INSECURITY: National Assembly no longer safe — REPS

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 61763

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

FG should sack CBN's Sanusi now — NLC, TUC

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

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SUBSIDY: No rift between Deziani, Okonjo-Iweala — Abati •P.53

N150

Only five banks were sound in 2011 —NDIC

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INSECURITY:

National Assembly no longer safe — REPS

BY OKEY NDIRIBE, EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & SIMON EBEGBULEM BUJA—FOL LOWING the brazen manner with which gunmen attacked both military and police facili-

•Say level of insecurity embarrassing •Robbers kill 4-yr-old girl, policeman in Benin A •Banks, shops remain shut in Auchi

ties in Abuja and Jaji few days ago, killing soldiers, policemen and civilians alike, members of the House of Representatives, yesterday, declared the National Assembly complex unsafe. The

Continues on page 5

FG screens foreign •P.25 certificates for quality We shouldn't be welcoming Tony Blair In Nigeria •P.17

THE HUB •P.19

Mr & Mrs

ZINOX HOSTS DOUGLAS—From left: Yakubu Mohammed, Prof. Anya O Anya, Chairman Technology Distributions Ltd; Hon. Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate President; the visitor, Hon. Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister of ST. KITTS and NEVIES; Group Chairman Zinox Group, Mr. Leo Stan Eke, Chief Host; Prof Oye Ibidapo-Obe, fromer VC of Unilag and Mr. Andy Nwani MD, DATAFLEX Nig. Ltd, during a courtesy visit by Hon. Douglas to Zinox Group Management, yesterday, in Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe.

85-yr-old man defiles 12-yr-old girl C M Y K

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2— Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

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POCKET CARTOON

Insecurity: National Assembly no longer safe — REPS Continues from page 1 alarm raised by the lawmakers is due to worsening security situation in the country.

The lawmakers in a motion of urgent national importance said insecurity had reached a level where no security facility was safe again.

Hon Abubakar Momoh who led the debate said the Tuesday robbery in Auchi, Edo State which claimed the lives of three soldiers, some policemen and civilians, clearly showed that insecurity in the country was getting out of hand.

In a similar vein, Hon Raphael Nnanna said the successful operation by gunmen who invaded the headquarters of Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS) in Abuja has shown that the security personnel lacked the capacity to stem the tide of insecurity in the country.

He explained that the invasion of SARS came less than 24 hours after a Church at Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State was bombed by gunmen. 17 people were reportedly killed and several others injured.

FEC MEETING—Labour Minister, Emeka Wogu (r) explaining a point to the Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah (l); Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wyke and theHealth Minister, Christian Chukwu just before the opening of the weekly Federal Executive Council Meeting at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

He said: “The state of insecurity in the country has reached an embarrassing level. What happened in Jaji and SARS headquarters is embarrassing to the leadership and people of this nation”.

He argued that if the gunmen could operate and go unhurt at the premises of security agents, they could also

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

T

HERE is a great future, prepare for change. is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future — John F. Kennedy.

In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: It goes on —Robert Frost.

TAKE HEART

N

BY ELLA RANDLE

EIL Pasricha is an astounding blogger and writer and author; he uses the power of blogging to spread a little optimism each day about the awesome things that make life worth living.

He shares his principles of the three ‘A’s of awesome. They are Attitude, Awareness and Authenticity.

Attitude: None of us can predict the future, but we do know one thing about it. Sometimes, it may not go according to plan. We will all have high highs and big days and proud moments. And there are times in life when you will be tossed in the well, too, with twists in your stomach and with holes in your heart, and when that moment comes, when that pain sponges and soaks in, I just really hope you feel like you’ve always got two choices.

One, you can swirl and twirl or two, you can grieve and then face the future with newly sober eyes.

Having a great attitude is about choosing option number two, and choosing, no matter how difficult it is, no matter what pain hits you, choosing to move forward and move on and take baby steps into the future.

With awareness, we learn to appreciate the moment of what life offers, and in the process also authenticate the true purpose and meaning of living gracefully.

invade the National Assembly. “I see these people coming to the National Assembly very soon”, he warned and cautioned on the farreaching implication of allowing the current trend to continue. In his contribution, Hon Samson Osagie (Edo,ACN) said the Federal Government must come up with a realistic strategy on how to check the bandits, noting that, “ we can’t afford to fold our hands and watch these people kill and maim people the way they are doing”.

Hon Jerry Alagbaso advised security agents to step up intelligence gathering even as he called for immediate supply of sophisticated arms to security personnel to enable them confront bandits.

He said: “Government must improve the sophistication of arms that our security agents use, that is the only way they can overcome the current challenge and our security must improve on intelligence gathering”.

Steps down bill on sack of ministers, commissioners The House also, yesterday, stepped down a bill seeking to compel the President and governors to get the consent of the Senate and the House of Assembly before relieving

a minister or commissioner of his or her appointment.

The bill was titled ‘A Bill for an Act to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to provide for the consent of the Senate/State Houses of Assembly for the removal of a Minister of the Government of the Federation/Commissioner of the Government of a State and other matters related thereto’.

Banks, shops remain shut in Auchi Meanwhile, following the Monday mayhem in Auchi, Edo State by armed bandits, which led to the death of fifteen persons including three soldiers, the Chairman of the Bankers Forum, Auchi Branch, has vowed that banks in the area will remain closed to customers until security is guaranteed.

All the banks in Auchi and several shops remained closed yesterday, while soldiers were observed at Jattu junction and strategic areas in Auchi.

It was a pitiable sight for the police in the area following the burning of the Area Command office and the Auchi Division of the Police Force.

The police in the area are now homeless and

were seen in groups lamenting the situation.

Though residents thronged Jattu market to purchase foodstuff, but several shops and super markets were still under lock and key as they were afraid that the robbers may still be in town.

A rice vendor who identified herself as Mrs Momodu, explained that the people of the area were still shocked because “ what we saw was like another civil war ”. Explaining her encounter with the robbers, she said that “one of them came to me that day, asking where are the soldiers, where are the soldiers. I told them I don’t know where they stay.

“So they now asked why was I still selling food when they were operating, I said I am sorry. They slapped me and started shooting in the air. So from what we saw that Monday, it will still take us time to come out for our normal businesses unless we see soldiers in town. The truth is that the kind of gun they came with, we don’t even believe they are criminals, some of us are suspecting Boko Haram because the way they were asking about the residence of soldiers was scary”.

We ‘ll catch the culprits — Police However, the Acting Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Hurdi Muhammad, who addressed newsmen late yesterday, vowed that the police will apprehend the perpetrators.

According to him, “we cannot disclose what we are doing but I can assure you that we are taking this matter with all seriousness and with time, all those involved will be apprehended”.

Vanguard, however, learnt that the banks

have refused to open to customers because the police in the state had failed to provide the needed security in Auchi. It was learnt that policemen in Auchi no longer wear their uniforms fearing that the armed bandits may strike again.

According to one of them who craved anonymity, “ you can see that we don’t even have an office now because every where has been blown up. We don’t even have the fire power to face people like this, so what do you expect from the police? We are really helpless and it is sad, we have been complaining about this problem for a long time but no body listened.

“When you don’t have sophisticated weapons like the criminals, how do you intend to fight them? In the whole of Auchi, we only have two APCs and this is the area that they always attack.

Why don’t the people in charge equip the police properly to fight crime?”

Robbers kill four-yr-old girl, policeman in Benin Meanwhile, a mobile policeman was shot dead, yesterday, when dare devil armed robbers invaded Akpakpava and 2nd East Circular roads of Benin City, Edo State.

A four-year-old girl was also killed at Akpakpava by a stray bullet.

There is tension in Benin City now over fears that the robbers, who invaded Auchi may have stormed the ancient city.

At press time, armed Mobile policemen have stormed Akpakpava Road and other exit roads in search of those who fell their colleague.

Also, an Estate Valuer, Mr. Dan Odiete was reportedly adopted on the same road in Benin, yesterday.

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

Salami: Jonathan, NJC urge court to dismiss Oyinlola’s suit

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, joined the National Judicial Council, NJC, to urge a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to dismiss a suit filed against the embattled President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, by former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

In separate preliminary objections they entered against the suit yesterday, President Jonathan and the NJC implored the court to strike out the case for want of merit, insisting that Oyinlola was bereft of the requisite locus-standi to institute an action with a view to ensuring that Salami remained on perpetual suspension.

In a joint counter-affidavit of seven paragraphs accompanied with a written address dated November 12, Jonathan and the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, branded Oyinlola’s suit as “premature”, saying it constitutes a deliberate abuse of court process.

Likewise, the NJC, in its counter-affidavit of 44 paragraphs, dated June 19 and deposed to by its Deputy Director of Information, Mr Soji Oye, told the court that “the suit and the pervious suits filed on the same subject by the plaintiff herein and his associates, is in extension of the grudge and grievances arising from the nullification of his election by the Governorship Election Appeal Tribunal in November 2010, hence the suits are mischievous and a witch-hunt against a judicial officer carrying out his judicial function.”

Besides, NJC, told the court that the suspension of Justice Salami was not based on the petitions written against him by the plaintiff, but on some other controversies altogether involving the retired Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Aloysius KatsinaAlu, adding that, “the recommendation to retire Justice Isa Ayo Salami was never acted upon at all.”

After listening to the parties, Justice Abdul Kafarati adjourned the case till January 24, 2013, for ruling.

Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Aloma Mukhtar (left) and Mr Olumide Eso, son of the late Justice Kayode Eso, during the CJN's visit to The Eso's family, in Ibadan, yesterday.

INEC to issue 10-yr electronic voters’ card — Jega zProsecutes 200 of 870,000 electoral offenders

A

BUJA — CHAIRMAN, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said yesterday, in Abuja that the commission had successfully prosecuted 200 of the 870,000 electoral offenders.

Why Gwandu was sacked from NCC

BY EMEKA AGINAM

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AGOS — THE removal of the Executive Commissioner in charge of Technical Standards of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Dr Bashir Gwandu, may not be unconnected with false allegations over frequency spectrum allocation at the commission, and his alleged links with a group which attempted to indict President Goodluck Jonathan over waivers granted a telecom company acquired by AMCON. The removal which was communicated to Gwandu in a memo dated November 26, 2012 with ref No SGF/ 6/S.12/C.4/III/653 from office of the Secretary to the Federal Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, stated that his removal was for gross misconduct.

The letter stated that allegations were levelled against Gwandu by the board of the commission, and upon further

investigations by the committee set up by the Minister of Communications on behalf of the President, found him guilty of the charges.

The letter stated: “I am to inform you that based on the recommendations of the Disciplinary Committee, Mr. President has approved your removal from office for gross misconduct, with effect from9th November, 2012.”

V a n g u a r d ' s investigations revealed that the case against Gwandu began with his allegations suggesting racketeering at the Commission.

Gwandu was said to be the source of stories making the rounds in the media alleging that the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah and other ex-officials of the Commission had unilaterally issued a frequency slot belonging to the Nigeria Police to a private firm, OpenSkys Ltd, and also issued frequency slot to another company, Smile

Communications, without due process, leading to sale of such frequencies below value.

However, it was found out in the course of investigations that Gwandu did not only make the said allegations, but also granted interviews to the media and circulated documents to amplify the allegations which the committee found to be false and unfounded.

The response by the NCC also indicated that the sales of the frequencies followed all the due processes and began before Juwah joined as the chief executive officer.

A source from the committee said Gwandu was unable to defend any of the allegations he made against the leadership of the Commission.

The allegation on the frequency belonging to the Police was also found to be untrue as the NCC had already issued appropriate frequencies to the Police, and that the process of the allocation began since 2009.

Jega who spoke at the INEC/civil society dialogue on plans and progress toward the 2015 elections, also said the commission was ready to issue permanent electronic voters’ card that would be valid for 10 years He explained that the prosecution of electoral offenders was in respect of offences arising from the 2011 voters registration and general elections.

Jega said the prosecution had been “a big problem” because of paucity of fund and manpower.

He said: “In actual fact, some of those apprehended have been prosecuted and convicted but the number is just too small compared to those remaining. A youth corps member was also prosecuted and sentenced in Ondo for electoral manipulation.”

He noted that the police was in charge of prosecuting offenders until it was handed over to INEC, adding that the task was beyond the capacity of INEC and should not be left with the commission.

He said if INEC was saddled with the responsibility of prosecuting electoral offenders, its major mandate would suffer because the quantum of offenders would be too much for the commission.

Jega called on government to work on the “Uwais panel report, on electoral reform, that recommended that a

separate body should be set up to handle electoral offences.”

On permanent voters’ card

On the permanent voters’ card, the INEC boss said: “With the design of the card and specification it will serve for an average of 10 years, as it could also be used for the 2019 elections.”

He said in Abuja that the electronic voters’ card would eliminate electoral fraud and ensure credible and transparent polls as a result of the features on the electronic card, which, he added, included micro testing security, hologram, finger prints.

Jega said: “The cards will be an electronic card to be used for identification, authentication and for voting, also it will prevent multiple voting and frauds."

The INEC chairman said that card readers would take the finger print and determine the legitimacy of the owners of the card and that it would be used during the 2015 elections.

He said with the introduction of card readers, matching the electoral manipulations and fraudulent activities of people buying voters card and multiple voting would be eliminated.

“There is a lot of work to be done, we have to procure card readers and we have started this, we have made budget for it and we are receiving support.

“This budget year we are buying 500 and under the 2013/14 budget we are buying the rest. So by 2015 there will be enough card readers to deploy to polling units to ensure 100 per cent authentication."

To begin issuance of card in 2013

Jega said INEC would commence the issuance of permanent voters’ card early in 2013, as the contract for the production of 40 million voters registered card out of the 73.5 million registered had been awarded.

He said INEC was doing the last stage of the processing of the second batch of the contract and by the middle of 2014 all the eligible voters that had registered would have been given their permanent voters’ card.

“There are 73.5 million eligible voters but for the first phase, we will print 40 million and another part of it for completion is in the budget for 2012,” he said.

He said the idea of doing voter registration once on the eve of election was now a thing of the past.

“There is a continuing process of registration in which any person who is eligible as required by the law can go to an established office and be registered.

“There are so many processes of this globally and INEC is embracing the best methodology, which will be launched nationwide next year.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012—7

FG should sack Sanusi now — NLC President zSanusi lacks capacity to call for workers' sack—TUC

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State (left) and his Rivers State counterpart, Gov. Rotimi Amaechi, during Amaechi's visit to Ibadan, yesterday.

Only five banks were sound in 2011 — NDIC zWeak corporate governance persists zIndustry recorded N6.7bn loss

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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AGOS — NIGERIA Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, yesterday, said only five banks met the criteria to be categorized as sound banks in 2011. The corporation said this in its annual report for 2011 released yesterday.

The report showed that banking industry is still dominated by five banks.

The five banks control 52.67 per cent of the total assets of all the banks.

The report also showed that the 20 banks in the country recorded cumulative lose of N8.71 billion and suffered assets mismatch.

Weak corporate governance Meanwhile, in spite of the banking reforms implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, since 2009, there were still problems of extreme weaknesses in corporate governance and weak credit administration in the banks.

The report stated: “The deposit money banks (DMBs) are usually categorized into five levels of soundness,

namely: A-Very Sound; BSound; C-Satisfactory; DMarginal, and EUnsound. The banking industry performance and level of soundness during the year ended December 31, 2011 indicated that five banks were in Category B, 13 banks in Category C and two banks were in Category D. There were no banks in Categories A & E as at December 31, 2011. The combined total assets of the two banks in Category D stood at N560.02 billion or 3.07 per cent of the industry total assets.

Industry total assets “As in previous years, the oligopolistic tendencies remained in the industry as assets were concentrated among the larger banks. Out of the total assets (excluding Off Balance Sheet,OBS) of N18.20 trillion as at end of December 2011, the assets of the top five DMBs amounted to N9.59 trillion representing 52.67 per cent of the total assets of all the banks compared to its level of N7.47 trillion or 48.26 per cent of the total assets of the industry in 2010.

The table also showed that "the assets of the top 10 DMBs stood at N14.17 trillion, representing

77.83 per cent of the total assets of the industry as at the end of December 2011 compared to N11.01 trillion, representing 71.08 per cent in 2010.

The remaining 10 banks had assets to the tune of N4.03 trillion, which represented 22.17 per cent of total assets as at the end of December 2011 as against N4.48 trillion, representing 22.17 of total industry assets in 2010.

“Total operating income of the industry stood at N2.33 trillion in 2011, representing an increase of 7.90 per cent over the N2.16 trillion reported in 2010. Similarly, total operating expenses increased from N932.53 billion in December 2010 to N1.79 trillion in December 2011.

Consequently, the industry recorded a loss of N6.71 billion in December 2011 as against a profit of N607.34 billion recorded in December 2010.

A total of nine banks reported losses at the end of 2011 which resulted in the negative Return on Assets (ROA) as well as Return on Equity (ROE) and adversely affected the industry performance during the period under review. The Yield on Earning Assets also dropped to 10.05 per cent as at December, 2011 from

11.24 per cent as at December 2010.”

Funding long investment maturity The NDIC report indicated that banks were using deposits (assets) with short term maturity to fund long investment maturity.

It said: “The maturity profile of the industry’s assets and liabilities showed a cumulative mismatch. The mismatch was recorded for all the maturity bands except those maturing after 365 days. That implied that short-term funds were used to fund long term investments. Out of total deposits of N12.33 trillion, the sum of N9.48 trillion or 76.86 per cent would mature in 30days, N1.52 trillion or 12.37 per cent had maturity of between 31 to 90 days while the remaining N1.33 trillion or 10.79 per cent would mature after 91 days.

“The banking industry liquidity position was strong in 2011 as the average liquidity ratio rose from 51.77 per cent in December 2010 to 65.69 per cent in December 2011. All the DMBs met the minimum liquidity ratio requirement of 30 per cent as at the end of December 2011.”

AGOS — THE Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday, called on the Federal Government to sack the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, for advising the Federal Government to sack half of its work force to maintain a sustainable economy even as the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, has also said Sanusi lacked the capacity to call for the action.

In a presentation at the Annual Capital Market Retreat in Warri, Delta, Tuesday, Sanusi had advised the Federal Government to sack half of its work force, arguing that Nigeria could not build its economy when 70 per cent of its earnings went to salaries and entitlements of civil servants.

Reacting to Sanusi’s call, yesterday, the NLC president in a statement said: “It is obvious Sanusi was never qualified for the office of CBN governor in the first instance, and he must be asked to leave the office as he has shown more than enough incompetence and contempt for the Nigerian people.”

Omar said the CBN Governor ’s comment reflected his contempt for the working people in Nigeria with his recommendation that the Federal Government should sack 50 per cent of its workforce for the economy to be revived.

He said: “Since assumption of office as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, all Sanusi’s major pronouncements have been either directly anti people or ruinous to the Nigerian economy.

“The major problems of the Nigerian economy are corruption and lack of good governance, and until we solve these problems our economy will continue in comatose.

“Today, there are countless probe reports with names of those who swindled our country of several trillions of naira and

other foreign currencies still living in Nigeria either walking freely around the corridors of power or directly holding public or political offices rather than being in jail.

“We see in Sanusi an agent of death that must be defeated and crushed before he further destroys the Nigerian economy.

While President Jonathan is promising to create more jobs, Lamido Sanusi is calling for mass sack of civil servants in a country with one of the highest number of unemployed, which has indeed led to gross deprivation and the current state of insecurity in Nigeria. While we believe the Federal Government will ignore the ranting of this hollow economist, Sanusi has never demonstrated patriotism in all his advice on economic and financial management in Nigeria.

“Sanusi’s only understanding of governance is simply about saving money and not saving lives as his proposals are repeatedly devoid of human content and without consideration for the implications on larger society. The burden that will come with mass sack as high as 50 per cent of civil servants in addition to the already saturated unemployment market can better be imagined.

Governance is about improving the quality of lives of the people and not destruction of productive lives."

TUC on Sanusi TUC president, Mr Peter Esele, in his reaction stressed that a civil servant earned less than a dollar a day while about 170 per cent of the country’s budget was being spent on those in government.

Esele in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, said the governor should rather go to the National Assembly and challenge legislators’ spending and not the civil servants.

He said: “I think that the CBN governor is being economical with the truth.

He knows those who are spending Nigeria’s money."

8— Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

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Lagos NSCDC gets new Commandant

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AGOS — The Lagos State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC has got a new Commandant in-charge.

He is Commandant Obafaiye Sunday Shem, who officially took over from Commandant Dauda Danladi Mungadi on November 19, 2012.

Obafaiye, an alumnus of universities of Lagos, Ibadan and Lagos State University hails from

Ekiti State.

The Commandant, who bagged a first degree and two master ’s in Nigerian universities was Head Of Department, Technical, at Kastina Command, Kastina State before he assumed in Lagos.

Sources said he is a great motivator with a passion for quality service delivery, and he is married and has children.

Man docked over receiving 4 stolen Toyota Camry cars

BY ONOZURE DANIA

From right: Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola , Osun State Governor; Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Managing Director/ Editor-In Chief of The News magazine and Mr. Kunle Ajibade, Director of The News magazine, during the visit to the burnt portion of the Head Office of the Independent Communications Network Ltd, publishers of The News magazine and PM Newspaper, at Acme Road, Ogba, Lagos, yesterday.

Finbank: Judge rejects EFCC witness

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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AGOS — Justice Lateefa Okunnu of an Ikeja High Court yesterday rejected a prosecution witness presented by the

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the on-going trial of the former Managing Director of Finbank Plc, Okey Nwosu and three other directors accused of

stealing N10.9 billion from the bank.

The court rejected the witness, Mr. Emmanuel Damudu, on the ground he was not listed as one of the prosecution witnesses before the

Fashola blames poor health service on huge population .As LUTH plans open-heart surgery

BY CHIOMA OBINNA & CHARLYNE IKPE & GABRIEL OLAWALE

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AGOS —Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola yesterday said the increasing population of the state has placed a heavy toll on the state’s resources, making

planning for health to suffer several reversals.

This is coming on the heels of concluded plans by the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH to commence open-heart surgery and transplant come next year.

Heart transplantation, also called cardiac

Lagos House warns against hawking of petrol

BY EBUN SESSOU & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS —The Lagos State House of Assembly has called on the state’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in conjunction with the Ministry of Information and Strategy to embark on publicity against inherent dangers of buying and hawking petroleum products along road sides.

This call came out of the motion raised by Hon. Lanre Ogunyemi representing Ojo Constituency I as a motion of the House.

According to the him,

“Nigerians have continued to undergo untold hardship and humiliation due to frequent scarcity of petroleum products in the country.

He added that the insensitive and indiscriminate attitude of some petroleum marketers who engage in illegal hoarding, adulteration and wilfully increasing the pump price of petroleum products during scarcity.

The House has also called on both the Federal Government and the National Assembly to adopt pidgin English as a means of communication in Nigeria.

transplantation, is the replacement of a patient’s diseased or injured heart with a healthy donor's heart.

Fashola while delivering 50th anniversary lecture of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, tagged: Challenges of Delivering Health Care Services in a Cosmopolitan City: Lagos State- a Case Study ” further maintained that the cosmopolitan nature of the state has made it more difficult to achieve excellent healthcare for Lagosians

court by the anti graft agency.

Damudu, an investigative officer with the EFCC was expected to be led in evidence by the EFCC to corroborate how the bank’s executive allegedly traded the bank’s money to buy shares.

The bank’s former M.D. is arraigned alongside the trio of Dayo Famoroti, Danjuma Ocholi and Agnes Ebubedike, who were directors of the bank before Justice Okunnu.

Jacobs told the court that Damudu was one of the officers of the EFCC who investigated the matter and that he was being called to tender some documents to the court.

However, the defendants counsel: James Ocholi, SAN'; Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN; Yemi Sowemimo, SAN and K. Oragwu, opposed the move.

She, however, adjourned the matter till January 24,2013.

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AGOS— A 42 yearold man, Uche Ubah, was yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate court for receiving four stolen Toyota Camry cars.

Ubah and others now at large is facing a four count charge of conspiracy, pretence, felony and stealing.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Okoi Edet told the court that the defendant received two unregistered Toyota Camry cars valued N2.8 million, property of Mr. Olaoye Babatunde and Sunday Kolawole.

He said that the Ubah received the said cars from Dennis Emmanuel and Edobor Alatise

knowing full well that they were stolen vehicles.

The prosecutor also said that the defendant received a Toyota Camry car with registration No: AE 913 FUG valued N1.2 million property of Mr. Kayode Jamiu and Yemi Aladesuru.

He said that Ubah received the stolen vehicles from Oseni Emmanuel at Ajah, Lagos.

Okoi said that the offences were committed sometimes in November 2010 at 6.30 p.m. at Ajah area, of Lagos.

Magistrate Taiwo Akanni granted him bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum, and she adjourned the matter till January 25, 2013 for mention.

Club donates to orphanages

T

he Evergreen Sister ’s Club for the Needy, ESCN), an NGO, known for its philanthropy and care for less privileged in society, recently visited the Joyce Rita Motherless/ Orphanage Home, Abayin in Osisioma Ngwa LGA, Aba and another Motherless / Orphanage Home at Ngwa Road, Aba South LGA, Abia State.

The visiting team included the National Director, Planning and Strategy, Hon. (Chief)

Mrs. Adaure Nnodim; Leader/National President, Mrs. Mirian Mbolu-Iyiegbu; Abia State Welfare Officer, Lolo Doris Onuoha; Abia State Secretary, Lolo Ngozi Orji; Executive Officio, Lolo Phobi Igoni and Abia State Treasurer, Lolo Ngozi Mba. During the visits, the Evergreen Sisters presented cash gifts as well as food items: large quantity of garri, yams, cartons of Indomie noodles, biscuits and drinks, among others.

