “Nigeria Project 2015”, Kwankwaso’s campaign organisation, yesterday visited Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

The delegation, which included Mr Muhammed Wudil (Wudil/Garko Federal Constituency); Fagge Local Government Area Chairman Habibu Mailemo; and a member of the Kano State House of Assembly, Mr Garba Gwarmai, was in Kogi to canvass support for Kwankwaso’s presidential aspiration.

It met behind closed doors with APC leader and former Governor Abubakar Audu.

Addressing reporters at the end of the meeting, Mailemo said Kwankwaso “can be trusted to replicate his highly impressive performance in Kano State at the national level”.

Varsity expels 119 students From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

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HE North-West University, owned by Kano State, has expelled 119 students for “admission irregularities”.

In a statement, the university’s Head of Corporate Communications, Alhaji Abdullahi Hassan, said the authorities discovered some irregularities during the verification of students admitted for the 2013/2014 academic session.

The statement reads: “The university, in the course of routine verification of admitted students for the 2013/ 2014 session, discovered some irregularities in the admission of 119 students into some faculties. The North-West University has zero-tolerance for such action, hence the decision to expel them from the institution.”

INISTER of the Environment Mrs. Laurentia Mallam has urged universities and research institutes to preserve bitter kola and other endangered plant.

Mallam, who was represented by the Special Assistant on projects, Sola Adepoju, spoke at the International Summit on Garcinia Kola (Bitter kola), organised by Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), Ibadan.

The theme of the summit was, “Status, Socio-economic potentials, propagation and domestication of Garcinia kola in Nigeria” According to the minister, bitter kola is well known for its anti-microbial properties which had the capacity to cure dysentery, fever, throat and respiratory ailments.

She said: “Our research institutes and universities should work on ways to ensure conservation and domestication of the rare and endangered plant and animal species in Nigeria. This is necessary because we do not know which plant and which animal or their parts may hold the

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

key to cure a particular disease in the future. Bitter kola, botanically known as Garcinia kola, is well known for its anti-microbial properties which are highly effective in the curing of dysentery, cough, fever, toothache, throat and respiratory ailments, inclusive liver disorder. However, this important special species is still growing in the wild.

“The extinction of any plant species is by and large irreversible. A large number of plant species have become endangered or extinct. The root cause of these problems lies with us, most especially, the degree and in-depth of our interaction with the forests and their contents. Our future is guaranteed if we are able to find solutions to these problems. Considering the growing global demand for Non-timber Forest Products which include fruits and seeds of Garcinia kola, it is imperative that commensurate research on this specie be encouraged as much as possible.” She stated.

Boko Haram kidnaps 50 women in Adamawa

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EMBERS of the Boko Haram sect seized over 50 young women in Gulak, Adamawa State, last Saturday, it was learnt yesterday.

Sources said the insurgents have kidnapped hundreds of women and children in Michika and Madagali since they annexed Madagali, Gulak, Shuwa, Michika, Bazza and other towns.

Former residents of the captured towns, who escaped from the insurgents, said those kidnapped were being used as sex slaves, cooks, gardeners and washer women.

Activities of the terrorists have led many residents to flee to Yola, the Adamawa State capital, and other places.

A resident, simply identified as Tija, who escaped from Gulak at the weekend, said the victims, including married women, were taken away in trucks.

He said: “Some women brought the news that Boko Haram forcefully took some of

N1.5b materials for displaced persons From Barnabas Manyam, Yola

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the release of relief materials worth N1.5 billion to the three states worse hit by the activities of the Boko Haram sect.

This is to provide succour for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the states.

A member of the Presidential Special Committee on Relief Materials to the Northeast, Alhaji Salihu Belel, told reporters in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, that each of the states would get materials worth N500 million.

Belel, who chairs the Adamawa Relief Committee, said the materials include food items, clothing and building products.

In Adamawa, he said the Northern Senatorial Zone would be given priority in the distribution of the materials because it is worst hit.

Belel said the Presidential committee would provide potable water and health care in relief camps.

From Barnabas Manyam, Yola

them away, including a sister inlaw to a friend of mine. The situation is getting worse by the day.

We hope this problem ends some day.”

Mr Musa Uba from Husra in

Michika Local Government Area said young men were forced to join the sect when preaching failed to bring forth volunteers.

He said: “They conducted preaching sessions to attract converts to their sect, but people only listened out of fear. The next day,

they asked if anybody wanted to join them but there was no response, so they selected many healthy-looking young men and asked them to go with them. One of the victims is my relative who did body building exercises regularly.”

Madagali Local Government Chairman James Watharda could not be reached for comments.

A security source confirmed the incident, saying: “They often called women to come and collect food items at the Madagali Local Government Secretariat in Gulak. On Saturday, they selected some of them and took them away. Abduction is taking place throughout the areas controlled by the insurgents.”

A politician, Maina Ularamu, said: “The information I have is that they selected some women and locked them in the local government Secretariat.”

It was learnt that the insurgents were living on domestic animals reared by residents.

Why we introduced online registration, by NYSC

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HE National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) yesterday said insecurity in some states was responsible for the introduction of the online registration for prospective corps members.

It said the online format, though optional, would sanitise the system.

In a statement by its Director for Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Olubunmi Aderibigbe, NYSC said the initiative was “designed in the best interest of corps members”.

Debunking insinuations that the scheme was to exploit corps members, NYSC said: “The attention of the NYSC Board has been drawn to some reports, which suggest a misunderstanding of the online registration for the mobilisation of corps members and the rationale behind it. We hasten to say that the idea is not only

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From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

noble but was designed in the best interest of the corps members.

“Given the security challenge in some states and the observed cumbersome process of collecting call-up letters in most institutions, the idea was conceived to remove impediments that make the mobilisation process a nightmare for graduates.

“For instance, in this day and age, we saw no need for a graduate to travel hundreds of kilometres with all the associated risks to collect his/ her call-up letter.

“By registering online, the idea that any unscrupulous official could make the process of collecting the call-up letter difficult for corps member is

eliminated.

“The online registration also renders service evasion by prospective corps members practically impossible, while those who sign the Community Development Service (CDS) attendance register through proxies will henceforth realise the futility of such fraudulent practice.

