Sun News - October 16, 2012

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

DAILY SUN

41

WOMANoftheSUN

By KATE HALIM

D

r. Joe Odumakin is not one known to stomach any form of injustice. Her consistent cry for good governance and for the rights of all Nigerians to be respected has kept her active for many years without cowering.

In her characteristic manner, the founder of Women Arise has condemned the gruesome execution of four undergraduates who were accused of stealing in Port-Harcourt recently.

She decried the snail-paced response of our security agencies to curb crimes and the inability of the present administration to tackle Nigeria’s prevailing security challenges.

In a recent chat with Daily Sun, Odumakin warns that any country where crimes are not punished, iniquity rises. Excerpts: Government have continued to assure Nigerians of their security irrespective of where they reside, how far would you say the government has performed?

Government has been long on assurance but short on delivery. People come under threats of agents of destruction, death and terror consistently, but government has always been found wanting, perpetually unable to rise to the occasion.

How would you assess the performance of Nigerian police in recent times, has there been any significant improvement in their response to distress calls?

Their performance has been so appalling. Armed robbers, assassins and terrorists are having a field day because the police cannot respond to emergency situations promptly and with the intent to curtail it. A comedian once jokingly said that a policeman was running on the street shouting “help! help!! help!!! armed robbers are at our police station”, that joke is close to reality of our police in the face of helplessness to our security challenges.

What do you really think is lacking in our security system?

Everything is lacking. It is a system that lacks focus, motivation, ability, professionalism and precision. In short, it is an exact opposite of what security should be in a decent clime. Yet, security continues to have the largest share in our budget.

Would the creation of state police ameliorate the security situation in view of clear inadequacies of the present arrangement?

It will help in some way but there are issues that go beyond gun and tanks.

We have neglected social security for a long time, all we have been putting money on is gun and tanks, there is no way a country can have sixty million unemployed youths who have no hope and expect to have peace. Any society that cannot give hope and opportunity to many who are poor cannot protect the few who are rich.

What do you have to say about the lack of response of our security agencies to the murder of four UNIPORT undergraduates recently?

It has been the usual uncoordinated, unimpressed and a sickening response to needless loss of lives in our country.

It is the same hallow ritual of giving the appearance of something is being done, whereas nothing is being done and this gives a strong impression that human lives mean nothing again in our clan.

The gruesome, barbaric and painful

•Odumakin

‘With 60m unemployed youths, Nigeria’ll have no peace’ “Everything is lacking. It is a system that lacks focus, motivation, ability, professionalism and precision.

In short, it is an exact opposite of what security should be in a decent clime.

Yet, security continues to have the largest share in our budget” death of those four undergraduates was videotaped live and posted on the internet. Our security agents always abandon leprosy to always look for cure for eczema. This avoidable and needless

murder took almost two hours, the security agents abysmally failed us with their snail pace response.

What punishment do you feel is proper for the perpetrators of the Portharcourt lynching?

Our laws are clear on murder, the punishment for murder in our criminal code is death. The community did not investigate at all, the boys were murdered, and those who perpetuated the heinous act must be brought to book.

How do you feel as a mother knowing that women witnessed the cold murder and even insisted on killing the young men?

We have become a nation of beast across gender. As long as the society continues to commit crime with impunity, crime will no longer be gender based.

What would you say about the performance of our legal system in relation to incidents of violent crimes in our tertiary institutions?

Our law enforcement is weak and any country that crimes are not punished, iniquity rises. The Minister of Justice and Attorney Chief Bola Ige was killed in his home in Ibadan on December 23, 2001.

Did the Minister of Justice ever get justice?

There are several high profile serial killings, yet no one has been punished or any of the cases pursued to its logical end. The inability to bring the previous perpetrators to book has emboldened the criminals and has become right in some sense.

Is there any hope for significant improvement in our security situation under the Goodluck Jonathan administration?

There is no flicker of hope for a President who for two years has been holding independence parade at the villa. A president who says Boko Haram has infiltrated his government cannot be expected to secure the country. This present administration must be focused on security issues in the real sense of the word and put an end to mindless killings, barbarism and unnecessary loss of lives and prosperity.

What would you say to the parents, relatives and friends of the recently lynched undergraduates?

God will grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. It is a shattering experience for anybody to lose a child, much more the barbaric circumstances in which they died. We demand that justice must be done to prevent others dying that way because nothing can bring them back.

As a woman, how do you feel being addressed as die-hard activist?

I have been in this struggle with men for a long time and I have never felt intimidated. I remain committed to the struggle and this resolve has kept me going even during tough times.

Whatever I do, I do with all my strength, I don’t allow the fact that I am a woman hinder me from doing what I love doing. So, I don’t feel sad when I am addressed as a die-hard activist.

How has Women Arise fared since its inception?

Women Arise started in 2003 to break the women’s culture of silence and to help mentor women. All over the world, women speak the same language of silence, which sometimes relegates them to the background. In some cultures, women are not allowed to voice their opinions but are treated like acquisitions forgetting the fact that they are humans who have meaningful contributions to make in the society. Some of these women have never been mentored and they don’t even know what it is to have self-confidence or to aspire a greater height.

What would you consider the toughest challenge you have faced as an activist?

Because of our clime, getting more women involved in the struggle to be heard is a challenge on its own, except for a few women who feel committed.

Getting resources to champion the cause of women who have been battered is also another challenge that is still impending our success. The general insecurity of lives and property in the country baffles me as a woman and a mother.

Why do you think more women are not venturing into politics?

Well, we are in a male-dominated society and the issue of god-fatherism is on the rise. Most of the women are not really favoured because most men see them as threats or stumbling blocks, believing that perhaps if women occupy prominent political positions, they won’t play ball.

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DAILY SUN Tuesday, October 16, 2012

See what Fayemi has done •It’s new roads and

By TOPE ADEBOBOYE

O

ba Bamidele Ajayi is in an expansive mood. As he speaks, you cannot but notice the sheer delight on his royal face and the excitement in his words.

The thrill in the traditional ruler’s voice is understandable. The Elewu of Ewu-Ekiti, a sleepy community in Ilejemeje Local Government area of Ekiti State, is absolutely pleased with the current administration in the state. He’s very happy with the state government for ensuring that his community isn’t cut off from the rest of the world. The administration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi has just completed the new bridge over the Ero River in Ewu community, providing a replacement for the outmoded bridge that had served the community for about eight decades.

It wasn’t Fayemi that awarded this aestheticallypleasing bridge that’s causing excitement in Ewu, Ayetoro, Iye and other communities; that initiative was taken by the Segun Oni administration.

However, like some other projects of that government, work on the bridge was abandoned midway, subjecting residents of the area to untold physical and mental trauma. Farmers could hardly get to their farms while motorists and commuters must seek alternative paths to their destinations.

But in line with his pledge to continue with the plethora of abandoned projects that littered all parts of the state when he became governor, Fayemi continued with the construction of that bridge and successfully delivered the new product to the highly elated residents.

Until the completion of the new bridge, traversing that road had become a suicide mission. Even in the best of times, the bridge could accommodate just one small vehicle – or a motorbike – at a time.

There wasn’t even sufficient space for a car and a bike to move simultaneously on the narrow bridge.

Whenever it rained, the story changed drastically.

The long, slim bridge simply disappeared, totally submerged by the river. Motorists and pedestrians journeying from either side must turn back and seek alternative routes. But then, who would have expected more from a bridge built for a remote Ekiti community in 1934?

Now, with the completion of the new bridge, all that has changed, and the royal father is happy.

“Even a blind person will see that the difference is very, very clear,” the king enthuses. “This old bridge is very narrow and has become obsolete. But the new one is very wide, and equipped with modern amenities. There are barriers and a walkway, and motorcycles would pass conveniently alongside the vehicles without the slightest hindrance. So we are very happy, and our prayer is that the governor and his administration will continue to be uplifted.

“I have always said it, and I will repeat it: I doff my hat for the governor because he’s a governor of continuity. He doesn’t believe in the abandonment of any project. This is very good. He’s an excellent governor.”

It isn’t just the traditional ruler that prays for Fayemi and his government over the hitherto bad roads in many parts of Ekitiland. Across the state, thousands are they that daily raise their voices in supplication to the Almighty God, praying that whatever challenges that might be confronting Fayemi, his family and his government be divinely fixed just as the governor has fixed their roads.

•Ado-Iyin Road

•Old bridge at Ewu Among such is Mr. Sule Mohammed who resides in Ise-Ekiti. He says Governor Fayemi has focused his attention on bad roads in the state and is fixing them well. “Go to Ido, Aramoko, Ijero. The roads in these towns are very good. I’m just coming from Ijero now, and the road is very good. We commend him.”

For Pa Akinyemi Joseph, who is also resident in Ise-Ekiti, Governor Fayemi is God-sent. “We thank God, and we also thank that young man, Kayode Fayemi for what he’s doing in many places here.”

In Iloro-Ekiti, a community in Ijero Local Government area, Mr. Lawrence Oluwadare describes Fayemi as a good and listening governor who doesn’t like seeing people suffering. He’s particularly impressed with the Ekiti helmsman for completing work on the Otun-Iloro Road.

“No one knew that he would continue work on this road when he was sworn in. We’re happy with him. He has not forgotten the masses, and God will not forget him too. As he has opened up this road, God will open doors of blessing for him too,” says the middle-aged man in Yoruba rhythmically blended with undiluted Ekiti/Iloro dialect.

“This road used to be very impassable,” interjects his wife, Funmilayo, in what many would rightly call Yoru-Ekiti. “In the dry season, it was usually very dusty, and during the rains, it was always full of water. Nobody could use the road. But right now, it has become a very smooth ‘expressway,’ as you can see. Vehicles now move to and fro with ease.

So, as he has made movement very stress-free for us, Fayemi’s movement in life will be stress-free.

Enemies shall have no power over him. No evil shall have power over his family, and trouble shall be far from his habitation and his administration. He has tried; he’s a hero.”

Sunday Adunmo, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Projects - Roads, says that Governor Fayemi specifically declared 2012 as the year of delivery. He informs that the governor is bent on delivering projects that have direct impact on the people before the year runs its course.

But Adunmo doesn’t want to just tell you about the roads being done by his principal across Ekiti State; he wants you to see the work with your own eyes. So he suggests a drive round the state during which you can feast your eyes on the great roads that Fayemi is building. And the team from The Sun, comprising this reporter and Mr. Femi Adesina, deputy managing director, The Sun Publishing Limited, promptly concurs.

One good thing about the Fayemi administration is that he’s not taking his eyes off projects started by previous administrations in the state. He has, instead, decided to complete all of them. Many of such projects have been completed while others are at the final stages of completion.

Some of the road projects that Fayemi inherited but has now completed include the New Iyin-NTAIlawe Bye Pass and Judges Quarters Road, a 3.21kilometre road in Ado-Ekiti awarded by the Segun Oni administration in August 2008. Also completed is the Erinjiyan-Ilawe Road awarded in December 2009 (14.3km); Ijesa Isu-Ode Road (10km); Odo Owa-Oke Ila Road (12km); Awo-Iyin Road (6km); Ayede-Gede-Omu Road (22.5km);

Otun-Iloro Road (9.4km) and the SecretariatAwedele Road extension, a stretch of 0.26 kilometres.

Besides these, the Fayemi administration is continuing work on many other road projects awarded but abandoned by past administrations in the state.

One of such projects is the 30-kilometre IkereEmure Road awarded by the Segun Oni administration in December 2007. That administration never completed the project until the regime was sacked in October 2010.

Some other roads that the Fayemi government inherited but is currently working on are the Itawure-Okemesi-Osun State border Road (15.67km); Ado-Iworoko-Ifaki road dualization (19km); Aramoko-Ijero-Ido Road (27.56km); Oke-Iya Sharp Corner, Ara; Wuraola Gomez Street, GRA, Ado-Ekiti; Ido Ile- Okemesi Junction Road (8.5km); Irele-Ponyan Road (11.64km); Ori ApataAdebayo Road (2.6km); Aisegba-Ijesa Isu Road (14.068km); Otun-Osan-Ora Road (9.6km); Ilemeso-Omu Road (3.6km); Oye-Are Road (12.148km); Ode Township Road (2.5km); Olokuta/Ilora Road, Ado-Ekiti and the Ikere-Ilawe Road, which covers 20-kilometres.

Completing roads initiated by other people isn’t a pastime of Dr. Fayemi, however. The Ekiti State governor has initiated several road projects, many of which have been completed while the rest are in the final stages of completion.

Some of the roads started and completed in the last two years by Fayemi, the reporter learns as he drives round the state with the governor’s aide, include the Ado-Ilawe Road (11.5km); Ado-Afao

Gov Fayemi inspecting a road under construction

DAILY SUN Tuesday, October 16, 2012

43

to a 1934 bridge bridges everywhere Adaramodu

Ekiti no longer one week, one trouble •Mr Governor is like a bomb, he has now exploded, says Yemi Adaramodu, Chief of Staff

A

•New bridge at Ewu Road (10.754km); Ilawe-Igbaraodo-Ibuji Road (17km); Ijan-Ise Road (17km); Ikogosi-Ipole Iloro Road (24km); Ojumose-Basiri/Police headquarters along Iyin Road; Ijigbo-Isato-Ile Abiye Road (1.8km) and the box culvert connecting Apostolic Faith Community with the Ajilosun Main Road.

Several other road projects initiated by Fayemi’s government are also ongoing, this writer discovers.

These include the Omisanjana-Deeper Life Church, Ikere Road (9.3km); Oye-Ikun-Otun Road, a 43kilometre stretch that passes through a number of communities in Oye, Ilejemeje and Moba Local Government areas; Ikere-Igbaraodo Road (19km); Igede-Awo-Ido Road (24km); Ikole-Ijesa IsuIluomoba Road; Ijigbo-Baptist College on Ilawe Road (3.62km); Old Garage-Ado-Ikere Road (13km); Ijero-Ipoti-Ayetoro Road (17km); Dualisation of Old Garage-Ojumose Road (0.8km) and the dualisation of Atikankan-NITEL-Baptist Road. All the roads were awarded between March and November last year.

Many of the roads are virtually completed and are very smooth. The Ijan-Ise Road, for instance, is almost done. Only a few sections are being worked on at the moment. Adunmo informs that under the immediate past administration which awarded the contract for the road, two contractors were given the job. Both, however, abandoned it. “But when Fayemi came, he took over and started the job afresh, because some of the places that were done were already failing. We are treating the road and overlaying many sections with asphalt all over again. For three years, they were doing this stretch of 1.5kilometres, and you can see that the road is already failing.”

The 24-kilometre Oye-Otun Road project, you are told, was started by the Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo administration which governed the state between 1999 and 2003. The work had not gone beyond 17 kilometres in the Ilejemeje area when a new administration took over. Between then and when Fayemi was sworn in as governor in October, 2010, none of the succeeding administrations remembered the road. But Fayemi started work on it and the road is virtually completed now.

“The other areas that were done then, we want to overlay with asphalt so that everything will be new,” says Adunmo. “The road also has a bridge which we have just awarded for N150million. That bridge is going to be done now.”

At Erinmope, the government is replacing a collapsed bridge on a local river. The bridge, built just a few years back, is now in a dilapidated state. You are told that several souls, including four serving youth corps members, were despatched to the world beyond when the vehicles in which they were travel-

ling leapt right from the bridge into the river below.

A new bridge is already being constructed, and Adunmo says it will be ready soon.

The road that welcomes you to the state capital from Ikere is far from being smooth. The road is being reconstructed from the Old Garage area, but you wonder why the work didn’t start from the Ikere end. Adunmo explains: “The contractor is already working on the road.

The Ikere end was very bad. It has failed completely, even though that same road was commissioned a few years ago. But now, we have about 30 bad spots on that road. In some places, it stretches as far as a kilometre, in other places, 200 metres, and so on. So what we do is, allow them to stabilize, and then we move in. Our contractors are working on the road right now. They are already laying asphalt from the Old Garage. You know, that road starts from the Old Garage area. What was done on that road initially was wrong. They would remove suitable materials •Oba Ajayi and replace with unsuitable materials. No proper tests were conducted. That is the problem on the road.”

Some intra-community roads in the state are also not in the best of conditions. Most roads in Ikole, for instance, are in terrible states. But according to Fayemi, his administration would face the roads in the major towns next year. “Ikole roads are bad,” the governor admits to The Sun team during a meeting at the Government House in Ado-Ekiti. “But we are focusing on that in 2013. We are doing Ado roads now, and in 2013 we’re focusing on roads in Ikere, Ikole, Ijero and the other major towns. The rest are pretty much okay. But Ikole is big, and it’s a university town now with the federal university.

So we’re paying more attention to the infrastructure there.”

Ado-Ekiti is also a huge construction site right now. The dualization of the Old Garage-Ojumose •Pa Joseph Road, the dualization of Atikankan-Baptist Road and the other projects that are ongoing in the state capital coupled with the ones that are already completed would change the face of the town like never before.

Besides all these, the state government is also doing five kilometres of roads per local government.

When completed, Ekiti would have 80 brand new roads besides the ones being done directly by the state government.

Right now, the new picture of Ekiti is gradually emerging. In a few months, when all the roads are completely fixed, and work on the township roads are completed, a new Ekiti would have emerged, and the term ‘rustic’ might no longer be fashionable as the preferred moniker for this homogeneous state in Nigeria’s South West.

•Tomorrow: Ikogosi roars back from the dead

•Mohammed

ll through the months and years he was in the trenches, trying to retrieve his purloined mandate, Gov Kayode Fayemi was solidly backed by one man, Yemi Adaramodu, a chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ekiti State. It was, therefore, no surprise when the government was formed, and Adaramodu became Chief of Staff to the governor. He is today one of the pillars of the Fayemi administration.

Speaking with Daily Sun in Ado Ekiti, Adaramodu submits that the honour of the Ekiti man and woman has been restored, and the state is no longer one week, one trouble.

“As you’ve observed, I’m involved in this government, but that does not stop me from doing a dispassionate assessment at mid-term. We want Ekiti to be up there, so we need to tell the truth,” he began.

“When Gov Fayemi got in the saddle, it was the first time I would see a person not starting to fashion out what to do after being sworn in. He just went straight into action. He made a lot of policy statements on inauguration day. He reduced fees payable in our tertiary institutions, and within a month, he convoked an education summit headed by Professor Sam Aluko.

There, government was advised to merge the three universities we had into one, and that is what we have done.

“The governor said he would rebrand Ekiti, and he has done so. Before he came, honour had almost taken flight, but now, the honour of Ekiti has been restored. The state is now called Ile iyi, Ile eye, land of honour, where hard work thrives. Ekiti has been rediscovered, and we are no longer one week, one trouble. We are now one of the most peaceful states in the country, compared to the years of locust and disillusionment, when development was completely arrested. From October 16, 2010, honour was rediscovered in Ekiti.”

In terms of capital projects, Adaramodu reels off the achievements of the government with the dexterity of a practised hand: “The governor has this 8-point agenda. These are the pillars on which his policy thrust stand. Ado-Ekiti was the only state capital without streetlights, but now, a befitting capital is evolving.

The Ikogosi tourist centre that was plundered and abandoned by previous administrations has been brought back, and will be the pride of every Ekiti son and daughter soon. In two years, all roads linking the state capital have been rebuilt, even Federal Government roads are being fixed.

“In education, a lot has been invested in teachers and students, buildings are being renovated and branded. Most of them were touched last during the Adekunle Ajasin days, in the old Ondo State.

“In agriculture, farm settlements have been rejuvenated, youths are back to the farms, and government has given them a lot of incentives.

“Old men and women form a strata of society, and they enjoy social benefits, the first of its kind in Nigeria. Every month, not less than 20,000 of them are paid N5,000. They are even paid before civil servants receive salaries. The Ministry of Labour and Productivity has representatives in every local government, and the names of the senior citizens are already in their local governments, where they are paid. Agents of the state government take the cash to each of them, from village to village. The money is taken to their doorsteps.”

As the government marks second year in office, would Adaramodu chart a course for the future? He did.

“I’ll just advise the governor to consolidate on what he is doing now. He should not abandon any project. He should continue to involve people in policies, asking them what they want. That is the essence of democracy.”

At this time last year, Ekiti people were not too hopeful that the Fayemi government would be a hit. Spirits were at their lowest ebb and they were grumbling. How did Adaramodu feel then?

“It was like a woman who is pregnant. There must be a period of gestation. She does not deliver the same day she gets pregnant. I knew the governor would live up to his words, he is a performer, but the people were impatient. It was a tough time, there were lots of complaints. But now, things have started blossoming, the people have seen it, and they are happy. Mr Governor is like a bomb, he has now exploded.”

