Our problem withBoko Haram —Northern govs

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...towards a better life for the people

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Nobody put a gun over our heads when we were signing agreements — Capt. Tito Omaghomi

•Pgs. 32&33

N150

MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

VOL. 25: NO. 61626

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FALLOUT:

Chelsea rakes in N18b

•Back Page

Our problem with Boko Haram —Northern govs

NNANNA OCHEREOME: Justice Salami’s messy recall •P. 17

•Say Kaduna, Kano, Jos, now no go areas

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

– K GADUNA OVERNOR •Pandemonium over threat to bomb Senate President's home Gabriel Suswam of

Benue weekend expressed the frustration of Northern Governors over their inability to halt the violence perpetrated by the Islamic militant group, Boko Haram, saying they have found it difficult to initiate a meeting with the group because it hides its identity and the governors do not fully understands its cardinal

UP CHELSEA!

Continues on Page 5

LES LEBA: Why fuel prices will always rise •P. 48

Mr & Mrs

ALL FOR CHAMPION CHELSEA—Chelsea Football Club fans fill Kings Road as they follow the player's bus during an open-top bus parade by the team along Kings Road in West London yesterday. Inset: World leaders, standing and applauding from left: Brithish PM, David Cameron; US President, Barack Obama; Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel and José Manuel Barroso with others watch the final of the Champions League between Chelsea and Bayern Munich, during a break at the G8 meeting in Toronto, Canada. Photos: AFP.

Sacked Lagos doctors lobby for reinstatement

•P. 6

2—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

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Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012—3

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4—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21,

2012

CONMESS: How Lagos doctors were messed up Despite the sacking of 788 doctors on May 4, 2012, the face-off between the Lagos State government and the Medical Guild continues unabated. Rather than wane, the discord between the two parties appears to be waxing stronger. Following the sacking episode, the doctors dragged the state government before the Industrial Court to seek redress. Although the Court has urged the disputing parties to “settle amicably” the drums of war are still sounding. In the eye of the storm is the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS – a special salary scale designed to correct the wage disparity in doctors’ salaries relative to other professionals nationwide. Over the last couple of years, the two parties have ceaslessly traded blames over an agreement they both signed for its full implementation. At every opportunity, the state government insists that CONMESS is being fully implemented, but the Medical Guild has consistently cried foul, alleging that the government reneged in fulfilling the agreement. In this encounter, with Sola Ogundipe & Chioma Obinna, Drs. Olumuyiwa Odusote and Idris Durojaiye, President and Secretary of the Medical Guild respectively, tell it all. Excerpts: Genesis of CONMESS N September 2009, follow ing several years of negotiations between the Nigerian Medical Association and the Federal Government, the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale circular SWC/S/04/S.410/220 was released by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission. The main principle of CONMESS is to serve as a minimum universal scale of remuneration for all doctors in Nigeria regardless of location or employer, in order to curb internal brain drain. CONMESS is also intended to correct the wage disparity that has seen doctors’ salaries being progressively reduced relative to other professionals over the years following repeated wage reviews.

Agitation of the Medical Guild The Medical Guild had been agitating for implementation of CONMESS by the Lagos State Government since 2009 through several letters and representations to government.

This culminated in the strike actions of August to November 2010, and February to March 2011. The Lagos State government dragged the Medical

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Guild to the National Industrial Court in August 2010 challenging the legality of our strike action. The President of the court, Justice Adejumo, however ruled that the Medical Guild did not err as it had given the government sufficient notice through several letters and meetings with government.

Agreement In November 2011, the Lagos State Government agreed to pay CONMESS as approved in the Federal Government Circular stated above and committed itself to same via a signed document. This document specifically indicated government’s acceptance to pay and also not to place Lagos State doctors at any disadvantage whatsoever relative to their colleagues anywhere else in the country. The government later rescinded on this agreement which led to the second strike of February to April of 2011. In late March 2011, an agreement was finally signed between the Lagos State Government and the Medical Guild to implement CONMESS in full. This agreement which was signed

by His Excellency the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, also included the cost of implementing CONMESS in full. The Medical Guild suspended its strike action in good faith, despite the earlier reneging of the Lagos State government, in order to allow government implement the agreement.

Failure by Govt The Lagos State Government however failed to honour the agreement and however chose to implement only certain aspects of CONMESS. For the past one year, the Medical Guild has been writing, meeting and pleading with government to correct the shortfall in implementation of CONMESS. The government however only chose to shift and default on its promises.

Outstanding issues on CONMESS Implementation of the CONMESS ran into troubled waters following the demotion of all doctors to lower steps on each grade level, thus leading to loss of seniority and income.

According to the civil service rules and according to the agreements made with government, all doctors are to be laterally converted from the previous salary grade level and step to the corresponding salary grade level and step on the CONMESS scale. The agreement on CONMESS signed by the Governor in March 2011 which led to our suspension of

•Doctors' strike the strike included the cost implication of implementing CONMESS in full with lateral conversion of all doctors from the old (CONTISS) scale to the new CONMESS scale, level for level, step for step, without any form of demotion in step. Annex II of the CONMESS circular is very clear on conversion from CONTISS to CONMESS. All over the federation, migration to the CONMESS scale is level for level and step for step. Even the attempt to demote officers by steps has been fraught with serious errors and caused total distortion in hierarchy, such that senior doctors now find themselves below their juniors. The Medical Guild had written severally to government to correct these anomalies yet nothing was done about it.

Demotion through steps Demotion of grade level 15 specialists (Consultants) from step 4 and above to step 1. Entry level for specialists is GL 15 step 4 according to the civil service rules. However, specialists in Lagos State who were employed on GL 15 step 4 were demoted to step 1, and newly employed specialists are being placed GL 15 step 1. This is contrary to what obtains in the CONMESS circular and the extant civil service rules.

Employment of new consultants on GL 15 step 1: Points of entry for various cadres into the different salary scales are determined by the National Salaries and Wages Commission, which also determines salaries for holders of political office.

The entry point for consultants has been stipulated as Grade Level 15, step 4. The Guild regards this as sacrosanct. Dropping this cadre to step 1 will amount to setting back the pro-

fession three years. This is not acceptable to us.

Pegging of GL 12 doctors in LASUTH on lower steps compared with their counterparts in the Health Service Commission (HSC) who are placed on higher steps. Normally, entry level of Medical Officers and Registrars is GL 12 step 2. Entry level for LASUTH registrars was fixed at step 1 and all registrars were pegged at steps 1 and 2. However, Medical Officers in HSC were appropriately placed on step 2 as entry level and higher according to the number of years in service.

Therefore, GL 12 doctors in LASUTH have been at a disadvantage for the past one year.

Teaching allowance Teaching allowance for House Officers (GL 10) and Medical Officers/Junior Registrars (GL 12): the cost implication for the above was calculated in detail and approved for payment by the Governor as part of the agreement with which we suspended our strike. We were therefore surprised that cost implications were still being recalculated 13 months after implementation should have started. This allowance is being paid by other state governments as contained in the CONMESS circular.

Excessive taxation On the issue of excessive taxation, the Medical Guild argued that part of the agreement with government for suspending the strike last year, was that the excessive taxation would be reviewed downwards. “Contrary to this agreement, from October 2011 the tax paid by doctors was increased. Initially we attributed it to the bonus added to our salaries between

October and December 2011.

However, following return to our normal salaries in January 2012, the amount of tax we have been paying has remained at the inflated level. Despite our complaints about this anomaly no rectification has been made.

The warning strike The Medical Guild was forced to seek other available and legal means to ensure that government implements CONMESS in full. Bearing in mind the prolonged suffering an indefinite strike action would cause Lagosians, the doctors opted for a 3-day warning strike between 11th and 13th April 2012. “This was intended to put pressure on government to do the needful and to alert the public on the unresolved issues. However, instead of government initiating moves to resolving the outstanding issues in the interest of industrial harmony and welfare of Lagosians, it embarked on a vendetta to punish the doctors by issuing queries and threatening to sack doctors for participating in the warning strike.

On receipt of the queries on 16th April 2012, we promptly informed all our members not to reply them since our strike was a labour issue and not an administrative matter. The association replied the queries on behalf of our members stating clearly to government that the strike was legitimate as it was a resumption of our suspended strike action of March 2011.

Another query was issued by government on 18th April 2012 threatening to discipline our members for not replying the first query. Still our members did not reply the second query.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012—5

Our problem with Boko Haram — Northern govs Continues from Page 1 demands.

He also declared that the government alone could not address the security challenges occasioned by the deadly activities of the sect without the support of the people in the north.

Suswam spoke to newsmen in Kaduna after attending the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF).

Suswan said: “If it were a situation where you have a defined leadership from the people causing this problem and you can sit at a round table and discuss with them, then it would be understandable. But in this case, these people are not known. They are not articulating any demand, so it is something that is totally different.

“If you look at terrorists from across the world, especially in places like Afghanistan, they articulate what their

issues are. But these people (Boko Haram) are not saying anything and that presents a very difficult situation for the leadership, so it is not just about leadership as Northern Governors.

“We are doing our best at our own level, but we can’t even see the people who are doing this; they are not ready to come to the table for discussion, so what do you do? We have to go into intelligence gathering and in intelligence gathering; it is the people that provide the necessary information to security agents.

Kaduna, Kano, Jos, now no go area “We are calling for the support of all Northerners to help us by providing information. Now, look at our sad situation about investment - Kano is gone, Kaduna is gone, Jos is gone. These are the three most vibrant

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

T

HERE is a lot to say of good neighbourliness.

Do good to people who need help. If you are able to help, help the person, don’t delay, because good help at the wrong time is indeed no help.

Believe me, it actually costs very little to do a lot of good and good done in a timely manner, gives you peace on earth and stores up treasures for you in heaven. It is your chance to make a huge difference in a small way, it just might change the world.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Adhere to your purpose and you will soon feel as well as you ever did. On the contrary, if you falter, and give up, you will lose the power of keeping any resolution, and will regret it all your life —Abraham Lincoln.

T took Abraham Lincoln 30 years to achieve his I dream of becoming the President of the United States. Although he faced countless insurmountable

obstacles, he did not give up. He didn’t quit. While it may seem impossible for you to overcome your current challenges or problems, promise yourself that you will NOT give up.

Here’s Abraham Lincoln’s Incredible Journey to become the 16th President Of The United States! He had to work to support his family after they were forced out of their home. His mother died. Failed in business.

He was defeated for legislature in 1832. He lost his job and couldn’t get into law school. Declared bankruptcy, and spent the next 17 years of his life paying off the money he borrowed from friends to start his business. He was defeated for legislature again in 1834. Was engaged to be married, but his sweetheart died and his heart was broken. Had a nervous breakdown and spent the next six months in bed. In 1836, he was defeated in becoming the speaker of the state legislature and again in 1838 was defeated in becoming elector. He was defeated for Congress thrice, and was also rejected for the job of Land Officer in his home state. He was defeated for Vice-President - got less than 100 votes in 1856 and he eventually became the elected President of the United States in 1860. What a remarkable story of a remarkable man who never gave up on his dreams.

cities in the entire north.

All of them are gone!

Nobody wants to live in Kaduna; nobody wants to go to Kano and trade, who will go on holiday in Jos now? Nobody! “So we have a very serious situation that affects us all, it is not about leadership failure. Let’s not be pushing it on leadership.

Yes, leadership has a large chunk of the responsibilities, but we need to come together and see it as our collective problem and not a leadership problem.

“The only way to confront the security situation in the region is through intelligence gathering, which depends largely on the cooperation of the people to provide credible information to security

agents since those behind the bombings are not spirits, but live among the people.

“Although government has a responsibility to ensure the security of lives and property of the citizenry, the present circumstance requires people to collaborate with security agents in confronting the terrorists.

“People must assist in intelligence gathering because these people are not spirits, they live in homes, they live in the community. They do their trainings in homes.

We need to have information at the level of leadership, otherwise, the north as it were, is being decapitated economically and so there is nothing that we, as leaders alone can do, except we collaborate.

“At the meeting, we

POCKET CARTOON

seriously discussed the security challenges in the north and we took very far reaching decisions to address them. But you will agree with me that what is happening now is an emerging phenomenon in the North.

“We must look at where we have gone wrong,

why we have moved from one extreme to another extreme. It is very strange to see that people are bombing in the north; it is strange that we now have what we have now”, he said.

Pandemonium over threat to bomb Senate President's home

BY PETER DURU

M

AKURDI— OTUKPO, the home of the Senate President, David Mark and headquarters of Idoma land in Benue State was at the weekend plunged into deep fear following alleged text messages being circulated of plans to bomb the town by a militant Islamic sect.

The development forced security operatives to mount intensive security patrols around the town to forestall any security breach.

Vanguard gathered that the Islamic sect last week sent text messages to security agents alerting them of plans to bomb the police station in the town, the Otukpo Main Market and St Mary’s Church, among others.

However, security agents in the area, not cowed by the threat went round the town with security vehicles including armoured personnel carriers, APCs in company of vigilante members, Okada riders and other well meaning members of the town to denounce the threat.

The development has thrown the town and its

surroundings into a state of uncertainty as residents kept away from public gatherings, including church services yesterday.

Vanguard recalls that sometime last January, the town was also thrown into similar security threat when members of the sect were alleged to have visited the town and had gone round with the aid of commercial motor cyclists to locate their probable sites for

bombing.

The police in the area, at the time, using its plain cloth detectives went into surveillance in order to identify members of the sect or those that may have link with them.

In the main, the Police in the state have fortified surveillance and security at its commands with the erection of heavy iron barricades at its entry points which makes it difficult for anybody to

force his way into the premises.

When contacted, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Alaribe Ejike said he was yet to be informed about the development.

Police in APCs and members of the vigilante groups were patrolling Otukpo streets yesterday after residents received text messages from members of the Boko Haram sect who threatened to bomb the town.

Senate reverses self, discharges arrest order on IGI MD, others

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA —SIX days after the Senate issued warrant of arrests on the Managing Director and management of Industrial and General Insurance Company, IGI, the upper legislative chamber has revoked the order.

Chairman, Senate Panel probing the Pensions scam, Senator Aloysius Etok had on Wednesday last week ordered the Inspector General of Police, IGP,

Mohammed Abubakar to bring them in handcuffs tomorrow, Tuesday at 3pm following alleged failure to pay pensioners of Nigerian Postal Service, NIPOST and other agencies of government.

Senator Etok who is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on establishment, public service, states and local g o v e r n m e n t administration, said yesterday that the arrest warrant was vacated when the Senate discovered that the IGI boss and the

management staff of the company did not get formal invitation to appear before the Senate Joint Committee on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, before the order was issued same day.

The order to cancel the warrant which was issued on Friday with reference number NASS/S/JCPI/WRT/IGP/ W/07 was signed by Senator Alloysious Etok and with this development, the arrest warrant earlier issued by the committee has been cancelled and withdrawn.

6—VANGUARD, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

NLC no longer fit to defend workers —Integrity Group

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

A

From left: Mr. Gokhan Akinci, World Bank; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; Mr. Parth Tewari, World Bank and Mr. Kenneth Okpara, Commissioner for Economic Planing during an interactive lecture between Delta State Government delegation and the World Bank team for Infrastructural Development of Delta State at the Civil Service College, Singapore. Photo: Henry Unini.

SWF: Govs threaten to dump out-of-court settlement deal zAs S-Court resumes case against FG today

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA — PLANS by the Federal Government to transfer $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account to a new account to be known as the “Sovereign Wealth Fund,” may have met a brick wall, as Governors of the 36 states of the Federation, have threatened to dump the out-ofcourt settlement deal.

This is even as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, has directed the Federal Government and the governors to appear before the apex court today with their report of settlement or be ready for a full-blown hearing into the substantive matter.

The governors had in a suit they filed before the Supreme Court on October 23, 2011, sought an order declaring the proposed creation of the “Sovereign Wealth Fund,” illegal and unconstitutional.

They are further praying the court to issue an order in the effect that all sums standing to the credit of the said “Excess Crude Account” (or any account replacing same by any name howsoever) be paid into court or be otherwise secured as the court may deem fit pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The governors maintained that unless the order of injunction was granted, the Federal Government would continue to disre-

gard, disrespect and ignore the pending suits before the Supreme Court.

Considering that the issues the governors raised in their suit bothered on the constitution, the CJN, preempting the possible breakdown of the out-of-court settlement deal between the parties, already constituted a seven-man panel of justices to commence hearing on the case today.

It would be recalled that despite that the Federal Government earlier expressed its readiness to join issues with the governors, having failed to persuade them to sheath their legal sword, however, on March 26, it re-approached the Supreme Court and pleaded with it to suspend hearing on the case to enable the parties to reach consensus on perceived grey areas in the out-of-court terms of settlement it said was presented to it by the litigants.

FG had previously told the court via an affidavit deposed to by one of its lawyers, Mr Uchenna Njoku, that “the parties explored the possibility of an amicable settlement of the issues discernible in the case and mutually sought several adjournments of the case to enable them to conclude the settlement option and report same to the court. But when it became clear that the plaintiffs/applicants were not amenable to the settlement options, discussions in this regard were called off.”

The Federal Government, through its lead counsel, Mr Austin Alegeh, SAN, equally accused the state governors of mischief, insisting that they took part in the deliberation of the National Economic Council where the decision to transfer the $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account to the SWF was taken.

It stressed that the states had been receiving their shares from the money, saying their decision to frustrate

the planned creation of the SWF was borne out of insincerity.

However, lead counsel to the governors, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, maintained that his clients were forced to approach the apex court for redress in view of the fact that the Federal Government and its officers, had, consistently and in total disregard for the pending suit, withdrawn, utilised, disbursed and allocated funds from the Account.

BUJA —THE fears of cracks in Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, are beginning to manifest as some of its affiliates, under the aegis of Integrity Group of Industrial Unions, IGIU, yesterday said NLC as presently constituted was no longer fit to defend the interest of Nigerian workers and masses.

IGIU, in a statement faulted last Monday's statement by NLC’s Acting General Secretary, Mr. Owei Lakemfa, where it accused government of plotting to break it (NLC) and register a new central labour centre, saying it was a profound indication that the burden of conscience was finally and openly manifesting in the behaviour of key elements whose serial blunders had brought on the NLC contempt never experienced since its creation over three decades ago.

The statement by Leke Success and Peters Adeyemi, President, National Union of Hotels and Personal Services Workers, NUHPSW, and General Secretary of Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, respectively, on behalf of the group,while expressing shock in perceived wild allegations in the NLC’s statement, argued that it

portrayed the present NLC as if Nigerians did not already know that it was a spent force in trade unionism.

According to IGTIU, “in the first place, these allegations, and the incoherent manner in which they were delivered, point only to the fact that the NLC national secretariat is currently in far worse shape than many trade unionists and Nigerians may have feared or suspected.

"If there is indeed any impediment to the proper conception and articulation of issues in our movement today, it is really the manifest incompetence of those at the helm of affairs of the movement. We need not state here the commentaries of some labour veterans on the disgusting mismanagement of the January protests, one of which concluded that Aso Rock 'must have used juju on NLC' to suspend the protests and general strike without realising the desired objectives.

"We ask Lakemfa or the NLC leadership: were members of the Integrity Group part of the NLCTUC clique that made that blunder?

“NLC knows quite well that the leadership crisis in NLC predates the Jonathan administration. To, therefore, ascribe the moves being made by our group to pullout and register as a labour centre to government is not only unconscionable but morally reprehensible."

Sacked Lagos doctors lobby for reinstatement zIt's attempt to break our ranks — Medical Guild chairman

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE & CHIOMA OBINNA

L

AGOS — INDICA TIONS emerged, weekend, that some of the 788 doctors sacked by the Lagos State government are now lobbying to get reinstated.

Investigations by Vanguard revealed that some of the doctors have started responding to the queries they had earlier refused to respond to. They are banking on the support of top officials in the ministry to influence their reinstatement.

An impeccable source from the Lagos State Ministry of Health, disclosed to Vanguard that some of the doctors that are making moves under ground confessed that they were already tired of staying at home as they have mouths to feed and bills to pay.

The source who pleaded

anonymity, further noted that top officials within the ministry were still considering using their influence to get the doctors reinstated.

It was also gathered that the doctors’ request might be granted since even the ministry have been having challenge recruiting new doctors.

Currently, many of the doctors were not happy with the recalcitrant position of their leaders on their agitation but were cooperating in order not to rock the boat of the struggle.

“Even the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, National President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele is not happy with position of the Medical Guild on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS, issue but he is afraid that he might be impeached if he fails to dance to the tune of the doctors. I had a meeting with him last Thursday when he confided

in me,” the source said.

According to him, the elders in the medical profession were not happy with the way the sacked doctors have turned strikes into object of blackmail, saying they were ready to call strikes at the slightest provocation, stating: “Even if you mistakenly hit one of them on the leg, they may decide to call for a strike.”

It's an attempt to break our ranks —Odusote

But in a swift reaction, the Chairman of the Lagos Medical Guilds, the umbrella body of the sacked doctors, Dr. Olumuyiwa Odusote, described the insinuation that the doctors were lobbying to get reinstated by the state government as a blatant lie, saying “it is an attempt to break our

ranks.”

AGPMPN begins free health services

Meanwhile, Chairman Association of General Private Medical Practitioners, AGPMPN, Lagos Chapter, Dr. Olayinka Oladosu has announced at the weekend that beginning from today, the association would start offering free health services especially emergency cases to residents of Lagos carrying the cards of public hospitals following the total collapse of health services in public hospitals across the state.

He said: “We have about 84 centres across the state where people can access free health across the state.

The information at our disposal about loss of lives is alarming and we are grieving about this. These are the lives we cannot create. We believe the provision of this service will provide succor to the masses.”

VANGUARD, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012—7

TMG urges Jonathan to restate Salami

BY BEN AGANDE

A

From left: Mrs Tepu Akindolire, Synod Secretary; Rt Rev Peter Awelewa Adebiyi, Bishop of Lagos West (chief host); his wife and Justice Babasola Ogunade, Chancellor Lagos West during the closing service for the first Session of the 5th Synod held at Archbishop Vining Memorial Church, Ikeja, Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe.

Why Ghana won’t allow Nigerians’ generator business —Ajagu

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

L

AGOS — PRESI DENT of the Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies (AES), Dr. Ausbeth Ajagu, has advocated the need for the Federal Government to stop the importation of generating sets into the country, in a bid to address the epileptic power situation in the country.

Ajagu, who spoke weekend, at a press conference, said Nigeria should emulate Ghana that barred foreigners from selling generators in order to avoid sabotage of its stable power supply.

“I was in Ghana recently and I spoke with the President. He told me that Nigerians have been prevented from coming into Ghana to sell generating sets because the moment they do that, Nigerians will sabotage the country’s electricity company and it will go up like Nigeria,” he said, adding that the President said it never occurred to him that Nigerians or anybody would ever contemplate coming to Ghana for such business.

He said: “What do you expect from somebody who imports over N50 billion worth of diesel every quarter to do? What do you expect from somebody who imports generator set in large quantity? Sabotage of course.

“If Nigeria’s electricity company works well, they will sell; we should look C M Y K

at each other and say, let us stop the importation of generating sets. That is the way to go, we are not for or against the proposed price hike, we are interested in enabling environment.

“If we can get constant electricity supply, whatever the price people will pay, this is because if they consider the inconveniences of financing their generating set, they are left with no option.”

He advised the Federal Government to hands off the issue of power, saying “government does not have any business with power, all they need to do is create all the necessary enabling environment.”

Speaking on the Academy’s National conference scheduled for May 22, holding at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, with theme: “Strong systems: Necessity for building a virile nation,” he said: “Our thought in AES is that the critical mix of strong institutions and system, forms the bedrock to the building of a virile and egalitarian society. This guarantees the confidence of the citizens in the now and hope for future generation because of the entrenchment of the rule of law, value for human life and global best practices or acceptable behaviour by all persons in all facets of society.”

Accordingly, he noted that communiqué from the conference would be forwarded to government in

form of conference report for consideration and adoption.

“We took time to select participants of this conference, a situation where for the first time we have three past heads of state, and incumbent governors to discuss a topic on the way forward, it has never happened and it is deliberate, having the likes of

Obasanjo, Gowon and others is a game plan for us to achieve our vision 2020,” he added.

However, former Nigerian leaders, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen Yakubu Gowon, Chief Ernest Shonekan are among guests expected to grace the Academy’s 4th national.

BUJA — A COALI TION of Non-Governmental Organisations under the aegis of the Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, yesterday called on President Goodluck Jonathan to honour the advice of the National Judicial Council, NJC, and reinstate the former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami immediately.

Addressing a press conference on a wide range of national issues in Abuja, the TMG said the speed with which President Jonathan acted on the suspension of Justice Salami while now foot dragging on his reinstatement as recommended by the NJC “is a systematic erosion of the independence of the judiciary.”

Chairman of the TMG, Mashood Erubami said the degree of rot in the country in all sectors “is such that unless something decisive is done now to arrest the drift, the country would appear inexorably heading for anarchy and ruin.

“While the people buckle under the yoke of economic deprivation, joblessness, and all forms of social injustice and malaise, principal actors in all strata of government continue to display obscene opulence and grandeur, a feat made possible by blatant and unabashed looting of the public treasury.

"We call for support from

all Nigerians in the struggle to fight off corrupt, rotten and depraved practices that have reduced the majority of our population to mere serfs who only lived to minister to the satisfaction of the low desires of the upper stratum of our.”

The TMG further decried the general insecurity in the country, saying "the Federal Government has failed woefully" in its constitutional responsibility of protecting the lives and property of Nigerians.

It also called for the adoption of the recommendations of the Justice Mohammed Uwais report on electoral reforms, especially on the appointment of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. The TMG observed that contrary to section 15 (5) of the 1999 constitution which requires the state to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power, “corruption has almost become official in Nigeria. The anti corruption agencies have been subjected to the political machinations of the Attorney General of the Federation. Sections 66, 107, 137 and 182 of the 1999 constitution which disqualify persons indicted for fraud or embezzlement from contesting election have been deleted from the constitution through constitution amendment of the National Assembly.”

Enugu guber poll: Court decides Chime’s fate today

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA — A Federal High Court in Abuja will today deliver judgement on a suit seeking to sack Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State from office on grounds that he was not validly nominated to contest in the last general election.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Chief Alexander Chukwuemeka Obiechina, is urging the high court to go ahead and determine whether there was a valid special congress or primary election held in Enugu State on January 12, 2011, in which Chime was nominated as the PDP candidate.

Specifically, the plaintiff, who was a governorship aspirant of the party, contended that the laid down condition precedent for nominating a candidate for

the governorship position, as enshrined in sections 85(1) and 87(1)(4)(b) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) was not fulfilled in the case of governor Chime.

Obiechina told the court that as a governorship aspirant in the state, he had met all the requirements and was duly cleared to contest the primaries alongside the governor and other aspirants.

He said while he was busy soliciting the support of the electorates, he heard over the state radio that Chime had won the gubernatorial ticket to fly the party’s flag in the election.

The plaintiff averred that upon enquiry, he discovered that the party did not fix any primaries for January 12 and it did not also notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at least 21 days to the primaries as required by section 85 (1) of the Electoral Act before such primaries could be held.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, via a written address it filed before the court, washed its hands off the said controversial primary election.

The electoral body maintained that the January 12, 2011, primary election in Enugu where Chime was nominated as the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP for the election, was conducted in substantial noncompliance with the provision of section 85(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended.

According to the Commission, “with respect to primary elections said to be conducted on January 11 and 12, 2011, it can be said that what was passed as the “Notice’ was the plaintiff’s exhibit addresses to the Resident Electoral Commissioner at Enugu, which most certainly is not the same as the 1st defendant, who by the clear terms of section 85(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 must be the Com-

mission itself.

“This apart, the letter is dated January 10, 2011 and apparently was received on January 11, 2011, the very next day.

“It gave notice of primaries scheduled for the same day. Certainly, no one should be left in doubt that the envisaged notice of 21 days was not complied with in obvious violation of section 85(1]) Added to the foregoing is the fact that the resident Electoral Commissioner cannot be regarded as the Commission, which presents a further violation.

“It stands to reason that a notice of primary election dated January 10, 2011 for the events to be held on January 11 and 12, 2011 has the potential of violating the right to equal opportunity to be voted for. Be that as it may, what really transpired within the party can best be considered intra party, which must be ventilated by affected members of the party.

8— Vanguard , MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

LASTMA: 24-hr patrol duty on Apapa-Oshodi Road

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI &MONSOR OLOWOOPEJO

L

A G O S — DETERMINED to enforce its zerotolerance to indiscriminate parking of containerised vehicles on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, the Lagos State Government has deployed officials of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, on a 24-hour operation to keep the axis free of traffic.

Meanwhile, traffic on Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island, will be diverted from tomorrow to enable the construction company commence work on the road. Motorists and other road-users have been enjoined to take alternative routes.

On Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, LASTMA officials would henceforth run a three-shift workduty, to ensure that normalcy returned to the area.

General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Babatunde Edu, said the agency was ready to sustain and enforce compliance of containerised vehicles on Apapa Oshodi Expressway, by engaging the officials of the agency in a three-shift work-duty on 24-hour daily operation to ensure that normalcy returned to the area.

Lagos seals 7 houses over refuse dumping

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS—SEVEN houses were, weekend, sealed by the Lagos State Government, over non-compliance with the state environmental law.

Managing Director of Lagos State Waste Management Agency, LAWMA, Mr. Ola Oresanya, said the houses involved were at Audu Street, Abule-Oja, Akoka and would be sanctioned appropriately.

He said the occupants of the houses were caught dumping refuse into water channels, which would eventually lead to flooding, adding that the houses did not have refuse containers in front of their premises.

C M Y K

Pope, Osu urge positive use of communication tools

BY ETOP EKANEM

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AGOS—THE Catholic Pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI and Director, Social Communications, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Very Rev. Msgr.

Gabriel Osu, have emphasised the need to

use communication tools and social networks positively to make space for silence and occasions for prayer, meditation and sharing of the word of God. They spoke during the celebration of 46th World Communications Day

with the theme: “Silence and Word: Path of Evangelisation,” at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos, yesterday.

Pope Benedict, whose message was read by Mr Dejumo Lewis, said: “Attention should be paid to the various types of

PRESENTATION: From left, Mrs. Susie Odiete, Chief Planning, Research and Statistics Officer, representing Consumer Protection Council; Mr. Oluwole Rawa,Director, Segment Marketing, Etisalat, presenting key to winner of Etisalat FCB promo Range Rover, Mr. Chukwuemeka Ojukwu and Mr. Enitan Deloye, Director, Brand Communications, in Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

websites which can help people today to find time for reflection and authentic questioning, as well as making space for silence and occasions for prayer, meditation and sharing of the word of God. “When words and silence become mutually exclusive, communication breaks down, either because it gives rise to confusion or because, on the contrary, it creates an atmosphere of coldness.

When they complement one another, however, communication acquires value and meaning.”

On his part, Msgr. Osu urged everyone to spend time listening to each other, noting: “The thing is that we have not spent time listening to ourselves. Nobody listens to one another, everybody is shouting. That is what is happening all over the world. In the midst of it all, what happens? confusion.

“So also in religious houses. With so much

noise, nobody listens.

Everybody commands God. God must do this, do that. So, silence is also part of evangelisation.

The church recognises positive use of communication tools. Use it to direct the people positively. Again, we should listen to God talking back to us. Not just talking or using the media in a negative way, that is what the church warns against.

“Media is good, the new communication tools are good, and again, positive use of them is necessary.

That is what the Holy Father is telling us. We need time for reflection, to digest God’s work, but we must also listen to others.

All we do mostly, without mincing words, with our gadgets and tools, is to gossip here and there.

“Look at the lives of most of our children, how do they use the electronic media? Is it really for positive use? They go about doing all these without control. The parents do not even know what they are watching.

So the church is warning that all these tools of communication should be used positively," he added.

APBN faults Lagos govt for sacking 788 doctors

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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AGOS—THE sack of the 788 doctors by the Lagos State Government, weekend, received heavy knocks from the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, APBN, which said it was against international norms and practices.

Briefing newsmen in Lagos on efforts by APBN to find lasting solution to the lingering crisis between the state government and the embattled doctors, President of group, Mr.

Segun Ajanlekoko, called on the government to rescind the sack order and the queries.

He said: “The state government must rescind the sack order as the action is against international norms and practices.”

Ajanlekoko also called on the state government to commence the implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS, and decide on a starting date with time of implementation, which has to be binding on

Okada operator docked for impersonation

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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AGOS—A 26-year-old c o m m e r c i a l motorcycle operator, commonly called Okada, Abubakar Usman, has been arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate's Court, Lagos, for allegedly presenting himself as a soldier with fake military identity card.

The accused was said to have identified himself as a soldier, when he was quizzed by policemen in

front of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on May 1, leading to his arrest.

According to the charge, the accused tendered a military identity card with number 09621582, which turned out to be fake. He is facing one count of impersonation, though he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Trial magistrate, Mr B. Sonuga, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

parties.

Stressing the need to sustain peace in the state, he called on parties in the impasse to maintain a good level of understanding and

cooperation.

He advocated that a committee on the salary and welfare of workers should be established by the Lagos

State Government, which, should comprise professional bodies to see to salary discrepancies from time to time to avert crisis such as the current face-off.

Mobil loses bid to quash N29m judgment debt

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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AGOS—THE Court of Appeal, Lagos, weekend, dismissed the appeal by Mobil Oil Nigeria Limited against the judgment of a Lagos High Court, Badagry, which ordered it (Mobil) to pay N29.3 million to an oil dealer, Otunba Adisa Osiefa, for negligence and breach of contract.

Osiefa, at the lower court, had alleged that the oil firm breached a reseller agreement entered into by parties in 1987.

The lower court, in its judgment by Justice Ebenezer Adebajo, held that the reseller ’s agreement between the claimant and Mobil was still subsisting, adding that the defendant acted negligently in breaching the agreement between the parties.

Mobil had appealed

against same, but the appeal was struck out for want of diligent prosecution and failure to transmit records of appeal.

Mobil, after the matter was struck out, brought a fresh application for same

to be relisted. The appellate court in its judgment by presiding judge, Justice Helen Ogunwumiju, held that the motion to relist the appeal was unmeritorious, and same was dismissed.

Lagos PDP faults LG chiefs' UK trip

BY DAPO AKINREFON

I

KEJA—LAGOS State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has faulted the trip by the 57 chairmen and officials of local government and local council development areas in the state to the United Kingdom, describing it as “mere leisure trip.”

State chairman of PDP, Captain Tunji Shelle (rtd), said: “We view this recent misplaced trip of the council chairmen to the UK

as insensitive and absurd, especially as the trip must have cost the state a lot m ore than what the striking doctors are demanding for consolation, pending the final settlement of their grievances.”

Shelle added: “How can anyone rationalise the trip at this period, when the chairmen should been monitoring how the councils’ health facilities have been activated to ameliorate the pains of the ongoing strike by doctors?”

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012—9

CONGRATULATIONS: From right, former Oyo State governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, the n e w l y - w e d couple,former Miss Monsura Gafar and Mr Yesir Ashiru and General Brimo Yusuf, during the Nikkah at Banquet Hall,Kwara Hotel,Ilorin, weekend.

Amosun instals 90-yr-old monarch

PDP vows to field candidate for Ondo guber poll z Mimiko warns trouble makers

BY OLA AJAYI & DAYO JOHNSON

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA—OGUN State Government, weekend, installed a 90year-old member of the defunct Action Group, AG, Alhaji Wahab Aileru, as the first traditional ruler of Oluga of over 100year-old Oluga-Kemta town of Ogun State.

The ceremony was held at the palace of the Alake and the paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo.

The newly-crowned monarch who was pronounced the Olu of Oluga by the paramount ruler, later moved to his own palace in the community in Odeda Local Government Area.

Oba Aileru, a follower of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo during the days of AG, at a briefing, said 17 villages were under his jurisdiction and that before he was upgraded by the government, he had been the village head of the community for over 20 years.

He said: “I have been Baale (village head) for over 20 years before my upgrade as oba by the government. I have 17 villages under my domain.''

On the occasion, the Alake said the choice of the monarch was due to his experience and his contributions to the development of the community.

He said the crisis had been on for 17 years before Governor Ibikunle Amosun through the advice of Alake of Egbaland gave the approval of his candidature.

C M Y K

I

BADAN—CONTRARY to reports, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the Southwest has said it will not form alliance with any party in the forthcoming Ondo State governorship election.

The party, through its Zonal Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kayode Babade, said it would sponsor a candidate to contest the election with other parties.

This was made known after the party’s Zonal Exco meeting in Ibadan,weekend.

He said: “PDP is well grounded enough in all the states of the federation

to be able to contest any election and win, and Ondo State will not be an exemption. ''Therefore, our members and supporters in Ondo State should not be dissuaded by anyone claiming that PDP will be supporting the candidate of another party.”

On crisis that has divided the party in states across the South-West zone, Babade assured that all grievances would soon be resolved and all frayed nerves calmed.

He said: “On the crisis in Ondo State, for instance, the National Secretary of the party, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, is inviting eight persons from each of the

Court rules on 12-yr-old land matter

BY INNOCENT ANABA

I

JEBU-ODE—COURT bailiffs, weekend, stormed Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun State to execute a court judgment for the possession of a vast landed property on Onagbuti family land on Irewon–Imowo Road, Ijebu-Ode. The land, covered by Certificate of Occupancy No. 00016858, dated December 28, 1990 and registered in the Lands Registry in Abeokuta, Ogun State, had been a subject of litigation since 2009 before an Ogun State High Court.

The execution of warrant for possession by the bailiffs, assisted

by policemen from the Ogun State Police Command, followed the judgment of Justice S. Odugbemi, in the suit by Mr Tajudeen Otukoya, against Mr Akeem Samonsagudu and others.

The court, in its judgment, held that the “the applicant herein shall forthwith recover possession of the landed property, situate, lying and being at Onagbuti family land on Irewon- Imowo Road, Ijebu-Ode, which parcel of land is covered by Certificate of Occupancy No. 00016858 date December 28, 1990 and registered as No.7, page 7, in volume 461 of the Lands Registry Office in Abeokuta, Ogun State.”

two contending groups for reconciliation and harmonisation of the state Exco soon. ''On Oyo State, the National Vice-Chairman, Chief Segun Oni, will be meeting leaders of the party where all issues will be finally laid to rest.

“Also, there will be meetings with some selected leaders of the party from Lagos and Osun states very soon.”

Mimiko warns trouble makers Meantime, ahead of the October governorship election, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, weekend, warned trouble makers to steer clear of the state as the election would be conducted under a peaceful atmosphere.

Mimiko gave the warning while addressing Labour Party members and supporters at the defection of over 3, 800 erstwhile members of opposition political parties in the state to the ruling party in Ijare and Idanre towns.

Speaking at Ijare town in Ifedore Local Government Area, Mimiko assured residents of the state that the government would collaborate with relevant security agencies to ensure all forms of violence were curtailed.

The governor pledged to ensure that on-going development efforts of his administration were spread to all the nooks and crannies of the state notwithstanding the campaign of calumny against his government.

Families of slain corps members blast FG zOver failed N5m promise

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

S O G B O — FAMILIES of the two corps members from Osun State killed after the 2011 Presidential Election, weekend, decried the failure of the Federal Government to redeem the N5 million promised each of them one year after, appealing to President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene.

Speaking, the families of Gbejo E. Ayotunde and Adeniyi K. Jelili, from Osun State, appealed to governors Rauf Aregbesola and Malam Isa Yuguda of Osun and Bauchi states respectively, who visited them, to assist in ensuring that the Federal Government fulfil the promise.

Governor Yuguda was in Osun State on a condolence visit over the death of Ayotunde and Jelili, indigenes of Gbongan, killed in Bauchi state after the 2011 Presidential election.

The two families lamented that while Bauchi and Osun states had fulfilled their promises to them, the

Federal Government was yet to fulfil its.

Aregbesola called on Nigerian political leaders in the country to learn from the electoral mistakes of the past and conduct subsequent elections in such a way that everybody would be satisfied regardless of the outcome of the elections.

The Governor , who led Yuguda to the families of the corps members to commiserate with them, charged Nigerians against corruption and election violence, describing corruption as the bane of the country’s development.

Aregbesola commended Yuguda for the visit and said the governor exhibited a deep sense of responsibility as a leader and that the visit brought a sense of relief after the brutal experience of 2011, stressing that the death of the young graduates were not the real issue but the inhuman way they were killed.

On his part, Yuguda accepted responsibility for the death of the youths and described their death as unfortunate and one that was avoidable.