“The initiative will also help to facilitate proper and adequate record on relocated corps members. Notwithstanding the obvious merits of the initiative, the NYSC management has deliberately made the online registration optional for those who may choose to travel to their schools to collect their call-up letters.

“It is, however, noteworthy that since the commencement of this initiative, we have witnessed high level of acceptance from graduates see its

benefits, some of which are: easy mobilisation for graduates; creation of a reliable platform for storage and retrieval of data for participating graduates; and removal of excruciating registration experiences in camps for both corps members and officials.”

On why it charges fees for the online registration, the NYSC said: “It is as a result of competing needs. The lean purse of the scheme cannot fund such a massive deployment of technology commensurate with the desired efficiency, accurate data and seamless operations.

“Therefore, in 2013, the scheme decided to key into the Federal Government’s approved national policy on Public Private Partnership (PPP) as a veritable tool for building a world-class infrastructure that would drive the process.”

Sultan: stop using children as thugs

HE Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has warned politicians against using children as thugs.

He described the act as inimical to the upbringing of children, who are future leaders.

Speaking yesterday in Sokoto while hosting the newly-elected State Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

the monarch said politicians who give money and drugs to children were doing themselves and the society great harm.

He said such children have every tendency of turning against those politicians, adding: “This will happen after the elections and often makes governance difficult for them.”

The Sultan urged politicians to

accord priority to promoting peace, unity and socio-economic growth in the country.

He said: “All of us are yearning for free, fair and acceptable polls in 2015 and beyond. Leaders should also pay attention to the upliftment of the welfare, comfort and security of Nigerians.”

Abubakar said the Sultanate Council was founded based on the principles of honesty, accountability and social justice, hence guarantees free and accessible policy for

the benefit of all, including political parties.

“Our doors are open to all of you and we will continue to pray fervently for sustainable democracy, peace and unity in Nigeria,” he added.

The state PDP Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma, said the visit was to seek the Sultan’s prayers, support and advice.

Milgoma said PDP members would continue to be law abiding and patriotic.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

NEWS Synagogue: Sniffer dogs deployed as death toll rises to 49 Continued from page 4

materials in the rubble, especially household items. So, the possibility of it causing the fire cannot be ruled out,” said Mike Sonekan, head, Operations, State Fire Service.

As excavation continued, sympathisers and family members of victims continued to search for their loved ones.

Among those who visited the site yesterday were South African Ambassador to Nigeria Lulu Louis Mnguni; Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone two, Lagos, Umar Manko; Nigerian Air Force officials and a team from the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB).

The Nation observed that despite directives from Governor Babatunde Fashola that church

members who were not emergency management personnel be sent out of the scene, the collapsed site was still crowded.

It was also observed that the stench from the scene was more severe than on Sunday, which made some of the workers suspect that many more bodies were still trapped underneath the debris.

One of the survivors, Ola, a Togolese, said he was working in the building before it collapsed.

He said: “We were 11 (Togolese) working in the building.

I was doing tiles work with my brothers. I left them to get something.

“I was on my way out when the building collapsed. I did not know how I managed to come out.

“As you can see, I am fine.

But I am not happy because I do not know where my brothers are. I have only seen Augustine (pointing at a young man with plaster and bruises on his face).

“I have been asking where my other brothers are, they only told me that they are in different hospitals.

“How can I be happy when I do not know where they are.

Yes, I thank God I am alive, but it is not just about me. What of them??”

The Medical Director of the hospital, Lanre Soyinka, confirmed that some of the injured “in their twenties” have been brought to the hospital since the building collapsed on Friday.

He said most of them were brought in critical condition

but have been stabilised, adding that many had been discharged.

“I can tell you that the church has been adequately taking care of the patients. They have provided everything we need to treat them and members of the church have been here running shifts to look after the patients.

“Most of them are foreigners and it appears they were working on the building when the incident occurred. So, for now, those who have family members around have been coming but those who do not, the church has been a family to them all.

“I can also tell you that most of the patients, over 60 per cent, are fit to be discharged at the moment. No one died here.”

South Africa seizes $9.3m from two Nigerians, Israeli Continued from page 4

They provided documentation confirming they had come to South Africa to buy weapons. It is not clear whether the Israeli passenger was an intelligence operative or an arms dealer.

The National Conventional Arms Control Committee, which has to approve the import and export of any weapons as well as issue permits for such transactions, was not aware of any applications in this case.

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) seized the funds at Lanseria airport, northwest of Johannesburg, on September 5. The funds are being held at the central bank as police investigate, SARS spokeswoman Marika Muller said.

“The passengers’ luggage was searched after Customs officials detected irregularities. The money was detained as it was undisclosed/

undeclared and above the prescribed legal limit,” Muller said in a statement.

South Africa’s City Press newspaper reported that bundles of unused $100 bills packed in three suitcase were transported in a small business jet from the Nigerian capital, Abuja. The three passengers said they were using it to buy arms for the Nigerian security services, City Press said.

South African airport security spokesman Solomon Makgale confirmed a police investigation was underway but declined to give details.

The aircraft was temporarily impounded, but was allowed to return to Abuja on Monday morning.

According to unconfirmed reports, one of the passengers was arrested. Further investigation revealed that the aircraft used to belong to the American healthcare company Kimberly-Clark. But company spokesperson Bob

Brand said the firm had sold the plane years ago, and denied that it had anything to do with the incident. According to the US Federal Aviation Administration aeroplane register, the Challenger, with the registration number N808HG, was reregistered in the name of Bank of Utah Trustee last year. The address in the register was given as Salt Lake City, US. Aviation industry insiders claim similar “owners” have previously been involved in several controversial aircraft financing transactions for aircraft in Africa. City Press has also established that the aircraft is used by an entity called Swat Inc in Abuja, but no details of such a company could be found.

Another plane used by Swat Inc, a Hawker Siddeley 125, also with an American registration number (N497AG), landed at Lanseria Airport last month. That plane and its passengers re-

mained in the country for two days before returning to Abuja on August 13.

‘North to form united front for 2015 polls’ Continued from page 4

involve them in mobilising citizens towards supporting all measures to improve security in the North, and will inform Northerners of responses of all our elected leaders.”