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DAILY SUN

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

From IKENNA EMEWU, Abuja

Y

ou will only be frankly shocked to see the ruin visited on 376 houses almost ready for habitation by the Federal Capital Territory administration on the road to the airport in Abuja.

The scene reminds of an earthquake or Tsunami site. But none of these tragic natural omens came on Gouza or the Lugbe 1 Extension estates of Abuja. It was human disaster instigated by the FCT administration, specifically the office of the Development Control.

Their bulldozers after two days left all the beautiful structures mangled, flattened and terribly ruined.

Many questions come to mind on getting to the site, why the FCT administration would not have seized these structures as punishment if they were constructed in error.

While the owners, who are essentially middle class workers, who saved to have homes lament their losses, the trading of blames is already on as regards the motive of this shocking act.

The developers of the estate, Minanuel Niger Limited, alleges that the act was out of ill will because the space of land was allegedly given to members of the National Assembly and, therefore, the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, wants to impress the lawmakers and had to do the unthinkable of destroying the houses already completed.

But the FCT says no to the claims and insists that the estate was developed without permission and must be grounded.

The Director of the FCT Development Control could not be reached for reaction but the PRO was on hand to explain that the developers didn’t get approval to build the estate.

Mrs. Mudasiru Josie, the public relations person that Spoke to Daily Sun said: “We destroyed illegal structures erected by the builders, who didn’t obtain any approval from the FCDA. The Development Control had marked the buildings when they were at the foundation level and we told them to stop work. We even placed advertorials in three newspapers in June 2011, asking them to come for proper approval. Because they knew what they were doing was wrong, they refused to come.”

But what the FCT would not satisfactorily explain is why they waited until the buildings were fully completed before remembering the action to take.

On the allegation that the action was taken in connivance with the National Assembly or to impress them, the Senate Committee Chairman on FCT, Senator Smart Adeyemi, has a different position.

In a phone chat, he told Daily Sun his side of the story and assured that the joint NASS committees would conduct public hearing on the matter and let the people know the true position of things and who is saying the truth between the developers and the FCT government.

Adeyemi said he was aware of the matter and made efforts to make sure the demolition didn’t take place. “It was a joint committee of the National Assembly that visited the site on our official tour of the FCT, concerning illegal structures.

The FCT administration told us that the estate in question was not in the design. They said the entire area was meant to be a mega town that would have, at least, 3,000 plots for

A demoliti

Wasteful as bulldozers

•

‘ the vis to ille ad the no

ent tow plo The sto stru de

such number of houses. They also alleged that their efforts to stop development before the construction got to the stage it was demolished was resisted. They even showed us pictures of people in military uniform guarding premises they said was the estate and that

soldiers stopped them from carrying out the demolition at the early stage.

“But not minding all they said, we still prevailed on them not to demolish anything until we must have heard the parties.

“I want to put it on record that

even during the Mpape demolition, we prevailed on the FCT not to do that until they found an alternative place for the persons to be affected.

So, if we never wanted to stop the demolition, we would not have visited the site. These people are Nigerians and we don’t gain any-

thing to have them hurt this way. There is no economic profit in demolishing those houses and that is why we told the FCT to hold on until we must have heard all parties.

“What I can’t understand is why the FCT was in a haste and could not wait for us to be through with the hearing before they embarked on the demolition. We would

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

DAILY SUN

45

on so callous

s crush 376 buildings in FCT

•Owners cry over loss of N10b investment

‘It was a joint committee of e National Assembly that sited the site on our official ur of the FCT, concerning egal structures. The FCT dministration told us that e estate in question was ot in the design. They said the

going there for mediation.

Stakeholders, who were at the scene of the demolition, said the land was legally acquired in 2004 and development on site started in 2010 and FCT was aware. “They endorsed and approved the buildings. Instead of demolition, why didn’t FCT go to the housing tribunal to cease the estate if it was not developed lawfully?” they asked.

Meanwhile, this is after the Senate had assured if the developer produced evidence of legal acquisition of the land, adequate compensation should be paid by FCT. After the sensitisation at the demolition site the following day, the house owners stormed the premises of the National Assembly and because they were barred from entry, they staged their protest at the gate of the NASS. The victims seem to be getting the sympathy of rights activists as they said Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), who visited the demolished site said it was only in war situation one could see such a carnage.

tire area was meant to be a mega wn that will have at least 3,000 ots for such number of houses. ey also alleged that their efforts to op development before the conuction got to the stage it was molished was resisted.’

need them to explain that to us when next we meet. I know the National Assembly is going to be busy now but we will make out time and conduct a public hearing where we will invite the media and the whole nation will watch it live.

“The best assurance we can give the affected persons is that if we later find out

that FCT demolished houses legally approved on lands legally occupied, there are no two ways about it, they are definitely going to pay the price. I know they have the rights to demolish if they wish to but if the affected places are legal, they also have the obligation to compensate.

But I say it again that I am surprised that the FCT could not wait for us before demolition, the hurry is what I can’t explain, and that is what we would want to know. Even as I left Abuja on Thursday, on my way out, I stopped over at the place to see the extent of damage beyond what I saw on television.

But what I would warn the

affected persons not to do is making allusions that the NASS members were allocated the place and the reason for the demolition is to make sure the members get the land. The FCT has over 3, 000 plots there, stretching towards the airport. So, how many are the NASS members to take the whole place. If we do not get a particular place, there is still enough land around there. So, why must we insist on having the place already built up by ordinary Nigerians we represent.”

He assured that the demolition was not in alliance with the NASS because if they wanted the place demolished, there was no need

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DAILY SUN

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

SUNSummit

amodu200910@yahoo.com Tel: 08059306448

TAIWO AMODU

Ondo 2012: How PDP dragged President Jonathan to Akure…

From: TAIWO AMODU (who was in Akure)

T

he Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) held its final state rally last Saturday at the Democracy Park Akure, Ondo State capital. It witnessed the presence of big players in the party and the central government.

With President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President, David Mark, Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Amaechi and his Bayelsa State counterpart, Henry Seriake Dickson, party national chairman, Bamanga Tukur, and almost all members of the PDP National Working Committee in attendance. No one was left in doubt that the battle to reclaim Ondo State, tagged, ‘Rescue 2012’ was a serious project for the party.

But making President Jonathan to appear at the rally was an Herculean task, as it was achieved with subtle blackmail.

Daily Sun findings revealed that the party chieftains from Southwest were complaining in hushed tones that President Goodluck Jonathan was indifferent to the mission of the party to unseat Governor Olusegun Mimmiko whom the former perceives as a reliable ally in the zone.

A Daily Sun source revealed that President Jonathan believed it was pay back period for Mimmiko. His party, Labour Party, under the leadership of Dan Nwayanwu, did not field any candidate in the last presidential election and had endorsed the PDP candidate while the Ondo State governor also encouraged the Ondo electorate to cast their votes for the PDP presidential candidate and incumbent president, Dr. Jonathan.

“Before this rally, it was difficult to disabuse minds of party supporters in Ondo State that President Jonathan wasn’t indifferent to the party quest to reclaim Ondo state.

Those who saw what happened when the Vice-president, Architect Namadi Sambo led other leaders to Akure for a rally on 2nd October had formed the opinion that Jonathan was paying lip service to PDP Rescue 2012.’’

But the zonal executive of the

Jonathan party and certain stalwarts of the party in south-west, who saw next Saturday election as an opportunity to create a base for the party in the zone told the nationa leadership in clear terms that a dismal show in Ondo governorship election has a grievous implication, as the impression would be formed, ahead of 2015 that PDP coffin has finally been nailed in south-west.

Speaking at the rally, former governor of the state, Dr. Segun Agagu and an ecstatic chairman of the party in Ondo State, Chief Ebenezer Alabi, spoke the minds of the party faithful.

Agagu thanked President Jonathan for coming, along with his home state governor, Seriake Dickson and the Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, Rotimi Amaechi.

“All our people are here. The Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Governor Rotimi Amaechi is here, the national chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur is

Tukur here, the governor of the state of Mr. President, Seriake Dickson is here.

Mr. President, we thank you for the support you have been giving us, we appreciate it. We thank you for the support you have been giving our party in the state.

“For the past three years, our people have been suffering; we have been producing graduates without jobs, our market women have no stalls. By the grace of God, your suffering will stop on October 20. A new dawn shall emerge in this state; so shall it be.’’

The state party chairman in his remarks, refuted insinuations that President Jonathan has been giving support to the incumbent Governor and Labour Party candidate, Segun Mimmiko, as against his party candidate, Barrister Olusola Oke. “Ondo is the cradle of Nigeria politics and that’s why it is strategic to PDP. What we are seeing here today is the resolve of our people to change the sitting governor; they are here to demonstrate that come, 20th October, they will troop out to vote

for the only candidate we have, Barrisiter Olusola Oke. “A lot of rumour has been going on that the President isn’t supporting our candidate. He has demonstrated to us today that he is with us, as leader of the party. Mr. President, we are grateful.’’

Senate President, David Mark assured the party supporters that the PDP would go to the polls on Saturday, as one family, as he vowed that the mistakes of the past would be corrected on Saturday.

“Looking at faces here, I see the youth. When I look at faces of youth, I know that Olusola Oke has won already.

“What PDP would give to Ondo and has been doing, is the environment to do free and fair election.

Ondo belongs to PDP and the mistakes of the past shall be corrected on October 20. Please, make sure you protect your votes; after voting, monitor the counting. Our president will not allow them to rig.’’

President Jonathan in his remarks, assured the electorate in

the state that his administration would ensure conduct of free and fair election, just as it did in Edo state. He warned those trying to foment trouble in the state during the forthcoming exercise to stay away.

‘I was told some people are planning to bring thugs. Don’t worry yourself; the federal government shall not allow any thug. If you know that your sons will be used as thugs, carry them away. Nobody will allow thuggery; we shall ensure free and fair election.”

He also called on the people of the State to vote PDP, in order to benefit massively from the central government agricultural policy.

‘We are here today, to tell you how we love you, how we want the state to grow and how Nigeria will grow. Ondo is very lucky, it is blessed in two ways: blessed with oil and farming. What else do you want? It is good government.

The federal government is working hard to make our farmers rich. If you work for PDP, we shall make you rich farmers. We shall work with your governor to be,” Jonathan assured the party faithful.

Tension over fund paucity Even as the party stalwarts went home impressed with turnout at the rally, a member of the party, Senator Bode Olajumoke expressed concern that it might be difficult for PDP to galvanise people to vote for it next Saturday.

Speaking with newsmen at the venue of the rally, Senator Olajumoke identified paucity of fund as a potent, inhibiting factor.

“All over the world, money play critical factor… You look at the teeming masses here. How do we convert this crowd into electoral votes for us? There must be enough fund, because on the election day, I wouldn’t be all over the eighteen local government and of course, people would need money to run elections.

“We have two formidable opponents: the incumbent government and you have the powerful ACN, with its resources, all over the place and they are going to bring a lot of resources. So, PDP also need to have enough financial muscle,’’ Olajumoke told newsmen in Akure.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

DAILY SUN

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SUNSummit

Tonye Princewill at the palace of paramount ruler of Rumowa community in Rivers state, HRH Prof. Raymond Woko

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ast Wednesday, philanthropist, consummate businessman and Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Prince Tonye Princewill, visited Obio Akpor and Tai Local Government Areas in Rivers State to commission the multi-million naira skills acquisition equipment he had procured under the banner of Princewill’s Trust.

The equipment were distributed to various local government areas in Rivers State to train and empower rural women to enable them cater for their families.

While at Obio Akpor LGA, Prince Princewill paid a courtesy call on the paramount ruler of Rumowa community, His Royal Highness, King Raymond Woko,

Tonye Princewill at the palace of Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM King G.N.K. Gininwa, OFR.

Day Princewill empowered rural women in Rivers and was blessed before he left to join the crowd that came to welcome him at the Princewill’s Political Associates (PPA) Secretariat, Obio Akpor, where he commissioned the skill acquisition equipment for the training of the women in the area.

The sequence of events was repeated in Tai where His Royal Majesty, King G.N.K. Gininwa (OFR), Gbenemene Tua-Tua Tai,

Chairman, Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers and Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, was on hand to receive the former Action Congress of Nigeria governorship candidate to his palace.

Prince Princewill, after briefing the the traditional ruler of his mission, thanked him for the great reception accorded him and his

entourage.

He told the king that based on his long relationship with the Tai people, he was ready to provide a bus for the PPA in the area and offer scholarship to 10 children of Tai to study in any university of their choice in Nigeria apart from the skill acquisition equipment he had donated to empower the women of Tai. The elated king prayed and

blessed the PDP chieftain, describing him as a blessing, not only to Tai people but to the entire people of Rivers State.

Honourable Emmanuel Owhor and Lady Peace Teerah, the PPA Coordinator for Obio Akpor and Tai Local Government Areas, respectively described Prince Tonye Princewill as a leader of the common man while assuring him of their commitment to the Princewill Trust.

The politician concluded the day with a formal presentation of a Hummer Air-conditioned bus to the Women Wing of PPA to assist the women in their mobilization efforts in the State.

Dr Mrs Edith Wele the women PPA Leader assured him that his investment in the lives of the Rivers State women would never be in vain.

Ajimobi and fear of the unknown

By BABAJIDE ADEAGBO

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he circumstance that led to the emergence of Senator Abiola Ajimobi does not need any recast. No doubt he was a dark horse as far as the battle for the ACN ticket was concerned. By describing him as a dark horse, this has nothing to do with his competence or ability to perform.

Rather, it was because he was the last entrant in the race. That was in spite of the fact that he just joined the ACN from another political party, the ANPP. No matter the angle one looks at it, there can be no doubt that the choice of Ajimobi was divine. Otherwise, the odds were too much against him; especially bearing in mind the he contested the 2007 election against the ACN, which now adopted him just four years after.

But in spite of that, the question remains how far has Ajimobi fared in the last one and a half years of his administration? That he has scored high as far as service delivery is concerned is not in doubt. To a great extent, he has been living to expectation against the backdrop of the infrastructural restoration in different sectors of human development in the state. Viewed against the rot and financial recklessness he inherited in the state, there is no doubt that the governor had been restoring hope into the people of the state.

But while the governor can be scored high in the area of administration, the same cannot be said of his relationship with the ACN, the party

whose platform he used to win the election. This is understandable to some extent. He came into the ACN with his own army of faithful which he branded SENACO group, thus constituting the group into not only an intimidating but a menacing pressure group within the ACN. In his bid to control the machinery of the party in the state, maybe the governor’s calculation is that he has to weaken the mainstream ACN by denying it all forms of empowerment in favour of his own chosen group.

But the fact remains that no matter the extent of marginalization of the mainstream party and the empowerment of his own group, that group cannot overwhelm the mainstream as far as the control of the party is concerned. In that respect, the earlier the governor frees himself from the “fear of the unknown” syndrome with which he treats the mainstream ACN the better for him. It is also the fear of insecurity that is dragging the governor into all forms of phony alliances with the Accord Party (AP), in the state. The governor may not know however that his romance with the leadership of the AP is strengthening the AP at the expense of his own party. Perhaps, Oyo State is the only state in the Southwest where disgruntled members of the PDP and other opposition parties are leaving not for the ruling party but to another opposition party, in this case, the AP. This spate of mass defection to the Accord Party is not left to within the PDP rank alone. It is a paradox of politics that members of the ruling

Gov. Ajimobi party who are frustrated by the neglect of the governor to their individual welfare are not left behind in this cross over to the Accord Party.

From the days of the late sage Obafemi Awolowo to the glorious era of Bola Ige, the hallmark of progressive politics had been spreading down of dividends of democracy to the grassroots to all the electoral wards through one kind of patronage of the other. It was this kind of generous political gesture which the administration of Lam Adesina imbibed that had created a kind of political confraternity within the political family of the progressives in the Southwest. It is, however, a myth of the current progressive government of Oyo State that most of those who labored for the victory of the ruling elite are still in rags. That certain-

ly cannot be the intention of makers of political parties anywhere in the world.

In the particular case of Oyo State and as stated earlier, there can be no doubt that the governor, to a reasonable extent is doing the bidding of the people. But even at that, he should wear a bit of human face.

This can be done through proper relocation of those whose stalls and markets are demolished in areas that are market friendly to their wares and products.

As for politicians, especially those of the ACN, who feel disgruntled, the governor owes it a duty to save them from frustration and social alienation. This is because, in any democracy, political parties are the tools and vehicles for political power. A good politician should desist from use and dump syndrome, which is the practice among some naïve politicians. Based on his integrity and pedigree, Ajimobi does not belong to that class of smallminded politicians. The state chairman of the party, Chief Akin Oke, a highly respected and reputable politician of the progressive family for decades may be enjoying the best of relations with the governor. But that can only be at personal level. He should put his long years of experience in Party administration from the Action Group days into play by always offering good advice to the governor. He alone is in a good position to assure the governor that as far as the Party is concerned, there is no hidden agenda on the future of the governor.

It is alleged by some close associates of the governor who have his ears that the present starvation policy of the governor is deliberate. To them, it is a payback time for the hostility some of them showed to him after being presented as the party’s flag bearer in the last election.

But the fact still remains it was the same people who later labored assiduously to ensure his victory in the face of stiff competition at the general election.

No doubt, everybody cannot be board members. But petty contracts, including road drainage can be allocated on ward or constituency basis where they would look for experts from within or outside to huge such without compromising standard which the administration is much known with. That had been the practice all along from Awolowo to Bola and even to Lam Adesina era.

The charismatic leadership quality of Senator Ajimobi is not in doubt.

But the common social infection among leaders generally and to which Ajimobi does not have immunity against is GOSSIP. Most leaders are usually carried away by misinformation arising from tale telling habit of some of their aides and confidants. It is such people who for their selfish reasons block the ears of leaders from reasoning because they want to exercise absolute control over them. At the end of the day, such leaders regret when late in the day they discover the antics of such aides

*Babajide Adeagbo writes in from Ibadan.

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DAILY SUN Tuesday, October 16 , 2012

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SOUTH-SOUTH Report Groups Sensitise Rivers women on unwanted pregnancy From TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt

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ecently, three international and national women groups visited Rivers State, carrying out enlightenment campaign for the female folks on prevention of maternal death from unwanted pregnancy.

The groups, Ipas Nigeria, National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) and Young Women Christian Association of Nigeria(YWCA), decried the rising cases of maternal death in the country and called on various governments and non-governmental organisations to join hands in addressing the problem.

They urged the three tiers of government to complement their efforts by carrying out sensitisation programme to educate women on how to live a healthy live in pregnancy.

During one of the events at Omuhumbia Omerelu, in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, the National President, NCWS, Chief (Mrs.) Nkechi Okemini, lamented that the statistics of maternal death in the country was alarming.

Represented at the event by Mrs. Lois Osueke, NCWS President, Imo State branch, the national president urged government and non-governmental organisations to join hands and ensure that the upsurge was reduced or eradicated.

“The issue of maternal death has been a major problem in this country and statistics is unacceptable. We will not sit back and watch our women die as a result of giving birth to children.

Pregnancy is supposed to be a thing of joy.

Therefore, we need to stand and fight this ugly menace.

“I use this medium to call on the Federal, State and local governments, including non-governmental organizations to join hands in seeing that maternal mortality is reduced to the barest minimum, if not totally eradicate.”

Mrs. Okemini stated that due to lack of knowledge, some pregnant women used concoctions and other harmful objects to terminate unwanted pregnancy, “which in most cases lead to untimely death.”

Also, the Community Access Associate of Ipas Nigeria, Mrs. Sarafina Maduka, advised pregnant women to use health centres regularly and shun traditional methods. She urged parents to inculcate the use of right words while training the girls, and disabused their minds from abortion.

The Ipas Nigeria representative advised teenage girls that abstinence from sex was the only solution for unwanted pregnancy.

Also, during the sensitization campaign in Emilaghan community in Abua/Odual Local Government Area of the State, by the YWCA in partnership with Ipas Nigeria, Mrs. Maduka expressed concern over the increasing rate of teenage pregnancy. She said that because of lack of moral and weakness of mothers to tell their daughters about unwanted pregnancy, they usually fell victims at the slightest chance.