Arise queries plan to reinstate Salami

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

A

DO-EKITI—AS Nigerians await the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan over the recommendation of the National Judicial Council,NJC, that the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Isa Salami, be reinstated, Senator Ayo Arise, has said reinstating Salami would be dangerous at this critical period when the nation is experiencing security challenges.

Arise, who represented Ekiti North Senatorial District between May 2009 and May 2011, claimed Justice Salami perjured when he swore to an oath that the former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Aloysius Katsina- Alu, asked him to pervert justice in the Sokoto governorship petition between Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,

c a n d i d a t e , Magatakanrda Wammako and the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party,DPP, Aliyu Dangiyadi.

Arise, who spoke in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, argued that since NJC allegedly found Salami guilty of perjury, he should first stand trial for the criminal offence, which, according to him, attracts 14 years imprisonment.

Quoting sections 117 and 118 of the Criminal Code of the federation, Arise said "the nation stands a serious risk of moral uprightness if Salami is reinstated."

He argued that the offence of perjury was more criminal than any form of corruption, suggesting that the only way the nation could be seen as fighting corruption and others was by allowing Justice Salami to stand trial having been found guilty of perjury.

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

Uduaghan, an outstanding politician, says cleric

B

ISHOP of Asaba Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rt. Reverend Justus Mogekwu, has described Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan as an exceptional politician in a hurry to deliver on his electoral promises to the people of Delta State.

Delivering his charge at the third session of the 12th synod of the diocese in Asaba, yesterday, Bishop Mogekwu said: “There is something out of the ordinary which is easily observable about Governor Uduaghan.

This is the second and

PRESENTATION OF ROYAL BEADS: Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okaru, Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (right) and her husband, during the presentation of royal beads to her by the Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa, in Benin. Photo: Barnabas Uzosike.

Monarchs warn politicians in Edo against inflammatory statements

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

Man beats girlfriend to death in P-Harcourt B

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HAR COURT—A MAN, identified as Obinna Eze, weekend, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, beat his girlfriend to death.

State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Indabawa, who confirmed the development to Vanguard, said the suspect had since been arrested.

He said the matter would be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department, CID, for further action.

He regretted that the incident came weeks after a similar case in Diobu area of Port Harcourt, where a man allegedly killed his girl and buried her in his one room apartment. The Police had to exhume the corpse.

The state Police boss

appealed for timely information from residents of the state to assist the Police to effectively combat crime.

He said the corpse of the girl, who was allegedly killed by Obinna,

had been deposited at a morgue in Port Harcourt.

Indabawa said: “One Obinna Eze killed his girlfriend, one Idara, in the early hours of Saturday by beating her to death at his residence.

‘Boko Haram', creation of govt corruption—Ikimi

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—NA TIONAL Coordinator of Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence, FJHD, Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, has said that ‘Boko Haram,’ like other militant groups in the country, was a creation of government corruption, inequality, under development and injustice since independence.

Ikimi, in a statement, weekend, called on Pres-

ident Goodluck Jonathan to rise above sentiments and offer the country purposeful leadership, which he said the country currently lacked.

He said: “The current rift between President Jonathan and General Mohammadu Buhari over the latter ’s prediction of bloodshed in the event that the 2015 general elections are rigged, is not strange, as the above fact is already known to most Nigerians.

“To be candid, I believe

Delta to prosecute youths, community officials in the state leaders over restiveness ment in collaboration with Tas

BY EMMA ARUBI

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A R R I — G OV E R NOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has said that youths, communities and traditional rulers, who go about disrupting development projects in their communities while demanding development fees or settlement, will henceforth be prosecuted.

He said that the state C M Y K

The suspect has been arrested and detained in Borokiri, and the deceased conveyed to BMH mortuary. The matter has been referred to the Criminal Investigations Department, CID.”

government was set to instill discipline and evolve a system where towns in the state would henceforth be permanently kept clean and free of filth as obtainable in advanced countries, where people are prohibited by law from indiscriminately dumping refuse.

Uduaghan spoke at a three-day retreat organised for senior govern-

and Associates. He said that the bill to this effect would soon be sent to the House of Assembly and appealed to the lawmakers to expedite action on same, when it comes before them. Uduaghan expressed regret that youths, some elders, chiefs and even some traditional rulers willfully disrupt development projects in their communities because they want specified sum of money paid to them by the government or contractors.

that General Buhari was merely stating the obvious and I concur with him, as it is glaring that most Nigerians want free, fair and credible elections come 2015 and I will not be surprised if bloody street fights emerge in the event that the said elections are shammed as most Nigerians are tired of fraudulent elections in our polity.

“I am not oblivious of the fact that the Lemu Panel set up by President Jonathan to look into the remote causes of the civil disturbances that pervaded the North after the 2011 general elections exonerated General Buhari and Nigerians are demanding a publication of the government white paper on the recommendations of the said panel. I am only stating my opinion on the subject as I am not holding any brief for any politician or political party as all the political parties nationwide including the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lack political ideology."

last lap of his tenure in office. Yet he seems to be more dedicated and committed to fulfilling his electoral promises than when he started.

“This is the quality of a man who knows that he has God to give account of his stewardship to. A politician with less noble disposition, realizing that he was not going to face the electorate again, could easily sit down, take his time and systematically empty the treasury. Uduaghan has proved to be an exceptional man.”

ENIN—TRADI TIONAL rulers from Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, have appealed to politicians in the state not to heat up the polity by the use of inflammatory language in their campaigns.

The Otaru of Igarra, Oba Samuel Saiki II, made the appeal during a courtesy visit by Governor Adams Oshiomhole to their area.

He said: “Some of us here are worried about the way some politicians are going about their campaigns. We want everyone to accept the principle of one man one

vote. The do-or-die politics is not the way out. I advise our politicians that the days are gone when they take the people for granted. It should be a campaign of issues.

“Take your visit as a routine one. I want to assure you that AkokoEdo has adopted you as the governor. We are asking you to come and do more, not to repeat. Opposition is a necessary evil. They can only make you stronger, they cannot weaken you. For AkokoEdo, Oshiomhole has been choosen. We are not going back on that,” he said.

Oshiomhole lauded the cordial relationship between the government and the traditional rulers.

Obong tussle: Court strikes out stay of execution application

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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ALABAR—A CROSS River State High Court sitting in Calabar, has struck out the application for stay of execution by the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Abasi-Out, against the recent judgment of the court, which deposed him, over his selection as the Obong.

It will be recalled that the trial judge, Justice Ojogbor Ogar, had on January 30, in his judgment in the suit by one of the contestants to the Obong stool, Etubom Anthony Ani, declared the process that brought the Obong to the throne as null and void and also restrained him from par-

ticipating in any selection for that purpose.

Not satisfied with the judgment, the Etubom Traditional Council of the Obong’s Palace and the Obong, appealed against same and brought an application for stay of the judgment before the High Court.

When the matter came up, weekend, counsel to Out, Mrs. Nella AndemRabana, SAN, had prayed the court to stay judgment, though counsel to Ani, Chief Joe Agi, SAN, opposed same, contending that matter had shifted to the Appeal Court and should be struck out.

Accordingly, the court struck out the application and referred parties to the matter on appeal.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012—11

NIMASA proposes anti-piracy bill

BY GODWIN ORITSE

F

VISIT: Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson (right), presenting a souvenir to the Managing Director/C.E.O. of FCMB, Mr. Ladi Balogun, during a courtesy visit to the governor at Government House, Yenagoa.

Six alleged kidnappers arrested in Edo

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—SIX per sons who allegedly abducted a 50-yearold woman in Benin City, Edo State, have been arrested by the police in the state.

The suspects were alleged to have abducted their victim on Upper Mission Road in the state capital and they took her to a forest at Erua village in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of the state, where she was kept for two nights and fed with bread and water.

Police source said the kidnappers demanded N10 million ransom, while husband of the victim offered to pay N1.5 million, adding that the kidnappers later insisted on N5 million.

Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Olayinka Balogun, said the police moved in after receiving

a tip-off and rescued the victim unhurt, adding that two of the suspects were arrested in the forest, which led to the ar-

rest of other members of the gang.

Among items recovered from the kidnappers were one cut to size re-

Petroleum Minister inaugurates Africa’s largest oil vessel in Delta

BY DANIEL GUMM

W

ARRI—THE Ni gerian local content got a boost, weekend, as Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, inaugurated Africa’s largest oil vessel in Warri, Delta State.

The oil equipment, christened Akpevweoghene Offshore Pipelaying/ Derrick Barge, is owned by an indigenous oil servicing company, FENOG Nigeria Limited.

The Petroleum Minister, at the ceremony, witnessed by Group Executive Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Cor-

poration, NNPC, Mr. Andy Yakubu and his Gas Resources counterpart, Mr. David Ige, as well as Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Engr. Ernest Nwapa, assured that the Federal Government would continue to support and encourage indigenous companies operating in the oil industry in line with its local content policy.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke, who said she was impressed by the giant strides achieved by FENOG, especially with the company’s acquisition of

Local Content Act'll grow economy—Jonathan

BY EMMA ARUBI & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

W

ARRI—PRESI DENT Goodluck Jonathan, weekend, in Warri, Delta State, tasked Nigerians to take advantage of the 2010 Local Content Development Act for the oil and gas down stream sector, to grow the nation’s economy and create employment opportunities.

The President said the

volver, 13 live cartridges, two loaves of bread for feeding the victim and two telephone handsets.

Local Content Development Act was key to the transformation agenda of his government.

He noted that it was aimed at 100 percent development of the nation’s economy, particularly the oil and gas down stream sector by Nigerians.

Jonathan, represented

by Dr. Diezani AllisonMadueke, Minister for Petroleum, during the official commissioning of the ultra-modern office complex of Lee Engineering and Construc-

tion Company, Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state, said there were vast opportunities in the Act and urged Nigerians to closely monitor and explore the Act in order to better their lives and the nation’s economy.

He commended Lee Engineering and Construction Company for its outstanding performance and determination to break new frontiers and make a positive impact in the country.

the HDD Technology and the Akpevweoghene barge, assured that the local content policy was not a lip service and mere slogan. She said the policy would entrench indigenous operators in the nation’s oil industry.

The minister, who was conducted round the unique features of the equipment by the company’s Executive Director, Mr. Mathew Tonlagha; Group General Manager, Mr. Bello and General Manager, Engr.

Chukwudi Uwakwe, praised FENOG’s management for its steadfastness and commitment to the growth of the local content policy.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke charged other operators in the oil industry to emulate FENOG Nigeria.

She said: “I am extremely impressed with what I have seen here today at FENOG Nigeria. This is 100 per cent indigenous Nigerian company that has got to the stage that it can actually procure and manage a vessel of this size that can carry over 300 people. With the kind of facilities we have seen here that can actually lay pipes offshore from 4” to 36", I believe it is something that is most commendable."

OLLOWING the incessant attacks of vessels on Nigeria’s waters, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has proposed a draft bill on Piracy and Other Unlawful Acts at Sea aimed at combating piracy and robbery.

Disclosing this to stakeholders in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, NIMASA’s Director General, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, said the bill is expected to provide legal backing to the fight against piracy and other crimes at sea with a view to curbing the financial losses which, according to him, are in excess of

$3 billion every year.

Akpobolokemi, who was represented by the agency’s Legal Adviser, Mr. Matthew Egbadon, said the bill entails the review of the UNCLOS 1982 and the SUA 1988 conventions and protocols as they relate to piracy.

He said: “NIMASA, being the focal point for the implementation of relevant maritime conventions on safety and security in Nigeria, engaged Mr. Mike Igbokwe (SAN) to articulate and produce a comprehensive maritime security bill."

He called on stakeholders to make contributions to the bill before it is sent to the National Assembly.

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

Power generation 'll increase by 50% in Dec — Ngige

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—THE senator representing Anambra Central in the senate, Dr. Chris Ngige, has expressed optimism that power generation in the country would increase by about 50% by December this year.

Ngige, who is the Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on Power, said the problem militating against increased power supply in the country over the years was generation, adding that with the efforts being made to increase power generation at present, the problem would soon be over.

The senator observed that with Independent Power Projects, IPP, springing up in some states, there is hope that things would be

better in the near future, adding that the IPPs should be put into the national grid to supplement the generation efforts of the Ministry of Power.

He, however, observed that another problem that could trail the industry is distribution and transmission, which, he noted, made it imperative for total overhaul of the existing transmission lines that had become obsolete.

According to him, most of the lines across the country can no longer carry the load from the distribution points and unless they are changed, the problem would continue to occur.

He assured that the senate would continue to monitor the development in the sector and be alive to its oversight function to ensure that the efforts by government were not slowed down.

Four wounded as vigilance group, Chelsea supporters clash in Abakaliki

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BAKALIKI—FOUR persons were injured early on Sunday morning at the Amike-Aba area of Abakaliki following a clash between a local vigilance group and jubilant fans of Chelsea FC of England.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the fans were celebrating Chelsea’s first-ever Union of European Football Association, UEFA, Champions League victory over Bayern Munich FC of Germany.

Chelsea achieved this feat through an epic 4-3 penalty shootout victory, which Chelsea recorded over the hard-fighting Bayern Munich. The two teams had battled to a 1-1 draw during regulation time.

NAN reports that the

clash between the vigilance group and the Chelsea fans occurred around 12.15 a.m. on Sunday, as the fans celebrated in an unrestrained manner, which attracted the attention of the former.

The vigilance group urged the fans to be moderate in their celebration, an advice that did not go down well with the fans.

BRIEFING—From left; Mr Peter Rufai, former Green Eagle Goal Keeper; Mr Daniel Monehin, Division President, Sub-Saharan Africa, Master Card Worldwide; Ms Omokehinde Ojomuyide, Country Manager, Mastercard, and Mr Victor Ikpeba, during briefing on the 2012 UEFA Champions Leagues Final organised by Mastercard, at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos, on Saturday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Buhari gets knocks over comments on 2015 polls zAs S-East CAN plans Igbo summit on 2015 presidency

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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W KA—THE Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger, Most Rev Christian Efobi, weekend faulted former military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, on the statements credited to him over the 2015 presidential election, regretting that such statements were capable of threatening the nation’s democracy.

Efobi, who spoke with newsmen after he was honoured by the people of Oyi at St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Ogbunike in Anambra State, said Nigeria needed peace to be able to develop, adding that wanting to become president of Nigeria should not be a matter of life and death.

Efobi said: “It is very unfortunate that a man of Buhari’s standing, who should be a statesman, is making such unguarded utterances. One wonders how he would have felt if he was the one in power and Jonathan was making such comments.

“The church is very displeased with his utterances and this is not what a leader should say.

He knows he is a very influential person and such comments can be very

inciting.

The cleric said the church would continue to pray for the country over the violence in parts of the North, but called on politicians to be mindful of their utterances to avoid causing more trouble.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the South East zone of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma of Enugu Diocese, said the association would organise a summit on 2015 presidential election to

chart a course for the Igbo nation .

Chukwuma said it was unfortunate that while other groups were already talking and positioning themselves for the 2015 presidential election, Igbos were merely watching and expecting magic to happen.

According to him, rather than put heads together to find a way forward for the zone, Igbo leaders were busy quarrelling among themselves and fighting to become traditional rulers in cities where they reside.

He said: “We quarrel all

the time among ourselves and nothing is achieved.

While others are planning to move their areas forward and position their zones for 2015, our people are busy causing trouble for ourselves, including fighting to become traditional rulers in northern and western cities, something the North and South West people do not do in places they are residing. CAN will therefore plan a summit for the Igbos so as to decide how to go about 2015 presidential election.”

50% of Abia population, hypertensive — Govt

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUABIA—ABIA State government has raised an alarm that half of the state’s population was h y p e r t e n s i v e .

Consequently, the government has flagged off hypertension and diabetes awareness control and treatment programme.

The programme is expected to screen and treat about 10, 000 hypertensive and diabetic patients in the state.

Flagging off the programme at Amachara Specialist Hospital, Umuahia, wife of Abia State governor, Mrs. Mercy

Odochi Orji, explained that the initiative was a continuation of series of public-private health initiative embarked upon by the government to ensure good health for Abians.

Lamenting that noncommunicable diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, were increasingly becoming major public health concern that now posed serious threat to human race, Mrs. Orji regretted that many people were dying daily from hypertension, diabetes and other related diseases.

According to Mrs. Orji, through proper information management and

campaign of the awareness, the ailments will be checked.

She pointed out that the aim of the present administration was to ensure good health for all.

In his address, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Okechukwu Ogar, regretted the effects of the diseases which had killed many people due to their long gestation period.

According to Ogar, of 1.5 billion people worldwide affected by the diseases, seven million die yearly of the hypertension, making it the biggest risk factor for death in all parts of the world.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012—13

Ebonyi shuts 17 illegal schools

Gynaecologists call for review of maternal deaths

BY VICTORIA OJEME & REGINA OKPOTA

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI— EBONYI Ministry of Education, weekend, closed down over 17 illegal and substandard schools in Abakaliki and neighbouring areas.

The schools include Divine Favour Academy Abakaliki, Shekinah International Nursery school Abakaliki and Excel Secondary School A b a k a l i k i .

Triumphant Nursery and Primary school Nkaliki, Divine Favour Academy Onuebonyi, Good Shepard Secondary school among others, were also closed down by the ministry’s monitoring team.

The schools were closed down for operating without necessary approvals by the ministry, operating with substandard structures/ facilities and over p o p u l a t i o n .

Commissioner for Education, Ndusbuisi Chibueze Agbo, noted that the closure showed that government was determined to enhance the standard of education in the state through qualitative teaching.

INAUGURATION—From left: Former Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Mr Rufus Ada-George; Rivers State Commissioner for Power, Mr Augustine Wokocha, and National Chairman, Nigeria Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Mr Adekunle Makinde, during the inauguration of Port Harcourt chapter of Nigeria Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers in Port Harcourt, weekend. Photo: NAN.

Boko Haram, Nigerian al-Qaeda — Cleric

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA THANKSGIVING—From left: Chief Innocent Nwanodu Uchibuolu, PDP chieftain, his wife, Bola Umebe, and other family members during thanksgiving to mark his 50th birthday in Lagos.

Gunmen kill two policemen in Imo

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—THE precarious security situation in Imo State was again jolted weekend as two of the four policemen said to be on escort were gruesomely murdered by armed bandits at Egbeada, Mbaitoli local council area of the state.

Vanguard investigation revealed that the dead policemen and their colleagues were driving in a Toyota Hilux vehicle with registration number, Rivers PHC 221 AA, when the gangsters wearing Chelsea vests and driving an ash coloured Honda Jeep attacked them.

A villager, who did not want his name in print, said the gangsters wanted to kidnap a man and his wife, who were driving a black Toyota Jeep with its plate number covered.

“From the look of things, the couple noticed the looming presence of the armed gang, abandoned C M Y K

BUJA—DUE to the rising number of Nigerian women who die during child births gyneacologists in the country have asked for the adoption of maternal death review and family planning as a means to curb the growing epidemic The president-elect of Society of Gynecologists and Obstetrics of Nigeria, SOGON, Dr. Fred Achem, made this position known during a workshop on advocacy and policy influencing, in collaboration with International Federation of Gynaecologists, FIGO. He also canvassed what he called “No-Blame System” where deaths of

mothers will not be blamed on any one, but made case for proper investigation to be undertaken to determine the cause of death in order to forestall further recurrence in addition to meeting the unmet needs of family planning in the country to cut down on internal death of mothers as against what was obtainable in countries practicing family planning According to him “maternal death review is a system, it’s a no- blame system whereby any mother that dies in any part of the country is looked into with the view to identify why that woman died and if it is preventable, why it was not prevented with the view to making sure that kind of death does not happen again".

their vehicle and fled into the bush.

“Having missed their target, the hoodlums fired the front left tyre of the Toyota Hilux before spraying bullets on the occupants,” the villager recounted.

According to the villager, the armed men took the rifle of the slain policeman,

while the driver was still sitting lifeless on his seat when Vanguard arrived the scene at about 6.15pm.

One of the policemen, who wore a bullet proof vest, was shot on his leg but carefully fell on his rifle, pretending to be dead and called for help as soon as he noticed the presence of sympathizers at the scene.

When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Samuel Oodee, confirmed that two people died but could not immediately give their identities.

He pleaded that he only heard about the ugly incident when he returned from Abuja Saturday evening.

APGA crisis: Southern leaders pass vote of confidence on Umeh, Shinkafi

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU—SOUTHEAST and SouthSouth leaders of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, yesterday, re-affirmed their confidence in the National Working Committee of the party under Chief Victor Umeh and Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, National Chairman and Secretary respectively.

In a statement after a

meeting of the party leaders in the two geopolitical zones, APGA executive members also endorsed expulsion of some party members in Anambra State chapter.

Deputy National Chairman, South, Chief Chris Uche, convened the meeting while the communique was signed by 18 executive members from the South-East and South-South zones, including state chairmen and secretaries.

The communique said: “We members and executives of South-East and South-South of All Progressives Grand Alliance a hereby resolved as follows: “That we further maintain and reaffirm the vote of confidence passed on the leadership of our great party as led by Chief Victor Umeh as the National Chairman and Alhaji Sani Shinkafi as the National Secretary and her National Working Committee.

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W E R R I — ANGLICAN Bishop of Oru Diocese in Imo State, Rt. Rev Geoffery Chukwunenye, weekend, described the Islamic sect allegedly killing people in the north as Nigeria’s terrorist version of AlQaeda, created by the Northern elite to fight Christianity and force a shift in government.

He stated this at Saint Barth’s Anglican Church, Nempi, Oru West local council area of Imo State,

during the first session of the diocesan second synod.

He argued that the Islamic sect was not created as a result of the touted unequal revenue allocation in the country, noting that the North had over the years enjoyed more revenue allocation due to the number of local government areas that did not match the actual population of the areas.

The cleric called on those that created the sect as an instrument of coercion to beat others to submission and wipe out Christianity in the country, to have a rethink.

....As Igbo group asks FG to declare state of emergency in North

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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N Igbo Socio-cultural organisation, Ndigbo Unity Forum, has urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in 10 Northern states, following the growing insurgency claiming lives and property of many citizens in those states.

In a statement signed by its president, Augustine Chukwudum, the states listed are Borno, Gombe, Kano, Yobe, Kaduna,

Plateau, Sokoto, Niger, Adamawa and Taraba.

The group stressed that in tackling security challenges facing the nation, the Federal Government should declared state of emergency in the 10 listed states.

“That is the only way the government of President Goodluck Jonathan will win the war against terrorists because Nigerians are tired of excuses which the PDP-led Federal Government is giving on his failure to tackle terrorism in Nigeria” the statement added.

14—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

FG to implement c'ttee report on agencies' restructuring

BY KENNETH EHIGIATOR

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has promised to implement the report of the Committee on Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government parastatals and agencies.

He also stressed the need for good governance if his administration must achieve on its transformation agenda.

President Jonathan gave the pledge at the 1st International Convention of In-

stitute of Directors, IoD, held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

He said: “Currently, government is understudying the report of the Committee on Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals and Agencies, with a view to implementing recommendations that will make government operate more efficiently and effectively.

“In addition, the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, which is a crea-

tion of the administration, is currently working on improving the environment and parameters for doing business in the country.”

The President, represented by Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa Sali, said his administration was according prime attention to good governance and stressed the need for both the public and private sectors to partner in enthroning the best practices in public and corporate governance.

SYNOD: From left— Mrs Ebere Ihedioha; Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, and Primate of Anglican Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, at the Diocese of Abuja (Anglican Church) 2nd session of the 8th Synod at St. James Church Asokoro, Abuja, last Friday.

Reps probe OAU varsity's CMD over N230m in fixed dep acct

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA—HOUSE of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has ordered the Chief Medical Director, CMD, of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Osun State, Prof. Olusanya Adejuyigbe, to render account of the alleged illegal lodgement of N230.99 million belonging to the institution placed in fixed deposits accounts.

The committee gave the directive during an interactive session with the management of the hospital on the queries raised against it by the office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, last Friday.

Offence The committee declared

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that the action of the CMD was illegal and contrary to the provision of Circular No. TR No A7&B7/1999 of August 18, 1999 as well Circular No TRY/AS&BS/2009 of June 19, 2009.

The said circular, which the CMD contravened, authorised ministries/extra-ministerial departments, agencies, parastatals and government-owned corporations to invest their idle funds in 91 days Primary Market Nigeria Treasury Bills.

Regulation Expressly stated in same circular is that all realised interests on all investments should be accounted for and be immediately remitted to the Sub-Treasury of the Federation and that all interest shall be paid into the Consolidated

Revenue Fund Account maintained with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. The committee noted that the unilateral decision of the CMD to lodge the funds in commercial banks in flagrant disobedience of government’s directives brought to the fore the incompetence of Prof.

Adejuyigbe to properly manage the hospital.

government funds as he wish.

In his ruling on the matter, Chairman of the committee, Adeola Olamilekan, directed the CMD to furnish the committee with the names of the commercial banks where money was lodged, bank statements and the interest accrued to date, within one week for further legislative action.

No justification All attempts by the CMD to justify his action to fix the funds in commercial banks were dismissed by all the members of the committee who said he had no valid excuse to violate government rules.

The committee regretted the fact that the CMD constituted himself into an authority that appropriates

Contracts, too Olamilekan also directed the CMD to furnish the committee with the details of all the contracts awarded by the hospital since 2007, names of the contractors involved, amounts of money, amounts already paid out and the outstanding payment as well as the stages of completion.

Boko Haram: Anglican cleric urges Jonathan to have faith

BY CALEB AYANSINA

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BUJA—PRIMATE of All Nigeria Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, has admonished President Goodluck Jonathan and the entire country not to entertain fear in the face of violent attacks by the Boko Haram Islamic sect, assuring that God will not abdicate His throne for the devil to thrive.

Most Rev. Okoh gave the admonition, yesterday, at the thanksgiving service for the 2nd Session of the 8th

Synod of the Diocese of Abuja, held at St. James’ Church, Asokoro, Abuja.

He said: “This synod called the whole of the country not to lose faith.

Because of the bombing and insecurity, people were beginning to loss faith in God. We are trying to remind them that God does not lose control.

“People are beginning to lose faith in the entity called Nigeria and we want them to restore that faith that God is able to solve whatever problem we have.”

PDP replies INEC on alleged flawed congresses

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—FOLLOWING complaints by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, that congresses conducted by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were flawed in 10 states, the party has finally replied the commission.

It would be recalled that INEC had written three separate letters to PDP reechoing the fact that the state congresses conducted in Sokoto, Adamawa, Taraba, Plateau, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Lagos, Yobe,

Anambra and Katisna states were not conducted through laid down processes and in line with the guidelines of the party.

Reacting to the development in Abuja weekend, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, who admitted that the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party met last week to address the lingering issue with the electoral body, disclosed that at the end of the day, the party wrote INEC to acknowledge the receipt of the commission’s letters.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012—15

Why 14.7bn healthcare project is yet to kick-off — Ex-ALGON boss

1951-2011 Supreme Court judgments published

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BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

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ORMER Interim President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Felix Akhabue, has blamed the non-commencement of the N14.7 billion capacity-building project in the primary healthcare sector of local councils on the failure of shareholders to contribute 90 per cent of the fund.

Dismissing as false reports that the former ALGON exco diverted N2.5 billion released by President Goodluck Jonathan for the project on December 9, 2010, Akhabue said ALGON should be commended for being the only shareholder to make contributions to the project, which when completed would boost healthcare delivery in the councils.

So far, out of its share of N5.5 billion (30 per cent ownership), he said ALGON had contributed N1.32 billion, the only contribution so far and the American Hospital Ltd is yet to train medical doctors and allied healthcare staff in the local councils.

Insisting that the N2.5 billion was not meant for the American Hospital Ltd as claimed by the company, Akhabue said the money was paid to Chucks-Samuel & Co as ordered by an Abuja High Court.

SYMPOSIA: From left— Prof. Ibrahim Sada, Chairman of the occasion; Prof. Awwalu Yadudu of Bayero University, Kano, and Dr. Baba Ahmed, Chairman, Desmon Communications, and Guest Speaker, at the two-day symposium on Contemporary Challenges of Nigeria and The Way Forward for Muslim Ummah, organised by the National Islamic Centre at Arewa House, Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTO: Olu Ajayi.

AGOS—A Lagos-based lawyer and Managing Partner of Alexander Payne & Co., Bamidele Adeleye has described the publication of Supreme Court Judgments on Evidence (SCJE) as a great boost to the nation’s judicial system.

Speaking with Vanguard in Lagos, he said just like their first major publication, Intellectual Property Law Reports (1917-2011), the new publication will contribute immensely to the quick and effectual dispense of justice in Nigeria.

Soludo warns against reviewing CBN autonomy

BY YINKA KOLAWOLE

I

MMEDIATE past Gov ernor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has warned against moves that could curtail the autonomy of CBN as guaranteed by the CBN Act 2007.

According to him, such a move could jeopardise the effectiveness of monetary policy and management of the macroeconomic framework in Nigeria.

He said: “The survival of CBN as an institution is at the heart of the survival of the Nigerian economy.”

Soludo was speaking at the sent-forth dinner organised by CBN in his honour at the weekend, against the backdrop of the ongoing moves in the National Assembly to amend some vital sections of the CBN Act 2007 which

grant both administrative and instrument autonomy to the apex bank in the management of the economy. He warned that any attempt to remove the autonomy of the bank will lead to “ominous” consequences.

The former CBN boss decried a situation in which a disagreement with an individual could lead to the destruction of the entire institution and, therefore, joined in the plea with the National Assembly members to have a “constructive dialogue” over the matter.

Soludo said: “In order to avoid going to the other extreme, the institution of the CBN must be preserved no matter the level of disagreement.”

It will be recalled that both chambers of the National Assembly have set in motion the process of amending the

CBN Act 2007, principally aimed at diluting

the powers of the board of the bank.

Kwara rehabilitates 5 hospitals with N200m A S part of its strategic objective of strengthening healthcare delivery in the Kwara State through access to quality primary healthcare centres, the government is to spend more than N200 million on the rehabilitation of five general hospitals in Offa, Omu Aran, Kaiama, Ilorin and Share.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, who disclosed this during the 2012 Omu Aran Day and N2 billion Development Fund launch by the Omu Aran community, said the project was in line with his administration’s shared prosperity agenda.

The governor advocated

for a greater involvement of communities in self-help projects for the acceleration of developmental efforts of government for speedy development of the state and described the people of the state as veritable stakeholders in the realisation of his administration’s shared prosperity programme designed to boost the provision of infrastructure and human capital for economic growth.

Alhaji Ahmed said the challenges of governance had made it expedient for greater partnership between the various communities and the state government and called for “greater participation in the development of our state not only through a

PEOPLE SPEAK

08081686931

As Editor-in-Chief of the two publications, he said: “We discovered that evidence is the root of justice.

Justice should be dispensed in accordance with the evidence provided by the litigants to support their claim. It is very important for lawyers to know relevant decisions of the apex Court (Supreme) Court on the Evidence Act.” The SCJE, published in seven volumes of 1,000 pages each, cover Supreme Court judgments on Evidence from 1951- 2011.

Adeleye said: “Although the judgments were given under the old Evidence Act, cross-references are made in the Reports to Evidence Act 2011. This will enable lawyers and judges know under which sections of the new Evidence Act the judgments are relevant.”

positive engagement with government policies, but also through communal self-help projects.”

The governor also disclosed that 244 classrooms in the state-owned schools were undergoing renovation to create a conducive atmosphere for learning using enhanced education infrastructure.

In his address, Chief Peter Oyinloye, President of Omu Aran Development Association, said the funds realised would be used for the rehabilitation of Omu Aran Township roads, upgrading of facilities at Omu Aran High School and the construction of a modern palace for the traditional ruler of the town.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

What's your reaction to Rashidi Yekini's death?

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EKINI is Nigeria’s greatest scorer! He was Nigeria’s all-time leading goal scorer. His celebration of the historic strike against Bulgaria at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas in USA 1994 became an iconic image worldwide.

May his soul rest in peace.—Ms Amanchinefe Okoji, Student.

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ASHIDI Yekini was a good player.

But he was abandoned by the country he dedicated his time playing for. Now that he is dead, they are beginning to recognise his legacies. He should not have been allowed to go through what he went through.—Mr. Raji Oniyi, Islamic Scholar.

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E is a legend. Most footballers emu lated him very well.

He was very straight forward and down to earth. He actually was one of those that have lifted Nigeria up in football and he was the first Nigerian to score in a World Cup. Too bad he died the way he did.—Mr. Chris Nduba, Salesperson.

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IS death is unforgivable. Govern ment should hide its face in shame.Itisjustlike the doctors’ strike. Services of doctorsareservicestohumanity and not for money. They shouldneitherleavetheirduty post nor abandon patients for financial reasons.”— Mr. Adeboye Adesanwo, Legal Practitioner.

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ASHIDI Yekini was a good player.

A dedicated one.

A legend. We have not got another Rashidi Yekini since after him. He played for the love of the country. Too bad he met with a really painful death. May his soul rest in peace.—Mr. Ezeugo Nwanchile, Trader

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HEN I heard he was dead, I felt bad because he was one of the Nigeria’s heroes. I think Nigerian government neglected him and did not bother about his health. Yekini served Nigeria and for that singular reason, government should have cared for him.—Miss Akpogbuwe Mela, Student.

16 — Vanguard, MONDAY,MAY 21, 2012 ILL a new Niger Bridge from Asaba to Onitsha ever be built? It is W unlikely since governments do not

remember their own words, or just make speeches considered appropriate for occasions. The bridge has been the subject of embarrassments for governments, which never forget to play sickening politics with it.

In 2001, President Olusegun Obasanjo stated he was committed to a new Niger Bridge. When he left office six years after, not a dime was voted for the bridge even for preliminary works like the technical drawings.

Minister of Works, Senator Sanusi Mohammed Daggash, two years ago, said he was exploring new financing options for the bridge. He had ruled out the annual budgetary regime and concession for the project which was then to cost N30 billion.

Daggash said the best option was to borrow the money through the Debt Management Office, DMO, in order to complete the bridge in three years.

Concession financing, according to Daggash would leave the project uncompleted for years. “ We intend to

New Niger Bridge — No applause yet explore the alternative funding mechanism by way of bonds through the Debt Management Office, or the Pension Commission to raise the approximate amount of money to ensure the project is done within three years. It is very difficult for the budget today to have a project that can consistently command N10 billion a year for three years running ,” he told Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu. Months after, Daggash left office.

The latest innovative idea from government is that it would concession the bridge. What about the DMO option that is already being used for expansion of the Abuja Airport Road? Will concession work

be better now than two years ago when Daggash dismissed it because of the global economic recession? Which road has the Federal Government built through concession?

Government should reflect on the importance of a new Niger Bridge, which would enhance direct links between the South-East and South-South with the rest of the nation, in its decision. The urgency of its construction is underlined by the poorly maintained old bridge, which was built for temporary use after the Civil War. Concession financing is not an efficient option to raise the funds urgent construction of the bridge requires. Experts have warned for years that the old bridge was endangered, governments have ignored the alarms. Is someone waiting for the collapse of the old bridge?

The long talks about the bridge ignore the possibilities of its collapse and the consequences of a bridgeless River Niger at the point of its most important commercial and social use.

Government should return to the DMO option, which still represents the most viable option to deliver the bridge.

OPINION

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BYADEWALE KUPOLUYI

T was a case of tears, sorrows and blood for the nation as the news filtered in that Christian community members at the Bayero University, Kano became casualty of the attacks by suspected members of the Boko Haram sect.

What should have ordinarily been a bright day turned black Sunday as invaders laid siege on worshipers, killing and maiming them. Media reports have it that while the mass was ongoing, the attackers allegedly carried guns and other dangerous weapons and shot sporadically, despite appeal by the victims that they should be spared.

The attacks took place at the Indoor Sports Hall, where Catholic faithful in the University had their Sunday mass, and an open air theatre, where Protestants worshiped.

At the end, over 20 innocent people were reportedly killed, which comprise students and distinguished academics while a few, including a 71-year-old Professor Emmanuel Olofin of the institution’s Geography Department, were lucky, to have survived the satanic carnage.

This worsening trend must be put to an end without delay with the resultant loss of lives and property. It is worrisome that in the last couple of months, series of attacks had occurred in various parts of the country.

Still on Sunday, Reverend Albert Naga of the Church of Christ in Nigeria, LCC SIMARI and three church leaders were reportedly shot dead as they were leaving the church after communion service, in Maiduguri.

Last week, unidentified gunmen, using explosives and assorted guns and ammunition also invaded the Potiskum Cattle Market, Potiskum, Yobe State, killing about 10 persons, while a suicide bomber attacked the convoy of the Taraba State Police Commissioner, Mr. Mamman Sule, who was on his way to the office.

In March, the nation was again thrown into deep mourning C M Y K

BUK attac ks:The w ay ffor or ward attacks:The wa orw when members of Boko Haram sect unleashed terror by bombing St. Finbarr’s Catholic Church, Rayfield, Jos, Plateau State.

This time around, the suicide bombers attacked the church during mass was being celebrated, killing an eight-year-old boy and 10 others while four persons were reportedly killed in reappraisal attacks in various parts of the Jos metropolis. The attackers were said to have tried to force their way through the church gate but was blocked, making the driver to ram the car into a fence before the bomb exploded.

On February 26, worshippers of the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) Headquarters, where top public officials usually attend, including the incumbent state Governor, Jonah Jang and former governors Solomon Lar and Joshua Dariye, were victims of terror attacks.

Last Christmas Day, series of bomb attacks rocked two churches in Madalla, Niger State and Jos, leading to more than 40 deaths and many injured as another three separate attacks also took place in Yobe State, which left four other people dead. In July, last year, the All Christian Fellowship Church, Suleja was bombed while in March, the same COCIN was bombed.

It was the same sad story when another bomb was reportedly found near the Mountain of Fire and Miracle (MFM) church in the city of Jos, as members of the Special Task Force (STF) detected a bag, carried by a suspected bomber, riding on a motorcycle, when he allegedly threw it on the ground.

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worrisome dimension was introduced as Boko Haram claimed responsibility for attacking the Fourth Estate of the Realm by bombing the offices of the Sun, This Day and the Moment, leaving more than 10 persons.

The onslaught on BUK is doleful in a number of ways. First, it happened in the least expected constituency, which is a University.

All over the world, universities are meant to be citadels of learning, free from distractions and encumbrances that may impede its primary roles in the society. Therefore, that singular episode is a serious blow to the cherished traditions and dignity of the ivory tower.

Secondly, it has shown the serious security lapses prevalent in our country. Universities are supposed to be well protected, taking into consideration, the enormous human and material resources invested there at any given time. It has lent credence to the total collapse in the value system in the sense that the academic culture is designed to the insulated from the extraneous underpinnings that could cripple the convivial and conservatism, embodying what a University stands for.

Already, the implication will take its toll on members of the University will now live in perpetual trepidation. Going for lectures and other activities will be Herculean leading, to tension, suspicion and wariness.

It is sad that the nation, on a daily basis is mired in increasing tales of armed robberies, kidnappings and monumental corruption and bombings.

Unfortunately, our government appears to be helpless at finding solutions to these problems. The level of insecurity in the land is so alarming that no one know what could happen at any time!

The growing insecurity and instability in the land has spurred many Nigerians to call for the convocation of a national confab, to allow the various segments of the nation to discuss nagging issues that border on its corporate existence. It is widely believed that such conference will help aggrieved parties sheath their battler of acrimony and settle their misgivings, once and for all. *Mr. Kupoluyi wrote from Federal varsity of Agric, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

MAY 21, 2012

Pix from left Mr. Phillips Oduoza, Group MD/CEO, United Bank for Africa PLC; Chief Israel Ogbue, Chairman and Mr. Bili Odum, Company Secretary at the 50th Annual General Meeting of UBA PLC held in Lagos on Friday. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele

NATIONAL HOUSING FUND:

Banks, insurers owe N8.6trn in 5 years *Operators claim ignorance of provisions in NHF Act *FMBN reports to National Assembly *Developers may take CBN, banks to court

By YINKA KOLAWOLE Deposit money banks and insurance companies operating in the country have failed to invest in the National Housing Fund (NHF) as statutorily required under the NHF Act No. 3 of 1992, thus owing the Fund trillions of

Naira in un-remitted monies. Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which is supposed to deduct at source from the banks and remit to Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), the managers of the Fund, has failed in its responsibility in this regard.

Vanguard investigations showed, for instance, that between 2006 and 2010,

banks and insurance firms in the country ought to have invested about N8.58 trillion in the Fund in line with the provisions of the Act. Banks should have invested N8.49 trillion, being 10 percent of their loans and advances for the five year period; while insurance companies should have invested nothing less than

N89.49 billion as part of their NonLife and Life premiums for the period, into the housing fund.