The meeting was attended by the leadership and prominent members of organsations, such as: Arewa Consultative Forum, Northern Elders Forum, Code Group, Northern Re-awakening Forum, Arewa Research and Development Project. Others are the Northern Union, Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Arewa Media Forum, North East Unity and Development Forum, Northern Youth Coalition and Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria.

Missing jet: Air Force rules out sabotage Continued from page 4

“But you know, in the aviation sector, we have some specific information that we ought to have to make the search easy. But the information we are getting from the citizens are good but not sufficient enough for us to define the area of search.

“We have an idea of where the aircraft could be. Do not forget that it is the open Sahel. Some people may think it is easy but in the open Sahel sometimes it is even very challenging. Human beings standing may look like trees and again the area we are talking about we have operations going on there and we have limitations as to how low we come to conduct the search.

“I am hopeful that before the

end of the day or week we should be able to provide credible information as to the location of the aircraft and then the pilots.

“But one thing is clear whatever problem they had, an ejection was contemplated. It is, therefore, my hope that the pilots are still alive.”

Villagers in Lala State Development Area in Adamawa State said at the weekend that they saw a wreckage of an aircraft.

An administrative officer in Gombi Local Government Area of the state said villagers assisted a military search team in an effort to locate the plane after rumours that it crashed between Ngalga and Barda in Gabun ward of Adamawa State.

Conference report not yet with National Assembly Continued from page 4

are likely, under Fiscal Responsibility Act, to receive from Mr. President the Revenue Framework. This will state how much will most likely to spent next year, how much is going to come from oil, non-oil and what is going to be exchange rate as well as oil benchmark and the borrowing plan.

“It is when we consider that the template and the new framework for the budget would be ready.

“All these would have to be considered between September and November to enable Mr. President prepare and lay the budget before the National Assembly. We are taking account of all these in preparing for resumption of the Senate.”

Asked why the Senate did not reconvene to consider application for N10billion additional budget for security, Enang said he was not aware of any plan for the Senate to reconvene to consider the request.

He said that the Senate Committee had almost concluded work on the Petroleum Industry Bill.

Chairman of house committee on Business and Rules Albert

Sam-Tsokwa said the House would consider the $1bilion loan request, urging the executive to streamline defence spending.

“But in doing that, we would tell the President to investigate the spending of the military to know the true position on the state of the nation or we would be forced to take up the matter,” Sam-Tsokwa said.

The lawmaker, who expressed dismay over the incessant attack against the military by the insurgents, said the House would not shy away from finding a solution to the problem adding however that it was a marvel that results were not comparing favourably with the amount being expended on security.

In his view, “our inability to contain insurgency” is not due to lack of funds “because never in the history of Nigeria has such huge fund been appropriated for defence budget”.

“I think Mr President should look inward and find out exactly what is happening to the defence budget,” Sam-Tsokwa added.

Praising the Federal Government for a job well done on the Ebola Virus Disease, he said it would be one of the pressing issues to be addressed.

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THE NATION TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

FOREIGN NEWS

U.S., Nato troops begin Ukraine military exercise U S troops from the 173rd Airborne Brigade stand to attention before Ukrainian folk dancers at the ceremony opening the military exercise About 1,300 troops from 15 countries - including the US and other Nato members have begun a military exercise near Lviv in western Ukraine.

The US says the drill had been planned before the current crisis in eastern Ukraine, where government forces have been battling pro-Russian rebels.

Clashes have continued in eastern Ukraine, particularly around the city of Donetsk, despite a ceasefire deal.

Russia denies sending troops to aid the rebels, as alleged by Ukraine and Nato.

Over the weekend, Ukrainian Defence Minister Valery Heletey said Nato countries had begun arming his nation

•US troops from the 173rd Airborne Brigade stand to attention before Ukrainian folk dancers at the ceremony opening the military exercise PHOTO: Getty Images

in the fight against the rebels.

He did not specify the type of weapons being delivered or name the countries involved.

A shaky ceasefire has been in place in eastern Ukraine since 5 September Several Nato members have denied similar statements made in the past.

Officials from the alliance say they have no plans to send lethal assistance to non-Nato member Ukraine - but mem-

ber states are free to do so on a bilateral basis.

Some 200 US troops are taking part in the military exercise, codenamed Rapid Trident, near Lviv, on the Polish-Ukrainian border, some 1,000 km (600 miles) from the fighting in the east.

The exercise will bring together troops from several Nato member states and from former Soviet-bloc countries that are part of Nato’s Part-

M

PUBLIC NOTICE

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that, Ebere Rosemary Ndifreke is the same and one person as Udoudo Ndifreke Sampson and Udo Rosemary Ndifreke. All formal documents remain valid.General public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE ADEMUYIWA I,formerly known and addressed as ADEMUYIWA SHAKIRU OLALERE, now wishes to be known and addressed as ADEBISI SHAKIRU OLALERE. All former documents remains valId. General public take note.

the weekend around Donetsk’s government-held airport, with both sides accusing each other of endangering the truce.

Six people were killed and 15 hurt in the violence, Donetsk’s city council said.

Nato says Russia still has about 1,000 heavily armed troops in eastern Ukraine and about 20,000 more near the border.

But Russia denies sending

direct military help to the rebels, insisting that any Russian soldiers there are “volunteers”.

Nato has announced the formation of a new “spearhead” force numbering several thousand troops, which can be deployed to protect member countries in a matter of days.

It followed growing concern from Nato member countries bordering Russia over its involvement in Ukraine.

Egypt: 2011 activist freed on bail

Ebola : Malaysia sends W. Africa gloves ALAYSIA plans to donate more than 20 million protective rubber gloves to five African countries affected by the Ebola outbreak, the government says.

They will be distributed among medical workers in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A shortage of protective equipment has been one factor in the virus spreading.

It has killed more than 2,400 people, including many health workers, this year, in the world’s worst outbreak.

Health workers in Liberia recently went on strike, saying they need more protective equipment.

More than half the deaths from the 2014 Ebola virus outbreak have been in Liberia Malaysia is a leading rubber glove manufacturer, producing 60% of the world’s supply.