Maduka disabused the minds of teenage girls from abortion, saying that they were ruining their future and suggested abstinence as best option for unwanted pregnancy. She advised that pregnant women should use health centres regularly, to avoid complication during labour. Also speaking, the National President of YWCA, Mrs. Hwacgchan Majak, said women and girls should be educated on how to live a healthy life. Mrs. Majak said unwanted pregnancy could be controlled when families and individuals were properly educated on the dangers of unwanted pregnancy and abortion. She emphasised that ignorance and superstitious belief have much negative influence on women, especially in the rural areas. She called on various governments to carry out enlightenment campaign on maternal mortal-

Women and school kids at the event

ity death, to curb the upsurge. Similarly, Ipas Nigeria, an advocacy group that champions women’s health and reproductive rights, has called on the National Assembly to urgently pass the bill on Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP), in order to make provision for compensation of victims of rape and other domestic violent acts.

The Country Director of Ipas Nigeria, Dr. Ejike Oji, made the call, on Monday, in Port Harcourt, at a one-day training workshop for officers and men of the Rivers State Police Command. She disclosed that the bill was comprised of nine bills which were brought together by several organizations.

“One of the objectives of that bill is to make

sure those women, when they are battered, that the culprits are apprehended and the woman will also get a remedy. We are making sure that the issue of rape, that the sanctions for rape be increased. To rape a minor or to defile a minor, you go to jail for 20 years, and if it is an adult, it will attract 16 years imprisonment.”

C’River honours senior citizens

Mrs Imoke (right) presenting gift to one of the awardees

JUDEX OKORO, CALABAR

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n 1990, the United Nations (UN) declared October 1 every year as International Year For the Older Persons with the motto “A Society for all Ages.”

It is intended to recognize the elderly people in the society; to celebrate Senior Citizens world-wide. Besides, it is to educate the society that aging is not an illness rather it is one of the stages of growth.

Cross River State, however, was not an exception as the state on Monday, October 1, 2012 commemorated the event to recognize the contributions of elderly persons and to examine issues that affect their lives.

The event, hosted by the Ministry of Social

Welfare and Community Development, was lined up with a flurry of activities including church service at the Good Samaritan Old People’s Home, Calabar, presentation of awards to some deserving senior citizens as well as lecture on Longevity, delivered by Dr. Udeme Asibong of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, (UCTH).

Among those honoured include the mother of the Wife of Cross River State Governor, Madam Grace Ezi-Ashi (Nee Nwosu) and the father of the Deputy Governor, Etubom Essien Cobham. While the former was honoured as “Senior Citizen Mother of The Year 2012” the later was honoured “Senior Citizen Father of The Year 2012.”

In her opening remark, the Commissioner for Special Welfare and Community Development, Patricia Endeley, said “that the International Day of the older persons takes it origin from the United General Assembly resolution 45/016 of 14th December, 1990. It proclaimed 1st October of every year as International Day of Older Persons”.

While disclosing the theme for the 2012 commemoration of the Day of Elderly as “LONGEVITY: SHAPING THE FUTURE”, with special focus on health behavior, the Commissioner added that the aim was to awaken the consciousness of Member-States and citizenry towards the invaluable contributions of the older persons as well as emphasize on issues relating to care development and welfare.

Barrister Endeley asserted that since Elderly people are special group of persons filled with wisdom, they deserve special care and treatment.

She said that the State Government through The Ministry of Social Welfare and Community Development has been rendering assistance through monthly subventions to support the elderly persons in social institutions across the State as Government appreciates and commends the efforts and sacrifices made by this segment of the society towards the unity and development of the state.

Speaking earlier, the Wife of the State Governor, Mrs. Obioma Liyel-Imoke, said Cross River State celebrated the day because the State sincerely and deeply appreciates elders.

The Governor Liyel Imoke’s led-administration is elderly friendly, adding “the State Governor constituted Elder’s Council, as a true demonstration of respect we show to them, because government recognizes the aged and want to tap from their wealth of wisdom”.

Mrs. Imoke, who advised that care for the aged should not be left in the hands of government alone, called for special identification card that would enable the elderly have special concessions in the provision of social services.

Speaking on the topic, “Longevity: Shaping and the Future,” the Guest lecturer, Dr. Udeme Asibong, said the basic ingredient of the lecture is that they should maintain healthy life style and desist from alcohol and smoking and live responsively.

The Wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Glory Efiok Cobham, Chief Mrs. Minika James, Chief Mrs. Grace Edet and top local government functionaries were among the special Guests at the event.

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Tuesday, October 16, 2012

SOUTH-SOUTH Report From JUDEX OKORO, Calabar

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n the last couple of years, Calabar Metropolis in Cross River State has suffered incessant flooding .

Calabar had suffered over 15 major flooding incidents in the last three years and property worth millions of Naira had been destroyed and lives lost.

However, the cause of the flooding has always been attributed to both natural and man-made caused as the major draining systems have failed to contain the increased level of rainfalls occasioned by climate change.

Drainage systems in Calabar constructed some years ago did not take into account the sudden climate change and its attendant calamities as the volume of water in recent times had overwhelmed the channels causing overflow and flooding.

Worried by this yearly development, residents of the Metropolis had appealed to the State government to urgently expand the existing channels and build more to arrest the ugly situation.

And in response to people’s clamouring and committed to finding lasting solution to the perennial flooding and gully erosion threatening Calabar metropolis during the raining season, the Cross River State Executive Council in August 2009 awarded the contracts for the construction of Calabar Phase 2 Drainage Channels to Marlum Nig. Limited.

The drainage which measures 1.65 kilometre, will cost N1.8 billion while the gully erosion control to be handled by Arab Contractors is valued at N495.1 million.

Explaining the structure of the channelization, Engr Robbert Etu, told journalists during the just-concluded media tour of government projects, that “giving professional and graphical description of the two contracts, the channelization will entail a two meter diameter concrete pipe with a below average depth of 10 metres and manholes at 500 metres interval to allow for maintenance.”

Etu said “the erosion control along the Murtala Mohammed Highway is 450 metres long with 50 metres width and 20 metres depth on the average involving rein-

C’River to commission ultra modern drainage system include a drainage channel stretching from WAPI Junction through Essien Town/UNICEM into Calabar River while the other is the commencement of the second phase of the gully erosion control at Beebosco Bus Stop along Murtala Mohammed Highway.

Imoke said the state has the political will to improve the lot of the people and deliver the dividends of democracy as the contracts were intended to safe guard lives and property of residents of the area, adding that “it was one of the measures taken to frantically tackle the incessant flood menace in the city as the drainage system is billed to run west ward of the Calabar Metropolis is to empty its content into the river by the Unicem factory.”

The drainage under construction Inspecting the facility recently, the Commissioner for works, Bar. Legor Idabgor, said that the State Governor was disturbed by the forced concrete channel to reconnect the ported with specialized trees to be planted frequent flooding with its attendant disrupphase one of the project.” soon. tion of the socio-economic landscape of the According to him, it will stabilize the In a media parley penultimate week, people and had taken pragmatic measures slopes bordering the area and it will be sup- Governor Liyel Imoke said the contracts to prevent such phenomenon.

Delta CP wins ‘Crime Bursting Police Officer’ award From NGOZI UWUJARE, Ibadan

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he Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Ayo Aduba, has been nominated for the “Most Outstanding Crime Bursting Police Officer in West Africa” by the Security Watch Africa. The award is going to be presented to him at the 9th Security Watch Africa Awards on Friday, October 19, 2012, in Accra, Ghana.

Ikechukwu who was CP in Plateau and Bauchi States was also CP at Mobile Force (Compol). He said the award will ginger him more in the pursuit of professionalism in his duty: “I will be present to receive the award in Ghana. I want to thank the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, for given me the opportunity to showcase my skill and professionalism. I also want to thank him for the confidence he has in me just as I thank all my subordinates who assisted in achieving the success that leads to the award.”

He disclosed that the command arrested 60 armed robbers and kidnappers, rescued some victims and recovered arms and ammunition. He said the success was due to strategies adopted by the command in checkmating the activities of criminals in the state: “My men have been having a constant patrol of the highways in the state and other strategic areas and this has resulted in the arrest of armed robbers.”

He commended the state

government for its support through the supply of operational vehicles saying this enabled the police to chase away criminals: “I also want to thank my Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Taiwo Lakanu, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations; all the Divisional Police Officers and Area Commanders because I cannot do it all alone. The achievement is a collective one. I also thank all other officers and men for their hardwork and support.” He thanked the people for their cooperation in providing useful information that helped the comDelta State CP, Mr Aduba mand.

Release our son, Eghasha’s family pleads with abductors From EMMANUEL OGOIGBE, Warri

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astor Gamaliel Eghagha, the elder brother to the Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Hope Eghagha, kidnapped recently has asked his abductors to release him.

Speaking to Daily Sun at the weekend in Warri, the cleric wondered why such action could be taken against his brother who he said cannot hurt a fly.

According to him, his brother was abducted Sunday September 30th 2012 at Abavo, near

Pastor Gamaliel

Agbor and since then, he has not been released.

In a sober mood, Pastor Eghagha declared”, I am yet to know why such brutal act was carried out against my brother.

As a bible scholar, I see it as the end time because bible says at the end time, wonders will abound”.

“After abducting and killing the policeman attached to my brother, the kidnappers still had the effrontery to demand for N100million as ransom. It is most unfortunate and uncalled for. Our family does not have such kind of money”, said the cleric almost in tears.

According to him, government should not succumb to the request of the demand by criminals for ransom because they are enemies of God and humanity.

“My brother cannot hurt a fly. For over one week now, they have kept him in their camp because of their selfish greed. I want to appeal to the abductors to release him unconditionally”, stressed the Cleric, adding, “They have kidnapped a child of God”.

Said he: “I will not fail to thank Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and other government officials for their concern so far. I know they are not resting on their oars. However, I want to further appeal to public spirited persons to join in this effort to trace wherever my brother is being kept and effect his release”.

To curtail the act of kidnapping, Pastor Eghagha suggested that stringent laws should be made by government against this obnoxious act to serve as deterrent to others.

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Fuel subsidy: Huge crisis looms –Ojougboh From AIDOGHIE PAULINUS, Abuja

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ormer Presidential Assistant on National Assembly Matters, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, has said huge crisis looms if the government does not remove subsidy from petroleum products now.

Ojougboh, who represented Ika Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007, said President Goodluck Jonathan will not have money to execute capital projects if the nation continues to subsidise petroleum products.

Here’s an excerpt of encounter with the Agbor, Delta State-born Ojougboh.

What would you say are the issues associated in the fuel subsidy matter?

Well, the way I look at it, anything that would bring pains and agony to Nigerians, I abhor it. I hate to see Nigerians suffer. And you don’t need a soothsayer, you don’t need a crystal ball to look into it, to tell you that the way the fuel subsidy thing is going, if not addressed now, there is going to be a huge crisis because everyday, the daily consumption of petrol is increasing because the population is equally increasing. If it continues like that, a time will come when all the crude that we produce, if we refine it, it will not be enough for us to use locally. That means we will not be getting any money from petrol, which also means that we will not have a budget because all the money will go into subsidising fuel. So, this fuel subsidy cannot continue. The government should address it now. Not tomorrow. Now! Today!

Are you advocating the removal of fuel subsidy?

The total removal of subsidy in petrol, in Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO). The one of petrol is the most worrisome because what the government needs to do is to remove it and create a two-tier system now where the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) will continue to sell only to commercial vehicles, such as taxi drivers, painted buses and so on and so forth. But the other oil companies like Oando, African Petroleum (AP) and others should sell to private individuals. If you buy a car, you should be able to fuel it. It is as simple as that. It is when that is done that the government can now have money to drive infrastructure. That is when the masses will begin to feel the impact of governance.

You can imagine that somebody wants to go to Kano, for instance. As far as I am concerned, to cough out N10,000; N15,000 for a low, common earner, is very disappointing. But if we had a railway system that can cost him, maybe N1,000, and he jumps into the train in Lagos and off he goes to Kano, it can be managed. And then, you can see the impact that the poor road system is causing for us because there is no money to build roads and the little roads that we built, you see the way the heavy duty vehicles ply them. Look at Dangote Cement! Loads and tonnes of Dangote, all of them on the road. As soon as they pass the road, the next day, if you go there, the road will pull out. You see trucks with iron rods and iron pillars! Huge iron rods and pillars! They break down on the road and as soon as they pass the road, they damage the road. And the most worrisome aspect is that these trucks breakdown on the road and the masses will come and ram into them. They cause a lot of accidents on the road. We need to take those trucks out of the way and put them where they belong. We need to put the cargo where they belong – on the rails. That is why we need money. The government needs money to pursue infrastructural development.

Why do you think Nigerians are resisting the removal of fuel subsidy like we witnessed in January this year?

No! Nigerians didn’t resist it. What happened was that the opposition, people like Tunde Bakare, that are looking for cheap popularity, that want to jump into politics with pivot, people like Tunde Bakare, that all they think of is to attack opposition, a Muslim, who became converted to Christianity, not more than five years ago, now turns back to attack everybody. He will attack Christians, he will attack Muslims, he turns his pulpit into a defamatory altar for the president and it is not good. They went and hired musicians and they were dancing, doing disco.

Of course, it was a Christmas period and people were at home. So, when people heard that Tuface was going to play, all of them went to

…Says Jonathan won’t have money to execute capital projects jam. They were dancing in Lagos. That is what they were doing and they couldn’t even sustain it.

And that is not the issue anyway. The issue is that Nigerians; all the governors agreed that the fuel subsidy should be removed. The president was right then and he is right now that the fuel subsidy should be removed. In fact, there is no Nigerian that wants what is happening now in the downstream of the oil industry to continue.

And it is annoying. It is annoying. You subsidise fuel for a man, a big man, a Nigerian that is rich with over 20 cars and the government will be buying fuel for him! It is unheard of anywhere in the world. If you want to do subsidy, subsidy should be for the poor.

Don’t you think that the resistance stems from the fact that Nigerians have lost confidence in the government?

Of course! Let me tell you, if they are not sure, ok. The government has a lot of ways of utilising the funds. Government can target projects and say these fuel subsidy monies are going into certain projects.

All the government needs to do is to call the National Assembly and say we will remove this fuel subsidy and the government will save N1 trillion in a year. Aminimum of N1 trillion in a year. You can imagine N1 trillion going into capital projects. The rail network from Lagos to Enugu, Enugu to Kano, Kano to Lagos; if you put one N1 trillion every year for five years, you will complete it. Electric rail system.

Nigerians believe that considering the massive corruption in the country, the money will go into pockets of few persons in government…

No. You cannot say because there is corruption, you will not develop the country. Of course, you cannot say because there is corruption, you will not do what you are supposed to do. The government has its own ways of tackling this corruption. For instance, the oil subsidy thieves: you can imagine that as they are still stealing the money from oil subsidy, government is still subsidising it, buying their fuel. That is unimaginable. In any case, can’t you see what government has now done to the subsidy thieves? They are all in court.

Some of them alleged that they financed the president’s election from the proceeds. Is that not a stain on the part of the government?

•Ojougboh I can tell you here that, that is hearsay. I don’t believe any of them said it. I have not seen them, they are in court; I don’t believe any of them said it. And let me tell you: the president would not have encouraged such a thing and the president will not. And I repeat, this is a man, who abhors corruption. He will not at any given time agree that he will take subsidy money and put it into election. It is pure propaganda.

Why is it difficult for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government, led by President Goodluck Jonathan, to deal with the oil thieves?

Of course, if Jonathan had come and said all you subsidy thieves, I catch all of you, I put you into prison, I sentence you for 20 years, they will say he is a dictator. He is following the rule of law. He has done his work. The investigative agencies have done their work and he has handed the matter over to the court. Do you want Jonathan to become the judge? Are the people not being tried in court? Do you want the president to go to court and give judgment? Is that what you want?

What is the way out of this fuel subsidy crisis?

The way out of the crisis is that there should be complete deregulation of the downstream sector. And let me tell you: the masses will love

it. Monies that will be saved from the subsidy removal will be plunged into agriculture. We are not supposed to be selling fertilizers to farmers because nobody eats fertilizers. You have to use it. Those are the things that should be subsidised.

The rail system in the country should be massively subsidised. We are supposed to have money to build refineries. If we don’t remove the fuel subsidy, we can’t build refineries. And to remove the fuel subsidy is very easy. The masses will continue to buy fuel from the NNPC and the government should immediately license private operators, such as Oandao and others, to be involved in the deregulation.

Some have also alluded the resistance to the excess poverty in the land. What is your view on that?

No! In any case, let me tell you: the hardship you are talking about will be addressed. That is why there is government. There is nothing, no hardship that government cannot control. There are palliative measures that government will put in place to address these issues when the subsidy is removed. And it is the way out – the removal of subsidy. Otherwise, President Goodluck Jonathan will not have money to execute capital projects and it is a must that there should be fuel in the filling stations. At this critical moment when we have security issues, we cannot afford not to have fuel in the pump stations and the way forward is to remove the subsidy as soon as possible.

Your party, the PDP, said the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), was insensitive in embarking on the recent strike action witnessed in Abuja. Do you agree with your party?

And the strike was completely unnecessary.

Why? Because there was no reason for it. NUPENG are now the marketers, they are now the labour union, they are now the judge in their own case; they said they were owed salary, they went on strike because they didn’t pay them salary; they are now fighting for oil marketers to be paid subsidy money. In fact, that was very unnecessary and it became clear that they were induced by the oil marketers. And Nigerians know that. All Nigerians know that, that they were induced.

So, what would be your advice to the president?

Mr. President, please, quickly address the issue of fuel subsidy. Continue to sell fuel by the NNPC to commercial vehicles and let private car owners buy their own fuel. Finish!

Ghana 2012: We’re packaging Africa for investors –Publisher

O

yarekhua Aminu is Publisher/Editorin-chief of Nigerian Top Leaders magazine. He spoke on the annual international conference of the publication and conferment of awards by its Board of Editors on October 27, 2012, at the Africa Regent Hotel, Accra, Ghana. Excerpt…

What are the motives behind this annual gathering?

The motives are numerous. It is a gathering of intellectuals and distinguished personalities, who will come together to brainstorm on current issues across the world and recommendations made to relevant government authorities. The forum will afford participants opportunity to contribute intellectually to challenges, facing various nations and the way forward. The event is also meant to discuss the problems of Africa, the burning issue of terrorism, corruption, bad leadership, peace and to showcase the continent to the international

community. It is also meant to honour credible achievers in diverse fields of human endeavour.

Organisations and institutions, contributing exceptionally toward development of their countries are also honoured.

As a journalist and publisher, what is your take on terrorism across the world and the way to tackle the menace?

Terrorism across the world is highly condemnable because it impedes progress and peaceful co-existence. A case study is Nigeria where Boko Haram and ex-militants unleashed violence, killing and destroying property worth billions of naira. Since 2009 when Boko Haram started, Nigeria has also lost billions of naira to this orgy of violence.

However, the ways to tackle terrorism, in my own view, is for world leaders to hold a summit on terrorism and resolve to fish out terrorists and their financiers for sanctions. In the Northern part

Lagos ANPP hails party chairman

T

he Lagos state chapter of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) has commended the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, for inaugurating a 20-man committee to liaise with other opposition parties to bring about an alliance that will give Nigerians a credible alternative to the ruling party.

In a statement signed by Lagos State Chairman of the ANPP, Chief Ajayi Nicholas, and Secretary, Kehinde Salau, the chapter said setting up the committee was a step in the

right direction.

It also applauded the choice of immediate past governor of Kano State, Dr. Shekarau, as chairman of the contact group.

The chapter said Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau was close to the masses and would thus make the right contacts and come up with a credible group to give the ruling party a good run for power to give Nigerians better governance.

Chief Ajayi urged the contact group to put Lagos into cognizance as a base for making a success of its assignment.

of the country, the role of the Emirs and religious leaders cannot be ignored; they have to be included when negotiating with the Boko Haram for a peaceful resolution.

Your magazine will mark seven years this year, what are your experiences and challenges?

In the last seven years the magazine has consistently disseminated information about credible achievers and happenings across the world. We have successfully organised leadership conferences/awards in Abuja, Accra in Ghana and Banjul, the Gambian capital. Our experience is that the publication has enjoyed readership across the 36 states of Nigeria, West Africa and the world. Our challenges are finance and lack of sponsors for our annual events. If we can get genuine investors and sponsors, we will spread our regional offices and circulation across the world.

How do you think Africa can tackle the problem of corruption and bad leadership?

Corruption in Africa has become endemic in the last decade the problem of corruption has been worrisome and this has retarded the growth of the continent. The twin problem of corruption and bad leadership has been on the increase because African leaders are greedy and selfish.

African heads of state and governments can tackle corruption through selfless leadership and good governance. Leaders should be transparent enough to cut down on cost of governance and deliver the dividends of democracy to the citizenry. Anti-corruption agencies can be strengthened and given more powers to prosecute treasury looters and other economic crimes, including establishment of special courts.