The NHF scheme was established to facilitate the continuous flow of lowcost funds for long-term investment in housing for the benefit of contributors to the fund. The NHF Act states that resources of the fund shall consist of contributions by Nigerians both in the public and private sectors; investment in the fund by commercial and merchant banks; investment in the fund by insurance companies registered under the insurance act and; financial contributions by the Federal Government for long-term loans.

Investigations by Vanguard revealed that neither deposit money banks nor insurance companies have invested a kobo into the housing fund since inception. But most of the banks are rather offering mortgage products of their own with rates clearly outside the 6 per cent stipulated by the NHF Act. When confronted with the provisions of the Act as regards their expected contributions, officials of these financial institutions claimed ignorance of the existence of such a law.

Section 5 of the NHF Act stipulates: “Every commercial or merchant bank shall invest in the fund 10 per cent of Continues on page 18

178.85

-1.25

2,260.00

+36.00

20.49

-0.37

107.36 -0.13 92.15

-0.41

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING CFA 0.2801 KRONER 26.4408 EURO 196.6237 POUNDS 244.6426 RIYAL 41.2489 SDR 235.8402 FRANC 163.5825 DOLLAR 154.7 WAUA 234.9579 YEN 1.9496 RENMINBI 24.4441

0.2901 26.5263 197.2592 245.4333 41.3823 236.6025 164.1112 155.2 235.7173 1.9559 24.5236

0.3001 26.6117 197.8947 246.224 41.5156 237.3647 164.6399 155.7 236.4767 1.9622 24.603

CBN Exchange rate as at 18/05/2012 C M Y K

18 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

Cover Story

Developing Entrepreneurial Spirit in Nigeria Part 1

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From right Dr. Adebodun Sanyaolu, Management Consultant; Mrs Oluwafunke Amobi, General Manager, Organisation and Talent Development, Human and Resources division, MTN; Mr. Joseph Odusanya, Group Head, Human Resource/Talent management, Keystone Bank and Mrs Debbie Hollie, Deloitte Consulting Manager, Southern Africa and Mr. David Conradie, Deloitte South African Partner during the Deloitte Talent Management (DTMP) launch in Lagos on Friday. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele.

Banks, insurers owe N8.6trn in 5 years Continues from page 17 its loan and advances at an interest rate of 1 per cent above the interest payable on current account by banks.

Every registered insurance company shall invest a minimum of 20 percent of its non life funds and 40 per cent of its life fund in real property development of which not less than 50 per cent shall be paid into the fund through FMBN at an interest rate not exceeding 4 per cent.

Nothing contained in the insurance act or relating to investment of insurance companies in real property shall affect the provision of this Act (1991 no 58.).”

OPERATORS Officials of banks, who spoke to Vanguard differently, on condition of anonymity, said they were not aware of the provisions in the Act that mandated banks to contribute to the NHF. They were however quick to add that their banks have been contributing to housing development through their various mortgage products.

Mr. Gus Wiggle, Managing Director, Linkage Assurance Plc, told Vanguard that though aware of the existence of the NHF Act, he is not aware of any clause in the Act mandating insurance companies to contribute to the Fund. In the same vein, Managing Director, FBN Life Assurance Ltd, Mr. Val Ojumah, said that he is not aware of the clause, adding “I’m not sure that any insurance firm is doing it”.

Even the CBN is culpable in this infraction, because it is the duty of the apex bank, C M Y K

under the Act, to collect contributions from banks and remit same to FMBN. Section 11 of the Act states: “Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) shall collect from commercial and merchant banks at the end of every year and not later than month thereafter, the percentage of their contribution to the fund as specified in section 5 (1) of this Act. CBN shall within two month of making collection under subsection (1) of this Act pay the money to the bank for investment in fund.”

However, the CBN has not been complying with this provision. Every attempt to get the reaction of the apex bank to this proved abortive, as correspondences to the Director of Corporate Communications of the bank, Mr. Ugo Okoroafor, were not replied as at the time of filing the story.

FMBN The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) was empowered by the NHF Act to manage and administer the Fund to ensure that proceeds are utilised to finance the housing sector of the economy through wholesale mortgage lending to primary mortgage institutions (PMIs).

Vanguard also reached out to FMBN to find out if it was aware of these provisions of the Act, and what efforts it has made to ensure compliance by all parties involved. An official of FMBN, who did not want to be named, said the bank is aware of the provisions in the NHF Act that banks and insurance companies are required to invest in the Fund.

“We are aware that the banks are not complying. We have approached the CBN on the matter, it is supposed to be the collecting institution and has not performed. In fact, we have taken the matter to the National Assembly, because the National Housing Fund scheme is an act of parliament which must be respected and obeyed. We have also informed the police for necessary action,” he stated.

Figures of Loans and Advances by Nigerian banks from 2006 to 2010, obtained from CBN, showed that banks gave out N2.5 trillion in 2006; N4.8 trillion in 2007; N7.8 trillion in 2008; N34.4 trillion in 2009 and; N35.4 trillion in 2010. These add up to a total amount of N84.9 trillion for the five year period.

Given that banks are supposed to invest 10 per cent of their Loans and Advances into the National Housing Fund, about N8.494 trillion should have been invested in the Fund by the banks over the period.

On the insurance side, data from National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) shows that total Non-Life premiums of insurance firms in the country for the period 2006 to 2010 is about N599.79 billion. The breakdown is N81.6 billion in 2006; N89.1 billion in 2007; N126.4 billion in 2008; N153.5 billion in 2009 and; N149.2 billion in 2010.

For Life premiums over the same period, insurance companies collected a total amount of about N147.55 billion - N13.4 billion in 2006; Continues on page 41

recent collection of essays on entrepreneurial innovation in developing economies, titled ‘Lessons from the Poor’, mentions an aspect of Nigerian clothing design. Examining the traditional adire dye industry, author Thompson Ayodele informs that the bottom 19% of entrepreneurs polled for the study earned more than state and federal civil servants. For the purpose of this essay, the stor y is significant in more ways than one. First, it is a classic instance of entrepreneurial spirit, describing the transformation of an established Yoruba craft into a venture for wealth creation and employment generation.

Second, and perhaps only in between lines, it reflects a measure of the serious imbalances that plague Nigeria’s economy.

Africa’s second largest economy is a bundle of extreme contradictions; with billions of dollars in annual oil revenue on one end and pervasive poverty for most of its 148 million people on the other. Relative political stability since 1999 has delivered some reform and regulatory initiatives to correct huge and longstanding macroeconomic disparities, yet the country remains overwhelmed by persistently dismal indicators and human development indices. Nigeria’s current per capita GDP of $1,371.31 ranks it below much smaller African economies like Sudan, Congo and Swaziland. The latest UNDP poverty survey of 108 developing nations placed the country at the 80 t h position, below Rwanda and Malawi. Achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals and its own, and more ambitious 2020 target require a paradigm shift in mindset and priorities. It also requires the successful engendering of a broad, pan-Nigerian entrepreneurial spirit!

A slew of relevant policy redirections have already been initiated in this regard: The government has deregulated oil prices, disinvested public sector undertakings, created special economic zones and passed assorted legislation to encourage enterprise development. While some of these measures are starting to show positive results, many have been largely ineffective while yet others have

completely collapsed. For instance, a massive privatisation drive launched after 1999 managed to rake up private sector investment.

However, Abuja’s simultaneous inclination for microenterprises, instead of small-scale ventures, did little to curb unemployment. The failure or even inadequate success of these measures is attributed primarily to disregard or ignorance of ground realities, and lack of a coherent, consistent, macro-level vision.

Nigeria’s unique set of problems calls for broadbased policy intervention from the bottom up, and any individual law or policy that is not part of a unified effort is unlikely to make much difference. The ‘bottom up’ analogy is pertinent, as one of the first things Nigeria ought to be doing is improving the condition of its roads.

The business environment in the whole of Africa is crippled with massive infrastructure shortfalls that result in the continent’s high enterprise mortality rate.

Significantly, the rate of failure affects older and new entrants alike. A leading cause is almost always infrastructure deficits that critically hamper genuine economic growth and productivity.

Since 2008 the government has began to show the political will to implement the market-oriented reforms urged by the IMF such as modernizing the banking system, curbing inflation by blocking excessive wage demands, and resolving regional dispute over the distribution of earnings from the oil industry. GOP rose strongly in 2007-10 because of increased in oil exports and high global crude oil prices.

Nigeria likewise suffers from endemic infrastructural woes with regards to roads, communication and especially power (small and large businesses alike across the country rely heavily, and at times exclusively, on backup electricity). There have been no worthwhile attempts so far to radically upgrade the power sector, or attract private investment. Another menacing challenge, compounded by the recent proliferation of religious

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012 — 19

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t is a racket that has survived several governments in the country. It will outlive the Jonathan’s administration, no doubt. Why and how did the Minister discover the anomaly? Was she briefed by officials of the Ministry or is it that someone somewhere is aggrieved with the arrangement and want a redress of the situation to his/ her favour? Unfortunately, the Minister has not come out with these details. What brought about this issue? Definitely, there is something wrong somewhere. Something must have brought this out. For the Minister to say, ‘oh you must pay us’ suggest that somebody somewhere is trying to use the machinery of government to do something in his/her favour.

A matter like this ordinarily should be approached with maturity. This would have meant that approaching BA ought not to have been in the public domain for now.

Nigeria and Britain have been together for years, with very strong ties, and a few functionaries on both sides should not be allowed to commit class atrocity and then visit it on the two countries.

Nigeria has something to

functionaries travel economy class to preserve public funds.

BA most times does not have the required passengers in this class flying out of Ghana and in order to encourage them the airline reduces its fare in order not to lose out completely.

So comparing fares charged in Ghana to Nigeria is not the issue as no Ghanaian official will be given first class to travel out of Ghana; they fly economy. The demand by the Nigeria Authority is because it is easy for them to go to London in the night by 11: PM, finish their private business in the morning and return to Abuja by 5:00 PM the following day without even their wives knowing they went to London.

Even if this class of Nigerians wants first class as usual, are they not supposed to pay from their pockets? Because they want to go to London to transact private business overnight using government funds and do not want anybody to know they were out of the country, is that enough reason for disturbing the

Stella Oduah Ogiemwonyi

Is Aviation Minister fighting a class war or for Nigerians? protect. Today in Britain, Nigerians residing there are almost about 2 million citizens.

Provoking a diplomatic row will not be in the best interest of both countries.

The racket that is going on between top civil servants, other government functionaries and BA officials is because it is easier for them to board BA to London overnight and return to their desk the following day. Many connive with the Airline to ensure that top government functionaries in Nigeria fly BA in first and business class for that matter. Because it is government's funds being used, this class goes in and out of London at will.

It has become a lucrative business for the Airline. To compensate them for making it possible for government functionaries to fly first or business class, complimentary tickets are issued to them or their siblings. That is why the talk is about First class and business class and certainly, nobody is talking about the

,

he Minister of Aviation deserves public applause for just one thing- mustering the courage to expose a long standing deal between the affluence bureaucrats in government and the British Airways, BA. Those familiar with the industry have confirmed that for a very long time, British Airways has been doing under hand business of giving complimentary tickets to top civil servants and their siblings in favour of their daily patronage of flying first and business class. Many top government functionaries in Nigeria are well aware of this deal. Because it is in their favour, they kept quite about it. The management of British Airways seeing the business opportunity this offers them cashed in on it.

The big question is where else in Africa or Europe does BA give complimentary tickets to top government functionaries and their siblings and why? Does the airline give such in Britain? Is this not another form of bribery which many developed economies have barred their businesses from partaking in?

How legitimate is what BA is doing?

Is BA not compromising the system by this practice? Perhaps knowing what is involved that those who should talk, especially the civil servants in the Aviation industry, who are beneficiaries of the largesse the British Airways get from charging higher for first class and business class to recoup what they give out as complimentary tickets keep quite thus visiting the sins of a few privileged on the generality of the populace who fly BA.

The racket that is going on between top civil servants, other government functionaries and BA officials is because it is easier for them to board BA to London overnight and return to their desk the following day.

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economy. If there is need for air fare review, will it not be for all classes of fare?

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t seems odd that the Minister did not get it right in comparing the airline fare in Nigeria with what they charge in Ghana. It is only in exceptional cases that the government of Ghana approves first class or business class ticket for its serving officials. Most travel economy. In most part of the world, government

nation and scattering an existing relationship between Nigeria and Britain under the pretense of acting in the best interest of Nigeria. If they are seeking after the welfare of Nigerians, why are they not also talking about the economy tickets issued by the same airline?

The Minister should know that those who sold the idea to her are fighting for their selfish interest and that the money they spend on most of the tickets is from government

purse. They are not the ones paying from their pocket.

Even if they pay from their pockets, they just sneak out of the country and return in the morning. They are hurting because it is too expensive.

What about the nation they are short changing by this act?

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esides, there are alternatives. If BA becomes too expensive, other airlines that are cheaper in their offerings are there. There are Nigerians who now fly Emirates to London via Dubai; there are those who fly Air France to London via Paris, there are those who fly Lufthansa via Frankfurt. These airlines have cheaper first class and business class offers.

If not for the simple reason they find it easier and convenient to sneak out of the country through BA, there are alternatives.

If you are flying Emirate, you have opportunity to rest in a hotel free, before going to London. That is why today Emirate is having the crowd that it is having and its tickets are cheaper. There is also Qatar Airline; it all depends on how any Nigerian wants it.

If you want to go six hours and come back the next day, fine. Many Nigerians have on their own stopped flying BA long time ago for the reasons the Minister has stated.

The high ticket issue is a smoke screen for those who want a national carrier which many in the aviation industry have described as the pending fraud. Who are those pushing for a national carrier? Where is the infrastructure to run a national carrier?

Is the federal government going to buy back the properties of Nigeria Airways sold for peanuts just some years back and from whom?

How did the Minister come about the idea of a national carrier? Is somebody trying to push himself in that line because he thinks that he cannot survive the airline business and wants to sell his holding to government in order to turn his airline into a national carrier?

At what price will the government buy back what it sold out? Is this another attempt to rip the nation off?

Are these not the same people that connived to destroy the Nigerian Airways and bought its property for peanuts?

Is it not a curious thing that no private individual was supposed to own any property within the airport and you can only rent or pay a ground rent, but the property of Nigeria Airways was sold for less than one billion to whoever wanted? Nigerians are watching how all of this will play out.

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20 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

News BRIEFS Police crack US theft ring that sold luxury cars in Africa

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uthorities on Wednesday broke up a n international car theft ring that used the streets of New York “as one giant showroom” to stalk more than $1 million in luxury cars and steal them for sale in Africa, the New York state attorney general said.

Fourteen people were arrested in raids on an indictment that resulted from a yearlong investigation that used wiretaps.

The stolen cars were loaded into containers and shipped for sale in Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria.

Authorities said the ring looked for cars that matched orders placed by a theft broker, including model, year, color and accessory package. To “fill the order,” the “steal team” targeted a matching car on the street, used keys obtained from a locksmith to get inside and then employed a portable computer to synchronize the key to the car’s unique code, enabling a theft without damage, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a press release.

“This criminal enterprise used the streets of New York City as one giant showroom for stealing cars,” Schneiderman said.

The ring “left innocent New Yorkers in the lurch.” The ring specialized in stealing Lexus, Acura and other high-end automobiles.

Nigerian content: Addax to grow indigenous capacity

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ddax Petroleum Development Corporation said it aims to grow indigenous capacity in the oil and gas sector such that it becomes the operator of choice in ensuring compliance and promoting a culture that harnesses local resources in Nigeria.

The company also said that it intends to create value through successful exploration, development and production of oil and gas resources whilst contributing to the wealth of the nation and development of its host communities in partnership with the government and affiliate agencies.

The Managing Director of Addax Petroleum, Mr. Cor nelius Zegelaar, made this known in a keynote address at Addax Petroleum Nigerian Content Day, saying, “our desire is to see our contractors and the future generation of Nigerians strategically developed into world class players.

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2011Tourism Man of the Year Award winner, Mrs. Obioma Liyel-Imoke.

whole country and this will become a quarterly figure.” In fact we will use the GDP that is generated to be able to tackle unemployment better.

Right now there is so much talk about unemployment, but only recently that we are even beginning to really try to understand; what is the nature of this unemployment? What is the breakdown of it? What are the regional characteristics of it?

Accordingly, Dr Usman disclosed that, there is now a change from the way Nigeria used to solve problems. The approach of throwing money or policies at problems in the search for solutions without even trying to understand the nature of the problem is over.

“Government is now trying to understand the nature of this unemployment problem.

The unemployment situation in Kano is different from that of Lagos. We need to understand such peculiarities as what are the age groups, what are the breakdown between men and women?

What are the different employment opportunities that exist in each state?”

The Minister, described unemployment situation as a problem in Nigeria, but pointed out that, the more data that you generate, the better you are able to tackle the problem by having specific targeted policies that are able to address unemployment.

FG computing statistics of unemployed Nigerians, says Usman

By CHRIS OCHAY I

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he Federal Government has embarked on thorough and comprehensive survey and data collections in order to determine the accurate level of unemployment statistics in each state of the federation. The Minister / Deputy Chairman of National Planning Commission, Dr Shamsuddeen Usman, said, “the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, is in the middle of conducting a very detailed comprehensive survey on unemployment across the whole country and this will become a quarterly figure” The minister was responding to a question during a media chat with Journalists in Gombe, Gombe State Capital, North Eastern Nigeria, after a ceremonial flag- off of the States’ GDP Computation in the State. He said the kind of survey being worked out now by the government will correctly determine the level of unemployment statistics in each state that differentiates it with other.

According to him, “even within one state, what is the situation in Gombe state for instance, that differentiates it from other states? The National Bureau of Statistics is in the middle of conducting a very detailed comprehensive survey on unemployment across the

Buttressing his point f u r t h e r, D r Usman, gave an example of a recent

surveys conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics in conjunction with SMEDAN to estimate the total number of SMEs in the country.

“Tentatively the work is still in progress, but it will interest you to know that, they indicated that they got a figure of 17 million SMEs.

CIPM declares uncertified HR practitioners illegal

By PROVIDENCE OBUH

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hartered Institute of P e r s o n n e l Management

(C IPM) has declared illegal any Human Resource (HR) officer operating in an organisation without certification from the institute.

Speaking at the Induction ceremony of the institute in Lagos, last week, President of the Institute, Mr. Abiola Popoola said, “In realisation of ensuring that only qualified HR practitioners and CIPM members’ man HR portfolios, early last year, the Institute wrote its corporate members and some top organisations in that regard, seeking compliance.

“In 3rd quarter of 2011, we also reinforced our advocacy on professionalism and essence through series of media announcement and paid public notice in the press, to the fact that CIPM is the body saddled with responsibility to regulate HR practice in the country and to the effect that, it is illegal for anybody, organisation or entities in all sectors of the economy to have in their employment, whether a Nigerian or an Expatriate HR practitioners that are not certified by CIPM to sit over HR matters. “We will as an Institute, continue to provide HR practitioners, a lifelong learning opportunities to enable them become fulfilled professionals, but we would also not hesitate to wield the big stick, should the need arise, when any of our members breach our code of conduct, which guides our behavior at our respective work place as true professionals. Structures have been put in place to ensure compliance and we urge members and stakeholders not to hesitate to report to us non-compliant members who engage in any misdemeanor or infraction that could bring HR practice to disrepute.”

Cross River declares 100% boost in tourism

By EBELE ORAKPO

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he First Lady of Cross River State, Mrs. Obioma Liyel-Imoke, has said that tourism is the key to the economic development of the state and its people. She made this known while receiving the 2011 Tourism Man of the Year award from Akwaaba and Abuja Bantaba at the Peregrino Hall, Government House Calabar.

While thanking the organisers for the honour, Mrs. Liyel-Imoke noted that the tourism industry in the state, popularly called the nation’s paradise, has

witnessed remarkable growth largely due to the peace and hospitality of the people of the state.

“This in itself has a direct impact on the livelihood of the people as one of the dividends of the industry,” she said, adding that Carnival Calabar, “which has come to be known as Africa’s biggest street party, has given Nigeria a place on the tourism map of the world as the number of tourists visiting during the time goes up each year.”

She also stated that “the recent elevation of the Obudu Mountain Resort to the first position in the contest for the seven wonders of Nigeria, and

entering it into the Guinness Book of Records as having the longest cable car ride in Africa, are further contributions the state has made and still making in tourism development in Nigeria.”

The first lady noted that infrastructure development in the state such as the Calabar International Convention Centre with a five-star hotel attached to it opening in 2013, a four-screen cinema to be opened next month at the Marina Resort amongst others, will further project the tourism potentials of the state.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012 — 21

News

LWI to partner business firms on increased health investment

BY MICHAEL EBOH

lobal trade growth will

From left: Vice President, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), Mr. Sunday Korode; Guest Speaker/CEO Mac Tay Consulting, Mr.Tayo Rotimi; President/ Chairman of Council, Mr. Abiola Popoola, and Mr. Sunday Adeyemi, Registrar/CEO at the 12th Induction ceremony held last Thursday in Lagos

Bank Plc and May & Baker Nigeria Plc and the Lagos State Government among others.

Bright explained that LWI will empower the executives of these organizations by ensuring that they take steps

towards attaining an equilibrium between work and life, by catering for their health and wellbeing.

“What is needed is not only health insurance policy but also quality attention to their health’” she noted.

Continuing, she stated, “We discovered long ago that people generally indulge in unhealthy habits and they do nothing much about their health until there is an exigency or emergency.

We will continually empower women — Evelyn Urhobo

By EBELE ORAKPO

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mpower a woman and you have empowered the nation,’ so goes a saying. In line with this saying, and to ensure a better society for Nigerians, the President/Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Smart Development Foundation, Dr. Evelyn Omawumi Urhobo has said that her foundation will do its best to continually empower women to enable them impact the society positively.

She said this during a fourday women community leaders training workshop held in Warri recently with the theme: Empowering Women to Empower their Communities.

Employing the Adult Learning Model and Appreciative Inquiry Model participatory training methodology of the Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA), a US-based organisation, the participants were made to participate directly in the learning process. Some of the topics handled include Proposal Writing, Fundraising, Financial Management, Banking and Banking Transactions, Book Keeping, Micro-

Global trade well below precrisis trend: survey

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iveWell Initiative, LWI, a Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, has expressed its readiness to partner and encourage financial institutions and other blue chip companies in Nigeria to increase their social sector investment and support for the health sector.

Mrs. Bisi Bright, First Vice Chairman/Chief Executive, LWI, who said this at its Grand Health Bazaar, GHB 2012, in Lagos, also said it is committed to promoting worklife balance, workplace wellness, healthy living and health consciousness among Nigerians.

She disclosed that it plans to partner with stakeholders in key sectors of the Nigerian economy to increase health awareness and promote access to healthcare in the country.

An example of its commitment to healthcare development, she noted, is its Grand Health Bazaar GHB 2012, where it partnered the United States Consulate General, Skye Bank Plc, Pfizer Specialities, Central Bank of Nigeria, West African Health Organisation WAHO, Symbion Power, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Plc, UTC Nigeria Plc, Nestle Plc, Stanbic IBTC

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credit, Communications, Advocacy, Wealth Creation, Group/Team development and Gender Mainstreaming within the context of the Millennium Development Goals.

Speaking at the event which featured high caliber facilitators, the Delta State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Betty Efekodha noted that in the last 50 years, women have contributed significantly to the growth of the economy and the country at large. The commissioner who was represented by a director in the ministry, Mrs. Onyekweli Fina, stated that the state government has been doing a lot to empower women via micro-credit, free healthcare for pregnant women, skills acquisition as well as adult education. She praised the efforts of Morgan Smart Development Foundation for their role in continually empowering women. She advised the participants to take the workshop very seriously.

One of the facilitators, the Senior Programmes Officer, Communications and Advocacy, Morgan Smart Development Foundation, Mr. Michael Chidozie, explained that effective communication

is one that yields the desired result by the parties involved.

According to him, “communication should involve listening, understanding, asking questions and giving feedbacks.”

In her lecture on Leadership

Development, Dr. Urhobo defined leadership as an “ability to know the people, their needs, make the right decision, have the right contact and influence them for change.and local women NGOs.

African leaders, mayors set to tackle urbanisation

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

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frican leaders and

mayors will this month converge for two days in Lagos to tackle issues of urbanization which has become the bane of the continent.

The conference which comes up between May 30 and 31, will witness the attendance of about 150 senior level participants to debate challenging questions around managing, designing, and financing the continent’s cities and discuss the future of African’s urban transformation with international groups of experts.

According to the organizers of the conference, “Urbanisation is happening

faster in Africa than anywhere else in the world and by 2050, about 60 percent of Africans will be city dwellers,” with the cities planned in haphazard, fragmented and characterized by lack of longterm strategic planning and incoherent investments.”

The Conference Director, Marianne Mazou, in a statement on the conference said, “Urban development has been haphazard, fragmented and characterized by a lack of long-term strategic planning and incoherent investments. For Africa’s expanding cities to function in the future, policy makers need new and innovative approaches to urban development, infrastructure, environmental issues, transportation, social services and housing.

slow this year and volumes are unlikely to regain their pre-crisis trend for at least another four years, according to a survey released recently by International Chamber of Commerce ICC. It said it expected trade, the life blood of the global economy, to expand by 5.2 per cent this year and by 7.2 per cent in 2013. Growth for all of 2011 was 6.6 per cent, driven by emerging markets, but slowed down towards the end of the year. Euro zone export volumes fell 5.9 per cent in 2011.

After the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September 2008, global trade suffered the steepest slump since the Great Depression of the 1930s as banks pulled in their horns.

These financial problems have diminished but have not disappeared, the ICC warned.

“Left unattended, they can still cause irreparable damage to the trade finance industry,” the report, based on a survey of 229 banks in 110 countries, said. Chief among bankers’ concerns is the scarcity of capital. Many European banks that were traditionally big suppliers of trade finance have quit the market or cut back sharply because of funding constraints and pressure to deleverage.

El Nino could cut global 2012/13 cocoa output: ICCO

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ossible El Nino weather conditions later this year could exacerbate a potential global cocoa deficit in the coming 2012/13 season, causing prices to climb, the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) said. “We know that when we have El Nino conditions it’s likely that this will impact negatively on world cocoa production. We would have less production and this would have an impact on price,” ICCO statistician Laurent Pipitone told Reuters.

“If we are in a period when we have already a deficit, and in addition we have this factor that adds to the deficit, the impact on price would be even higher,” he added. El Nino the warming of the Pacific Ocean leading to a shift in weather patterns - caused a drop of 2.4 percent in world cocoa output on average when it occurred over the last 60 years, according to ICCO data. Such a drop equates to around 100,000 tonnes of cocoa at current production levels, Pipitone said.

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22 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

Money Market BRIEFS World Bank supports South Sudan with $38m grant

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outh Sudan received a US$38 million World Bank grant today to help rehabilitate feeder roads and increase access to rural communities in high agricultural potential areas.

The grant will also help improve food security and local service delivery efforts in the vast country. The South Sudan Rural Roads Project grant was signed today by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Hon. Kosti Manibe Ngai, and Laura Kullenberg, Country Manager for the World Bank in South Sudan.

South Sudan only has a road network of about 17,000 km, of which only about 4,000 km are all weather roads. It thus faces a huge infrastructure deficit. Apart from helping to address this deficit, the grant aims to boost the local agriculture sector by upgrading and rehabilitating rural roads linking productive agricultural areas to market centers.

have descended, or is it forced, is unlikely to create the kind of inclusiveness that we seek. The few who are rich will get wealthier whilst the overwhelming majority of our fellow countrymen and women will, as data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows, continue to wallow in poverty. This can only be a prescription for divisiveness and erosion of our national integrity.”

“Available data L-R: Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Projofin Nigeria Limited, Rtd. Admiral Ochegomie Promise Fingesi, BankManaging Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ahmed Kuru, Proprietress/Chief Executive Officer, shows that in 2010, aggregate Bereton Academy Nigeria, Her Royal Majesty, Barrister (Mrs.) Josephine Diete-Spiff, Mr. Emeka Onwuka, the BankChairman and Mr. Ebenezer Foby, a Director of the bank at a recent Customer Forum of the bank, value-added of banks amounted to which held at Novotel Hotel, Port Harcourt, Rivers State…recently 1.21 per cent of total value, or Gross Domestic Product, created in the economy.

In contrast, the valueadded created by the 20 most capitalised non-finance companies listed on the inclusion and poverty inclusion, adding that that is Nigerian Stock Exchange

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE reduction says Mr. Laoye why despite all the reforms in amounted to 1.86 per cent of & AHMED IBRAHIM Jaiyeola, immediate past the banking industry, banking GDP in 2010. If the ‘ real sector ’ firms are creating igeria should look president, Chartered Institute services have remained greater wealth than banks, beyond microfinance of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). limited to few people in the how do we justify the sharply “To facilitate inclusion, we country. institutions to higher difference in achieve the goal of financial may however have to look He said, “Let us be clear, the remuneration for staff and b e y o n d kind of lending into which we management of banks? microfinance, as studies in o t h e r countries have s h o w n , microfinance can help the unbanked have access to credit but it he problem of non- the bank and customer whose has been performing loans in business may even fold up in discovered the banking industry the process, even as the debt that the monies made can be traced to the problem remains hanging.”

He gave examples of such available to of hidden and excessive them are charges by banks say Kenneth conflict involving clients for merely for Nwachineke a finance and which his firm worked in the recent past where “ we s u s t e n a n c e management consultant. discovered errors in Addressing journalists on and may not of the n e c e s s a r i l y Wednesday, Nwachineke, computation have an effect who is the Chief Executive administrative charges, which on bringing of Kenob-Lyn Nigeria was resolved amicably in them out of the Limited, said that going by favour of the customers.”

Where a customer refuses to shackles of the engagements in resolving call a forensic auditor to check such issues between banks poverty ”, he said on and their customers, excess through their books and make charges could result from corrections, he said the error Friday.

In a either faulty software, or would continue on that account, adding that where it v a l e d i c t o r y human errors.

These, he continued, can is an overdraft facility, the s p e e c h delivered at cause distortions in the unpaid charges would also the 2012 billings, which when allowed attract further charges; just as Presidential continues unchecked and the size of facility granted Address of the snowball into substantial progressively reduces.

It is not in all cases that the I n s t i t u t e , amount that would affect the which also business for which the facility banks are wrong, he admitted, recalling situations where marked the was taken.

Explaining further, customers have gone to court end of his tenure as the Nwachineke, a forensic for excess charges, only to be President of auditor, said: “Before you take proved wrong by forensic the Institute, a bank loan, you make a investigation.

While noting the huge nonJaiyeola said budget and then determine performing loans AMCON what you would require to that that the e x i s t i n g service the facility, but where and the banks have so far b a n k i n g there is excess charge, recovered and the N3.14 outstanding, practice in the whether deliberate or by trillion Nwachineke expressed accident, the fund can no c o u n t r y d o e s n ’ t longer meet the projections, concerns as to the quantum of e n c o u r a g e just as there would be no debt being challenged by the f i n a n c i a l money for servicing. These supposed debtors in courts. would lead to conflict between

Financial inclusion is beyond microfinance — Jaiyeola

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Expert blames excessive charges for bad loans

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C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012 — 23

24 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

Money Market

MPC meets amidst sentiments against further monetary tightening

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he Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) holds its bimonthly meeting today amidst rising sentiments against further tightening of money supply.

The Committee meets to review the economy vis-a-vis the core mandate of the CBN, which is price stability and decide on necessary policy measures to influence money supply for the achievement of

this mandate. Last year, in order to curb inflation the MPC tightened money supply by raising its benchmark interest rate, the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) six times from 6.25 per cent at the beginning of the year to 12 per cent in November. It also raised banks’ Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) three times from 1.0 per cent to 8.0 per cent; and their liquidity ratio (LR) once from 25.0 per cent to 30.0 per cent.

This resulted in steady increase in interest rate in the money markets from the region of six per cent to 15 per

cent.

The Committee has met twice this year, in January and March, without adjusting the MPR, or adopting any measure to further tighten money supply. This was despite rise in inflation in March to 12.1 per cent. This trend, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) persisted in April as inflation rose to 12.9 per cent.

The Committee in January said, “Staff estimates indicate that inflation in the first two quarters of 2012 would range between 11.0 per cent and 14.5 per cent, and then

moderate steadily towards the single digit zone by late 2013.” This could mean that the MPR might not be adjusted upward except rise in inflation exceeds these expectations. But going by the antecedents of last year, the MPC might adopt an attitude of ‘a stitch in time saves nine’, and decide to tighten money supply again. Adjusting the MPR upward to achieve this might be challenging for the Committee due to strong

,

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

The Committee members however also need to begin to debate the extent to which the MPR should be increased if inflation continues to rise and do so above the expected levels

sentiments among economic operators against further tightening and increase in interest rates.

The general mood against further upward adjustment of the MPR was captured by Bismarck Rewane, MD/CEO of FDC, in his Monthly presentations on the economy at the Lagos Business School.

“CBN has very limited options. It cannot push rates up without hurting business”, he said at the April edition.

The feeling of resentment among business owners against further monetary tightening was openly expressed by Shareholders at the annual general meeting of one of the banks last week.

The Shareholders, notably, Mr Nonah Awoh and Chief Sunny Nwosu, President of Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), complained against the cash reserve ratio of 8.0 per cent imposed on banks, saying that this is tantamount to tying down resources and discouraging investments. In fact Nonah Awoh did not just complained, he mandated the non-executive directors to

INTERBANK INTEREST RATES

,

the same sentiment in response to the March inflation figure. She said, “The current tight stance of policy should be sustained as there are evident inflation risks that should make the authorities cautious. This does not mean there is an argument for more tightening necessarily, just that with core inflation high, the current tight stance of monetary policy should be sustained.”

Definitely there would be argument for or against further tightening of the money supply among the nine MPC members today.

The Committee members however also need to begin to debate the extent to which the MPR should be increased if inflation continues to rise and do so above the expected levels. This is because with shareholders of banks complaining against high reserve requirements, and businesses crying out against high interest rates, it would be necessary to began to consider alternative policy measures to curb inflation other than jerking up the benchmark interest rate.

ACCA launches My Experience’ for accountancy students

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new online system, My Experience, for students to record their practical work experience gained in the accountancy and finance industries has been launched by ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), the global body for professional accountants.

The new system takes over from the Trainee Development Matrix (TDM) and the Annual Return forms needed to pass the ACCA C M Y K

prevail on the CBN to relax its CRR and other mandatory deposits. That is why the expectation in the market is that MPC should allow the MPR and other monetary policy measures to remain as they are for now. Market operators said that since the April inflation figure is still within the expectation of the CBN, there is no need for further tightening now. “MPC is expected to remain neutral in May,” said Rewane in his outlook for the MPC meeting.

Razia Khan, Regional Head of Research, Africa, Standard Chartered Bank expressed

Qualification.

Oluwatoyin Ademola, country manager of ACCA Nigeria says: “An ACCAqualified accountant needs to pass exams, complete an ethics module, and they also need to show they possess relevant, practical work-based experience. This programme helps them to demonstrate to ACCA that they have applied their knowledge to the workplace and that they have practical as well as technical skills.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012 — 25

Capital Market sustained its existence after all its working capital and facilities were s u d d e n l y truncated.

The shareholders were impressed with the boldness and determination to ensure that the c o m p a n y maintained its activities despite all odds.

The Group M a n a g i n g Director, Engr.

Florence Seriki, stated that this is the benefit of buying from first c l a s s manufacturers as the company ’s turnover was majorly from the From left: Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde, Managing Director, Chief Kolawole Jamodu, Chairman and Mr. Uaboi sale of another Agbebaku, Company Secretary/Legal Adviser at the 66th annual general meeting of Nigerian Breweries factory initiative – Plc in Lagos. Photo by Sylva Eleanya. the 24 hour Alternate Power Solution- a Hybrid solution with Solar, UPS and Inverters together with the new Omatek LED Bulbs that last 3 to 5 years without replacement. The importation of this was a Semi Knocked Down

By PETER EGWUATU existing facilities. “Omatek and loyalty to its customers process as opposed to the Consumer scheme with many and the states consumer hareholders of Omatek states was a joint product with schemes were still sustained computers that are completely knocked down components Ventures Plc have their banker - Afribank and commended its Board this was cancelled suddenly. by Omatek despite these and raw materials. sudden challenges from “These were easier to fund of Directors for its effort in Their 10 year old mortgage Afribank; a tough situation and this is a clear cut evidence keeping the company afloat cancelled and the offshore and surviving the harsh and local Guarantee facilities after just been listed or going of the immense opportunity in public.”

Omatek. If over a billion was operating environment that could not be sustained as the Shareholders claimed that equally done in this respect, prevailed during the last two bank had lost its offshore this is a phenomenom then with funding available, years. guarantee as well. The performance and rare the expected turnover of the The shareholders at the company has commitments situation for Omatek to have company is expected to sky combined Annual General rocket” she noted.

Meeting (AGM) of the operating years ended, December 2010 and December 2011 said, “The management of Omatek Ventures has displayed unparallel zeal which has helped the company to survive and ready to get to the next level of its operations.”

At the AGM, Group to reduce the company’s de- ability and enhanced shareBy MICHAEL EBOH Chairman of Omatek, Dr. pendence on imported sugar. holder value,” he said.

Timothy Farinre, thanked all According to Dangote, DSR According to Dangote, shareholders immensely for hareholders of Dan DSR’s raw sugar importation is tmarket leader in the Nigetheir patience, support and gote Sugar Refinery and refining business has ex- rian sugar industry with about understanding of the peculiar Plc, DSR, has ap- perienced declining profita- 70 per cent market share and situation of the company in proved the company’s back- bility margin due to volatility the largest sugar refinery in the last three (3) years. He Sub-Sahara Africa with inexpressed his sincere ward integration strategies, in the prices of raw sugar in apologies for the delay in authorising it to acquire Sa- the global market and increas- stalled sugar refining capacivannah Sugar Company, ing competition in the local ty of 1.44 million metric conducting the two AGMs. tonnes per annum.. market.

Result of the company ’s SSC. Speaking in the same He explained to the shareThe shareholders, who gave performance shows that shareholders funds grew from the approval at the company’s holders that part of strategies vein, the Director of the comN6,012,616 in 2009, to annual general meeting in to retain its position in the pany, Abdullahi Sule N6,449,331 in 2010, Lagos, said the acquisition market, the company had said clearvision of the compaindicating an increase of 7 per would help drive down the embarked on a number of ny was to grow local and incent. company’s cost, reduce its backward integration strate- ternational market.

“Arrangement is currently The company’s net assets dependence on imported raw gies into domestic sugar proand the group’s net assets materials and improve its duction and milling business. under to expand “our export appreciated by seven per profitability.

“The new strategy is in sup- horizon beyond Ghana. We cent, respectively.

In his address to the share- port of the Federal Govern- are prospecting other counHe said that Omatek had to holders, Alhaji Aliko Dan- ment’s transformation agenda tries across the West African fund all its consumer schemes gote, Chairman, DSR, said and is ahead of the proposed Coast. Efforts are in top gear and all factory initiatives by currently SSC is 95 per cent sugar policy with the thrust of to ensure the refinery expanitself without any funding owned by Dangote Industries encouraging local production sion projects and the profrom any bank in the last three Limited (DIL), the core share- of sugar. strategy will signif- posed acquisition of Savanyears. Their banker – holder and was acquired from icantly reduce the company’s nah Sugar as part of our backAfribank, had expressed their ward integration projects are inability due to liquidation the Federal Government in cost structure while ensuring completed this year,” he said. that it remains competitive 2002 during the privatisation expected to fund many exercise as part of DIL plan and delivers improved profit-

Shareholders commend Omatek for surviving turbulent situation

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Dangote Sugar’s backward integration strategies get shareholders’ approval

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C M Y K

BRIEFS IOSCO, AMERC members sign regional MoU

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he 37th annual conference of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) was concluded last week, with panel discussions on market stability, development and integrity.

The week also witnessed the signing of a Regional Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by member-countries of the Africa/Middle East Regional Committee (AMERC) of the Organization. This is the first time that a regional MoU is being signed and highlights the importance that the AMERC region attaches to cooperation as a key response to the global financial crisis.

At the signing ceremony, Chairman of the Board of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) joined the Director General, Arunma Oteh, to sign the regional MoU on behalf of Nigeria.

The regional MoU is intended to foster regulatory cooperation, capacity building, and information exchange within the region.