“Malaysia can make a unique and vital contribution to the fight against Ebola because we are one of the biggest manufacturers of rubber gloves,” Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said in a statement.

“We hope this contribution will prevent the spread of Ebola and save lives,” he added.

Among the companies supplying the shipment are Sime Darby, Kuala Lumpur Kepong, IOI Corporation Berhad and Top Glove, the prime minister’s office said.

Malaysia will send 11 containers overall, each holding 1.9 million gloves, the statement from Kuala Lumpur said.

The Malaysian government did not say who would pay for the shipment.

nership for Peace programme.

Ukraine’s defence minister says the extra weapons will be used to “stop” Russian President Vladimir Putin Pro-Russian rebels have been engaged in heavy fighting with government forces in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions since April. Some 2,600 people have been killed over the past five months of conflict.

Shelling was reported over

dict.

The same judges presided over his retrial, prompting Mr Abdel Fattah to complain that he had “no confidence” in them.

Abdul Fattah al-Sisi won May’s elections with nearly 97% of the vote A lawyer for Mr Abdul Fattah, Mohammed AbdelAziz, said on Monday that the judge presiding over the retrial had stepped down at the request of the defence team.

He said the judge had also ordered an investigation into the prosecutor’s use of Mr Abdul Fattah’s personal videos, “which violated the accused’s privacy”.

At a previous hearing, the prosecutor had shown videos

of family celebrations which had no link to the case, Mr Abdel-Aziz told AFP news agency.

The retrial will resume when a new judge is assigned to the case.

Mr Abdul Fattah is expected to leave prison today. Along with two other activists, whose release was also ordered by the court, he must pay 5,000 Egyptian pounds ($430; $700) as bail.

Mr Abdul Fattah comes from a prominent family of Egyptian activists. His sister, Sanaa Seif, is also in custody on charges of violating the protest law.

His father, Ahmed Seif al-Islam, was a leading human rights lawyer and campaigner who died late last month.

ISIS: World leaders pledge to support Iraq

Record year for migrant arrivals to Europe, says UN

•Abdul Fattah

A

N Egyptian court has ordered the release on bail of one of the country’s most prominent bloggers and pro-democracy activists, Alaa Abdul Fattah.

T

HIRTY countries have pledged to help Iraq fight Islamic State (IS) militants “by all means necessary”.

A joint statement by foreign ministers taking part in a major conference in Paris talks said support would include “appropriate military assistance”.

The talks had been called to agree a strategy to combat the group, which controls large parts of Iraq and Syria.

The conference followed a

Mr Abdul Fattah had been sentenced to 15 years in jail for violating a strict anti-protest law. He is currently facing a retrial in the case.

Mr Abdul Fattah gained fame during the 2011 uprising against the then-President, Hosni Mubarak.

His arrest had heightened fears of a crackdown on dissent in Egypt.

Correspondents say the 15year sentence was one of the harshest ever awarded to a nonIslamist activist in the country.

Mr Abdel Fattah had been charged with assaulting a policeman at an illegal protest. He was sentenced in June, along with 24 others, but was not allowed to be in court for the ver-

whirlwind tour of the Middle East by US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Mr Kerry, who attended the summit, has been drumming up support for a plan of action unveiled by President Barack Obama last week.

The murder of British aid worker David Haines by IS militants, shown in a video released by the group on Saturday, has added momentum to the plans, says the BBC’s Lucy Williamson in Paris.

Opening the summit, French

President Francois Hollande said the threat posed by IS militants needed a global response.

The CIA estimates that Islamic State has between 20,000 and 31,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.

Iraqi President Fuad Masum, who co-hosted the conference with Mr Hollande, said the international community must pursue the jihadists “quickly”.

Dozens of countries have now pledged to increase military support for the Iraqi army.

Malta boat sinking ‘leaves 500 dead’

A

BOUT 500 migrants are feared dead after their ship was rammed by another boat near Malta last week, a migration body said.

Two Palestinian survivors told the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) that the boat had been intentionally sunk by traffickers.

They said the boat had left Damietta in Egypt in early September.

News of the sinking near Malta emerged as another

vessel carrying 250 people sank off the coast of Libya.

Over 200 people are feared to have drowned in that incident.

Thousands of migrants have drowned in recent years as they attempt to reach Europe from North Africa and the Middle East.

Many do so in unsafe and overcrowded vessels.

IOM spokeswoman Christiane Berthiaume said that the two survivors were rescued on Thursday, the day after their boat sank.

They said traffickers rammed the boat after an argument on board. The IOM said there were nine known survivors in total.

Andrej Mahecic, UN Refugee Agency: ‘Record year for arrivals to EU from sea’ The boat had been carrying Syrians, Palestinians, Egyptians and Sudanese, they said.

The passengers included women and children.

The passengers were reportedly told to move to a smaller, less safe boat.

Several hundred migrants from Africa and the Middle East who were trying to reach Europe are feared to have died over the past few days.

The International Organisation for Migration says up to 500 people trying to reach Italy are believed to have lost their lives when their boat sank near Malta on Thursday.

In a separate incident, the Libyan navy said dozens of African migrants have drowned off the Libyan coast after the vessel they were travelling in sank.

Andrej Mahecic from the UN Refugee Agency told the BBC that the number of migrants was increasing.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

61

SHOWBIZ

Actors get Toronto buzz for Oscar 2015

F

EELERS from the justconcluded Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Canada, have it that, in most of the films in competition, none got outstanding accolades like the individual actors in them.

The assessments of the festival’s contents, by the several media in attendance, including Hollywood Reporter, Variety and IndieWire, stem from the curiosity that usually follows TIFF, as the last film ‘harvest’ leading to the annual Oscars.

As predicted last year, 12 Years A Slave, which held its public premiere at the festival and won the People’s Choice Award, received nine nominations at this year’s Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director for Steve McQueen and went on to win three awards: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay for John Ridley and Best Supporting Actress for Lupita Nyong’o.

Reports say among the more than 300 films that premiered at the annual movie feast, there were, of course, many terrific movies and a theater’s worth of fine filmmakers. But nothing captured the spotlight of this year’s Toronto, which wraps up on Sunday, like the actors’ performances.