Why Gowon ceded Bakassi to Cameroun —Ofonagoro

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

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AGOS — Former Minister of Information, Dr. Walter Ofonagoro, has revealed that one of the major reasons General Yakubu Gowon ceded Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun was to block food and arms from coming into the defunct Republic of

Biafra.

Making this revelation in a key note address entitled ‘Igbos Shall be Victorious’, at the Igbo Day Celebration in Lagos on Saturday, Ofonagoro said that when it became obvious that it would be impossible to defeat the Biafran soldiers, the then Nigerian government opted for

economic blockade of the old Eastern region.

His words: “I want to say that Bakassi Peninsula belonged to the people of the old Eastern region, but during the war, the Nigerian soldiers discovered that Biafran soldiers were their match, so they opted for economic blockade of the

region.

"It was in the process that Gowon went into negotiation with the president of Cameroun and ceded the oil rich region to them so that the blockade would be effective.

"We all know what happened though some people are now feigning ignorance.”

10—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

No disagreement among govs — Amaechi

BY OLA AJAYI

I

BADAN — chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Mr. Rotimi Amaechi has denied reports that there was disagreement at its last meeting over the ongoing constitutional amendment.

He said this just as he clarified that it was not true that most state governors were pursuing selfish egocentric interests as earlier reported.

The Rivers State governor who spoke with newsmen in Ibadan Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola, wife of Osun State Governor (left), presenting materials to one of the lessyesterday during a privileged students of Osun State schools in Ilesha, Osogbo and Ikirun. courtesy visit to the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi after his condolence visit to the family of the late Justice Kayode Esho who died some days ago, said, “We agreed on all the issues we discussed. We met in

BY GBENGAARIYIBI tests were conducted on resurfaced and came to and climbed on her. the morning by 10a.m.

DO-EKITI — An her to ascertain whether tell me that she was But as I was about and did not disperse 85-year old man, she was actually raped famished and ask me inserting my penis into until 3p.m., if we had what kind of food I had her vagina, I quickly disagreed we could have Pa Samuel Oladipupo, or not.

Speaking under at home. I told her I only was nabbed by the men remembered that this Pa had bread and stew and of Ekiti State Police interrogation, might be a plan to frame Command for allegedly Oladipupo said he had she followed me inside me and I quickly stood defiling a 12 year old girl sent Esther to buy and ate the food. up, so I didn’t enter her”, recharge card at a nearby “After she finished with Pa Oladipupo explained. (names withheld)

BY GBENGA OLARIThe octogenarian phone booth on that the food, she rested on But the girl denied ever NOYE suspect, however, fateful day and allowed the chair and then pulled seducing the old man. her to go home after she SOGBO— The off her clothes and told She said that the man confessed to have made ruling Action me to examine her pubic first accused her of an attempt to make love helped him to load it.

“To let you know that I Congress of Nigeria ACN hairs. Later, she told me stealing his phone, but with the girl, but denied never intended to in Osun State and the to examine her boobs ever having carnal when he found it in his knowledge of Junior commit the crime, after and asked me why the house, he began fondling main opposition party in she had helped me load two breasts were not the the state, Peoples Secondary School girl with her. the recharge card on my same, but I told her that The suspect who "I had earlier helped Democratic Party, PDP, phone right in my it was natural to be so. allegedly committed the him to buy a recharge yesterday in Osogbo “As a man, I began to card, and he later differ on the level of crime last Sunday at his house, I allowed her to No. 9 Barrack Road, Ado go without making any lose control. I then accused me of stealing performance of the state governor, Mr. Rauf pushed her onto the bed his phone,"she said.

Ekiti and now being overture.

“But later, Esther Aregbesola in the last two detained at the police years in the state. headquarters, claimed While the PDP scored that the junior secondary the Rauf Aregbesola led school girl had seduced

BY GBENGAARIYIBI Nigeria, which is suspicion that he had a administration in the him into making love state low on the level of with her.

DO EKITI— A expected on the case sinister motive.

While he busied physical and human Father of the girl, Mr. middle age man instituted by the former Ojo Ajijola, however, was yesterday arrested governor of the state, himself with phone calls, developments, the ACN countered the claim of in Ado Ekiti for an Engr. Segun Oni, a civil servant simply described the opposition the suspect. alleged attempt to bomb challenging his removal known as Johnson,was party criticism as unfair and said to have queried his judgment.

The Police image maker, Government House, the from office subsequent declaration mission in that restricted Specifically, the ACN in Victor Babayemi Olu, official residence of the of Governor Kayode area, which is about six a statement signed by its an Assistant Super- state governor,Dr. Fayemi as the validly poles to the Governor ’s Director of Publicity, intendent of Police, said Kayode Fayemi the victim had been taken The incident elected Governor in the Lodge.

The civil to Ekiti State University happened barely 24 2007 and 2009 elections in the state. s e r v a n t , Va n g u ard Teaching Hospital, Ado hours to the judgement The alleged bomber further gathered alerted Ekiti, where series of of the Supreme Court of was said to have been the security details at the ur headline about conveyed to the spot by main gate of the G o v e r n o r a motorbike rider who Government’s House, Olusegun Mimiko’s visit was said to have escaped The security officers to the family of late Oyo arrest as soon as he dispossessed the State governor, Alhaji dropped the suspect in suspect of some of his Lamidi Adesina, on Page front of the main gate of personal belongings 9 of our Monday, the Government’s House, Some of the substances November 26 edition The alleged bomber found on the suspect inadvertently read: said to be making frantic include explosive device Mimiko apologises for bid to contact some and other dangerous visiting Ladoja’s family people through his weapons, even charms, late. telephone, a develop- knives and other lethal Of course, former ment that gave room for tools.

85 year old man nabbed for defiling 12 year old girl A

closed before 12noon and not the time we closed.

“Our interests transcend local and primordial sentiments.

Some of us would be finishing our tenure in 2015 and hence would cease to be governors”.

To him, if there has been anything personal as claimed, they would vacate the seat and such iwould no more be ssues.

“These things we are doing, we are doing it for the benefit of the country.

We will leave by 2015, so it can’t be to protect our personal interests”, he stated.

“If that were so, we will be looking at national because most of us are eyeing the national at the end of our tenure.

Instead, he noted, the forum was thinking of how to run a proper federalism.

“I don’t think the governors are doing what they are doing because they want to please or protect their own interests”.

ACN, PDP bicker over Aregbesola’s performance

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Bomb scare at Ekiti State Government House

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Research and Strategy, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi said the people of the state who Aregbesola has served diligently in the last two years will determine his performance and not members of the opposition party.

Oyatomi said Aregbesola’s second term will be determined simply by his performance, stressing that the achievements of Aregbesola spread across all strata of the state’s economy.

He enjoined the people of the state not to be discouraged by the antics of the opposition, saying the PDP was only displaying its ignorance about events in Osun through its criticisms.

Ex-Gov. Rashidi Ladoja is hale and hearty!

O

governor, Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja was not the subject as the body of the story showed clearly.

The headline error is highly regretted and shows that former governor Ladoja, whom we hold in high esteem, will have many more years to live.

The error is highly regretted.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012—11

Delta Varsity ASUU protests against kidnap of members

BY FESTUS AHON

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RECEPTION: From left: Chief Olayinka Ogunmekan, President, Nigeria-Swedish Chamber of Commerce; Gunnar Oom, State Secretary, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Sweden; Ambassador Svante Kilander, Embassy of Sweden, Abuja; Chief Mark Obu, Deputy President, Nigeria-Swedish Chamber of Commerce, at a reception in honour of the Swedish Minister of Trade in Lagos. Photo: Remi Adebisi.

Armed security operatives take over Bayelsa community

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—HEAV ILY armed mobile policemen have been deployed in the troubled riverine town of Agbere, in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, the theatre of Tuesday's violent youth skirmish, during which property worth millions of naira was destroyed.

Though community sources claimed that 11 persons lost their lives in the clash, the police, yesterday, confirmed the death of one youth in the violence.

Meanwhile, the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Kins Omire, has described as “brazen illegality and violent” the Tuesday attack and burning down of houses by youths over chieftaincy tussle in the community.

Omire, who visited the troubled community, yes-

terday, said: “Four houses owned by the paramount ruler were burnt and another chief had his own burnt too. Report we had earlier was that there were killings recorded but when we got to the place, we saw that only a teenage boy was killed. We are confident that these brazen acts of illegality caused by jobless youths, will be dealt

with.”

He said six persons had been arrested over their alleged involvement in the killing and in the arson.

Omire, who recounted how he led armed mobile policemen to the community to dislodge the rampaging youths, said though the police authorities had established, from investigations that

Edo guber tussle: Airhiavbere's suit stalled over numbering of appeals

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—THE num bering of two appeals lodged by the governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, in the July 14, Edo State election, challenging the declaration of Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, as winner of the election, stalled further hearing in

the appeal, yesterday.

Airhiavbere in the appeal, is challenging the ruling of the governorship election petition tribunal, which refused his plea to produce additional witnesses in the prosecution of his petition.

During the sitting, counsel to Oshiomhole, Chief Wole Olanikpekun, SAN, observed that the two appeals as were made available to them by the appel-

Appeal Court upholds Uba’s election

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HE Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu, yesterday, upheld the election of Senator Andy Uba as the dully elected senator for the Anambra South senatorial district.

Mr. Chima Nzeribe, had appealed against the judgment of the election petition tribunal, which held that Dr Uba was the duly elected sen-

the community was known for perennial violence and communal clashes, added that Tuesday’s action was a brazen display of criminality.

The oil rich community, which is host to Nigerian Agip Oil Company and Shell Petroleum and Development Company was rocked by violence Tuesday over alleged chieftaincy tussle.

ator for Anambra South.

The Appeal Court, Enugu, struck out the seven issues raised by Nzeribe on the ground of being baseless, frivolous and abuse of court process.

The cost of N20,000 was awarded against him in favour of Senator Uba, People’s Democratic Party, PDP and Independ-

ent National Electoral Commission, INIEC. By this decision, the controversy surrounding the election of Dr Uba had finally been laid to rest.

It will be recalled that following petitions by some of the candidates, the court had ordered for fresh election which Uba eventually won.

lant were numbered 330 each, arguing that there were obvious discrepancies in the recording of the appeal and contended that it would be difficult for the court to hear the appeal since they have two appeals with the same number.

Counsel to Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Chief Austin Aleghe, SAN, agreed with Olanikpekun.

Counsel to Airhiavbere, Mr Efe Akpofure, SAN, disagreed arguing “there is no confusion here. Both notices of appeal were filed the same day, no body is misleading the court. The record before the court is numbered 320 and urged the court to hear the matter.”

Ruling, presiding judge, Justice Helen Ogunwuniju, acknowledged the confusion in the numbering of the two appeals and order Airhiavbere’s counsel to compile fresh records before the appeal can be heard.

GHELLI—ACA DEMIC Staff Union of Universities, Delta State University, Abraka branch, yesterday, embarked on protest march against the incessant kidnap of its members by hoodlums, calling on the state government to discharge its primary obligation of securing lives and property of people of the state.

Clad in their academic gowns, the placard carrying lecturers, with various inscriptions, demanded the unconditional release

of their member, Prof.

Joyce Egwunyenga of the Faculty of Education, who was reportedly abducted by gunmen last Sunday at her residence in Obiaruku, near Abraka.

Addressing newsmen after the protest march, which took members of the union from the university campus to Obiaruku, its branch chairman, Dr Emmanuel Mordi, said: “The regular security agencies appear to be overwhelmed by or immersed in this kidnapping business and are, therefore, embarrassingly helpless in combating it."

Youth summit holds in Lagos

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IGERIA Youth In tegration Summit Group, NYISG, will hold its summit today, at the Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Convener of NYISG and former President of Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, said the summit hopes to build a pan-Nigerian think-thank of young people, who would be looked at as Nigeria and not about the bias of eth-

nic nationalities, adding that the summit would also address issues affecting the country from Nigeria’s point of view and not through ethnic or religious divide.

The theme of the summit, Ekiyor added, was taken from a book written by a young Nigerian, Beauty Odiaka titled: Fostering Unity in Diversity. The book will also be launched during the summit.

Igali’s death, great loss to N-Delta — IMG

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JAW Monitoring Group, IMG, has described the death of one of the pillars of the accountancy profession in Nigeria, Pa Newton Igali, as a shock and great loss to the Niger Delta and Nigeria in general.

In a condolence message by Mr. Joseph Evah, Coordinator of IMG, the Ijaw expressed joy that the late financial expert was born in the Niger Delta.

The late Newston Igali, according to the IMG, contributed immensely to educational advancement of Niger Delta, “ which shows that beyond oil and gas resources, the Ijaw have contributed to the nation’s growth in various ways. Igali's death has created a big void in the accounting profession and his wise counsel would be missed crucially as the nation moves toward reformation and structuring.”

Tribute to Clara Okolie (1949- 2011)

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RS. Clara Okolie was born on January 6, 1949, to the family of Mr. and Mrs Isaac Ezemandu in Obiyi Umuogwara, Nnono Oboro in Umuahia, Abia State. She died on December 1, 2011.

She got married to Mr. Peter Okolie in 1969.

She has been a source of strength to her husband.

Ezinne believed in her husband knowing that the humble beginning they both started on, was a stepping stone to their great future. The marriage was blessed with

children.

She is survived by Mr. Peter Okolie, Clementina Okolie, Martha Okolo, Fidelia Ofa, Peter Okolie (Jnr.), Anastasia Okolie, Felix Okolie, Amaka Okolie, Rita Ohinodo and seven grandchildren.

Late Mrs. Clara Okolie

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

Budget defence: NNPC spent $10.482bn in 2012

BY HENRY UMORU

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BANQUET: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (right) and Prime Minister of Saint Kitts & Nevis, His Excellency, Denzil Douglas, during a banquet in his honour in Uyo.

FEC approves N2.2bn banquet hall for Presidential Villa

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—THE Fed eral Executive Council, yesterday, approved the construction of a new banquet hall in the Presidential Villa for the sum of N2.2 billion.

The approval is part of the final set of N19.4 billion contracts for this year covering road construction, rail transportation and infrastructural development in the Federal Capital Territory.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who briefed State House correspondents after the meeting, said the new banquet hall would have a capacity of

150 seats.

He said subsequent Federal Executive Council meetings would be devoted to reviewing what had been achieved by government in the last one year.

Dr Abati, who stood in for the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said aside from the roads, rail and other contracts, the council also approved the award of contract for the conduct of fiscal allocation and statutory disbursement audit for 2007 to 2011 as well as oil and gas industry audit.

He said the approval was in conformity with section 2 of the NEITI Act 2007.

He said: “The objective of this initiative is to ensure transparency and accountability in the application of resources from payments received from extractive industries and to further ensure that all fiscal allocations and statutory disbursements due from the Federal Government to statutory recipients were dully made.”

Abati noted that the essence of the contract was to enable NEITI track extractive industry sector funds paid into the federation account as distributed and received by federal, state and local government areas.

He said there would also be special emphasis

Police avert clash as PDP screens aspirants for Bayelsa LG polls

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—THE quick intervention by men of Bayelsa State Security outfit, Operation Door Akpor, yesterday, prevented supporters of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from engaging in a free for all, as the party began the screening of 97 chairmanship aspirants for the forthcoming local government area elections in the state.

Meanwhile, the state governor, Mr. Seriake

Dickson, has asked the Police and State Security Service, SSS, to conduct a detailed check on persons, who had expressed interest to run for offices in the forthcoming council elections.

The governor, it was learnt, had also called for a special PDP caucus meeting with leaders of the party in the local government areas slated for Sunday.

The leadership of the party is expected to formally present a report to the state governor on the party’s preparation for the forthcoming council

polls in the state.

Governor Dickson, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Markson-Iworiso, directed the security agencies to vet the names and background of persons, who had expressed interest to run for offices in the forthcoming council elections.

Meantime, the screening process commenced at the party secretariat under the supervision of the Zonal Executive member of the party and former Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Chief Cladius Enegesin.

on the application, utilization of the funds, on beneficiaries of the 13 per cent derivation and relevant federal institutions that directly received allocations from the Federation Account.

BUJA—THE Sen ate was yesterday told that the total budget allocated to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in 2012 stood at N1.572 trillion.

Disclosing this when he appeared before the Senator Emmanuel Paulker, (PDP Bayelsa Central)led Senate Committee on Petroleum, Upstream, for the defence of the 2013 budget, NNPC Group Executive Director (Exploration and Production), Mr. Abiye Membere, who noted that the Corporation’s budget for next year, is $13.7 billion for 2013, stressed that in 2012, it had initially requested for N1.917 trillion, but was turned down.

When Membere tried to give an overview of the budget, Senators Heineken Lokpobiri, (PDP, Bayelsa West) and Hayatou Gwarzo, (Kano North) insisted that the

figures he will give must be in naira and kobo.

Dedekuma passes on

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R. Isaac Dedeku ma of Umude family in Okpara Inland, Delta State, is dead. He died in an auto crash on his way to Okpara on September 28.

Burial arrangement, as announced by the family, starts today with a srevice of songs at 34 Macpherson Road, Sapele, while burial comes up tomorrow at Okpara.

Late Mr. Dedekuma

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012—13

From right— Mr. Wale Mesioye, Head, Cement and Allied Business, Fidelity Bank Plc; Mr. Emeka Nkwocha, Advert Manager, Vanguard Newspapers; Ms Akachi Ikonne, Construction and Commerce, Fidelity Bank Plc; and Ms Titi Jolaoso, Financial Controller, Vanguard Newspapers, during the facility tour of Vanguard's new press by the bank, Tuesday.

From right— Mr. Sunday Awevia, Operations Manager, Vanguard Newspapers; Mr. Ndubuisi Ukonu, Mr. Promise Odeh, Mr. Wale Mesioye, Head, Cement & Allied Business, Fidelity Bank Plc; and Mr. Folorunsho Bolanle of Campbell Communications.

Abia govt laments spate of fraud in revenue collection

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA—ABIA State government has lamented high level fraud associated with revenue collection in the state, saying it was hampering development projects.

Commissioner for Finance, Chief Sam Onuigbo, who expressed government’s frustration while presenting a breakdown of 2013 budget outlay before the State House of Assembly, said the fraudulent activities of revenue agents had had adverse effect on the projected revenue inflow of the state.

According to him, implementation of the N20,100 minimum wages for civil servants in the state constitutes serious financial strain on the administration.

Ebonyi House appeals to FG over release of UBEC funds

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI—EB ONY State House of Assembly, yesterday, appealed to the federal government to release the Universal Basic Education funds meant for the state since 2010 till date.

The Speaker of the House, Chukwuma Nwazunku, made the appeal while receiving an interim report on the position of education in the state from the Chairman, House Committee on Education, Chris Usulor.

C M Y K

14— Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012 — 15

C M Y K

16—Vanguard , THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

Suspected Fulani gunmen kill 3 in Plateau

BY TAYE OBATERU

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OS—THREE more people were killed by unknown gunmen in troubled Barkin-Ladi and Riyom local government areas, Plateau State, yesterday. 10 people were gunned down at a drinking joint, Monday.

Two of the latest victims were ambushed at Sho village, while reportedly going to their farm on a motorbike. Another farmer, identified as Monday Davou, was killed at Rantwol-Sopp

in Riyom council, on his way to the farm.

Chairman of BarkinLadi council, Mr. Emmanuel Loman, who confirmed the killings, said the assailants, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, launched the attack on Sho village.

He identified the two slain farmers as his close relations.

The villagers were said to have mobilised to take on the attackers. The gunmen had reportedly disappeared before the villagers got to the

scene.

Meanwhile, the Plateau State Police Command has restricted the operation of drinking joints in the state to stem the spate of killings at such joints.

They are now to close by 7pm daily until further notice, while those in Barkin-Ladi and Riyom are to close by 6pm.

The Command in a statement signed its Public Relations Officer, DSP

Abuh Emmanuel, said the move was to check the current trend of attacks on drinking joints in the state.

It urged members of the public to cooperate with the police and other se-

curity agencies to rid the state of criminal elements and encouraged them to go about their legitimate business as the Command was doing everything necessary to check the attacks.

Obasanjo lauds Shema on infrastructural devt

BY EMEKA MAMAH

F

ORMER President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has commended Governor

Shehu Shema of Katsina State for providing the needed infrastructural facilities in the state.

Obasanjo, who was a guest of the governor as

part of activities marking this year ’s ComptrollerGeneral of Customs Annual Conference, praised Shema over his landmark achievements,

saying he had impacted positively on the people of the state.

This was even as Governor Shema received an award from the Department of Public Administration of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, for the contributions he made towards the development of the institution.

According to a government house statement in Katsina, Obasanjo spoke after inspecting some developmental projects in the state capital.

Some of the projects are the new Government House, under construction at Modoji, threelane ring road project, 250-bed orthopaedic hospital and the ultramodern Olympic size stadium, nearing completion.

Others are the Barhin Housing Estate and some structures at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University, and the main auditorium of the institution, which served as venue for the Customs Conference.

Obasanjo noted that Shema had executed his numerous projects without borrowing money, whether locally or internationally, pointing out that it was a clear demonstration of a sincere and honest administration.

We're ready for smugglers — Customs

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ESTERN Marine Customs Command of Nigeria Customs Service has warned smugglers to steer clear of the creeks, river and sea covered by the Command.

Controller of the Command, Comptroller Zakka Audu made this known while taking newsman on a tour of 440 cartons of poultry products intercepted by the unit last week.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012 — 17

“If leaders may lie, then who should tell the truth?....On what grounds do we decide that Robert Mugabe should go to the International Criminal Court, Tony Blair should join the international speakers’ circuit, bin Laden should be assassinated, but Iraq should be invaded, not because it possesses weapons of mass destruction, as Mr Bush’s chief supporter, Mr Blair confessed…but in order to get rid of Saddam Hussein….If it is acceptable for leaders to take drastic action on the basis of a lie, without any acknowledgement or an apology when they are found out, what should we teach our children?

– Bishop Desmond Tutu

We shouldn't be w elcoming welcoming Ton onyy Blair In Nigeria

President Jonathan: Accused of being America's lackey “fabricated the grounds to behave like playground bullies and drive us further apart. They have driven us to the edge of a precipice where we now stand”.

A war of aggression

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L

Leaders kow-towing to imperialism

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hen Obasanjo returned in 1999, a lot changed; for the worst! We suddenly became a nation ruled by leaders with entrenched inferiority complexes who readily kow-towed to imperialism. The old despot, Obasanjo sacked General Victor Malu, for objecting to an indecent and groveling surrender to American military diktat; just as patriotic Nigerian intellectuals in virtually all fields of life were ignored for imperialist-trained “experts” with more loyalty to the Bretton Woods Institutions than to Nigeria! That trend led the late President Yar ’adua to describe a few C M Y K

Tony Blair (third left) at the religious reconciliation meeting.

Laureate and antiapartheid hero, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, called for Tony Blair and George Bush to be hauled before the ICC for the “physical and moral devastation caused by the war in Iraq”.

THE O B S E R V E R newspaper of London, on September 2nd, reported the call as part of a statement Tutu released, withdrawing Late President Umaru Yar'Adua: Described from a leadership moments in the White House as best in his life. conference in South Africa, for which Tony B-LIAR was paid minutes inside George Bush’s White 150,000 British pounds. The

,

AST week Friday, many Nigerian newspapers carried on their front pages, the picture of Tony B-LIAR, former British Prime Minister, surrounded by the Sultan of Sokoto, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and other religious leaders. It was from the launch, the previous day, of an effort to “encourage reconciliation between Christian and Moslem (SIC) communities”, by the Tony Blair Foundation. It was, on the surface of it, a good initiative. But it comes from a man who ordinarily should have been arrested and handed over for trial at the International Criminal Court.

Tony B-LAIR comes into Nigeria so regularly, that most people seem to have forgotten that he does not even command much respect in his home country anymore and is unable to walk around in London, with same spring in his step that we see during his regular, and obviously lucrative, Nigerian visits.

Prior to 1999, Nigerian leaders took very serious, anti-imperialist positions.

Even the Tafawa Balewa administration, often described as ‘conservative”, broke diplomatic relations with France, following an atomic weapons test in the Sahara, during the 1960s. We all remember Murtala Muhammed’s role in supporting the progressive movement for Angolan Independence in 1975.

The same regime refused a visit by Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, to protest America’s anti-African posture.

The military nationalised British Petroleum, as part of Nigerian commitment to Africa’s liberation.

Those were the halcyon days of Nigerian foreign policy activism!

Last September, Nobel Laureate and antiapartheid hero, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, called for Tony Blair and George Bush to be hauled before the ICC for the “physical and moral devastation caused by the war in Iraq”.B-LIAR should no longer be made welcome in Nigeria. His regular visits here assault our human decency!

House, as the greatest moment of his life! Inferiority complex cannot come any worse! But the trend deepened and Tony B-LAIR’s regular reception inside Aso Villa and other Nigerian events, merely underscores this trend. But it triggers my patriotic indignation that we are ruled by those with the consciousness of slaves!

Tony B-LIAR, described as George Bush’s poodle, is reviled around the world for the role he played in the American invasion of Iraq in 2003. He told lies about Iraq’s alleged weapons of mass destruction, as justification for the invasion. Last September, Nobel

INDEPENDENT of London of August 29th, quoted Tutu that it was “morally indefensible” to share a platform with BLIAR. “The Discovery Invest Summit has leadership as its theme.

Morality and leadership are indivisible. In this context, it would be inappropriate for the Archbishop Tutu to share a platform with Mr. Blair”. Bush and B-LIAR, Archbishop Tutu argued

,

he commentator George Monbiot, in the London Guardian of 3rd September, said Tutu’s call “broke the protocol of power- the implicit accord of those who flit from one grand meeting to another- and named his crime” He added further that “the crime of aggression and a crime against peace. It is defined by the Nurember principles as the ‘planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression’. This means a war fought for a purpose other than selfdefence: in other words out with articles 33 and 51 of the UN Charter.