52 DAILY SUN Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Good Health Boost for Orthopaedic practice as FECOT graduates 35 prosthetists and orthotists

By AZOMA CHIKWE

S

uccour came the way of Nigerians, who had been faced with the challenges of lost hands, limbs and some other parts of the body as National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi Lagos (NOHIL) boosts the number of Prosthetists and Orthotists with the convocation of 37 graduates from its Federal College of Orthopaedic Technology, (FECOT).

Available information has shown that Nigeria can hardly boast of 10 Prosthetists and Orthotists despite the challenges of amputated limbs and hands. Also, Nigeria is yet to recover from the mass exodus of qualified Nigerian Prosthetists and Orthotists to foreign countries for greener pastures in the 1990s.

While Prosthetists are medical professionals who assess, design and fabricate as well as see to the fitting of artificial limbs, Orthotists provide assistive devices and braces for patients with musculoskeletal deficits. The two related allied health disciplines are concerned with the aim of restoring them to their pre- injury status.

According to the Minister of State for Health, Dr Alli Pate, in 2010, a total of N20 million was used to make direct purchase of equipment and tools from Ottoburg, Germany for NOHIL. But with the establishment of the Federal College of Orthopaedic Technology, FECOT, Nigerians would not only check paucity of professional manpower but would

By JOB OSAZUWA

T

he need for more enlightenment and reorientation on first aid treatment in time of emergency among Nigerians has once again been stressed by Health and Safety Awareness Foundation (HASAF) in conjunction with Critical Rescue International (CRI).

Emergency is said to be a critical situation where urgent attention is needed to prevent further escalation of crisis that may lead to death.

Speaking at the safety awarenessprogrammerecently in Ojuelegba Lagos, the Media Coordinator of HASAF, OlubiyiOluwaseun said the team was propelled to intensifying campaign on how stop preventable deaths having watched what transpired at the scene of the June 3 Dana plane crash and other similar incidents across the country.

Delivering a lecture on emergency management tips, the Head of CRI, Jeanie Bowen noted that emergency awareness orientation was meant for all both the old and young.

L-R: Dr. Rotimi Odunubi, Prof. Akin Osibogun and Dr. make available adequate artificial limbs and hands amongst others in the country.

Addressing graduands at the maiden convocation of FECOT in Lagos for 22008/2009 and 2009/2010, the State Minister of Health who acknowledged shortage of professional in the area directed the other two National Orthopaedic Hospitals in Enugu and Kano to initiate the process of commencing National Diploma programme in their hospitals to urgently address the shortage.

Pate explained that the acute shortage of

prosthetists and orthotists formed the basis for the approval given to the management of NOHIL in 2005 and 2007 to commence the training.

Represented by the Chief Medical Officer of Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Prof. Akin Osibogun, he said more funds would be released to NOHIL to procure all the necessary equipment and tools for the commencement of the Higher National Diploma Programme.

“We will facilitate the granting of scholar-

ships for interested Nigerians to pursue this course at the B.Sc, M.Sc and Ph. D levels. The issue of funding will be promptly addressed.

He advised the graduating students to ensure that the good training imparted to them both academic and moral must be put to good uses as they remain worthy ambassadors of the institution.

Earlier, Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr. Dr. Wahab Yinusa urged graduands to develop right attitude to work as well as upgrade their knowledge. “Be committed to your training, be respectful to your country and be prepared to work in any part of the country.”

FECOT is the first recognised college in Nigeria to train Prosthetists/Orthotists at the National Diploma/Higher National Diploma levels. It is a monotechnic recognised by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Medical Rehabilitation Therapist Board (MRTB).

Presently, NOHIL is working on its accreditation by the International Society of Prosthetists and Orthotist (ISPO).

The journey of FECOT began in 2005, while academic programme there started in 2008.

Since then, four sets of students had matriculated from the school. Two of the 35 graduands came out with distinction, 14 had upper credit, 18 had Lower credit while one had a Pass. were 22008/2009 set and 2009/2010 set respectively.

HASAF stresses safety awareness, emergency control She, however, regretted that most death cases arising from accidents in Nigeria were preventable, attributing the sad development to lack of proper sensitization and aggressive campaign on handling emergency situations.

She also maintained that not all cases require the attention of ambulance service provider especially in third world countries where limited number of them are available, stressing that individual efforts are needed and helpful in every emergency situation.

Bowen stated that when adequate message is disseminated to the larger section of the society, Nigeria would be on the threshold of reducing death cases from accidents to the barest minimal.

The Health Coordinator, Nigeria Red Cross Society, Lagos State branch, KanuNdubuisi Kenneth took the practical section by dis-

playing how victims could be rescued from critical condition without further complicating their injuries.

He advised every Nigerian to acquire a first aid box (stocked with tools) in their homes, offices and vehiclesnoting that it would go a long way in averting unwarranted situations.

The Red Cross Humanitarian stated that it was high time Nigerians wake up from their state of naivety and urged them explore and put safety knowledge into use for the promotion of a healthy nation through safety measures.

Ndubuisi enumerated some

of the common accidents where safety know-how is required as burnt of various degrees, electric shock, bleeding minor and severe accident, bone fracture, fire outbreak and others. He reemphasized that with the availability of first aid box treatment could be administered to prevent

health deterioration.

But he however warned that first aid treatment should not be administered without acquiring the requisite skills in managing emergency situations.

Also speaking at the event, the Team Leader of HASAF, Akpan-Williams Ediong said thoughthe Team encountered hitches in pooling resources and facilitators for the event but was optimistic that with the support of government and corporate bodies, the orientation would continueand extend to other part of Nigeria.

Nigerian Breweries to reward journalists

By JOAN IKEKHIDE

I

n her recognition of the media contribution to national growth and development, Nigerian Breweries, makers of Star beer, is set to reward outstanding journalists, who have displayed exceptional professionalism in their course of reporting.

Disclosing the award, which was launched four years ago, the company’s corporate affairs adviser, Mr.

Yusuf Ageni, said the Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Award was introduced to promote professionalism and objective reportage of events in corporate Nigeria.

He said the Award has so far produced five winners in the journalist of the year category and three in the photojournalist of the year. Ageni noted that the objective of the award has been achieved especially given the high quality of winners recorded since its inception.

“It is time again to recognize excellence, promote creativity and reward objectivity.

As usual, this year’s award would focus on professionalism and objectivity using reports about Nigerian Breweries and its brands in the print media as a guide,” he said.

He disclosed that the 2012 edition would see winners of the Golden Pen journalist carting away N500, 000 and 64GB ipad while the photojournalist category would smile home with N250, 000

and 64GB ipad. The first runner up in the journalists of the year category would go home with N250, 000 plus apple ipad while the second runner up would receive N200, 000 and apple ipad. But the first runner up in the photojournalist category would be rewarded with 200, 000 in addition to ipad.

The Corporate Affairs Adviser however urged journalists to do their best assuring them that their efforts would not go in vain.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

DAILY SUN

53

Good Health

By ONYEKACHI JET

S

ometime in 2010, Master Emmanuel Onwujiobi, 14, had a fatal fall while playing with his fellow children. He sustained an injury which left him with a broken neck bone. Since after this incident, life for the once bubbling lad turned a sour tale.

Not giving anything to chance, the father, Mr. Christian Onwujiobi who hails from Otoro, Nnewi, Anambra State, commenced immediate treatment on him. The search for cure for the young Onwujiobi resulted in visit from one hospital after another. And this culminated at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi, Lagos.

But rather than witness any form of improvement, Onwujiobi said that his son’s health deteriorated, even with the level of treatment he was receiving. “After sometime, I noticed that his spinal cord was bending. After the fall, I took him to National Orthorpaedic Hospital,Igbobi. He was treated and his chest region was placed on POP (Plaster Of Paris).

He was in that POP for six months after which it was removed and replaced. But we noticed that instead of the POP to straighten up the affected area, it was just giving him wounds. This thing happened in 2010. And since then, I have gone round to a whole lot of hospitals but found no cure, no change, and no improvement.

Everyday his condition worsens.

Spinal cord injury incapacitates boy, needs N6.6m for surgery abroad He stated further, the ailment has greatly distorted his son’s gait has and sent the child out of school. “But as his condition worsened, he finds it difficult to bend and write. So, they gave him special seat in the school. At a point, he can no longer bend down to write, he had to drop out of school.

He is advancing in age and I need help”.

The father, who lacked words to describe the pains his son goes through as a result of the unfortunate accident, said the boy’s experience is better seen than imagined.

“You only need to be by his side to be around him to see the kind of pain he goes through. It is not something to be imagined.

From time to time, the bone pricks him.

When such happens, he writhes in severe pains, groans and cries just like a baby.

“Sometimes, when the pain begins, he cries all through the night. He is now a boy of 14 years and the bone does not allow him develope optimally. This problem has now, greatly incapacitated him”.

According to him, the limitations of local doctors to provide cure for the ailing boy are a serious source of concern. “Since

2010, I have spent virtually all my life spending trying to find cure for him. We have even been to some private hospitals at Enugu. In one of the hospitals we visited, the doctor there gave a 50-50 chance of survival”.

“But at Igbobi, sadly, doctors there said they have tried their best and that there is nothing more they can done. They however, suggested we seek medical help outside the country. But the cost was put at N6.6 million naira (six million six hundred thousand naira only). And this is enormous. This is why I am appealing to Nigerians, to my dear brothers and sisters, to all Nnewi sons and daughters, to all Anambrarians to say that nothing is too small to help save the life of your son,” he said.

Please note: you may wish to reach Onwujiobi though Mr. Christian Onwujiobi; UBA Acct no: 205 – 767 – 0744 or through phone no. 0803-207-0141.

Emmanuel Onwujiobi

Flood: FMC Makurdi, Benue government partner on victims healthcare

By OGE OKONKWO

T

he Federal Medical Center, Makurdi and the Benue State Government are partnering on the health needs of displaced victims of the flood currently ravaging Makurdi, the state capital and some communities in the state.

Dr Korna Joseph, of the Community Medicine Department of the center who disclosed this to journalists at an interactive session in Makurdi said on the prompting of the state government, the FMC has deployed not less than four medical doctors to the camps

housing the flood victims.

According to Dr Joseph, in addition to the doctors, the center also donated a number of nurses, midwives and community health officers, adding that the FMC medical team is to collaborate with the state epidemiological unit and the Federal Government health team to help check the spread and control of diseases in the camps where displaced victims of the flood are being kept.

He said the measure became necessary following the reported outbreak of few cases of malaria, diarrhea and other health issues affecting various families in the camps.

‘’Right from the onset, the state government got in touch with us. Our Head of Department, Dr Shaahu asked us in the department to be fully involved and our doctors and medical team have since been integrated with the state epidemiological unit and the federal Government team that is already on ground’’, Dr Joseph said.

Explaining further, Dr Joseph said ‘’A lot of health issues are coming up to affect many families. If you go through the camps where those who have been displaced are now staying, you see cases of diarrhea and

NAFDAC seals pharmacy, arrests managers over fake drugs

By JOB OSAZUWA

T

he National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC has sealed a pharmaceutical distribution outlet in Lagos and arrested its manager for stocking, selling and dispensing fake, banned and expired drugs products.

This development was sequel to a petition by some good spirited Nigerian against the pharmacy.

The Regulatory Officers of the Enforcement Directorate of NAFDAC who carried out the operation disclosed that apart from the fake drugs, the pharmacy, Anyiwest Pharmacy situated at No 1, Meiran Road, Ojokoro in Lagos had Analgin injection which had been banned together with Tagaprox injection, Ferotone capscules and Flu capscules which had all expired but still displayed on the shelves.

According to the Director of Enforcement, Mr. Garba Macdonald, the Agency’s officials acted to prevent the pharmacy from further endangering the lives of the citizen through its

various wholesome activities. He argued that there was no premises registration certificate at the pharmacy which had cast a doubt of its current registration status with the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN).

Macdonald who is a Pharmacist noted that what the pharmacy had done not only violated NAFDAC’s regulations but also amounted to professional misconduct. He revealed that the outfit would remain shut and the products there would be further screened to unravel more violations.

While reiterating the Agency’s preparedness to the fight against fake drugs, he bemoaned the involvement of some pharmacists in aiding the menace.

He therefore acknowledges the important role of the stakeholders and urged all Nigerians to support NAFDAC to win the war against fake and counterfeit drugs.

Consequently, all the offending products found in the premises had been evacuated and sampled against the pharmacy for further investigation.

malaria becoming common’’.

Commending the state government for making elaborate arrangements to alleviate the plight of the displaced victims, Dr Joseph said government’s efforts are more than adequate to take care of the health needs of victims. ‘’The state government made elaborate arrangements for the displaced families by providing for their beddings complete with mosquito nets to prevent malaria attack. It also provided standard clinics complete with relevant drugs. Health officers

are on ground round the clock to take care of them. Besides, the water is good, the latrines are well kept and the complement of health workers that are there will take care of any eventualities that may arise’’, he said.

Makurdi, the Benue State capital, is one of the flash points of the flood currently sweeping across the federation. The flood has wrecked unquantifiable havoc in Makurdi and in communities living along the banks of River Benue in the state.

Even though no life has been lost, many families have lost houses and properties running into billions of naira to the flood.

Over ten thousand displaced people have so far been registered while the Benue State Emergency Management Agency has set up four camps for victims of the disaster located at the LGEA Primary School, Wurukum; NKST Primary School, Wadata; St Catherines Primary School, JS Tarka Way and Demekpe Primary School, Demekpe.

Handwashing Day: Safeguard launches Doctors on Wheel programme

By ONYEKACHI JET

A

s part of activities to commemorate the 2012 Global Hand Washing Day (GHWD), Safeguard anti-bacterial soap is set to launch the Doctor on Wheel’s program. To spread the handwashing message even further, Safeguard is partnering with the Society for Family Health (SFH) Nigeria to hold a series of handwashing enlightenment campaigns across Nigeria.

The ‘Doctors on wheels’ programme is a nation-wide program that would serve to raise public awareness on the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent the spread of diseases.

‘Safeguard Doctors on Wheels’ program would provide members of the public with the added opportunity to have basic health checks and medical consultation by a qualified medical doctor.

“Through its partnerships with health experts around the world, Safeguard has been instrumental in demonstrating that handwashing with soap can help save lives by helping prevent the spread of illnesses” commented Mokutima Ajileye, P&G Brand Operations Integrations leader for West Africa. “I’m

delighted for Safeguard to partner with the Society for Family Health to spread this message to the Nigerian people as we unite on Global Handwashing Day to raise awareness of the importance of handwashing with soap.

P&G’s Safeguard soap, endorsed by the African Medical Association (AfMA) has antibacterial properties that prevent disease.

Unlike ordinary soaps, Safeguard’s unique formulation prevents re-growth of skin germs for up to 12 hours after washing.”

The GHWD started in 2008 and is now celebrated every year on October 15. The objective of the commemoration is to foster and support a global culture of hand washing with soap, shine a spotlight on the state of hand washing in every community and raise awareness about the benefits of hand washing with soap.

Published research has indicated that handwashing with soap can reduce diarrhoea and pneumonia risks by up to 50%. In light of this evidence, handwashing with soap has been referred to as ‘the most important medical remedy for children in developing countries.’

Yet, published data suggests that despite its potential, handwashing with soap is seldom practiced and not always easy to promote.

54

DAILY SUN

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

SUN Tech Expert challenges Nigeria on fibre cable deployment A

technology expert , Mr. Ken Spann has said that the best way to deploy capacities is through microwave radio solution.

Ken ,who is the Chief Executive Officer of WaveTek, (a technology solution provider firm), disclosed that the best and cost effective method to deploy broadband was through microwave radio, a wireless solution for last-mile connectivity, which is an alternative to fibre optic cable laying. While acknowledging that the huge broadband capacities deposited at the shores of the country

by MainOne, Glo 1, MTN WACS, and SAT 3, According to him, the best technology available to Nigeria today that will yield best results is the virtual network solution, which is a microwave radio solution that is build on fibre cables, and it is capable of covering long distances at high speed.

Spann, who was reacting to the low broadband penetration in the country in spite of the huge broadband capacity at the shores of the country, said “the issue is not with low broadband capacity, because Nigeria has a lot of capacity from MainOne, Glo1, Sat 3, MTN WACS and others. Capacities that are lying on the shores of the country are goldmine for Nigeria, but they are not being utilized because of the absence of a national backbone infrastructure that will transport the capacities to the hinterlands.”

He explained that MainOne Cable for instance, has over 7000 km of bandwidth from Portugal to Ghana,

through Nigeria, and that it came with two terabytes capacity. MTN WACS, he added, brought in five terabytes and Glo 1 landed with some terabytes of capacities as well, but all these capacities are just there at the shores of the country un-utilized, whereas people are in dare need of capacities to do business in the hinterlands.

“All we are saying is that these capacities must find their ways to the hinterland where they are needed, and the best, cost effective and faster ways to move the capacities from the shores to the hinterlands, will be through microwave radio, a wireless connectivity system, which is an alternative to fibre laying across country.

Deploying fibre cable is good, but it is

expensive and difficult to lay it underground, because of environmental challenges. This is the reason we are saying microwave radio that is built over fibre cables is cheaper and faster to deploy,” Spann said.

Insisting that a virtual fibre network is the wireless solution that will give the desired results in last-mile connectivity, Spann said he could take a set of one gigabyte link of fibre and spread it from point ‘A’to cover a distance of 10 km in just one day. “That means in one day, I can provide access to people in one single stretch of over 10 km, which the underground fibre cable laying will not achieve in four months, because of environmental factors,” he said,

adding that apart from speed of coverage, it is much more economical and cost saving to deploy microwave radio, which is the alternative fibre laying.

Other countries of the world are already deploying microwave solution over fibre, and Nigeria must not be left out, he said, explaining that the country needs something better, faster, cheaper and more reliable for her broadband deployment.

WaveTeck vision is to reduce the cost of Information Technology (IT) deployment through cost effective solutions like the microwave radio and our desire is to proliferate broadband in Nigeria that will attract foreign investments, Spann said.

L-R: Mr. Franklin Olatunji, Product Manager, Commercial AC, LG Electronics, Mr. Junhwa Jeong, General Manager, Airconditioning and Energy Solutions, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Anupam Ghosal, Managing Director, Blue Ocean Nigeria Limited and Arc. Boma Braide, Principal Architect, Braide team consult at the Business Solution Technical Seminar organized by Blue Ocean and LG Electronics in Port Harcourt.

LASAA positions Skype to enhance engagement

A

s part of steps to improve customer engagement and delivery of more excellent services to stakeholders, the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency(LASAA) has deployed Skype.

The activation of the service ,which has started from LASAA corporate headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, will be introduced in progression to the other 22 branches of the agency across the state, over time. Skype video application by the outdoor regulator makes it perhaps, the first-of-kind on the African continent, and the Lagos State outdoor media regulator has ultimately blazed the trail with this new initiative.

Commenting on the value-addition service, George Noah, the Managing Director of LASAA, says the agency is pleased with its lead role in outdoor media regulation in Nigeria, and explains that Skype video will help raise stakeholders’ satisfaction and positive experience of LASAA. ‘‘We are most delighted at the launch of this service because it aligns with our commitment to continuously offer our stakeholders opportunity to connect with us freely. We are convinced that with Skype, engagement at both ends will be quicker and faster’’, he said. ‘‘The trials of Skype video which we conducted among some customers were successful and we are happy to announce that we intend to commence the deployment of the service from Tuesday October 2, 2012.’’

He assured that even in months to come, LASAA will continue to deploy new innovations that will enhance service delivery to the stakeholders one of which is the proposed outdoor masterplan for Lagos State. ‘‘Our next move is to commence work on the Lagos State Outdoor Masterplan’’, he revealed.

The Skype video application has been test-run for over four weeks

while staff in the critical implementing departments : Human Resources, Client Services and Business Development – had been well engaged to efficiently manage the service thereby making the agency’s response time to customer inquiries quicker and faster.

Skype essentially, allows users to communicate with individuals by voice, video, and instant messaging

over the Internet. The service has almost 700 million registered users across the world. In Nigeria, it is estimated that over one million persons use the service mainly for personal communication, but LASAA says it will adapt it as part of efforts to improve relations with its stakeholders including outdoor practitioners, customers, prospects as well as institutions.