That’s very unlike last year where the loudest buzz from Toronto rang out for another masterpiece such as the stunning Gravity. Both 12 Years A Slave and Gravity left last year’s festival hoisted upon the shoulders of enthusiastic Oscar prog-

nosticators and awed moviegoers.

Judging by this year’s nottoo-impressive outing, guests at the festival recalled other heavyweights or previous TIFF sensations such as the Academy Award-winners Slumdog Millionaire or The King’s Speech.

Among the movie stars with the thickest applause at TIFF are, Eddie Redmayne, Jake Gyllenhaal, Reese Witherspoon, Bill Murray, Felicity Jones, Benedict Cu,berbatch, Julianne Moore and Jennifer Aniston.

In James Marsh’s Stephen Hawking film The Theory of

Everything, 32-year-old British actor, Eddie Redmayne, wowed Toronto with his depiction of Hawking’s gradual physical deterioration and his undeterred spirit. Jake Gyllenhaal was also impressive in Nightcrawler, playing a poor but ambitious Los Angeles man whose nighttime prowling exposes him to a potential new career: shooting video of murder and car crashes for the “if-it-bleedsit-leads” local news. There is also Reese Witherspoon who plays a woman looking for catharsis on the Pacific Coast Trail after a divorce and her mother’s death in Jean-Marc Vallee’s Wild.

Toronto was said to belong to Bill Murray for a whole day, with the hosting of a ‘Bill

Murray Day’ of screenings, culminating with the debut of St. Vincent, a comic but touching tale of a curmudgeonly neighbour (Murray) who reluctantly befriends a young boy next door. Reports say it’s the biggest, most dynamic role Murray’s taken on in years.

Also, while the headlines for The Theory of Everything went to Redmayne, the film wouldn’t work without Felicity Jones as his wife, Jane Hawking.

Another actor to look out for is Benedict Cu,berbatch, known for his precision and complexity in the film Sherlock. But in The Imitation Game, in which he plays World War II British codebreaker Alan Turing, Cumberbatch tackles an even bigger brain. Reports say the role is not only complicated by depicting the mathematical brilliance of Turing, but of the pressure he was under as a closeted gay man at a time when homosexuality was criminalised.

There is also Julianne Moore, who was at the Cannes Film Festival in May for Maps to the Stars (also a Toronto entry) that earned her award for best actress. The actress took Toronto with Still Alice, in which she plays a Columbia University professor in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

In the same vein, Jennifer Aniston, was applauded for Cake, which is said to be earning her the best reviews of her career. It is said to be her most unglamorous role ever, as she plays a woman left scarred and in constant pain from a car crash.

Stars storm Monalisa Chinda’s 40th birthday party

L

AST Saturday, Nollywood star and producer, Monalisa Chinda, played host to several Nollywood stars as well as political gladiators at a private dinner to mark her 40th birthday.

Earlier in the day, she had held a charity walk alongside her colleagues and launched a campaign to sponsor no fewer than 200 less privileged children through her Arise Monalisa Foundation.

The party train later stopped at the upscale Villa Medici in Victoria Island, Lagos. However, the highlight of the birthday

•Monalisa with her colleagues

shindig was her appointment as the first Slum2School Ambassador.

Dignatories who graced

the colourful event include Joke Silva, Tonye Cole, Elizabeth Benson Amete, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, Rukky

Sanda, Zik Zulu Okafor, Patrick and Ireti Doyle, among others.

country, the United Kingdom and South Africa, will speak on the theme: “Ideas Hidden from Sight”.

TEDx event, a non-profit conference devoted to integrating people and ideas, was designed in sync with the spirit of TED’s mission: “Ideas worth spreading”.

This year’s TEDx event is organised in collaboration with DagDivad Af-

rica, one of Nigeria’s fast-growing shoe brands, among others.

Reminisce, who is also famously called Alaga Ibile of Yoruba rap, has released two music albums and collaborated with top artistes such as Wizkid, Davido, Naeto C and Olamide in the past years.

Desmond Elliot joins Lagos House of Assembly race

N

A

FEW weeks after he jetted to the U.S., where he recorded some songs for his forthcoming album titled Love and Consequences, awardwinning singer, Timi Dakolo, has reportedly returned to the country.

He was said to have teamed up with talented producer, Cobhams Asuquo, at 226 Recordings in Houston Texas, USA. Following his critically acclaimed 2011 debut album, Beautiful Noise, Dakolo has dominated the airwaves lately with the release of his hit single, Iyawo Mi, as well as its video featuring his

wife, Busola.

“We’ve been having a blast here with Cobhams. I like to pay attention to my work and to my craft, so as to ensure that those who believe in me get the highest quality music that I can give. I am excited about what we are coming up with here. Love & Consequences album is a story of hope and survival. Fans expect to be stirred and to be enriched. I look forward to them identifying with the messages I want to share,” an excited Dakolo said.

The new album, he further revealed, will be released in the first quarter of 2015.

Eleyele out with Emimimo

I

NSPIRATIONAL singer, Busola Oke, aka Eleyele, is out with another album titled Emimimo( Holy Spirit).

The five-track album, according to the songstress, contains such songs as E Jeun Jo, which is already enjoying impressive airplay.

The artiste features LKT, Artquake and G.O. in the track.

She revealed that the album

A

ORUBA rap artiste, Remilekun Abdulkalid Safaru, aka Reminisce, has been nominated to lead a session at the forthcoming TEDx event scheduled to hold at NuStreams Conference and Cultural Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State this Saturday.

Reminisce, who will be joining other speakers from across the

OLLYWOOD actor, producer and movie director, Desmond Elliot, has officially declared his intention to contest for a seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly come 2015 under the platform of the All Pro-

•Cobhams Asuquo visiting a guitar shop in Texas

also contains a song that chronicles her tragic experience in an auto crash a few months back.

“The Holy spirit operates in a supernatural way. Without God’s Holy Spirit, there’s nothing one can do.

So, the title is from God,” she said.

When asked why she featured some secular acts in an otherwise gospel album, she said: “It is because music has a universal language.”

The album, according to her, will be launched on Sunday, September 21, and will be available to all music lovers from that day.