That the invasion of Iraq falls into this category looks indisputable”….Without legal justification, the attack on Iraq was an act of mass murder. It caused the death of between 100,000 and a million people, and ranks among the greatest crimes the world has ever seen. That Blair and his ministers still saunter among us, gathering money where ever they go, is a withering indictment of a one-sided system of international justice: a system whose hypocrisy Tutu has exposed”.

Arrest Blair campaign

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onbiot is the founder of www.arrestblair.org. to promote a peaceful citizens’ arrest of Tony BLIAR; citizens contribute to a fund that has so far disbursed more than ten thousand pounds. “Our aim is the same as Tutu’s: to de-normalise an act of mass murder, to keep it in the public mind and to maintain the pressure for prosecution. That looked (until Tutu’s recent call), like an almost impossible prospect. But when the masonry begins to crack, impossible hopes can become first plausible, then inexorable. Blair will now find himself shut out of places where he was once welcome. One day he may find himself shut in”. B-LIAR should no longer be made welcome in Nigeria. His regular visits here assault our human decency!

Ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo: Beginning of the worst.

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012 THE tragedy has been on for years, but with the death of more than 400 children in March 2010, from lead poisoning, one of the consequences of illegal gold mining, the world appeared to have noticed.

Outrage, promises, and little else have been the responses.

Human Rights Watch described the lead poisoning crisis in Anka and Bukkuyum local government areas of Zamfara State (Bagega is the worst hit) as the worst such epidemic “in modern history ” with thousands affected outside the official figure of 400 dead children.

Responses to these tragedies were token, even insulting. The deaths were enough reasons to go after the illegal miners and prosecute them, but governments have no such interest, nor have they kept promises to clean the environment of lead, an effort that would bear no result since the illegal mining continues.

Last May the Federal Government made a reluctant appearance at an international conference in Abuja to discuss making Zamfara safe. It promised to provide N850 million required to clear the contaminated

BY SAMUEL JAJU

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NTEGRITY, they say, is telling oneself the truth, while honesty is telling the truth to other people. People should always learn how to toe the path of honour, if they have any, especially when it is clear they are no longer relevant and wanted by the larger society. Ever before now, one wonders what informed the decision of the present national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, under Alhaji Bamanga Tukur to ever think of re-admitting former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu into the party years after Kalu vilified and debased the party after leaving to seek his political ambition in supposedly greener pastures.

It could be recall that nobody expelled Kalu from Abia PDP. Rather domineering attitude which was stoutly resisted by the party leadership and the Presidency prior to the 2007 general election prompted him to jump from the PDP to Progressives Peoples Alliance, PPA, a platform which he and his mother used running the state in 2007.

Under this set-up and with the PPA’s victory in Imo State in 2007, Kalu became the party's overlord and became more overbearing when the party was included in the late President Umaru Musa Yar Adua’s Government of National Unity, GNU. Heady with his perceived importance, he regularly criticized PDP and vowed that nothing would make him return to the party, vowing that he would rather quit active

Ecological FFund und FFor or Zamfara’s FFuture uture soil. The money is still awaited.

How difficult is it to pull out N850 million from the Ecological Fund that is readily available for mysterious causes?

Doctors Without Borders, the main nongovernmental agency working on the project in Zamfara has issued another urgent call for funds to cleanse the soil, an exercise it says should be concluded before the rains start in April, otherwise the tragedy would enter a new phase. With all the numerous agencies – Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, National Emergency Management Agency - this matter should concern, the children of Zamfara are not getting any attention.

The chances of the children being reinfected without a cleansing of the soil and stopping the illegal mining are high. The current efforts at rescuing the children are sheer waste. Children because of their partially developed organs are at higher risk of lead poisoning which kills or renders them incapable of full growth.

Illegal mining of gold is booming in the areas as villagers find it more lucrative than agriculture. Without arrests and prosecution of illegal miners, more people are joining, sustaining the tragedy.

Unsafe mining techniques and processing of ore to extract gold contaminate drinking water with lead. The poison is so strong that even children who come in contact with the equipment are at risk. Other children work in the illegal mines.

The shame of the Zamfara tragedy is the ease with which our governments abdicate their responsibilities, even where children, the future, are involved. When will governments stop the illegal mining? When will they save the children in Zamfara?

Every delay deals death blows to the children, our future.

OPINION Kalu and the planned return to PDP politics for good. How time flies when the question of honour or integrity is at stake.

Things soon began to fall apart for him when then Imo State governor on his party platform, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, defected to the PDP. This was soon followed by his loss of control of Abia State government following his successor, Chief Theodore Orji’s successful liberation of the state from his grip before the 2011 general election. That was when it dawned on him that he had lost relevance and started secretly to lobby to return to the PDP through the backdoor under the leadership of Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo. But he was strongly rejected by the party at both state and national levels.

The party leadership then had realised that Kalu has no political value to bring into the party, having lost control of the structures at both state or national level after years of political incommunicado. Kalu’s rejected move was made after he saw that the party leadership has appealed to his successor, Orji to return to PDP, a development that was massively supported by party members in the state, especially the major stakeholders who had been at political loggerheads with him over his suppressive politics and leadership.

Before the 2011 general elections, Governor Orji in the spirit of “give and take” reconciled all the warring factions in the

party in the state, factions created by Kalu's divide and rule approach as governor of the state. The likes of Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Ojo Maduekwe, Chief Adolphous Wabara, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Senator Enyinnaya Abaraibe, Tony Ukasanya and several others who had deserted the state for long were brought back and reconciled. That was how the party went into the 2011 elections for the first time in the state since 1999 as a united family and won with a landslide.

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ince then the state and the party have known peace and experienced rapid developments. The state is no longer on the bad side of the news over political crisis, “do or die politics”, or menace of godfatherism.

But it appears the present leadership of PDP is not comfortable with the prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the state chapter of the party. If they do, why should they stir the hornest's nest by contemplating re-admitting Kalu into the party through the back door as they did with former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose?

Of what value will Kalu bring to Abia PDP now and what informed the party leadership’s decision for such plan without due consultation with the party leaders in the state, especially Governor Orji who happens

to be the party leader in the state today? If the party could win with landslide in the state in the 2011 general elections, the first time since 1999, it is crystal clear that Kalu is of no importance to the party, not to talk of the state politics.

After all, Dr. Chris Ngige proved his political clout in Anambra State in 2011 when he defeated the candidate of the state government and the ruling party in the state Dr. Dora Akunyili in the Anambra Central senatorial election. Why didn’t Kalu repeat such feat in Abia North senatorial election in which he was defeated by Senator Uche Chukwumerije?

If the national leadership’s moves to readmit Kalu into the party was on the basis of true or total reconciliation in the party, the leadership should direct Kalu and other intending returnees to go and reconcile with the party members in the state first. It is after this that the state leadership of the party will now bring such returnees to the national leadership for approval.

The approach should be bottom-top and not otherwise because democracy and party politics is all about the people, party structures and followers at the grass root level.

*Mr. Jaju, a political analyst, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012—19

, Yes, GEJ can run in 2015

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UTSPOKEN Northern opinion leader, Dr Junaid Mohammed, surprised me last week when he called on President Goodluck Jonathan to declare if he would run again in 2015. Is he one of our leaders who do not read the newspapers? GEJ has made it clear he would. He has sent his attorneys, led by Ade Okeya-Inneh(SAN) to defend his right to contest following a suit by a Port Harcourt-based member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Henry Amadi challenging his eligibility.

Earlier on in March 2012 another PDP member based in Abuja, Cyriacus Njoku, had approached a High Court to determine whether the President was qualified. GEJ had also sent an attorney to press a “ yes” answer for him. If he were not interested why would he bother?

What other signs does Mohammed need?

If Mohammed watches television (particularly the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA) he would have heard GEJ at the last presidential media chat say

(correctly) that such a declaration at this time would simply destabilise governance.

But the question today is whether Jonathan is eligible to run in 2015. The cases are still in court but I will capitalise on my constitutional right to free speech to answer this question in the affirmative: Yes! Jonathan can, and will run. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) made it expressly clear at Section 137 (1-b) that a person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if: “He has been elected to such an office at any two previous elections…”

Did the election of GEJ under the Yar ’Adua/Jonathan ticket amount to his being elected twice (in addition to his 2011 election under the Jonathan/Sambo ticket?). If that were so, Atiku Abubakar would not be eligible to run for president in 2007 and 2011, having been elected along with President Olusegun Obasanjo for two previous terms.

You may argue that unlike Atiku,

We must respect the political rights of one another; anyone who feels strongly about unseating Jonathan should present his candidacy before Nigerians

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Jonthan had completed the remaining one and half years of the Yar ’Adua/Jonathan term when Yar’ Adua took ill and later demised. That does not amount to his being “elected”, does it?

We borrowed our constitutional order from the United States of America. Luckily, the US political experience has provided a useful example of how the situation that President Jonathan finds himself in was handled. America did not have a ceiling on the number of times a president could run for re-election. A number of presidents tried to run for a third term in office but failed for one reason or the other. However, Franklin Roosevelt became the only US president to be successfully elected more than twice (he actually won the presidency four times!). World War II in Europe necessitated this.

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ut as soon as the Roosevelt era came to a close a Bill was brought to amend the

constitution limiting the terms of office of US presidents to two. It was eventually passed in March 1947. It is known as the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution.

It stipulates as follows: “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once”. The US constitution thus specifies what happens in case someone else completes a presidential term started by another person. Even at that, Jonathan would still have been eligible to run for two full terms because he was not in Yar’ Adua’s office for up to two years.

In America, the John F. Kennedy/Lyndon B Johnson eras provided an opportunity to test the 22nd Amendment. Kennedy defeated Johnson at the 1960 primaries of the Democratic Party and picked Johnson as his Vice President. They won the election.

Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. Johnson completed his term and went on to stand for his party in 1964. In 1968 he stood for a second term but later opted out of the presidential race because the Vietnam War had so weakened his legitimacy that he performed miserably at the New Hampshire primaries of the Democratic Party.

Americans did not find it difficult to understand the spirit and letters of their constitution on term limits. Why do we find it so difficult to understand ours?

The answer is very simple. There is morality in American politics.

There is no such thing in

Nigerian politics. Even before the term limit was imposed by the 22nd Amendment, earlier presidents, such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Munroe, voluntarily opted to go home after serving two terms. It thus became a convention. Even when the convention was broken by some presidents later on, many of them (such as Johnson) bowed out on the moral grounds that their candidacy no longer enjoyed the legitimacy of the American people.

But here in Nigeria, a sitting president will contest and “win” even when the whole country is totally fed up with him. Opting out of the race on moral grounds is unthinkable. The poor chap will go to his grave with the stigma, and “his people” (ethnic group) will boo him at every public outing.

I am taken aback by the paranoia that political leaders from the North, such as Atiku Abubakar, Lawal Kaita, Ango Abdullahi, Junaid Mohammed and others have been exhibiting about President Jonathan’s political rights. They have never given him a moment’s peace since Yar’Adua died. Left to some of them GEJ would have handed over to a Northerner after Yar ’ Adua’s death!

This must stop. We must respect the political rights of one another. Anyone who feels strongly about unseating Jonathan should present his candidacy before Nigerians.

This orchestration of sectional calumny, which is reminiscent of the cowardly antics of a pack of hyenas when they come upon a lone wounded or pregnant lioness will never help us to build a united country.

Drivers Wanted: Minimum qualification, PhD NE of the greatest philosophers that ever lived, Aristotle, opined centuries ago: “Men come together in cities in order to live; but they remain together in order to live the good life”. It is, however, becoming increasingly harder to live the good life in Nigerian cities today.

As if we are engaged in a deliberate race to seek appropriate answers to the poser left behind by Ralph Emerson (18031882): “Can anyone remember when times were not hard and money not scarce?” We seem impelled to force an answer. We must admit that although times have remained hard over the ages, we are drifting so fast to the point of no return, to the extent that so soon, PhD holders are now begging to be employed as chauffeurs. This used to be the exclusive preserve for those who did not see the four walls of any classroom or those who dropped out of primary school.

Times were not this hard. This writer recollects, with nostalgia, the late 1960s, when he worked in an insurance company in Lagos Island as an underwriting clerk.

One Monday morning, I had a serious disagreement with the company’s Chief Accountant. I merely tolerated the man till break time. As soon as it was 12.30p.m., I hopped into the ferry and crossed over to Apapa. I started another job that same afternoon.

Talking of the uses of adversity, whereas the insurance job brought in a salary of 28 pounds at the end of the month, at the new paper company, they started me off with 42 pounds per month. At the Norwegian Company, they gave me one nebulous name, Assistant Cost Accountant. My qualification then was School Certificate, with some commercial bias. Today, we have drifted to such low level, where a PhD holder has a choice between working as a driver and starving C M Y K

to death, and he chooses the latter, no thanks to his government’s rudderlessness.

The PhD has hitherto been a morale booster and a source of pride to its holders and all those associated with such holders.

I still remember the year 1979, when I returned to this country after some years in the winter region. This cousin of mine who came to visit me could be seen in a hurry to inform me: “Brother, you know say me I no too go school but my secretary today is a Doctor”. To my cousin, this was an ego trip. Yes, he had enrolled into politics early in life via thuggery (I mean the youth wing!) and the UPN administration had made him chairman of one committee.

This type of ego booster could have been largely operational in the minds of the designers of the Graduate Executive Truck Driver scheme of Dangote Group of Companies. This programme, no doubt, taps heavily on the precarious unemployment situation in this country.

It was, therefore, not surprising that at the close of the application: “Of the 13,000 applications received, six were PhD, 704 Masters and over 8,460 Bachelor degree holders.” We hear that most of the applicants are products of very reputable universities in the land.

Attempts have been made to paint the programme in very attractive colours but no amount of washing can ever change the pig’s nose from black to white. By any name, a driver is a driver – in just the same way that our late sage, Archbishop John Edokpolor, believed that a rogue is a rogue,whether he is an armed robber or a pen robber.

In the particular case of Dangote’s Graduate Executive Truck Drivers programme, we hear that the drivers will get allowances on each trip plus salaries and the trucks will eventually become

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The situation where a PhD holder becomes a driver destroys initiative and it is certainly a bad influence on our youths

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theirs after they have run some 300,000 kilometres (about 140 trips from Lagos to Kano) within two to four years.

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gain, there are quacks in every profession. Fella Anikulapo Kuti would have summarized the situation most succinctly, “Any PhD holder wey dey do driver work na swegbe.” This programme will further aggravate the already bad unemployment situation in Nigeria: The PhD holders will not be good drivers and meanwhile, the professional drivers are pushed deeper into the unemployment market.

In any organogram, a PhD holder who is supposed to be a subject-specialist is on top while the driver is at the lowest rung of the ladder. No matter how hard times get, a good PhD holder cannot take the menial job of a driver. The situation before

us calls for immediate evaluation of the PhD programmes. What is the quality of the PhD and how are the post–graduate programmes organised? Are we producing graduates that will meet the need of the nation? What is the synergy between our educational institutions and our industrial sector? When are we going to start the target production of manpower in which there must be constant interaction between the educational institutions and the industries?

Essentially, the situation where a PhD holder becomes a driver destroys initiative and it is certainly a bad influence on our youths. If it is true that it is folly to be wise where ignorance is bliss, it is also unwise to be going to school when you know you are going to graduate into unemployment or into menial jobs for which no education is required in the first place.

See what we have done to ourselves? We watched helplessly as oil boom gradually became oil doom in this country. We relegated agriculture to the remote background.

Whichever way we look, we see a failed nation that could rise again but there must be serious belt–tightening on the part of us all – the professional drivers must drive the trucks; we must have an educational system that grows in size as it grows in excellence and relevance; and we must be prepared to return to the land. By the time we till the ground, food and jobs will emerge while hunger and unemployment will disappear.

20 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012 — 21

FG to unveil 29 yrs infrastructure master plan T

By FRANKLIN ALLI & PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

HE Federal Government is developing a National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP) spanning 29 years from 2014 to 2043.

Engr. Ilesanmi Olugbenga Adegun, the Director of Infrastructure National Planning Commission disclosed this in a keynote speech delivered at the World Infrastructures Summit, organised by the Initiative for Infrastructure and Modern City Development, IIMCD, Infrastructure Journal and Ceezali Ltd, in Amsterdam.

He said that considering Nigeria’s

lean resources, the federal government is adopting initiatives towards collaborating with stakeholders to surmount the challenge facing Nigeria’s infrastructure deficits.

“To this effect, the cur rent administration is at the verge of developing a National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP)

spanning 2014 – 2043.

“In view of the multi-sectoral nature of this assignment, the National Planning Commission has been charged with the responsibility to coordinate it.

“The NIIMP process which commenced in August 2012, with the development of a project Framework, is currently at various levels of

consultations with relevant stakeholders. It is expected that the delivery of the Plan in April 2013 will usher in the physical development of the country, while at the same time addressing the challenges of slow economic growth, security, urbanisation, poverty, housing, health care, and education to mention a few.

There is therefore, the yawning desire to bridge the infrastructure deficit in the identified sectors through private sector participation since the government cannot do it

FG losses N97bn annually to fishes, fishery products importation

By SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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HE Federal Government loses about N97 billion annually in foreign exchange due to the rise in importation of fish and fishery products to the country.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina disclosed this in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, during the opening session of the 27th Annual Conference and Biennial General Meeting tagged “Bayelsa 2012”. He said plans are afoot to ban the importation of fishes and fishery products from Europe and Latin America due to the huge drain on the nation’s economy.

Represented by Alhaji Bukar Tijani, the Minister of State in the ministry, he said the new agenda of the federal government is to promote increase in the supply of raw materials for Argo industries, employment generation, foreign exchange earners, conservation of foreign exchange through import substitution, local consumption and national food security.

He announced that the federal government has also approved the sum of N17.6 billion to be shared among flood devastated states for fish and crop farmers to assuage anticipated cases of food crises.

“We can assure the people that there would not be food crises as another N9.7billion palliative for food production have been put in place,” he said. The president of the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), Dr. Abbas Abdullah, commended the federal government for the new direction and aquaculture policy and insisted that the era of importation in the country should be stopped as huge volume of heavy metals have been reported and are dangerous for human consumption.

From left: Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, Chairman Emeritus International Chamber of Commerce Nigeria, ICCN; Mr. Babatunde Savage, Chairman, ICCN presenting ICC Guidelines for International Investment and Chief Ernest Shonekan, Chairman during the ICCN annual dinner/dance, in Lagos.

CPC lauds CBN for adopting consumer protection strategy

By FRANKLIN ALLI

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ONSUMER Protection Council (CPC) has commended the Central Bank of Nigeria for having adopted consumer protection strategy.

The Council has also called for the speedy passage of its amendment bill by the National Assembly, citing its many gains to the economy.

CPC Director General, Ify Umenyi, while applauding the apex bank for establishing consumer protection department and drafting consumer protection framework, noted that by this development; CBN has realised the importance of consumer protection as a catalyst for economic growth.

Umenyi, who was the guest during the monthly forum of the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association, CICAN, in Lagos, said that for Nigerians to feel the impact of the agency as much as expected, the National Assembly should pass the Council’s amendment bill into law.

According to her, the efforts of the Council in safeguarding the interests of Nigerian consumers, is being hampered by the absence of a clear cut policy on consumer protection.

“The amended bill will go a long way to protect the rights of consumers in the

country, enhance the agency’s statutory performance and promote healthy competition needed for a thriving economy,” she said.

According to her, in spite of being poorly funded, the Council has been able to established six zonal offices nationwide to enhance its reach to consumers and visibility; opened desk offices at the Alaba International Market in Lagos, set up call centers for consumers’ complaints in English, Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa, including the establishments of consumer clubs in 600 primary and junior secondary schools nationwide.

On what could be done to assist the agency achieve its objectives, Umenyi ,said number one is the entrenchment of consumer protection as an essential component of the country’s national trade and industrial policy, enactment of robust legislation on competition and consumer protection or the proposed bill on federal competition and consumer protection commission by the National Assembly, as well as the enhanced funding for the effective discharge of the council’s responsibilities.

John Isemede, Director General, Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, commended

the Council for its efforts in protecting consumers’ through capacity buildings, resolving consumers’ complaints and prosecuting of offenders.

143.85

-7.55

2,498.00

+17.00

19.93

-0.01

109.66

-2.04

86.78

-2.50

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

154.75 246.5013 198.2812 164.5226 1.8988 0.2797 233.5371 24.8274 41.2634 26.5802 236.3497

155.25 247.2977 198.9218 165.0542 1.9049 0.2897 234.2916 24.9081 41.3967 26.6661 237.1133

SELLING 155.75 248.0942 199.5625 165.5858 1.911 0.2997 235.0462 24.9888 41.53 26.752 237.877

CBN Exchange rate as at 21/11/20127

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

New US SEC boss faces fights on several fronts, legal straitjacket

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From left: Brand Manager Bournvita, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Adebola Williams; Sales Director, Mr. Paul Udochi and Legal Adviser Lagos State Lottery Board, Mrs. Mayowa Okuyiga during the second draw Yummy life promo in Lagos recently.

Audit c’ttee members should be remunerated —Shareholders

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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hareholders have called for the amendment of the Companies and Allied Act (CAMA) law to allow remuneration for audit committee members.

“The Act says that the audit committee members are not to be rewarded.

This is a dysfunctional piece of law because it puts the audit committee members at the mercy of business managers who offer to bear the cost of audit committee members as a favour for which they are expect to be rewarded by the committee members’ indifference to the managers’ failings and misstatements. An oversight role can only be frustrated by such a pressure.” said Chief Timothy Adesiyan, President, Nigerian Shareholders Solidarity Association (NSSA) and Sir Sunny Nwosu, President, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria.

In a statement presented as co-chairmen at the annual Audit Committee Roundtable, organized by the Audit Committee Institute (ACI), they averred that there is need to strengthen and empower audit committee so that they can effectively play their statutory roles. Speaking on the theme of

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the Roundtable, which was “and Detecting Financial Reporting Fraud”, they said that, “Deterring and detecting financial reporting fraud is a shared governance responsibility.

The Audit Committee strongly shares in this

responsibility.

Overseeing the financial reporting process is a great responsibility with variable challenges. To meet these challenges, audit committees need to informed, bold and active, with the right skill sets available in and to the

committee.

This Audit Committee Roundtable is expected to illuminate the scope of emerging expectations of audit committee responsibilities for deterring and detecting financial reporting fraud,

Arms Research sees bright prospect for Presco …share price to rise to N22.52

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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nalysts at Arms Research have projected that the share price of Presco Oil will experience appreciable increase within the year, even as they recommend a buy rating on the share.

The analysts said that it is estimated that Presco’s revenue over a seven year period will grow by 17 percent (Compound Annual Growth Rate) CAGR, on the back of strong domestic and industrial demand.

Presco Oil currently trades at N14.50, which brings the projected price appreciation to 55.31

percent over the period.

They said their projection was based on the company’s strategic position as the only palm oil producing company in Nigeria with operations across the entire value chain, adding that some positive metrics in the country which include the size of the population and the quantum of either palm or refined oil consumed by Nigerians favoured the company.

The analysts said, “In addition, Presco announced in half year 2012 of its acquisition of the moribund 16,000 hectares Rison Palms Plantation in Rivers State.

This significantly brightens Presco’s long term prospects and provides them a platform to diversify into rubber which

management guided to.

“As a producer of specialty oils, it is expected to benefit from Nigerian economic growth (NBS forecasts average seven percent over 2012-15) and increasing disposable incomes leading to greater consumption of packaged foods for which palm oil and its refined variant are key ingredients.

“In addition, increasing demand of palm oil products – olein, stearin and PFAD for usage in consumer care goods space should benefit from externalities arising from increased economic expansion.

ARY Schapiro’s successor as head of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is going to have to hit the ground running.

With an ongoing battle over regulating the $2.5 trillion money market fund industry, some 63 unfinished rule makings required by the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law and continuing fears about market stability and high frequency trading, the new top securities regulator will have a lengthy list of critical issues to address on day one.

And it will all have to be done under prickly circumstances. All new rulemaking faces potential legal challenges from opponents strengthened by a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling last year which will force the agency to do deeper “cost benefit” analysis. Such requirements can drag out rule proposals for months, or even years.

“It’s an ongoing, enormous challenge,” said Amy Borrus, deputy director of the Council of Institutional Investors, a group representing many of the largest public and private pension funds.

The first challenge, though, may be figuring out just how long current Democratic commissioner Elisse Walter will run the agency. On Monday, President Barack Obama designated Walter as chairman not as “acting” or “interim” chairman. In theory, she could run the agency until December, 2013, when she would have to be renominated and re-approved by the U.S. Senate.

A White House official said the president plans to nominate a full-term replacement for Schapiro in the near future. If Walter remains in charge, the move likely would be more of the same at the SEC, as she and Schapiro were considered close allies on the commission.

With Schapiro gone next month, Walter’s biggest initial challenge may be working with a divided four-person commission that is likely to be bottle necked with two-two votes on important issues like money fund reform or stricter corporate governance rules, according to Edward Fleischman, a former SEC commissioner.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012—23

CBN proposes autonomous body to fix oil benchmark Stories By CHINEDU IBEABUCHI

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria, through its Monetary Policy Committee, MPC has called for the setting up of an independent legal structure that will be charged with setting oil benchmark output and price.

The committee said this should be manned by independent experts who

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are shielded from political interference and interests.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, the committee raised concern that the moderation in money market rates was only beneficial to prime customers, who enjoyed a fair degree of reduction in rates on their loan facilities.

With regard to the

balance sheet of the federal government, the Committee was of the view that it has become imperative to shift away from looking at the size of the deficit and borrowing alone, to emphasizing the quality of expenditure and decisions on the allocation of resources.

The Committee commended the fiscal authorities for keeping the fiscal deficit firmly in line with the 2012 budget and improving the revenue profile of the

federal government by plugging several of the fiscal leakages.