The MoU further complements and reinforces the IOSCO MMoU and bilateral MoUs being entered into by securities markets regulators worldwide.

Carlyle in talks on $1.25bn Taiwan bank sale

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rivate equity firm Carlyle Group is in talks to sell its stake in Taiwan’s Ta Chong Bank to Yuanta Financial (2885.TW) in a deal worth up to T$37 billion ($1.25 billion), two sources familiar with the situation said.

Carlyle is exiting its fiveyear investment in the small and slow-growing Taiwanese bank in a share swap deal that will also give it a 7 percent stake in the fast-expanding Yuanta, owner of the island’s biggest brokerage.

The equity firm and Ta Chong’s other major shareholder, the bank’s founding Chen family, would swap their combined holding of about 70 percent for Yuanta shares, the sources said on Friday, declining to be identified because the information is confidential.

“Carlyle is shifting to Yuanta from Ta Chong because Yuanta has bigger potential.

26 —Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

Capital Market BRIEFS Nestle to invest in promotion of sustainable healthcare

Business Impact CEO gets entrepreneurship award

By CHINEDU IBEABUCHI

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By CHINEDU IBEABUCHI & JOEL JOMBO

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estle Nigerian Plc has reiterated its commitment to investing its resources to help fight under-nutrition and promote sustainable healthcare in Nigeria and across Africa.

Mr. Samuel Adenekan, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, in a statement made available to Vanguard, said the company, through its multidisciplinary, educational organisation — Nestlé Nutrition Institute Africa, NNIA, is targeting a future where people across the African continent are living longer and healthier According to him, NNIA is dedicated to the science of nutrition for people of all ages, adding that the institute provides information, guidance and support to use the latest scientific discoveries and their application to achieving optimal nutrition.

He said, “In a bid to combat infant and maternal mortality, NNIA, in collaboration with the University College Hospital, Ibadan recently organised a three-day Advanced Nutrition Programme for Anglophone countries. The theme of the programme ‘Maternal and infant nutrition: first 1000 days of life’ was discussed by a faculty comprising local and international speakers.

“These included Prof James Renner, Lagos University Teaching Hospital; Prof Andrew Prentice, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Prof Onike Rodrigues, Korle-bu Teaching Hospital, Accra; Professor Selina Okolo, Jos University Teaching Hospital; Professor Samuel Omokhodion, University College Hospital and Dr Chinyere Ezeaka, Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Over 50 health care professionals from leading paediatric care institutions were drawn from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia attended the event held.”

Adenekan further stated that at the seminar, issues such as human lactation, low birth weight, deficiencies, probiotics in nutrition, WHO Code directives and complementary feeding practices were discussed by the various facilitators. of the programme.

C M Y K

Chairman, Central Securities Clearing Systems Limited (CSCS), Mr. Oscar Onyema (right) with Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) of Mr. Abba Kyari at the 18th Annual General Meeting of the company held in Lagos.

Shareholders commend UBN Board for escaping nationalisation

By PETER EGWUATU

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hareholders of Union Bank Nigeria Plc have commended its Board of Directors for escaping the wrath of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over its plan to nationalize the bank.

Speaking to Vanguard, President of Advancement for Rights of Nigerian Shareholders, Dr. Farouk Umar, who spoke the mind of other shareholders said, “We are happy that our bank was not nationalized, half bread is better than nothing. If the Board had not gone for core investors, the bank would have been taken over by government through Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC). So we thank God we have escaped nationalisation, and it is our hope that the core investor will pick the failed portion of the rights issue while we hold our 10 per cent stake.”

In his own reaction, Chairman of Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), Mr.Boniface Okezie, said, “I had predicted that the right issue will be a failure because the minority investors were short changed.

The price it sold the rights was very high because we all know that Union Bank will not pay dividend in the nearest future.

Even the right issue is not suppose to take place .I will like the issue of Union Bank to be revisited because the

CBN and Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) took over the bank unjustly. I just believe that there was nothing wrong with Union Bank. Let a new auditor be invited to look into the financials of the bank.”

It should be noted that the failure of the rights issue is an indication that shareholders would get a refund of their money. The rights issue was supposed to fetch the bank N9.6 billion.

However, failure of the rights issue, according to the shareholders’ does not in any way affect the bank’s recapitalisation as the core investors have injected funds

to take up 60 to 70 per cent of the bank’s shares.

If the rights issue had been successful; the old shareholders’ stake would have increased to about 20 per cent from 10 per cent. But the status quo (failed rights issue) has paved way for the core investors to take up the unsubscribed portion of the rights issue that was supposed to be apportioned to the shareholders.

The Bank as gathered currently has over N100billion shareholders’ fund.

It will be recalled that the inability of the shareholders of the defunct Spring Bank (now Enterprise Bank), Afribank (now Mainstreet ) and BankPHB (now Keystone) to agree to hand over their banks to new investors necessitated the nationalization of these institutions – making them to lose out entirely.

anaging Director and CEO of Business Impact Limited, Mr. Samson Olatunde, 28 years, has received the prestigious International Youth Peace Ambassador Award for his great entrepreneurship skills.

According to a statement announcing the award, the company said Olatunde officially received the award at the University of Lagos Edition of the Student Enterprise Summit, a gathering put together by him to inspire Nigerian students to discover and utilize their potentials to constantly aim at peak performance, and also to equip themselves for fitting career lines and cutting-edge entrepreneurship.

The company said, “Olatunde, an expert in Internet Information marketing and several other internet business models, has over the years trained hundreds of Nigerians on how to set up legitimate internet businesses and thereby earn legal money online, a panacea to internet fraud which has painted Nigeria black among the league of Nations.

“He has also written several books to educate Nigerians on business and financial intelligence, spoken in several business platforms including New Nigerian Youth Summit organized by Foundation for Socio– economic Change in Africa, the Youth Empowerment Summit put together by Mind Explorer Communications, and succeeded in organizing over 35 entrepreneurial empowerment programs.

“In addition, he is the brain behind the Entrepreneur Platform Conference, the Business Growth Conference, the Entrepreneur Platform T.V show, Student Enterprise, and the Below 45 Entrepreneur Mentorship Forum.

Consolidated Breweries’ turnover hits N30bn ...Pays N3.25 per share dividend

By PETER EGWUATU

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onsolidated Breweries Plc has recorded a turnover of N27. 9 billion for the financial year ended December 31, 2011, representing a growth of 14 per cent from N24.5billion in 2010.

The Chairman of Consolidated Breweries, Prof.

(Mrs) Oyin Odutola-Olurin, who disclosed this at the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos last week, said, “The Group

recorded a 15 per cent increase in turnover from N25.8billion in 2010 to N29.7billion last year.

According to her, the profit after tax, declined with 18 per cent from N3.2billion in 2010 to N2.6billion in 2011, for the company and for the Group from N3.14billion in 2010 to N2.0billion in 2011, indicating a decrease of 37 per cent.

She attributed the decline in the company ’s profit to stagnating volume growth and increasing operational costs occasioned by inclement operating environment in the country during the period

under review. ‘’We rely heavily on generators to power our Breweries and the attendant costs of operations always affect our profitability”, she said, adding that ‘’the country’s road network still needs a lot to be desired, resulting in frequent breakdown of our trucks and adding to the already high transportation cost”.

Prof Odutola-Olurin noted with dismay that the partial removal of subsidy on fuel in January had further increased costs of running the company.

Capital Market Company

Opening Price (N)

Stock Market Report Closing Price (N)

Quantity Traded

Year High

Year Low

E.P.S.

P.E. Ratio

Oil and Gas and Products Petroleum Products Capital Oil Plc

0.50

0.50

205,000

1st fTier Securities AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN Cocoa Processors Plc Okomu Oil Palm Plc Presco Plc

0.50 33.49 15.59

0.50 32.49 15.01

4,800 26,552 1,159,281

0.64 24.58 8.30

0.50 14.53 6.40

0.01 7.94 1.80

50.00 2.77 4.37

1.05

1.10

2,191,070

0.66

0.48

0.04

15.00

Livestock/Animal Specialities Livestock Feeds Plc CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. Levents Nigeria Plc SCOA Nigeria Plc Transnational Corporation Chellarams Plc UACN Plc

1.12 5.52 0.67 6.43 34.98

1.07 5.52 0.73 6.43 36.00

63,000 100 14,954,500 1,000 1,079,007

2.54 8.28 1.82 7.60 42.50

1.45 5.52 0.50 6.43 28.70

0.28 0.35 0.22 0.31 7.03

5.18 15.77 3.64 20.74 4.14

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Non-Building/Heavy Construction Julius Berger Nig Plc Roads Nigeria Plc

31.06 8.69

31.06 8.69

7,420 125

62.26 8.28

32.96 3.01

3.26 3.66

10.11 2.26

11.50

11.50

94,803

20.15

11.59

1.66

7.33

100.00

8.51

Real Estate Development UACN Property Development Real Estate Investment Trusts Skye Shelter Funds CONSUMER GOODS Automobile/Auto Parts DN Tyres & Rubber Plc Beverages-Brewers/Distillers Champion Breweries Plc Guinness Nigeria Plc International Breweries Plc Nigerian Brew Plc Premier Breweries Plc

12,000

0.50

0.50

0.00

0.00

5.05 0.50 0.93 19.95 1.40 0.65 8.59 3.50

5.05 0.50 0.85 20.00 1.44 0.62 8.59 3.50

168 240,000 858,700 49,670 1,627,401 50,576 10 100

5.31 1.45 3.20 29.65 5.61 1.96 12.91 200

5.31 0.70 0.83 23.11 3.61 0.95 0.95 4.28

0.06 0.00 0.27 2.58 0.21 0.08 0.00 0.00

88.50 0.00 3.07 8.88 9.05 14.13 0.00 0.00

ICT Computer Based Systems108 Courteville Investment Plc

0.50

0.50

100,000

0.52

0.50

0.05

10.00

Computers and Peripherals Omatek Ventures Plc

0.50

0.50

1,400,000

0.50

0.50

0.04

12.50

13.80 2.66

13.80 2.66

15,000 375

9.31 3.59

3.25 3.25

6.49 0.00

1.43 0.00

0.50

0.50

3,100

1.47

0.50

0.00

0.00

11.00 9.45 25.30 5.05 112.00 0.50 0.74 43.99 3.42 1.15 10.93

10.46 9.10 25.35 5.10 112.11 0.50 0.74 45.50 3.25 1.15 10.93

1,129,503 120,200 61,516 259,080 90,812 17 5,000 143,631 100,265 10,500 875

30.00 12.57 43.98 15.49 132.51 0.75 3.51 48.05 5.28 3.36 13.40

12.00 8.10 15.16 4.16 95.00 0.50 1.02 36.58 5.11 0.51 10.93

1.59 1.71 1.76 1.80 8.01 0.00 0.00 1.05 0.36 0.18 0.00

7.86 4.97 8.88 2.31 13.17 0.00 0.00 42.86 14.19 2.89 0.00

3.79 2.03

272,000 2,288,440

6.91 3.60

IT Services NCR (Nig) Plc Tripple Gee and Company Plc ICT Telecommunications Starcomms Plc

Quantity Traded

Year High

100.00

1,500

100.00

97.00

11.75

0.50

18,500

0.50

0.50

0.00

0.00

3.29 235.00 5.35 112.01 0.89

3.29 235.00 5.35 109.00 0.89

104,948 155,544 152,644 957,485 200

4.63

2.23

0.00

0.00

255.00 7.10 100.00 1.01

186.00 5.23 72.50 0.93

12.12 0.35 4.50 0.00

19.98 16.29 22.22 0.00

Packaging/Containers Avon Crowncaps & Container Nigerian Bags Manufacturing Company Tools and Machinery Nigerian Ropes Plc

8.26

8.26

100

8.69

8.26

NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals BOC Gases Plc

1,000

9.20

6.80

41.70

41.70

10,510

51.49

39.00

3.70

13.92

6.95 3.90 61.37 2.25 6.00 0.50

6.93 3.80 60.11 2.14 6.30 0.50

3,081,974 9,125,216 142,023 279,000 2,903,940 9,814

19.90 16.20 95.00 6.60 6.70 0.88

4.31 4.02 57.00 2.31 3.80 0.50

0.54 0.71 4.50 0.26 0.73 0.06

16.91 14.38 16.89 16.92 5.75 8.83

16.00 425.00

344,784 324,989

29.20 470.00

10.17 367.83

Household Durables Beta Glass Co Plc Nigerian Enamelware Plc Vitafoam Nig. Plc Vono Products Plc

11.68 36.19 3.34 2.88

11.10 36.19 3.30 2.88

358,924 247 164,042 800

15.58 42.66 6.75 3.67

12.71 36.19 4.78 2.66

Personal/Household Products PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc Unilever Nigeria Plc

23.20 30.00

23.00 30.51

443,075 254,205

43.50 31.25

27.00 22.56

1.29 1.32

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking Access Bank Plc Afribank Nigeria Plc Bank PHB Plc Diamond Bank Nigeria Plc Ecobank TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATION Fidelity Bank Plc FinBank Plc First Bank of Nig. Plc First City Monument Bank Plc Guaranty Trust Bank Plc NPF Micro-Finance Bank Plc Intercontinental Bank Plc Oceanic Bank International Plc Skye Bank Plc Spring Bank Plc Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc Sterling Bank Plc UBA Plc Union Bank Nig. Plc Unity Bank Plc Wema Bank Plc Zenith Bank Plc

6.78 0.64 0.57 2.88 11.40 1.33 0.50 10.75 4.75 16.21 1.07 0.70 1.15 3.25 0.88 6.30 1.20 3.81 4.30 0.54 0.50 14.69

6.85 0.64 0.55 2.75 11.08 1.32 0.50 10.51 4.52 15.90 1.07 0.70 1.15 3.20 0.88 6.28 1.28 4.00 4.09 0.54 0.50 14.85

4,970,579 646,608 146,538,502 14,572,690 4,215,879 17,648,249 1,000 27,982,164 10,157,371 22,549,964 500 73,200 91,000 8,172,794 1,006,032 2,342,648 508,696 48,808,682 163,183 11,112,613 17,766 36,315,959

11.10 3.39 2.30 9.27 4.30 3.20 9.50 16.12 8.30 20.50 1.78 1.78 13.50 10.17 2.18 11.38 2.91 11.70 5.38 1.92 1.75 16.70

4.26 0.64 0.53 2.05 1.65 1.20 0.00 7.95 3.60 11.64 0.00 0.87 0.00 3.90 0.73 6.30 0.95 2.17 1.96 0.50 0.52 11.45

0.80 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.28 0.22 0.00 1.34 0.69 1.61 0.00 0.18 0.00 0.85 0.50 0.54 0.22 0.13 7.59 0.11 1.34 1.57

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Sector AIICO Insurance Plc Continental Reinsurance Plc African Alliance Insurance Cornerstone Insurance Comp Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Custodian and Allied Insurance Plc Equity Assurance Plc Goldlink Insurance Plc Great (Nig) Insurance Plc Guaranty Trust Assurance Plc Guinea Insurance Plc Intercontinental Wapic Insurance Plc International Energy Insurance Plc Investment and Allied Assurance LASACO Assurance Plc Law Union & Rock Insurance Plc Linkage Assurance Plc Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc NEM Insurance Co. (Nig) Ltd Niger Insurance Co. Plc OASIS Insurance Plc. Prestige Assurance Co. Plc Regency Alliance Insurance Sovereign Trust Insurance Staco Insurance Plc Standard Alliance Insurance UNIC Insurance Plc Universal Insurance Plc

0.50 0.78 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.70 0.50 0.55 0.50 1.57 0.50 0.54 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.52 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

0.50 0.73 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.76 0.50 0.55 0.50 1.59 0.50 0.54 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

8,178,336 92,000 5,000 206,584 30,200 3,931,627 800 87,500 500 500,171 30,146 100 96,166 1,670,890 9,663 287,200 142,673 20,000 59,800 10,000 1,900 1,421,674 13,750,000 81,750 10,000 130 5,167 150,000

1.06 1.20 0.50 0.50 0.50 3.51 0.50 0.69 0.50 0.95 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.90 0.50 2.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

0.50 0.85 0.50 0.50 0.50 2.00 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.95 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.90 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

0.09 0.10 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.43 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.08 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.06 0.10 0.00 0.10 0.36 0.01 0.01 0.14 0.03 0.07 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

5.56 10.20 0.00 0.00 8.33 4.88 0.00 0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00 0.00 0.00 25.00 8.33 5.00 0.00 5.00 1.39 50.00 50.00 6.43 16.67 7.14 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Mortgage Carrier, Broker and Sector Aso Savings and Loans Plc Resort Savings & Loans Plc

0.50 0.50

0.50 0.50

500 1,250,000

0.50 0.50

0.50 0.50

0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00

0.50 2.02 0.50

7.77

0.50 2.02 0.50

7.77

27,500 25 3,827

660

0.61 2.02 0.66

10.54

0.50 2.02 0.50

9.52

0.28 15.94 3.90 1.61 0.70 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.03

0.00

37.57 27.96 3.26 22.48 7.34 0.00 20.93 20.46

5.83 0.00 0.00 0.00 25.91 6.68 0.00 6.96 6.20 8.74 0.00 5.44 0.00 5.07 5.44 14.81 4.68 19.23 0.28 4.82 0.43 7.83

0.00 0.00 16.67

0.00

3.98 1.99

5.94 1.47

0.15 0.19 0.00

39.60 9.16 0.00

6.00

6.00

Metals Aluminium Extrusion Ind Plc

10.60

10.60

10

12.39

10.70

0.13

85.77

Non-Metalic Mineral Mining Multiverse Plc

0.50

0.50

27,615

0.50

0.50

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

Paper/Forest Products Thomas Wyatt Nig. Plc

0.93

P.E Ratio

7.37

1.38

1.38

150

1.38

1.38

Processing Sysetms Chams Nigeria Plc

0.50

0.50

250,000

0.50

0.50

Electronic and Electrical Products C utix Plc Nigerian Wire & Cable Plc

1.45 0.50

1.45 0.50

700 4,000

2.50 2.58

1.62 2.58

1.44 0.50

1.44 0.50

2,000 1,000

1.51 0.99

1.33 0.50

0.05 0.00

28.80 0.00

3.98 12.71 13.28 4.30 1.05 2.92 0.63

3.98 12.71 13.28 4.30 1.05 2.78 0.6

6,888 1,000 100 29,198 200 84,311

3.98 15.58 15.03 4.30 1.86 2.92 0.63

3.98 12.71 13.97 3.60 1.05 2.92 0.63

0.00 3.90 0.00 1.22 0.17 0.07 0.00

0.00 3.26 0.00 3.52 6.18 41.71 0.00

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Se Abbey Building Society Plc Union Homes Savings and Loans INDUSTRIAL GOODS Packaging/Containers Abplast Products Plc Beta Glass Co. Plc Greif Nigeria Plc Nampak Nigeria Plc Poly Products (Nig) Plc Studio Press (Nig) Plc W.A. Glass Ind. Plc

0.00

0.13 0.00

0.00

13.15 0.00

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services Japaul Oil & Maritime Service

0.60

0.60

3,670,988

0.97

0.16

6.06

Intergrated Oil and Gas Services Oando Plc

17.30

16.71

2,192,473

78.97

27.99

6.95

4.17

20.50 0.50 25.46 3.07 11.34 132.90 36.50 138.95

20.50 0.50 25.46 3.24 11.34 132.90 36.50 138.95

82,191 1,000,000 2,737 186,002 39,516 45,982 13,126 62,031

37.10 0.70 32.60 5.59

0.50 0.50 5.71 3.89

4.93 0.00 6.02 0.67

7.40 0.00

163.50 2,100 240.00

141.00 63.86 195.50

13.32 3.32 11.91

11.11 19.23 17.07

00.50

0.50

2,000

600

0.50

0.50

50,039

0.72

1.97 1.36

240 1,972,073

4.33 3.65

1.97 1.30

0.00 0.16

2.65

0.54

Petroleum and Petroleum Products African Petroleum Plc Beco Petroleum Plc Conoil Eterna Oil and Gas Plc Forte Oil Nig Plc Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc MRS Oil Nigeria Plc Total Nigeria Plc Hospitality Tantalisers Plc

1.87

0.87

6.99

SERVICES

Afromedia Plc Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Incar Nig. Plc RT Briscoe Plc

1.97 1.24

Courier/Freight/Delivery Red Star Express Plc Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC

2.82

Hotels/Lodging Capital Hotel Ikeja Hotel Plc

6.78 1.10

0.50

2.83

251,888

3.67

0.50

1,700

1.64

6.78 1.10

100 873,000

400 2.07

0.51

0.90 3.00 1.33

0.04

0.08 0.22 0.69

12.75 0.00 8.19 4.91 11.25 34.09 2.12

Media/Entertainment Daar Communications Plc

0.50

0.50

1,000

0.50

0.48

0.00

0.00

Printing & Publishing.

Academy Press Plc Learn Africa Plc Longman Nigeria Plc University Press

1.90 2.80 4.20 3.65

1.90 2.80 4.20 3.75

1,000 25,180 4,322 87,373

3.68

3.17

0.26

12.19

8.00 6.82

4.60 3.60

0.00 0.13

0.00 27.69

Road Transportation Associated Bus Company Plc

0.50

0.50

1,000

0.80

0.50

0.00

0.00

Speciality Interlinked Technologies Plc

4.90

4.90

20

5.15

4.90

0.00

0.00

Transport-Related Services Airline Services and Logistics Plc Nigerian Aviation Handling Company

1.80 6.19

1.80 5.90

32,290 558,420

2.78 11.75

1.57 6.50

0.51 0.80

4.22 8.75

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012 — 27

16.48 430.00

HEALTHCARE Medical Supplies Morison Industries Plc Healthcare Providers

E.P.S

0.50

Pharmaceuticals Ekocorp Plc Evans Medical Plc Fidson Healthcare Plc Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Nig May & Baker Nigeria Plc Neimeth International Pharm Nigeria-German Chemicals Plc Pharma-Deko Plc

Closing Price N

0.50

Food Products Dangote Flour Mills Plc Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc Flour Mills Nigeria Plc Honeywell Flour Mill Plc National Salt Co. Nig Plc UTC Nigeria Plc

Other Financial Institutions Crusader (Nigeria) Plc Deap Capital Management & Trust Plc Royal Exchange Assurance

Year Low

0.50

Union Diagnostics & Clinicals Services

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials Ashaka Cement Plc Berger Paints Plc CAP Plc Cement Co. of Northern Nig. Plc Dangote Cement Plc First Aluminium Nigeria Plc DN Meyer Plc Lafarge WAPCO Plc Portland Paints & Products Nig Plc Paints & Coatings Manufacturers Premier Paints Plc

Beverages-Non-Alcoholic 7-UP Bottling Company Plc

Food Products-- Diversified Cadbury Nigeria Plc Nestle Nigeria Plc

Opening Price N

as at Friday, May 18, 2012

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28 —Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012 — 29

Mortgage Finance

Ease of property registration: Nigeria ranks lowest in Africa

Amaokwe Estate in Umuahia

Stories by YINKA KOLAWOLE

N

igeria remains the most difficult country to register property in the whole of Africa, according to a report on Doing Business 2012 by the World Bank.

The report ranked Nigeria 46 th out of the 46 countries profiled in the continent on the ease of registering property. Ghana is ranked number one as the easiest place to register property in Africa, followed by Sudan and Botswana. South Africa is ranked 10th in the continent.

On the global level, out of the 183 countries surveyed in the report on the ease of property registration, Nigeria is ranked 180, r e m a i n i n g unchanged from 2011; Ghana 36; Sudan 41; Botswana 50; while South Africa is ranked 76 in the world.

According to the report, the average time it takes to register property in sub-Saharan Africa is 65 days. In Ghana, it takes 34 days, Sudan 9 days, Botswana 16 days, while it takes 82

days to register property in Nigeria. In South Africa it takes 23 days.

In sub-Saharan Africa, it takes an average of 6 procedures to complete property registration, in Ghana, 5 procedures; Sudan, 6 procedures; Botswana, 5 procedures; while in Nigeria; it takes 13 procedures to complete the registration. In South Africa, property registrationtakes 6 procedures.

The report further stated that the cost of registration as a percentage of property value on the average for sub-Saharan Africa is 9.4 percent, while for Nigeria the cost is 20.8 percent of the property value. For Ghana, property registration costs a mere 0.7 percent of property value; Sudan 3.0 percent; Botswana 5.0 percent; while in South Africa, registration costs 5.6 percent of property value.

The breakdown of the report on procedures, time and cost of registering property in

Nigeria is as follows: 1.Conduct a Property title search at the Land Registry, 1 day, N3,750 (search at Registry) plus Legal fees of N7,500–10,000 + 7.5% of values above N20,000 if acting for the buyer or 5% of values above N20,000 if acting for the seller; 2. Obtain Application Land Form 1C, 1 day, at no cost; 3. Obtain Certified True Copy (CTC) of title document, 2 days, N5625; 4. Obtain a Survey plan, 1 day, no cost; 5.

Execution of Deed of Assignment/Conveyance and Land Form 1C, 1 day, no cost; 6. Payment of the Charting Fee, Administrative Fees, Endorsement fee at a designated bank, 1 day, Charting Fees (N7500) plus Administrative fees (N3000) and Endorsement Fees (N1500), Capital gains tax of 2% is also paid, but are not included in the calculation and; 7. Process Governor ’s consent to the Assignment, 61 days, at no cost.

Others include: 8. Obtain notice of Stamp duty , Registration fees, Consent fees, Neighbourhood improvement charge at the Land Registr y, 7 days, no cost; 9. Payment of Stamp duty , Registration fees, Consent fees, Neighbourhood improvement charge at a commercial bank, 1 day, 8% Consent Fee plus 3% of property value for the registration fee plus 2% of property value for the Stamp

duty (Capital gains tax of 2% is also paid, but are not included in the calculation);

Oyo to issue C of O within 90 days

I

n a bid to attract real estate investors and boost housing development, the Oyo State government is set to issue Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to applicants in the state within 90 days.

Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Survey, Isaac Ajiboye Omodewu, who disclosed this at a press briefing on the activities of his ministr y, in Ibadan, said Governor Abiola Ajimobi gave the directive to encourage private sector participation in housing development.

In addition, he said, application for mortgage is set for two weeks; sublease, two weeks; Deed of Assignment, one week and Registration Deeds, two weeks.

“The state government has decided to remove the encumbrances associated with the issuance of C of O,” he said, adding that the

move was aimed to generate more revenue, and ensure that local and foreign investors willing to invest in the state have easy access to land.

Omodewu reminded holders of statutory Right of Occupancies of private and state lands not to renege on agreement reached with the state government, by paying their annual ground rents promptly. He warned that failure to comply will attract imposition of penalties or instituting legal action against defaulters, adding that it may also lead to sealing off premises. “The holders of Statutory Right of Occupancy on state lands, especially on Kolapo Ishola GRA, should develop their properties to habitable condition within two years or have their interests revoked,” he stated.

In a related development, the commissioner disclosed that the state government and a private developer, KFS Consulting, have sealed a public private partnership (PPP) arrangement to build 624 housing units at Km 22 Estate, Iwo Road, in Ibadan, the state capital.

30 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

Mortgage Finance BRIEFS Structural engineers move against quacks

S

tructural engineers,

under the aegis of the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers (NIStructE), have commenced moves to checkmate activities of quacks in the profession.

To this end, they have began a sensitisation programme on the need to engage qualified structural engineers for designing all structural jobs and, or contracts. The institution is also concluded arrangement to publish names of registered structural engineers twice in a year in national dailies.

President of NIStructE, Mr. Busola Awojobi, said during his investiture recently in Lagos, that the measures will go a long way in curbing the incessant cases of building collapse in the country. He said the first batch of the list of registered structural engineers would be published later this month, while the others would be published in September.

Awojobi said more efforts would be made to project the profession to the populace so as to avoid engaging quacks, thereby losing money, materials and time. “Vigorous sensitisation of young and old on the relevance of the profession especially on collapse of buildings will be carried out,” he added.

Lagos seals distressed buildings

I

n its quest to curb the spate of building collapse in Lagos, the state government recently sealed eight distressed buildings in Orile Iganmu and Coker in Coker-Aguda Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

According to Lagos State Physical Planning Per mit Authority (L ASPPPA), the eight structures on Olufon Close, off Memudu Street, Orile Iganmu were built on 1,200 square metres, consisting three 2-storey buildings; two 3-floor buildings; a 4-storey building, a 5-floor building and a 4-floor structure under construction.

The buildings were earlier identified as distressed in 2011 survey by the defunct Lagos State Physical Planning and Development Authority (LASPPPDA) and the owner was requested to conduct structural test on the buildings but instead he added an additional floor Director of Physical Development and Stage Certification, LASPPPA, Mr. Durojaiye Rufai, who led the team, said the development was to avert a looming disaster.

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Abia unfolds roadmap for housing development Stories by YINKA KOLAWOLE

A

bia State government has unfolded plans to ensure development of houses across the state and indicated readiness to partner with credible private investors.

Special Assistant to Abia State Governor on Housing, Mr. Nwabueze Owuneme, who disclosed this, said special consideration would be given to property investors with proven track record, adding that property market in the state is vibrant with effective demand. He assured that whatever structure investors developed would be easily mopped up. “The 48 detached and semi-detached homes in Amaokpe estate (Adelabu estate) by NITEL sold for about N15.5 million and were over-subscribed. We got over 300 applications from people willing to pay outright. It was a good buy if you check the cost of the building and that of the land,” he said.

Owuneme said that government was talking with a firm to build solid three bedroom houses that would be sold for not more than N5 million with all the modern facilities, explaining that there is a ready market. “In other parts of the world, housing is not left to the government. That is why as we are acquiring our land and building, if any investor is willing and ready they can come in and build, even if it is just 50 housing units in the first instance.”

He said the government’s housing initiative would be directed at civil and public servants, as first-line recipients and that they would be encouraged to take out mortgage facility to enable them purchase these homes. “We are targeting civil servants and other people living in Abia to buy and we want to make it easy for them.

If you are qualified to get a mortgage and as long as you are an Abian and even if you are not an Abian. It is not a cash and carry thing. There are 30 housing units being constructed on the site which is prepared to hold 200 housing units for low income earners.”

According to him, the state government is keen at working with only private developers with integrity, noting that the first developer engaged in housing development by the present administration performed below expectation. “The first thing His Excellency did was to carry out a human capital development census of

Middle income housing estate in New Umuahia housing deficit in Abia State and it came up the fact that we have to build 300,000 housing units for the people.

The first private developer to partner with the government did not take the buildings up to DPC level and the government had to employ direct labour to complete them. If Public, Private Partnerships (PPPs) were working for us, then by now

we would have built over a thousand housing units. We still intend to achieve this feat but the governor said we will not build houses for the sake of it but that as we build, people would inhabit them,” he stated.

Owuneme said the estates the government is developing as well as those to be built by any investor would have excellent infrastructure,

including access roads, water and electricity from the state’s independent power project.

He said the new Umuahia City, located about five or seven minutes’ drive from the city centre is also being upgraded into a modern community complete with a master-design that would include sophisticated malls, recreational parks, and housing estates.

MBAN opposes scrapping of NHF, seeks review

O

perators of primary mortgage banks (PMBs) in Nigeria, under the aegis of Mortgage Banking Association of Nigeria (MBAN), have opposed a call to scrap the National Housing Fund (NHF) scheme due to its apparent inefficiency at facilitating the provision of affordable housing to Nigerians.

In a letter to the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Ama Pepple, MBAN is rather advocating for re-engineering of the scheme to deliver faster benefits to contributors and beneficiaries as well as reducing processing time from submission of applications to disbursement to about 120 days.

The mortgage bankers wrote the letter in response to the reported plan to scrap the NHF scheme, purportedly made by the Minister for Labour and Productivity at a

meeting with the Joint National Public Service Negotiation Council. They noted that the scheme cannot be scrapped without the approval of the Federal Executive Council, through an Executive Bill to the National Assembly to that effect because, according to them, the NHF Scheme is an Act of the National Assembly.

MBAN noted in the letter that the purported plan to scrap the scheme has generated a lot of anxiety with the PMBs already inundated with calls from the depositorpublic on the situation. “We are quite aware of, and are willing to support all meaningful steps to restructure and re-invigorate the NHF scheme to achieve its long term objectives and goal of providing affordable housing to Nigerians,” it stated.

The mortgage bankers in the letter jointly signed by its

President, Mr. Abimbola Olayinka and Executive Secretary, Mr. K ayode Omotoso recalled: “This same scenario reared its ugly head in the 1990’s before the advent of democracy, when labour agitated for scrapping of the scheme. However, when the democratically elected government of President Olusegun Obasanjo took over in 1999, noble steps were taken by the Presidential Technical Committee on Housing and Urban Development, under the Chairmanship of Prof Akin Mabogunje, which made passionate appeal to labour and put in place the restructuring of the scheme.”

This latest development is coming against the backdrop of a World Bank report on Financial Services Sector (FSS) 2020 on the mortgage and housing finance sector in Nigeria, which noted that the NHF scheme is an inefficient and regressive model for allocation of resources; recommending that it either be abolished or intensively reformed.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012 — 31

Talking Insurance

Insurance

WITH

YnikaBoa lrniwa Reforms and the insurance industry (2)

M

ANY people do not insure their homes built with millions of naira, and in the case of the businessmen among them, the business premises are largely uninsured. It thus became important to further help the industry, which is why the industry regulator, National Insurance Commission introduced the Market Development and Restructuring Initiative.

According to NAICOM, “the MDRI project is a medium term plan (2009-2012) of installing the first phase of the necessary reforms in the areas of industry capacity, market efficiency and consumer protection in the Nigerian insurance market. It would deepen and grow the insurance market and move the industry gross premium form N164billion (2008) to I.0 trillion 2012.

Benefits of the Project At the end of the plan period (2012) the following benefits are expected to be achieved by the Insurance market: Increase in industry gross premium from N164.50billion (2008) to N1.0trillion by 2012; direct project revenue of N800.0m to NAICOM from implementing the project; Indirect project revenue to NAICOM from increase in ISS levy to N12 billion; revenue to Fire Service by way of fire service maintenance fund; creation of about 250,000 jobs in the insurance industry; lowering of insurance gap from 94% to 70%; increase in insurance contribution to GDP from 0.72%to over 4%; and building consumer trust and confidence in the Nigerian insurance Market

To further help the industry, NAICOM introduced the Market Development and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI)

Key areas MDRI focuses four (4) key issues: a) Enforcement of compulsory insurance products; b) Sanitization and modernization of insurance agency system; c) Wiping out of fake insurance institutions; and d) Introduction of risk-based supervision

Compulsory insurance products i) Enforcement of Compulsory Insurance Products in Nigeria — There are six insurance products made compulsory by law by the Insurance Act 2003 and other legislations and NAICOM intends to enforce these products. They are: Group life Insurance in line with the Pencom Act 2004; Employers liability in line with the Workmen’s Compensation Act 1987; Buildings under constructionsection 64 of the Insurance Act 2003; Occupiers liability insurance –section 65 of the Insurance Act 2003; Motor Third party Insurance –section 68of the Insurance Act 2003; and Health care Professional indemnity insurance under section 45 of the NHIS Act 1999 ii) Sanitization and modernization of Insurance Agency System The introduction of the Network Agency system which would expand the insurance penetration and provide employment to thousands of Nigerians. iii) Wiping out of fake insurance institutions The setting up of enforcement teams in all the 36 states of the federation to monitor compliance with the compulsory insurances. The teams would comprise of the Police, VIO, FRSC, Fire Service, Planning authorities,CORBON,NIA,NCRIB etc.The teams have been constituted and are ready to take off. iv) Introduction of Risk Based supervision The movement from compliance based supervision to risk based supervision is the way to go in order to reduce stress and distress from the system.

R-L: President of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, NCRIB, Barrister Laide Osijo; Deputy President, Mr. Ayodapo Shoderu and Vice President, Mr. Kayode Okunoren at the month of May presidential forum held by the Lagos Area Committee of the NCRIB.

Insurers decry diminishing trust in insurance Stories by ROSEMARY ONUOHA

I

nsurance operators have decried the low level of trust on the sector from the public saying that such attitude is crippling the growth of the industry in the country.

According to Managing Director of FBN Life Assurance Plc, Mr. Val Ojumah insurance is based on trust but the abuse of trust by insurers resulted in the poor public perception which is adversely affecting the sector.

Ojumah said “When insurance started in this country, it was based on one keyword, ‘trust’ but that trust

was abused. In the early days when insurance agents with motorcycles were going all over the place marketing insurance and people parted with a lot of money. But did the early companies pay claims as they promised? The answer is no. Not a few agents went away with the money they collected and what happened? Many of those insurance companies went down. Consequently, that created a snowball and a big problem for the insurance industry. People w ill not forget in a hurry what

Custodian & Allied grows PAT by 123% in Q1 big vision and will execute it

C

ustodian & Allied Insurance Plc has posted a profit after tax of N770.885 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012.

The figure represents a 123.7per cent increase from N344.589 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2011.

According to the unaudited result of the company released by the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, last week, gross premium income for the current year stood at N3.547 billion in contrast to N3.068 billion recorded the previous year to represent an increase of 15.6 per cent.

Net assets closed the period at N13.153 billion as against N12.381 billion recorded the preceding year which shows an increase of 6.2 per cent.

Managing Director of the company, Mr. Wole Oshin, said that the ambition of the management is to lead the market not only in Nigeria but in Africa, adding that they have a very

step by step.

According to Oshin, Custodian & Allied is setting up systems and structures that will outlive the present management team and become institutionalised in the country.

Oshin said “For us at Custodian we believe very much in systems and corporate governance, we are not there yet but we are trying to get there. We are pursuing the institutionalisation of the company and that simply means a company that will outlive all of us and to do that we need a strong foundation.

We need rules, processes, people and we need to be very focused.”

Oshin said that they spend a lot of time establishing systems and structures so that whoever is in charge at any time will run the structure.

happened in the past.”

Other challenges which the insurance sector is battling with, according to Ojumah, is that insurance is still alien to Nigerians coupled with the fact that practitioners have not been innovative enough in creating new products.

He said “In our traditional way of life, insurance is not a primary security. As a family member when something goes wrong with any individual family member, we do not look at insurance. As a traditional African family we contribute to help our member. So insurance is still alien to our way of life.”

On the lack of innovation in regards to new product development, Ojumah said “On the parts of practitioners today our products have not been particularly innovative.

Our administrations of insurance companies have not been particularly interesting.

Claims administration process is still a problem in this market. Yes they will pay eventually but as they said justice delayed is justice denied.”

Ojumah called for a change of attitude on the part of practitioners adding “If we need to grow this business there are things we need to do as operators and there are things we need to do as regulators.”

He said “Not many people are prepared to put their money into life insurance companies and wait for one, two, three, four, five years before they get the return.

How many people in Nigeria will prefer to do that? That is why FBN Life is institutionalised and not individualised.”

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32 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

Interview

Last week, former Nigeria Airways pilot, Capt. Tito Omaghomi, was in Vanguard to bare his mind on developments in the nation’s aviation sector. He spoke on issues ranging from Nigeria’s quest for a new national carrier, airfare disparity, airport remodeling across the country, to aviation security.

Excerpts:

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BY KENNETH EHIGIATOR

As far as the NCAA is concerned, we must have a man who helped us to get this Category One and somebody should maintain this, otherwise, there is no guarantee that once you have a Category One, it cannot be revoked

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On compromises I do not know how, but in Ghana where they have a stable operation, I do not think anybody will go and ask or say ‘give me or my family free tickets.’ There is a law for it; everybody pays for his tickets.

I have just told you the reason these people must recoup their money and the bigger problem we have is that we have compromised; we have sold our airlines but I want to alert this house that the biggest fraud in the aviation industry is on its way coming.

On assessment of current developments in the aviation industry in the country

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e are moving in the right direction in the sense that the new Aviation Minister, that is the lady that was appointed Minister of Aviation, when she was appointed, there was this hue and cry about somebody not being an aviator being appointed as a Minister of Aviation and I was in this house, I told them, the unions that were saying that for somebody to be an aviation minister, he/she must be a professional, that there is no law that says that. I gave them an example.

Our colleagues who were aviators, Air Force aviators, civilian aviators; who were appointed ministers of aviation did not do a thing in the industry. From what I have seen so far, this woman has taken the bull by the horn, she is upturning everything that has been done wrong in the industry. Very soon, I know that they will be calling for her head that she should be removed. I am not speaking for her; I am speaking for the generality of Nigerians and for the safety of the aviation industry.