The Beat FM marks fifth anniversary in style

Reminisce to speak at TEDx session

Y

Timi Dakolo records new songs with Cobhams Asuquo

gressive Congress (APC).

After months of speculation, the actor made his intention known when he unveiled his campaign posters bearing the name Olusola Desmond Elliot and carrying his six-point agenda.

Desmond Elliot has

starred in over 200 films and a number of TV soap operas.

He won Best Supporting Actor in a drama at the Second Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards and was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 10th Africa Movie Academy

Awards ( AMAA).

By declaring his ambition, the actor has, therefore, joined the likes of Julius Agwu, Kate Henshaw, Funke Adeshiyan and 9ice who all have declared their political ambitions, respectively.

S part of activities to mark its fifth anniversary, The Beat FM is set to hold The Tripple 9 Concert on Tuesday, September 30, at Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to the station’s Programme Director, Olisa Adibua, “Our aim for the station was to become an integral part of our community and we will like to think that we have achieved this. The activities we have lined up for the month of September are to say thank you and give back to the community that has been so generous and loyal to us. We hope that everyone will come out to celebrate with us.”

The anniversary concert, which will be headlined by the South African music group, Mi Casa, will wrap up the week-long activities scheduled to celebrate the top radio station.

Some of the sensational acts expected to perform at the event, which has been generating some buzz, include M.I, Ill bliss, 2face Idibia, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, Yemi A l a d e , Omawunmi, Waje and Chidinma.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

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SPORT EXTRA UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE… UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE…

BORUSSIA DORTMUND V ARSENAL

Germans always a threat, says Wenger

A

•Ahmed Musa of Nigeria celebrates scoring

MOROCCO 2015 AFCON QUALIFIERS:

Eagles may be heading for doom, says Bassey

C

AF Technical Committee member, Paul Bassey has warned that a Super Eagles coach not wanting to experiment or take risks by opening new doors for fresh legs may put Nigeria in a bad situation, he told footballlive.ng.

The country’s football has been thrown into chaos by

recent developments both on and off the pitch. The ongoing crisis in the football federation and the poor performance by the Super Eagles in the two 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Congo and South Africa has not really given much hope to many football followers.

Bassey posited that Nigeria

does not have to wait till players like Man City prodigy Kelechi Iheanacho fades out before they get to play.

“A coach that does not open doors for new players or take risks will end up putting Nigeria in a position where we found ourselves a couple of years ago,” he said.

“I don’t think we need to

wait till when players like Iheanacho fades out before you start injecting one or two, three players.

“It’s a fundamental problem and it was evident in Brazil, it was evident before Brazil, it happened during Brazil and yet we believe we should move things forward without addressing it.”

Falcons’ camp alive as Ohale joins team

T

HE Super Falcons’ camp for the African Women’s Championship (AWC) opened in Abuja on Sunday night with United States-based

Osinachi Ohale among the early birds as she was joined by 22 home-based players.

Houston Dash player Ohale expressed happiness at joining

•Ohale

her national team mates after being away from the team for over three years.

"I am very happy to have been called up to the national team after being away for a while. I promise to give my best now because though I was not with the team in 2012, losing the championship two years ago was painful. Our target is to reclaim the trophy," she stated.

Head Coach Edwin Okon and his assistants Christopher Danjuma, Justine Madugu and Bala Mohammed are at the Serob Leagacy Hotel, Abuja camp with Okon insisting that there is no time to waste in preparing for the AWC. Okon also told the players to get ready for the task ahead as he and his assistants would not entertain indiscipline or laziness from any player.

"You all must know that we need maximum concentration towards preparation for the

AWC and as such you have to sit up. You either shape in or shape out," he warned the girls.

He drummed it into their ears that the target at the AWC is the trophy and as such any player who does not share in the belief should quietly leave the camp.

The team had its first training session on yesterday evening at the FIFA Goal project pitch at the Package B of the Abuja National Stadium.

Director of competitions Mohammed Sanusi welcomed the girls to the camp and told them to be serious about training because time is short in preparation for the AWC. Sanusi, who was represented

by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical officer Yusuf Rafiu, told the girls to buckle up for the task ahead as the target is qualifying for the World Cup and ultimately reclaiming the trophy which Nigeria lost in 2012.

How Musa snubbed Arsenal, Liverpool, Madrid for Spurs

S

L10.ng understands that Tottenham Hotspur beat two of their big rivals in the English Premier League (EPL) to secure the signature of Musa Yahaya, considered by some as the Nigerian Neymar.

After Musa Yahaya put himself in the shop window at the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup, representatives of Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur made contact with the attacking midfielder's camp regarding a deal.

La Liga powerhouses Real

Madrid and Atlético Madrid were also keeping tabs on the Mutunchi Academy ace before they both pulled out of the race because of the strong interest from England.

From the word go, Tottenham Hotspur were front runners for the 16-yearold's signature after his representative reached a verbal agreement with the White Hart Lane outfit in Dubai during the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, SL10.ng can exclusively report. ''Liverpool and Arsenal

also wanted Musa Yahaya; and some big teams in Spain.

But we checked all their programmes and discovered that Tottenham Hotspur were the best club for him. ''No, money wasn't a factor in the choice of Yahaya joining Spurs or he would have signed for Real Madrid,'' a top source close to the ex Golden Eaglets star told SL10.ng.

The Nigeria youth international has been training with the Tottenham Hotspur Development Squad, mainly the Under-17s, since July.

RSENE Wenger believes that the main European Champions League contenders this season will come from Spain and Germany.

Wenger has taken his Arsenal squad, which includes German trio Per Mertesacker, Mesut Ozil and Lukas Podolski, to Westphalia to tackle Dortmund tonight and he expects the main challenge for the European crown to come from the Bundesliga and La Liga.

It is the third time in four seasons that Arsenal have played Dortmund at this stage and Wenger said: "It's not such an advantage to have three German players in the squad because we know Dortmund anyway. We play them each year!

"The main threats in the Champions League will still be the German and Spanish teams.

Look at the number of times Bayern Munich have been in the final.

"There's no obvious reason why suddenly they shouldn't be there. Dortmund is a regular participator as well and in Spain you have the two big clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid will be contenders again.