It called on the government to significantly increase capital spending and increase its focus on improving on governance and transparency in the public service. On the oil price benchmark used in the 2013 budget, the MPC reaffirmed its support for maintaining the US$75/barrel proposed by the fiscal authorities and noted that

this has become even more critical in light of evidence that output projections may have been overly optimistic.

In this regard, the Committee called on the government and the National Assembly going forward, to borrow from the Chilean experience with regard to the setting of the parameters for the preparation of the National Budget to avoid the perennial rancor between the Executive and the Legislature on benchmark oil price.

House c’ttee scrutinises CBN’s capital projects

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OUSE of Representatives Committee on Banking and Currency has commenced an inspection of capital projects of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Members of the Committee, led by its chairman, Hon. Jones Chukwudi Onyereri, visited the new CBN office, which is under construction. The team was received and conducted round the new office by the Project Coordinator, CBN, Lagos, Mr. B.O. Idowu Explaining the purpose of the visit, Onyereri said, “Members are on a tour of all the agencies that we have oversight function on. What we are trying to do basically is to go to the branches and find out how your working environment is the challenges that you have in your branches and also to know how efficient or otherwise your members of staff are.

“Basically, we believe that most of the output from the head office would be an aggregate of whatever input they get from the branches. If the branches are well run, then you will expect that naturally, whatever decisions that they make from the head office, would be something that would strengthen the institution.

“Beyond all that, we are also going to look at your capital projects because funds have been allocated to these projects, and these funds are public funds. Therefore, it is within our purview to make sure that money that has been allocated for these projects are well utilised,” he said.

Idowu said the new building will comprise a total of twenty two stories with nineteen floors and three executive offices.

He said the old CBN office in Lagos is over 50 years old and controls over 1,000 Bureau De Changes, BDCs, from the initial 85 BDCs, unlike the other apex bank’s branches.

24—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29 , 2012 vicahiyoung@yahoo.com 08033348923

Coca-Cola appoints new Managing Director for Nigeria ...Promotes incumbent

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oca-Cola Nigeria Limited has announced the appointment of Mr. Adeola Adetunji as the company ’s new Managing Director effective January 1, 2013.

He replaces Kelvin Balogun who was elevated recently to the position of President of Coca-Cola Central, East & West Africa (CEWA) Business Unit.

Adetunji is currently the General Manager for Manufacturing and Trading Services and also serves as the Managing Director for Waveside (Pty.) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company in South Africa.

A 19-year veteran of The Coca-Cola Company, Adetunji has served successfully in varied roles of increasing responsibility spanning finance, marketing and operations He joined the Company in Atlanta in 1993 and was appointed as the South Africa Division

Accounting Manager in 1996. He led the CocaCola business in East Africa to record growth between 2003 and 2005 and was central in stabilizing the business inSouthern Africa between 2005 and 2007, before moving to bottling

operations in July 2008 as the East and North Africa Operations Director for Coca-Cola Sabco (The anchor bottler for CocaCola Company in Africa).

Prior to joining The Coca-Cola Company, Adetunji worked in audit

Coca cola MD

La Casera receives ISO 22000: 2005 Certification

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he LaCasera Company Plc has bagged the NIS ISO 22000:2005 certification in Food Safety Management System by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria. According to a letter signed by the head of Systems Certification Unit, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, Engineer N.A Olujie, the company was awarded the certification after the verification exercise carried out by the regulatory agency.

Olujie wrote” following the verification exercise carried out on the assessment of your quality management system, I am directed to inform you that your Food Safety Management System has been recommended for certification to NIS ISO 22000:2005 standard” Speaking at the company ’s quarterly reward and recognition award ceremony held at the company’s factory located at Amuwo Odofin Industrial Estate, the Chief Operating Officer of the company, Mr. Prahlad Gangadharan described the ISO certification as an honour well deserved and another remarkable milestone in the annals of the compan y .

“I am indeed very delighted and proud to receive the Food Safety

C M Y K

Management System Certification NIS ISO 22000:2005 standard for the La Casera Company Plc from the Standard Orgaanisation of Nigeria” he said.

Prahlad noted that the conferment of the Food Safety Management System Certification by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria on The La Casera Company Plc is a confirmation of the company’s strict adherence to Safety and quality at every level of the production p r o c e s s .

Also speaking at the cer-

emony, The Group Technical Director, The L a Casera Company Plc, Mr. Sanjeev Chhetri congratulated every member of staff of the company for maintaining high ethical and safety standard which won the company the certification.

Chettri then urged them to continue to improve and maintain the high level of adherence to standard and quality of product and ensure safety management system to further propel the company for greater achievement.

and consulting roles with Spicer and Oppenheimer (now Nexia International)for over three years. He is a Fellow Chartered Accountant and holds a B.Sc. degree in Economics from the University ofIfe, Nigeria and a MBA in Finance and Strategic Planning from the University of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, USA. “We are very pleased to have another strong professional, Adeola Adetunji to lead the Coca-Cola business in Nigeria, one of our strategic growth markets”, said Nathan Kalumbu, outgoing President of Coca-Cola Central, East & West Africa who will be moving up as the Group President for Coca-Cola Eurasia & Africa Group.

“We are confident that he would focus on delivering our system growth plan, leveraging the solid groundwork laid over the past two years.”

Briefing the Media on the significance of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria certification to the company, the Quality Assurance Manager, Mr. Emmanuel Adeku explained that the certification will go a long way in giving credence to the quality of product that we offered our consumers both here in Nigerian and in the neighbouring West African countries.

Adeku noted that the ISO 22000:2005, Food Safety Management System (FSMS) is relatively new standard and is built around ISO 9001 but has been generated specifically for the food industry.

From right: SINOPEC Chairman, Mr. Chengyu FU receives Petroleum Executive of the Year Award from Mr. Abdullah Attiyah, Deputy Prime Minister of Qatar and former Chairman, Qatar Petroleum (Left) during the Oil & Money 33rd Conference organised by Energy Intelligence Group held in London recently.

Sinopec Group Chairman bags Petroleum Executive of the Year Award

he Chairman of China Petroleum Corporation T (Sinopec Group) Fu Chengyu has been honoured with the 2012 “Petroleum Executive of the Year” Award

in London organised by Energy Intelligence Group in recognition of his outstanding leadership as an executive in the industry. The award took place on 12th November, 2012.

The award which was based on the votes of previous laureates and senior oil industry executives, makes Fu the first Chinese entrepreneur to earn the award in 15 years.

Fu graduated from China’s Northeast Petroleum Institute majoring in geology, and later received a master’s degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Southern California. Before joining Sinopec, Chairman Fu had worked at China National Offshore Oil Corporation since 1982, holding the positions of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 2003 to 2010.

Since assuming the role of Chairman of Sinopec in 2011, Mr Fu has used his experience in overseas mergers and acquisitions to further enhance the group’s internationalisation strategy.

Sinopec is present in several African countries, including Nigeria, through its subsidiaries and through Sinopec International Exploration and Production Corporation (SIPC) which counts amongst its most active divisions Addax Petroleum, which has been active in Nigeria since 1998.

BA investment programme delivering customer benefits — BA CEO

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ust two years into a five-year £5 billion programme of investments British Airways has already reached some significant milestones, says chief executive, Keith Williams.

He told customers at an event in Lagos that the

Karamat signs German partners, holds exhibition aramat Limited, a new entrant into the K building fittings and ac-

with the German firm, renowned all over the world for its expertise and cessories business last innovative products, is week signed a partner- aimed at ensuring that ship with its German part- construction firms, estate ners, ALNO AG and developers, builders, inNOLTE. The partnership terior decorators, architects and furniture business outfits enjoy access to the latest, high quality, innovative, modern products in kitchen cabFrom Left: Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku inets and and Chief Executive Officer, British Air- wardrobes. ways, Mr. Keith Williams during British Also high Airways Brand Campaign launch in Ni- p r e m i u m brands in geria, in Lagos.

handrails, interior and security doors would be displayed. To showcase its new products, an exhibition has been scheduled for Tuesday, 27th November to Thursday, 29th November, 2012.

Speaking on the partnership and exhibition, CEO of Karamat Limited Mrs Carol Urunmatsoma said the firm is fully focused on becoming the industry leader in its products category. “We are very happy to welcome construction firms, estate developers, builders, interior decorators, architects and furniture business outfits to our exhibition where we will showcase our products.

Our new partners are also excited about this exhibition as they want to meet players in this market to get feedback which they can integrate into their design process back in Germany. Apart from this exhibition, we have 2 show rooms in Lagos and PortHarcourt where we will continue to showcase our products and also ensure that our clients can always walk in to make orders.”

“Our goal is simple; to ensure that our products and services are of very high aesthetics value and are fit for purpose whilst still meeting the budget and taste of our clients and partners.

airline has expanded its network, which now includes new African routes, is acquiring new aircraft, enhancing products and introducing innovative technology to better serve its customers.

As a result of acquiring bmi, British Airways now serves 19 routes in 16 African countries. It flies more often to more places in Africa than it has ever done since it first opened routes to the continent 80 years ago.

The acquisition also enabled it to grow its overall route network, giving customers access to 20 more destinations. British Airways is now operating the biggest Heathrow schedule in its history.

Together with its franchise, codeshare and oneworld partners it offers a global network of over 600 destinations.

Williams says that new aircraft, such as the Boeing 777 ER are coming onto the fleet, embodied with new World Traveller Plus and World Traveller cabins and a sophisticated in-flight entertainment system which offers nearly double the previous choice.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012 — 25

FG screens foreign certificates for quality

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU & EMILY OFIDE

I

N order to ensure that foreign certificates are not superior to the ones issued in the country, the federal government has begun moves to evaluate and access the quality of foreign certificates obtained for employment and admission purposes.

Minister of Education, Professor Ruqqayatu Ahmed Rufai has therefore asked the National Standing Committee (NSC) on Evaluation of Foreign Qualification to appraise all the foreign certificates that Nigerians are acquiring in order to assess their quality.

The evaluation, according to her must also be done to accord Nigerian equivalence to such qualifications for employment and admission purposes.

Speaking in Abuja yesterday at the opening of 32nd meeting of the committee, Professor Rufai noted that the NSC as the highest decision making body in the evaluation of foreign qualifications must also consider briefs on various educational systems and approve the Nigerian equivalents proposed by the Desk Officers.

She urged the Committee to also consider and recommend criteria for recognition of degrees obtained after studies at off-shore campuses in Nigeria adding that NSC must endeavour to serve as an appellate body for aggrieved persons on the day-to-day evaluation carried out by officials of the Federal Ministry of Education.

It would be recalled that NSC was constituted by the federal government in 1979 to accord Nigerian equivalence to such qualifications for employment and admission purpose when Nigerians started travelling abroad to obtain different types of degrees and diplomas.

The Committee was constitut-

ABU shaped who I am today — Kyari Abba Bukar

•To accord them Nigerian equivalent

ed in 1979 when Nigerians were sponsored to Eastern European countries to acquire different types of degrees and diplomas.

The minister urged the members of the committee to bear in mind that the decisions they would be taking will either make or mar Nigerians, tasking them to discharge their duties without bias.

The terms of reference the committee will work with include: to deal with the broad principles and set criteria for the evaluation of foreign certificates and accord Nigerian

equivalents to foreign qualifications.

Others includes to consider briefs on various educational systems and approve the Nigerian equivalents proposed by the desk officers; consider and recommend criteria for recognition of degrees obtained after studies at off-shore campuses in Nigeria.

The committee is to also take decisions on challenges encountered by desk officers on the day to day evaluation, serve as an appellate body by considering representations from aggrieved persons on the

day to day evaluation carried out by officials of the ministry of education.

They will also consider briefs on various educational systems and approve the Nigerian equivalents proposed by the desk officers and to carry out other assignments relevant to its mandate.

Speaking earlier at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Macjohn Nwaobiala noted that the committee’s meeting which is an annual event where issues arising from evaluation and accreditation of foreign

certificates are reviewed for the purpose of achieving uniform standard in education.

He explained that the NSC is annual event during which issues arising from evaluation and accreditation of foreign certificates are reviewed for the purpose of achieving uniform standard in education.

He remarked that Nigeria must enlist the support of its development partners in the education sector and should be able to rise to the challenges facing the sector if it must achieve global competitiveness in the area of education.

“We are aware that no country can achieve greatness without significant investment in the education sector. Nations of the world which have achieved greatness and economic progress have all invested in human capital development which has put them on the map of economic giants,” he said.

FROM LEFT: Africa Section, Department of Foreign Affairs, Dublin. Niamh Browne; Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Patrick Fay; Managing Director, CITA College, Dublin, Felicia Ochelle-Olima; and Managing Director, Blue Square Dublin Yemi Sobowale, at the 2012 Open Day Presentation of Youth Leathership Summer Programme "Experience Dublin Ireland in Lagos

Give top priority to teachers’ welfare — Prof Anibeze

By AMAKA ABAYOMI & IKENNA ASOMBA

"T

HE role of teachers in nation building and national development cannot be wished away" said Prof. Chike Anibeze, Deputy Provost, College of Medicine, Abia State University, Uturu. Accoring to the don, the future of the Nigerian child and the society at large can only be secured if

the welfare of teachers is given top priority by government and other concerned authorities.

Presenting a paper titled: ‘Take a Stand for Teachers’ to mark the World Teachers Day organized by the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Enugu State Chapter, Prof. Anibeze xrayed the history and roles of teachers in national development,

State budget cannot address the problem of education in Kaduna — SUBEB Chairman

CONTINUES ON PAGE 26

LASU VC presents scorecard 365 days after

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

Experts make case for teachers’ training, quality education

BY DAYO ADESULU

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HE Vice Chancellor, Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, Professor Oyewusi IbidapoObe, former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Tiina Raatikainen who is a Lead Expert with EduCluster Finland and a host of experts in the education sector over the weekend spoke with one voice, calling for training and retraining of teachers to enhance productivity. Ibidapo-Obe has said that to get the best from education sector, "we must train new teachers continuously as well as retrain older teachers.”

Ibidapo-Obe who spoke during a plenary session on “what makes a good teacher,” said, “If we want more teachers, invest more into them because teachers themselves need to be m o t i v a t e d .

Speaking in a programme organised by Incubator Africa in conjunction with Edu Cluster, Finland, held at Oriental Hotel, Lagos, the former University of Lagos’, Vice Chancellor, pointed out that, for people to value the

Continues from page 25 noting that as teachers play an extraordinary role in the lives of children, their welfare, quality, development and the general condition of learning must not be toyed with in the country.

The humble beginning

A

ccording to Anibeze, teaching occupies an enviable position in Nigeria.

The origin and development of teacher education can be traced to the beginning of western education in the country, the various church Missions such as the Wesleyan Methodist, the Church Missionary Society, the Baptist, the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) and the Roman Catholic were very active in Nigeria between 1842 and 1860. They contributed in no small measure to the development of teacher education.

The Missionaries devoted their time to the development of elementary education in the country due to the little stipend they got from their overseas headquarters. The missionaries trained their teachers through the pupilteacher system. In such a setting, the missionary teacher kept the school in his premises and his pupils lived with him as part of his family, and the duration of the course

teaching profession, teachers should be treated well.

According to Professor Ibidapo-Obe, students seeking admission in the university are not willing to choose education as discipline because they feel there is no good prospect in it.

“Most of the people offering education in the university ar dong it as a last resort.” he said.

Meanwhile, former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili who was the special guest of honour had earlier said that we should endeavour to educate for character, aptitude and needs, adding,”Without character, we are wasting our time.”

Lamenting the drift from education sector to oil sector, the Former World Bank Vice-President for Africa Region said:

“Oil is not the destiny of Nigeria, It creates a rentier mentality that keeps us impoverished.”

On her part, the Director, Corona Secondary Schools, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo noted that teaching is a holistic thing noting that students are taught today by reluctant teachers. According to her, teaching is career pack just like it is in Finland, adding that in Finland, teachers are the most value profession.

Uniben honours Okunbo

A

business mogul, philanthropist and Chairman, CEO of Hoslyn Habitat Limited, Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo was recently bestowed with an Honourary degree of Doctor of Science in Business Administration at the 38th convocation and founder ’s day ceremonies ceremony of the University of Benin, Edo State last Saturday.

Well known for his skills and exploits in the aviation industry by his peers and associates, Okunbo is a man with an avowed commitment for service to humanity. A retired pilot, with an intimidating business profile spanning a period of about 25 years. Speaking at the convocation ceremony held at the school auditorium in Benin, Edo State, the Vice-chancellor of the institution, Prof.

Osayuki Oshodin praised the awardee for his philanthropist gesture which has endeared him to all and sundry.

While reteraiting the institution’s effort in identifying with those who have made giant stride in their endeavours, Oshodin said it the institution’s tradition to single out the achievers in their endeavours.

•From left: Modupe Irele,Tina Raatikainen; Pertti Siekkinen; Eeva-Liisa Vihinen, Folasade Adefisayo; Elise Tarvainen (2nd right) and Alero Ayida-Otobo (left) chief executive officer, Incubator Africa Limited after a two-day education workshop in Lagos.

Give top priority to teachers’ welfare was two years after which they would sit for the pupil-teacher examination. The result of this is that teachers became the central focus for the development of emerging societies and their authorities transcended beyond the classroom.

“Teachers play an extraordinary role in the lives of children, especially in their formative years.

The importance of teachers in the development of society cannot be understated as their influence can and will stretch on long after the final bell rings beyond the walls of the school. The role of the teacher is complex, far beyond what people can assume as just someone who teaches what has been programmed in the curriculum.”

The bad eggs

R

eiterating that teaching is a noble profession, the former Permanent Board Member 1, Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB-ENUGU), however, decried the situation where unqualified teachers are still allowed to remain in the system.

“If good teachers are treasures beyond price, then the bad ones are equally a formidable curse which we

place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.”

A stand for teachers

O

•Prof. Anibeze should spare no effort to evict from the system as they have tended to diminish the contributions of the good ones. Though teachers, students, administrators and parents know who the bad ones are, but we have allowed them remain in the system.

In his emotion-laden voice, the don surmised that “bad teachers thrive in the system because teachers, management, teachers’ union and parents somehow provide the pedestal under which they thrive, lending credence to Albert Einstein’s statement that: ‘the world is a dangerous

n the way forward to improving the standards of Nigeria’s education which currently see parents send their wards abroad for studies, the Deputy Provost, Anibeze, affirmed that issues bordering on teachers’ welfare and professional development, incentives for teachers, retirement age for teachers, improved teaching facilities, regular promotion of qualified teachers and strengthened monitoring system and pragmatic teachers union must be revisited.

He also tasked the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) to work tirelessly to ensure an improved Nigerian education sector.

“The NUT must become full partners in the education reform systems that will ensure that competent teachers receive their worthy benefits here on earth while the bad ones are eliminated from the system. Our union must endeavour not to be such obstacles while fighting for their rights."

•Okunbo

Groups organise seminar for Maths, English teachers

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HE National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration, NIEPA, in collaboration with New Products and services Enterprises, NEPRO, will organise a seminar tagged: “Consolidating the gains of private education in Nigeria and capacity building for mathematics and English teachers in private schools,” from December 5-7, 2012 at the Centre for Management Development, Shangisha, Magodo, Lagos.

In a statement by the Director General of NIEPA, Dr. Peter Kola Ojedele, “the seminar will, among others, ensure that the gains of private education in Nigeria are consolidated and sustained; assist government at all levels, Federal Ministry of Education,and NIEPA to promote standard of schools; and enhance capacity building and human capital development for Mathematics and English teachers in private primary and secondary schools in Nigeria.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012—27

JAMB picks YABATECH as 2013 UTME CBT centre

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

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HE Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has picked Yaba College of Technology as one of its Computer Based Test (CBT) centres for its take off of the 2013 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) having met all the criteria of qualifying as CBT centers.

This was revealed by the JAMB Registrar, Professor Dibu Ojerinde during his visit to the College on sensitisation of programme on campaign on Computer Based Test (CBT), newly introduced mode of

conducting JAMB Examinations.

Explaining the importance of the CBT, to the management and staff of Yaba College of Technology Professor Ojerinde said that CBT is to ensure prompt delivery of raw scores, eliminate result blackout, and eliminate case of incomplete results and checks examination malpractice.

According to him, “CBT is the administration of an examination using computer with a flexible format that enables the test to be taken at different locations and makes room for accurate, precise and fair assessment of the candidates”. He highlighted the benefits of CBT as being fast with immediate feedback, adding that it offers automated analysis of results, is accurate and in line with global best practices. Professor Ojerinde

stated that the CBT centres are also known as examination locations identified across the country where candidates can take Computer Based Test, and these centres are equipped with modern infrastructures that would enable the conduct of CBT. He, however, allayed the fears of stake holders on expected loopholes which he claimed have been blocked especially the area of candidates’ ICT compliance, handicapped candidates, grassroot areas and power supply among others.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Dr. Mrs. Margaret Kudirat Ladipo said the introduction of Computer Based Test CBT for the 2013 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is indeed laudable and must be commended. “It is our hope that with the multiplicity of challenges in the

Rector, Yabatech, Dr Margaret Kudirat Ibiyeye-Ladipo and Prof. Dibu Ojediran, Registrar, JAMB at Yabatech during Sensitization campaign. area of text scores, examination administration will be a thing of the past,” she averred.

Dr. Ladipo extolled JAMB as Nigeria’s academic regulatory agency and official entrance body for tertiary level institutions whose impact is felt across the federation and

neighbouring countries.

She said that over 100,000 candidates who sat for JAMB in the last three examinations chose Yabatech as more preferred choice.

However, the Rector lamented that the college can only offer admission to less than

3,000 candidates despite the college’s recent improvement in carrying capacity. She stressed the college’s belief in JAMB and promised to always support it in the common cause to improve the standard of education for the future of the nation.

Medical school gets accreditation

BY MSONTER ANZAA, BSU

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HE Benue State University College of Health Sciences (BSUCHS) has been granted full accreditation by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN. This followed the visit to the University Teaching Hospital last Wednesday by the MDCN. The council had visited the Hospital in June and given the management a six-month ultimatum to meet certain requirements and invite it back for accreditation. Students had protested and were at home up to the time of the visit.

As the news of the accreditation trickled in, the medical

Frequently Confused Words Exercise

Instruction: Choose the appropriate word from the alternatives in the parenthesis 1. Provision of (portable/potable) water is the responsibility of a good government.

2. I have a (portable/potable) TV. 3. A company car is one of the various (prerequisites/perquisites) offered by the firm.

4. A credit pass in English Language is an essential (prerequisite/perquisites) for university admission.

5. Members of an academy are (academicians/academics); teachers in a university or tertiary institution are (academicians/academics).

6. The life (circle/cycle) of a butterfly can be divided into four stages.

students’ facebook page came awash with reactions from the students. The President of the Benue State University Medical Students Association, BESUMSA, Kawen Pededo who made the all-important post explained its significance. “It means we now have something that will take us up to graduation,” his post said.

Following the development, the College was opened on Monday and students moved into the hostels. Addressing them on Tuesday, the Provost of the College and Professor of Surgery, Shima Gyoh, blamed the delay in getting accreditation on a number of factors which include poor design of the Teaching Hospital and admission of students when the hospital was not in ready.

7.

I do not have a motor (circle/cycle).

7.I do not have a motor cy8.

Nigeria has passed through the (circle/cycle) of eco- cle. nomic booms and slumps.

8.Nigeria has passed 9.

He has a large circle of friends. through the cycle of economic 10.

Otunba Mike Adenuga is well known in business (cir- booms and slumps. cles/cycles).

9. He has a large circle of 11.

‘To go round in (circles/cycles’) is to work at a task friends. without making any progress.

10.Otunba Mike Adenuga is 12.

One problem leads to another and this makes the orig- well known in business cirinal problem worse; it is a vicious (circle/cycle). cles.

13.

The doctor was careful in operating the patient to avoid 11.‘To go round in circles’ is the (rupture/fracture) of a blood vessel. to work at a task without mak14.

He suffered from a (ruptured/fractured) appendix. ing any progress.

15.

While Dodonzo was playing football on the field, he 12.One problem leads to anhad a (fracture/rupture) of the leg. other and this makes the orig16.

Old people’s bones are more prone to (fracture/rup- inal problem worse; it is a viture) than young people’s bones. cious circle.

Correction 13.The doctor was careful in 1. Provision of potable water is the responsibility of a good operating the patient to avoid government. the rupture of a blood vessel.

2. I have a portable TV. 14.He suffered from a rup3.A company car is one of the various perquisites offered by tured appendix. the firm.

15.While Dodonzo was play4. A credit pass in English Language is an essential prereq- ing football on the field, he uisite for university admission. had a fracture of the leg.

5. Members of an academy are academicians; teachers in a 16. Old people’s bones are university or tertiary institution are academics. more prone to fracture than 6.The life cycle of a butterfly can be divided into four stages. young people’s bones. zCONTINUES NEXT WEEK. Send requests/problems to Gabriel Osoba, Ph.D, Department of English, Lagos State University, Ojo, through Editor, Teach Yourself English, Vanguard Newspapers, PMB. 1007, Apapa, La. gos, or email: editor@vanguardngr.com & gabosoba002@yahoo.co

28—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

LASU VC presents scorecard 365 days after

•LASU School of Transport almost completed in 365 days

BY MUSBAUDEEN SHEKONI

E

xactly one year after Professor John Oladapo Obafunwa assumed office as the 11th Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, massive developments have sprung up in various sections of the university.

Penultimate Tuesday, the VC, while addressing jouralists at the University ’s Senate Chamber to mark his one year in office, averred the infrastructural and academic uplift recorded so far can be re-confirmed by a tour of the 27 year-old institution.

Before his appointment as VC in November 2011, the Professor of Forensic Pathology had been a Consultant Pathologist to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), and two-time Provost of Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Ikeja.