From appointments in the industry that I have noticed, the appointment she made in the different parastatals, for example, the Director General of NCAA whose tenure expired and it was renewed. I remember the last time that I was here; I told them that we should work hard to maintain our Category One status in the aviation industry.

As far as the NCAA is concerned, we must have a man who helped us to get this Category One and somebody should maintain this, otherwise, there is no guarantee that once you have a Category One certification, it cannot be revoked. So, Dr. Demuren was asked to continue; that was in good faith. I remember in the early 60s, 1962 to be precise, when my old man was the collector of customs at the long room, government asked him to continue on contract for two years after he had retired. He did it and they asked him to continue for another two years but he said it was ok. This is the situation that we have found ourselves in the aviation industry.

Then, talking about what is going on today, I was the one who coined the word cutting corners in the aviation industry during our interaction with the former President, Chief C M Y K

that will say to the President, ‘call your minister to order, leave this people alone’ that is the truth. British Airways gives Ex-chiefs some slots to and fro London. So, five out of the 20 seats are free tickets. Where will they get their money from? They must take it out from the other passengers. That is the problem that was on ground before the minister came in and they are shouting First Class is high.

P Capt. Tito Omaghomi

Olusegun Obasanjo, in Abuja when Nigerian planes were falling off the skies. I predicted that planes will continue to fall as long as people were cutting corners in the aviation industry.

Today, you can quote me anywhere, operators are becoming very few, we know that pilots are given instructions, ‘if you have a snag in an aeroplane, do not put it on your technical logbook, write it on a piece of paper, when you land, give it to the engineer.’ What it means is that if the engineer is able to fix your snag, good; if he is unable to fix your snag, the aeroplane will go into service because there will be no evidence in the check log. As you know, the check log is the book anybody will go to and you know what happened.

No engineer that knows his onions will sign an aircraft off that this aircraft has an hydraulic leak, ‘I have repaired it, it is good to go.’ No engineer will put his hand in such a check log, so to cut another way of passing them, write it on a piece of paper, give it to the engineer, this we have discovered. I have raised this alarm, we are becoming very cautious, the operators are becoming very cautious, and this is why we are having fewer accidents now.

Two, when we talk about the airports, at this time, there is a lot of renovation work going on in our airports, they want to give them a facelift and stakeholders are complaining that the Minister has refused to carry them along; I do not know whether all of them are contractors that the Minister will take everybody along. All of us here are stakeholders in

the aviation industry, if the Minister wants to repair a toilet at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, I do not see why anybody should be annoyed that she does not take all of us along with her.

This is the grouse that people have with the Minister of Aviation when it comes to taking everybody along in the aviation industry. Seminars are held here and there and everybody is free to attend.

Now, let us go to the crux of the matter, BASA, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic. Although these matters are in court and in the National Assembly, I have to remind Nigerians that nobody put a gun over our heads when we were signing all these agreements.

The Minister has discovered the lopsidedness in these agreements. This is why she is taking the actions she has taken because nobody had been bold enough to take such actions before now. Between us and British Airways, I know in the aviation industry, you know there is what they call complementary tickets, so when British Airways brings its aircraft here, they have 20 seats on the First Class, and it will give five of those seats to our big shots as complimentary, free of charge. They have to add all these money on the other seats.

So we are shouting that First Class is high; economy is the same anywhere in the world, Ghana, everywhere; it is the First Class that is the problem but they forget that these people give complimentary tickets.

I do not want to mention names but they give complimentary tickets to big shots and it is these big shots

eople that bought Nigerian Airways, its

Capt. Tito Omaghomi...they give that will come and say number on

Nobody put a we were signi hangers, and everything, now know that government is desperate to set up an airline. Everything they bought for peanut, they will now resell to me and you in dollars, because they are failing in operating their airline, they are looking for whom to hand this airline off to and this country says ‘we need an airline, we must get an airline desperately.’

That is what is the move going on now. Very soon, you will hear that government must set up an airline within two years.

Where will the government get the needed infrastructure to operate a national carrier from?

It is Nigerians' properties that they have stolen that will be used to achieve this purpose and that is why we are pained.

I am pained when I hear the former President saying that he left 32 aeroplanes for Nigeria Airways. I came back, there was no aeroplane left. That is a statement people will come out and refute and defend because I know that the 32 aeroplanes that he left, the federal government gave 7 to Air Force.

When the F28 had an accident in Enugu, government directed Umaru Dikko to sell eight F-28.

The eight F-28 were sold to Ghaddafi. When Group Captain Banfa failed to bring Umaru Dikko back to this country in a crate and came back, he got a compensation job as MD in Nigerian Airways, he sold two 727 brand new planes. So what

are we talking about? Nigeria Airways DC-10 went to train in Ilorin, it landed and caught fire and was burnt to ashes; three Nigeria Airways Airbus at that time went for maintenance and were seized.

So what are we talking about?

Somebody leaving us with 32 aeroplanes and now he says he cannot reinforce failure, which was the reason of the former President for not reinforcing Nigerian Airways.

I cannot reinforce failure, ladies and gentlemen, which corporation failed more than the railways in this country that they are still reinforcing up till tomorrow. They are still reinforcing NEPA also. They reinforced the rail because all their houses are on the railway track from Lagos to Zungeru, small, small cubicles, they have nothing to sell in the railways. Nigerian Airways was the greatest landlord in GRA, you know that all its properties in London, in the US, Abidjan and Accra, were sold in order to liquidate Nigerian Airways.

They bought all these properties, but we all know that the charter that set up Nigerian Airways was an Act of parliament.

Who can undo what parliament has done without recourse to parliament?

No, one man sold this country’s airlines.

Read the charter that set up Nigerian Airways, Nigerian Airways was set up for national prestige, that was why we will go from Lagos to Kano, full load, Kano to Maiduguri half load, Maiduguri to Yola, one passenger, they said we must go there.

An aircraft is going to London with 250 people on board gets to Kano, they say, ‘off load all your passengers, somebody is going to Saudi Arabia’ all passengers are off loaded, they carry

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012 — 33

Interview

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If you go into the history of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, you will discover that underground is where the chillers are, all the air conditioners cooling systems are underground

complimentary tickets to big shots and it is these big shots ne

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to come and do the turn around maintenance. That is what they will do. If you do not make an emergency cooling arrangement, government will now have to look for the contractors that built the airport, that installed the facilities to carry out the repairs. Look at the central air condition, all they do now is mount standing air conditioners in the departure and arrival halls because they do not know the history of that airport, that is the truth.

On what can be done to improve the present situation as the airports undergo remodeling, especially MMIA Since we have this emergency situation on ground, it will take us time re-furbishing, and re doing everything again.

On the ugly nature of the

about it; may be after this interview, if this issue is highlighted, the Minister will take note. But that road belongs to the Airports Authority.

On fears that the airport in Ghana will take the shine off the MMIA, Lagos, as the hub of aviation in West Africa Let me tell you something, it is not the infrastructure you have in an airport, the big buildings that make a good airport. If you are taking off from London to Lagos, you file a flight plan; they will ask you ‘what is your alternate airport, just in case your destination airport is not good, where will you go to in such an event.’ 90 percent of airlines choose Cotonou.

Cotonou is a small airport but their facilities to aid an aeroplane land are world class.

gun over our heads when ing agreements

On complaints by operators that the Minister of Aviation ordered airports re-modeling without alternative arrangement for stakeholders, including passengers The operators and stakeholders as far

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one person and his entourage to Saudi Arabia and the aeroplane stays there for five days, who failed? You come back to say we failed. Every government officials that has traveled in Nigeria Airways in this country traveled for free; they did not pay, and Nigeria set up that airline for national prestige. You will feel good when you are in Heathrow Airport, and you see an airline landing with Green, White and Green. As a Nigerian, you feel good, whether they are making money or not, you feel good, this is what this airline was set up for.

The airline was not set up to make profit. They even went ahead to sell this airline and now we are paying for it.

We don’t have an airline, if we had an airline and British Airways say ‘pay N150 for First Class’ Nigerian Airways will say pay N75, everybody will go there. We have nowhere to go to, so this knocking hand on the chest, ‘I am going to ban this; I am going to ban that’ I don’t want to comment on that, that is the problem.

On why there is high taxes on air tickets, as Air Nigeria begins flight operations to London on only $299, which is just about N50,000 but taxes are about N80,000 I cannot comment on that. I am not in the marketing division so I don’t know how they work out their figures. So, I cannot comment on that.

Everybody wants to go there but we should take into cognisance, what are the new security measures in our airports?

People who want to come in with their illegal loots prefer to go to Accra now because they have leverage in entering there. What is our security doing differently? They are arresting people by their numbers. So people like to divert. It is a combination of everything. So it is not because these airports here are so bad; it is because the security situation is becoming tougher and tougher for arrivals and that is why some of them are sneaking right and centre now.

That is the truth.

Is that good for the country?

It is good for the country when it comes to security. It is good for the country! If I am bringing in one tonne of cocaine from Malaysia to Lagos and I hear that the security here is very tough, I divert my loots to somewhere else. So that is the truth. It is not everybody that does not want to come to Lagos airport think the airport is bad; it is because of the security situations too. So that is the c a s e .

On concerns over airport development by virtually all states of the federation,

Somebody leaving us with 32 aeroplanes and now he says he cannot reinforce failure, which was the reason of the former President for not reinforcing Nigerian Airways

as I know said the Minister did not carry them along in the ongoing re-modeling work.

Operators do not own airports; they only do their businesses there.

Those airports are owned by government. FAAN is the landlord of the airport. If the Minister says ‘MD what and what do you need here, what and what do we do there, this place is hot, no air conditioning, our toilets are not working,’make estimate for their repairs. Why do we need operators to follow them to do the repair? If they are contractors, they should say so.

The Minister has no business taking them along in this matter. That is the truth.

See, if you go into the history of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, you will discover that underground is where the chillers are, all the air conditioners' cooling systems are underground.

Repairing them is like you are now going to look for the people that built our refineries

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road that links the international airport to other parts of Lagos, especially, as the road does not befit the status of the airport as country ’s window to the airport.

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am happy that you have observed that. I used to be a member of the board of Nigerian Airports Authority.

I do not think that the Minister has been well advised. That stretch of road that you are seeing there belongs to the airports authority. That stretch of road is the responsibility of the Nigerian Airports Authority and because of those squattersbanks, mechanic workshopsthey have neglected that road.

I wish somebody will draw the attention of the minister to it.

The road leading to the Murtala Muhammed Airport is the property and responsibility of FAAN and they used to tell squarters along that strech of road, ‘if you build any house , we shall demolish them.’

Nobody is doing anything

Capt. Tito Omaghomi We believe that whatever weather affects Lagos affects that same Cotonou 15 minutes flight time.

Once you take-off, you just go up a little, before you get up to 5,000 feet, you are seeing the airport, but everybody wants to go there because facilities at the Nigeria airports are failing whatever they are doing now. I have not flown for sometime, but I know we have the Total Radar Coverage (TRACON) which makes the airspace to be safer. I don’t know if the ILS facilities are working well. I will have to check. However when it comes to comfort of passengers at the airport, this is the same thing that we are talking about.

especially with plans by Lagos State government to build an airport at Lekki corridor You see my people say, ‘God takes care of fools, children and drinkers,’ you have to define what an airport area is. From a geographical centre of an airport, ten miles radius up to 2500 feet is an airport area.

When you take off from Lagos, you take off from MMIA there; you are already in Lekki in seconds. This is an accident looking for a place to happen but people just want to do prestigious projects but I want to see who will license them.

Who will give them certification to operate airport inside control Continues on pg 45 C M Y K

34 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

Insurance

ICA criticises flood mitigation funding

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he Federal Budget has left flood-prone communities exposed by not providing enough for mitigation infrastructure in last week’s Budget, the Insurance Council of Australia says.

CEO Rob Whelan says the Government’s priorities are “short-sighted”.

“Despite the chaos, destruction, heartbreak and financial hardship caused by floods across three states over the past 18 months, the Federal Government has failed to heed the insurance industry ’s call for urgent investments in flood mitigation works,” he said.

The budget allocates $26.1 million a year for the next four years for natural disaster resilience.

“We would rather have seen a substantial, far-sighted budget investment in measures that would protect frequently flooded towns,” Mr Whelan said.

“Building permanent levees around dozens of flood-prone communities and improving flood mapping would ultimately mean governments would spend much less in disaster relief funding.”

Annuity sales fall 8% in 1Q

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otal annuity sales declined eight percent in the first quarter compared to the first quarter of 2011, to reach $54.8 billion.

Variable annuity sales, which largely sustained overall sales the past eight quarters, experienced a seven per cent drop in the first quarter, totaling $36.8 billion.

“As we noted last quarter, we are still seeing companies carefully manage the risks associated with guaranteed living benefit riders. As a result, VA sales dropped despite the 13 per cent equity market gains in the first quarter,” said Joseph Montminy, LIMRA assistant vice president, annuity research.

“However, consumer demand for GLB riders continues to be strong; VA GLB election rates remained at 90 percent this quarter, matching the recent high hit last quarter.”

Total fixed annuities dropped 10 per cent in the first quarter to $18 billion.

LIMRA expects fixed annuities’ struggles to persist as long as the interest rates remain low.

Indexed annuity sales remain the driving force in the fixed market, jumping 14 percent in the first quarter, to reach $8.1 billion.

The poverty level in the country is preventing the insurance sector from assuming its pride of place in the economy; experts are of the opinion that government has a major role to play in bringing about a paradigm shift

The crippling effect of poverty on the insurance sector business will actually depend on disposable income.

According to Oshin, not only does retail business depend on disposable income but also on availability of credit.

He said “Retail business sits on the back of credit business, and if the banks are no longer lending, then retail business is crippled. Abroad where they talk of retail business being very successful it is because everybody there is a debtor, nobody uses money to buy television set, car or do anything. So you are a debtor to a financial institution and therefore on the back of that the financial institution gets insurance. Here we started that about four years ago when the banks were getting aggressive and throwing credit cards and debit cards at everybody and inviting people to come and take loans.

If that tempo had continued, by now we will be sitting on a good structure to execute retail business. But all that have been withdrawn, banks are no longer lending, there is no disposable income anywhere.”

By ROSEMARY ONUOHA

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igeria, no doubt is blessed with a very large population but the extent to which this huge population has positively impacted on economic development still leaves a lot to be desired. A large population, according to economic experts, is an advantage to any country even of more advantage is a large population to a country ’s insurance sector because insurance thrives in large numbers. But while it is generally agreed that the Nigerian insurance industry has an enormous market waiting to be explored and exploited, the purchasing power of a large percentage of the population which constitutes the potential market is abysmally low. And this is the dilemma in which the Nigerian insurance sector has found itself.

Poverty has become a household name in Nigeria.

Majority of the country ’s population, according to the statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics are poor.

The report said Nigeria’s poverty rate stood at 69 per cent in 2010, while 93.9 per cent of Nigerians considered themselves to be poor in 2010 against 75.5 per cent recorded in 2004.

With a demoralising statistics such as this, one now begins to wonder how any insurance sector which thrives in line with a prospering population can grow.

While it is generally agreed that insurance has the capacity to boost economic prosperity, experts are of the opinion that the fundamentals that can cause the Nigerian insurance sector to act as economic catalyst are regrettable lacking.

According to the President of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, CIIN, Mr. Wole Adetimehin, economic analysts particularly the CBN officials and the people at the National Planning Commission have always come up with different indices. “In reality can we really match all these inspiring attractive indices to what we have on ground?”

Adetimehin queried.

Economic insurance

role

of

Insurance, according to experts, has a huge role to play in the Nigerian economy.

According to Managing Director of Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Mr. Akin Ogunbiyi, insurance is the

Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi

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BRIEFS

Many people that should actually be buying insurance products do not have jobs

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most effective means of reducing the vulnerability of the impacts of disease, theft, violence, disability, fire and other hazards. In life, risk can be handled either by assumption, combination, transfer or loss prevention activities. Insurance schemes, Ogunbiyi said, utilise the combination method by persuading a large number of individuals to pool their risks into a large group to minimise overall risk. Consequently, where a large number of people cannot be persuaded to pool their risks together due to low purchasing power, the business of insurance suffers.

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nsurance protects against unexpected losses by pooling the resources of the many to compensate for the losses of the few, the more uncertain the event the more insurance becomes the most economical form of protection, Ogunbiyi noted.

He explained that the primary function of insurance is to act as a risk transfer mechanism, to provide peace of mind and protect against losses.

However, for insurance to thrive there ought to be a pool of fund to create liquidity which will facilitate quick payment of

claims when the need arises.

The way forward The challenge As important as the role of insurance might seem in economic development, the Nigerian insurance sector is largely handicapped to drive the desired economic transformation. According to Managing Director of FBN Life Assurance Ltd, Mr. Val Ojumah, insurance presupposes that one has an income and the fact that the economy is growing at an average of 6.5 to seven per cent does not mean that the larger population is better off.

He said “Unemployment rate is about 69 per cent. So many people that should actually be buying insurance products do not have jobs, so where will they find money to pay our premium? So we have a large population of poor people.”

For Adetimehin, if the level of disposable income is nothing to write home about there won’t be increased demand for insurance products from the public, adding “So if the industries rather than increasing in number or expanding by the day are shrinking and laying off people, how do you expect the insurance sector to grow.

When the level of disposable income is nothing to write home about, where do you expect to find the demand for insurance products?

Managing Director of Custodian & Allied Insurance Plc Mr. Wole Oshin, said that the economy at the moment is not ready for broad based retail insurance business because broad based retail

For the insurance sector to attain its pride of place in the economy, Chief Oladipo Bailey, former Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive of Shepherds Insurance Brokers said that the government should work towards stability and national unity as a necessary step towards ensuring investment growth, job opportunities and poverty eradication.

According to Bailey, the insurance sector should find out ways and means capable of providing the population with products that will match their purchasing power and living standard.

Oshin on his part called for a banking system that is very strong in retail, stating, “Once the financial services sector is very strong in retail, the insurance companies will key in on that. We had a lot of lease businesses when the banks were throwing cards at everybody, it was growing, people were getting information from banks to come and get loans. People have easy access to capital but that is not the situation today.”

For Adetimehin, it will be difficult for any sector of the national economy to experience any growth when the basic infrastructure is not receiving due attention year in and year out. “It is common knowledge that till today the battle to build a stable power supply has not found a solution. There is no way any economy or industry will grow when you don’t have stable power supply,” Adetimehin noted.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012 — 35

S

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he second message, which arrived incomplete, has all the trademarks of my good friend, Chief Bobson Gbinije, living in Warri and a patriotic Nigerian, if ever there is one and a deeply concerned Deltan about any matter relating to Delta. His alarm is shared by all well-meaning Deltans, as well as Nigerians.

More than we realise, states are to some extent, artificial creations of politicians and the military. Our lives and our future are more inextricably linked across state lines than we suppose. The message raises two fundamental issues for the media commentator who must be fair to all concerned – including the government of Delta state.

Since it is a basic rule of journalism that facts are sacred, who ever makes a categorical statement must offer proof. So, to my friend Bobson goes the first question: has N40 billion actually been spent? And where is the evidence?

However, because the accused entity is government, in which everybody has a stake, the next question, which incidentally takes cognizance of the concerns of the first message, goes to the

FDI: Our own worst enemy (Asaba Airport as case study)–2

Asaba Airport Delta State government. How much has actually been spent on the airport? And is it true that the original estimate was N14 billion? In short, is there any truth to the accusations?

The first message, whose author was graceful enough to worry about my reputation, poses a wider set of problems than issues relating to the Asaba Airport; it actually goes into the ultimate perceptions of Deltans about governance in their state and TRUST in the governor. It is that confidence in me, which underlies the message that has now prompted me to present the accusations in public, so that everybody can intervene. As usual, let me state clearly that I last met Governor Uduaghan, personally, five years ago.

And no envelopes changed hands.

Actually, any columnist worth his salt who wants to be compromised, and get rich doing so, will be better laundering the image of the President of Nigeria; the Presidency holds Nigeria’s biggest pot of gold. Yet, I have been critical of every Head of State, military or civilian since General Yakubu Gowon till Jonathan. So, the author need not worry too much, even if in the course of this series on the Asaba Airport some things are written on which there is disagreement. As she advised, by the time you read this second part of the series, I would have endeavoured to get as much information as possible about the airport.

Any categorical statement read here can be substantiated. I am aware that the Delta State government has an image problem; I also believe that they have not explained themselves

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“0803-301-9018 ir Uduaghan has no clue about governance.

He mouths a 3 point agenda which has gone nowhere for 5 years. His only agenda was and still to cover up thieving of our commonwealth by Ibori and their clan. Pls ask them how much they have spent on the airport so far. Ask them if they did any feasibility study, why the so called ant hills were not identified. According to them, the need for citing the airport in Asaba was to bring in revenue from the use by traders in the east. So why was it not built to that specification in the first place to accommodate bigger planes. Sir, pls ask the right questions otherwise you stand the risk of tarnishing your hard earned reputation…”

“0805-823-1669 The Asaba airport has turned out to be a case of financial terrorism nd a brummagem Barmecidal dish in Delta State (frm N14 billion to over N40 b….”.

The columnist, given a small ration of space in a newspaper, each time, runs great risks of being m i s u n d e r s t o o d .

Consequently, he gets punished, justly it must be added, by his readers for submissions not fully explained. The two text messages represent both the spanking, deserved by me, as well as an opportunity to explain more and to get more involved in this matter than anticipated when it started.

Permit me to start with the second.

If the Asaba airport is potentially viable, then the government which conceived of it should receive credit for that idea first. And we should never forget that, “Ideas are the real capital; the rest is money”

enough on this project. So, for now, suspend suspicion, I will get the answers – sooner or later.

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aving said that; let me quickly recap what was written last week; the real content of which was not an endorsement of the government’s spending on the airport in general. There were three key points. First, a friend in the US wanting to invest in Nigeria in certain sectors had asked me to survey other airports other than Lagos, Abuja, Portharcourt for his venture.

On my own, and without holding discussions with government officials, I visited and shortlisted three airports – Owerri, Asaba and Uyo; and I highly recommended Asaba.

But, there is a problem. Of the three, Asaba is the least developed and there is a need to know what the future development plans for the airport are. So, I have been trying to get an appointment with Delta government. The planned Foreign Direct Investment, FDI, involved will be enormous. By, the

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way, the potential investor has a second choice – Ghana. It will break my heart if the money goes away to Ghana.

Second, there was controversy over the N7.5 billion spent to level “anthills” preparatory to the President’s visit. There is no way for me to verify if indeed N7.5 billion was spent; and if it was only disbursed to clear ant-hills. My point on that is simple. If any state, Delta or not, has to spend N7.5 billion to ensure the safety of President Jonathan, they should do it; because, if any harm comes to Jonathan, Nigeria will lose over N2 trillion of naira within a few days of that occurrence. That still remains my position – even though I also think Jonathan should be planning to return to Otuoke, with truck loads of shoes, by 2015.

Until, then he must be protected at all costs.

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hird, and just as important, I warned that we risk losing FDI which the Asaba Airport might already be attracting by the noise over the N7.5 billion. Ordinarily,

it is not the investors business whether you spend N40 billion or N400 billion on an aviation sector infrastructure.

He is only worried about whether it will serve his purposes. Furthermore, the fundamental question which everybody should ask is: will the Asaba Airport, as conceived be feasible, at any cost? If it is not, it will still constitute a waste of resources at forty naira (N40). Several examples already stare us in the face – Ibadan, Akure, Minna and Sokoto. Even if no kobo was stolen when the contracts were awarded, to me, they have become monuments to somebody’s ego. The issue of whether the Asaba or Gombe airports represent value for money is secondary to determining whether they should be established in the first instance and if they are viable.

If the Asaba airport is potentially viable, then the government which conceived of it should receive credit for that idea first. And we should never forget that, “Ideas are the real capital; the rest is money”. It will amount to a deliberate misreading of that last statement to conclude that I endorse corruption. To the best of my knowledge, I have published the first attempt to document official corruption in a book titled PDP: CORRUPTION INCORPORATED. That is volume one; volume two is now being compiled and it will focus the grand larceny at state levels – all 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory.

The dilemma some of us face is again simple. We realize that Nigeria has infrastructure deficits everywhere – power, road, railways, waterways, airports, schools, hospitals etc. To reduce the deficits huge contracts must be awarded.

Huge contracts mean that some kleptomaniacs get the opportunity to rob us blind.

Apparently we can’t have one without the other. So, when the road is built, we clap first; then shout “thief” after. Right now what I am doing is clapping on account of the potential benefits the Asaba Airport will confer to Asaba, to Delta and to Nigeria. Rest assured, if there is evidence, I will join in shouting “thief ”.

All, we have now, as journalists will say, are rumours. And nobody, not even the Governor of Delta State should be condemned on hearsay.

Wait for my findings about the airport. I think that is fair – to all concerned.

36 —Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012 — 37

Aviation

From left: Bishop David Oyedepo; Chairman, Air Nigeria, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim and his wife, Mrs. Modupe inspecting the Air Nigeria Aircraft a 330-200 on arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos

NAMA to switch to performance based navigation

By LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

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igeria is to switch to the satellite based navigation system also known as the Performance Based Navigation (PBN) soon. This is comi ng as airline operators and pilots have been urged to key into the satellite based navigation system .

Disclosing this development to newsmen over the weekend, General Manager, Public Affairs of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr. Supo Atobatele pointed out that there was a meeting between the agency and all the airlines operators and pilots to inform them about the need to key into the satellite based navigation system which will take effect soon. ”On Tuesday, we met with the pilots in the industry and airline operators, just to inform them about the development in NAMA, particularly the satellite based navigation system also known as performance based navigational system. Like you know, some weeks ago, we migrated from the terrestrial air navigation system to the satellite-based navigation system” ”So, we need to tell them what we have on ground and what they should do. Particularly, for you to operate within the sphere of the PBN system, your aircraft must be compliant, it must carry the prerequisite gadgets. So what we are trying to do is to just inform them” Atobatele affirmed.

He however stressed that any time from now NAMA would announce the commencement of the satellite based navigation system adding that airlines that would operate on the system are only those whose aircraft are compliant with the PBN system. ”Anytime from now, we will announce a specific date for the commencement of the PBN system in Nigeria, particularly for the major air routes and airports like Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcort, and Kano” Mr Atobatele said the test flight has been done by Emirates Airline as the first to carry out the approach test on Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS, in Lagos while the KLM recorded same in Kano. South Africa Airways has equally joined and they did it on their own and it was 100 percent successful. He therefore urged all the local airlines to join too.

Mentioning the benefits of the PBN Mr. Atobatele noted that aircraft that are compliant will land faster as it will facilitate seamless flight operation without the pilot having to contact the Air Traffic Controllers ,ATC, all the time as they can see all the information on the culpit while flying.

Earlier, Nigeria migrated from terrestrial air navigation system to a satellite-based navigation system with Emirates Airline acting as the first airline to carry out the approach test on Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS, in Lagos while the KLM recorded same in Kano.

38 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

Agric

High quality cassava inclusion in bread is possible - Olaniyan … UTC achieves 20% inclusion in products …. Gets NAFDAC support

BY JIMOH BABATUNDE with agency reports

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The Official Launch of Commercialised High Quality Cassava-Based Bread by the UTC Nigeria Plc took place at the company HQ in Ilupeju . Px shows centre Dr Paul Orhii,DG NAFDAC tasting the cassava bread while Mrs Folusho Olaniyan,MD/CEO UTC Nigeria Plc left and Mr James Awoniyi, Member Cassava Value Chain Office of the Hon Minister of Agriculture right looks on at the occasion Px Biodun Ogunleye

he Managing Director of UTC Nigeria, Mrs. Folusho Olaniyan, said the company has been able to achieve a sustainable commercial recipe for White Bread and Wheat Grain Bread, with 20 percent high quality cassava She made this disclosure while receiving the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii in her office in Lagos on Thursday.

Mrs. Folusho Olaniyan explained that the organisation encountered several setbacks but after 92 trials and other challenges finally in February, 2012 was able to achieve 20 per cent high quality cassava flour inclusion in the bread.

Olaniyan pointed out that UTC has successfully replaced wheat flour not just in bread but in doughnuts, cakes

and other pastries.

She explained that when they were invited by the government alongside other bakers in the country to spearhead the production of cassava bread and other cassava flour-based confectionery, we took it as a challenge to empower our farmers.”

According to her, UTC envisaged move to produce cassava bread would be successful, “We were passionate about its goal despite the fact that it was unsure of how or when these goals would be achieved. The company encountered several setbacks, but was able to find a path around these obstacles. It took risks and it paid o!

Olaniyan explained: “After 92 trials and almost three months from the date of our initial trial, we were able to crack the nut, and in February 2012 we achieved a sustainable commercial recipe for White Bread and Wheat Grain Bread, with 20 percent high quality cassava “our inclusion.

Today, she said with joy that what they have achieved within three months in terms of including High Quality Cassava in their products is what others have not been able to do in years.

We also standardised and commercialised our Cakes and Chopsy Beef Roll recipe with 30 percent high quality cassava “our inclusion.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012 — 39

ICT

Dr Eugene Juwah, NCC Executive Vice Chairman

Telecom operators, service providers set to clash over revenue formula

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he Nigerian labour market may soon get massively bloated, if the Nigerian C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Commission, NCC, does not quickly wade into the looming battle about to break out between the telecom operators in the country and their counterparts who provide value added services.

The brewing battle is following a disagreement between the operators and VAS providers on a revenue sharing formula proposed by the operators, which the VAS providers say is exploitative.

Unfair revenue formula?

Vanguard gathered that trouble started when one of the telecom operators, Airtel Nigeria, penultimate week, wrote the Value added service operators, proposing to change the running VAS revenue sharing formula of 60:40 percent to 75:25 percent between operators and VAS companies respectively.

This proposed formula had angered the umbrella body of the VAS providers, the Wireless Application Service Providers of Nigeria, WASPAN, which not only vowed to resist the move but described it as not being in the best interest of the growth

,

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

As we keep growing, the revenue formula will keep changing. We may not have the same agreement with them like some of the operators that are bigger than us in subscriber base

of Nigerian telecom industry.

The Indian connection The group alleged that Airtel may have come up with the alleged biassed sharing formula to tactically push them out of the agreement so it could bring in the Indian VAS providers to ensure that its economy continued to circulate within. The group cautioned that if Airtel is allowed to have its way, other operators would follow suit and the local content providers and thousands of Nigerians they employed, would be out of jobs and further stress the Nigerian labour market.

The VAS operators further argued that the plan by Airtel represented yet another strategy by mobile network operators to run down the businesses of VAS companies due to perceived weak

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regulation of VAS services and called on NCC to step into the matter to prevent crisis in the telecommunications sector.

Allegation is laughable — Airtel However, when contacted, Airtel denied that it had even imagined bringing in Indian VAS operators to take over the services provided by Nigerians, describing the allegation as laughable. It stressed that the decision to review the sharing formula was strictly on business grounds, devoid of any ulterior motive, adding that the fact that top owners of the company are Indians does not make Airtel Nigeria an Indian company.

According to a senior official in Airtel Nigeria who didn’t want his name in prints, “is it not laughable that Airtel

Nigeria would just ferry in Indian VAS operators to come and provide the services that the Nigerian VAS operators have been providing? This is a pure business decision and every company has a different business agreement. The business we have with the VAS operators is a business of numbers. As we keep growing, the revenue formula will keep changing. We may not have the same agreement with them like some of the operators that are bigger than us in subscriber base. Neither would our agreement with them be the same with the operators we have greater number of subscribers than.

You, see, this is business, if you like my terms you do business with me but if you don’t, you take your business elsewhere. I don’t think this is a big issue. In any case, some of their members have signed the agreement and we are doing business with them.

I don’t know why a few of them are making issue of a simple business matter”

We may go to court— WASPAN Meanwhile, Head, Business Development, WASPAN, Eunice Benjamin_Ade, had told Vanguard that companies that are affected by the proposal have already contacted their lawyers to seek possible legal redress of the matter if other steps taken to redress the matter failed.

She said, “We want to state our outright rejection of this

plan by Airtel, as we believe that it is an unacceptable imposition that threatens the very existence of the businesses of VAS companies in Nigeria and it is one that is not based on any prior consultation with any member of WASPAN. “We have already communicated our rejection of this advice by Airtel to the Nigerian Communications Commission, the regulator of the telecommunications industry and intend to do more, including going to court, if necessary. We call upon NCC to intervene in this matter urgently to forestall an unnecessary industrial dispute in the telecommunications industry.”

Benjamin_ Ade said Wireless Application Service Providers are legally_registered businesses in Nigeria that operate based on laid down business laws and have helped develop various offerings in the telecommunications sector since inception until now, noting that the move by Airtel could destroy gains that have been made over the years.

She added that VAS providers have consistently allowed a change of revenue share over the years in favour of operators and will not agree to any further shift that will reduce revenue that accrue to VAS companies.

“We believe that the recent moves by various operators to continue to change the revenue sharing ratio in their favour will not only set the stage to run down businesses of many wireless providers, but one that could eventually destroy the entire industry,” she said.

The new development represents yet another twist in the battle between mobile network operators and Value Added service providers over the sharing of revenue generated in wireless application services.

WASPAN only recently dragged one of the leading GSM companies to the Nigerian communications Commission over its refusal to pay accumulated VAS revenue for over 12 months.

NCC may wade in However, NCC told Vanguard that the report has not come to it officially and promised to take action when it is officially briefed on the issue.

Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Dr Eugene Juwah when confronted with the matter, admitted that Value added service was part of a licensable set of services that run on mobile networks but added that NCC was yet to develop requisite regulation for such services.

He said that if settlement of disputes on this area becomes problematic, the commission could event go the extra mile to convey a stakeholder conference to trash out the dispute.

40 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012 — 41

Cover N15.6 billion in 2007; N29. 5 billion in 2008; N36.8 billion in 2009 and; N52.2 billion in 2010.

According to the NHF Act, a minimum of 20 per cent of non life funds (N119.96 billion) and 40 percent of its life fund (N59.02 billion) should be invested in real property development. This amounts to N178.98 billion for the five year period. The Act further stipulates that not less than 50 per cent of investment in property development should be paid into the NHF through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN). This means that between 2006 and 2010, the insurance companies in Nigeria ought to have paid at least N89.49 billion (50 percent of N178.98) into the coffers of FMBN for the housing fund.

It therefore followed that banks and insurance firms should have contributed N8.494 trillion and N89.49 billion, respectively, into the coffers of NHF between 2006 and 2010, cumulatively adding up to about N8.58 trillion.

Banks, insurers owe N8.6trn in 5 years DEVELOPERS Vanguard also got other stakeholders to bare their minds on this development which has far reaching implication on housing finance in Nigeria. Chief Olabode Afolayan, President of Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), the umbrella body of property developers in the country, said the general attitude of banks to housing finance in the country is lamentable, declaring that their non-compliance with the provisions of the NHF Act in particular will be taken up by his association.

“It is a serious matter, which bothers on violation of the constitution. What we intend to do is to set up a committee of experts to critically look into this and advise us appropriately. We will take steps to sensitize the National Assembly on the development, and also write to the CBN because this shows clearly that the apex bank has not been playing its expected role as a regulator of the banks. After thoroughly examining the issue, we may

even go to court to ensure that they take up their responsibilities under the NHF Act,” he stated.

Afolayan added that a lot of advocacy is also required on the part of the mass media to bring out some of these facts into the public domain in order to ensure that everybody plays its role in financing housing development in the country.

In his own reaction, Managing Director/CEO, Lagoon Home Savings & Loans Ltd, Mr. Kehinde Taiwo, said: “I’m not very sure of this provision. I’m only aware of similar regulation under the SMEs where banks are specifically required to yield up 10 percent of their PAT to the CBN. Most banks chose to set up institutional vehicles to run this scheme. But the question is how successful has it been up to date. Since banking deregulation, in terms of sectoral allocation of credit portfolios, it has been clearly established that given all the liberties of deregulation, banks are not inclined towards any long

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Continued from page 18

We will take steps to sensitize the National Assembly on the development, and also write to the CBN because this shows clearly that the apex bank has not been playing its expected role as regulators of the banks

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term lending. Housing loans share this attribute. Unfortunately, there is no strict enforcement of these rules.

Where CBN make attempts at some enforcement, you discover most banks would gladly oblige the penalties as these are cheaper than the financial cost of complying.

The regulations may be there but implementation and effectiveness is another thing.

That’s the bane of Nigerian banking system for now.”

NHF COLLECTIONS Data available from FMBN shows that NHF collection as at February 2012 is N81.597 billion from 3,657,354 registered contributors, from inception of the fund. Out of this, the bank had disbursed N34.036 billion as NHF loans through the PMIs, while N49.182 billion was disbursed as Estate Development Loans (EDL), bringing the total NHF loans that have been disbursed to N83.218 billion.

FMBN also noted that as at February 2012, houses built with Primary Mortgage Institution (PMI) loans are 18,668 units while those built with Estate Development Loans (EDL) are 32,950 units.

This shows that the NHF scheme has been able to deliver just 51,618 housing units across the country since inception in 1992, representing an average development of about 2,581 units per annum over the last 20 years. According to FMBN’s Managing Director, Mr. Gimba Ya’u Kumo, this is too insufficient.

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42 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

Appointment & Promotions vicahiyoung@yahoo.com

BRIEFS Labour leaders tour ports formations ARITIME Workers of M Nigeria, MWUN, has charged workers in the sector

From Left: Sola Oke, Marketing Innovation Manager, Devlin Hainsworth Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Udo Anya, Sales Director and Tunde Adegbola Plant at a Press Meeting announcing the launch of Malta Guinness Low Sugar in Lagos.

Mimiko bags Lions Club’ highest award

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O V E R N O R O l u s e g u n Mimiko of Ondo State, has been named the beneficiary of the highest award of the International Lions Club, the Melvin Jones award.

The District Governor of the International Association of Lions Clubs, Kola Oyekanmi, announced this during a courtesy visit to Governor Mimiko in his office in Akure.

The Governor of district 404A of the Lion’ Club explained that Dr Mimiko deserved the honour because of the unique similarities between his administration’s programmes and those of the club.

Oyekanmi noted that the club had watched critically the various noble achievements so far recorded by the Mimiko administration, especially those impacting positively on the lives of the common man.

He said the leadership of the club was convinced that the Mimiko administration had delivered the dividends of democracy to the people and therefore deserved to be honoured with the highest award.

According to him, “the club with about 1.4million members worldwide has touched the lives of the people at the grassroots which he said has a lot of similarities with the Mimiko philosophy.”

Responding, Governor Mimiko appreciated the efforts of the club at adding values to the lives of the people and said government alone could not meet all the needs of the people.

Dr Mimiko, who assured of his administration’s collaboration with reputable organizations with a view to transforming the landscape of the State, noted that the synergy between his administration and the people had resulted into massive development of the State and unprecedented support for the administration.

He said “I want to thank you

NDYLAC honours FCT Minister

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iger Delta Youth L e a d e r s Administrative Council, NDYLAC, has conferred the 2012 Leadership and Friend of Niger Delta Award on the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir M o h a m m e d .

The Minister who received the Award at a ceremony in Abuja, appreciated the honour done him and advised youths in the country to strive more to unite the nation.

Mohammed urged youths to de-emphasize anything capable of dividing the country, stating that all segments of the federation were very important to the socio-economic development of the entire nation.

The Minister paid tribute to President Goodluck Jonathan, saying his administration hasdbrought hope to ordinary Nigerians, while providing a new face to the country ’s leadership.

He advised Nigerian

TUC rolls out 150 buses T

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RADE Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, has rolled out 150 buses worth N2.3 billion for both intra and inter- state transportation.

President-General of TUC, Mr. Peter Esele, said at the roll out in Lagos that “We took a loan from Urban Development Bank during President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration and it was guaranteed by the government.

Esele said TUC was expected to pay back the loan in 5years which interest of 5per cent would be paid to Federal Government that

for what you are doing to the society. In actual fact, I’m not surprised at your achievements as a reputable club because of the calibre of people in the club. There is no way government alone can combat the poverty in this land, we need the support of people like you. You don’t have to be political leaders at any level to serve your people”.

guaranteed the loan.

On why TUC ventured into the business, he noted that apart from profit, it would create symbiotic relationship between members and Nigerians masses.

He assured sustainability of the buses, emphasizing that the operations would be handled by Country Wide Logistics and Eko Mega City operators.

According to him, “We want to start in Lagos first because of the population and later extend it to other states which depend on our operators.

Bala Mohammed

youths to come together to form formidable partnership to resolve all the country’s differences and move it to the next level.