"We had a very physical

game against Manchester City on Saturday so it will be tough for us but we have recovered well and sometimes in the second game you can be even stronger."

Dortmund played Arsenal in 2011 and also last season when they lost 1-0 at home, but beat the Gunners 2-1 in London.

Their coach Jurgen Klopp said: "Those who saw Arsenal here last year know very well they can also play defensive football and switch their game very quickly.

"So we should play according to our most natural virtues and take some tactical measures to keep them at bay."

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

FIXTURES Tuesday 16th September 2014 - GROUP A Juventus V Malmö FF Olympiakos V Atl Madrid GROUP B Liverpool V Ludo Razgd Real Madrid V FC Basel GROUP C Benfica V Zenit St P Monaco V Bayer Levkn GROUP D Bor Dortmd V Arsenal Galatasaray V Anderlecht

LIVERPOOL V LUDO RAZGD

Rodgers backs Balotelli to carry Euro burden

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IVERPOOL manager Brendan Rodgers believes Mario Balotelli has the experience required to lead the line when they return to Champions League action for the first time in five years at Anfield tonight.

Italy striker Balotelli is likely to be the senior striker in a Liverpool side, with Daniel Sturridge set to be sidelined for at least another fortnight with a thigh strain.

Balotelli, a STG16 million signing from AC Milan, is one of the Liverpool players with the most European experience ahead of their Group B opener against Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad.

The 24-year-old has failed to score in his first two Liverpool appearances but tonight's tie could present the ideal opportunity for the Man-chester City striker to get his Anfield career up and running.

"Time will tell. The boy is only just in the door," Rodgers said yesterday.

"The best players enjoy that responsibility and I am sure it

is one he is relishing but on the training field he is going to work hard to accept that responsibility knowing he has been brought in here to do a job which is to create and score goals and work hard."

Balotelli was on the receiving end of some rough treatment by Villa defenders Philippe Senderos and Alan Hutton but Rodgers did not expect him to be singled out in Europe.

•Balotelli

2014 IAAF CONTINENTAL CUP

Europe edges Americas, Africa

T •Musa Yahaya

HEY were out of contention for the overall title, but Africa enjoyed a late rush by taking victories in the finals of field events and middle and long distance track events as the curtains fell on the 2014 IAAF Continental Cup in Marrakech on Sunday.

Europe got 447.5 points ahead of Americas (390), Africa (339) and Asia-Pacific (257.5).

Europe won the first and last events of the weekend, but in between those victories hosts Africa could not hold off the might of the two strongest teams in the IAAF Continental Cup as Europe lifted the team trophy at the end of two days of competition in Marrakech.

Europe had a comfortable lead overnight, which they extended on the second day after winning half of the 20 events.

THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

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NEWS FIRST MEMORIAL THANKSGIVING AND LAUNCH OF OLUSEGUN AGAGU FOUNDATION

•Former Ekiti State Governor, Chief Olusegun Oni (right); former Oyo State Deputy Governor Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja and former Secretary to the Government, Chief Olaiwola Olakojo

•Former President Olusegun Obasanjo (right), his wife Bola and former Governor of old Western State, Rear Admiral Akin Aduwo, at the first yearly memorial thanksgiving and launch of Olusegun Agagu Foundation at the Chapel of Resurrection, University of Ibadan, Oyo State...at the weekend • Mr. Feyi Agagu and his wife, Bisoye

•From left: The widow, Mrs. Funke Agagu, her daughter, Solape and her husband, Mr. Hammod Victor

•From left: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Dr. Godswill Igali, Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Mobolaji Johnson and Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo.

PHOTOS: FEMI ILESANMI

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.9

NO. 2,973

TODAY IN THE NATION ‘As for the student movement –NANS – giving President Goodluck Jonathan administration, uncritical, unthinking and above all, unqualified endorsement for another term at a time one out every two youths are out there looking for a job, theirs’ at best is a catalyst to the coming self-help republic where everyone is on its own’ SANYA ONI

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

A

T any given time, one Nigerian official or delegation is to be found traipsing in a foreign country purporting to study how that country solved or is grappling with a particular issue, or its experience with a particular phenomenon.

European countries used to be the destinations of choice, but any country will do these days, since the real purpose, usually, is to cash in on the obscenely generous terms of official travel.

No coach please, and business class as a last resort. Only the first class can begin to meet the discriminating taste of officials travelling at the public expense. If a more opulent class were available – Super First Class say - I have no doubt that they would settle for nothing less.

Then there is the travel allowance they call estacode, reputedly the most indulgent in the world. It could be as high as $500 a night, depending on an official’s status. So, the longer the trip lasts, the more it profits the officials undertaking it.

The package, I gather, usually includes an out-of-station allowance, to compensate for the hardship the trip is sure to inflict on the poor traveller, plus an extra baggage allowance to take care of all the stuff he or she is sure to bring back home.

These trips are not always to foreign climes, it is necessary to stress. And there is never a shortage of pretexts.

During the partial re-run of the governorship election in Ekiti several years ago, a chieftain of the PDP and chair of the House Committee on Elections ensconced himself in the room where returns were being tallied, to advance the fortunes of his party’s candidate. When challenged, he said he was there in his official capacity to perform “oversight” functions.

I will not be surprised if, on being found fiddling with the locks on the vault of the Central Bank, the chairman of the House Committee on Banking said he was merely performing oversight functions as mandated by the Constitution.

But I digress.

As I am writing these lines, a source who is more often wrong than right, tells me that a Joint Committee of the Senate and the House on environment issues is preparing to travel to Inuit territory in the Canadian tundra to find out how the aboriginal people there are coping with their permafrost landscape.

Why embark on a study of conditions in arctic Canada when Nigeria lies in the tropics? I asked in stunned disbelief.

“A stitch in time, you know,” he said. The Committee is moving proactively. Climate experts are predicting that weather patterns across the world will change so dramatically that Africa will be locked into the bru-

RIPPLES ACF to Jonathan: You’ve FAILED WOEFULLY

You mean he got ‘F9 PARALLEL’...ehn?