L

Multi V III Solo delivers fast response cooling and space-saving smaller footprint. Expectedly, this cutting-edge attribute would make it gain significant market share in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

The Multi V III Solo has three unique benefits which the consumer stands to enjoy. These are the higher energy efficiency, eco-friendly and longer piping design. The AC unit’s increased energy efficiency, which is boosted by LG’s unique DC inverter compressor technology, delivers a COP level (coefficient of performance) of 3.5. With a total piping length up to 150 m and a level difference of 50 m between ODU (Out door unit) and IDU (In door unit), the Multi V III Solo provides optimum solution for small/medium-sized building. Multi V III Solo can be connected to over 25 indoor units in any building.

“As a company with a great focus

on producing energy-saving and efficient products, we are happy to introduce the Multi V III Solo into the Nigerian market,” said Mr. Junhwa Jeong, General Manager, Air conditioning and Energy Solution division, LG Electronics West Africa Operations. “With this product in the market, we are in a better position to work with our dealers and business partners to keep LG in the lead as the No. 1 provider of smart and efficient HVAC solutions,” he added.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director, Blue Ocean Nig. Ltd, a strategic partner to LG Electronics, Mr. Anupam Ghosal, said, “This is the best time to introduce to the Nigerian market an AC with fast-cooling response, energy saving technology and space-saving footprint. This is a great need that the LG Multi V III Solo has come to fulfil in Nigeria.”

Bisi Olaleye

08057104995 b.olaleye@sunnewsonline Best ICT reporter of the year

Etisalat to hit 15m subscriber base soon

E

tisalat Nigeria has disclosed that its subscriber base will soon hit fifteen million in a couple of weeks, while 86 percent subscribers are registered active subscribers ,making it the fastest growing network in the country.

This was disclosed by the company’s Chief Executive Officer(CEO) Mr. Steven Evans during the introduction of its new product: Talking point Etisalat 9ja free credit promo anniversary.

The N1 billion free credit will be given to old and existing subscribers in appreciation for their loyalty. New subscribers will have 50 percent of their total recharges in 30 days while the existing ones will have 20 percent.

According to Evans, the month of October is not only a special month for the country but also for us at Etisalat as it is the month of our anniversary. In line with the celebrations, we are bringing yet another unique offer that will undoubtedly speak to the needs of our customers.

“Independence is synonymous with the Freedom we Offer our Customers and so I will like to begin by saying Happy 52nd Independence Day celebration to all Nigerians.

We at Etisalat rejoice with the government and people of Nigeria in the celebration of freedom because we consider freedom paramount to the development of any nation.

“We pride ourselves as being a network that gives its customers the freedom to talk without any limitations and this was marked by our launch into the Nigerian market in 2008 with our famous 0809uchoose campaign, offering our subscribers the freedom to choose their unique set of phone numbers. Since then, we have launched a variety of products giving them the freedom to choose the products and services that suit their lifestyles and needs.

CNN unveils Blue Ocean partners LG to launch multi solo AC noveau tech everaging on technological advancement, Blue Ocean Nigeria Ltd, has partnered with LG Electronics, to debut world’s first Multi V III Solo air conditioner in the southern part of the Nigerian market.

The move came as both Blue Ocean and LG desires to place more emphasis on its business-to-business in Nigeria, where the demand for energy-saving technology is growing rapidly.

The launch of the Multi V III Solo, which is LG Electronics’ newest heating, ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) solution, is an evidence of the electronic giant’s drive to always be ahead of competition in innovation by ensuring that consumers’ satisfaction and comfort is a key concern when manufacturing products. Combining this innovation with higher efficiency, the

R

eknown international news channel, CNN has debuted with a science and technology series:‘Make, Create, Innovate’ , a documentary that tells stories behind inventions and technological breakthroughs.

Presented by Nick Glass and filmed on location, each episode of ‘Make, Create, Innovate’ showcases the pioneers who have revolutionized the field in which they work. Each segment explores the origin of their ‘eureka’ moment, whether the result of a happy coincidence or years of trial and error experimentation; it also reveals the key economic or social value of those inventions , a patented concept that has transformed an industrial sector or peoples’ lives.

‘Make, Create, Innovate’ will include technologies in health, medicine, space exploration, meteorology, exploration, mobility (transport), architecture, agriculture, manufacturing, sport, telecommunications and energy.

DAILY SUN Tuesday, October 16, 2012

55

Banking Our customers never opened account in Stanbic IBTC – Jaiz Bank boss

We’re committed to raising Nigeria’s financial inclusion status –Fidelity Bank

By CHIMA TITUS NWOKOJI

By AMECHI OGBONNA

C

T

ontrary to speculations that customers of Jaiz Bank who were constrained by its limited spread are opening accounts with Stanbic IBTC Bank, its Managing Director/CEO Mohammed Mustapher Bintube has denied that no Jaiz bank customer opened account in Stanbic IBTC Bank.

According to him, the two banks are only seeking ways of collaboration, stressing that the rumour was a serious mix up.

“Stanbic IBTC and Jaiz Bank are the two non-interest banks that were licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria early this year, but we two separate banks. Our customers can only open account in Jaiz Bank and Stanbic IBTC Bank customers can only open account with them,” Bintube stated.

He said the two banks are finding ways to collaborate in order to face competition in the market.

Bintube stated this in a Channels TV ‘business morning’ programme on Thursday, assured that the bank will expects to meet the Central Bank of Nigeria’s minimum requirement for a national bank before the second quarter of 2013.

“So anytime from the middle of next year, you will see us in Lagos and other commercial centers of Nigeria,” he said.

Union Bank promotes 636 staff, recruits 1000 to rejuvenate work force

U

nion Bank of Nigeria Plc has promoted 636 of its deserving staff, culminating in the promotion of 1,000 staff over the last three year in an exercise aimed at boosting the morale of its workforce.

Consequently, in a bid to inject fresh blood into the system, a total of 360 entry trainees have also been recruited, bringing the total numbers of trainees employed over the last three years to 1,000 under the current management led by Mrs Funke Osibodu.

In addition, the bank has concluded arrangement to hire 200 experienced professional staff in addition to 140 already hired over the last 3years in order to consolidate the repositioning exercise, which has lifted the lender into the league of the top banks in the country.

The recent 360 entry levels staff recruited according to a statement from the bank, have commenced two months intensive training in 3 batches with the first batch of 120 very close to concluding their technical training, and the 2nd batch recently commencing same.

L-R: Victor Etuokwu, Executive Director (Transaction Services & Information Technology Division) of Access Bank receiving the ISO27001: 2005 Certificate from Ngozi Omeruah, Director, Technologies Platform Business Resources Limited (TPBRL), and Kelechi Agbugba, Managing Director/CEO, (TPBRL) representtive of British Standard Institute (BSI), at the official presentation of the certificate to the bank in Lagos over recently.

Banking sector liquidity still robust ahead of FAAC meeting

By AMECHI OGBONNA

N

igeria’s banking sector liquidity may remain robust through this week ahead of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee’s (FAAC), meeting scheduled to hold this week in Abuja.

This is coming as investors expect that the impending issuance of a total of N75.00 billion worth federal government bonds across different maturities of 5, 7,

and 10 years this week would also add to the resources available to fund traders to conduct the business of the week.

The expectation has been that the over-the-counter (OTC) trading could also remain relatively active as yields moved in a choppy pattern in reaction to the market’s liquidity status.

Consequently, the market may remain flat in the days ahead given the general cautious approach by traders, who anticipate a reversal after the FGN bonds primary mar-

ket auction scheduled for October 17.

It would be recalled that as part of strategies to checkmate Nigeria’s rising domestic debt, the federal government has hinted it will be establishing a sinking fund of N100 billion in the 2013 fiscal year with the sole objective of repaying the nation’s maturing debt obligations rather than rolling them over, as annual domestic borrowing is estimated at N727 billion compared with N744 billion in 2012 and N852 billion in 2011.

Foreign reserves now $41.79bn …As naira falls to 3-week low

By CHIMA TITUS NWOKOJI

N

igeria's foreign exchange reserves rose to $41.795 billion on Friday October 12, according to the central bank's latest figures obtained from its website Monday. This is coming as the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Ngozi OkonjoIweala on Sunday said that her ministry and the Central Bank of Nigeria are in discussion to build reserves to N50billion.

According to OkonjoIweala, “Our reserves are not huge, we are just building backup; it’s not my place, it is the monetary policy that manages it, but I have discussed with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor that we need to build up our reserve to $50 billion, if we can.”

On the final day of the IMF/World Bank Annual meetings, Tokyo 2012, Okonjo-Iweala and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi

Lamido Sanusi, held an interactive session with correspondents of the Nigerian media.

She revealed that Algeria’s reserve is nearly $200 billion, for a country much smaller than Nigeria, adding that the Federal Government will borrow from the World Bank with permission from the National Assembly and that to tackle infrastructure challenges effectively, the country needs about $10 billion yearly.

“We are trying to put our borrowing to really direct it to infrastructure, as you know we have gone to other sources; the Word Bank is helping us with power, so is the African Development Bank. Those are very concessional resources. The problem we have right now is that at their meetings the World Bank; is insisting that if we do not pass through external borrowing plan, we may not access $1.2 billion, that has already been approved,” she said.

Okonjo-Iweala and Sanusi reiterated the strong collabo-

ration that has existed and continues to exist between the CBN and the Ministry of Finance in coordinating Monetary and Fiscal policies for the effective management of the Nigerian economy, which has partly resulted in Nigeria attracting about 25% of all Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) inflows into Africa in the last year.

Meanwhile, the naira fell to its weakest in three weeks on the interbank market on Monday, as dollar demand by foreign exchange bureaux and importers outpaced supply of hard currency, traders said.The naira closed at N157.55 to the dollar on the interbank market, weaker than N157.40 to the dollar it closed on Friday and the level last seen on September 25 when it closed at 157.65 to the dollar.

The currency however remained unchanged at the bi-weekly auction, as the central bank sold $162.2 million at 155.75 to the dollar, compared with $120 million sold at the same rate at the last auction on Wednesday.

According to the appropriation bill, the nation’s domestic borrowing is expected to decline to 2.17 per cent of GDP, from 2.85 per cent in 2012 whilst growth in domestic output is estimated at 6.50per cent, while recurrent expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure declined to 69per cent from 72per cent in 2012 with capital expenditure as a share of aggregate spending rising from to 31per cent from 28per cent in 2012.

Nigeria’s expenditure for 2013 fiscal year is estimated at N4.93 trillion, representing an increase of 5 per cent over the N4.7 trillion appropriated for the 2012 fiscal year. The proposed budget assumes oil production of 2.53 million barrels per day (bpd) and oil price of US$75 per barrel.

In the highlight of last week, the treasury bills auction and the presentation of Nigeria’s proposed appropriation bill for the 2013 fiscal year to the national assembly

by President Goodluck Jonathan. At the treasury bills auction, N30.16 billion worth of 91day bills was offered and sold at the rate of 13.00 per cent against 12.70per cent at the previous auction, whilst N73.49 billion and N68.18 billion worth of 182day and 364day were offered and sold at the rate of 13.34 per cent and 13.39 per cent respectively against 13.30per cent and 13.05per cent during the last auction.

Total subscription during the auction was N356.07 billion versus N220.88 billion at the last auction; meanwhile, the 364day bills recorded the highest demand at the auction. In addition a total of N171.83 billion worth of treasury bills across all the maturities were allotted on non-competitive basis.

he management of Fidelity Bank Plc last week restated its commitment to raising the number of Nigerians having access to financial services in the banking industry.

The bank’s General Manager in charge of Lagos Branches, Mr Emeka Obiagwu, who stated this while flagging off a series of activities to mark its 25th anniversary celebration said the objective of the programme was to assist more Nigerians have access to financial services.

Obiagwu said the part of the initiative was to help more Nigerians cultivate savings habit and enhance the economic financial inclusion while at work. He pointed out that failure of many Nigerians to save regularly rating was the reason some people in paid employment often hit the street begging once they are out of job.

He said it was against this background that Fidelity Bank has arranged a number of activities to appreciate long standing customers and also encourage prospective ones to imbibe the savings habit.

According to him, the first on the list was a gift splash to reward members of the public who open savings accounts with them within the period or add money to their existing accounts with the bank He also pointed out that the savings campaign was also to encourage savings culture amongst Nigerians of all age brackets. According to him, in an environment like Nigeria where access to funds is minimal, individuals must cultivate the habit putting something aside for the future, stressing that somebody who has already saved something stands a better opportunity to borrow from a bank or other sources than one who does not have savings at all.

He disclosed that for each of the 25 years the bank has operated, they will give out one Hyundai Accent car and N1million cash, making it a total of 25 cars and N25million cash over the next five months.

While giving a break down, he said that five cars will be won every month, as well as N5million. Speaking further on the promo offerings, he said that the promo encourages the members of the public to open savings account with Fidelity Bank with a minimum deposit of N20, 000 or top up existing accounts with incremental N10, 000 to be eligible for the monthly draw. According to him, the savings account could be any in the savings bouquet which includes the Fidelity Savings Accounts (FSA), Fidelity Personal Savings (FPSS), SWEETA (for children), Easisave or Flex (for the youth).

56

DAILY SUN Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Banking...Insurance UBA records N44.9bn pretax profit in Q3

By KELECHI MGBOJI

T

he impressive returns by the United Bank for Africa Plc continued into third quarter of 2012, with a strong performance characterized by improvements in all key financial indicators in the third quarter financial results released yesterday.

In its un-audited financial statement presented to Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the bank recorded a profit-before-tax of N44.86bn, representing a 376.2 percent, compared to N9.42bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2011.

Highlights of the financial result prepared in compliance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), showed that the bank’s total assets improved by 11.1 per cent from N1,945.8 trillion in Q3, 2011 to N2,162.1 Trillion in Q3, 2012.

In addition, gross earnings grew by 21.4 per cent to N168.2bn from N138.5bn in the corresponding period of 2011 while operating income rose by 17 percent to N121.8bn, up from N104.1 billion recorded in the same period of last year.

Cost reduction initiatives of the management since the beginning of the financial year paid off as operating expenses dropped by 3.5 per cent during the period that saw 252.9 per cent growth in earnings per share, from 34kobo in Q3, 2011 to N1.2 in Q3, 2012.

Other highlights of the results show that total loans grew to N711.9 billion representing a 3.1 per cent from N690.4 billion recorded in Q3, 2011. Total deposits from customers also increased to N1.674 trillion, an increase of 11.2% from N1.505 trillion in the corresponding period of Q3, 2011.

In demonstration of its financial capabilities, Loanto-Deposit Ratio; Capital Adequacy Ratio see considerable improvements, standing at 58.6 and 23.9 percents respectively from 59.7 and 23.7 percents in corresponding period of Q3, 2011.

Commenting on the results, the Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc Mr. Phillips Oduoza said “we continue to pursue our unique strategy of maintaining diversified business in terms of geography and earnings mix.

In Nigeria , we recorded an impressive growth in deposits and still kept funding costs relatively low despite a spike in interest rates during the 3rd quarter.”

“There are increased contributions across key financial parameters in our pan-African business. In all, UBA remains committed to achieving its targets for 2012 and especially its long term aspirations,” Oduoza assured the shareholders.

Security beefed up at Ministry of Finance over ‘Yerima must go’ protest From ISAAC Abuja

ANUMIHE,

M

inistry of Finance headquarters yesterday was cordoned off

by stern-looking security personnel after a violent protest against the continued stay of the Minister of State for Finance, Dr Yerima Ngama.

According to the youths who

protested under the auspices of ‘Nigerians United for Transformation’, said that the minister’s governorship ambition for Yobe State was a threat to the Transformation Agenda

of the Federal Government as it was affecting his ministerial duties.

“Our findings show that Dr Ngama has practically abandoned his national assignment,

•From left: Deputy Director Head, Corporate Affairs Admin Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, Mr Joseph Obah, Miss Insurance 2012, Miss Onyeka Adigwe, Company Secretary, Regency and Managing Director Regency Alliance Insurance Plc., Mr Biyi Otegbeye, presenting a gift to the Queen during the courtesy visit of Miss Insurance to its corporate office in Lagos yesterday.

besides attending the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings, in preference for the pursuit of his ambition to become the governor of his home-state, Yobe” the group, whose National President/Convener is Mr Okpokwu Ogenyi, said.

The group admitted that it was the right of every Nigerian to aspire for a higher position but that in doing so one should not compromise one’s national duty.

According to the group, because of his busy schedule, the minister has lost focus in attending to his duty. Against this backdrop, the group called for the removal of the minister.

In his reaction, the minister said that the youths were protesting because of lack of job and their request has been taken care of in the 2013 budget where a provision was made to provide employment for them.

He denied the fact that he abandoned his ministerial duty for governorship ambition.

According to him, he does not travel to Yobe very often because of the security situation there, saying that about 2,000 soldiers have been deployed to Yobe to restore peace.

NAICOM commences verification of insurers’ accounts

By MADUKA NWEKE

T

he National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has commenced verification of the accounts of insurance firms for the purpose of ascertaining the authenticity of their balance sheet The work was informed by the bloating figures being churned out by these companies that give false impression of their financial performances. NAICOM said it would soon commence the validation of debts that are stated in the financial accounts of insurance companies to ascertain their authenticity.

Confirming this, Mr George Onekhena, Deputy Commissioner Finance and Administration NAICOM, said the commission is poised to remove everything that was fictitious in the books of insurers. He noted that the commission has received volume of books from the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) indicating that most debts in the books of underwriters were not real.

Onekhena said the commission would now adhere strictly to No Premium No Cover policy to stem the claims of withholding or unpaid premium by underwriters. He said: “NAICOM would soon commence the validation of debts in the books of companies to ascertain the true position of the debts. He said 2012 is a year of reality; we are going to remove everything that is fictitious in companies’

books.

“Though some people believe that the No premium No Cover policy would not work, our belief, is that it would work and we are going

to adhere strictly to the policy to wipe debts in the books of underwriters.

“He noted that the commission would continue to engage underwriters to ensure

that they nip all the challenges that they are having as regards the cleaning of their books for effective transition to International Financial Reporting Standard. He said

many companies have been sanctioned for infraction, adding that while the commission sanctions firms, it would also that the industry is protected.

Why we pegged group life at 9% – NAICOM

By MADUKA NWEKE

T

he National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has said it pegged group life insurance commission at nine per cent as a way of increasing business of underwriting between the insurer and the broker.

In reversion to an earlier circular issued by the commission to underwriters and brokers not to charge more than eight per cent commission on group life insurance, the Commission recently increased the commission peg by one percent. The commission warned that any operator who defied the instruction and pays more would be sanctioned.

Speaking to Daily Sun on the phone, Mr. Lucky Fiakpa, Assistant Director Corporate Affairs, NAICOM confirmed that group life commission is now nine per cent as being canvassed by some practitioners.

This, according to him was to douse the tension generated by the rivalry between the underwriters and brokers who have been on a running battle over what should be charged as commission.

Investigation revealed that both parties early in the year agreed to raise the commission

to nine per cent, but the underwriters later reneged on the agreement, as it was considered inimical to their operation.

The circular by NAICOM was issued to halt the running battle between brokers and underwriters after NAICOM’s several attempts to settle the beef between the parties failed because the underwriters were not ready to keep to the agreement reached with the brokers early in the year.

Though brokers were uncomfortable with the new policy issued by NAICOM, they agreed to abide by it to avoid being sanctioned. The commission would be applied on this year’s Federal Government group life insurance, which premium is valued at about N7 billion and over 300 brokers appointed by the Federal Head of Service.

Micro-Insurance products are designed to be appropriate

for low income markets in terms of cost, contract terms, coverage and delivery mechanisms. The specific market focus of micro-insurance requires a specialized product development process.

The product development process is continuous and designed to ensure that appropriate products get delivered to the market in an effective manner and are monitored for potential improvement.

Access Bank consumates ownership of APIC, promises high returns

By MADUKA NWEKE

T

he recent reorganization in the banking industry that precipitated the nationalization of three banks has had far reaching effects on the insurance industry too.

Intercontinental WAPIC hitherto owned by Intercontinental Bank changed name to WAPIC Insurance after the parent body has been bought over by Access Bank to reflect the new ownership.

In an event organized to consummate the ownership of WAPIC Insurance as a subsidiary by Access Bank, the

Managing Director, WAPIC Insurance Plc, Mr. Segun Balogun, said the change of name also applies to other subsidiaries like, Wapic Life Assurance Limited (formerly Intercontinental Wapic Life Assurance Limited) and Wapic Insurance (Ghana) Limited (formerly Intercontinental Wapic Insurance (Ghana) Limited).

According to him, in March 1958, West African Provincial Insurance Company (Wapic) made its entrance into the insurance industry with a commitment to providing efficient and transparent insurance services

to individual and corporate clients.