Mohammed said his administration had been opening new frontiers to improve the lives of ordinary residents of the FCT, promising to continue along that line in consonance with the transformation agenda of President Jonathan.

He thanked the NDYL AC for the recognition, assuring that the award would encourage him and would not be deterred.

Earlier, President of NDYLACl and African Representative, World Assembly of Youths, Ambassador Marvin Yobana, said Senator Mohammed had been selected for the award because he was one of the outstanding supporters of the Transformation Agenda of this administration with an underlining belief for its total success.

Ambassador Yobana said, “It is a mark of your patriotic commitment to a united Nigeria and indeed a friendly disposition to the Niger Delta people and we say thank you to your 108 distinguished colleagues.”

especially Dockworkers, to be vigilant in the course of their duties and ensure that unscrupulous and evil minded importers do not smuggle weapons through the ports into the country.

President-General of MWUN, Mr. Anthony Nted, while addressing maritime workers at Apapa Ports as part of the labour leaders tour of Port formations in the country, said the security of the nation and Nigerians should be the responsibility of every well meaning Nigerian.

Comrade Nted who said leaders of the union had toured the Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt and Calabar ports with similar message, argued that security operatives in the ports may not do thorough examination of containers imported into the ports, but the Dockworkers who off load the containers are at a better position to actually know the content of a container irrespective of whatever the importer claims.

He noted that as members of the union and patriotic Nigerians, they have a duty to not compromise their loyalty to the nation even if others compromised.

According to him, “the rate of insecurity in the country should be of concern to you and other well meaning Nigerians.

Works Minister gets NGSS fellowship award

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ORKS Minister, Arch Mike Onolememen, has been honoured with the Award of Fellowship by the Nigerian Mining and GeoSciences Society, NGSS. President of NGSS, Engr Akin George, at the award ceremony, said that the body had watch with keen interest the reform, changes and improvement that the Minister had been unveiling in the ministr y.

George noted that the society had followed the antecedent of the minister right from Defence as the Minister of State to his present appointment, saying the body was proud of him.

Speaking, the Minister said he did not mince words when he said he was going to do something drastic about road failures in the country which culminated into the upgrading of Material, Geotechnic and Quality Management department to afull fledged department.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012 — 43

Economy

BY FRANCIS ATUCHE

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he 2008 global finan cial crisis spared no nation. It impacted every country with ferocious intensity, spiraling into lukewarm confidence and untold economic misery for people across the globe. Yet, for each country, depending on the potency of its unique counter prescription, the aftermath differed vastly. countries, either out of misguided intent or for lack of will to look beyond the frails of sentiments, called upon themselves the full wrath of the crisis. Other countries waged war against it, reaching for every imaginable policy tool to confront the crisis. As expected, the latter countries averted the full fury of this global calamity.

The U.S response The floor of the Nigerian stock Exchange

A capital market in comatose, the way forward banks in exchange for dividend paying preferred stock; an economic stimulus package worth US $168 billion in the form of tax rebate checks.

Following the outcome of stress test conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank, 10 of America’s 19 largest banks did not measure up and as such required US$75 billion within a period not exceeding 6 months. The US Federal Reserve, unlike the CBN took the following reflationary economic steps as follows: the struggling banks to orchestrate a rescue plan within 1 month and also within 6 months, execute the plans; ailing banks that required funds to raise new common equity either from existing shareholders or new investors, convert preferred shares held by private investors or the government into common equity or sell additional assets; , upon application, bailout funds to banks that required further funds after exhausting other capital raising avenues listed above.

Much more important than these collective tactics, was a rather calm, confidence building atmosphere ushered in by Federal Reserve Bank. With terse, reserved and well intended pronouncements, Federal Reserve Bank deferred any decision to remove CEOs/MDs of wanting banks,

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As the U.S. considered the survival of its capital market crucial, it tailored its counter policies to methodically extinguish, at every intersection, the threats posed to this substructure. With the capitulation of Lehman Brothers and its damning effects on other U.S. financial institutions as well as on the real sector, the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank rallied to the experience of its immediate history.

For a competent regulator, Lehman’s demise proved a scary glimpse of the catastrophe that lay ahead in the face of inaction or flawed prescription. Therefore, reacting like a savvy regulator that it is, the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank, in collaboration with the White House and the Congress as well as all their respective organs and committees, swung into action, invoking unbiased, evidence based, research driven economic therapies, including the bailout option, interest rate cut and various tax relief measures.

While on one hand, this collaboration facilitated the rescue of such mammoth financial institutions and other strategic companies as Citibank and American International Group (AIG) through bailout funds, on the other hand, it downsized quarterly rates to historical lows, but not to the neglect of such other sectors as automotive industry, which also received bailout funds. In consonance, these efforts and collective measures spared the U.S. economy of predicted disaster, as inflation hike was tamed and job gains accelerated by 3%.

Specifically, to restore liquidity to the financial markets and resuscitate confidence, team USA, including President Obama and the U.S Federal Reserve and other governmental agencies took the following actions: Launched the Toxic Asset Purchase Programme (TARP), which was estimated at US$700 billion for lending to

Our regulator’s actions were to the contrary, and so were the broad outcomes. Rather than wage war against the looming crisis, it may have ignorantly paired with the storm, to tumble the economy

to the affected banks’ shareholders whose fate are closely tied to the banks’ fortune, drawing on the simple analogy that those who stand to lose the most will go the extra mile to protect their stake.

Nigeria’s Response in comparison to U.S. Response As was experienced in the U.S, some banks in Nigeria did not live up to the stress test threshold of the CBN. However, unlike in Nigeria, where the regulator pronounced the outcomes of the stress test 45 days ahead its completion date, the stress testing in the U.S was an objective scoring of the banks’ health with the overall motive of alleviating the burden of banks, re-injecting funds (if need be) into the banks and as such re-igniting banking

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lending again in order to spur the economy. In addition to pre-maturely instigating the outcomes of the stress test, the Nigerian Central Bank Governor faulted the memory capacity of the initial examiners because the outcome of their test did not qualify the banks for take-over.

The well thought out, coordinated responses of the U.S. Federal Reserve, which are reflective, albeit in different dosage, of confidence building policy measures enabled such countries as Canada, Brazil, Chile, South Africa, and the Euro-zone to weather the storm. Unfortunately, Nigeria did not make this list.

So, one wonders what the stress test so executed in Nigeria has achieved. Had the test been aimed at boosting confidence as was intended elsewhere in the globe, how

come the outcome of our own therapy has been different?

Rather than resuscitate confidence, our regulator’s strategy viciously attacked capitalism and destroyed value and confidence beyond redemption. From an initial value of Ntrillion in 2008, the Nigerian capital market fell to N.3 trillion in the aftermath of the crisis, after which it rallied to N.0 trillion on June 26, 2009.

Since then, despite additional listings of N2.3 trillion by Dangote Group, amongst other sizeable listings, the market is stagnated at N6.5 trillion. As such, it appears that the market may have lost at least N5 trillion.

The reasons are not farfetched. Our regulator’s actions were to the contrary, and so were the broad outcomes.

Rather than wage war against the looming crisis, it may have ignorantly paired with the storm, to tumble the economy. Without doubts, as the stress tests revealed, some of the Nigerian banks had liquidity challenges amongst other problems, which resulted from a culmination of factors, including but not limited to the sudden global collapse in prices, including crude oil price, the mass exit of foreign investors who due to the global crisis, pulled out of Nigeria in order to cover their short-falls in their home countries and the simultaneous crystallization of cross country liabilities across the globe.

But given the disproportionately large size of the Nigerian banking industry, which stood at 60% of the market then, and the vast ramification of its demise on the broader Nigerian economy, the banking industry, ought to have been treated with utmost care.

But the Nigerian CBN insisted on taking a rather expensive route. For 50 years, no CBN Governor had issued farreaching penalties on banks on the basis of a purported draft stress test report that was never discussed with the audited banks. Can this honorable house verify the reason(s) the CBN side stepped such crucial due process? The CBN not only abandoned its most urgent mandate to restore confidence in such trying times, it also sent shivers to the Nigerian capital market, striking at the heart of market confidence as shareholders grappled with the possibility of a sudden loss of their stake.

For those resilient shareholders and daring investors who nevertheless held their stakes, their confidence was destabilized, and possibly eroded following frequent pronouncements of the CBN Governor, who largely portrayed our financial system as hopeless. Such utterances hit a crescendo when CBN Governor referred to our stock exchange market as a casino and opined that those who placed money there, and initially saw their stock price rise, have lost their money. *Francis Atuche is a former Managing Director of BankPHB

44 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012 — 45

Interview

Nobody put a gun over our heads when we were signing agreements Continues from pg 33 airspace? Airport inside an airport; nobody has thought of that.

When you do a circle from Murtala Airport on take off, and another from Lekki, you do another circle inside, one airport inside another one, it is a tragedy. Even Owerri to Port Harcourt, you take off from Port Harcourt airport and before you get to runway 04, you are looking at Owerri airport. So, it is a serious matter because everybody wants to build an airport. Today, they have built one in Asaba, tomorrow they are going to build one in Onitsha. We are just preparing ourselves for accident to be happening all over the place because one airport will underlie another airport.

But in the US, you find so many airports in a state.

I give you a typical example of Miami airport. In Miami International Airport, we have another airport underneath it called Acolata Airport where we all got trained as student pilots. You will be on ground

in Acolata Airport; the radar controller in Miami International Airport will see all your movement on the ground.

They know where students’ aircraft are; they restrict you to one area but here the radar will not pick aircrafts that are not up to 1500 feet. That is why when people want to commit atrocities, they fly under radar and you cannot detect them.

That is our problem. So all these airports, prestige to build airport here, prestige to build airport there is not good for the country.

I am not speaking for anybody but I want to stress here and now that the Minister should be encouraged to do what she is doing without fear or favour. The bulk lies with the President because tomorrow they will gang up and call for the head of the Minister. I know that because she is dealing with all of them now, tomorrow somebody will say ‘look, remove that woman,’ so I think they should give the woman a free hand to work.

On how to sustain Federal Aviation Administration’s category one certification by

Nigeria What I said the last time I came here is that the same zeal that they used in attaining Category One, they should maintain it and well too. I am happy that they decided to ask Dr. Demuren to continue, he should continue and his lieutenants around him. I have seen all the appointments he is making; director of this, director of that, all those are good appointments. So I believe that we are maintaining it and Demuren is doing a very good job there.

That is the truth.

The other one is the MD of NAMA. An engineer has been appointed there. The young man is doing a very good job.

Nnamdi Udoh is doing a very fantastic job there too but the one that they have trouble with is the FAAN MD. About Meavis and no Meavis, the man is giving a lot of “wahala”.

On the ongoing face-off between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, and Maevis Nigeria Limited, concessionaire in charge of revenue collection for the airports authority

The matter is in court but I always tell them, nobody put a gun on your head when signing all those agreements or contract and they say ‘no we don’t want to do it again.’

Still on BASA Do you know what BASA is all about? It is an agreement that says ‘I will come to your country ten times a week; you come to my country ten times a week.’ Now they come but we do not go there again right.

We will say ‘ok the ten times we are supposed to come to your country and we are not coming, give us the money in lieu of the ten times so that you can be coming twenty times,’ that is how it works. That is why they said that they can come as many times as they want because they paid for your slot and we are annoyed that they are coming. That is why the Nigerian government has said we shall set up our own national airline, and then it will now be who sold our airline? Who liquidated it? I know the liquidation was voluntary liquidation. it was not that they just decided, we are going to liquidate and they liquidated.

On the 19th of April, one group in Nigerian Airways called 1999 group of pensioners, took the government to court and asked for 5 prayers and

the court granted their prayers.

One; that they are civil servants, it is a constitutional issue, that they are entitled to their pension for life. The Nigerian government set up a committee to look at the modality for the liquidation of Nigerian Airways. The committee recommended that the staff should be paid 25 years, 20 years and 15 years.

Government called the people and gave them paper to sign for 5 years, the people said ‘what, well, what we have we hold, let us hold this 5 years,’ then they started making their trouble again.

They went to court, the court said out of the three recommendations 25 years, 20 years, 15 years, the court has granted them 20 years, they have taken 5 years, government should pay them the 15 remaining years or put them on pension until death do them part. Last week, the Attorney General said that they should give them seven and half years; the people said ‘ok let us hold our seven and half years.’ Meanwhile they are going to hold seven and half years and they have a court judgment on their hands. Now, if you calculate the money they paid these people, what they have used to settle claims on the liquidated airline, me and you could have gotten an airline today.

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46 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

Tax Platform

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AXATION in its strictest sense is much broader than tax on income, capital gains and stamp duties. It also covers tax on property, consumption and products, hence the source of confusion and legal action which has not helped in the development of the tax regime in Nigeria.

Pending cases in the Courts may help decide conclusively on related matters. Suffice it to say that the prevailing position is that the Federal Government ultimately has overriding authority on taxation matters with some latitude to State Governments to introduce taxes, fee and charges (collectible by the Local Governments) in those areas that do not conflict with the position of the Federal Government.

Governments at both Federal and State Government levels have used the omnibus clause i section 4 of the Constitution to address gaps identified in the taxation system.

Section 4 clearly gives the State Government the ability to enact laws in the interest of peace and good governance, but also the Federal Government the same powers to enact laws in the interest peace and good governance, with the proviso that where there is a conflict, the laws enacted b the Federal Government prevail.

The Nigerian Constitution generally allows the State and Local Governments broad discretion in establishing fees, charges, or fines as previously defined. These revenues (fees, charges, fines) should be seen as collected: for the privilege of engaging in certain activities; or in order to regulate a particular activity; or the purpose of imposing penalties.

In some cases—such as many user charges, admission fees, and some regulatory fees—th payment is closely linked to the cost of providing a particular service to an individual beneficiary or regulated party. In other cases— for example, certain environmental or regulatory fees—the payment may not be directly related to the costs associated with particular participants, b more loosely related to a discrete group of participants or an industry.

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n some situations, the pay ment may not relate to direct regulation per se, but rather to broad social costs associate with particular activities—for example, environmental mitigation fees. Ideally, some link must exist between these payments and the related cost to governments in order to avoid’ progressing to a “tax.” Fees or charges must be based on some established relationship between the amount of the payment, on the

National Tax policy guidelines and rules (3) ered to collect those taxes from individuals resident in their respective States as may be determined by the National Assembly. The taxes imposed by the Federal government include Companies Income Tax, Personal Income Tax, Education Tax, Petroleum Profits Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Value Added Tax and Stamp Duties. Apart from income taxes, State Governments, through their Houses of

•Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru one hand, and the costs associated with th regulation of an activity or the provision of a good or service, on the other.

Similarly, penalties must be considered reasonable given the specific incident of noncompliance. If a sufficient relationship, or “nexus,” is not established between the fee and costs of provision or regulation, the charge is considered a tax. This is an area for which legislation is required to conclusively make this distinction.

An example of this difference lies in the distinction between the tenement rate and the property tax. They are not and should not be confused as one and the same thing. Tenement rates are typically linked to charges by the local authorities for the provision of public services to residential dwellings including multi storey, multi flat dwellings with multiple owners which may be owner occupied or rented.

Property tax on the other hand is a tax based on the value of a house or other property. In Nigeria, the constitution provides for tenement rate, while Property tax is still a new concept in the tax system. Similarly, there is scope to have Environmental taxes, fees, charges or fines, none of which exist today. in conclusion, the National Tax Policy recognises that the Federal Government through the National Assembly is empowered exclusively to impose taxes on incomes, profits and capital gains and on documents of corporate organizations and governments (stamp duties), while each State Government is empow-

Assembly are also empowered to impose, fees, levies and rates collectible by them and Local Government Authorities in their respective states.

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very person involved in tax administration, tax payers, Consultants, tax and revenue officials, all agencies of Government involved in raising and collecting Government revenue, those involved in Governance, the Executive, the Legislature, Judiciary and every Nigerian citizen or resident is hereby invited to subscribe to the National Tax Policy.

Objectives of the Nigerian Tax System The Nigerian tax system is expected to contribute to the well-being of all Nigerians and taxes, which are collected by Government should directly impact on the lives of the citizens. This can be accomplished through proper and judicious utilisation of the revenues collected by government.

In line with the above, there are certain objectives, which the Tax System is expected to achieve. These objectives include: To promote fiscal responsibility and accountability One of the primary objectives of the National Tax Policy is to create a tax system, which ensures that Government transparently and judiciously accounts for the revenue it generates through taxation by investing in the provision of infrastructure and public goods and services. Where this in place, Nigerians would have a tax system that they can fully relate to and which

is a tool for National Development.

To facilitate economic growth and development The overriding objective of the Nigerian tax system should be to achieve economic growth and development.

As such, the system should allow for stimulation of the economy and not stifle growth, as it is only through sustained economic growth that the potential ability to offer improvements in the wellbeing of Nigerians will arise.

The tax system should therefore not discourage investment and the propensity to save.

Taxes should not be a burden, but should be applied proactively with other policy measures to stimulate economic growth and development.

To provide the government with stable resources for the provision of public goods and services For Nigeria to pursue an active development agenda and carry out the basic functions of government, its tax system should generate sufficient resources for government to provide basic public goods and services (e.g. education, healthcare, infrastructure, security etc.). It is therefore a primary objective of taxation to provide the government with resources that it shall invest in judicious expenditure that will ultimately improve the well-being of all Nigerians.

To address inequalities in income distribution Nigeria’s tax system should take cognisance of our peculiar economic circumstances and seek to narrow the gap between the highest and lowest income groups. Those with the highest incomes should pay the highest percentage of tax and tax revenue should be utilised to provide Nigerians with affordable social amenities, basic infrastructure and other utilities.

To provide economic stabilization Nigeria should use its tax system to minimise the negative impacts of volatile booms an recessions in the economy and also to help complement the efforts of monetary policy in order to achieve economic stability.

To pursue fairness and equality Nigeria’s Tax system must be fair and shall institutionalize horizontal and vertical equity.

Horizontal equity ensures equal treatment of equal individuals. The Nigerian Tax

system should therefore seek to avoid discrimination against economically similar entities.

Vertical equity on the other hand addresses the issue of fairness among different income categories. In this regard, the Nigerian Tax System shall recognise the ability-to-pay principle, in that individuals should be taxed according to their ability to bear the tax burden. Individuals and entities that earn high incomes should pay a corresponding high percentage of tax. The overall tax system shall therefore be fair, so that similar cases are treated similarly.

In addition, any ambiguity or conflicting provisions in the law shall be resolved in a manner as to ensure fairness to the taxpayers and the tax authorities.

To correct market failures or imperfections One of the objectives of the Nigerian tax system is the ability to correct market failures in cases where it is the most efficient device to employ. In this regard taxes may be reviewed upwards or downwards as may be necessary to achieve Government’s intentions.

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arket failures which the Nigerian tax system may address are those that are as a result of externalities and those arising from natural monopolies.

Features of the Nigerian Tax System This section provides the fundamental features that taxes in the Nigerian tax system must exhibit. Accordingly any tax that substantially violates these fundamental features should not be part ofthe tax system of Nigeria.

Taxpayers should understand and trust the tax system, and this can only be achieved if Nigerian tax policy keeps all taxes simple, creates certainty through considerable restrictions on the need for discretionary judgements, and produces clarity by educating the public on the application of relevant tax laws.

It is therefore imperative that the Nigerian Tax system should be simple (easy to understand by all), certain (its laws and administration must be consistent) and clear (stakeholders must understand the basis of its imposition).

To enable a high level of compliance, the economic costs of time required, and the expense which a taxpayer may incur during the procedures for compliance, shall be kept to the absolute minimum at all times. Furthermore, taxpayers should be regarded as clients with the right to be treated respectfully.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012 — 47

Media & Advertising

First Bank, Umoja sponsorship and restoration of stage art Stories by PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

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fforts to restore the culture of theatre, arts and stage performance in Nigeria received a major boost with First Bank’s sponsorship of the South African based troupe, Umoja.

The one-day performance, which is aimed at celebrating arts, and ultimately restoring the culture of theatre, arts and stage performance in Nigeria, attracted high net individuals in private and public sectors, corporate organisations and the diplomatic community.

In Nigeria, companies see sponsorship as a mechanism to drive their brands. The story of MTN, GLO and Cocacola as the official telecommunication companies and official drink for the 2010 world cup and the Nigeria premier league respectively explains the rational behind sponsorships.

However, in what seems like a response to this global trend, First Bank had before now joined the fray of brands

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oca Cola Nigeria Limited (CCNL) recently conclude its Open Happiness promo where it gave to consumers N1 million for 70 days and over 260million airtime, to ascertain the reasons behind the scheme. Princewill Ekwujuru in a chat with Toyin Nnodi, Senior Brand Manager flavours for CCNL, said the objective was to share happiness and reward loyalty.

Overview of the Carbonated Soft drink market It is an interesting segment of the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) market.

Carbonated soft drink (CSD) is all about refreshment and that is the market Coca Cola has played in, in the last 126 years. It’s a very viable category that meets the needs of consumers. Often times the consumers need refreshing drink that keeps them going.

Need for more entrants I cannot comment on what other people will decide to do. Or whether there will be new comers and products they will offer but I can confidently say that the range of Coke brands and flavours would always offer something special and unique to consumers.

Global brand image, Open Happiness promo and objective It’s a campaign for the Coca Cola brand. We launched the Under the Crown Promo

that cling to sponsorship as a major tool to connect consumers. Like Kunle Brigg, a brand Consultant said, “ with sponsorship, sponsoring brands are exposed to many potential consumers and possible trade

partners.”

Further, he observed that a brand that keys to activities that connects its target audience is likely to leverage on such sponsorship to win consumer loyalty. “It’s on record, if a brand supports

the youth market; it is natural for it to attract many consumers. It will be recalled that between 2006 and now when series of activities shook up the financial sector and separated the whiff from the chaff, First Bank has

From Left: Deputy General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Affairs of RedStar Express, Mr. Victor Ukwat; Chairman of the Board of Directors, RedStar, Mohammed Koguna; and the Managing Director, RedStar, Mr. Sule Bichi, during the company’s strategic meeting held at its corporate headquarters in Lagos, recently.

We are ready to bring more brands to Nigeria — Coca Cola (UCP) called open and win consumer promo. The whole idea behind the promo is that Coke stands for happiness and in everything we do, Coke desires to spread happiness to all its consumers. That was why we launched the promotion to spread happiness on the faces of Nigerians. Again, we realized that times are hard and we wanted to give back to our consumers and reward them for drinking Coca Cola.

Consumer remuneration I would say yes. That is consumer promotion. Beyond the N1m prize, there were loads of airtime for mobile phones. Every day, we gave out thousands of airtime in different denominations ranging from N100 to N1,000. Yes, we produced 70 millionaires but consumers also won recharge cards. We gave out airtime because key to mobile phone is airtime. We also believed that the airtime will make the consumers happy to make them keep talking and sharing happiness. The winners cut across the social strata. We have seen undergraduates, graduates, traders, artisans, young professionals, civil servants.

Promo as only tool

•Toyin Nnodi I don’t think it is the only channel to reward consumers. I really know that a lot of brands and companies run consumer promotion. But we as Coca Cola rewards consumers and other key stakeholders. From time to time, we run trade discount incentives where we give our dealers discounts on stocks.

We may not make noise about it but we realized that dealers are key in business. There are other ways of rewarding consumers but the noise about promotion has tended to overshadow other schemes.

Lessons learnt There were positive comments. I had the privilege

of calling one of the winners who just lost his accommodation and has no money to rent another house.

On the phone, he was so excited about it. When you listen to such stories and the impact the promo has had on consumers, you will be touched and feel happy that you really impacted the lives of people.

What gives me joy is that the people who won the cash are those who mostly needed it and this is joyful to any brand manager that his brand is touching the lives of people.

We had winners from all over the country. The expectations were high among consumers but we were happy with the promo. We used SMS system to connect with the consumers because it was to easily reach the consumers. From research, we wanted a way we could make entry into the promotion as easy, seamless as possible. With phone, the airtime came to winners easily. On the lessons, the partnership with the network was a good one and because of the promotion, we generated a lot of traffic on the networks. Again we saw how the promotion generated happiness on the lives of consumers. Our consumers happiness is key to us.

Plans to bring more

continued to introduce new marketing strategies that would make it sustain its leadership position. Among other things, there has been increase in its marketing budget, advertising spend, technology advancement and sponsorship.”

Folake Ani-Mumuney, Head, Marketing and Corporate Communication, said that the choice of the dance group was predicated on the share values between the bank and the group in the areas of contributing to the economic and social development of the people.

“While Umoja is committed to the empowerment of underprivileged South African Children, first bank is committed to deploying its financial expertise to provide quality, accessible and expertise affordable financial services to the populace with a view to enhancing the standard of living of Nigerians,” She said.

With the Umoja, which in Zulu language means ‘’the Spirit of togetherness, the bank seems to be telling its patrons, wherever they may be and regardless of their status and age that First Bank identifies with them.

variants Coca Cola as a company sees innovation as key to its business because we want to remain connected to the consumers and we listen to our consumers through extensive research done. The Coca Cola Company has over 400 brands to its name in over 200 flavours. For flavours or brands that are relevant to our consumers, we will definitely consider bringing them in.

For instance, consumers like Limca and they want it on the go and we launched Limca in PET bottle.

Touching story of winners A lot of them were touching.

The phone call I made to the guy that lost his accommodation really touched me. He was almost in tears and said that this is a prayer that was answered directly by God. The first three people were also excited over the winning.

Mechanism for winnings management No. we did not put any mechanism in place. Our role was to give out the prizes.

What we did was off the line advice to them to spend their money well. It is a gift from the company. It is like how we earn our salaries where employers don’t dictate to us on how we spend our money.

Influencing consumer decision Since we are a soft drink business, the key need we fulfill is quenching the thirst and experience the pleasure the brand gives you.

C M Y K

48 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

0817 002 3569

The government of Goodluck Jonathan insists that the current price of N97/litre accommodates a subsidy of about N55/litre. Some critics have, however maintained that there is in fact, no subsidy; others demand that even if it exists, it should be seen as the social benefit of having crude oil in our back yard. What is clear, however, is that irrespective of one’s position, federal government annual budgets have always provided for subsidy; nonetheless, the huge difference between a subsidy budget of less than N300bn in 2011 and indicated actual payment in excess of N2 trillion has become a source of consternation to most Nigerians. The huge discrepancies between the volume of fuel consumed and subsidies payable from the records of various government agencies, including the CBN, NNPC, PPPRA, etc, have not helped matters either; the ‘babel’ of statistics from these parastatals spoke volumes on the arbitrariness and insensitivity of governance of Nigeria.

The revised subsidy provision of about N700bn in 2012 budget may in fact be inadequate if the sum of over N2 trillion controversially paid out in 2011 is more accurate.

Indeed, the Governor of Central Bank, Lamido Sanusi and the joint Coordinating Minister of the economy and Minister for finance, Dr Okonjo Iweala, have both been reported to express their fear that the 2012 budget provision for subsidy would quickly run out before the end of the year!

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ndeed, there will be a short fall in revenue expectation, if international crude oil price falls below the benchmark of $75/barrel and output projection of 2.5m barrels/day is not significantly exceeded. Fortunately, however, crude prices have hovered around $110/barrel for most of Q1 for 2012 and output has remained fairly stable around the budget benchmark. If this trend continues, there will be no need for the government to lose sleep on our capacity to fund increasing subsidy values without the dismal prospect of further increasing our debt burden beyond the current level of about N5 trillion with over

Why fuel prices will always rise and make subsidy inevitable

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ver the years, the un yielding price of fuel products in Nigeria has instigated much acrimony between the government on one side and Labour and the people on the other. Fuel prices have risen steadily from less then 50kobo/litre to the current subsidized price of N97/litre; every government, be it military or civilian, has one time or the other had to contend with the threat or indeed a successful call for strike by Labour.

Irrespective of one’s position, federal government annual budgets have always provided for subsidy

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N500bn set aside as service charge in this year’s budget.

Paradoxically, however, the social welfare of most Nigerians may not see any improvement as the additional export revenue realized from crude prices in excess of the budget benchmark would have been channeled to fund increasing subsidy instigated by the same ‘favourable’ crude market. The reason for such anomaly is quite simple; higher crude prices with outputs in excess of budgets benchmark will create a fortuitous windfall in export revenue; but the higher crude prices, which stimulated the increased revenue, will also translate to higher fuel prices domestically, as crude oil prices and exchange rate fluctuations are the major determinants of domestic fuel prices.

Meanwhile, the social and economic instability engendered by the January 2012 fuel strike is probably a red flag that Nigerians will not tolerate another price hike beyond the current N97/litre any time soon.

In this event, the lion’s share of increased revenue from higher crude prices will inevitably be absorbed in funding subsidy, with minimal leftover for other social welfare or infrastructural applications. Thus, if unexpectedly, crude prices rise above $200/barrel and domestic fuel price remains stuck below

litre, (at the rate of $1=N160). If on the other hand, as a result of fall in revenue, government finds it expedient to devalue the naira, to, say, N200=$1, then, of course, domestic fuel price will also become N200/litre!, in which case subsidy value might be over N140/litre.

However if international petrol prices increase to $1.20/litre, while naira changes at an exchange rate of N200=$1, then it is evident that Nigerians will have to buy petrol at N240/litre with about N180/litre as subsidy if the domestic pump price remains stuck at N97/litre.

N100/litre, then we may discover to our utmost horror that we may have to borrow in spite of stupendous export dollar inflow to fund subsidy.

On the other hand, a fall in the output of crude with oil prices also much below the budget benchmarks would not give us respite either, as lower crude oil prices and output would similarly reduce revenue from oil exports. In the event that crude oil receipts account for over 80% of the total government revenue, the impact of a major fall in

In such event, our economy will become trapped between the horns of a dilemma; increasing crude oil prices will produce higher domestic fuel prices, while on the other hand, reducing crude oil prices will lead to devaluation, and inevitable, higher fuel prices still. So either way, we lose as a nation, as in both of the above scenarios, the resultant product is higher domestic fuel prices and steeply rising inflation!

Thus, if the fortuitous scenarios of 2007/8, when crude oil prices approached $150/barrel returns, and government cannot adjust price, then subsidy values alone may well exceed 50% of the annual federal budget!! Thus, in the current framework where recurrent expenditure alone already accounts for over 70% of the total expenditure, this would mean that there would be little or nothing left for capital and infrastructural enhancement and inevitably, negative growth in social welfare will become our portion!

crude prices and output could have a disastrous impact on our economy. In fact, government will find it expedient to formally devalue the naira, well below the current rate of N160/$1 if monthly allocations to the three tiers of government are to remain stable in nominal terms.

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egrettably, however, naira devaluation would inevitably trigger rising domestic fuel prices and inflation and thereby reduce purchasing power of all income earners. Maybe we can clarify this issue with a simple example; if for the sake of argument the international commodity price of a litre of petrol cost $1, then our domestic price would be about N160/

Nigerians would naturally be alarmed at such a dismal prospect for our economy, but it is unlikely that the current

Omoh Gabriel Babajide Komolafe Clara Nwachukwu Peter Egwuatu Yinka Kolawole Favour Nnabugwu Godwin Oritse Godfrey Bivbere Yemi Adeoye Oscarline Onwuemenyi Franklin Alli Michael Eboh Amaka Abayomi Ebele Orakpo Ifeyinwa Obi

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Group Business Editor Acting Finance Editor Energy Editor Head, Capital Market Snr Bus. Correspondent Insurance Correspondent Maritime Correspondent Maritime Correspondent Energy Correspondent Energy Correspondent Industry Reporter Capital Market Reporter Money market Reporter Energy Reporter Maritime Reporter

CONTRIBUTORS Princewill Ekwujuru Naomi Uzor Providence Obuh LAYOUT

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Media/Marketing Industry Capital Market Graphics Department

economic management team can provide a reprieve without a radical departure from the existing framework of CBN’s monopoly of our crude oil export revenue. In other words, it would be impossible for government to cancel subsidy; i.e. dismantle NNPC’s import monopoly without first dismantling the monopoly of the Central bank in the foreign exchange market, where CBN supplies over 80% of all the dollars in the market, while it concurrently maintains its constitutional monopoly of naira issues.

However, the seemingly intractable dilemma of crude oil fluctuation and domestic fuel prices will become effortlessly resolved once the CBN directly transfers export dollar revenue to the rightful constitutional beneficiaries without substituting naira allocations at rates of exchange, which are unilaterally determined by the apex bank.

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f crude oil dollar receipts are paid to the three tiers of government with dollar certificates rather than bloated naira sums, the resultant impact will be as follows; if production remains constant or in fact, increases, Nigeria would be the beneficiary of increasing dollar revenue.

For example if crude oil prices rise to $150/barrel from say $100/barrel, with stable output, our crude exports dollar revenue will rise by at least 50%; this would pitch the increasing dollar receipts against the unchanged naira value in the market and thus strengthen the naira. A stronger naira would mean cheaper domestic fuel prices, so long as international fuel prices remain denominated in dollars. In this event there will, in fact, be no subsidy whatsoever in domestic fuel prices; indeed there will be ample opportunity to impose a sales tax of about 10% and above on the domestic price of fuel. So government will not only save over a trillion naira from non-payment of subsidy but may also be the beneficiary of petrol tax revenue of another one trillion naira as the nominal domestic price of fuel continues to fall with a stronger naira.

In the above event we can only hope that our economic management team will see reason and pull our economy back from unyielding economic crisis with a recognition that the current CBNs forex monopoly is the is poison in the system.

SAVE THE NAIRA, SAVE NIGERIANS!!

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012—49

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Presidency or National Assembly's intervention

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ith both the CJN and the PCA along with elements of the highest decision making body, the NJC, clearly showing signs of partisan leanings, it was at this juncture that leadership should have prevailed. The Presidency or the National Assembly committees on the Judiciary should have quickly intervened to save the Judiciary. The two warring officers should have been asked to go on compulsory leave while an independent inquiry should have been set up to ascertain if either or both had stained their elevated posts with partisan politics. Anyone found guilty would be fired while anyone above board could always return to his job.

Rather than do this, the two sides to the conflict were allowed to slug it out.

The CJN used his enormous powers to turn the NJC against Salami. At first, “elders” of the Council were asked to “make peace” between the two. Then, another panel of the NJC headed by Justice Umaru Abdullahi was set up to probe them. It turned in a verdict of guilty against CJN Katsina Alu, accusing C M Y K

Justice Salami’s messy recall

Here lies the dilemma. Granted, the old NJC panel was unfair to Salami in that his accuser sat over his case as judge. Granted also, Justice Salami is seen in certain judicial quarters as a man who gives justice to those who deserve it. In what way will Salami’s recall erase the fact that he and Katsina-Alu dragged the name of the Judiciary into public ridicule? What about the alleged partisan roles both played by betraying their allegiance to political parties? Did the NJC look into that issue or did it merely dwell on the injustice against Salami against his opponent?

Foolishness of the NJC

T to revisit the Salami case which was seen in many quarters as injustice, since his opponent, Justice Katsina Alu sat on, and decided his fate.

He also set up a 28-man panel to reform the Judiciary. A subcommittee of the panel consisting of retired Justices Umaru Kalgo, Mamman Nasir and Bola Ajibola, cleared Salami

Justice Ayo Isa Salami him of perjury and clearing Salami.

In a reprisal, Katsina Alu set up the Justice Ibrahim Auta panel to “review” the Justice Abdullahi panel’s findings.

It, in turn, returned a verdict of guilty against Salami, clearing the CJN. It also ordered Salami to apologise, failing which he should be sanctioned. Salami refused to apologise, opting to go to court. The NJC recommended to President Jonathan to remove Salami from office. In a rather expeditious manner, the President suspended Salami from office and appointed Justice Dalhatu Adamu as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.

Shortly after all this, Katsina Alu retired from office and a new CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher was appointed.

Musdapher seemed keen on restoring the dignity of the Judiciary. He decided

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AM a great fan of wildlife documentaries. The crisis in the Judiciary involving erstwhile President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Isa Salami and retired Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Aloysius Katsina Alu, reminds me of an animal that strays into a deep mire, marsh or bog. The more it struggles to get out the deeper it sinks.

I once watched a buffalo caught in such a situation. It was there for hours until a ravenously hungry group of hyenas arrived and started eating it alive from the rear end. They had almost consumed a third of the poor ox before it finally gave up the ghost.

The recent call by the National Judicial Council (CJN) on President Goodluck Jonathan to recall the suspended PCA, Justice Salami, bespeaks of a lamentable but avoidable tragedy that two of the nation’s topmost judicial officers allowed their perceived romance with politicians to plunge the hallowed institution into.

Let us briefly describe the anatomy of this mess.

On February 5th 2011, the newspapers celebrated the headline news of Justice Salami’s letter to the then CJN, Katsina Alu, accusing the latter of posting him (Salami) to the Supreme Court because he refused to allow the CJN interfere in the judgement of the Sokoto governorship election appeal. He declined to go to the Supreme Court because, according to him, he would become junior to many of the Justices there who are his juniors on the Bench.

The other unspoken reason was that, as President of the PCA, he has the power to influence the fate of elected governors and legislators; a position of political power and money.

His opponents in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) accused him of using his position as President of the PCA to influence the removal of PDP Governors in Edo, Ekiti, Ondo and Osun States where candidates of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and (in Ondo) the Labour Party (LP) were declared winner. On the other hand, Salami and his supporters in the ACN and the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) urged him not to accept the Supreme Court posting, as it was a ploy by the PDP to remove an “incorruptible” judge and bring in someone who would be more sympathetic to the PDP.

he era of Katsina Alu and Salami as officers in our temple of justice is effectively over. Salami would have been retired by now. Even if the NJC is ready to eat its own words, the President of Nigeria should not be forced to reverse himself. He should not be made to pay reparation for the foolishness of the NJC. If the NJC has discovered that it made a mistake in its earlier verdict and thus misled the President, they should apologise to Salami, the President and the nation for that tomfoolery. They should administratively regularise Salami’s retirement with full benefits just as Katsina Alu was given, though I believe both should have gone with ignominy as a warning to others who

The era of Katsina Alu and Salami as officers in our temple of justice is effectively over. Salami would have been retired by now. Even if the NJC is ready to eat its own words, the President of Nigeria should not be forced to reverse himself. He should not be made to pay reparation for the foolishness of the NJC

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and recommended his recall. A reconstituted panel of the NJC also agreed with this recommendation and another letter was sent to the President to effect the recall of Salami.

may be tempted to play politics with justice in future.

The Katsina Alu and Salami era belongs in the past. Let it stay there.

Kano Hisbah mass wedding

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WAS intrigued by the recent mass wedding of widows and divorcees which took place with pomp and pageantry in the Kano Central Mosque under the close supervision of the Emir of Kano, Dr. Ado Bayero and top government officials. According to the story, about 100 couples (the first batch of a thousand slated) were wedded. The state government funded the payment of N10,000 bride prices on each bride, offered financial assistance for household utensils and the training of the women to empower them for self reliance. Some wealthy individuals also made generous donations to the newlyweds. The entire package was put together by the Hisbah Board, the Islamic guidance organisation which was set up to implement the Sharia law.

A similar gesture was promised by the Governor of Yobe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Geidam on Friday, February 13th 2009 while at the Central Mosque in Damaturu. The then newly sworn-in Governor Geidam (his boss, Alhaji Mamman Ali, had just been buried) promised to pay the bride price for all bachelors who worshipped at the Central Mosque. Just as in the case of the Kano Hisbah mass wedding, the reason

adduced by the governor was, according to a report filed by The Guardian’s Njadvara Musa, to: “discourage …men from immoral acts and related social vices fuelled by their state of singleness”.

The Kano State Government went into this gesture when a non governmental organisation screamed that there were about 1,000,000 divorced and widowed women in Kano State alone, which obviously made Hisbah to take up the cause of mass match-making.

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omething tells me that the act of government marrying wives for men is culturally alright in the Muslim North. Nothing can be further from the truth in the southern cultures of Nigeria.

I don’t think this culture applies to Muslims in Yorubaland. In the south, marriage, just like religion, is a personal issue. Government does not pay bride price for anyone. It just does not come up at all. But when a man decides to get married he gets a lot of support, even from those in government if he has such contacts.

Paying bride price to enable a man marry is one thing. His being able to carry the burden of being a husband (and father) is yet another. The large

number of divorcees came originally from failed marriages. In most cases, these women were neglected by their former husbands, either because culture allows them to maltreat women and get away with it or simply because they lacked the financial capacity to maintain families. These are the sociological causative factors that government should be more interested in addressing rather than paying bride prices.