With the landmark achievement recorded at LASUCOM, with conducive lecture rooms, tele-lecture facilities, standard and well equipped laboratories, 24 hours service library, hostel facilities, 24 hours internet facilities, among others, hopes that he would replicate same as VC was not dashed.

Quadlife in a tour of facilities confirmed that a lot has occurred within the last 365 days in office of the VC. Meanwhile, Obafunwa had in the media briefing said: “On assumption of office last November, we looked at myriad of issues bordering on registration, exams, results, accommodation, the image of

the average LASU student and, indeed, the university itself, security which made us consider the aspect of trying to rebrand the university.”

On infrastructural development, the don said “in the last 12 months, the university has embarked on a number of projects which include seven storey Senate Building, four storey central library; a twin Faculty of Law lecture theatre, new School of Transport complex; Faculty of Management Sciences Complex, Faculty of Sciences Complex, Students’ Union Arcade, refurbishment of 3-in1 building and many other

projects that will change the architectural landscape of the main campus.

“Moreso, the administration completed some buildings which were eyesores on the main campus. Noteworthy is the new university auditorium which was made ready for use for the recently concluded 17th convocation ceremonies of the university.

"Also, the Teslim Olawale Elias Law Library has been completed ahead of the NUC re-accreditation exercise of L ASU Law Faculty,” he averred.

One other sector the VC made a giant stride is the

external system. Recall the Visitor to the university, Governor Babatunde Fashola, had recently scrapped the external campuses based on the recommendation of National Universities Commission (NUC).

According to the VC, this was a welcome development to restore the integrity of an average LASU graduate and respect for the certificate.

“When we took over, we had a number of these people in the external system. Students who you cannot describe as bonafide,” he reiterated.

When the administration took over, there were backlog of unmarked exam scripts.

The VC took the decision of bringing in a new Director of the External System, Dr. O.T. Abanikanda, to ensure that the backlogs of scripts were marked.

At the last convocation, about 27,000 students graduated of which over 14,000 were external students. That was the fallout of the fact that there hasn’t been convocation for years.

Having restructured the external system, “ we intend to replace it the Open Distance Learning. We had preliminary discussions with the NUC.

UI ends session with 64th foundation, convocation

BY HAMMED HAMZAT, UI

T

HE University of Ibadan has successfully ended its 2011/2012 academic session. The session fully commenced on February 10th, 2012. The school calendar was earlier truncated in the face-off that broke out between Academic Staff Union of Universities [ASUU] and Federal Government over professorship retirement age; this prevented the school from resuming in December. Removal of fuel subsidy in January 2012 also accounted for the delay in school calendar. The 64th convocation ceremony began with the convocation lecture delivered by Lagos state governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) titled ‘Providing Access to Qualitative Tertiary Education in Nigeria.’ However, many undergraduate students were not part of convocation ceremony as many of them were battling with examinations or final year projects.

The Postgraduate school produced a total of 3,277 graduates for this year’s convocation ceremony. Faculty of Education produced a total of 838 graduates from Postgraduate School, this put the Faculty on the first spot

followed by Faculty of the Social Sciences with the total of 506 graduates while Faculty of Arts, is third on the list with the total of 414 graduates.

Faculty of Law had 12 graduates in the post graduate class.

At a press briefing, the new Deputy Registrar of the Postgraduate School, Mr. Tijani Musa said Postgraduate school will not tolerate unnecessary delay of students by departments.

He registered his displeasure at the way some students were being delayed by their departments.

•Main gate of University of Ibadan

NYSC camp not a five-star hotel — State Coordinator

BY DAYO ADESULU

T

HE State Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Lagos State, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi, yesterday dismissed the news making round that the condition of hostels at the Ipaja NYSC camp is not conducive for corps members.

Adeyemi who was taking up by journalists after the official closing ceremony of the 2012 batch ‘C’ orientation course yesterday, faulted the publication by Sunday Punch Newspapers on the issue, saying that the correspondent who wrote the story never visited the camp to see the situation of things for himself and neither did he hear from her to have a balance report.

“If the writer was sure of his story, he would have put his byline,” she said.

She said: “It is a camp, not a Five Star Hotel.” Explaining that on a camp, we are bound to provide the basic amenities and the basic amenities are there. “Moreover, as the State Coordinator, I and the NYSC officials live in the same camp with them. If there are sufficient water, electricity supply, cross ventilated accommodation and a clean environment, there should be nothing to worry about,” she added.

She noted that part of efforts

by Lagos State government to get a larger place for the corps members, necessitated the acquisition of a piece of land at Agbowa, Ikorodu where the governor of Lagos State has pledged its support.

Mainwhile, the 3,394 batch ‘C’ corps members in Lagos State were charged to proceed immediately to their places of primary assignment without delay. According to the state Coordinator, though organisations made advances to NYSC office for corps members to be posted to them, we insisted on the four key areas of the sector as stipulated by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Also, Governor Babatunde Fashola, while addressing the corps members said, he expect them to complement the efforts of government and fit into at least one of several government projects through the primary assignment and community development service that they are set to render. He added that the entrepreneurship skill they have acquired over the past three weeks should prepare them for post service self employment.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29 , 2012 — 29 ifychimexs@yahoo.com

Vol 01

No. 13

NOVEMBER, 2012

www.vanguardngr.com

Customs faults concessionaires’ clamour for extension ••Says it will heighten tax evasion respectively, which summed up to over N534 million and N397 million respectively.

Top echelons of the Nigerian Customs are frowning against this practice, saying that a loss of about 342 RARs, worth over N4.3 billion in just five months will not leave the economy of the country any healthy if allowed to continue.

However, these revelations may not be unconnected with the statements in the national

Cheap monies

•Dikko, CGC

I

NDICATIONS have emerged that the Nigerian Customs Service can not wait to see the concessioners leave the Nigerian Ports after what it described as years of tax evasions by the concessionaires.

The Nigerian government in 2005 signed agreement with three concessionaires, Global Scansystems, Cotecna Destination Inspection Limited (CDIL), and SGS Scanning Nigeria Limited, respectively, particularly to introduce the Destination Inspection system for seven years, ending December 2012.

Also, part of the agreement was to design, implement, operate and maintain a Computerised risk management system that interfaces directly with the NCS through the Automated System of Customs Data-plus-plus (ASYCUDA ++) developed by the UNCTAD. The service providers were also expected

to provide scanning operations and build capacity for the Customs.

However, the Customs is saying that these seven years were characterised by fraudulent and sharp practices which did not leave the Nigerian economy any healthy.

Information from the Service indicates that the service providers have evaded taxes of approximately N4.3 billion in abandoned Risk Assessment Reports, RARs, in just five months - February to June this year alone.

Abandonment of RARs Breakdown of RARs losses from documents made available, showed that between February and March, Cotecna, for instance, abandoned about 60 RARs amounting to about N769 million.

GlobalScan, another concessioner, was also said to have abandoned about five RARs worth over N190 million

,

Stories By Ifeyinwa Obi

In May, between Cotecna, Global Scan and SGS, there were losses of 52, three and 28 RARs valued at over N724 million, N93 million and N216 million respectively

within the same period. This is also as their counterpart, SGS was said to have also abandoned 24 RARs of about N566 million within the same period. Meanwhile, in April, between Cotecna and SGS, there were losses of 40 and 25 RARs respectively, valued at over N576 million and N146 million respectively.

In May, between Cotecna, Global Scan and SGS, there were losses of 52, three and 28 RARs valued at over N724 million, N93 million and N216 million respectively.

Furthermore, the month of June was not spared as the concessioners, Cotecna and SGS allegedly saw the under value of 59 and 46 RARs

saying that “the personnel of the NCS were not fully equipped to operate and maintain very complex equipment, such as scanners, which require a lot of expertise and discipline”.

He argued that the extension was necessary to properly school the service in order to make the impending handover of the project to the Customs worthwhile.

Reacting to the allegation, Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko-Inde in a chat recently faulted the argument, saying it was a make up story to sit tight outside the terms of agreement.

,

newspapers recently, credited to the concessioners, that should they leave the ports, the Nigeria Customs Service may not cope with ports activities to the best of standards.

The only indigenous firm among the trio of service providers, Global Scansystems Limited, recently called for the extension of the contract, claiming that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) lacks the capacity to assume full charge of the scheme from December 31, 2012 when the concession agreement will terminate.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company Mr. Fred Udechukwu, was quoted as

Dikko said: “When did the Service Providers observe that we are not fully equipped? After all, the entire contract was signed for the past seven years.

What were they doing for the past seven years that they did not prepare Customs? From the time this contract was signed, there was the understanding, that they will train Customs, but all of them refused because it will expose the cheap monies they were scooping. It was in 2009 when I came in, that I had to compel them to do what was agreed.

“Interestingly, I didn’t even rely on them. I put up so much effort and created a new department known as Human Resource Development where we are doing our own courses.

So to say that we are not ready is an understatement and smacks of colonial hangover.

“We are Nigerians so let them give us a chance to manage our affairs instead of spending our Dollars to people who are not better than us. We are professionals and have been trained and retrained. There is no doubt that we can do this job.”

30—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29 , 2012

level that everybody was shocked and surprised. So what are they talking about. I don’t believe in them. So the earlier Nigeria sacks them the better because they are earning cheap money.

The providers have often accused the service officers of not being trained. But we are aware that the officers have been trained by your administration over and over again. I want us to look at the training of the officers?

Look, it’s the responsibility of the Service Providers to train the officers along the lines of operations and in readiness of take-over by 2013. But invariably we understand that they refused. So I took the bull by the horn to set up the Human Resources Development department.

Computer literacy

•Dikko

We’re ready to take over DIS activities after December 31 — Dikko Controversy erupted recently when service providers whose seven year concessioning agreement terminates December, requested to be allowed to extend the contract. The reason given for this clamour was that the Nigerian Customs were not fully equipped to carry out the technical activities at the Ports.

But in this interview, the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs, Abdullahi Dikko picked holes in the argument, stating that even if it were so, it showed that the service providers reneged on the terms of agreement they signed in 2005.

He also straightened the records on his efforts to bring the men of the service to such standard that the service providers would not be missed when they leave in December. Excerpts:

OOKING at the short period left for the Customs to take over the work of the Service Providers who believe that Customs are not ready to take over the work from them, how prepared is the Customs service, sir?

First of all let me ask this question, from when did the Service Providers observe that?

After all, the entire contract was signed for the past seven years.

And what were they doing for the past seven years that they did not . This contract from the time it was signed, there was much understanding, that they will now train Customs. But all of them refused, they were just taking cheap monies. It was in 2009 when I came in that I started compelling them to do what they ought to do.

And I want to assure you that

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My definition of trade facilitation is that if one does the right thing, we allow him to pass through the right procedure, but if he does the wrong thing, then he will continue to remain in the Ports till eternity

I didn’t even rely on them. I put up considerable effort and created a new department known as Human Resource Development where we are doing our own courses. So to say that we are not ready is an understatement and it’s an issue of those people who had colonial hangover. So I’m not attesting to that. We are

,

Nigerians . Let them give us chance instead of forcing us to continue to spend our Dollars to people who are not better than us. We are professionals.

For so long, we have been trained and retrained and proven beyond reasonable doubt that we can do this job.

It was when I came that the revenue collection rose to a

I have trained 12,380 officers.

In fact today, every Customs Officer is computer literate. By the way, they don’t even know our capability because we can’t just come and say this is where we are. Because we know that they are indifferent.

They are just out to condemn Customs in order to continue to get cheap monies. But I urge Nigerians to resist them.

Rather, the monies should be sent back into the Federation’s account. We should no longer allow people to come into our country and make cheap money. Let us be given a chance, let us have an experiment of one year, then if we fail government can take a decision.

Looking at how far the service has done during your tenure, can we look at how far you have fared in the revenue drive for the year?

Yes, we have done our best.

Part of revenue leakages, we have seen the concessionaires ravaging it. One service provider would issue a higher value, whereas the other would issue a low value. We have it on record and I’m going to publish it on the pages of national newspapers so that Nigerians will understand why they are short-changing my revenue and let us calculate how much we have lost in that act.

So it’s sabotage because they

•Dikko

know that they are getting cheap monies without anyone checkmating them. So, I inform Nigerians that I’m going to promote this adjustment and the number of row they have cancelled from big amount to lower amount.

There are some stakeholders that have alleged that the Service has put away trade facilitation aside and largely focused on revenue accumulation. Do you agree with that, sir?

What is trade facilitation? It’s about integrity, compliance, doing the right thing. Let me throw the question back to them, have they done it. So somebody will just come with false documents, underdeclaration, concealment and then we will facilitate trade, to allow them import arms and ammunition to kill Nigerians or allow them bring in hard drugs to kill Nigerians.

We are not going to allow that. If that is their definition of trade facilitation, then they are in a wrong place. My definition of trade facilitation is that if one does the right thing, we allow him to pass through the right procedure, but if he does the wrong thing, then he will continue to remain in the Ports till eternity.

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t the forthcoming conference, can we look at the aims and objectives you wish to achieve from it?

The aims or objectives is that we need to discuss the Customs among stakeholders.

What are the problems? Why is it that every other country is doing it well. Why is it that we are not doing it well here.

Let us understand where the Customs went wrong. And then we would be ready to make amends. We should also sit down and tell them where we feel they went wrong. This is a nation and it belongs to all of us.

The only way we can build this country is by doing the right things. So if they think, we are doing the wrong thing, we should settle them out. We are just law enforcers and are being guided by the laws of the land. We don’t formulate policies. Policies are given to us to implement, let us understand ourselves, so that by 2013 we will have a better Nigeria.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29 , 2012 — 31

Seme Command rakes over N6.6b revenue in 3rd quarter recently, we arrested a couple with 30 compressed blocks of substance suspected to be cannabis. The suspects, exhibits and KIA Sephia car have since been handed over to the NDLEA,” he said.

ECOWAS trade liberalization scheme:

Saleh said the ECOWAS trade liberalization scheme (ETLS) was one of the schemes adopted by the sub regional body to facilitate trade and integration.

He said:“ETLS consignments are routed through the scanner to prevent abuse of the scheme and also allay public misconception.

“In the period under review, ETLS compliant goods with a CIF value of N6,559,992,753.89 were cleared in this Command. The revenue loss as a result of the scheme’s concession amount to N1,844,165,145.38, while the one per cent CISS revenue amount to N59,905,313.00.”

•Alhaji Othaman Abdu Saleh

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rade facilitation:

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HE Seme Border Command of the Nigerian Custom has said that it collected N6,585,859,656.05 out of the N8.4 billion set as the Command’s 2012 revenue target.

Briefing news men at Seme, weekend, the Area Controller, Seme Command, Alhaji Othaman Abdu Saleh assured that their goal was to suppress smuggling, facilitate legitimate trade, collection of revenue and accounting for same.

Within one month of his stewardship which commenced from September 3, 2012, the command, according to him, was able to collect the sum of N773,417,811.38 in contrast to the sum of N635,898,399.08 collected in September,2011.

Though the revenue dipped in the month of October with a collection of N613,180,614.04 yet, he disclosed that it was an improvement over that of October 2011 when the command collected the sum of N539,11,761.73.

He added that the command was poised to surpass the set target.

Anti-smuggling:

The Command’s anti smuggling strategies, he noted were working effectively as increasing numbers of people were being sensitized to turn away from smuggling to legitimate trade. The use of reasonable coercion is employed as a last resort.

Accordingly, the Command, he further said made 317 seizures with a duty paid

Seizures at Seme recently

value of N142,288,322.00 between January-October, 2012.

“Five out of the 22 suspects arrested had been convicted, while other cases are at various stages of investigation and prosecution. The hard drug related cases have been transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the spirit of Inter Agency collaboration. “ You may wish to recall that

He said that the Seme Command was compliant with the Customs modernization process as the scanner and Information & Communication Technology (ICT) were deployed for maximum use.

A total of 25,512 declarations, he said, were processed from January to October, 2012.

The effective use of the eCustoms Procedure has facilitated the clearance of goods within eight hours at

Seme border, he said.

Export:

According to him, the export section facilitated the export of made in Nigeria goods with Free On Board (FOB) value of N8,488,825,323.06 between January to October 2012.

“The Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) collection for the period amount to N42,559,094.54.

You may wish to recall, that the export section has not been yielding revenue due to the Federal Government policies geared towards boosting the export of made in Nigeria goods and foreign exchange earnings”, he said.

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onstraints:

While adhering to the global best practices, he lamented that his command was faced with several challenges including the deplorable state of the Seme Lagos highway which tend to hinder legitimate trade, the improper method adopted by the Customs Administration of Republic of Benin in the escort/canalization of imported vehicles.

However, he noted that discussions were still going on with a view to addressing the problem, inadequate offices as a result of the border reconstruction project and the attendant delay in its completion, dishonest declaration by some importers or their Agent, among others.

32—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29 , 2012

Apapa command generates N221bn in 10 months T

HE Nigeria Customs Service Apapa Area 1 Command has said that it generated the sum of N221 billion between January and October 2012.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr. Emmanuel Ekpa, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the figure was higher than the N187 billion recorded in the corresponding period in 2011.

He said that the command had a monthly target of N27 billion, totaling N324 billion for 2012.

Giving a breakdown, Ekpa said that the command generated N15.4 billion in January;

N21.2 billion in February; N21.1 billion in March; N19.7 billion in April; and N23.7 billion in May. He said that the highest amount of N36.7 billion was recorded in June; N19.4 billion in July; N23.4 billion in August; N19.6 billion in September; and N20.2 billion in October.

Ekpa said that the shortfall in monthly revenues was caused by non-clearance of goods destined for the Northern states due to the security situation in the region.

He also attributed the shortfall to low level of importation in the country.

Comptroller Dan Ugo CAC,"FOU ‘A’ Ikeja displaying 1, 800 cartons of imported Corona beer valued at six million naira seized by the command

••Generates N170.9bn at Tin Can Port in 10 months T

HE Tin Can Island Port (TCIP) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it generated N170.9 billion as revenue between January and October 2012.

The command said the figure was N10.8 billion higher than the N160.1 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2011.

NAN reports that N16.3 billion was realised by the command in October 2012, compared to N16.1 billion recorded in the same period of 2012.

Mr Chris Osunkwo, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the command, told NAN that the increase in revenue in the last 10 months under review was due to motivation and devotion by the officers.

He said: “We know the precarious security situation in the country which had almost cut off traders from the North from patronising the South because if they don’t come to buy, the importers will not have money to clear their goods out of the port and we would not have revenue to generate.

“We are well more motivated this time around and this is really reflecting in our performance. The present management led by Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi is doing wonderfully well in all respects where it concerns officers welfare, motivation to extract maximum performance

which reflect the result.

“Our target for the year is N264 billion. Like you can see for yourself, so far we are on 170.9 billion. By the end of November all things being equal, if we can get close to 20 or 22 we will get close to 200 plus.

“So far by a projection, we’ve achieved about 65 per cent of our annual target. For the 10 months, we had 78 per cent.

So, by God’s grace and a bit of hard work, we hope to at least hit about 200 plus by the end of the year.”

Purchasing power He said that loss of job in the labour market as well as people losing the purchasing power which had dropped drastically, was affecting trade.

Osunkwo said that the command made 74 seizures of containers carrying used tyres, used electronics and used vehicles.

He noted: “We have reasonable number of seizures, not as reasonable as it should have been. Through our persuasive approach, we’ve succeeded in making the importers comply with extant rules that guide clearance of cargo and when the compliance is on the increase, the tendency for seizures to drop is always there.

“We have 43, 40 ft containers,

17, 20ft containers and 14 unpacked vehicles totaling about 74 seizures with a Duty Paid Value N259.4 million.

“If you look at the items

involved, the reason behind the seizures of these items is that they are in the prohibition list.”

He urged members of the

business community to do more of genuine declarations to reduce the cost of business at the port.

FOU zone A intercepts goods worth N744m T

HE Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ikeja, said it impounded 2,142 different contraband goods valued at N744 million between January 1 and October 7. 2012.

Uche Ejesieme, the Public Relations Officer of the unit, said that the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seizures was N890 million.

“We are saddled with the responsibilities of not just suppressing smuggling but also enforcing compliance.

We are on top of this assignment going by the admonishment of the CGC, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, and also from the clear leadership style of the Controller, Federal O p e r a t i o n s , Comptroller Dan Ugo, who has put everybody

on his toes in that assignment.

“We are not relenting on the issue of suspects because the CGC is very particular about ensuring that we get suspects alongside some of these seizures and we are glad to let you know that we have arrested a total of 233 suspects during the same period. Some of the cases are being investigated while others are being prosecuted.”

Ejesieme said that the Area Controller, Mr Dan Ugo, was working to ensure zero tolerance for all poultry products based on the directive of the comptroller-general of customs.

He noted: “We have our reasons for doing that because first, we need to protect the nation’s economy. We need to also let people know that what they are consuming is

also hazardous to health. We need to also think about growing our economy internally. To that effect, the Federal Government in its wisdom placed a ban, which we are enforcing.

“The Federal Operations Unit from June to September 2012, seized 13, 418 cartoons of assorted poultry products. The value of seizures is N41, 981, 400 only, with a Duty Paid Value of over N51 million.”

Ejesieme said the level of voluntary payment and compliance with the fiscal policy was on the high side as a result of the unit’s commitment.

He said the management would not relent in equipping the officers, adding that it would also ensure improved performances.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29 , 2012 — 33

Don blames govt for dearth of Nigerian theatre

By SIMON EBEGBULEM

The Floral revolution

BY LAJU ARENYEKA www.facebook/quadlifestyle

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few years ago, floral prints were known for only three things-Pajamas, underwear, and horrible looking beach shirts. Today, fashion, as its manner is, has literally turned upside down. Flowers now grow on the trousers of nearly every guy or girl on your campus. There are very few tips needed to brandish this fashion item: Plain, fitted tops: Whether you are male or female, floral pants go better with plain tops. There is already a lot going on with the pants, and you don’t want to risk looking like a clown. Fitted tops also emphasize the pants and give you a smarter look.

Pencil trousers: When going to classes or formal occasions, floral designs seem to go better as pencil trousers than palazzos. You can go for three quarters, ankle length, or full length trousers depending on the occasion and the look of your legs.

Aesthetics: Even now, some floral designs are downright ugly. The only way to know which is which, is to look at it; to really look.

I have no idea what to do with $100,000

— Unigwe

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

C

hika Unigwe is the author on everyone’s lips. The Belgium based, Nigerian born author recently won the LNG Nigeria Prize for Literature for her novel ‘On Black Sisters street’, which portrayed the lives of Nigerian prostitutes living abroad. In this short interview with Vanguard Learning, Unigwe tells her own story to inspire writers, readers and learners alike.

She then tops it all up win the answer to a $100,000 question.

C M Y K

What inspired ‘On Black Sisters’ street?’

I was very curious about the lives of NIgerian prostitutes in Belgium. I wanted to know why anyone would come so far to work in the sex industry.

Tell us about your stay in Belgium?

I have lived here for about 15 years now. I learnt to speak and write in Dutch here, and I also took a few language lessons Dutch is sometimes used as a synonym for something that is difficult to understand, how easy is it for you to write in Dutch?

It’s not easy, it’s my third

•Unigwe language, but I like challenges.

Do you prefer writing in Dutch or in English?

It depends on what I am writing. English is certainly the handier language of the

two for me.

How long have you been writing, and what inspired your writing career?

I always wanted to be a writer, but I have only done it professionally now for about

A

university don, Prof.Austin Asagba, has said that the challenges facing theater in Nigeria are due to the failure of government to compel institutions of learning to adequately and effectively incorporate theater practice and cultural studies in educational programmes for schools, colleges and Universities While pointing out the importance of theater to the growth of the nation’s economy and the general well being of Nigerians, he declared that if government prioritize the importance of theater, it will go a long way in curbing the menace of groups such as Boko Haram, general insecurity and youth restiveness.

According to him, the present approach is “placatory and does not impact effectively on the educational curriculum”. The former Dean of Faculty of Arts, University of Benin (UNIBEN) stated this while delivering an inaugural lecture, entitled “Beyond the Rhetorics of Theater: Enhancing the Platform for National Development” Prof Asagba who stressed the need for the Federal and state governments to reinvigorate the national and state councils of Arts and culture, noted that “ there is still the radical need to reform these festivals to capture the national essence of collective celbration geared towards education and development of the nation.

six years.

What writers have influenced you the most?

My first influence was probably Flora Nwapa. I love Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s magical realism, I love the expansiveness of Tolstoy ’s language. I love the way Bernardine Evaristo reimagines history and I love Alice Munro’s prose.

What was it like winning the Nigeria prize for literature?

It still seems surreal. I am delighted, naturally, but I am also humbled by the honour.

What challenges have you faced as a writer?

Finding time, and being patient.

What’s your advice to young writers?

Persist. Keep reading. Keep writing.

What’s next for Chika Unigwe?

More books.

What will you do with the $100,000 prize money?

I have absolutely no idea.

34— Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

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schools, develop them to a certain standard and then move to the next set. This is what we are doing. It may take time to reach everybody, but we believe that dispersing these facilities does not help rather we take a whole school develop it and move to the next one.

he Executive Chairman, Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Mr. Ishaya Dary Akau, in this interview with FAVOUR NNABUGWU in Kaduna touches on a number of issues bordering on the problem of education in that state and ability and inability of the state to access the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC’s intervention funds What is the state of schools for special needs children?

Well, the new policy does not operate along special schools having special schools for them. We are now talking of the inclusive education that would provide education to the disadvantaged in the same place as would provide for those who do not have any challenges. So facilities would be provided for them in the school system, wherever they may be so that they can learn alongside other people. We do not believe in discriminating against them and putting them in a special place. I know before now there was a school which catered for the deaf, dumb and blind but we are moving away from that to this issue of inclusive education. As l am talking to you now, we have just done our policy and operational frameworks also for inclusive education in Kaduna State which we are going to launch.