Balogun said, upon Access Bank Plc assuming the controlling interests in Wapic the company formally announce the change of its name from Intercontinental Wapic Insurance Plc to Wapic Insurance Plc. “Having due regard to the unique brand value inherent in Wapic’s 58-year long history of delivering efficient and transparent insurance services, our shareholders unanimously resolved, at the 53rd Annual General Meeting to revert to the name Wapic”.

DAILY SUN

By CHINENYE ANUFORO

W

ith the losses recorded by 30 stocks out of the 55 that featured on the price movement table, equities trading on the Lagos floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday closed on a negative note with the stock market opening new week N66.97 billion loss.

Specifically, AIICO, Diamond Bank, Dangote Sugar and Fidson led the losers. Each lost 8 kobo, 47 kobo, 52 kobo and 10 kobo per share to close at 72 kobo, N4.32, N5.60 and N1.20 in that order.

On the other hand, on top of the gainers table

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

57

BUSINESS NEWS Stock market opens week with over N66bn loss were Sterling Bank, Academy, DN Meyer and International Breweries. Each gained 20 kobo, 31 kobo, 20 kobo and 81 kobo per share to close at N2.20, N3.41, N2.21 and N14.00 respectively.

The NSE All-Share Index dipped by 0.77 per cent to close at 27,371.30 points from 27,287.85 points in which it opened the day’s business.

Similarly, the market capitalization of traded equities appreciated by N66.97 billion to close at N8.62 trillion as against depreciation by N26.59 billion recorded in preceding session to close at N8.69 trillion.

Also, at the close of transactions yesterday, five of the NSE sectoral indices closed negative as NSE 30 which basically measures the performance of blue chips maintained downtrend by 0.91 per cent, NSE Food closed with 2.25 per cent loss, NSE Banking went down marginally by 0.04 per cent, NSE Insurance records 0.70 per cent gain, NSE Oil & Gas slipped again by 0.16 per cent.

The New NSE LII moved down by 0.25 per cent.

The Financial sector led on the activity chart with 244.37 million shares valued at N1.34 billion

exchanged in 3,648 deals as against 417.88 million shares valued at N2.71 billion exchanged in 3,818 deals recorded in previous session.

The volume recorded in the sector was driven by transaction in the shares of United Bank of Africa (UBA), Skye Bank, Fidelity Bank, Diamond Bank and FCMB. The total volume of 158.91 million units valued at 670.23 million traded in the stocks accounted for 45.63 per cent of the entire market volume and their value represented 30.26 per cent of the market’s value.

THE DAILY STOCK SUMMARY AS AT 15/10/2012 1st Tier Securities Sector Company name ASeM CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Property Management SMART PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC Sub Sector Totals Sector Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Electronic and Electrical Products ADSWITCH PLC. Sub Sector Totals Sector Totals Type Totals Main Board AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Sub Sector Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Sub Sector Totals Sector Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PL C U A C N PLC. Sub Sector Totals Sector Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Construction ARBICO PLC. Sub Sector Totals Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Sub Sector Totals Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Sub Sector Totals Sector Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. Main Board CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Sub Sector Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Sub Sector Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC U T C NIG. PLC. Sub Sector Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Sub Sector Totals Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Sub Sector Totals Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Sub Sector Totals Sector Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIG. PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC. GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. U B A PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH BANK PLC Sub Sector Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC Main Board FINANCIAL SERVICES Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC.

1st Tier Securities No of Deals

Quotation(N)

4 4 4

1.48

2 2 2 6

1.63

23 17 40

Quantity Traded Value of Shares(N)

2,400 2,400 2,400

3,720.00 4,000 3,720.00

2,000 2,000 2,000 4,400

3,100.00 3,000 3,100.00 6,820.00

35.05 14.98

404,692 115,447 520,139

14,232,179.20 1,705,687.90 15,938,000

22 22 62

1.63

1,296,500 1,296,500 1,816,639

2,104,140.00 2,104,000 18,042,007.10

10 133 57 200 200

1.50 1.18 41.90

41,310 32,855,637 916,207 33,813,154 33,813,154

64,482.78 37,174,127.15 38,123,894.84 75,363,000 75,362,504.77

3 3

8.91

101,999 101,999

865,131.93 865,000

21 21

31.00

69,214 69,214

2,156,662.00 2,157,000

36 36 60

10.92

617,139 617,139 788,352

6,827,332.64 6,827,000 9,849,126.57

4 48 54

3.99 281.00 14.00

107,448 237,110 777,030

428,717.52 66,414,809.02 10,185,285.40

203 309

135.00

753,228 1,874,816

104,778,060.97 181,807,000

14 14

39.00

21,360 21,360

843,894.50 844,000

89 248 65 95 1 4 38 16 556

8.20 5.60 66.00 2.60 1.00 20.41 5.95 0.75

3,153,853 13,979,069 476,841 14,473,150 50,000 4,924 1,029,436 566,040 33,733,313

25,836,741.72 79,685,679.87 31,398,959.05 38,365,724.50 50,000.00 95,476.36 6,161,912.72 425,690.00 182,020,000

101 60 161

30.00 625.00

1,093,213 44,326 1,137,539

32,864,025.79 27,863,914.71 60,728,000

22 1 23

3.52 2.88

482,390 2,568 484,958

1,697,984.54 7,395.84 1,705,000

40 71 111 1,174

25.02 42.60

269,427 554,750 824,177 38,076,163

6,668,603.80 23,665,206.90 30,334,000 457,438,083.21

236 270 74 437 573 164 353 292 49 136 412 102 24 38 226 3,386

9.10 4.32 12.54 2.32 16.99 3.62 21, 20.28 4.25 7.30 2.20 5.65 7.57 0.56 0.54 18.00

7,945,372 29,945,536 1,757,240 30,473,339 16,014,431 531,500 8,849,831 32,665,844 1,989,693 13,073,854 44,298,907 1,282,119 3,145,232 2,769,145 2,796,414 218,538,457

72,679,362.68 134,475,637.43 21,983,651.12 70,392,180.28 271,531,566.37 75,849,984.18 179,810,550.21 136,855,800.42 14,528,330.90 28,309,427.52 252,662,703.66 10,532,455.49 1,761,329.92 1,495,338.30 50,644,337.75 1,323,513,000

3

0.50

100,000

50,000.00

86 17 18 1 2 41 12 3 47 18 7

0.72 0.91 1.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.85 0.50 0.55 0.50 0.51

6,927,405 2,711,763 587,900 50,000 20,000 8,567,653 525,173 74,859 5,109,002 600,000 244,000

5,218,278.24 2,485,691.96 877,414.30 25,000.00 10,000.00 4,283,826.50 953,470.05 37,429.50 2,824,416.66 300,000.00 124,040.00

Sector Company name

No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded

WAPIC INSURANCE PLC 4 Sub Sector Totals 259 Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC 2 Sub Sector Totals 2 Other Financial Institutions ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. 1 Sub Sector Totals 1 Sector Totals 3,648 HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. 3 FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC 42 GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. 28 MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. 24 NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PL C 13 Sub Sector Totals 110 Sector Totals 110 ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC 1 Sub Sector Totals 1 IT Services NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. 5 Sub Sector Totals 5 Telecommunications Services IHS PLC 3 Sub Sector Totals 3 Sector Totals 9 INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC 150 BERGER PAINTS PLC 2 CAP PLC 25 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC 91 DANGOTE CEMENT PLC 24 Main Board INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials DN MEYER PLC. 10 LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. 38 PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC 1 Sub Sector Totals 341 Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. 8 Sub Sector Totals 8 Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. 3 NIGERIAN BAGS MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC 77 Sub Sector Totals 80 Sector Totals 429 NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. 1 Sub Sector Totals 1 Sector Totals 1 OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC 46 Sub Sector Totals 46 Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC 155 Sub Sector Totals 155 Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC 1 CONOIL PLC 12 ETERNA PLC. 15 FORTE OIL PLC. 18 MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. 10 TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. 9 Sub Sector Totals 65 Sector Totals 266 SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. 25 Sub Sector Totals 25 Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC 10 Sub Sector Totals 10 Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. 5 Sub Sector Totals 5 Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC 3 Sub Sector Totals 3 Hotels/Lodging Main Board SERVICES Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC 24 TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC. 1 Sub Sector Totals 25 Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC 1 Sub Sector Totals 1 Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. 11 LEARN AFRICA PLC 7 UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. 28 Sub Sector Totals 46 Road Transportation ABC TRANSPORT PLC 2 Sub Sector Totals 2 Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC 8 NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC 46 Sub Sector Totals 54 Sector Totals 171 Type Totals 6,130 Grand Totals 6,136

Value of Shares(N)

0.57

94,007 25,611,762

53,583.99 17,243,000

0.50

203,000 203,000

101,500.00 102,000

0.57

25,220 25,220 244,378,439

13,871.00 14,000 1,340,871,178.43

1.36 1.20 38.50 1.79 1.36

207,616 2,518,919 3,864,816 1,277,905 526,750 8,396,006 8,396,006

282,357.76 3,263,914.42 148,840,474.30 2,272,214.89 716,380.00 155,375,000 155,375,341.37

0.50

20,000 20,000

10,000.00 10,000

13.77

18,676 18,676

269,868.20 270,000

2.25

1,050,000 1,050,000 1,088,676

2,372,500.00 2,373,000 2,652,368.20

19.00 8.01 27.00 6.79 118.50

2,285,641 9,203 368,799 803,153 64,224

43,823,314.71 77,397.23 9,797,520.22 5,426,270.30 7,654,476.19

2.21 57.50 3.29

219,117 693,138 100 4,443,375

484,248.57 39,761,659.98 345.00 107,025,000

1.24

154,329 154,329

191,367.96 191,000

9.53 1.70

6,550 60 4,554,705 4,561,255 9,158,959

283.00 7,908,600.00 7,969,000 115,185,483.16

5.69

600 600 600

3,246.00 3,000 3,246.00

0.60

4,978,952 4,978,952

3,021,250.42 3,021,000

12.40

2,086,748 2,086,748

26,047,894.10 26,048,000

0.50 20.79 2.23 10.20 115.00 130.00

15,040 12,736 358,464 60,766 3,898 5,306 456,210 7,521,910

7,520.00 252,650.16 791,920.40 616,602.34 449,567.21 672,611.80 2,791,000 31,860,016.43

1.85

875,468 875,468

1,607,533.58 1,608,000

3.11

101,455 101,455

318,901.50 319,000

0.50

84,187 84,187

42,093.50 42,000

0.50

1,300 1,300

650.00 1,000

1.14 4.53

911,960 1,000 912,960

1,006,737.80 4,400.00 1,011,000

0.50

10,000 10,000

5,000.00 5,000

3.41 2.01 4.30

145,666 30,514 446,660 622,840

486,682.26 60,331.74 1,849,850.80 2,397,000

0.50

6,000 6,000

3,000.00 3,000

2.48 6.00

197,800 451,604 649,404 3,263,614 348,302,512 348,306,912

487,313.36 2,741,017.12 3,228,000 8,613,511.66 2,215,252,866.90 2,215,259,686.90

58

DAILY SUN Tuesday October 16, 2012

49 BUSINESS NEWS

DAILY SUN Monday, August 1, 2011

Daily Domestic Flight Schedule

ARIK AIR Lag-Abj: 07.15, 09.15, 10.20, 15.20, 16.20, 16.50, 18.45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun).

Abj-Lag: 07:15, 09.40,10.20, 12.15, 15.15, 16.15, 17:10, (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun); 12.15, 15.15, 16.15 (Sun) Lag-PH: 07:15, 11.40, 14.00, 16.10, 17.15 (Mon-Fri) 07.30, 11.40, 15.50 (Sat) 11.50, 3.50, 17.05 (Sun) Abj-PH: 07.15, 11.20, 15.30 (Mon-Fri) 07.15, 16.00 (Sat) 13.10, 16.00 (Sun) PH-Abj: 08.45, 12.50, 17.00 (Mon-Fri) 08.45, 17.30 (Sat) 14.40, 17.30 (Sun) Abv-Beni:08.00, 12.10 (Mon-Fri/Sat) 08.56, 12.10(Sun) Benin-Abj:09.55,13.30, (Mon-Fri/Sat) 10.50, 13.30(Sun)

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (PMA) TENOR

AMOUNT

RATES% ISSUE DATE

91 Day

37,489.76

12.00

19 Sep. 2012

182 Day 63,730.99

12.60

19 Sep. 2012

1 Year

13.87

05 Sep. 2012

60,000.00

MAJOR EXCHANGE RATES – PARALLEL MKT (AIRPORT AS AT 25/09/12) CURRENCY

BUYING (N)

USD 158 POUND ST. 250 EURO 206 Source: FMDA

SELLING(N) 159.50 253 210

Group calls for caution on Ifeanyi Uba’s prosecution

A

non-governmental organization, Centre for Truth, Justice and Fair Play (CTJFP) has called on the Federal Government and the Nigerian Police to exercise caution in the handling of the case of alleged subsidy scam, involving the Managing Director of Capital Oil and Gas Industries, Dr. Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah.

The group has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene in what it described as plot to hijack the businesses of Nigerians from the eastern part of the country in the downstream petroleum industry.

Ubah and some top management of the company were detained by officials of the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) on alleged fraudulent diversion of petroleum products, forgery and economic sabotage. Ubah and his staff voluntarily went to SFU on invitation by the Commissioner of Police.

But in a statement signed by the President of the CTJFP, Dr. Nathan Ochuko, the group noted with dismay, the manner in which the oil

guru and his staff were detained and their hasty arraignment in court without proper investigation saying this has elicited concern that their travail may be the handiwork of powers that be in Nigeria, who have the ulterior motive of bringing down an establishment that has contributed immensely to the economy of Nigeria, through employment creation. The Group queried how the police could apply to the court for a 30 day detention and refusing them bail when the case is not that of murder or treasonable felony.

It is worthy of note that Capital Oil and Gas, one of the major players in the downstream petroleum sector, has very huge investments in the sector and providing direct and indirect jobs for over 5,000 Nigerians.

The firm boosts of the biggest state-of-theart storage depot, with a capacity to hold over 196 million litres of fuel. The depot has a 32 arms loading gantry with a 56 million daily load out capability that can take 1,600 trucks in a day.

Los-Abv: 09.55, 13.30(Mon-Fri/Sat) 10.50, 13.30(Sun) Lag-Enugu: 07.10, 13.45, 18.30(Mon-Fri) 07.10, 14.00(Sat) 10.20, 13.45, 18.30(Sun) Enugu-Lag: 08.30, 12.00, 18.25 (Mon-Fri) 08.30, 12.00, 15.40(Sat) 12,00, 18.25(Sun) Abj-Enugu: 08.30, 12.00, 18.25, (Mon-Fri) 08.30, 12.00, 15.40 (Sat)12.00, 18.25 (Sun) Abj-Enugu: 10.30, 17.05(Mon-Fri) 10.30(Sat) 17.05(Sun) Enugu-Abj: 08.50, 15.25 (Mon-Fri) 08.50 (Sat) 15.25(Sun) AERO CONTRACTORS Lag-Abj: 06.50, 13.30, 16.30, 19.45 (MonFri/Sat/Sun), 12.30(Sun) 16.45(Sat) Abj-Los: 07.30, 13.00, 19.00 (Mon-Fri/-Sat, 10.30, 14.30, 19.30 (Sun, 18.30 Sat) Lag-Benin: 07.45, 11.00, 15.30 (MonFri/Sat/Sun) 12.30 (Sun 15.30 (Sat) Ben-Lag: 09.15, 12.30, 17.00 (MonFri/Sat/Sun) 17.00 (Sat) 14.00 (Sun) CHANCHANGI AIRLINES Los-Abj: 7.15, 10.00, 13.30, 15.30, 17.30 Abj-Lag: 08.00, 11.45, 13.40, 15.30, 17.30 Lag-Kad: 10.45 (on Fri), 17.00 (MonFri/Sat/Sun) Kad-Lag: 7.30 (Mon-Fri), 08.00 (Sat/Sun IRS AIRLINES Lag-Abj: 9.45, 11.45, 2.45 (Mon-Fri), 9.30, 12.45 (Sat & Sun) Lag-Kano: 6.15 (Mon-Fri), 16.30 Sat&Sun Kano-Lag: 07.30 (Mon-Fri), 10.30 (Sat & Sun) OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS LOS - ILR Mon - Fri 0715hrs LOS - MNA Mon, Wed & Fri 0715hrs LOS - IBA Mon - Fri 0715hrs

IBADAN IBA - ABV Mon - Fri IBA - LOS Mon - Fri

0800hrs 1700hrs

ILORIN ILR - ABV Mon - Fri 0900hrs ILR - LOS Mon - Fri 1630hrs ILR - MNA Mon, Wed & Fri 0900hrs MINNA MNA - ABV Mon, Wed & Fri MNA - ILR Mon, Wed & Fri MNA - LOS Mon, Wed & Fri ABUJA ABV - ILR Mon - Fri ABV - IBA Mon - Fri

0920hrs 1520hrs 1520hrs

1500hrs 1500hrs

L-R: Seni Hazzan, CEO, Going Ventures LLC, USA and Nimi Akinkugbe, Barclays Regional Manager, West Africa and Chief Country Officer, Nigeria, both facilitators at the SEC Nigeria Learning Series with Arunma Oteh, DG, SEC at the event.

Budget implementation: Why Nigeria won’t score 100% – World Bank From ISAAC ANUMIHE, Abuja

F

ollowing controversy regarding the implementation surrounding budget, Lead Procurement Officer of World Bank, Bayo Awosemusi, yesterday, identified the lack of procurement planning as the cause of poor implementation of budget in Nigeria.

Awosemusi who expressed worry that procurement planning has been lacking in the Nigeria’s economic development further noted that without it, Nigeria may never attain 100 per cent implementation. “ Even before Nigeria commenced procurement reforms, people have been complaining that the budget was not being implemented 100 per cent.

One problem we have is that of lack of planning.

No budget can be fully implemented without a procurement plan. Government needs to look back and

find out why budget implementation is at the level it is now” he added.

Director General of Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Mr Emeka Ezeh, said that the procurement reforms in the country has yielded some results to the effect that the nation has been able to save over N350 billion.

Speaking at the opening of the fourth conversion training programme for procurement officers in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, (MDAs) in Abuja, Ezeh said that the savings were as a result of the strict compliance of the provisions of the Public Procurement Act by the BPP in the awards of contracts in the country.

According to him, the training which is the fourth so far is aimed at building the capacity of personnel charged with the responsibility of ensuring the implementation of the Public

Procurement Act, 2007.

“Our focus has been on the end result of the Act, which is ensuring that government gets value-for-money and that there is transparency and competition in the public contracting process. We have been assured over time that we can hardly make progress without due process being our watchword in the way we spend government money. This is one major way in which the much-needed growth in infrastructure and utilities can be guaranteed” he said.

He noted that the implementation of the procurement Act had gladly provided a new level of freedom that deepens the democratic culture as public officers are now also veining to see public funds as money to be spent with care, and with high sense of responsibility adding that BPP is going to continue to develop this new culture for the sake of the present and future generations.

Personal finance critical to Nigeria’s transformation, says Oteh From ISAAC ANUMIHE, Abuja

D

irector-General of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Aruma Oteh yesterday said that the knowledge of personal finance was very critical to Nigeria's total transformation.

Oteh said that since Nigeria was already in the process of transforming the economy and by extension the nation, Nigeria must ensure that every citizen imbibe the culture and knowledge of personal finance in our day-to-day businesses.

Speaking in her welcome remarks on the second lecture series in a for year 2012 organized by the commission in Abuja, Oteh said that Nigeria can do better having escaped the financial crises that rocked the entire world because the country is

presently enjoying a buffer savings of about $1 billion in her Sovereign Wealth Funds as well as about over N2.7 trillion saved as a result of the Pension Act Reforms of 2004.

She said in spite of the challenges that were faced in the stock exchange market, it was still very important that Nigeria invests in the market.

“In the US today, there are about 60 per cent US workers that have invested in their capital market as against 250 Nigerians because they believed strongly in the market” she said.

In a lecture titled: Personal Finance; Securing Your Financial Future, a Director of The Play Pen, Mrs Nimi Akinkugbe said time has come for every person in Nigeria to start planning for his future via savings and good investments.

Akinkugbe berated most Nigerians who only believe in their pension arrears to be collected after retirement warning that such claims was dangerous and unreliable.

She said it is however proper for anyone to invest in education, estate developments or estate developments or in the stock markets.

According to her, the standard of many falls immediately they are out of jobs because they failed to plan, save or invest for their future. In his contribution, Chief Executive Officer of Going Ventures LLC, Mr. Seni Hazzan said time has come for Nigerians to imbibe the culture of collective investments scheme where two or more people can come together and put their resources to start a business.