Part of reasons there is so much poverty in the north is because public funds are wasted on unsustainable cultural practices, such as sponsorship of pilgrimages, al Majiri education and marriages of individuals. Why not channel the funds to education, especially of the women? An educated person will escape the trap imposed by poverty, illiteracy and cultural superstitions. The chances are good that those poor women married out in this manner will be back as divorcees a few years down the line due to the same archaic cultural factors.

Our leaders need to reason better than this. The common people who vote at elections deserve to be led better than this!

MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

BY YUSHAU SHUAIB

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REEDOM of expression is essential in every civilised society so long as it does not harm individuals’ character or malign institutional reputations through false and misleading information.

It is a fact that violation of freedom of expression is violation of the right to freedom of association and assembly.

While some individuals and institutions are cautious of making public statements because of the sensitive natures of their assignments, it could be considered justifiable and legitimate when such interventions are for the general good of the society.

In April 2012, two top Military Generals, one from Nigeria and the other from Israel, made public statements that have continued to generate debates because of the sensitive security positions they hold in governments. General Andrew Owoye Azazi is the National Security Adviser in Nigeria, the most populous Black Country in the world, and General Benny Gantz, the Chief of General Staff of Defense Forces of Israel, the nation widely believed to have the Middle East's only nuclear arsenal.

While their individual remarks have continued to generate controversies and debates, coincidentally their respective citizens hail their positions while

the governments condemn the outburst because of security implication in their respective countries and sub-regions.

Whenever the issue of Middle East is discussed, the confrontational stance between Israel and Iran always comes to mind over the alleged nuclear ambition of the latter. Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Minister of Defence Ehud Barak have threatened to attacks Iran if the international community refuses to take actions. At Israel's Holocaust Remembrance Day this year Netanyahu blatantly stated that: "The regime in Iran openly calls and determinedly works for our destruction. And it is feverishly working to develop atomic weapons to achieve that goal."

The officials in Iran have denied the allegation of seeking nuclear ambition but insisted that the country is only enriching uranium for peaceful energy purposes and that its nuclear programme is not a threat to anyone. Countries like the US, European Union, Canada, Japan and Australia are not swayed as they imposed sanctions on Tehran include restrictions on Iranian oil sales, and an asset freeze on certain individuals and organisations.

Probably in response to the anxiety and fear of going to war with Iran through suspected preemptive strikes, Israel's Military Chief, LieutenantGeneral Benny Gantz said he does not believe Iran will decide to

The two Military Generals in Israel and Nigeria have spoken the minds of the majority; It is the truth towards finding lasting solutions to regional insecurity and global peace

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build an atomic bomb and called its leaders "very rational".

Lt-General Gantz's remarks published in a popular Israeli Haaretz newspaper stated that “Iran is moving step-by-step towards a point where it will be able to decide if it wants to make a nuclear bomb. It has not decided yet whether to go the extra mile."

He added that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would not make a huge mistake of going the extra mile to make an atomic bomb. In his words: "I think the Iranian leadership is comprised of very rational people.

But I agree that such a capability in the hands of Islamic fundamentalists, who at some moments may make different calculations, is a dangerous thing."

I

nterestingly, subsequent remarks by former Foreign Intelligence (Mossad) chief Meir Dagan, and former Shin Bet (Domestic Intelligence) chief Yuval Diskin clearly argued in line with General Gantz by criticising Israel's political elite on a possible strike against Iran and the

Death and the old witch’s cry

BY LOUIS ODION

I

N African folklore, countless myths are surely evoked at the mention of an old witch. The wailing of this dark creature is, for instance, taken as portentous, a signpost to evil. So, at its shriek cry in the middle of the night, no true mother waits to be reminded to hold her suckling closer, lest the baby is found dead at dawn.

Taking stock of the harvest of tragedies in Edo State in the past three weeks, it is quite tempting, if not compelling, to draw a parallel with the foregoing parable of old witch’s cry. Long before the chain of sordid things began to unravel in the acclaimed ‘heartbeat of the nation’, a security report was already circulating in government circles, detailing high-level designs by the brigade of political desperadoes we all know too well to either kill or abduct key officials of the Oshiomhole administration with a view to creating an atmosphere of fear which, in turn, will afford them a convenient cover for the purloining of the ballot on July 14.

In retrospect, the blood of innocents so far shed could, therefore, be said to be partly on the hands of those saddled with the responsibility of defending the vulnerable who failed to rise to the occasion. With chilling accuracy, some of the plots earlier listed have come to pass.

First, Governor Adams Oshiomhole narrowly escaped death when a mystery truck rammed into his convoy near Auchi on April 28. Three journalists, witness to this very unfolding history, were not so lucky; they died in the accident. Several others were mortally injured. Barely twelve hours later, my private residence in Benin was in turn attacked by a gang of four gunmen.

Providence made me stayed away that night.

The ink with which that blood-curdling report was written had not dried when four assassins (presumably the same group that had violated my residence) also barged into Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde’s residence and butchered him before his wife and four little kids.

The nagging question then: how many more souls would be taken before these vampires are brought to justice?

While awaiting justice, we are only left with the fond memories of four innocent young men felled in their prime. As for Olaitan, a lot has been said and written about his ideological fidelity, great capacity for work and prodigious energy to organise. Having worked closely with him, I attest the validity of those statements. Perhaps, the only area yet understated is his terrific sense of humour. He had this uncanny way of cracking rib-cracking jokes and yet kept a straight face while others are laughing to stupor.

Not being Edo indigene (he hailed from Osun), I would normally call him ‘Mr. Expatriate’. To that, he would joke that, ‘But you people are not paying me expatriate wage unlike my contemporaries from overseas’. If you got angry with him, he would disarm you with jokes. Once, someone barged into his office and hollered at him for not picking his calls after several dials.

To that, Olaitan retorted calmly: ‘Why should I be in a hurry to pick your calls, am I your girlfriend?’

Every afternoon, the Comrade Governor has the habit of sharing his lunch with his Commissioners and close aides. Olaitan was addressed as the ‘Dean of the Lunch Faculty’ and would normally tell the uninitiated to ‘Come and register with me before you’re qualified to partake of our feasting’. And it is easy to tell once menu, menu starts. Silence

unresolved Palestinian question.

While Meir Dagan pointedly said: "This (planned attack on Iran's nuclear installations) is the stupidest idea I have heard in my life," Yuval Diskin added that: “Israel is now led by two incompetent politicians with messianic delusions and poor grasp of reality. Their plan to attack Iran is leading to a worldwide catastrophe.”

Similar tempo is being played out in Nigeria. At the South-South Economic Summit in Asaba, Gen. Owoye Azazi, the National Security Adviser who spoke extemporal disclosed that elements within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) helped create the environment that brought about the Islamic sect, Boko Haram. He was alleged to have said: “The issue of violence did not increase in Nigeria until when there was a declaration by the current President that he was going to contest. PDP got it wrong from the beginning. The party started by saying Mr. A can rule, and Mr. B cannot rule, according to PDP convention, rules and regulations are not according to the Constitution. That created the climate for what is happening. Is it possible that somebody was thinking that only Mr. A could win, and if he did not win, he could cause a problem in the society?”

On the Boko Haram, Azazi added that: “It takes a very long period for somebody to train a sniper. But I can assure you that Boko Haram has got to a level of sophistication. There’s a lot that could be done to address the problem. Even if all leaders we know in Boko Haram are arrested, I don’t think the problem will end because of the problem that created the phenomena: religion,

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Freedom of expression: Between Gens Azazi and Gantz

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50—Vanguard,

Till today, I’m still haunted by the memory of our last encounter. It is hard to believe that such a decent, gentle young man would be murdered so brutally for no just cause

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suddenly descends on the Conference Room of the Governor Office. So, it is common for many to target this culinary hour to visit the Governor. If you walked in then, Olaitan would tease ‘I can see that you now monitor us to see when we want to start eating before you start coming.’

H

e was such a bundle of humour. He handled the Governor ’s official correspondence and brought order to things.

Faithful to his vocation as thinker/writer, he kept an impressible library of seminar books.

Till his last day, he kept pestering me for a copy of the biography written by Mike Awoyinfa and Dimgba Igwe on Aremo Segun Osoba entitled ‘The Newspaper Years’. (The book was presented in Lagos two months ago.) I had promised to look around bookshops in Lagos and get him a copy.

I recall that we were together till late that evening before his murder by 1.30a.m . He was in charge of putting together a petition the Governor was sending to INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega. Very adept as juggling many things at a time, he was also saddled with putting together the Governor’s nomination form expected to be submitted in Abuja the following day. A day before, he oversaw the packaging of a petition the Governor sent to the police

poverty, or the desire to rule. I think it is a combination of everything.”

Responses to Azazi were swift from the party in government and the government itself. In a statement, Olisa Metuh, spokesperson to PDP said the party remained united in support of President Goodluck Jonathan, rejecting allegations of practicing politics of exclusion. He described Azazi’s comments as “a poor reflection of the internal workings of the Party and a wrong deduction on the roots of security challenges in the country.”

President Jonathan during his sympathy visit to ThisDay office in Abuja which was attacked by a suicide bomber said: “I don't believe that it is undemocratic practices in the PDP that could give rise to Boko Haram or any other groups. So probably, people need to ask NSA to explain what he really means.”

Many Nigerians still believe in the remarks of General Azazi which clearly pointed out that more need to be done to address the insecurity in the country through programmes and policies that have positive and direct bearings on the citizenry.

The two Military Generals in Israel and Nigeria have spoken the minds of the majority, including this writer. It is ‘the truth and nothing but the truth’ towards finding lasting solutions to regional insecurity and global peace. Probably sooner or later if Politicians are wiser, we will live to witness Iranian and Israeli leaderships celebrating their unity, while Nigerians from the South and the North will sincerely and strongly believe in the oneness of the country.

Mr. Shuaib, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Abuja.

authorities based on security reports that key officials of the administration had been pencilled down to be assassinated or kidnapped by the opposition with a view to scaring the Edo public. Little did Olaitan know that he was the next target.

Ironically, following the attack on residence on April 29, Olaitan characteristically threw a banter: ‘Bros, sorry O. I learnt these people paid you a visit. I thank God for your life O’. Little did we know that Olaitan was the next target.

Few days before the assassination, I heard that a relation of Olaitan had what looked like a premonition in form of a bad dream and promptly told Olaitan to be careful. But Olaitan was a fearless guy who would not take any precaution, with the conviction that his cause was too just for him to become a target.

Just like Olaitan, some of us never took any precaution by way of keeping heavy personal security. When I had to report the attack on my residence to the Police Commissioner on April 30, he expressed shock that I never kept a police orderly or police protection at my residence despite the sensitivity of the office I keep. But it was deliberate. It is a function of the value we keep in the Oshiomhole administration. We believe we are working for the people and so believe that the greatest security is the love people openly demonstrate to us whenever we were on the streets with the Comrade Governor. But with the benefit of hindsight today, it is clear we had underestimated the capacity of the forces opposed to the positive change in Edo .

During our last encounter, I remember Olaitan hugging his little daughter who came around after school hours. He kept waving a white envelope at her, saying ‘This is your money’, apparently in response to her demand to meet an obligation in school.

Till today, I’m still haunted by the memory of our last encounter. It is hard to believe that such a decent, gentle young man would be murdered so brutally for no just cause. *Mr. Odion is the Commissioner for Information in Edo State.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012—51

EDO GUBER:

Why we're insisting on new voters registration — Urhoghide PHARM. Matthew Urhoghide, one of the most prominent political personalities to have arisen since the advent of civilian rule in Edo State is presently the State Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state. Urhoghide is indisputably well informed in the politics of the state having passed through the major political parties in the state.

In this interview in Benin, Urhoghide accused the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN of being responsible for the tension that has lately engulfed the sate ahead of the July 14, 2012 governorship election. He also accused the governor of attacking his party and its leadership in his electioneering campaign even as he insists that the PDP would resist the use of the old Voters Register in the election. Read this and more in the interview. Excerpts:

W

HAT is responsible for the tension enveloping the gubernatorial contest in Edo State?

First and foremost, let me say that the political situation as it exists in Edo today is not unexpected. When two parties or more are striving for a position, the tendency for one to outdo the other is there.

But the issue in our own is that we have left the substance and have deviated from the sole objective of winning election and putting in place a government that will be able to meet the yearnings and aspirations of our people.

And I see that some of these actions that are being taken are deliberate efforts on the part of some politicians who have become too desperate about these positions. It has become an opportunity for some people to want to maim, to kill just because of election.

And I want to say that the tense atmosphere today is not because the PDP is too desperate at getting the governorship position because we believe that position cannot be equated with blood or with the life of any individual. And in which case, we must play the game within the law or the rules.

I want to say that the man who symbolizes the leadership of the ACN, that is, the Comrade Governor, who is supposed to be the Chief Security Officer (CSO) in the state, must prove in very clear terms that whatever becomes the lot of the state; he should be the first person that would be held responsible. He has no business whatsoever trying to show such level of desperation.

He is the governor, (but) he

C M Y K

must not say that it was through fight, killing, or shedding of blood that he became governor. And this desperation that we are seeing by way of this misdirected, misguided and profane accusations of PDP and its leadership for all these dastardly acts that have been perpetrated in the state in the last few weeks, we consider them as unbecoming of a governor.

If you may ask, it smirks of irresponsible behavior of a state Chief Executive and of course, a party that is supposed to be a national body, that is created to provide a platform for throwing up government. We believe that until a few of these things are cleared, the Edo public will not know the truth; that people believe that there is express need for investigations to be concluded in some of these things so that the truth can be told.

I want to say that the PDP as a party, in fact to the utter surprise of the people in the state, has shown a lot of maturity in the face of the provocations that we consider to be very cruel. I want to say that we are going to maintain our dignified silence until the truth is known and made public.

I want to say too, that where investigations have not been

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BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

*Urhoghide: The PDP, we must say has tested power in this state PDP as a party will take an exception to it because, it has

What the PDP is saying is that it is not our responsibility to enforce the law, what we are saying is, if the law is not enforced it can work against us, so it is our responsibility too to make sure that INEC does its job

completed honestly and fairly for Edo people to know, the

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happened before in this state that false accusation that were

leveled against even the person of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole by a former governor in the state turned around to be a misplaced accusation and they apologized to him.

And I think this time around, Oshiomhole as a governor is going to apologize to the PDP for all these cruel accusations that he has made against the party. The PDP, we must say has tested power in this state many, many times and for it to have gone to court and lost the governorship in 2008 was

not a sign of weakness, but a display of maturity for a party and this is why we believe the governor must follow suit.

He must subordinate himself to constituted authorities. There is a constitution that rules this country, there are parties too that rule this country, there are laws and he is not superior to the least law of the land. If anything, the only way that he can show that he is truly a leader and that he is a governor is to obey and follow the rule of law.

But why is this election campaign not really issue based?

I want to say with every element of seriousness and responsibility that I was very expectant when the campaign rolled-off and when it was mentioned that politics of issues was going to take the front burner. A lot of us were very expectant.

But, since campaign began, you see a governor on a podium, just as he went to Afuze and for 47 minutes on the podium, he used the 47 minutes to abuse the national leader of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih. Are those issues?

He went to the Museum ground to flag-off his campaign in Oredo Local Government Area and on that day, he used all the time to abuse the person of Chief Tony Anenih and he called the PDP governorship candidate, Major Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), all sorts of names and only for him to completely forget about the issues of infrastructure or development of the state. I thought he was going to talk on issues that would better the lot of our people.

We have a complete compilation of all his outings and I want to say there is nowhere he has mentioned

Continues on page 55

52—VANGUARD, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

Terrorism: Catholic Bishop asks Jonathan to probe some retired generals

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

I

LORIN — THE Catho lic Bishop of Ilorin Diocese, Most Rev. Ayo Maria Atoyebi, has asked the Federal Government to investigate allegations that some retired generals were sponsoring the activities of bombers in the country. ’’They say this or that general sponsors the terrorists’ sect, and the government has not made moves to investigate

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such allegations,’’ he said and asked the Federal Government to dialogue with the bombers who had engaged the security agencies in a sort of war, particularly in the north where many lives and property had been lost.

Atoyebi who spoke with journalists in Ilorin during an event to mark the 20th year of his installation as Bishop of the diocese, however, noted that “The dialogue may be secret.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012 —53

H

I Readers! As we were welcoming Joe and Ify into the house, Dicta and Chuma drove in. My goodness! What had they come for, I asked myself. I remembered her little lie and I rushed out to take her aside to ask her why she had told me that she hadn’t said anything to Kate, whereas they had had a full discussion on the issue.

“Forgive me, sister,” she apologized at once. “I wanted her apology to come as a surprise to you. I hope she was quite penitent?”

“She was.”

“Good for her soul. What do you think of Dean? Isn’t he a dream of a hunky guy?” “He is.

Have you fallen for him?”

“Oh no, sister, but I like seeing him.”

“Was that why you and Chuma are here? To gaze at your chunk of a fraudster?” “Hey, sister!

Fraudster? Dean?”

“Yep! Actually, the name he was known by about eleven years ago, was Nurudeen.”

“I see. Well, he must have adopted the shortened form since then. Maybe he became a Christian and changed his name to Dean. It’s easier on the tongue. Is that what makes him a fraudster, sister?” “No.” I then explained to her and her eyes widened. “Hm! I remember hearing of the incident, but I didn’t meet the offender. So, today, nemesis caught up on him and he walked into the lion’s den. What are you going to do to him?”

Before I could reply, Chuma joined us. “Sister, I’m sorry about what sister Kate is putting you through. Dicta told me that she been insulting uncle Seb, and today she just turned up at your place with a total stranger.

I told Dicta we must come spend

LIFE WITH TREENA KWENTA

- the funloving, but hardworking single parent

A dilemma

widened too.

“Sister Treena! I remember the incident very well. Rafiu, one of uncle Seb’s accounts clerk got to hear through a colleague that I wanted to sell my used Volvo, so he came to inspect it at my school. He liked it and he told me that he had a brother-in-law who’s a used vehicle dealer in Onitsha, and that I should keep it for him. Dicta, you remember that time?”

“Yes. You couldn’t wait for the dealer because we needed the

sitting room, but we could hear the voices of Joe, Ify and Kate in one of the rooms nearby. Dicta took Chuma over to introduce to him. He smiled faintly at Chuma as they shook hands, but he looked distracted and unhappy.

Nanny came in to greet the couple and ask what they wanted served. I was trying to fix myself a drink when Dean came to whisper in my ears that he would like to have a word with me.

Dean's confession

Maybe, but I have four children, so, I’m okay. It’s only my business which has suffered a great setback. If I say I can give you your money right now, I’d be telling a lie. I alone am financially responsible for my children, so, money is short. You will have to give me time, please

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the night here with you, so that you’d have family support. You shouldn’t be on your own here tonight. Just you and nanny. I can’t believe that sister Kate would actually insult uncle Seb. What for? Dicta wouldn’t explain. However, what do you want done to the intruder she brought?”

“Chuma dear, I’m so touched by your kind gesture. Joe and Ify are also here.”

“Yes, Dicta said he would be coming to settle this rift between you and sister Kate. It’s a good idea. Family members are too close to allow any sort of strain fester. I’m so proud of the good relationship we have with one another. Shall we go inside?”

Dicta whispered in his ears; explaining recent developments. His eyes

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money urgently, so, when another buyer was brought, you sold it.”

“That’s right. And at a very good price too. Hm! We had a lucky escape. We would have probably suffered the same fate as uncle Seb did; for the car would have been taken away for sale and we would never have had news of it again. We thank God for deliverance. I’m curious to see this dealer.”

“Be prepared for a big surprise, Chuma,” Dicta told him. “He looks like a complete gentleman; not the same that would engage in fraudulent deals.”

“That’s the hallmark of a 419 person, Dicta dear. They look clean and honest, not like thugs.”

We found Dean all alone in the

I looked at him briefly and led the way to the dining room.

“Look, madam, I’m very sorry about what happened. I’m totally guilty, but I went through very trying times. My wife, like me, is half Yoruba and half Igbo.

We grew up in the same police barracks in the east and were childhood friends. Later we met up in a higher institution here in Lagos, fell in love and then got married. We decided to settle in Onitsha where I established a used car business and she went into teaching. She’s related to Rafiu, who used to bring me business and get his cut after the sale of the vehicles. My wife and I had four daughters. She was disappointed that we had no son, but I was truly not bothered.

I loved her and our lovely bright daughters. Later, she told me that there were rumours that I was going to marry an Igbo girl who would give me male children. I told her it was a lie.

She wouldn’t let go and the nagging and random quarrels began; making life hell for me.

Then, when I travelled to Belgium to buy vehicles, she moved out of the home, and dropped our children with my mother in an Onitsha suburb.

She then carted away several vehicles and sold them. Yours was one of them. When I learnt

of this on my return, I tried to contact her, but she refused to take my calls, and then changed her numbers. Rafiu wouldn’t help either, so when he began to bother me about money for your car, I told him to go to hell.

The obvious thing for him to do was to get his cousin to either return the car to him or give him what it was worth so he could pay you. Since he didn’t do this, I didn’t feel I was in the wrong.

Later my wife filed for divorce and we divorced. We’re joint custodians of our children of whom two are in the university and the other two in secondary school. I learnt she had another failed marriage. She lives in Ibadan. I had two other failed marriages myself and then gave up on matrimony.”

“This is an aside, but aren’t you too young for that?”

“Maybe, but I have four children, so, I’m okay. It’s only my business which has suffered a great setback. If I say I can give you your money right now, I’d be telling a lie. I alone am financially responsible for my children, so, money is short. You will have to give me time, please.”

I didn’t know what to think or say. I didn’t believe his hard luck story, but I had no proof that he had been telling lies.

“I can see doubt in your eyes, madam. I found Christ about five years ago. That’s what gave me the courage to reveal my plight to you. It would be so easy for me to promise to pay and then I slip away again. It was a terrible shock to find myself standing before you today. Kate knows that I’m hard-up. She’s been picking up all the bills since we met. You can ask her. It isn’t a situation I enjoy or that I’m proud of, but I’m tired of telling lies to survive.”

“But you look trendily dressed and affluent,” I managed to say, getting up.

“It’s the grace of God, madam,” he told me, as Kate came to claim him.

“Brother Joe wants to have a word with you, sister,” Dicta came to tell me.

I went with her to join Joe, Ify and, Chuma.

Joe told me that he and Ify had come to get Kate to apologize to me for the hurt she had caused me and Seb, but that she had told them that both of us had already settled that.

“That’s true, Joe. Many thanks to you and Ify for the concern. I also thank Chuma and Dicta for their concern too.”

Something about Kate's man

“Oh, that’s alright, Treena dear,” said Joe. “Just as we thought that our mission was over and that we should return home, Dicta brought up the issue of the man that Kate brought down with her. Kate seems completely smitten by the man and in spite of the allegation about missing car/ money, she seems determined to have him with her. She said if you refuse him staying here, they would both go stay at one of the guest houses on the other side of this estate.”

“She said that?”

“Yes, she did. She said that even though she was a bit disappointed that he had been involved in a shady deal like that, she trusts him still and wouldn’t end their budding relationship because of that.”

She said she could make a pledge to pay for the car, if necessary.”

“Sister, you should have seen how aggrieved sister Kate was,” said Dicta. “She said that now that she’s got the only guy she ever loved and who loves her back, you had to bring up this accusation of him stealing your car. She felt you shouldn’t have brought up the issue, until they had both left here. She said whenever she finds someone she loves, you always show up to spoil things for her.” “She said that? Sorry Joe, Kate must leave my house this minute. I don’t feel safe with her around. Not after a declaration filled with hate and malice like Dicta’s just mentioned. She’s not staying with me here. She should take her man to the guest house she spoke about. She can afford it.”

“Calm down sis,” urged Joe. “Let’s put on our thinking cap.

For the sake of mum and dad, who are like parents to her, allow her and her man to stay. It’s only for three nights, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but that’s too long a period for me to be with such a spiteful person.”

“You were in a discussion with the man? How did you find him?”

I revealed the gist of our conversation.

“Hm! A pathetic story, but is it the truth? He said he’s received Christ? That means he converted. Well, I wouldn’t say one should take a risk and welcome a stranger into one’s home like the early Christians did, but since he declared for Christ and he’s with our cousin, forgive and let them stay. But Michel should use the camp chair in the dining room, to keep an eye on things. He said Seb had asked him to come stay here, anyway.”

“Dicta and I had come to spend the night with sister Treena too.

I suppose that will help,” offered Chuma.

“It will help a lot, Chuma,” said Joe. “Thank you. Is that alright, Treena?”

“It’s fine. Thank you, every body. He and Dicta can stay in nanny/Heather’s room. It has two single beds, though.”

“Sister, one single bed is sufficient for whatever we have in mind,” joked Dicta. “I’m sure it is. Nanny will use the couch in my room.”

“Sis, I really appreciate your cooperation,” said Joe, coming to give me a hug.

“I think I’ll stay here until Kate leaves, too,” offered Ify, who’s been silent all this while.

“Darling, thank you,” said Joe. We then joined Kate and Dean who were sitting cosily together on the settee, Joe prayed for us all and then left.

Dicta and Chuma drove out to get suya for everyone. We feasted in a light-hearted manner and went to bed.

Somehow, we all slept very soundly. Tara.

54—VANGUARD, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

Vanguard CLASSIFIED ONYEJI — I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Lilian Nkiruka Onyeji, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Lilian Nkiruka Okoro. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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Confirmation Of Name My correct name is Ofomudoro Cleopatra Ejovwoke, but some of my documents bear Ofomudoro Cleopatra, and Ofomudoro Cleopat Ejovw. This is to confirm that Ofomudoro Cleopatra Ejovwoke, Ofomudoro Cleopatra, and Ofomudoro Cleopat Ejovw is one and same person. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OVUZONYEN— I, formerly known and addressed as Parker Prince Ovuzonyen, now wish to be known and addressed as TimOwhefere Prince Ovuzonyen. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

SALMAN —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nimat Omowumi Salman, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nimat Omowumi Busari. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EDUKU — I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Eduku Rosemary, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Igbare Rosemary.

All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public please take note.

OKOYE — I, formerly known and and addressed as Miss Okoye Cynthia Ifeoma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Muotoe Cynthia Ifeoma. All former documents remain valid. Madonna University Elele, Pharmaceutical Society Of Nigeria, NYSC and general public please take note.

ASHIEKH — I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Fatima Ashiekh Hurso Bashir, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Fatima Muhammad El-Yakub.

All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

ADEJUMO— I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Rachael Adejumo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Rachael Williams.

All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

LADEBO —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ladebo Abiodun Precious, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Osagie Abiodun Precious. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OLASEHINDE —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Olasehinde Hope Tolulope, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ajibode Hope Tolulope.

All former documents remain valid. XL Management Services Limited and general public please take note.

ISUSU— I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Isusu Florence, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ojile Florence. All former documents remain valid. Delta State Civil Service Commission and general public please take note.

ONOTU —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Rita Asekegbe Onotu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Rita Asekegbe Ibizugbe. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NJOKU —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Njoku-Achu Ugochi Confidence, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ugochi Confidence Onuoha. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public please take note.

ONANUGA —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Onanuga Tolulope Mosunmola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ayeni Tolulope Mosunmola. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ABDULKADIRI —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Abdulkadiri Sherifat A., now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Usman Sherifat A. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public please take note.

OGU —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Christiana Ihuaku Ogu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Akutamadu Precious Ihuaku. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UCHEBENU —I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Beauty Uchebenu, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Beauty Ijirigho. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of Name

OKPODU— I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okpodu Gloria Eseoghene, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Agbane Gloria Eseoghene. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

OLETU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Monica Oghome Oletu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Monica Oghome Obiabo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

This is to confirm that my name is Ikpe Emmanuel Akuwudike Leon, even though some of my certificates bear Ikpe Emmanuel Akuwudike.I now wish to be known and addressed as Ikpe Emmanuel Akuwudike Leon. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NDIDIAHA—I, forABIODUN—I, formerly known and ad- LAGOS merlyOFFICE known and adVANGUARD'S dressed as Miss dressed as Miss Ndidiaha Chioma Abiodun Fatimoh, Loveth, now wish to now wish to be be known and adknown and addressed as Mrs. dressed as Miss Nwabunor Chioma Abiodun Fatimah Loveth. All former Adenike. All former documents remain documents remain valid. LASU and valid. UNILAG and general public please general public please take note. take note.

India boosts HIV, cancer treatment in Africa ...reduces cost of drugs by 75%

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BY VICTORIA OJEME

BUJA— PHARMA CEUTICAL companies in India has reduced the cost of drugs for the treatment of HIV/AIDS and cancer by almost 75%, as part of effort to boost the fight against the deadly diseases in Africa.

The India High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mahesh Sachdev stated in the Embassy’s weekly bulletin obtained at the weekend in Abuja that, Africa benefitted from India ’s export of $1.8 billion worth of low priced drugs for the treatment of HIV and cancer to the continent in 2011.

According to him, “as evidenced by $1.8 bn Indian pharma exports to Africa last year, this frugal innovative “Low Cost, High Volume” strategy does seem to work by offering hitherto unaffordable generic but genuine medicines to the African patients.

Speaking on the latest price slash of generic drugs for the treatment of cancer

by Indian pharmaceutical companies, Ambassador Sachdev said some of the companies had in May this year, “ introduced new anticancer medicines at prices that were up to 75% lower than comparable products in the market.

“Indian being a big market with large number of domestic producers, the medicines are normally competitively priced. However, there are exceptions: for instance, Bayer sells the branded “Nexavar”, a treatment for kidney and liver cancer, at Rs 284,428/- per month or nearly N28,000/per day (Re 1 = Naira 3), clearly not a medicine priced within reach of a

common Indian patient.

This week, Cipla has offered its generic equivalent “Sorafenib” at 6,840/- per month or at less than quarter of Nexavar’s price” “Cipla did not stop at just making the kidney cancer treatment much cheaper but went a step ahead by reducing cost of treatments for lung & breast cancer and brain tumour drugs: Cipla’s Lung & breast cancer drug Gestinib (sold under brand name Iressa

by AstraZeneca for Rs 10,000/-) will cost Rs 4,250/ -, while prices of is Temozolamide (sold by German pharma company Schering), used to treat brain tumor, have been cut from Rs 20,000/- to 5,000/” he added.

The Indian envoy stated further that, the price cut by Indian pharmaceutical companies was informed by its belief in the concept of the “process patient and not the product patent.

Though multinationals have continued to attempt at getting product patents in India, their argument about need to valorise their intellectual property has to be circumscribed by overall need to offer affordable healthcare to the needy He stated that Indian pharmaceutical companies had always been at the forefront of producing low priced drugs for the African continent, when other companies from other continents sought to sell the same drugs to Africa at a much higher rate, recalling, the offer of some Indian pharmaceutical companies in 2000, “ to sell first generic version of anti-HIV Triple Cocktail drug to African patients for $360/year per person instead of $10,000/- being charged by Pharma MNCs."

UPU declares May 26 as Urhobo day of prayers

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ARRI — THE Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) has declared Saturday, May 26, 2012 as the Urhobo National Day of Prayers, calling on all Urhobo sons and daughters to be part of the event.

In a release signed by the National Secretary of UPU, Elder John Onojakpor, he said the Urhobo National Day of Prayers being organised

by UPU in conjunction with Urhobo Prayer Network will kick off at 8.00 a.m. prompt at Urhobo Cultural Centre, Uvwiamuge-Agbarho.

According to the release, the theme of the

National Day of Prayers is “Let God Arise,” and it is intended to ask God for mercy and divine intervention in the affairs of Urhobo nation.

It read in part: “I am directed by the President-General of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Major-General Patrick Newton Aziza (rtd.)

CFR, mni to formally invite all Urhobo sons and daughters to the Urhobo National Day of Prayers organised by UPU in conjunction with Urhobo Prayer Network to ask God for mercy and divine intervention in the affairs of Urhobo nation.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012—55

Why we're insisting on new voters registration — Urhoghide Continues from Page 51

any issue pertaining to his stewardship in the last four years and what he intends to do in the next four years. He has not expressly told anybody how he is going to create jobs, he has not told anybody how he is going to combat crime; he has not told anybody how many health facilities he is going to improve upon; he has not told anybody how many education facilities he is going to improve upon; or how many more roads he is going to build.

When we say building new roads, not rehabilitation; he has not told anybody, in fact, the general insecurity and the uncertainty of the future are the only things that pervade his campaign.

This is very unfortunate. We want you to see too that on newspapers, radios and television Major-Gen. Arhiavbare has been talking on these issues.

He has never opened his mouth one day to abuse the person of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole or impugn on the integrity of his office.

That is maturity. We are equally cataloguing all these utterances of the PDP governorship candidate and we are going to make them public very soon, so that we know who is actually talking about issues and who is not.

There seems to be a sharp division among the parties on the capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to conduct free and fair polls?

Issues pertaining to the meeting yesterday called by INEC are issues that are c o m p l e t e l y constitutional.

INEC, by virtue of the constitution and the electoral Act, 2010 as amended has said that it is their constitutional responsibility to

C M Y K

*Urhoghide: Oshiomhole must apologize to the PDP for all cruel accusations upgrade the voters’ register. The reasons of upgrading the voters’ registers are;. One, those who were not of voting age, 18 years in the last general election that have come of age need to be registered so that they would be able to exercise their franchise.

Two, those persons who have relocated from one place to the other have rights to exercise their rights when the time comes, and more so the electoral act says in section 91, 35 and of course section in section 10 that the sole responsibility of continually updating the voters register and not only that, there is even a provision that 30 days to election, INEC too must update their register and that is what they must do so and the body is saying this must do it.

What the PDP is saying is that it is not our responsibility to enforce the law, what we are saying is, if the law is not enforced it can work against us, so it is our responsibility too to make sure that

INEC does its job.

It will be irresponsible on our part to allow people to subvert the position of the constitution and the electoral Act. We are not going to allow it; INEC is going to do its duties not minding whose ox is gored and if the ACN and those that want to collude with them because they don’t want the exercise to go ahead. We will insist on it, we are going to stand our ground and of course, we will let the world know that the issues of law must be taken into consideration; the provisions of the law must be taken into consideration and INEC has to do the right thing and they must abide by it.

If it is resolved to use the old voters register, will the PDP accept the decision?

If that is done, a lot of people will be disenfranchised. It will be wicked, inhuman for persons to be disenfranchised. There is no way that Nigerians who are of

voting age in the election will be disallowed. If INEC does that, it is going to be the first ground that will be very ripe for election petition because a lot of persons would have been disenfranchised. I know the parties are aware of this and I know the issues pertaining to electoral litigation, we are very vast in it and we will have no option but to take to that.

What are your chances in the July 14th 2012 Governorship election?

Well I think if you want to put it simply, we are ready and what we have to do is to be prepared. We have sold our programmes to the Edo people very responsibly and it is they that will decide, by the grace of God, their decision will be binding on us as a party.

But our programmes are what we are; we are going to sell it to Edo people irrespective of the distractions that we are getting.

Those who come to the market to sell must be able to put their leaves on their product so that they can be distinguishable. But of you don’t have anything to sell, for God’s sake, don’t pollute the air that is pervading in the market.

Rather, car r y your ware and leave the market, so, if they believe that they are causing all those distractions that we are seeing as the only thing that can make them win the election, we are going to resist it because Edo people will be the ultimate decider.

What do you think should be done to ease tension in the polity as the July 14, 2012 draws nearer?

First and foremost, as I told them in the state security meeting is that the person who is perpetrating this tension is the governor and the ACN. They are wrongly accusing the PDP; for instance if the governor said he knew those who killed Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, and you have told the people that the PDP are the killers, why do you put N10 million for anybody

who will provide information concerning the killers of Olaitan?

You should go to the law enforcement agents and give them sufficient information on how the PDP killed Olaitan.

Then if you know from you heart of hearts that it was a false accusation, then you should apologize to the party. So, that kind of accusation can create tension and indeed, it has created tension.

Your convoy had an accident and you accused the PDP of being responsible, did

that not create tension?

If he makes good his threat that he was going to take the law into his hand and strike back at PDP and its leaders, and it now happened that the state is in ungovernable and a state of emergency is declared, who will be at loss?

The president has the right to approve a sole administrator and all that he has now will no longer be available. So, what we are telling him is that if he makes the state ungovernable, he will be the utterly loser.

56 —

Vanguard,

MONDAY,

MAY 21, 2012

Prosters storm NATO summit in Chicago T

HOUSANDS of pro testers yesterday greeted NATO summit in gathering in Chicago where President Barack Obama and dozens of other world leaders were billed to meet.

Hours before the main demonstration was set to start, protesters were already gathering at Grant

Park holding signs including one that read: “NATO, Go Home.”

One protester walked with an American flag turned upside down. A day earlier, several hundred demonstrators wound through the city’s streets for hours, testing police who used bicycles to barricade off streets

...Taliban wants pull-out from Afghanistan

T

HE Taliban yester day urged all NATO nations in Afghanistan to follow France’s lead and pull their forces from the war. The call came in a three-page statement released just as heads of state opened the NATO summit in Chicago to talk about the future of Afghanistan.

The Taliban also took responsibility for a suicide bombing in southern Afghanistan. The newly elected president of France has said he will withdraw all French combat troops from Afghanistan by year’s end — a full two years before the timeline agreed to by nations in U.S.-led NATO coalition.

and horseback officers to coax them in different directions.

Increasingly tense clashes Saturday night between protesters and police resulted in 18 arrests, Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said. Most of Saturday’s demonstrations remained relatively small and peaceful, including one march to the home of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s former chief of staff.

But a later march stretched for hours as protesters zigzagged back and forth through downtown, some decrying terrorism-related charges leveled against three young men earlier in the day. Organizers pledged a larger crowd when protesters from the Occupy movement will join forces with an anti-war coali-

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C M Y K

sequently released from prison on compassionate grounds, sparking an international uproar. At the time, doctors had given the former security chief of Libyan Arab Airlines only a few months to live.

EOPLE in Libya’s second biggest city, Benghazi are expecting the result of last weekend vote in a local election that will test support for a proposal to set up autonomous rule for eastern Libya.

Benghazi was the cradle of last year’s revolt which overthrew Muammar Gaddafi but it is also

•Ali al-Megrahi When al Megrahi was released to Libya, he was given a “hero’s welcome” at the airport.

the home of a movement which, frustrated with the new national rulers, wants to turn Libya into a federal state with autonomous provinces.

Supporters of autonomy for Cyrenaica, the eastern province that includes Benghazi, were running in the election to choose a new city council.

Transgender contestant loses Miss Universe

T

ALACKOVA, who was one of four contestants named Miss Congeniality, was born a male and underwent a sex change four years ago.

The Vancouver, British Columbia, native was initially denied entry to Canada’s pageant because she was not born female.

Donald Trump, who runs the Miss Universe Organization, subsequently overruled that decision last month. The 6-foot-1 (1.8-meter-1 centimeter)

Hollande urges Greece to stay in euro zone

F

RENCH President Francois Hollande said at the weekend that he wanted Greece to stay in the euro zone, but expected the country to

meet its commitments.

“The message I gave was the hope that Greece stays in the euro zone, respects its commitments and is supported by Europe to stimulate its growth,” he

said.

Hollande said he had wanted to discuss Spanish and other bank recapitalization, but the G8 had not been the forum to deal with the issue.

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Benghazi expect result of vote

P

•Chicago police watching over the protesters.

Facebook: Zukerberg marries as Saverin faces citizenship row

Lockerbie bomber dies in Tripoli cancer in 2009 and subBDEL Basset Ali al-Megrahi, the former Libyan intelligence official who was sentenced to life in prison in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, has died, the Libyan government said yesterday. He was 60.

The bombing of the December 21, 1988 Pan Am flight from New York to London as it flew over Lockerbie, Scotland killed 270 people—259 people on board and 11 people on the ground—making it the world’s deadliest act of terror until the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

Megrahi, the only person convicted in connection with the bombing, had long maintained his innocence. He was sentenced to life in a Scottish prison in 2001.

Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah, another Libyan intelligence official charged in the bombing, was found not guilty.

“He was too sick to utter anything on his deathbed,” Megrahi’s brother Abdulhakim, who was with him in a Tripoli hospital when he died, told Reuters.

“We want people to know he was innocent.”

Megrahi was diagnosed with terminal prostate

tion to mark the opening day of the summit lyesterday.

“We want the world to focus on NATO — they’re not important and have no mandate anymore,” said Micah Philbrook, an Occupy Chicago spokesman, who criticized the large police presence Saturday. “They’re pushing us around and not letting anyone get out of the protest even if they want.