Are you aware of the 14% imbalance education funds from Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC? Yes. We are aware of it and we have not put together what is required of us in order to access the fund. I am actually writing a report to his Excellency, Governor of Kaduna State on 2011 projects; how far we have gone in distributing those funds.

What criteria is the state using to disburse those funds to schools?

No. We don’t disburse the funds to schools; we use the funds from UBEC. There are several types of funds from UBEC, and the intervention funds are for capital development of infrastructure, building classrooms, providing furniture, and other things that happen in the past. There are could make a school conducive funds also for School Based for learning. Then, there is Management Committees, money for teachers’ SBMCs for the development of development that is for teachers school based management training which we get and we committees and that is where organize training centrally the self help thing comes from. here for all teachers. For now, Some of the money comes in we are organizing training for the form of training the SBMCs headmasters, district education themselves, because they don’t officers, senior education give people responsibility officers, and for the teachers without equipping them with themselves. Today, we are no the necessary skills. So we longer talking of a teaching first of all, train them before they going to the classroom to say begin to work and after which he is teaching rather we they can make their request facilitate children’s learning known. And of course, when and we go to schools to find such money comes, we expect out whether those children are that the committees asking for learning or not. It is no longer help from UBEC would put the sort of thing that used to down 10 percent of whatever

•Mr. Ishaya Dary Akau

State budget cannot address the problem of education in Kaduna — SUBEB Chairman

development they want to execute. UBEC would now give them the balance of that money.

I think there are many schools, I can’t tell you the exact number that are enjoying in this area. And some are making considerable progress. Some have even gone beyond what we expected from them and the SBMCs are now really the ones that have taken root and honestly are doing very well.

There is one in Kaura, I think they are having a luncheon on Saturday where they want to raise some millions to augment what government and other donor agencies have given to them.

Would you say schools in Kaduna states are up to standard infrastructurally?

I would be telling you a lie if I say we are up to standard, because you have to tell me what a standard is. When I need about 22,000 classrooms and I don’t have that number, it’s not standard. And of course, we inherited a lot of dilapidated buildings, some of which we are trying to put right. But the bill, when you talk of trying to put things right, the whole state budget cannot address those things so we have to do it slowly. Now we have decided that doing what we call whole school development. We are selecting

Is the SUBEB satisfied with the quality and academic qualifications of teachers?

No. We have checked who teaches in our schools and we have discovered that no less than forty eight percent of those are teachers are not qualified.

Why we say they are not qualified is because the basic teaching qualification for primary schools in the Nigeria is the Nigeria Certificate in Education, NCE. That is to say those who do not have NCES. But some of them have grade two, some of them have FCCE while others have some non descriptive qualifications. But the truth of the matter is that the issue is 50:50 when we are talking of qualified teachers in our schools, we are aware of that. Even those who are qualified still have problems hence we are now trying to build up those that are qualified but have problems and we are doing very well in that direction.

We have two programs going on now, one is the UBEC\ESSPIN program, where we train about 4,000 teachers every year, on basic teaching skills and of course, we have the Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education, SMASE program.

We have already trained 4,000 teachers also and is still ongoing. We believe that five to ten years from now, every teacher would have passed through these things then our schools would then be manned by qualified teachers.

Even as I am talking to you now, we are beginning to see progress in some of the schools.

Inoyo Toro Foundation splashes N4.5m on teachers

F

BY DAYO ADESULU

ifteen teachers in public schools and four mentors were handsomely rewarded by Inoyo Toro Foundation with N4.5m for their hard work and dedication toward academic development of students in their various schools.

The success and rewards of the teachers and mentors were rated based on the performance of their students in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Physics and Chemistry. Each subject had three winners. The First Prize winner received N250, 000; the second, N150,000 and the third N100, 000.

Also, for the 2012 Grand Mentor Teachers’ Award, N500,000 was given to four best teachers in English Language, Physics, Biology and Chemistry who acted as mentors to students in those subjects.

Speaking at the Inoyo Toro 2012 Teachers’ Award for Excellence, held at Le Meridien Ibom, Hotel, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, the Chairman of the Foundation, Professor E.W. Mbipom said: “ The Inoyo Toro Foundation founded five years ago aims to encourage Science, Mathematics and English C M Y K

Language teachers, stimulate awareness for the study of science and related courses in our secondary schools, promote healthy and positive competition for excellence among teachers and help teachers to be more committed to their profession.”

Mbipom explained that this year, 179 teachers qualified for the award test. The breakdown revealed that in Mathematics they had (24), English Language (39), Biology (37), Chemistry (37) and Physics (42). However, 126 teachers came for the test held on August 10,2012 at Uyo. According to him, through the Grand Mentor Teachers’ ‘Award, the Foundation has over the past five years challenged past winners to produce their kind through regular mentoring sessions designed to hone the skills and knowledge of other teachers in their subject areas.

On the Grand Mentor Teachers’ ‘Award, eleven teachers out of fifteen mentors qualified and were invited for the screening test and orals. At the end, only four Grand Mentors emerged in English, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. There was none for Mathematics.

Also speaking, former Minister, Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai who was moved by the gesture of the Foundation, called on government, private organisations to give teachers all necessary attention because they determine the future of a generation as students’ academic success is tied around their teachers.

He said: “Teaching is a noble profession, teachers determine the future of a generation. I am challenged by what I have seen, I will go back to Kaduna to do the same.”

El-Rufai who urged that the award should not be for science subjects alone said, “I will sponsor History award, while I will influence my friend to sponsor Economics.”

According to him, if we do a good job to prepare the children for the future, this country will progress, we will have a Nigeria like China. He told the students from twenty schools represented that no one can succeed without education, adding, “You will have no opportunity in life, if you don’t get education at the right time and right age. Your success lies on your education and up bringing.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012 — 35

ABU shaped who I am today — Kyari Abba Bukar

By EBELE ORAKPO

M

r. Kyari Abba Bukar is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, a subsidiary of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

In this chat with Vanguard Learning, the physics/atomic engineering graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, recalls life at the prestigious institution popularly called the Biggest and the Best, and traces his career path. Excerpts

H

ow do you feel as an alumnus of a 50-year old institution?

Looking back at those ABU years gives me a sense of pride and fulfilment. I believe ABU at the time offered one of the best opportunities in engineering and physical sciences in Nigeria. Honestly, this 50th year celebration is a mark of achievement both for ABU and the alumni. I remember during our matriculation, a professor said something to the effect that if we were to pull out all the alumni of ABU from civil service at the federal level, the Nigerian Government will collapse. Though, it was in a lighter mood, but looking through these 50 years, I believe the quality of human capital that ABU has produced over the years is a wonderful mark of achievement. I am proud to be an alumnus of ABU. Nostalgia was the feeling when, less than six months ago, I visited the ABU Nuclear Energy Centre and Centre for Energy Research which houses the nuclear energy reactor of the Physics Department where I graduated from. It was quite emotional to find that everything was still the same

,

ABU at 50

even though more students are passing through the department. But for some of us, we still reminisce the good old days of our great ABU. What can you say of the quality of graduates now compared to your days?

Generally, quality has gone down and there seems to be lack of maintenance as the library is not what it used to be.

Those days, we had journals and well equipped laboratories.

I remember that even though I was a physics student, I used my first scanning electron microscope for my Physics thesis in the Geography department.

We used facilities across the university. The quality of education we had was fundamentally broad-based and as such, university graduates tended to be well groomed and grounded to face challenges. Today, unfortunately, the story is different. This issue came to the fore in my previous job where we had to introduce pre-employment testing. When we tested about 20 graduates, we hardly got two or three people that passed. Out of the three, one of them must have graduated from a foreign university. There is, therefore, the need for us to look at our educational system critically and especially the university which is probably the last in the educational process. This improvement should start at the nursery/primary level. If a child is well equipped at that level, even if through selfeducation, he would tend to pick up quite naturally as he advances.

When exactly where you in ABU as a student?

I came into ABU in 1977 and graduated in 1980. Even though we had two strike actions, generally, those were not the days of strikes. One was ‘Ali must go’ and that was when Colonel Ahmadu Ali was the Minister of Education and General Olusegun Obasanjo was the military Head of State. I think it was about tuition intro-

•Mr. Kyari Abba Bukar....Life in ABU was quite enriching

The quality of education we had was fundamentally broad-based and as such, university graduates tended to have been well groomed and grounded to face any challenges on their own

,

duction or something like that.

But generally, there were very little interruptions in the educational process. Students were quite active politically in the sense that they were the pulse/ heartbeat of the nation. There was extreme awareness probably because we were just coming out of a civil war and a lot of African countries were going through independence and Nigeria was one of the countries that actually supported this African renaissance financially and morally. I remember some South Africans and Zimbabweans on Nigerian Government scholarship, attending schools with us. I also remember having some of the freedom fighters attending or visiting ABU along with their presi-

dents to give lectures. I recall seeing Samora Machel and Antonio Agostinho Neto who visited us from Angola. Even the current Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, then a freedom fighter for the UNITA rebels, also visited us. So life in ABU was quite enriching in the sense that it was not just academics but you are generally exposed to happenings in Africa and the world. This made us actively engaged both spiritually and physically in what was happening around us. Personally, going through ABU was an experience that basically shaped who I am today.

If you are given an opportunity to choose a school, will you still go for ABU? The quality of teachers and my fellow students who came from various parts of Nigeria and neighbouring West African countries was rich. Of the about 12 physics majors in my department, we had two Cameroonians, one Indian, one Nigeriene and the rest from various parts of Nigeria. The environment was so enriching that, given the same circumstance; I wouldn’t have chosen any other institution. For example, in our final year in physics, we were exposed to a course called Quantum Mechanics which you might consider quite advanced for a graduate

course. I remember Prof.

Micah, a Ghanaian gentleman who taught us Quantum Mechanics, gave us a textbook by Merzbacher to help resolve some difficult problems we were working on. One was so difficult that we had to write the author who was teaching in MIT in the US. He replied and also sent additional materials and questions on the topic together with application forms to the university.

Another interesting thing was that for our practical nuclear energy, we went to the Centre for Energy Research in Germany. In our first year, we spent the entire summer doing hands-on experiments in nuclear energy, reactor physics, and health physics which gave us a strong grounding. So when I went to the US to do my graduate studies, the best course I took was Mathematical Methods for Scientists and Engineers. I scored 100 per cent the first time and the professor said I should actually have been the course tutor. I ended up becoming the tutor, helping my fellow students.

Honestly, the foundation is the reason I am here today as CEO/ MD of CSCS. Looking at your career path, how has it been?

It’s been quite interesting. I did my youth service with Shell. Before we went for the service, Shell and Schlumberger had conducted what I call IQ test and selected a few of us from ABU to go to the US and the UK for graduate studies. So I left the country and went for nuclear engineering and nuclear physics and I ended up studying nuclear engineering at the Oregon State University. I developed a simulation programme for physics and during the series of presentations, I ran into some engineers from HP, we had some interactions and they offered me a summer job with HP culminating into a permanent employment. So I made my first career change, from nuclear engineering (designing nuclear reactors) to designing and unveiling computers. It’s all about looking at issues and trying to come up with creative solutions.

Students charged to appreciate excellence, hardwork

BY MUSBAUDEEN SHEKONI

N

IGERIAN students have been called upon to appreciate excellence and hardwork.

Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo, Director, Corona Secondary Schools, made this call recently at the schools’ annual Speech and Prize-Giving Day launched along with the commemoration of the schools’ 20 years anniversary.

Giving the opening address, she averred that parents’ trust is not misplaced as to the comprehensive academic, moral and principles expected the school to inculcate in their children and affirmed that the programme has been organised to celebrate excellence and more to encourage the parents to C M Y K

refresh their committedness that the future of the students is bright so long that they clinch to the academic principles and values being instilled in the school wherever they are.

Recounting numerous achievements, she said the school’s achievements have transcended the Nigerian context, saying that calls about First Class degrees and brilliance in other aspects of education, have always queued in from their alumni. Adding that the school has recorded best results in the world, and in Cambridge IGCSE for the last two consecutive years.

The programme featured procession by the management, staff and school prefects , decoration of staff and

students with awards, celebration of parents, presentation by dance groups, fashion/design showcase and musical interludes that focused on the theme of the day, 'Limitless Possibilities: believe behave and become’ as compiled by Mr. Collins Ayoola.

Also, the services of the school seemed to have paid off when the Port Harcourt Parents Forum presented a bank draft of a sum of N1,500,000.00 to the Corona Schools Trust Council through its chairman, Chief(Engr.) Iyoha, S.O for the Valedictorian award in Corona Secondary School, to express content in the services of the school saying it expected it to take off with the present year 12 students already writing their final exam. He added; “We have been

mandated to give the good news from our Forum that we shall continue to grow this funds as will be determined by time and season.”

Barrister Idowu Olofinmoyin, Corona Secondary Schools 2002 set’s headboy, while speaking on the theme: “Limitless Possibilities: Believe, Behave and Become,” advised the students to disregard the untenable ‘impossibility mantra’ rant to their ears by people while encouraging them to develop good opinions that can distinguish them in the future and drive the country to the promise land.

36 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012—37

SUCCESS RECIPE

Hallmark School’s director charges proprietors on necessary qualifications

BY DAYO ADESULU TILL looking for the best in our education sector, the Director of Hallmark Nursery and Primary School, Agidingbi, Lagos, Mrs Meg Nwobia has urged would be proprietors and school owners to acquire the necessary qualifications before venture into school business as it got to do with the future of our children.

Speaking at a press conference to mark the 10th anniversary of the school, Nwobia noted that for a person to talk about owning a school such must have a passion

S

for children which will drive the vision in him to work with children. Asides, she added that such a person must be someone who must have studied education and have taught for a minimum of ten years. According to her, this will enable him to know and understands what happens in the classrooms. He must have over the years gathered experience of how to deal with parents, children and teachers.

Moreover, she said: “A Proprietor must get a good building conducive for learning and a place where children can run around.

Nwobia who disclosed that Hallmark school which started

in October 2002 with a population of 39 pupils, 7 teachers and 3 assistants is modeled after Lea Valley School Haringey in North London, adding, “Hallmark today occupies a front-line position in the education sector in Nigeria as it has become an epitome of what a modern and model nursery and primary school in Nigeria.”

However, in commemoration of the 10th anniversary, the Governing Board of Hallmark School has lined up a programme of exciting and interactive events such as a Book Fair, Dance Competition, Science Fair, Art Exhibition, Fashion Parade, Debate and lots more. According to her , the climax of the Anniversary celebrations will be a Dinner for Parents and other important stakeholders scheduled for 16th December, 2012.

Winners emerge at Amila Painting Challenge

M

ASTER Ekemini Victor Obong, a 10-year-old Basic five pupil of Obele Primary School in Lawanson, Surulere, Master Ogogu Anthony, an 11 year-old Basic six pupil of Methodist Primary School, Lawanson and Master Kosi Chukwudi, a 13 year-old Basic six pupil of Subuola Nursery and Primary School, also in Lawanson, have emerged overall best at the schools level of the Amila painting Challenge.

According to Miss Feyisayo Aliu of Children of Africa Project, who is also handling the activation on behalf of Promasidor, the challenge has been greatly accepted in schools as kids are willing to participate and the teachers are on ground to help coordinate them.

“We have seen lots of beautiful paintings that would cause you to leave your mouth open. This competition has really brought out the creativity in these children and you can see the excitement in them when painting. It has been fun, fun and fun for the kids.”

“I am excited that my school is participating in this challenge because it has taken the kids to a different level and you can see the excitement in them. Painting has gone beyond being just an activity for classroom and to one that will influence their creativity.

From left: Mrs Sarah Osayande Osunde, Chairperson of the 10th Anniversary Organizing Committee; Mrs Meg Nwobia, Director, Hallmark School; Mr Gbenga X-Adebija, MD of Ashton & Layton and Engr Okey Nwobia, Chairman of the Governing Board of Hallmark Schools.

65 students get Nigerian varsities yet N6m scholarship to review syllabuses in Ogun after 15 years – FRC

By DAUD OLATUNJI

By ROSEMARY ONUOHA

N

T

o fewer than 65 indigent students of Ogun State are to benefit from a N6 million worth of scholarship aimed at rescuing brilliant students whose academic careers are being threatened by financial challenges.

According to the donor, Dr. Abayomi Jiboku, an educationist and Proprietor of TAIDOB College, the Dr. Abayomi Jiboku Foundation would award 54 university students of the 65 selected students N100,000 each, eight polytechnic students would receive N80,000, while three students from colleges of education would each get N60,000.

“Being a beneficiary of scholarship during my school days, I am compelled to extend financial support to less-privileged individuals in the society. The decision to set up the foundation is borne out of a genuine mind to help indigent Nigerian youths that are academically forthcoming.”

He, however, condemned the inconsistency of government educational policies and advocated for the removal of education from the legislative list.

HE Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer, Financial Reporting Council (FRC), Mr. Jim Obazee, has revealed that most Nigerian universities are yet to review their school syllabuses for upward of 15 years.

According to Obazee, most universities with accountancy departments are yet to review their syllabus in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standard, IFRS, thus, churning out disadvantaged students.

“I met with the Vice Chancellors of the Nigerian universities and some of them were modest enough to say that they have not reviewed their syllabuses for the last 18 years. One VC said the textbook he is using to teach his students was written in 1962, which is very backwards in an IFRS regime. That is why we end up producing graduates that are not employable.”

Obazee said the inability of the universities to upgrade to current and international standard contributes to the dearth of experts in various fields of endeavour as well as slows down the progress of the country in the adoption of IFRS.

WITH

UDEME ARCHIBONG

Developing an attractive personality L

ife is a magnetic field always attracting or repelling success.

Success answers to those who have learnt the art of pleasing. Success beckons to those who possess irresistible traits. Success rewards those who captivate the hearts of people by developing an attractive personality.

When he was the President of the United States rather than being aloof and out of reach with the common man, he became sincerely interested in every person with whom he met. He would stoop low to ask them about their families and listen to their ideas-no matter how humble their backgrounds. He cared enough to know each member of the household staff of the White House and years after he left office, when he visited the White House he greeted each by name and commented about an interest that they had expressed or something they had done for him when he was President. His name was Theodore Roosevelt. One of the important qualities of an attractive personality is making people feel important and one of the ways you can achieve this is by being interested in people and showing them that you care. Samuel Johnson counsels “take away my money and I shall be temporarily inconvenienced. Take away my importance and you crush me.”

At the core of an attractive personality lies a Positive Mental Attitude. This singular personality trait shapes the nature of thoughts; determines the emotions experienced; influences the bearing and disposition of an individual and transcends to anchor every other qualities of an attractive personality. Positive Mental Attitude is having a positive perspective or outlook about yourself; your abilities; people and your world.

There is a magnetic aura that accompanies an individual, who has discovered his Purpose; who knows where he is going and acts upon his plan to get there, for the world cannot stop a determined man but only helps him actualize his dreams. Nothing repels like a personality that drifts aimlessly through life; surrounded by indecision and lack of focus, he loses the confidence of people.

Sincerity of purpose is a personality trait that is highly prized anywhere in the world. Living in a world full with deceit, hypocrisy and manipulation, sincerity will set you apart and endear people towards you.

H

umility of heart is a highly prized personality trait that is the reserve of those who are in good terms with their conscience and in harmony with God. Nothing repels like an uncontrolled anger which is displayed in a loosed tongue that tears apart rather than building people up. A personality that attracts exhibits controlled and positive emotions and side steps negative emotions which builds and sustains relationships with others.

Life is a cycle of change. With the ever changing conditions of life and human relationships, adaptability is needed in order for one not to lose his sense of balance.

Therefore, a flexible personality that easily adapts to the changes of life and relationships will win hearts.

A pleasing tone of voice, an amiable facial expression and the right words void of profanity and offense are sure gauges of an attractive personality.

Nothing captivates the hearts of people than graciousness of manner, cordiality of bearing, generosity of feeling and a helpful disposition. The individual, who carries an aura of warmth and friendliness; who is stripped of selfishness and lives to give; who spread sunlight instead of shadows; harmony instead of discord; cheerfulness instead of gloom; praises instead of criticism; beauty instead of ugliness; truth instead of error; love instead of hate and magnanimity instead of pettiness is admired and welcome anywhere.

Therefore, an attractive personality is the key to an attractive life.

38 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

Edited by MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU 08026350360 E-mail: chimeena@yahoo.com

gender defined job

• The Akwete Brand

Fabric and politics of woven cloth … the akwete brand W

EAVING is an ancient craft of man dating to the early new stone age when he learnt to make a rough kind of clothing from the fibers of flax plants.

Weaving is described as the orderly interlacing of fibres and pressing them together to make the cloth.

In Nigeria, cloth weaving is universally practised in most urban areas and cities like Abeokuta, Ilorin, Iseyin, Akwete, Okene, Benin, Sokoto, Borno, Kano, Bida and Itsekin area among others. Raffia and cotton are most-widely used in cloth-weaving in Nigeria.

Cloth is material of great economic, cultural, political and social importance.

Before the introduction of coinage currency in Nigeria, cloth is used as trade good and currency item.

It is worn for body beautification and decoration, and for ceremonies. There are different types of cloth-making among various ethnic groups of Nigeria.

The Yoruba are famous for Aso-Oke traditional fabric weaving.

Aso-oke is just a local homespun cotton cloth woven by men as narrowstrip cloth, usually woven with vertical stripes in different colours on background colour.

The Hausa are known for Kura clothmaking which is deep blue black and shining design. The Igbo also are known widely for Akwete-cloth weaving which is basically done by women.

Akwete cloth is a special woven fabric

by Igbo women in Akwete area near Aba in Abia State. It is originally referred to C M Y K

as “Akwa Miri” (Cloth of the water) meaning towel. Akwete cloth weaving is said to be as old as the Igbo nation.

Socio-Cultural Importance

Because of the dexterity of the weavers who demonstrated evincingly great mastery of technique and beauty of design, the art of Akwete-cloth weaving was erroneously believed to have been introduced from Okene in Kwara state where a similar but highly developed style earlier existed.

However, Akwete cloth comes in different colours and designs. Some are

yellow. Traditionally, the raw cotton fibres that surround and protect cotton seeds do undergo some processes before use, namely: First, ginning Process, by which the cotton seeds are removed from the fibres by rolling a rod over the cotton ball.

Second, bowing process, which involves making cotton fibres fluffy by flicking the string of a small bow against them until they look like cotton wool.

Third, spinning process, which is done by pulling the fibres into threads.

Processing of the cotton fibers form the cotton seeds is not the same with that of

,

By MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU & APPOLOS IBEABUCHI OZIOGU

The Akwete cloths, woven from sisal-hemp fibres are of coarse type, used by masqueraders and warriors as headgears, while those made form raffia fibres are used on religious occasions like the Ozo titleship, and for mourning by women

in the patterns of red and black designs, interwoven in geometric patterns on the white ground which is favoured by Igbo men. It is mainly used as a towel for bathing. The Akwete cloths, woven from sisal-hemp fibres are of coarse type, used by masqueraders, and by warriors as headgears, while those made form raffia fibres are used on religious occasions like the Ozo titleship, and for mourning by women.

But the most popular Akwete cloth is the type of cotton fabric woven from cotton fibres in colourful patterns; the weavers have much preference for bright and strong colour like red and

,

She dries the fibers in the sun or by the fire place to make them dry enough for use in weaving. Generally, it is women who process the raffia fibers or cotton fibers or any other kind of fibers for used in weaving. Weaving is done on a loom. There are two types of loom namely: horizontal loom which is used by men weavers; vertical loom, used by women weavers. Both types of loom operate on the same principle.

An Akwete woman weaves on a wide vertical loom which produces cloth about 115cm wide x 1609cm long; the length of the finished product is normally twice the height of the loom. Thus, after processing the cotton to desired thread form, the weaver fixes a set of threads on the loom to form the warp and then the weft thread (net-work of thread) is passed over and under the warped thread.

The weft thread can be passed over more than one warped thread at a time to produce variations of thread colours and patterns in the woven cloth.

As the weaving progresses, the finished cloth is slipped down over the lower beam and up and back. Then, the weaver uses a weaving stick to separate the odd and eve warp thread before she winds the weft thread onto a long narrow stick which is passed from side to side.

It is expedient to reiterate that Akwete cloth is usually made of cotton thread, and the decorative motifs are produced with cotton threads of a heavier texture or rayon silk.

Politics of Cloth The decorative motifs appear mostly on one side of the cloth, though they can appear on both sides. The decorative motifs are given names which are suggestive of their appearance. A few among them are animals heart; children’s fingers; Comb; Earring; Snake-back; Stool and Tortoise.

However, some weavers can give different names to motifs that are not suggestive of their appearance. In the olden days, the “tortoise” motif (ikaki) is only worn by members of royal families and if anybody from non-royal family dares wear it, he or she could be punished or be sold into slavery.

The “ebe” design is specially reserved for use as a protective talisman for pregnant women or warriors. Most of these designs or motifs are by inspiration because the weavers claim that certain motifs are revealed to them by the gods, and as a result, no weaver is allowed to copy the design and it therefore dies with its owner.

Editor’s remark: This piece has been previously published in this page , but is presently re-issued on popular demand by our readers.

the raffia fibers. Raffia as we know is the fiber from the fresh leaf of the palm tree. The process of extracting fiber from the thorny raffia palm frond demands a special skill by the woman weaver.

She first of all starts form the idi Museum Lagos will on 6th December , 2012 at 7 tip, the distal end pm host an evening of poetry and Jazz with by splitting it, renowned poet and playwright, J.P.Clark. The event, and then gently which takes place at 175 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria pulls down to the Island will feature performance poet, Jimi Solanke along inflorescence. side students of poetry from Grange school and Pachelli School of the Blind.