59 Monday, BUSINESS August 1, 2011 49 NEWS

DAILY SUN Tuesday October 16, 2012 DAILY SUN NAME OF CURRENCY BUYING

CENTRAL

US DOLLAR 154.78 155.28 POUNDS STERLING 250.6353 251.4449 EURO 200.2079 200.8547 SWISS FRANC 165.3986 165.9329 CFA 0.2848 0.2948 WAUA 237.5652 238.3327 YEN 1.9933 1.9997 YUAN/RENMINBI 24.6264 24.7064 RIYAL 41.2725 41.4058 DANISH KRONA 26.8473 26.934 SDR 238.7017 239.4728 Official exchange rates as at 28/09/2012

SELLING 155.78 252.2546 201.5014 1664672 0.3048 239.1001 2.0062 24.7864 41.5391 27.0207 240.2439

NIBOR TENOR

RATE

CHANGE

DATE

Call 7 Day 30 Day 60 Day 90 Day Source: FMDA

10.6667 11.2083 12.9167 13.4167 13.8333

0.12 -0.04 -0.25 -0.29 -0.58

28 Sep, 2012 28 Sep, 2012 28 Sep, 2012 28 Sep, 2012 28 Sep, 2012

World Food Day: Minister allays fear over food crisis From THERESA EGBA, Abuja

A

gainst the backdrop of persistent flooding in some parts of the country the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina yesterday assured Nigerians that the nation would not experience food crisis or famine.

Adesina made this known yesterday while briefing mewsmen on the World Food Day and the status of Nigerian Agricultural sector.

He said that the Federal Government had put measures in place to ensure that the nation does not experience food crisis despite the flood ravaging the farm lands, adding that the ministry was committed to doubling food production, in order to tackle the menace of flood on food production.

The Minister said that high quality seed and fertilizers provided to some areas in the country would not be affected by the flood,

explaining that the exercise would allow the flood free areas to provide food to areas of need.

Adesina also pointed out that Federal Government was embarking on measures to provide flood insurance programme in order to protect farmers, stressing that the Federal Government had put in place strategic grain reserve to reserve grains provided by farmers during the flood.

Regarding the ministry’s recent programmes, Dr. Adesina said that it had taken agriculture as business to unblock the agricultural potentials as it would make available technologies for farmers, and provide high quality seeds and fertilizers.

He pointed out that it had engaged in activities to subsidize farm inputs to farmers through the Electronic Wallet, according to him, 900,000 farmers had been captured in 120 days, stressing that about 1.5million farmers would be enlisted before the end of the year.

International Flight Schedule

CROSS RATES

Ethiopian Airlines Lagos-Addis Ababa (daily) Departure time: 12:15 pm, Arrival time: 1:15 pm Contact no: 014611869/029

AFRIQIYAH AIRWAYS Lagos-Tripoli Tue, Wed, Thur and Sat Departure time: 01:30am, Arrival time: 22:25 pm Contact no: 012711506 BRITISH AIRWAYS Lagos-London Heathrow (daily) Departure time: 11 pm, Arrival time: 5: 50 pm Contact no: 012792690 0r 014615870-5 TURKISH AIRLINES Lagos-Istanbul Mon, Tue, Thur Sat Departure time: 10: 10 pm, Arrival time: 8: 10 pm Customer care no: Not available DELTA AIR Lagos-Atlanta (daily) Departure time: Btw 3pm and 5pm, Arrival time: 10:30 am Contact no: 014483111 EMIRATES Lagos-Dubai Daily (2 flights) Departure time: 3pm, 8.50pm, Arrival time:1pm, 6pm Contact no :01-2717600 LUFTHANSA Lagos-Frankfurt (daily) Departure time: 10:05 pm, Arrival time: 19:08 Contact no: 014612222, 0414480963 AIR FRANCE Lagos-Paris (daily) Departure time: 11 pm, Arrival time: 14:14 pm Customer care no: 01-4610777, 012617959 SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS Lagos-Johannesburg (daily) Departure time: 10:30 pm, Arrival time: 8 or 9 am Customer care no: 2702681-5

L-R: Funma Akinmade, Head Domestic Bank Products, Ecobank Nigeria, Ngozika Obidike, Head Consumer Protection Council Lagos office; Olufunso Popool, Regional Manager, Apapa region and Obi Iregbu, Assistant Director/Coordinator, National Lotttery Regulatory Commission, Lagos zonal office, Lekki Lagos, during the first regional draws of the Ecobank “Win Big” promo in Lagos.

No going back on $80 benchmark – Reps insist From FRED ITUA, Abuja

F

ollowing fresh fears expressed by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Lamido Sanusi that the country may miss the $1.2 billion concession loan from the World Bank if the National Assembly raises the crude oil benchmark from $75 to $80, the House of Representatives yesterday dismissed the two officers’ argument, insisting that no amount of pressure or blackmail from the executive arm will make them back down.

This position was revealed by the House Committee Chairman on Finance, Abdulmumuni Jibril, who spoke to journalists in Abuja, in reaction to the position by Dr Okonjo-Iweala and Mallam Sanusi that the 2013 budget be pegged at $75 per barrel. He challenged the duo to a public debate where both parties will argue out their plans

to the Nigerian public.

According to Jubril, “the executive have proposed a budget of $75 per barrel of oil in the international market, but we are raising it to $80 and that is how it is going to be.”

Speaking on the issues raised by the executive on why crude oil must be bench-marked at $75 per barrel, Jubril asked: “Why is the executive deceiving Nigerians by presenting suspicious figures year in, year out with the same result?”

He said it is time for Nigerians to understand who’s deceiving who. “We realise that there’s crisis in the European Union which the executive talked about,” he stated. “We are not arguing. But we must acknowledge there is also instability in the Middle-East and the demand for oil will be high.”

Arguing further on the $80 oil benchmark for 2013 budget, Jubril said: “The executive have argued that Nigeria has the highest oil benchmark in the world but the question we must ask is what

do we do with the surplus?”

He said other countries don’t have wide deficits in their budgets like ours and that the executive doesn’t save the surplus from the sale of crude oil reasonably.

“They’ve come up with an excuse that they want to save,” wondering “what have it has been doing with all the monies tit has been saving in the past?

“We need huge investments and we need to build infrastructure. The deficit of 2013 budget is running at over N1trillion. We’ve reduced that by over 50 per cent. We believe our position in the House is pro-people and pro-Nigeria.”

Jubril also revealed that any ongoing plot by some members to sponsor impeachment move against the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal will fail, insisting that he enjoys the support of members of the Green Chambers.

He said: “Whoever is conceiving any impeachment is under-estimating the unity of the House of Reps. If you understand the matrix of the House, you’ll realise that the Speaker enjoys the goodwill support of members.”

Electricity: $500m Aba IPP to be commissioned February 2013

By LOUIS IBA

C

onstruction work on the Aba Integrated Power Plant (IPP) is nearing its completion stage and the electricity power generation and distribution project will come on stream by the end of February 2013, officials have said. The project, funded by Geometric Power Aba Limited would gulp about $500million on complation.

Daily Sun was on a tour of the project last weekend and contractors handling the project said about 95 per cent of the construction and installation of facility jobs had been done and that the major equipments that will fire the plant were undergoing test running exercises.

Johan Riekert, Project Manager for the Power Plant said tying up the power plant to natural gas

– the major feedstock that will power the plant – was what remained, and he expressed strong optimism that that will be achieved before the end of December 2012.

“We have just completed the big hurdle which had to do with the construction and installation of the major facilities and we are commencing the test running of the other machines,” Riekert said.

“What is remaining is just minor work like putting finishing touches to the administrative buildings and other buildings in the facility. And by December this year we should have hooked up the plant to natural gas pipelines as soon as that is done we are looking at the Aba IPP ready for use by late January or early February 2013,” he added.

The Aba IPP built by Geometric Power Aba Limited is Nigeria’s first private sector owned

power plant and it was a concession granted to the firm by the Federal Government in a bid to boost power generation and supply majorly to industrial and commercial consumers in Aba, the hub of commercial activities in South-East Nigeria. It involves both the generation and distribution of power, a concession deal that mandates the firm to construct a power plant as well as put on ground transmission and distribution sub-stations as well as a gas metering station. The plant would be fired by natural gas and a gas sales purchase agreement has already been signed with supplier, Shell Gas Nigeria Limited.

Under the first phase of the power generation project handled by Geometric Power Aba Limited, about 140 megawatts of electricity would first be generated and pumped into the city of Aba while 47 megawatts of power would follow immediately .

QATAR AIRWAYS Lagos-Doha Daily Departure time: 9:45 am, Arrival time: 7:55am Contact: 012798888/014633333 KENYA AIRWAYS Lagos-Nairobi (daily) Departure time: 11:05 am, Arrival time: 10:42am Contact: 012719433 CHINA SOUTHERN Lagos-Beijing via Dubai Tuesdays, Thursdays Departure time: 12:15pm, Arrival time: 10:30 am Tuesdays, Thursdays.

Contact: 01-4610777 or 01-2617959 EGYPT AIR Lagos-Cairo Mon, Wed, Thur, Fri & Sun Departure time: 2pm, Arrival time: 1pm KLM Lagos-Amsterdam (daily) Departure time: 11pm, Arrival time: 8:30pm Contact: 01-4610777, 01-2617959 VIRGIN ATLANTIC Lagos-London Heathrow (daily) Departure time: 10:20 am daily, Arrival time: 5:30 am Contact: 01-4612750, 01-4612747 ARIK AIR Lagos-London Heathrow (daily) Departure time: 10:05pm Arrival 7.00pm Lagos-New York Tuesdays and Thursdays Departure time: 11:20pm Arrival 6pm Lagos-Johannesburg (daily) Departure 11.15pm Arrival 4.15pm Lagos-West Coast (Freetown, Banjul & Dakar) Mon, Wed & Fri Departure 8:00am Arrival 6.45pm Lagos-Accra (daily) Departure 8.00am, 5pm 8.45pm, 5.45pm Contact: 01-2799999.

60

DAILY SUN

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

SUN SPORTS

NEWS

Maigari promises Eaglets special bonus

Cote d’Ivoire and we will do everything possible to lift the trophy in South Africa,” he said.

The former Chelsea star, now playing in Shanghai, has a personal reason for wanting to win the February 10 Johannesburg final as he blazed a regular-time penalty over the bar against Zambia in Libreville last February.

South Africa, Zambia and Ghana are the other top seeds. Mali, Tunisia, Angola and Nigeria will be in Pot 2; Algeria, Burkina Faso, Morocco and Niger in Pot 3, while Togo, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia will be in Pot 4.

Seeding is based on results from the past three Cup of Nations tournaments in Ghana, Angola and Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, rather than FIFA rankings.

But if Ivory Coast, whose lone title came in Dakar 20 years ago, Nigeria, Algeria or Morocco and DR Congo find themselves in the same group, they will surely curse the seeding system privately, while putting on a

brave public face.

The 2013 line-up includes nine of the 16 finalists from this year in Zambia, Ivory Coast, Mali, Ghana, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Niger and Angola, and Cape Verde are the lone debutantes.

Record seven-time champion, Egypt and four-time title holder, Cameroon, are the most glaring absentees. Both also missed the 2012 event with ageing teams eliminated by Central African Republic and Cape Verde respectively.

Johannesburg will stage the January 19 opening double-header and the final at the 93, 000-seat Soccer City Stadium with the other 29 games divided between Durban, Nelspruit, Port Elizabeth and Rustenburg.

Scheduled to stage the 2017 Cup of Nations, South Africa exchanged tournaments with original 2013 host, Libya, a nation slowly recovering from a popular uprising that toppled her dictator, Moamer Kadhafi.

...Reiterates NFF’s commitment to AYC qualification

•Maigari

A

lhaji Aminu Maigari, President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has for the umpteenth time, pledged the federation’s maximum support towards the Golden Eaglets’ qualification for the 2013 African Under-17 Championship to be held in Morocco.

Alhaji Maigari, who met with officials and players of the national Under-17 team at their Princeville Hotel Camp in Calabar yesterday, said the federation would not shirk its responsibility to the team, even as he promised them a special bonus package after their forthcoming second round match against Guinea in Conakry in a fortnight.

Liberia’s coach, skipper disagree on officiating

By ROMANUS UGWU in Calabar

D

isappointed Lone Star of Liberia Head Coach, Kaetu Smith, has sharply disagreed with his skipper, Gebro George Duncan, over the officiating of South African central referee, Daniel Bennett, in the Super Eagles’ humiliating victory over their team in the South Africa 2013 Nations Cup qualifier in Calabar over the weekend.

Speaking with Daily Sunsports in Calabar shortly after the highly entertaining game, while the head coach passed a vote of confidence on the referee, his captain, who was given a matching order during the game, came down hard on the referee, arguing that his officiating was very questionable.

Asked to comment on the officiating, Coach Smith noted that he had no problem with it.

“The truth is that the Super Eagles

•Smith

deserved to win and they won. What we will learn from it is that we need to re-strategise for the future. We have learnt our lessons.”

Confronted with the same question, the highly disappointed captain thundered: “Of course, I’m disappointed, especially with the officiating.

“The officiating was bad. I went down because I had contact with the keeper. I was trapped, but if the referee said I dived it was his decision. I will, however, regard it as football because the referee has the final decision.

I’m not the referee, I’m just a player.

“We are not happy with what happened.

The consolation is that there are many more thing to learn from it. I hope that the younger players back home will learn from our mistakes and push the team to be a better side,” he quipped.

On the reason for suffering such a heavy defeat in the hands of the Super Eagles, while the coach blamed it on loss of concentration, the skipper felt that the Keshi-led boys had more firepower that was superior to theirs.

“The first goal killed us because it came by bad judgement by my defenders. We lost the game after that goal because it took us a long time to recover. The Eagles played with more confidence and that was the secret of their success,” the coach noted.

According to the skipper, “the defeat is one of those things we see in football.

However, what is

certain is that we lost to a good side. It does not matter how humiliating it was. It’s very unfortunate.”

On Maigari’s entourage were NFF Board members, Chief Effiong Johnson (Chairman of NFF’s Security Committee). Hon. Suleiman Kwande (Beach Soccer Chairman and member of the House Committee on Sports), Nasir (Personal Assistant to the President) among others.

“I’m happy to be meeting you again and generally, we are so happy about all the things you have done since you started camping here in Calabar,” Maigari started. “Though I have read and heard so much about this team, yesterday (Sunday) was the first time I saw you playing and I must tell you that I doubled my love for you.”

The Golden Eaglets are the only team under the umbrella of the NFF still seeking qualification towards any major international competition after failing to make it to the last two junior continental cadet tournaments in 2009 and 2011. Maigari said he’s optimistic that the team would scale the hurdle this time around, advising the players not to get carried away but to remain focussed.

“I have received many calls from notable Nigerians congratulating us about your performance against Guinea on Sunday, but we want you to go to Conakry in two weeks time and show them that you can beat any team anywhere,” Maigari further stated.

“It would be our greatest joy when you qualify for the AYC and on our part, we shall do everything for you.”

Festus Keyamo Panel unsettles football officials

A

move by the Minister of Sports, Alhaji Bolaji Abdullahi to set up an administrative panel to examine the books of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL), has raised concerns among football officials who described it as a usurpation of the responsibility of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Some football officials who spoke in Calabar on condition of

World Champions top Obudu Elite Race cast

R

eigning world mountain running male and female champions, Mamo Petro of Eritrea and Andrea Mayr of Austria, will be among the cast of elite runners who will be competing for the $50,000 top prize on offer at the 8th Obudu International Mountain Race, which holds on Saturday, November 17 this year at the Obudu Ranch Resort in Obudu, Cross River State.

Petro, who together with his country man, Teklay Weldemariam, raced to gold and silver medals glory at the 28th World Mountain Running Championships in Vallecamonic, Italy two months ago, will lead the cast of male athletes, while Mayr, who came tops in the 8.8km race among 88 women participants at the championships, will be staging a return to Obudu.

She was a fourth-placed finisher in the second edition of the race in 2006 before emerging the best two years later with a new course record of 51.14 minutes to the bargain. Obudu Mountain Race Local Organising Committee member and Cross River State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Honourable Patrick Ugbe, expressed delight at the confirmation of the two top mountain runners in the world.

“We are very delighted that the two best mountain runners in the world this year have been confirmed for the 8th Obudu International Mountain Race. This is a confirmation of the growing popularity of the race the world over, as well as the confidence the world mountain running family has in our ability to organise a world-class event,” said Ugbe.

He revealed that a host of other top class runners have signified interest in competing at this year’s event and that the LOC was busy sorting out some of the entries received.

“I think this year’s race will witness a large number of world class mountain runners than in the previous editions,” he said.

anonimity, described the intentions of the minister as rightm but procedurally flawed.

Sources in Abuja disclosed that Lagos-based activist lawyer, Festus Keyamo, has been penciled to head the panel, which may be inaugurated tomorrow. Its mandate will include a probe of how much has been realised through sponsorship and how the money was spent.

Those who spoke on the development, decried the minister’s resort to treating football matters as a unit under his office rather than an agency with its own procedures and processes.

“Ordinarily, nobody should question any move to call administrators to account and sanitise affairs of the league given the sponsorship crisis that may be traced to poor utilisation of sponsorship revenue in the last five years. But the minister can do this by directing the NFF to order the probe on his own terms. Don’t forget that the NFF remains the regulatory organ for all football matters in Nigeria,” one official said in Calabar on Saturday night after Nigeria’s victory over Liberia.

Another official described the move as a clear disrespect for the Boards of NFF and NPL. “The issue here is that the minister can easily achieve this objective by inviting the NFF and NPL to his office and discussing all issues concerning NPL to ascertain what direction to take. It appears he has a mindset about the league”.

Aboard member said that the probe would delay the league kick-off, as it has been planned by the Minister.

“This is another way of ensuring that the new season will not take off even if the sponsorship crisis is resolved.

“I can assure you anyway that if the probe works well, some officials in the ministry may find themselves in trouble as they have been part of the Board of NPL during the period the money was accrued to the league,” the member declared.

•Keyamo

NEWS Tuesday, October 16, 2012 DAILY SUN 61

SUN SPORTS

2013 Nations Cup These Eagles ‘ll fly in South Africa – Taribo

By GBOLAHAN DADA

F

ormer national team defensive ace, Pastor Taribo West, has predicted good outing for Super Eagles in the 2013 Nations Cup in South Africa, saying they’re capable of lifting the trophy Nigeria won last in Tunisia in 1994.

Taribo expressed optimism after Eagles’ last Saturday’s spectacular showing in Calabar that the calibre of players he saw against Liberia in the Nations Cup qualifier could actually reenact the magic wand of the 1994 squad, which was led by the current Eagles’ Coach, Stephen Keshi.

“For a long time, we haven’t seen a great side like this. The team was outstanding in every department of the game. The boys have shown that they have the character to deliver when the chips are down. The foreignbased players also proved their mettle.

They carried their personalities to the field and dazzled the Liberians. I think we have a team to rely on now for the Nations Cup in South Africa,” Taribo said.

He particularly praised the remarkable showing of Chelsea’s defensive midfielder, John Mikel Obi for living up to the expectation of the teeming fans, who came en masse to cheer the team to victory in Calabar. He said the player has really mature in his game.

“He (Mikel) played like a champion. Chelsea coaches have made him a better player. He now plays with a purpose.”

Mikel’s club manager, Roberto Di Matteo, had earlier described him as an unsung hero. The player occupies the anchor role just in front of the defence and gets only rare chances to go for glory.

The 25-year-old scored a rare goal at the weekend when he converted a penalty in Nigeria’s 6–1 rout of Liberia, as Eagles qualified for the African Nations Cup finals.

“Over the years, he has been almost ever-present,” Di Matteo told the club’s website yesterday. “He was very important at the back end of last season and this season, he has started in good form.

“We all make mistakes in games and I don’t think he gets the credit for the work he does for the team,” he added.

•Taribo

NEWS

Eagles to face ...Ghana or Zambia

By CHIMAOBI UCHENDU

S

uper Eagles of Nigeria will have the option of facing defending champion, Zambia, Ghana, Cote

•Moses

d’Ivoire or host, South Africa when the draws for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations hold in South Africa on October 24.

According to the seeding of countries released by CAF yesterday, Nigeria was placed in Pot 2 behind South Africa, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Zambia, the four seeded teams.

The implication is that Nigeria will draw either of the four teams during the draws.