They ’re very aggressive.”

blond beauty, who towered over her fellow contenders while competing in the bikini and formal wear contests, garnered most of the attention Saturday night, soliciting loud cheering and howls each time she appeared on stage. Talackova’s involvement in the pageant has drawn international attention since being denied entry and hiring high-profile lawyer Gloria Allred to represent her in her battle to be readmitted.

EWLY minted bil lionaire Mark Zukerberg married his longtime girlfriend, the recently graduated Dr. Priscilla Chen in a private ceremony at the couple’s home in Palo Alto, Califoernia at the weekend with all the news that Facebook had been making in in stock market.

The 28-year-old Zukerberg tied the knot with Priscilla Chen even as his partner Eduardo Saverin faces problem for his plan to renounce his American citizenship to avoid paying millions in taxes to America.

Saverin flee to Singapore and he may be denied be barred from ever returning to the United States. In a press release on Thursday morning, Senators Chuck

•Dr. Priscilla Chen andher husband Mark Zukerberg

•Eduardo Saverin Schumer and Bob Casey called for changes in the

tax laws.

“The senators will call Saverin’s move an outrage and describe a plan to re-impose taxes on expatriates like Saverin even after they flee the United States and take up residence in a foreign country,” the release said, adding that the plan “would also bar individuals like Saverin from reentering the country.”

Al Gore finds new heartthrobe

T

HE Nobel Laureate and former vice president is seriously dating Elizabeth Keadle, a friend close to Liz confirms to ABC News. She’s described by The Washington Post as a “wellheeled Democratic donor from Southern California in her 50s with a background in science and a devotion to environmental causes.”

It’s not clear when the couple first starting dating, but the two have similar interests and seem to have been running in the same circles for years.

Keadle has long been a supporter of Democratic causes, donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democratic candidates at all levels of government.

She and her ex-hus-

band, Lyle Turner, were reportedly among the early investors in a venture that eventually became Gore’s cable channel CurrentTV. According to a 2002 San Diego Reader article, Gore attended a fundraiser held in San Diego by the Friends of Albert Gore, Jr., Inc. PAC - to which Turner and Keadle were major donors.

Vanguard, MIONDAY, MAY 21, 2012—57

A

S the world yesterday marked 2012 World Hypertension Day, a new report has shown that a 25 per cent increase in high blood pressure screening in 19 developing countries would reduce the number of cardiovascular disease, CVD, events and deaths that occur each year by up to 3 per cent in these countries.

The preliminary data presented during the World Congress of Cardiology organised by the World Heart Federation recently in Dubai is the first findings from a new report from Harvard that will be published later this year.

The study found that around 900 million people in developing countries have high blood pressure” but that only one-third are aware of their disease.

Moreover, only 100 million of these people receive treatment, while only 5 per cent of the totals are controlled.

Against this backdrop, the study was designed to assess the costeffectiveness of an intervention to increase screening by 25 per cent in developing countries using a non-lab screening tool to treat those with a systolic blood pressure of greater than 140 mmHg and CVD risk of greater than 20 per cent.

The study found that screening an additional 25 per cent of the population would lead to an increase of more than 10 per cent in the rate of appropriate treatment of hypertension in high-risk individuals.

The intervention would lead to about a 13 per cent reduction in CVD events and deaths. Furthermore, the incremental cost -effectiveness ratios of these screening programmes were found to be well below one times GDP

per capita in the 19 developing countries assessed.

Assistant Professor, Harvard School of Medicine, Dr. Thomas Gaziano said: “Strategies to increase the screening for hypertension could lead to significant reductions in CVD deaths, at costs that are considered to be acceptable according to WHO recommendations,”, CVD is the world’s biggest killer, claiming 17.3 million lives each year.1 More than 80 per cent of CVD deaths occur in lowand middle-income countries.

Projections suggest that CVD will remain the single leading cause of death, and by 2030 will be responsible for 23.6 million deaths each year.

Hypertension also known as High Blood Pressure is one of the major preventable risk factors for premature death from CVD worldwide.

High blood pressure contributes to around half of all CVD and the risk of developing CVD doubles for every 1 O-point increase in diastolic blood pressure. High blood pressure that is left untreated can greatly increase a person’s risk of developing CVD. Treating raised blood pressure has been associated with a 35-40 per cent reduction in the risk of stroke and at least a 16 per cent reduction in the risk- of myocardial infarction.

Pfizer NEAR marks world hypertension Day in Lagos

I

N line with its vision of ‘ working together for a healthier world’, Pfizer NEAR yesterday restated its commitment towards ensuring that Nigerian population is taken care of especially in the area of cardiovascular medicine.

The World Hypertension Day is celebrated globally on May 17 of every year. The World Hypertension Day, WHD was first inaugurated in May 2005 by the World

,

25% increase in HPB screening in developing countries 'll reduce incidence of CVD — Report

The normal blood pressure is about 120/ 80, where 120 represent the systolic measurement and 80 represents thediastolic measurement

,

Hypertension League and has become an annual event ever since.

The purpose of the WHD is to promote public awareness of hypertension and to encourage citizens of all countries to prevent and control this silent killer, the modern

epidemic. The theme of this year’s WHD is "Healthy Lifestyle- Health Blood Pressure” Hypertension, a cardiovascular medical condition can also be called high blood pressure and it is a condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated to a level likely to induce cardiovascular damage or other adverse consequence.

Blood pressure is the measurement of the force applied against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body. The normal blood pressure is about 120/80, where 120 represent the systolic measurement (peak pressure in the arteries) and 80 represents the diastolic measurement (minimum pressure in the arteries). Blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 is called pre-hypertension (to denote increased risk of hypertension), and a blood pressure of 140/90 and above is considered hypertension.

There are several risks factors that have been associated with the condition and these include; smoking, obesity, diabetes, sedentary lifestyle, high level of salt intake, stress, aging, high level of alcohol consumption, chronic kidney disease, genetics and a family history of hypertension, but to mention a few.

According to Dr. Kodjo Soroh, Medical Director Pfizer NEAR, “this silent killer is on high rampage because, people with this condition do not usually exhibit symptoms and if untreated, it damages the arteries and vital organs in the body; and this ignorance can last for years.” For this reason he advises that blood pressure screenings should be done periodically.

In a bid to further strengthen its position as the market leader in Cardiovascular Medicine, Pfizer NEAR recently inaugurated a Cardiovascular Summit Faculty Board. This board is made up of eminent Medical Practitioners, past speakers and facilitators at previous annual cardiovascular summits.

LWI to partner business firms on increased health investment

L

B Y MICHAEL EBOH

IVEWELL Initiative, LWI, a NonGovernmental Organisation, NGO, has expressed its readiness to partner and encourage financial institutions and other blue chip companies in Nigeria to increase their social sector investment and support for the health sector.

Mrs. Bisi Bright, First Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive, LWI, who said this at its Grand Health Bazaar, GHB 2012, in Lagos, also said it is committed to promoting worklife balance, workplace wellness, healthy living and health consciousness among Nigerians.

She disclosed that it plans to partner with stakeholders in key sectors of the Nigerian economy to increase health C M Y K

awareness and promote access to healthcare in the country.

An example of its commitment to healthcare development, she noted, is its Grand Health Bazaar GHB 2012, where it partnered the United States Consulate General, Skye Bank Plc, Pfizer Specialities, Central Bank of Nigeria, West African Health Organisation WAHO, Symbion Power, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Plc, UTC Nigeria Plc, Nestle Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc and May & Baker Nigeria Plc and the Lagos State Government among others.

Bright explained that LWI will empower the executives of these organizations by ensuring that they take steps towards attaining an equilibrium

between work and life, by catering for their health and wellbeing. “What is needed is not only health insurance policy but also quality attention to their health’” she noted.

Continuing, she stated, “We discovered long ago that people generally indulge in unhealthy habits and they do nothing much about their health until there is an exigency or emergency.

“The situation is also worsened by the fact that the health sector separates itself from other sectors of the economy without truly realising it, thus the idea at LWI is to organise a multi-sectoral, multi-disciplinary, crosscutting exposition which would bring the health sector and organised private sector together in a mutually synergistic atmosphere of commerce and networking, for the benefit of the health of the people.”

She added that LWI will also continue to provide free healthcare, medicines and consultation to the grassroots populace - people in marketplace, mechanic villages and taxi park among others.

She said its academy- LWI Academy, will provide training in first aid/CPR, health safety and environmental management, immunisation, HIV&AIDS, diabetes education, patient hospitality, adherence concordance and clinical governance and, project management in healthcare.

“We also run community health outreaches in rural, semi rural and urban communities, deworming the children, teaching school children about etiquette etc.,

58—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

168 hrs behind bars at Kirikiri

zHow a reporter ended up in the gallows after ordeal with driver, conductor

By DONALD ARJI

W

hen the conductor

saw what happened, he went back to beat up the girl. Other passengers, who were enraged by his callousness intervened.

While this was happening, I was still patiently waiting inside the bus, busy browsing with my phone never minding the scuffle between the parties, but when I got bored with everything, I went to the conductor to get my N400 balance. Instead of giving me my balance, the conductor and his driver transferred their aggression on me, grabbed my shirt, saying I allowed the girl to run away, that I will pay for her. While the struggle to free myself from their grip continued, the driver made calls and boasted that he was a soldier and also a barracks boy. Soon, four militarymen appeared from nowhere and without asking questions, joined the conductor and his driver in unleashing terror on a ‘bloody civilian’ like me. It was the timely intervention of an elderly woman who told the angered uniformed men what led to the the ugly scenario, that made them to stop manhandling me. But, by then, I was left only with my pant and shoe, my bag containing my laptop,my wrist watch,blackberry bold 5 and Nokia phones,digital camera and other vital property, were forcefully taken away. At this stage, other helpless passengers, who witnessed my ordeal, pleaded that I should leave the scene and even promised to buy new wears for me. Still shocked at the fate that befell me, I quietly decided to go home and nurse my wound and bruised ego not C M Y K

•Donald

•CP Lagos, Mr. Umaru Manko

knowing that my ordeal was just starting.

Another attack As soon as I left the scene and was walking along the road, I was attacked by the conductor and his driver from behind. The conductor hit me with a stone on the head and blood was gushing out from the wound. When the passengers and other passersby noticed this, they seized the conductor, beat him up while the driver escaped. While the crowd was planning to take the conductor to the nearest police station, he ran away. I went after him and as I was pursuing him, he was shouting that I was a thief.

S

urprisingly,

another

group of people who were ignorant of what was happening intercepted the conductor. He told them I was a thief trying to rob him. The crowd turned round and pounced on me without asking questions. Again, it was the timely arrival of some of the passengers in the bus that saved me from being lynched. Before then, they had beaten me to stupor while the conductor was busy narrating fake stories of how I wanted to rob him until the arrival of the passengers who explained that I was innocent of the accusation. The crowd turned back to the conductor and after asking him why he told lies against me, they descended on him. They then decided to take him to Ojo Police Station, but on crossing to the other side of the road, the conductor fell down, pretending to be dead. When efforts they made to revive him failed, the crowd turned to me, claiming that I have killed him, that I should take responsibility by taking him to the hospital for treatment. Still shocked by the unfolding drama and nursing my pains, I saw some policemen on patrol and I quickly beckoned on them to intervene. When they came to the place where the con-

ductor was lying, they checked him and poured water all over his body and he raised his head slowly. On noticing that policemen were around, he fell down again on the floor.

Surprisingly, the policemen whom I thought would save the situation left the scene without taken any action. This time round, some touts and other people around forced me to carry the conductor to a hospital which I did.

The first hospital I took him to demanded card before they would give treatment and we were charged N1,500. Since I was not with any money, another conductor, who claimed he knew me, gave me N1,500, but when we

,

How it all started ON April 26, about 7:30pm, I boarded a bus from Mile 2 going to Volkswagen bus-stop on Lagos-Badagry Expressway and the conductor charged passengers N100. I gave him N500 hoping to get a balance of N400. On getting to Agboju bus-stop, a girl joined the bus, but before entering, she pleaded with the conductor to accept N80 as she will be getting down at Agric busstop (a bus-stop before Volkswagen). The conductor agreed.

She entered the bus and we continued with the journey until we got to Agric bus-stop. When the bus stopped, the conductor dragged the tray she was holding, asking for his balance. As she was explaining to other passengers that the conductor had agreed she pay less, he seized her tray and ran into the bus while the driver zoomed off, leaving the girl running after the bus. Few yards away from the scene, the bus got stuck into a ditch, making it impossible for us to move again. At this stage, the conductor went down to push the bus leaving the tray with his driver.

A passenger who witnessed the desperation of the girl to recover her tray picked it and threw it back to her.

At this stage, the conductor went down to push the bus leaving the tray with his driver, one of the passengers who witnessed the desperation of the little girl to recover her tray quickly picked it and threw it back to her

approached the nurses again to treat him, they said we must bring police report before they will commence treatment. When I wanted to go to Ojo Police Station to obtain the report, the touts stopped me, insisting that I should take him to Graceland Medical Centre where he could be treated without police report, which I did and we were charged N2,000 for a card.

I

lings to the conductor, completed the money and treatment started immediately. When he finished the drip at 11pm and was discharged by the doctor, we were asked to leave the hospital; thinking that everything was settled. I decided to go home.

Attempt to throw me into a canal As I was about leaving, the brothers to the conductor and six others dragged me into a bus saying that they will take me to my house to give them the money they spent in treating the him. I felt relieved when they said they were taking me to my house knowing, of course, that it will be a succour as I will give them the money

begged them that I

had only N1,500 with me but all my pleas fell into deaf ears.

While I was pleading with them, the run-away driver rushed inside the hospital alongside six other boys who claimed to be sib-

,

not knowing that they had other plans. On the way, I noticed they had passed the route that leads to my house and taking me to Agbara, in Ogun State. It was then I started shouting for help.

When some vigilante group, who were on patrol, heard my cry, they chased the bus with their patrol van,overtook and stopped them.

On interrogation, they claimed I was a thief, that I stole their N15,000 at Volkswagen bus-stop, The group asked them why I wasn’t taken to Ojo or Okoko police station. As they were unable to give a good reason, they then turned us back and asked them to take me to the station. The mistake the vigilante made was not to follow us because when they noticed they were not been fol-

lowed, they turned and drove towards Iyana-Era. As they drove towards Ilogbo Police Ptation, one of them cupped my mouth with his hands to prevent me from crying out. I was taken to Iyana-Igbede canal where they stopped, tied me with a rope and a stone and attempted to throw me inside the canal when another vigilante group challenged them. They told them the same false story but the vigilante men did not allow me to say anything.

From there, I was taken to Ajangbadi-Ilemba-Hausa Divisional Police Station at Ajangbadi in Ojo. When they got there, they made an entry and without listening to my part of the story, the DCO ordered that I should be detained.

MY WRONGFUL DETENTION That was how I ended up being detained without any of the policemen asking me my side of the story and all efforts I made to explain how I ended up there were met with open threats and abuses. It was after about two days that they told me that I was free to call my parents to come with N10,000 for my bail else I would remain in the cell indefinitely. I then gave one of them my home address and they went and called my mother. When my mother came, she pleaded to pay N5,000 but they refused. They later agreed and I was bailed. But before I was bailed, the DCO asked one Corporal Victor Akuke, who was the investigative police officer to call the complainant.

When he listened carefully for the first time, after I had spend over 48 hours in the cell, he came to realise that I was not supposed to be detained. He, therefore, ordered that the complainants be detained and I should be bailed.

MY TRIP TO PRISON YARD After a sense that all was fine and I was preparing to go to the hospital since the police asked me to treat my self, Akuke called my mother to say that the lawyer to the duo wanted to bail them, that I should come to the station, which I did. At the station, I saw the IPO but when I asked him about the lawyer, he told me he just left to get something that I should wait for him. After almost an hour for the lawyer to turn up, I got bored and told him that I can’t wait further. He then brought out the driver and the conductor and said he wanted to take them to court, that I should accompany them. Suspicious of their movement, I called my mother to come over to the Ojo Magistrate’s Court since I was forced by the police officer. On our way to the court, he told us to get N15,000 and we will go home.

I never knew he had worked things out with the complainant to include me in the crime. Before my mum could get to the court, we had already been arraigned before the magistrate on a one count charge of affray. We pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of N50,000 each with two sureties.

When we could not meet up with the demand that day, we were remanded at Kirikiri Prison where I spent one week. I came out after meeting up with the bail conditions.

Vanguard, MOND AY, MA Y 21, 2012—59 MONDA MAY

Bomb blast: Narrow escape for four persons, suspected bomber

BY SUZAN EDEH

N

People’s Hotel after the bomb blast. happened , although people residing in the area have been spreading rumours that the place will come under attacks by terrorists,” he said.

In his own account of the incident, the owner of the hotel, Mr.Okejwu Eziwsi said it happened around nine in the night and that the person threw the bomb from outside through the gate of the hotel. “The bomb was thrown from outside into the hotel and when it landed inside, it affected part of the

,

IGHT activities in the ev ery busy Bayan Gari area of Bauchi metropolis may never be the same again. This is sequel to a bomb blast which rocked the town recently.

The area affected by the explosion is reputed to be one of the liveliest places in Bauchi State and notorious for the activities of prostitutes, drunks and drug addicts.

Vanguard Metro learnt that the bomb blast which injured four persons on that fateful day happened around 9pm at the People’s Hotel located behind the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium.

According to an eyewitness who pleaded anonymity, the bomb exploded at the time when the hotel was booming with customers who usually come to the place to relax, drink beer and look for night hawkers. He described the incident as very traumatizing because nobody expected something like that to happen.

According to him, the hotel has since its commencement not recorded a single ugly incident not to talk of a bomb explosion.

He said: “The People’s Hotel is one of the most bubbling places in Bauchi. Normally when people close from work for the day, they usually come to the hotel to relax and enjoy themselves and the time customers normally fill the hotel is around that 9 to 11 in the night.

We were just in the hotel, and around 9pm, we heard a loud bang that almost deafened my ear drums. Before we knew it there was confusion and shouting everywhere. People were scampering for safety and at that time, nobody was sure who was wounded or who died.

I thank God that he spared my life that day”.

One of the bar attendants (names undisclosed) also narrated how the explosion occurred. He said he was doing his usual work of serving beer to the customers when suddenly he heard a loud explosion. He explained that he did not know the direction the explosion came from. “After the bomb explosion all I saw was that part of the building housing the hotel was shattered with people running helter-skelter to safeguard their lives. Since the hotel has been established in this area, nothing of this nature has ever

There was confusion and shouting everywhere; people were scampering for safety and at that time, nobody was sure who was wounded or who died; I thank God that he spared my life that day

,

building of the hotel”.

Confirming the incident to newsmen at the police headquarters in Bauchi, the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ladan, said that the bomb exploded around 9pm and injured a woman, three other men and a suspected bomber.

Ladan said that the victims were, however, rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Uni-

versity, ATBU, for treatment.

According to him, three of the victims have already been discharged.

Continuing, the Police Commissioner said: “We suspect that the remaining victim currently on admission is the one that carried out the bombing because of the degree of injury on his body, but we are still investigating the matter. Part of the building was blown off by the blast and there was no record of causality”. He stated that when the suspect was interrogated, he alleged that some unidentified men within the Bauchi market area came and enquired if he was a policeman.

The suspect added that before he knew it, the men over-

powered him and took him away, adding that he suddenly saw himself at the scene of the blast.

According to a security source, the affected hotel was a target during the Shariah crisis which started from Zamfara State and the last post-presidential election violence, but that it took security intelligence to avert any ugly scene. He explained that the casualty figure in that Sunday blast was low because the owner of the hotel was earlier advised to close down the business and that he was in the process of doing so hence the number of fun-seekers to the hotel has drastically reduced.

In a similar incident, two policemen and a civilian have

been killed in a coordinated armed attack and bombing of two police stations and three new banks in two local government area of the state. The banks are First Bank, Access Bank and GTB. Vanguard Metro gathered that the incident occurred at about 1am Saturday morning in the headquarters of Misau and Shira local government area of the state.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ladan also confirmed the incident. “Yes, it is true that there was an attack in Yana town in Misau and Shira local government area of the state. Hoodlums attacked the banks with explosives before gaining access into the bank, but the police are yet to ascertain the extent of damage and investigationsare still ongoing,” he said.

A Police source said the civilian who died is suspected to be one of the armed attackers who succeeded in carting away all the money in the strong room of the first generation banks that were attacked.

Meanwhile, two other people were killed in an early morning attack in Kutaro village in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of the State on Friday night.

The two people who were also seriously injured in the attack carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen have been taken to the Jos University Teaching Hospital in neighbouring Plateau state for treatment.

Kutaro village was attacked about this time in May last year and is now the fourth village to be attacked in the area this year.

Amaechi compensates families of 23 slain policemen

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

T

HE Rivers State Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi has doled out a cheque of N23 million to compensate families of twenty three Policemen who died in active service in the state.

The governor who gave the cheques through the Deputy Director, Military/Security in the office of the Secretary to the state government, Sir Omeodu Edisom, at the Police Officers Mess in Port Harcourt, said it was one way his administration

could stimulate commitment to national service among security officers.

While urging Police men in the state not to be demoralised by the death of their colleagues, Amaechi said the state government would continue to do everything to assist the police and security operatives in the state to effectively combat crime. The governor said the slain policemen were gallant and bold, adding that they would be greatly missed.

Sixteen families got their cheques at the event while one of the families according to Sir

Edisom had earlier been issued theirs. He said those who could not make it to the event would get theirs at the Police headquarters in Port Harcourt.

The State Police Commissioner, Mr Mohammed Indabawa who was full of gratitude to the state governor explained that the compensation was from the state government, assuring that the benefits due the deceased policemen from the Police would come to them.

He further appealed to governors to emulate governor Amaechi.

60 — V anguard Vanguard anguard,,

MOND AY , MA Y 21 MONDA MAY 21,, 2012 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 CANCER: Whatever anybody says or does, you will have both your say and way. Venus and Jupiter may tempt some of you to embrace illicit (or secret) romance within your base of operation.

LEO: Venus and Jupiter at positive angles may tempt you to join some of your friends who are already onboard of merry making train. Watch your health.

VIRGO: Good luck will smile at many and induce love of luxury merry making and romantic association. Genuine lovers will need to be on guard against deceit from new admirers.

LIBRA: Both financial success and emotional satisfaction are closed to you than before. Those of you travelling because of maters-of-the-heart are in for an exciting romantic day Those ambitious career-wise will succeed after few struggles.

SCORPIO: Many members of your opposite sex will go out of their ways to attract your romantic interest. This is the wrong time to engage on unnecessary argument.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

I

guess you are wondering who is that plague we are talking about here?

In case you don’t know, the plague we are talking about is

Avoiding the plague that brother or sister of yours who doesn’t believe in you, it is that friend of yours who doesn’t believe in your dream, it is that office colleague

TERROR MUDA

of yours who sees nothing good in your dream, it is that uncle of yours who keeps on belittling you, it is that neighbour of yours

in “Never say goodbye”

who have no faith in you.

Whoever does not believe in you, your dream and your vision is not qualified to be closed to you.

Avoid them like a plague.

By Kola Fayemi

SAGITTARIUS: If you priority is love, much of it would come your way as desired. But here is a better day for more ambitious in the business world. Don’t allow anybody to deceive you over money.

CAPRICORN: Those of you with secret admirers within your working area will have the needed opportunities to make the needed moves. Resist the temptation to deceive others.

AQUARIUS: Although matters-of-the-heart may give you cause to smile broadly, if care is not taken, you would cause friction that can’t help you r case at work. This is the wrong time for unnecessary scheming within your working arena.

PISCES: Those of your who are red-blooded for romance may have an exciting and satisfying day. Happenings within your social circles must be taken more seriously.

ARIES: Confrontation may come your way in the circle but the heavens are working favourably for you. Some doses of romance is not too much for you on a day like this.

TAURUS: Provided you don’t allow your innate ability to be as diplomatic as necessary desert you, things work favourably for you to the betterment of your finances.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

GEMINI: Many of you will be in sentimental mood and exhibit strong romantic desire openly. But then, if care is not taken, you may be carried away to the detriment of your finances. Serious minded lovers are in for happy day.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What’s my horoscope?

Dear Joshua, I was born on September 13, 1962. I want you to give me my comprehensive horoscope, especially what my special gift is.

Which day of the week was I born? Where were my natal planets and their meanings? Who am I? Yetunde, Mushin.

Dear Yetunde, There is no space for comprehensive horoscope but what you’ll have here -under is answer to your questions/ You were born on a Thursday and your special gift is LEADERSHIP quality.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA Date of Birth: Thursday, September 13, 1962 Sun Sign: Virgo: Sun in 20th Degree of Virgo Moon Sign: PISCES: Moon on 10th Degree of Pisces Mercury in 16th Degree of Libra Venues in 5th Degree of Scorpio Mars in 13th Degree of Cancer Jupiter in 6th Degree of Pisces Saturn in 5th Degree of Aquarius Uranus in 2nd Degree of Virgo Neptune in 11th Degree of Scorpio Pluto in 10th Degree of Virgo North Node in 6th Degree of Leo South Node in 6th Degree of Aquarius Quality and Element Cardinal and air star signs hosted two planets each fixed and earth three each, no planet in fire while mutable and water star signs hosted five planets each.

Push-full influence = 20% Non- push-full element = 80% Final dispositor = Lucky Jupiter General Analysis Just 20 per cent of push-full influence in your chart can deceptively present you to others as a soft (or even timid) person but practical Virgo that hosted nothing less than three heavenly bodies when you were born and Astrological aspects between Mercury (mental focus) and aggressive Mars in you r chart are pointers to the contrary.

Yes! You are highly intelligent and your mind works the same way detective’s minds do. It is true, there are little contradictions between your inner self and your emotional being as indicated quality, water element and Virgo characteristics.

One moment, you can be very emotional, exhibiting temper with stinging tongue but a few hour later you are amiable, easy going, friendly and compassionate. You are the adaptable type who will see changes as sources of good opportunities.

LEADERSHIP quality is one of your greatest gifts from God. placement of your natal sun (basic-selfhood) and moon (your emotional being) in Virgo and Pisces respectively mean that characteristics of both Virgo and Pisces are highly pronounced in your inner-self.

Commen3

by Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012 — 61

W

HAT a bizarre headline for a sports column.

I owe you an explanation.

As you are reading this, the victorious U-20 Women National team are less than six hours away from touch down at the Abuja Airport, on board Ethiopian Airlines from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

After a 4-0 drubbing of their Congolese counterparts in Abeokuta two weeks ago, one would have expected the second leg match to be a formality, but Coach Edwin Okon would not hear of it. He will rather we forget the first leg and start afresh.

The team left Abuja last Wednesday, sporting a business disposition and the Abuja-Accra-AddisBrazzaville-Kinshasha route did not help matters.

For those who have been to Kinshasha before, the Boulevard De Mulumba which links the airport to the city has always been an eyesore, cruel introduction to the country, even as you struggle to pass through a crowded market.

Thursday May 17 was not different worsened by the massive road construction going on in the spirit of President Joseph Kabila’s gospel of rehabilitation and modernisation Thursday May 17 is also a public holiday held to celebrate six years of the liberation of DR Congo from the stranglehold of Mobutu Sese Seko in 1997 by Laurent Desire Kabila, late father of the current President.

There is joy and politicking everywhere yet history for now is of no interest to the Falconets.

All the girls needed was to get to their hotel rooms take a shower and sleep. We pray the hotel will be worth their while.

Beverley Hotel is a block of luxury apartments. I was there last year on CAF duty as General Coordinator, Sunshine Stars used the place during their Confedreation Cup Sojourn, so I assured the team that it was “okay”.

The tired girls get their rooms, training is skipped, dinner is served and the team retires.

Friday May 18 is eventful. The host oblige an early morning training in the main stadium which was repeated by match time, 3.30pm. The pre match meeting is

50 minutes to Japan, girls on strike and the P-Square fever held, and Nigeria suddenly discovers that two of the referees are from Congo Brazzaville!. Protest? We decide not to.

Not even Kinshasha referees can stop us from this journey to Japan.

Then, catastrophy.

News filters out, that the Congolese girls have gone on strike. They skipped Thursday evening and Friday morning training to protest the non payment of their allowances. They say they will not play the match. Newly appointed Sports Minister BanzaMukalahi Sumdu is devastated. He rushes to the girls’ hotel to plead with them. He says he is just ten days in office that the girls should please give him the benefit of the doubt, they should go ahead and play and leave the rest to him. The girls pray for at least two hundred dollars each and say they will get back to him Saturday morning ( (Match day ) I break the news to the Nigerian delegation. We decide to keep it away from the girls. We do not want anything that will make them drop their guards. I wish our girls knew the efforts put in by the Nigeria Football Federation to guarantee their welfare. Meanwhile we are also in the dark.

Will they or will they not play? Newspapers are not published on Saturdays here so there is news darkness…..

Saturday afternoon, the Nigerians get to the stadium, no sign of the Congolese Leopards. Ten minutes later, there are wild shouts of joy as the host team makes a grand entrance to the delight of the few Congolese that had made it to the stadium.

The Ethiopian referee signals the commencement of the match and the Congolese react like a house on fire, taking the battle to their Nigerian counterparts in a

very aggressive and determined manner all of four minutes. Then it happened. Against the run of play, the Nigerians counter attack. Okobi Ngozi Sonia takes what appears to be a w e a k shot……GOAL!!!!!!!!

Now the Congolese need to score six to oust Nigeria. “Pas Possible” say the French. Japan, here we come!

It has taken just fifty minutes to guarantee a FIFA world Cup qualification. After all are we are not losing finalists of the last edition? We go on to score two more goals through Desire Oparanozie and Ordega Fransisca. Icings on a cake well baked in Abeokuta and cut at the Stade de Martyrs in Kinshasha.

Take a bow coach Edwin Okon on behalf of your coaching crew that includes Nigeria’s female football legend Florence Omagbemi.

Take a bow petite captain Ofoegbu Gloria, followed by Whyte Ibubeleye in goal, Njoku Ugo, Nku Cecilia, Chukwunonye Josephine, Osawaru Jennifer, Adule Charity, Ordega Francisca, Oparanozie Desire, Okobi Sonia, Sunday Ukpong, Nwankwo Chioma, Edoho Blessing, Okafor Ugochi, Adeyemo Ajoke, Orji Ebere, Sunday Lopez and Oshola Lamina.

Glory girls all.

We walk tall, confidence and proud gait, cheered all the way as the team drives out triumphant from the stadium, with the green white green occupying pride of place. Yes it feels good being a Nigerian. As you punctuate qualification party and retire to take your shower, the joy is amplified as the air waves go crazy heralding the June 3 date that will see P-Square performing at the Sharks Club in Kinshasha.

See you next week.

62 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

We are the champions

THE CHAMPS... Members of the Chelsea squad, (L-R) Ashley Cole, Captain John Terry, Didier Drogba , Jose Bosingwa and others in joyous celebration as they leave Stamford Bridge Stadium.

TOP MEN... Chelsea's keeper Petr Cech (l) and Didier Drogba embrace after helping their club to win the Champions League trophy

TOUGH CONTEST...

Bayern Munich's Thomas Mueller (l) a n d Chelsea's John Obi Mikel vie for the ball during their UEFA Champion League final SUPPORTERSHIP... Chelsea football fans fill Kings Road to celebrate with their heroes.

HELPING HANDS... Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery (r) is helped by Diego Contento in readiness for the penalty shoot out.

C M Y K

AGONY... Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger (r) and Captain Phillipp Lahnm in shock after their loss.

TIME-2-SMILE... Chelsea's Frank Lampard (l) and Petr Cech wave to fans after the team's victory.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012 — 63

Champions League: Chelsea rake in N18b Abigor wants national summit for sports U EFA Champions League champions, Chelsea have pocketed £72m for their victory over Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena and qualification for next season’s Champions League.

Drogba’s winning spot-kick is worth £47m while the cash reward for their qualification for the 2012-2013 Champions League in £25m, a massive sum for the London club which had they not won the final against Bayern, were not going to qualify for Europe’s elite football competition because they finished outside the top four.

Owner Roman Abramovich who has invested £1BILLION in realising his Euro dream, was in tears as the players passed him the trophy.

Thomas Muller put Bayern ahead on 83

minutes but Drogba — who is out of contract this summer — equalised two minutes from time.

Petr Cech saved a penalty from former Blues team-mate Arjen Robben in extra time. And he kept out efforts by Ivica Olic and Bastian Schweinsteiger in the shootout.

Juan Mata also missed for Chelsea in the shootout but Drogba made up for that.

Chelsea’s caretaker boss Roberto Di Matteo, with the FA Cup already under his belt, has now won two trophies in less than three months in charge — yet might still not get the job full-time.

The Italian said: “We have a group of players with a big heart, passion, motivation and desire.

“That is the only way to be able to achieve this trophy. It’s been an immense effort from the whole group, staff, players. We are very happy."

BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE

C

JUMP.....Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel (L) and Bayern Munich’s Thomas Mueller jump for the ball during the final on May 19. Photo: AFP

…to name coach June 18 C

HELSEA have an nounced they intend to appoint a full-time manager by June 18, with caretaker Roberto Di Matteo among the candidates.

Former Chelsea player Di Matteo has guided the team to a sensational double of FA Cup and Champions League success since taking over sacked manager Andre Villas-Boas in March.

The Italian, who was sacked by West Bromwich Albion in February 2011 despite guiding the club into the English Premier League, claims to be unconcerned about the speculation regarding the managerial vacancy at Stamford Bridge.

NFF hails Mikel

T

HE Nigeria Foot ball Federation has congratulated Nigeria international midfielder John Mikel Obi for winning the Uefa Champions League title with English Premiership club Chelsea in Munich on Saturday night.

NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari said on Sunday that Mikel Obi is a pride to the Nigerian nation, and deserves plaudits from all and sundry not only for his club’s victory, but for his personal commitment and high performance in the campaign.

Maigari said: “We are

all very proud of Mikel Obi, and we congratulate him for this sweet victory. More gladdening is the fact that he was not a docile member of the team, or a benchwarmer. He was very active and played his part brilliantly in ensuring a magnificent triumph for Chelsea.

“The whole nation should praise the young man. He fought hard and showed dedication all through the campaign and in the process, lifted our country’s name high in international football,” said Maigari.

We proved you all wrong — Cech

P

ETR CECH claims Champions League glory was Chelsea’s “revolt” against all the doubters.

The Blues keeper defied an Arjen Robben extra-time penalty and two shoot-out spot-kicks to stun favourites Bayern Munich in their own Allianz Arena.

And Cech - celebrating a “dream” early 30th birthday present - believes Chelsea’s 4-3 triumph on penalties after a 1-1 draw proved everyone wrong.

C M Y K

He said: “It was a kind of revolt against everybody because everything was going against us and we didn’t have results.

“Andre Villas-Boas had to leave.

“He was sacked and everybody was saying, ‘You have no chance against Napoli, second leg’.

“Everybody wrote us off against Barcelona, everybody said that Bayern is playing at home, that we have missing players, and we have no chance.

“So, we kept proving everybody wrong.”

Like Drogba - who followed up his 88th minute equaliser with the decisive shoot-out strike - Cech insisted Chelsea’s triumph was their destiny.

The Czech international, who has been at Stamford Bridge since 2004, added: “It must have been because all those years we’ve been really doing well in the league and were so unlucky in the Champions League.

Eagles flight to Peru cancelled after drugs arrest

S

UPER Eagles failed to depart for Peru for a friendly after a passenger on the Madrid-bound flight was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of drugs, an official has confirmed.

Nigeria team spokesman Ben Alaiya said the Iberia flight was cancelled after the Nigerian drugs enforcement agency arrested a passenger, while another suspected passenger escaped.

“The airline announced that they could no longer fly according to international regulations and as such the national team could not leave for Peru on Saturday night,” Alaiya said.

“The team were expected to fly out on lastnight.”

Wednesday’s friendly in Lima against hosts Peru is part of the country’s buildup for next month’s 2014 World Cup and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Super Eagles host Namibia in a World Cup qualifier on June 3 in the southern coastal city of Calabar, before they travel to Malawi the following week.

HAIRMAN of Warri Wolves, Godwin Abigor, who is an ardent follower of sports globally has said that only a combination of sports ministry and that of education will drive any effort to resurrect Nigerian sports from its present rot.

Abigor insists that a policy to this effect is necessary since administrators have failed to heed the advice of technocrats who advocate return to the grassroots for sports to grow in Nigeria. Abigor says “school sports and not proliferation of academies will make sports in Nigeria greater than it was even in the said glory days of Nigerian sports.”

He wants Nigeria to emulate Jamaica in making physical education compulsory in secondary schools and says “if we have a policy to revive sports in secondary schools I give you only five years after that and you can’t believe the impact we would have made in world sports.”

He recalled the past when secondary schools produced international athletes like Nduka Odizor, Comfort Ighagbuan, Charlton Ehizuelen, Moses Egbusien, Innocent Egbunike, Henry Nwosu, Stephen Keshi etc, noting that Nigeria will be great again in sports if sports is made a tradition in schools. ”Our biggest problem is our inability to be consistent in what we are

•Abigor good at. We easily abandon the things that we are good at otherwise why should we allow sports in schools to die?

Now people talk of academies which are not being run well but our greatest academies should be the schools.

There, with the sports tradition in place, we will produce world athletes. Jamaica is doing it. We did it in the past. We can still do it again. If we need the 36 states to hold a summit to push for a policy that will revive sports in schools let’s hold such a summit and wake up from this slumber that is killing us.

We abandoned UBE and now we lack professional teachers.

We abandoned school sports and our sports is down. Even games masters we don’t have again. School sports suits our environment and culture, so let’s go for it. That is one sure way out.” Abigor was so passionate about this that he volunteered to continue to drum it hard on policy makers “ until the right thing is done.”

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

London stands still for Blues

T

ENS of thousands of Chelsea fans gave their team a hero’s welcome on Sunday as they made an open-top bus parade through their west London home after their Champions League win over Bayern Munich.

Blue-clad fans lined the streets and roared their delight as the hero of Saturday’s victory Didier Drogba held the trophy aloft, flanked by captain John Terry, who was suspended for the final in Munich.

The bus was emblazoned

with a banner proclaiming “Champions of Europe” and Drogba, who scored the decisive spot kick in the penalty shootout, milked the cheers of the crowd.

Fans cheered and sounded horns as the bus passed along the route.

It was the first time that Chelsea have won Europe’s biggest club prize and fulfilled the ambition of their oligarch owner Roman Abramovich, who has pumped hundreds of millions of pounds into the club.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012 BLUE HEAVEN — Chelsea on parade yesterday with their FA Cup and Champions League trophy.

Champions League fall-out:

Chelsea rake in N18b …to name coach June 18 Eagles flight to Peru cancelled after drugs arrest

NFF hails Mikel Obi We proved you all wrong — Cech Abigor wants national summit for sports — Page 63

ide Details ins •Cech TODAY'S

PUZZLES

•Mikel FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Tolerate (6) 5 Press (4) 8 Felony (5) 9 Friend (3) 10 Footwear (4) 11 Gasp (4) 12 Precipitous (5) 13 Moment (6) 16 Gull (4) 18 Discharge (4) 20 Consumed (3) 22 Sorrowful (3) 23 Father (3) 24 Ran off (4) 25 Detail (4) 28 Give (6) 30 Feat (5) 32 Needle-case (4) 33 Assistant (4) 35 Course (5) 36 Spotted (4) 37 Put on (6)

QUICK CROSSWORD

DOWN 1 Reveal (6) 2 Fine (8) 3 Dislike (6) 4 Feigned (9) 5 Hindered (7) 6 Harvest (4) 7 Observe (4) 8 Lettuce (3) 14 Name (9) 15 Cover (3) 17 Rodent (3) 19 Coping (8) 20 Beer (3) 21 Issue (7) 26 Demure (6) 27 Guard (6) 29 Muddle (4) 30 Certain (4) 31 Fasten (3)

FRIDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 3, Start 9, Rather 10, Outlet 11, Talon 12, Norm 15, Pace 17, Greeted 20, Tor 21, Dinner 23, Edam 5, Text 26, Layer 28, Bet 30, Defence 33, Eden 35, Rota 36, Waste 38, Repair 39, Ornate 40, Tiara.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Bring 2, Store 3, Traced 5, Room 6, Tun 7, Pleat 8, Steer 13, Ordered 14, Medal 16, Contact 18, Dived 19, Get 22, Refer 24, Mad 27, Rector 28, Beard 29, Tempt 31, Nomad 32, Eager 34, Sari 36, Wit 37, Era

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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