Poe tr oetr tryy and Jazz with J.P J.P.. Clar Clarkk

D

Weaving as

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012 — 39

By McPhilips Nwachukwu

From READ comes Poetr y of Spoken Word

God, the catholic way…

By MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU

1

• Participants at the event

BY ADEOYA AJIBOLA

“Justice has been kidnapped in my country and nobody is willing to pay her ransom, she was absent at the tribunal when the verdict was given, so the marauders were declared winners even though the votes were phantom…”

T

HAT is a snippet from a poetry rendition by Efe Paul, one of the leading voices in the Spoken Word movement at Read It Loud, a literary forum organised by the public affairs section of the US embassy here in Lagos.

The movement evolves from having small cells to having a capacity filled audience. It

This kind of poetic performance is usually a product of deep meditation, views of the artist, which encompasses frank and sometimes satirical comments on politics, religion, gender, sexuality and other social behaviours

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is safe to say a new generation of youths are rising but certain sections of the society are yet to catch this bug, and so It became imperative to inform members of the public on what exactly this movement is about.

Spoken Word is a form of C M Y K

poetry that often uses alliterated prose, or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary.

It’s a form of poetry intended for on-stage performance rather than print because it’s beauty lies in its delivery pattern where the poet assumes the position of a prophet or sage reflecting on issues affecting his society.

This kind of poetic performance is usually a product of deep meditation, views of the artist, which encompasses frank and sometimes satirical comments on politics, religion, gender, sexuality and other social behaviours.

The genre often contains references to current events and issues relevant to a con-

,

temporary life; using clever punch lines, witty remarks, poignant allusions and sarcasm.

The Spoken Word artist echoes the yearnings of his society by offering scintillating performances in the form of a dramatic monologue, which

are not mere reverberations or tintinnabulations but are the very pulse of a generation.

It’s important to note that Spoken Word originated from blues music of the Harlem renaissance period.

The modern poetry as it’s known today became popular as far back as 1960 in the African American communities with the last poets, a political and music group borne out the American civil rights movement.

Spoken Word Poetry is at its peak with poets making a living out of their talents.

However the same can’t be said of Nigeria as the Industry is experiencing snail paced growth.

This could be due to the fact that it started out as an elitist movement, with open mic sessions held mainly on the Island at Taruwa, Freedom Hall, and Terra Kulture. However, the Industry received a boost recently when international spot light fell on Chiedu Ifeozo, who was featured on CNN, inside Africa.

And another plus for the industry is Bassey Ikpi; a Nigerian, who became a regular feature on Russell Simmons Def Jam poetry.

Several other poets however have emerged on the Nigerian scene presently. They include Sage Hasson, Plumbline, Olulu, Torpedo, Nini Efem, Dark Poet, Wana Wana, Bob Ekat and Floetry.

5 track gospel compact disc titled; Song of Unity from the porch of St. Michael Catholic Choir, Enyigogu Mbaise is a worthy re-invention of the dwindling Catholic Church music being continually threatened by modern day Pentecostal church songs.

Led by very creative Choir Master, Ambrose Njoku under the excellent supervision of the church’s parish priest, Rev. Fr. Anthony Ibechinwuba, the St. Michael’s Catholic Choir through the well arranged songs in the disc has helped to extend the borders of catholic ministration and liturgical immersion.

Arranged in the classical order of catholic mass celebration, the songs as offered by the amiable choir captures the four parts of the mass vis-à-vis the introduction, liturgy of the word, liturgy of the Eucharist and the conclusion.

In a very simple term, ev-

,

Ka Mbiri, Sachaanu mu and Holy, Holy, which serve as sanctification songs, the choir draws the listener through the mystery of missal celebration with such gift presentation songs like; singing and dancing, Onye Chineke Goziri, Father Accept the Gift and Nara Onyinye Gozie Umu Gi, which usher in the liturgy of the Eucharist.

The depth and participatory nature of the songs are strictly in line with Article 114 of Vatican 11, Constitution on the liturgy which states that: “The treasury of sacred music is to be preserved and fostered with great care. Choirs must be diligently promoted, especially in cathedral churches; but bishops and other pastors of souls must be at pains to ensure that, whenever the sacred action is to be celebrated with song, the whole body of the faithful may be able to contribute that active participation which is rightly theirs.”

Interestingly, despite which ever language a song is composed and rendered, there is an unbelievable ten-

Arranged in the classical order of catholic mass celebration, the songs as offered by the amiable choir captures the four parts of the mass vis-à-vis the introduction, liturgy of the word, liturgy of the Eucharist and the conclusion

,

ery good catholic, who understands the pattern of catholic missal celebration, will no doubt fall in love with the songs so beautifully arranged and delivered in such a way that the celebration becomes one lineal thread of musical deification.

In another way, it can be said that through the effort of these younger singers and their leaders, both the liturgy of the text and liturgy of the Eucharist; the two most important parts of catholic missal celebration are beautifully reduced to what can be described as the liturgy of sound and music.

The songs rendered in Igbo, English, Yoruba and Ijaw are used to praise, explore and to seek the forgiveness of God in the same way that the missal orderings prepare the lectern through the confession of sin, readings of the psalms and the gospel acclamation followed by the explication of the word.

Through such songs like ;

dency that members of the lectern and other ordinary listeners are drawn in to in the singing and clapping of hands as their own consensual validation of the choral effort.

It is also important to commend the effort of the producers of the song. In producing the title, strong efforts are put in place to produce what amounts to clearly, a state of the art finished products by using professional technical studio hands who provide well edited sounds , sceneries and pictures, which in aesthetic combination harmonise with beautiful choreography and excellent interpretation of songs.

This is choral product is an original effort; and from all indication, the young singers and instrument players, who record this feat, given continued support are going to be great blessings to St Michael’s Parish Enyiogugu and the entire Catholic Church in Nigeria.

40—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

I N S I D E

Our judicial must be overhauled to handle contemporary challenges — 41

Counsel Corner —42

Kagame advocates scrapping of ICC — 43

Constitution amendment debate: Different strokes for different zones

BY OKEY NDIRIBE AND EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

A

Hon. Tambuwal, Speaker House of Representatives The agitation for abolition of the States/Local Government joint account operation, and autonomy for local governments were generally agreed upon in all the constituencies.

From kwara central, Khadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal canvassed an amendment of sections of the constitution “to address Nigeria as a religious nation, saying that “paragraph one of the Nigerian constitution states that the people agreed to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble nation under God”.

Justice Salihu Mohammed, a Khadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Ilorin

,

LTHOUGH, the People’s Public Sessions on the Review of the amended 1999 Constitution held by the House of Representatives in the 360 federal constituencies across the country three Saturdays ago has come and gone, the event nonetheless reinforced the political reality that sovereignty actually belongs to the people. Indeed, reports from different parts of the country indicated that the event was the people’s show. And in several parts of the country, the masses grabbed the opportunity that was given to them by the federal lawmakers not only to make their input into the making of the nation’s proposed grundnorm, but to also express their feelings on issues that have been troubling them.

At Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, although Hon Saheed Akinade Fijabi who coordinated the session attempted to explain the rationale behind the public session and why it was decided by the Green Chamber that it should be held in every Federal Constituency, Mr Seun Abimbola, the Chairman of the Ibadan Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, made the stand of the NBA known about the public review.

He pointed out that the NBA had told the leadership of the House that after the public session, there should be a referendum. Abimbola further said some questions do not require a “yes” or “no” answer.

In Kwara state, the peoples response was slightly different. The creation of new council areas was reportedly a major demand at the public hearing across the six federal constituencies of the state. While most of those who spoke on the issue during the hearing noted that the demand was not a call for the severance of cultural ties within the existing council areas, they however chorused that it will help to generate employment and reduce the noticeable upsurge in youth involvement in crimes and poverty.

At the Asa/Ilorin- west session, the Galadiman Garin of Ilorin Alhaji Umar Adelodun, who canvassed for the creation of additional 10 local government areas from the Ilorin Emirate, argued that it would provide jobs, alleviate poverty as well as end youth restiveness. However, the audience, opposed the creation of additional states. The call for the creation of state police was vehemently opposed on the ground that it would be abused by the powers that be.

The debate for state creation which later took the center stage at the session, witnessed the people agreeing to the fact that while it was necessary to open up the area for development

,

who spoke on behalf of other Khadis, also canvassed an amendment of sections of the constitution which currently limits the power of the Sharia court in relation to matters they can entertain from litigants.

The clamor for creation of additional local governments, abolition of states / local government joint account operation, and autonomy for local governments were generally agreed upon in all the constituencies, except Kwara

north.

The session chairman of the Ilorin East/South Constituencies, Alhaji Aliyu Alarape Salman,SAN, noted that the military regime which prepared the 1999 constitution hoodwinked Nigerians to imply that it was a people’s constitution by the preamble, “We the people of Nigeria”.

Shariah was high on the demand in Kano State where there were protests over the alleged non-inclusion of the Muslim legal system on the list of items to be reviewed in the 1999 Constitution.

The majority of the issues presented were rejected except local government autonomy, state assembly autonomy and abolition of State Independent Electoral Commission.

However, in another part of Kano State, Hon. Farouk Lawan who represents Shanono/Bagwai Federal Constituency, received a hero’s welcome during the exercise.

In Sokoto, the exercise was concluded without any incident.

The speaker of the House, Hon Waziri Tambuwal , who represents Tambuwal/Kebbe federal constituency, spoke in Tambuwal during the public hearing held in the town. He said the public hearing would produce a constitution that has wider scope of consultations and inclusiveness.

In Imo and Enugu states participants in the exercise demanded for the creation of an additional state for the South-East zone.

In Enugu North/Enugu South Federal Constituency the exercise was coordinated by Hon. Ofor Chukwuegbo while Senators Jim Nwobodo and Ken Nnamani addressed the participants.

They said the long clamour for a national conference had been achieved through the exercise.

At the session held at Obollor headquarters of Udenu Local Government, participants unanimously demanded the creation of Adada State.

They stated that they were ready to concede every other item as contained in the template document for voting on the constitution for the realization of the proposed state.

In Bayelsa State, the people demanded for 100 percent resource control.

Residents of Yenagoa/ Kolokuma/ Opokuma Federal Constituency in Bayelsa State demanded that states be allowed 100 per cent control of their natural resources and pay taxes to the Federal Government.

The event, which was chaired and moderated by Chief Festus Lot, witnessed a large turnout of community leaders, youth groups and women groups from the various communities in the constituency.

Reports from most parts of the federation indicated that Nigerians responded differently to the 43 items that were presented to them during the exercise.

Among the questions that were put to vote are: Should Section 8 of the Constitution be amended to remove the ambiguities in the process for creation of more States? How many more States should be created in Nigeria? Should a State/States be created in order to bring parity to the number of states among the geo- political zones?; Should the six geo-political zones be recognised in the Constitution for administrative purposes only; Should the six GeoPolitical Zones be included in the Constitution as another tier of government?; Should indigeneship of an area be defined to include persons who have resided in an area for a long

Continues on page 43

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012—41

Our judicial mus hauled tto o handle mustt be o ovv er erhauled cont emporar hallenges contemporar emporaryy cchallenges

BY INNOCENT ANABA

M

R Olasupo Ati-John is the Secretary of Section on public Interest and Development Law, SPIDEL, a section of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA. In this interview, he notes that for corruption in the judicial system to be adequately addressed, the entry level into the profession must be restructured to curb the menace of corruption.

On the on going constitutional amendment, he said that the concept of citizenship, indigeneship, settlers theory, naturalization principle, among others should be looked into objectively, adding that true federalism should be reflected in our constitution.Excerpt:

What is SPIDEL doing to promote the development of law in the country?

SPIDEL is a sub unit of the NBA. This section regulates novel and untapped areas in the practice of law in Nigeria.

In its bid to promote the development of law, SPIDEL has vigorously pursued its aim of contributing to the development of appropriate legal and policy framework and promote development and practice of public interest law and litigation as well as ensure access to effective remedies for victims of violations of the laws and abuse of power. For instance, in the last five years, we have been consistent in programming.

The section held four annual forums in four different zones of the country on topical issues. Recommendations from the forum have served as reference point for government at all levels, the private sector and the civil society.

The impact of the 2007 Annual forum of the section on Electoral reforms deserves special mention. The forum’s position about the flaws of the 2007 general elections inspired the take-off of the ongoing current reforms in the electoral system. At NBA level, the working sessions of the section at NBA anual conferences have been credited as having high quality in every standard. Also, the practice of Notary public in Nigeria is also under strict scrutiny by the section. We are at present looking at how to address the inefficiency and lapses manifestly seen in the practice.

What is your section doing to also promote public interest litigation in the country?

Though SPIDEL is not one of the prosecuting agencies or a human rights agency in Nigeria, it has to a reasonable extent promoted public interest litigation in Nigeria. We have always advocated for the protection of rights and property in the six geographical regions of the country. Our pursuit to promote public interest litigation is done on daily basis by our members and the entire section. We also encourage our members to prosecute and defend matters with public interest content probono. We have tried to create awareness through seminars and workshops on protecting the interest of the masses with the ultimate aim of achieving justice. In SPIDEL, it is our position that justice ought to be done in the public interest, if at all.

Do you agree that lawyers are to be blamed for the delay in matters in court with their filing of all manners of applications, instead of facing the substantive issues in cases?

Apparently, justice cannot be achieved within a twinkle of an eye. The principle of justice is not magical; neither is it a scientific theory nor could be likened to the fictitious story of Alice in the wonder land. In other words, the principle of justice can only be cogently arrived at after a thorough legal analysis of the fact in issue or facts relevant to the issue. As a matter of fact, delay in matters may occur as a result of multifaceted factors which could be positive or negative as the case may be.

Lawyers should not be consistently blamed for the delay in prosecuting matters. There are several factors which could possibly occasion unnecessary delay in litigation; these factors inter alia include reassignment of matters by the

Mr Olasupo Ati-John administrative head, crowding of courts, transfer of judges from one division to the other in which case some of the matters pending before the judge may be commenced denovo - that is starting a matter afresh, lack of service of originating processes, unavailability of witnesses Etc. Importantly, for speedy and effective disposal of matters in court to be achieved the whole judicial system must be completely overhauled to reflect our contemporary challenges.

How do you think the issue of corruption in the judiciary can be addressed?

Corruption is the bane of our micro and macro entities.

In other words, corruption as a vice has its antecedent from our various communities and institutions. It is my personal opinion that for corruption in the judicial system to be adequately addressed, the entry level of the profession must be restructured to curb the menace of corruption. For

instance, how can a prospective law student be compromising with the special center syndrome –quite pathetic indeed. As a matter of fact, this would - be law student without much ado must have internalized this cankerworm thus making it almost impossible for the student in issue to divorce this mentality of “sorting” to excel in his subjects. Hence, the philosophical principle of tabala rasa (mind in the clean state) has suddenly vanished into thin air. In the event that this mentality either by commission or omission is eventually harvested as a legal fruit to be enjoyed in the legal world, this cankerworm at this level is already full blown, and then emerges the problem of judicial corruption. Mind you, this menace was only imported into the profession.

Having said this, the secondary level of corruption as a matter of fact is already embedded in the legal profession hence needs contemporary approach to

fight the virus. Contemporary technical gadgets may not really be the solution to this menace but attitudinal reorientation could drastically reduce this virus. Let all the stakeholders be re-baptized into the values of transparency, good conscience and honesty. This I personally believe will sanitize the system.

Will terminating some cases at the Court of Appeal help ensure speedy completion of cases?

Of course to an extent it should be able to bring litigation to an end within a reasonable time but what about the justice of the case. If manifest justice is secured at the Court of Appeal, that suffices. So terminating some cases at the Court of Appeal is a welcome development.

What areas of the constitution do you believe requires amendment?

I wish to commend the Government of Nigeria for the recent call to amend the 1999 constitution. In my opinion, the 1999 Constitution was not the will of the Nigerian people. The preamble therein is of course an aberration since it was not the people’s wish. I would have maybe suggested the making of an autochthonous constitution that is home made or home grown to reflect the power of the people. Be that as it may, there are areas I will speedily recommend for amendment.

As a matter of fact, The Land Use Act of 1978 is not supposed to be a constitutional matter. Every state should have its Land Use Law. Again, the concept of citizenship and its related siblings such as indigeneship, settlers theory, naturalization principle etc should be looked into objectively. True federalism should be reflected in our constitution. If I may ask? What stops us from enforcing and giving more life to fundamental objectives and directives of state principle? It can be done.

42—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

VANGUARD LAW IN PIX NIALS holds Open Air conference on Intellectual Property

Feedbac kafter eedback Rent payment quit notice?

Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS, recently, held its Open Air international conference on International conference on Intellectual Property Capacity Building for Development: Role of Scholars.

Photos by INNOCENT ANABA.

Sir,

I

WANT you to educate tenants on the issue of quit notice. Whether they (tenants) need to pay for the period of months the quit notice will last because most tenants assume that when a quit notice is given they will not pay for the period of months spent in the house thereafter.

Comrade uche Goodluck okonji .Estate surveyor, Benin city.

A quit notice duly issued by a landlord to a tenant is an indication that the landlord wishes to terminate the landlord/ tenant relationship. This can however be done through appropriate rent tribunal and not self help.The moment a quit notice is issued, it is expected that the tenancy will be determined at the expiry of the notice. This does not however suggest that the moment a quit notice is issued that the tenant obligation of rent payment has stopped in a situation where the quit notice expires on the eve of the anniversary of the commencement of the tenancy. It is presumed that whatever extra period that such a tenant spends in the apartment, especially where litigation is involved, at the end of the case the landlord through his lawyer will ask the tribunal to make the tenant pay what is known as mesne profit. For instance ,if a tenant is in occupation of the apartment for one extra year after the valid quit notice has expired, such a tenant cannot just walk away .He will pay the current rent value of the apartment. So it is wrong for any tenant to assume that after quit notice has been issued by a landlord, the rent payment does not arise anymore. This can only happen if the landlord expressly refuses to accept rent from a tenant all in an effort to recover possession without necessarily going to court or tribunal.

Threat of ejection over rent increase

I

HAVE just packed into a new 2 bedroom apartment of one hundred and sixty eight thousand naira per annum and i paid for two years in advance which amounted to three hundred and thirty six thousand naira .The landlord has now increased the rent to one hundred and ninety two thousand naira per annum but i objected and now he is threating to eject me from the house .Please, i need your advice.

From left: Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, Director General, NIALS and Prof Chidi Oguamanam, University of Ottawa, Canada.

From left: Mr Paul Ogendi and Mr Henry Komakechi both of University of Pretoria.

From left: Dr Francisca Nlerum and Dr Poku Adesei.

From left: Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, NIALS Director of Research and Prof Bambo Adewopo.

From left: Mr James Bathnna, NIALS Secretary and Prof Lanre Fagbolun.

From left: Mrs Jadesola Lokulo-Sodipe, Mrs Chinwe Okonkwo, NFC, Jos and Mr David Jangkam, UNIJOS.

Isaac, Warri.

Every landlord/tenant relationship is usually based on an agreement which the law presumes is acceptable to both parties. The agreement contain several clauses that spell out obligations of the tenant and that of the landlord. For instance, obligations such as keeping the apartment in a habitable condition and payment of rent when due and rates are some of the tenant’s obligations. Sometimes, the agreement may indicate when rent can be increased.

Even if it does not the landlord reserve the right to increase the rent when it is reasonable to do so.

Such increase must however be marginal. Note however that he can only eject you through court process, that is, by going to rent tribunal. Mark you, there is right of fair hearing as enshrined in the Constitution.

You can send your questions to dayobenson@yahoo.com or 08056180119 (text only)

From left: Mr Oluwaseye Lawal and Mrs Sena Jerry-Imahiagbe.

From left: Mrs Ifeoma Oluwasemilore and Dr Yemi Lawal.

From left: Mr Okey Agu and Stella Ezeh.

From left: Esther Ngom IP Consultant, Yaounde and Nognam El Houssamy, Access to Knowledge Centre, American University, Cairo.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012 — 43

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

P

AUL Kagame is the President of the Republic of Rwanda. He was in Nigeria, in particular, Lagos for the first time, according to him,where he attended the annual Kuramo Conference, with the likes of Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state, Nobel Laureate winner, Prof. Wole Soyinka and the Director, Centre for the Study of African Economics, Oxford University, Prof. Paul Collier.

Kegame, who was recently bestowed with the award of Africa Peace Winner, 2012, last Saturday, after the conference met with agroup of Young Nigerian Professionals where he spoke on a number of germane issues concerning Africa continent viz a-viz Rwanda experience. Especially after the 1994 genocide.

Kagame advocates scrapping of ICC Rwandan President, in one of his submissions, faulted the operations of International Criminal Court, ICC, on principle, saying it is incompetent to really handles Africa peculiar matters.

He argued that: “ A crime is committed on Africa continent only to be tried outside the continent. ICC is for the few western countries who are not competent to fairly handle such cases ”I strongly, believe that ICC, is a court to only try common Africans. I wish Africa can have its own court of law to handle its cases. This will at least ensure some of level of satisfaction through a legal processs. ”The arguement is about

•Rwandan President, Paul Kagame ensuring its fairness and justice. We have all it takes to

make Africa great in the world. We have to take our

Constitution Amendment Debate: Different strokes for Different zones Continues from page 40 period, and therefore entitled to accruing rights, duties and privileges? ; Should aspects of the Constitution related to the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy in Chapter II which deal with political, economic, social, educational and cultural objectives be made justiciable or enforceable like the Fundamental Human Rights in Chapter IV?; Should Sections 81 and 121(1) of the Constitution be amended to require the President/Governor of a state to prepare and lay the annual budget before the National Assembly/State House of Assembly at least 3 months before the end of a financial year?; Other items include: Should State Houses of Assembly be granted financial autonomy/ independence as is the case with the National Assembly?; Should Section 162(6) be amended to abolish ‘State Joint Local Government Account’ so that allocations due to the Local Government Councils would be paid to them directly? ; Should the Constitution be amended so that the power to create local government areas now rest exclusively with the states, such that states assume responsibility for the funding of local governments? ; Should the Local Government Councils be accorded the status of a third tier of government properly so called with its own Legislative List?; Should the Constitution be amended to deny revenue allocation to unelected local government councils?; Should there be a defined tenure for Local Government Chairmen/ Councillors in the Constitution?; Should the Second Schedule, Part 1 be amended so that some of the items, including those listed

below be moved from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List –(a) Fingerprints, identification and criminal records; (b) Insurance; (c) Labour,;(d) Prisons; (e) Public holidays; (f) Railways; (g) Bankruptcy and Insolvency; (h) Registration of Births and Deaths; Should Section 197(1) (b) be amended to abolish the State Independent Electoral Commission in order that all elections are conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission?; Should Section 315(5) (a) and (d) be amended to remove the National Youth Service Corps Act, the Land Use Act, Public Complaints Commission Act, National Security Agencies Act, from the Constitution? ; Should Section 308 be amended to make the immunity provision for the President, Vice President, Governor or Deputy Governor cover only civil proceedings while in office?; Should Section 214(1) be amended to enable the establishment of a State Police? ; Should Nigeria have one police organisation which shall be constituted in such manner as to give State Governors control over the Commissioner of Police in their respective states?; Should Nigeria maintain the current Police structure and system as in the Constitution? ;Should a provision be inserted in the Constitution for the rotation of the Office of President between the Northern and Southern parts of Nigeria?; Should a provision be inserted in the Constitution to make the Office of President rotate among the 6 Geo-Political Zones of the country?; Should the Office of President or Governor of a

State be filled purely on merit, instead of zoning?; Should Sections 135 and 180(2) be amended to create a single tenure of (a) 5 years; (b) 6 years; (c) 7 years; for the Office of President and Governor respectively? ; Should the two-term tenure provision for the Office of President or Office of Governor be retained in the Constitution?; Should a provision be inserted in the Constitution to make the Office of Governor of a State rotate among the three Senatorial Districts in the State?; Should the Constitution be amended to allow for Independent Candidacy in elections?; Should the Constitution be further amended to address gender issues, including but not limited to reserving certain percentage of elective offices for women?; Should the Constitution be amended to lower the qualifying age for contesting various elective offices?; Should there be specific provision in the Constitution to take care of the interests of persons with disabilities?; Should Section 77(2) be amended to give Nigerians living outside the country (in the Diaspora) voting rights?; Should the country abolish the existing bi-cameral legislature and allow for only one chamber National Assembly?; Should the Constitution be amended to provide for a Parliamentary instead of the present Presidential System of Government?; Should Nigeria implement the practice of Federalism that allows States to control up to 50% of their resources and pay the remainder to the Federation?; Should the derivation component of Revenue allocation be increased to at least 20%? ; Should a role be created for Traditional Rulers in the

Constitution, such as their having representation in the National Council of States at the national level and roles in the States and local governments?; Should the Constitution be further amended to address issues of electoral reform, including the time for conducting byeelections, time limit for the determination of election petitions, etc?; Should the powers of the President or Governor to modify or amend existing laws under the transitional provisions of S.315 (2) and the definition section related thereto be expunged, as such is currently exercised by the National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly respectively?; Should the Constitutional provisions on the judiciary be amended to achieve reforms of judicial institutions and processes in order to ensure quicker dispensation of justice; Should the Constitution be amended to separate the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation by the creation of the office of the Accountant General of the States?; Should the Constitution be amended to separate the office of the Attorney General of the Federation from the position of Minister of Justice of the Federation? and Should the Constitution be amended to enable the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission send Proposals for Revenue Allocation directly to the National Assembly in order to avoid undue delays in preparation of the Revenue Allocation Formula?

Nevertheless, the on-going collation of reports of the exercise would give a clearer picture of the aggregate demands of Nigerians during the exercise.

destiny in our hands by confronting our problems headlong” “Kagame posited.

He,however, identified meaningful investments in the youth and education as key strategies, which would help Nigeria and other African states recover their lost opportunities.