Ivory Coast will, once again, be the Africa Cup of Nations’ team to beat when South Africa stages the 2013 finals early next year.

But it is not a tag the ‘Elephants’ are going to be comfortable wearing since they h a v e failed to justify b e i n g favourites in the previous four editions of the flagship African football tournament.

Didier Drogba and his costars finished runners-up to 2006 hosts, Egypt, came fourth in Ghana two

years later, made a 2010 quarterfinals exit and were runners-up again this year.

Adding to the frustrations of ageing stars like Drogba, Kolo Toure and Didier Zokora was the fact that both final defeats came in penalty shootouts after 120 goalless minutes.

However, after out-playing Senegal at home and away in a shortened elimination competition to accommodate two Cup of Nations tournaments in as many years, Ivory Coast find themselves among the top seeds, and 2013 title favourites.

Senegal led twice in Abidjan only to lose 4–2 and a

Drogba brace in Dakar at the weekend stretched the overall advantage to four goals before crowd violence forced the return match to be abandoned 15 minutes from time.

Drogba believes South Africa may be the last chance saloon for him and other 30-plus stars: “It is the last one for a great number of us

YSFON organises football clinic for flood-displaced kids

B

ayelsa State YSFON, in conjunction with Yenagoa City Football Academy, is organising a football clinic for children displaced by the floods in Yenagoa. The programme, which started last Saturday at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa, will run throughout the period that the kids would be at home owing to the devastating effects of the floods, which had led to the closure of schools.

Speaking with newsmen at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex shortly after the flaging off of the clinic, the National Vice President of YSFON, Mr. Kali Gwegwe, explained that the clinic was part of efforts to help keep the kids meaningfully engaged now that schools have been temporarily closed to enable government address the monumental challenges being faced by parents. Gwegwe said that the kids and their parents were very impressed with the clinic.

The father of one of the participants, Mr. Abraham Odoni, however, appealed to YSFON to continue with the programme even after the flood. He said that most parents were desirous of having their children play football, but could not afford the cost of bringing them to Yenagoa on daily basis for the training programme being organised by YSFON. According to him, government should support YSFON to take their activities to the rural areas.

Also speaking, a 10-year-old participant, Okobokeme Ebikeme, said he’s very happy to play football at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex. When asked what he has gained from the clinic, Okobokeme said he was opportune to play football on a synthetic pitch for the first time.

He also explained that was the first time he was playing under the tutelage of a coach and, therefore, appealed to YSFON to extend the programme after the flood.

62

DAILY SUN Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

OFFSIDE Musing with

DAILY SUN 63

Okey Ndibe kndibe@yahoo.com; okeyndibe@gmail.com

C

hinua Achebe’s new book, There Was A Country: A Personal Narrative of Biafra, has in the last two weeks been subjected to a barrage of “reviews” by Nigerian commentators. The book has invited both harsh denunciations and effusive praise. Achebe’s place as one of the world’s most important writers is secure.

Given his stature as a novelist and intellectual, it is hardly surprising that a new book by him would ring up a carnival-scale reception.

But the brouhaha over There Was A Country has pretty little to do with the book.

Most of those who have either denounced the book or championed it have yet to read it. The feud over the book has to do, it appears, with the different camps’ perceptions of what the book is about. It’s a curious, quintessentially Nigerian kind of drama, this rush to pronounce on a book without first taking the time to read and absorb it (my own formal review will appear next week). Nothing more painfully illustrates the appalling state of public discourse in Nigeria than the spectacle of so many would-be critics both shrieking about There Was A Country and announcing they had not read it. In fact, one or two of the book’s most furious foes declared their intention never to read it. That’s a confession to intellectual dishonesty or a disdain for discourse.

How did so many people find themselves in a tizzy on account of an unread book?

The late Obafemi Awolowo has been the lightning rod for the “debate.” On the Internet and newspaper pages, many (mostly Yoruba) politicians, intellectuals, pundits and bloggers have sought to chastise Achebe for daring to write critically about Awo’s role in the Biafran War. At the heart of the furor is Achebe’s charge that the late politician was an architect of the war-time doctrine that starvation was a legitimate instrument of war. Besides, the author hardly pulls punches when he accuses Awo of masterminding a policy that impoverished the erstwhile Biafrans. That policy was to pay a mere twenty pounds in Nigerian currency to each Biafran adult regardless of their pre-war assets.

Many of Achebe’s bashers know about his unflattering portrait of Awo not from reading the book but because the (British) Guardian carried excerpts as an op-ed piece. Instantly, the would-be critics began to act as if the book was an all-out assault on Awo and the larger Yoruba ethnicity.

That misperception begot one of the most inelegant moments in publishing history – a sustained, near-hysterical attempt to enter into an argument against an unread text. One doubts that many other books anywhere in the world have ever been subjected to the same treatment: a willful reduction of a complex,

Chinua Achebe’s would-be critics

•Achebe ambitious text to its outlook on one personage. In recent literary history, one can think of only one parallel – the zealous fury that hounded Salman Rushdie after the publication of Satanic Verses.

What began as the cause of defending Awo quickly became an exercise in gratuitous vilification of Achebe and, in several cases, denigration of his ethnicity. In a fit of mischief, one attacker asked the federal government to pull Achebe’s Things Fall Apart from Nigerian classrooms. The prescriber saw in the classic novel’s title evidence that Achebe had been engineering the falling apart of Nigeria – as if that ill-conceived edifice needed any help. A few critics hoisted up an old canard: that Achebe had it in for Awo because Wole Soyinka had won the 1986 Nobel Prize in literature. Of course, the purveyors of such silliness are simply clueless. They know nothing about the warm friendship that the two literary giants have maintained for several decades.

What we saw was a predictable outcome, for there’s no formula for engaging sensibly with a book one hasn’t read, much less digested.

One is not saying that all of Achebe’s critics would have fallen in love with his book had they waited to read it. It’s altogether possible that some of them would have found the book even more objectionable. But that’s beside the point. Even when one disagrees with a book – in fact, especially then – one is served by grasping the book’s essential points.

It ought to be a fairly self-evident principle.

And because too many of the antiAchebe warriors failed to read him first, it was no wonder that their utterance tended to be shrill, coarse and without context. Convinced that the author had degraded their icon, some Awo partisans proceeded to lob infantile insults at their presumed nemesis.

It was the perfect recipe for a Nigerian-made war. Many Igbo warriors rose to Achebe’s defense. Like Achebe’s traducers, many Igbo defenders spoke without the benefit of reading There Was A Country. For all their fervor, they too could not speak from a familiarity with Achebe’s book. So it came to pass that punches were traded in the dark, along ethnic lines.

What does it all mean? For one, the preemptive salvoes against a book that’s only now reaching many Nigerian hands strikes me, on some level, as a war on memory and history. As a writer and participant in the events of the Biafran War, Achebe’s witness is of inestimable value. At the end of the day, his fans as well as many of his foes are bound to realize that they owe him a huge debt for offering us the benefit of his experience of Nigeria’s tortured political evolution that culminated in war.

Achebe should feel mighty fulfilled that he’s forced Nigeria to begin some conversation about Biafra, a subject that the country has done its damndest to avoid. True, what’s transpired so far can hardly be called a conversation; a screaming match does not a conversation make. Even so, one has the hunch that, sooner than later, the violent pitch of the verbal exchanges will yield to a more sober response.

If anybody was in doubt about the imperative of talking about the war, the vociferousness with which Achebe’s book has been received in some quarters ought to dispel it.

Yet, some of Achebe’s noisiest detractors have

accused him of opening old wounds. That line of reasoning suggests a profound delusion.

Biafra remains – will remain – an open, raw sore until Nigeria makes a conscious choice to reflect on that bloody chapter of its history.

One has argued elsewhere that the tragedy of Nigeria is to proceed as if the Biafran War never happened.

Think about it: the violent convulsion in the Niger Delta, the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the decimation of Odi and Zaki Biam, and the massacres in Maiduguri – to take a small sample – would most likely not have happened had Nigeria not carried on as if there had been no Biafra.

The tragic reign of injustice in Nigeria is linked, at bottom, with Nigeria’s project to erase the memory of Biafra.

Achebe’s timely book has come as a rebuke to us all, an invitation to examine where the rain began to beat us – however painful the process of this searching of the soul. Once the decibel comes down, the deliberation will begin. That, or doom wins.

Please follow me on twitter @ okeyndibe

“But the brouhaha over There Was A Country has pretty little to do with the book. Most of those who have either denounced the book or championed it have yet to read it.

The feud over the book has to do, it appears, with the different camps’ perceptions of what the book is about.”

Airtel advocates friendship for success

By BISI OLALEYE

N

igerian youths have been advised to network and step up positive relationship with friends that can culminate in success.

This advice came on the heels of the Airtel 2012 theme campaign unveiled in Lagos recently, which anchors on power and positive influence of friendship.

The campaign was flagged off by Airtel senior executives from Nigeria and Africa headquarters in Kenya on October 9, 2012.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Deepak Strivastava, emphasised the importance of friendship and connectivity.

“True friends listen when we speak;

comfort us when we are sad; wipe our tears when we cry and motivate us even as we strive for success. At Airtel, we have always recognised this reality and this has continued to dictate the design of our pocket-friendly products and services that have helped to shape, build and keep both social and economic relationships of our customers alive since we commenced operation.”

The Padi Na Good Thing campaign, according to Srivastava, celebrates the creativity and resourcefulness of Nigerian youth. It reinforces friendship as a key influencer and enabler of success, especially among young people. He explained that the television advert revolves around a character, Half Dollar, a Nigerian youngster, who dreams big dreams. He possesses an awesome singing talent; however, he has yet to

get his big break. His friends are his biggest fans and, when called upon, they use their collective strengths to get him his much needed big break. Because of their collective efforts, he successfully secures a lucrative recording deal.

Srivatsava stressed that the innovations and packages were borne out of the company’s commitment to giving Nigerians best in class service.

“As a company, Airtel is proud that Nigerians exhibit a large dose of determination, responsiveness and self-belief in the pursuit of life’s goals. These attributes are in consonance with the universal knowledge that people can get well ahead of their vision by knowing the right people and staying connected with them.”

“The Padi Na Good Thing campaign will

run on radio, television and print media as well as online platforms. It builds on years of Airtel’s successes in the Nigerian market in setting standards and changing the paradigm for tariffs, customer service and innovation, as recently recognised in the 2012 Nigerian Telecom Awards.

While saluting the “fighting spirit to succeed” of Nigerian youth as well as the resourcefulness of the Nigerian people, the COO said the company would continue to innovate to serve customers better.

“Our leading role as the ‘pro-people network’ is reflected in our bespoke range of products, services and offerings, including the 500 per cent bonus offer, which is currently the rave of the moment, 2Good packages, Wazobia, Club 10, Quick Talk and Club Business”.

Okey Ndibe Writes: Chinua Achebe’s would-be critics

N150 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2012 *VOL.7 NO. 2474

-Page 63

Re: The Bakassi Affairs he bungled the entire country and not only Bakassi. Nwachukwu Chidi, Dept of Public Admin. Madonna University, Okija.

08033618400

DIMGBA IGWE

SIDEVIEW

08055001932 dimgbaigwe2011@gmail.com

T

he legal battle to retain Bakassi as Nigerian territory is finally blown and over, opening up a new phase in the quest for self determination by the Bakassi indigenes. The days ahead seems pregnant with uncertain forebodings for the indigenes.

One thing certain though is that most readers are displeased and disappointed with Nigeria’s shady and lame decision at the last minutes not to throw in the last legal punch at the International Court of Justice for thousands of Nigerian citizens now unwillingly ceded to Cameroon. This is amply reflected in their responses to last week’s article titled, The Bakassi Affair. Below are excerpts: You have said it all. The Bakassi deal was done to frustrate the Igbo man. What the country is suffering today is the injustice done to the Igbos. Nigeria shall be settled only when it restitutes for the ungodly acts done to the Igbos.

08182690757, Samson Okoronkwo, Ondo State.

Why the sudden agitation? We had ten solid years to appeal the ICJ ruling, but did nothing.

08059069652 Oga Dimgba Igwe, after brilliantly chronicling (from Genesis to Revelation) of the Bakassi issue, you still felt able to blame GEJ for “shambolically” setting up a committee for the review of the judgement four days to deadline. I am only worried that with the facts you enumerated in “The Bakassi Affairs” you still want GEJ to appeal so that when it forseeably fails you blame GEJ for shambolically handling the appeal. As a laywer, I know that Bakassi case is incurably bad. Again as an Igboman, I know that the God of the Igbo nation is in action. Barr. Fabian, 08033175402.

I agree with the piece that the people of Bakassi should have been consulted before parceling out their land and its people to Cameron. The truth is that the pro-imperialists are in power and will do everything possible to protect foreign interests or they will overthrow them. Did they consult the people of Nigeria before they imposed the existing social order?

The answer is no; what is disputable is that the people can rise tomorrow and throw away the neo-colonial system. Amos Ejimonye, Kaduna, 08039727512 Dimgba, I think that our leaders have bungled the issue of Bakassi forever and ever.

Indeed, the bungling of the Bakassi affair by our leaders both past and present, points to the fact that we have never had quality and sensitive leaders. Gowon is the worst culprit here. I am not surprised anyway considering the fact that

Mazi Igwe, yours on Bakassi elicited tears. But then that is a ‘normal’ story of Nigeria. Was Sen. Florence Ita Giwa not in the senate and also served as OBJ’s National Assembly Liaison officer. What did she do for her constituency? Ten years and nothing done. Igwe, is it not ‘Igba oso nmiri mgbe o zuru ahu? From Gowon to Jonathan who has been serious? Chukwukere, Abuja, 08065333651 My dear Mr. Igwe, thanks for your piece on the back page of Sun. I am one of the supporters of Bakassi group and now that the FGN has refused to appeal, what next? Rev. Jerry , Calabar, 08051558720 Dimgba, your cerebral write-up on Bakassi saga is commendable, for Nigeria is a warped and farcical plain, so allergic to the reality of time.

Where is our economic and ethno-religious centered human right activists, our commercialized prophets, contractor elder statesmen, constitution pointer legal experts, materialised intellectuals?

For the key actors on Bakassi affair, Gowon and OBJ, the law of Karma must take its’fullest course on them and their supporters. The cries of the Bakassi indigene shall not go un-heeded. Mazi A.N. Ezeugonna. 08030653727 The nation of the-last-minute-fire-service approach to all affairs! They went on slumber mission for ten years, only to wake up to set up deceptive committee to review Bakassi affair.

Preparation is a misnomer here in all things. This is the only place whereby one can afford to watch films all night long then go to write examination the next morning. Conduct elections without voters’registration. Get certificates without tears. The Bakassi people have been deceived and dumped.

What a nation! Noah, S.O. 08029330268 You are so fantastic with your piece titled ‘The Bakassi Affairs’. You wrote nothing but the truth and exactly what transpired between Nigeria’s myopic leaders (hopeless iron rulers) and smart Cameroonian former leader, late Ahmadu Ahidjo.

Gowon traded off Bakassi to ensure that the then Biafra was emasculated. Obasanjo came and finalized, cemented and sealed up the irresponsible attitude and callous way at which Bakassi is sold out. Goodluck Jonathan’s unwillingness to appeal the ICJ judgement is total negligence of duty and act of cowardice of the highest order. For the failure of Goodluck Jonathan to appeal the ICJ judgement thereby making Nigerian Bakassi indigenes foreigners in Nigeria, he should be impeached by Federal lawmakers immediately.

How can Jonathan please the International community and displease the citizens of Nigeria including Bakassi natives that elected him and not defend them? I pity Bakassi natives. Deacon Agu Uche, Eket, Akwa Ibom, 08036646900

negotiated the Aburi Accord, what was he afflicted with when he faced Ahmadu Ahidjo over Bakassi? The fact is that our so-called leaders think the rest of us are so dim-brained that we can’t see through their specious answers to nationally sensitive questions. Gowon can’t be using words on Nigerians like that and asking them to at the same time to pray with him ala NIGERIA PRAYS! In my faith, we first confess our sins and then pray for forgiveness. Gowon has not told Nigerians the truth about Bakassi. His despicable silence on the matter has at the same time been as nauseating. Chris Udenta, Obosi 08035813431.

Dimgba, as an Igbo man, if you and I entered into an agreement for me to help you conquer your enemy in exchange for something and I helped you and you won, and after winning the war, as an Igbo do you still have the moral conscience to demand I give you back what we exchanged and expect that I won’t go to war with you? What was the attitude of the Akwa Ibom people towards Igbos during the war? Have you forgotten that what a man sows that he reaps? 08083146029 Thanks for your piece, ‘The Bakassi Affairs.’If Bakassi is located in the Hausa/Fulani North or in the Yoruba west, would it go so cheaply? Biafra, tribalism, Gowon, Obasanjo and National Assembly are the reasons. Chiduluo Idika, Port Harcourt, 08077389994 Sir, is the trading off of Bakassi not connected with the genocide crime against the Igbos which the Yoruba elite are crying wolf over in their efforts to protect their segment rather than correct history and save Nigeria? Jn. Agaecheta, 08037655670 Your views on the topic “The Bakassi Affairs” is well researched unlike views of people like Femi Fani-Kayode who said he knows history but was making dirty political comments about the factual views of somebody like Prof. Achebe about the civil war. I think it’s high time a typical Yoruba man should respect the views of an Igbo man in the affairs of this nation. We know everything. The fragile peace between the Igbo and the Yoruba is sustained by the Igbos who had allowed the sleeping dog to lie. The Bakassi case should be re-visited. It was also one of the wicked decisions to destroy the Eastern region. Daniel, FR, Lagos,

Dear Igwe, Nigeria is a big paradox. Mark it, 40 years from now when someone documents the questionable roles of Gowon and Obasanjo in the injustice against Bakassi people, their kinsmen will rise up to pour invectives on the author. Rowl Ibechezor, 08033357399 If Gowon was plagued with malaria when he

•Jonathan

08060172557 My brother Igwe well done. Well written article. Gen. Gowon fought war with Bakassi and that’s all. For President Goodluck Jonathan, thanks for not revisiting and reviewing the judgement. Your article was insightful and thought-provoking but what do you expect when opportunists and clueless rulers are very much in power just to satisfy their selfish desire.

Innocent Nwobodo 08038245695 Welcome, a worthy son! Just as the papyrus has no other soil to grow all over the world than in the Oasis of Egypt so are you solely a beacon in the Igbo soil. Indeed you went to the market; Eke, Afor, Orie na Nkwo and returned safely.

Your valuable stuff and stocks are for the circumcised minds and not for the deranged.

However, as a complete cycle trip cure is in the stocks for the blessed as no remedy for the selfaccursed. I’m most joyful for your return. I was wondering why so long? Can the man who wrote ‘Things Fall Apart’, fall apart?

Your book: Things Fall Apart serves as ‘Igbo Bible” for me. It is oracle worthy of consultation. If only the entity called Nigeria would be sober enough to re-visit: “Things Fall Apart “ and The Trials of Brother Jero” of your other polar Prof. Wole Soyinka, she would be cured of her confusing identity. Chinualumogu Achebe, you are most welcome.

Chinualumogu, for certain, intelligent men and women, wise men and wise women do not say: I’m sorry! Why? They think before the talk.

Once again, I’m consoled because I thought they have bought you! Blossom as papyrus on our soil. No doubt madmen still abound but nothing heals like knowledge. Nnoo Opara Ogwumabiri ndi Igbo.

Very Rev. Fr. Prof. Charles Kennedy Okwudilichukwu Ogbonna, Founder/Director: Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu the Great: World Igbo Academy.

Dimgba, looking at Bakassi’s history, it shows a child with ill luck by it being tossed up and down like a table tennis ball by every player that came in contact with it. Even in making attempt at who to blame for its present situation, one is left at a twelve road junction; leaving one more confused on which road to take to safety.

It looks like destiny is at play at its being ceded to Cameroon because Nigeria had ten years to prospect an appeal with the ICJ but even mere mention of such came at the last lap of the opportunity and that only few days to expiration. I think that what the government should do is to ask Cameroon to adopt Bakassians the way they absorbed Nigerians of the southern protectorate some decades back and treat them like citizens of Cameroon. If Cameroon rejects such arrangement, then Nigerian government should approach United Nations Organisation for assistance. Lai Ashadale, Lagos.

08053007531 For an objective evaluation of Achebe’s assertion on his book on Biafra, see the compendium of raw clips from foreign war correspondents who reported the war real-time from frontlines between 1967-1970, in a book titled ‘The Untold Story of Biafra”. Copies are available in Nigeria. Truth is bitter. 08037249063

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