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

Jamborees without end

‘

I will not be surprised if, on being found fiddling with the locks on the vault of the Central Bank, the chairman of the House Committee on Banking said he was merely performing oversight functions as mandated by the Constitution •Mrs Okonjo-Iweala

tal cold of the arctic winter, while the North America will be baked by the unforgiving tropical sun.

And so, the Joint Committee, anticipating such a frigid future, will set out any moment from now for the arctic region to study conditions there and prepare Nigerians for their future environment.

Mission accomplished, the Committee may well decide that a location half-way between the frigid Arctic and the torrid tropics is the ideal place for reflecting on their findings and writing its report.

The report is likely to be forwarded to another committee which may or may not include any members of the House Committee aforementioned, for comment and criticism. If the panel were to include one notoriously disputatious fellow well-known in bureaucratic circles, the review will most likely eventuate in a fresh wave of trips to write the report, ending in the serene resort of Bellagio, in Italy, where there would be few distractions.

’

Bellagio, you hear; not some hardscrabble town in Ghana where the House Committee on Health went to write its report so as to avert the disruptions caused by the epileptic power supply in Nigeria. For, thanks to President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda, the power supply is now no worse than that of Ghana.

Even so, Abuja or the Mambila Plateau or Obudu Retreat is not Bellagio. Jos is ruled out because of those grisly “Fulani herdsmen” visitations. Lagos? Too many distractions.

In keeping with this jamboree tradition, a high-level Executive-Legislative team, led by no less a person than the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has just completed its mission in the UK and the United States where it held meetings with “Diaspora Nigerians” in London, Washington DC, New York and Houston. The delegation includes, but is most likely not limited to the chairman, Senate Committee on Finance; chairman, Senate Committee on Lo-

HARDBALL

S

UBSIDY must be something good and beneficial in ordered climes. It is an age old economic device deployed to alleviate the sufferings of the generality.

Hardball wagers that when you hear the dictum, ‘the greatest good to the greatest number’, subsidy must be one of the means designed by social economists to achieve that noble objective.

In the developed economies where the market is faceless and extremely callous, governments step in quickly on the side of the people to ameliorate any harsh auguries. For instance, in a certain year not long ago, the Israeli government had to step in and mop up excess eggs because there was a serious glut, lest the market crashed and damaged the business of egg producers. To illustrate the extent of the subsidy, the eggs had to be destroyed by the government because that was the best economic option available. The poor chicken farmers were supported to remain in business.

But tell that to the deviously ingenious Nigerian public official. Subsidy for him is the best stratagem to milk the majority and keep them perpetually downtrodden. And the virus has infected the power sector. According to recent reports, the federal government is already owing the new private

Subsidy Ebola hits power sector power companies N95 billion in subsidy!

How could this be, you might ask? When was this discussed? Who has elected to shave your hair in your absence? Myriads of questions must stream through your mind as you read this; especially so when you remember that about N850 million is supposedly expended by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on kerosene subsidy daily, yet kerosene sells at 200 per cent above the recommended price.

Recall too that fuel subsidy has become the bane of not just the Nigerian oil and gas sector but the nation. It is because of this socalled subsidy regime, which has been on for about 30 years, that our huge refining and petrochemical industries have been ‘killed’.

For a major crude oil producer, we have remained net importers of petroleum products from all over the world, including non-oil producing countries.

Now what is this story about electricity subsidy? As reports go, the federal govern-

cal and Foreign Debts; chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business; chairman, House Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management; member of the House Committee on Diaspora; member of the House Committee on Finance and chairman, House Committee on Appropriation. Interactive sessions in the four cities, with invited professionals, were organised by the Debt Management Office, led by its Director-General.

Purpose?

To provide Diaspora Nigerians with opportunities for funding critical development projects back home. For good measure, the meetings provided the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and other members of the team an avenue to update Nigerians in the Diaspora on the development of the economy and the major achievements of the Transformation Agenda of the Goodluck Administration.

The meetings also reassured Diaspora Nigerians of developments in the country with respect to the Ebola Virus Disease and the government’s management of the situation.

The context – or the pretext—for this trip would appear to be a World Bank report indicating that Nigerians abroad had remitted more than $10 billion home in the first half of this year, and that the second half could even witness a bigger volume of transfers.

For the most part, these remittances were made to service obligations to relations and friends back home – pay school fees and delinquent rents, assist the living, bury the dead, and generally attend to the hard-luck stories that the next phone call from home is sure to relate in a way guaranteed to move you to head immediately to the nearest Western Union to wire money charged to your Credit Card.

If there is anything left, the “Diaspora Nigerian” may trade in the stock market, build a house in the village over a 10-year period, or raise a mortgage to buy one in the city.

This practice has been going on for decades and will continue as long as there are so-called Diaspora Nigerians with obligations to discharge back home. No Executive-Legislative intervention was required to start it, and none is required to sustain it.

The team that Dr Okonjo-Iweala led to London and Washington, DC and New York and Houston was preaching to the choir.

There is something to be said for that, to be sure. You court the choristers so that they do not migrate elsewhere.

But this particular choir is not the type that migrates. Though domiciled abroad, it is part and parcel of the Nigerian reality.

You do not need to make a round trip of 20,000 miles at a huge cost to an anaemic exchequer to preach to it.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above ment claims it pays on your behalf, N12 subsidy per kilowatt/hour of electricity consumed by you (dear reader; poor you). That, according to government, is half the cost of the electricity you consume. What this means is that in spite of the incessant electricity tariff upward reviews and the N750.00 mandatory monthly charge (supply or not) they insist they are subsidising your electricity usage. Say, what about the long hours of darkness we still have to endure, how do they work out the subsidy?

Now here is the catch: government had agreed to release N50 billion yearly to the generating, transmission and distribution companies since 2012 but only N5 billion has been released so far over two years, leaving a balance of N95 billion.

How could government begin to speak of subsidy when it has not tidied up it handover of the power sector to private hands?

A major problem remains gas availability.

Over the years, gas-powered generating plants were being built without consideration for the gas components. Transmission remains a problem as facilities lag far behind generation. Hardball thinks government would do well to invest in these key areas instead of delving into the subsidy sink-hole once again.

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