Kagame dismissed a tradition of seeking development aids from foreign donors and international financial institutions from Europe and United States among African states, stressing that neither Nigeria nor any African state needed any foreign aids to unlock opportunities in its economy.

According to him, Nigeria can change, but it is the young people that would make the change. “I believe the change has started already. What is required to make a change is in the hand of the youths.

Rwanda is ready to work with Nigeria and failing to do what is necessary will make prosperity a major challenge on the continent.

He explained that each country on the continent “has everything it needs to catalyse its growth and development.’’ ”We have lost opportunities in the past. We should be challenged so that we do not lose opportunities in the future again. We must ensure as a continent that opportunities are no longer wasted”.

Aside from natural resources, the continent is endowed, the president added that meaningful investment in the young people is key to Africa development, particularly, Nigeria.

He noted that the resources of Nigeria is not her problem but the people Kagame said: “If we look at the number of young people we have in this part of the world, it is a vast opportunity for the government. But we need to support them. I want to see young Nigerians and Africans working together and take advantage of vast opportunities in their respective countries or on the continent.

“The continent’s young people need to interact and network. We now have technology and devices to interact and network better.

This is how we can gain what has been lost in the past decades. There is no other way around it. Africans must develop Africa. Europe will not develop our continent for us,” he said.

He said Rwanda under his leadership was able to make progress because both leaders and people resolved “to confront their challenges.

All the development aids would amount to nothing if we do not develop our young people.

44—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

Leading journalists to lead talkshop

L

Advertisers talk tough on new guidelines • Release 10 rules; effective Jan 31

BY UDUMA KALU

F

ROM January 1, 2013, the new guidelines and requirements for the practice and business of advertising in Nigeria will come into effect.

This information was given

by Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi, Chairman, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), the industry regulator.

In an interview recently, the APCON boss said from January 31, advertising in Nigeria will no longer be business as usual. This he said is because of the industry’s fifth reform.

The organisation also released 10 most crucial things about the new reform for practitioners, saying APCON will operate a zero-tolerance policy for defaulters.

The organisation said all categories of advertising organisations as listed in its code shall be licensed by it (with the exclusion of Adver-

All categories of advertising organizations as listed in its code shall be licensed

,

,

tisers) and that all agencies will have to apply for and obtain practice licence from APCON to legalise the operations of the advertising agency/organization. Without the licence, the business of the agency will become illegal.

The licence shall be renewable every three years.

The body also said that each agency shall have its area of specialisation defined.

This will become the basis and scope of licence granted to such agency/organisation.

Media independence agencies will be granted license for media planning and buying only. Outdoor agency will be granted licence to own and manage outdoor sites while full fledged agencies will be granted licence for media planning, buying, creative and brand management. Licensed agency must also operate within the scope of licence granted to such organisation.

EADING journalists such as Mr. Ben Bruce, Chairman, Silver Bird Group;Prof Pat Utomi;Linda Ikeji, a blogger; Ali Baba (Comedian, Radio Personality, Talk Show Host) will lead some eminent Nigerians as Donald Duke, former Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Dora Akunyili,former Information Minister in discussion on leadership problems plaguing the country. Others are Dr. Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi Chairman Nest Oil, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, (Chairman Mode Men), Dr. Sam Amadi, Chairman Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Chidi Odinkalu Chairman Human Rights Commission. The announcement came from a group, Annabel Leadership Academy, as part of its Nigeria Leadership Summit tagged “Let’s Focus on Leadership”. This first Nigeria Leadership Summit holds on Wednesday, Dec 11 and Thursday, Dec12 at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos.

Analogue radio goes digital APCON Chief Executive Alhaji Bello Kankarofi; Etisalat Nigeria CEO Steven Evans and Chairman of the APCON governing council, Lolu Akinwunmi during Etisalat management’s visit to APCON office in Lagos.

BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

Business Hallmark releases 50 Most A Influential Nigerians B

USINESS Hallmark newspaper, last Thursday, through its publisher, Prince Emeka Obasi, released the list of the 50 most influential Nigerians, a Hallmark (Annual) Power and Influence Index for 2012. There are five categories in the index: Most Influential Nigerians, Most Influential Governors, Most Influential Corporate Nigerians, Most Influential Women and Most Public Commentators/Thinkers. Ten names were

mentioned for each category.

President Goodluck Jonathan, Rotimi Amaechi, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Prof.

Wole Soyinka, MTN and 45 others, topped the five categories.

In the most influential Nigerians category, President Jonathan and his wife, Patience, were closely followed

by Senate President David Mark, Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal and Vice-

President Namadi Sambo.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Azubike Ihejirika and National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki also made the list.

In Corporate Nigerians category, Dr. Mike Adenuga and Nduka Obaigbena came second and third respectively behind Dangote as number one.

Ex-journalist becomes Akpabio’s literary agent

A

FORMER Champion editor, Mr. Dili Ezeugha has become a literary agent. At the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, annual convention in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the veteran journalist who left for the United States more than five years ago was seen with Mrs Offonmbuk C. Akpabio as her literary agent.

•Mrs Ofonmbuk Akpabio

•As Gov presents grandad’s book Ezeugha told Vanguard that he became a literary agent to fill the lacuna in Nigeria. Introducing Mrs Akpabio, married to the family of Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Ezeugha said the lady’s debut, He dared: The story of Okuku Udo Akpabio, the Great Colonial African ruler, was a well researched biography on a man who had little or no information on him.

Mrs Akpabio, lawyer based in Abuja said the book on the grandfather of Akpabio, will be presented on December 20, in Uyo. He Dared..., Offonmbuk said, tells the story of the way of life of the Annang people during the 19th century and through the colonial era, and that he broke traditions and propelled his

people to embrace new horizons. “This book gives great insight about governance, traditional institutions, social and family life of the people.

It reveals the role they played in historical events in Nigeria, including the fall of slave trade, the Aba Women Riot and the advent of the British colonialists,” she said.

NALOGUE radio users can now upgrade to digital to truly enjoy their radios in Nigeria. This announcement was made by Vertex Standard and Danimex Communication at the launch of its new VXD Series conventional digital land mobile radios, providing a new digital choice for users seeking to maximise their radio investment.

Digital radio technology based on the DMR protocol is the most widely adopted digital two-way radio system actively used in over 100 countries. This protocol is the ETSI DMR Tier 2 open standard which assures long-term stability and provides end users with a choice of interchangeable digital equipment to maximise productivity and return on investment.

Vertex Standard VXD Series successfully completed the DMR Association’s interoperability testing which validated digital performance compatibility with both MOTOTRBO and SELEX Communications digital radios where any brand of radio can be used together, not all digital radios are the same — the radios can only communicate if operating on the same protocol.

NMMA fiesta holds in Lagos

T

HE award ceremony of the Nigeria Media Merit Award, NMMA, will no longer hold in Calabar next month.

A statement from the organizers signed byAdetukasi Adedayo, the Project Coordinator/ Administrator, NMMA, said the award ceremony will hold

at the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday, December 8. Adedayo said with over 1, 800 entries received for NMMA 2012 award, winners will be unveiled from the 51 categories of awards during the grand presentation programme.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012 — 45

C M Y K

46 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

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Vanguard , THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012 —47

Gov. Peter Obi with Immaculate Heart of Mary’s Sisters when he visited their Convent at Nkpor where he donated N5m for the rehabilitation of their hostel and Elders’ Home.

From left: Otunba Olugbenga Odusanya, Director, Synergy Oil U.K. Ltd and Collin Jackson, World/European Hurdles Champion & BBC Sports Broadcaster, who was the Special Guest of Honour at 'Energy Institute Award 2012' in London.

From left: Senator Ita Enang, representing Uyo Senatorial District, Akwa Ibom State; Engr. Anthony Udoekong, President, Ibiono Ibom Welfare and Development Association (IWADA) Day, Lagos Branch and Dr. Ini Urua, Chairman of the occasion, during IWADA Day in Lagos.

L-R: Lady Valerie Ebe, Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State; Mr. Godswill Akpabio, Akwa Ibom State Governor; Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Hon. Sam Ekon, Speaker, Akwa IbomState House of Assembly, at the opening of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Youth Parliament Conference in Uyo.

From left: Mrs. Bimbola Orekoya, President, Association for the Advancement of Rights of Nigerian Shareholders; Miss Oluwatosin Solabi, Corporate Relations Assistant,NB Plc; Patrick Olowokere,Corporate Communications Manager;Dr. Umar Farouk, Board of Governors of PEARL Award and Edem Vindah,Media & Public Affairs Manager,NB Plc, at PEARL Awards night held in Lagos.

From left: Dr. Murphy Akrasi, President, National Bible School, NBS; Dr. Steph Enofe, Bishop-elect and Rev. Edna Essien, during the 2012 convocation ceremony of NBS, in Lagos.

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From left: Mr. Toyin Munis, Chairman, Baileycole Consulting Nigeria; Mrs. Titilola Akibayo, Director of Finance Intelligence and Research, Office of Accountant General, Lagos State; Mr. David Sunmoni, Accountant General, Lagos State and Mr. Ola Tubi, Managing Director, Baileycole Consulting, during a workshop of Ministry of Finance and Treasury Office for Finance Managers and Finance Professionals, at LCCI House, Alausa, Lagos Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

From Left: Mrs.Yemisi Alatise, past National Rep; Mrs. Lanre Olomofe-Kufeji, ViceChair, District 911; Barr.(Mrs.) Chidinma Joy Ashimole, newly inducted President, Inner Wheel Club of Lagos; Mrs.Karine Uwaje, and a club member, shortly after inducting the new President of the Inner Wheel Club of Lagos.

48—Vanguard , THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

DONATIONS: Dr. Chris Ekiyor, President, RAHI Group (right) and Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, Executive Secretary, Tompolo Foundation when the latter donated relief materials on behalf of the Foundation at Patani, Delta State, Tuesday. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire.

From left: Alhaji Musa Ojeifor, Mr. Abidoye Ayoola, Chairman, and Mr. Olokodana, at the seventh Annual General Meeting of Energy Company Nigeria Plc in Lagos. Photo: Remi Adebisi.

CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT: There 'll be no need for referendum —Enang

BY ETOP EKANEM

L

AGOS—SENATOR representing Uyo Senatorial District in Akwa Ibom State, Senator Ita Enang, has said that the current moves to amend the 1999 constitution will be done in a way that there will be no need for a referendum as being canvassed by a section of the citizenry.

Enang who stated this

during the celebration of Ibiono Ibom Welfare and Development Association, IWADA, Day, in Lagos said: “The people of Nigeria have requested for a referendum, but the constitution can be amended in a way it is set out to be amended.

What we are doing is to fulfill that request for referendum by going to the people which is even

wider than what the proponents of referendum have suggested.

“We will take the input of everybody into account. The essence of this is to really make sure that the constitution can truly answer and say 'we the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.'”

He said the position of the Senate in state crea-

tion “is that we will gather the opinion of the people whether they want states created; we will gather the opinion of the people whether the states created so far are viable; whether the creation of states is the problem of Nigeria or we should rather find a way of creating employment, making our industry to work, making our currency stronger."

DESOPADEC chair assures on implementation of govt's devt plans He expressed joy that to take the Commission to

BY EMMAARUBI

W

ARRI—CHAIR MAN of the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Mr. Oritsuwa Kpogho has assured that the Commission is committed to effectively implementing the infrastructural development plans of the Governor Uduaghan’s administration.

He also stated that the Commission would work more closely with its mandate communities and the press during its operations.

He appealed for total support from the newly swornin board members.

Kpogho made these assertions, yesterday, at the

board room of the Commission in Warri at the inaugural meeting of the Board and management, saying that he is committed to achieving the state government's three-point agenda.

majority of the members except three are tested hands on the job having been there before, which allows for continuity. He called for more dedication and support from members in order

Bomadi LG boss solicits royal support

W

ARRI—THE care taker committee Chairman of Bomadi Local Government Area, Mr. Collins Olorogun, has solicited the support of the Pere of Akugbene Mein kingdom, HRM, Pere Kalanama VIII, to maintain the existing peace in the area.

Olorogun, who paid a courtesy call on the royal father said he was at the palace of monarch to re-

ceive blessings and identify with the traditional institution to run an inclusive government.

The chairman noted that business of governance was herculean task, saying that he would need the support of his royal majesty and the traditional institution, which according to him would equip him adequately to successfully pilot the affairs of the local government.

‘Nigeria spends N1.3trn on importation of rice annually’ digenous

BY TONY NYONG

U

YO—FOOD secu rity, job creation, and diversification were the issues on the front burner, Monday, during the farmers’ forum as the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association,

the next level.

The three new board members are: Messrs Festus Utuama, Obiuvwovwi and Okolugbo.

NVMA, Akwa Ibom State chapter, celebrated its 2012 Veterinary Week.

Chairman of the occasion and Provost of the Post Graduate College of Veterinary Surgeons of Nigeria, Professor Edet Okon, emphasised the need to improve on in-

animal resources to free the nation from capital flight, saying that the Federal Government spent about N1.3 trillion annually on the importation of rice.

Okon called on participants to invest more in farming, especially in animal husbandry.

Responding, the royal father thanked Olorogun for his visit and expressed confidence in his ability to bring development to the local government area. He noted that the council boss being the first council chairman to visit the palace has laid a foundation that would set the local government on the part of transformation, maintaining that the palace would always give support to the present administration, even as he would partner with the new administration to move the local government forward.

While lauding the Head of Personnel Management to the local government, Mr. Sunday Ekeremor for his prudent management of the council, the monarch advised other members of the committee to work with the chairman for the development of the council.

Lagos FMC boss allays fears on staff downsizing

BY ESTHERONYEGBULA

L

AGOS—THE Medi cal Director, Federal Medical Centre, Lagos, Dr. Yewande Jinadu, has assured employees of the institution that there will be no downsizing of staff despite the reduction of its annual federal budgetary allocation by 10 per cent.

Jinadu who said this when the national delegates and executive members of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, visited the centre for advocacy and en-

lightenment of its members, noted that the welfare of the staff was paramount.

The advocacy visit witnessed the investiture of top management personnel as honorary members of the Union in recognition for their exemplary leadership quality and as allies who had contributed to its growth and development.

She said: ”We will continue to improve and facilitate in-house training programme started in 2010, through certified clinical conferences that runs on a monthly basis."

EXAM CONDUCT: NOA to begin 2nd phase of sensitisation

BY VICTORIA EDEMA

L

A G O S — N A TIONAL Orientation Agency, NOA, is set to commence the second phase of its sensitisation programme for Raising Integrity Standards in the Conduct of Examinations in Nigerian Educational System under its ‘’do the right thing: transform Nigeria,’’ pro-

gramme.

Director General of the agency, Mr. Mike Omeri, who made this known said the agency planned a nationwide, massive campaign, to ensure that the integrity of examinations in Nigeria returned to what obtained in the sixties, when malpractices were rare within educational institutions.

Airline operators withdraw suits against FG

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

L

AGOS—AIRLINE Operators of Nigeria, AON, has withdrawn all cases it instituted against the Federal Government.

Making this disclosure, yesterday, in Lagos, the Assistant General Secretary of AON, Alhaji Muhammed Tukur, said the association took the decision because of the Federal

Government’s current efforts at assisting airlines to reduce cost of operation.

The association had specifically challenged in court the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, over enroute charges and also took the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, to court over relocation order given to owners of abandoned and dead aircraft in the country.

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Vanguard,

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

— 53

S/Korea supports vision 2020, MDGs success in Nigeria

BY HUGO ODIOGOR Foreign Affairs Editor

D From left— Bishop George Amu, Presiding Bishop of Good News Bible Church; Mrs. Esther Aworinde, Chairman of May Clinics Ltd and Co-Founder of St. Paul Senior Citizens Foundation; and Oba Adedoyin Adelekun, at the 5th Memorial Service for late Dr. Ise-Oluwa Aworinde at NECA House, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. yesterday.

ETERMINED to make its presence in Nigeria felt, South Korea has pledged to assist Federal Government in the attainment of the goals of reduction of poverty in the country through support to vision 2020

Palestinians win more European support for limited statehood

No rift between Okonjo-Iweala, Deziani over M subsidy payment— Abati

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA—SPECIAL Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, yesterday, denied any face-off between Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, and her Petroleum Resources counterpart, Deziani Alison-Madueke, over the payment of petroleum subsidy to oil marketers.

According to him, the alleged face off existed in the “realm of speculations.”

There had been reports that the insistence of the Minister of Fi-

nance that subsidy payments be made only after due process had been followed had pitched her against her Petroleum counterpart, who insisted that such delay could worsen the precarious fuel situation in the country.

After the Federal Executive Council meeting yesterday, Abati said members of the cabinet were on one page with the President in ensuring that good governance was provided to the Nigerians.

He said: “I am not aware that there is a face-off between the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

IFSEC West Africa plans third security exhibition

G

UARDIA Systems Ltd, yesterday, announced that IFSEC West Africa 2013 exhibition for Nigerian safety and security companies that are looking to secure local leads and business holds March 5 -6, 2013.

The exhibition now in its third year, will be held at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos.

Project Manager at UBM Montgomery West Africa, the organisers of IFSEC West Africa 2013, Baytir Samba, said that IFSEC West Africa was the ideal destination for companies from West Africa that want to position and boost their brands within the local industry.

He noted that exhibitors have the opportu-

nity to educate an influential audience of over 2,000 security and safety professionals on the most innovative products and services.

Samba said: “Of the 2,000 visitors to the 2012 event, 64 per cent of these delegates were first-time visitors to the show, and a further 18 per cent of these visitors had a spending budget of over $1 million.”

He said that with just four months to go until the show opens, and already 60 per cent of the exhibition floor space sold, this was the ideal time for potential Nigerian exhibitors to book their place at the definitive event for the West African region.

“What people have been writing about is in the realm of speculation, which I think should be ignored. There is no crack in the government and all ministers are on one page with the President in his transformation agenda.

“We should always have our facts instead of dealing with speculations that are not based on facts.”

On Boko Haram

On the reports that the Boko Haram had written to the Federal Government on its readiness to go into dialogue with government, Dr. Abati said he was not aware that such request had been formally handed over to government.

He, however, promised to find out if the request had been formally made.

Speaking on the recent bombing of the church in Jaji and the attack by some gunmen on the Special Anti-Robbery Squad headquarters in Abuja, Abati said security chiefs had already briefed the President on the matter.

He added that steps were being taken to guarantee the security of lives and property of all Nigerians.

Abati said the setting up of investigative panels by both the Chief of Defence Staff and Inspector-General of Police was one of the measures being taken by security agencies to ensure that the unfortunate incidences do not happen again.

and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The South Korean Consul-General in Lagos, Mr. Pilcheen Pak said his county is working towards making Nigeria actualise its dream of economic prosperity.

KOICA’s Chief Resident Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Jung Sang-

ORE European states joined France yesterday in backing a Palestinian bid for limited statehood, but Britain held back, saying it wanted an assurance that the Palestinians would not pursue Israel through the International Criminal Court.

Germany said it was opposing the diplomatic upgrade for the Palestinians at the United Nations, joining Israel and the United States which say the only genuine route to statehood is via a peace agreement made in direct talks with Israel.

Semi-statehood could allow Palestinian territories to access the court and other international bodies.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is leading the campaign and several European governments are eager to give him their support after an eight-day conflict this month between Israel and Islamists in the Gaza Strip, who are pledged to Israel’s destruction and oppose his efforts towards negotiated peace.

With overwhelming support from the developing world, the Palestinians appear certain to earn approval in the 193-member U.N. General Assembly for a status upgrade to “observer state” on Thursday.

Switzerland, Denmark and Austria said they would vote for the upgrade. France gave its approval on Tuesday.

Britain said it would not oppose the move but needed more assurances to give its support.

“The first is that the Palestinian Authority

should indicate a clear commitment to return immediately to negotiations without preconditions,” Foreign Seretary William Hague told parliament.

“The second assurance relates to membership of other specialized UN agencies and action in the International Criminal Court,” he added.

The Swiss approval followed a visit to Berne

by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas this month as the country hesitated between voting in favor of the resolution or abstaining.

Hoon, and the Consul General Pilcheen Pak spoke in Lagos during the meeting of KOICA Alumni Association (KAAN), South-West Branch, in Lagos.

Both Sang-Hoon and Pak challenged the KAAN alumni, as beneficiaries of Korean capacitybuilding programme, to efficiently promote the knowledge they acquired during their various training in South Korea, to make Nigeria attain its aspiration of economic development.

The Korean official said the agency has established Country Partnership Strategy(CPS) for Nigeria from 2012 to 2015 in consideration of Nigeria’s d e v e l o p m e n t environment, needs and priority and Korea’s comparative advantage resource mobilisation.

Sang-Hoon, who was the guest speaker at the event, explained that said the agency is providing assistance for sustainable socio-economic development, promoting humanitarian assistance and human security, education and vocational training for Nigerians and other partner countries.

Egypt protests continue over Mursi powers

H

UNDREDS of demonstrators gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square for a sixth day yesterday demanding that President Mohamed Mursi rescind a decree they believe to have given him dictatorial powers, while two of Egypt’s top courts stopped work in protest.

Five months into the Islamist leader’s term, and in scenes reminiscent of the popular uprising that unseated predecessor Hosni Mubarak last year, police fired teargas at stone-throwers following protests by tens of thousands on Tuesday against the declaration that expanded Mursi’s powers and put his decisions beyond legal challenge.

Protesters, according to report, will stay in Tahrir until the decree is withdrawn, bringing fresh turmoil to a nation at the heart of the Arab Spring and delivering a new blow to an economy already on

the ropes.

Egypt’s Cassation and Appeals courts said they would suspend their work until the constitutional court rules on the decree, which has further damaged Mursi’s already testy relationship with the country’s judges.

In a speech on Friday, Mursi praised the judiciary as a whole but referred to corrupt elements he aimed to weed out.

A spokesman for the Supreme Constitutional Court, which declared the Islamist-led parliament void earlier this year, said on Wednesday that it felt under attack by the president.

“The really sad thing that has pained the members of this court is when the president of the republic joined, in a painful surprise, the campaign of continuous attack on the Constitutional Court,” said the spokesman Maher Samy.

54—Vanguard , THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

Scrap SURE-P if....NASS tells Jonathan

BY BY CHINENYEH OZOR

A

BUJA—THE Na tional Assembly, yesterday, took a swipe at President Goodluck Jonathan’s Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), describing it as a drain pipe on the Nigerian economy, just as it called on the government to scrap it if there were no improvements.

The lawmakers who expressed their total dismay and lack of confi-

FLAG OFF: Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State (middle) and state Commissioner for Works, Prince Kingsley Mgbeahuru, during the .flag off of the construction of Brass road and some other roads in Aba, at Aba-Owerri-Brass junction in Aba, Abia State.

Igbo unity not in doubt —Orji

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

Confront Northern Govs over Boko Haram U killings, CAN tells Southern Govs

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—THE national

leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, yesterday in Awka berated Southern governors over their continued silence on the constant killing of Christians in the North by the Boko Haran Islamist sect.

According to CAN, it is time for the Southern governors to confront their Northern counterparts on the issue.

CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, in an emotion–laden address he delivered at the opening ceremony of the National Executive Committee, NEC, of CAN in Awka, described as improper a situation where Southern Nigerian leaders, especially governors, had continued to shy away from the issue of Boko Haran insurgency in Nigeria when innocent people were being massacred on a daily basis.

Pastor Oritsejafor’s call came as Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State advised Christians in the South to block all Government Houses to force the governors to do something without further delay.

Pastor Oritsejafor said: “Those of us who receive daily distress calls from relations of victims of the sect members and our men on ground know how it feels.

“Since July 26, 2009,

when the sect members had their first clash with security agencies in Bauchi till today, Nigerians and, in particular, Christians, have been subjected to all sorts of harm.

“The barbaric activity of the sect is the reason I am calling on the governors of the 17 Southern states to come together to hold periodic meetings where issues affecting their people as they concern Boko Haram, would be tackled."

Island of St Kitts and Nevis seeks tech sify into other sector to built him a conglomerate transfer from Nigeria achieve economic stability. rated as Africa’s most inteBY PRINCE OSUAGWU AGOS—THE prime Minister of Island of Kitts and Nevis, Denzil Douglas, yesterday, expressed satisfaction with the level of ICT growth in Nigeria, praying for a time his country would have a technology transfer alliance with Nigeria.

Douglas who was accompanied by the Deputy Sen-

L

ate President, Senator Ike Ekweremmadu, spoke at the corporate headquarters of the Zinox Technologies when he visited the country for the first time.

According to him, his country until 2005 was known as the foremost sugar agriculturist in the Caribbean states before fierce global competition forced it to stop and diver-

Chief (Mrs.) Nnaji for burial

C

HIEF (MRS.) Janet Wowo-Ogo Nnaji, of Umu-Odengene clan, Isienu-Amagunze, Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State is dead.

Chief (Mrs.) Nnaji, mother of MD/CEO of OAS Helicopters, Capt.

Evarest Nnaji, was aged 97. There will be a requim mass on Friday, December 28, followed by internment same day

at the family compound at Amagunze. She is survived by eight children, including Capt.

Nnaji and other relations.

Late Mrs. Janet Nnaji

He said that right now his country was exploring better ways of improving its economy with ICT services and the Nigerian experience has given him hope.

“I have always wished to visit Zinox having read a lot in the social and print media about the purpose and character of the Group and the world class structure and processes that I have just seen surpassed my wildest imaginations. I can now say that there is hope for Nigeria and I will take the message of this hope home to my people. I thank my friend the Deputy Senate President for making this visit possible”.

He described Chairman of Zinox technologies, Mr Leo Stan Ekeh as an entrepreneur, a tireless task master who often works night and day to make concrete the ideas crystallizing from his dreams, adding that his sacrifices and vision have

grated ICT Company.

The event attracted prominent Nigerians including Prof. Anya O. Anya, Prof. Ibidapo Obe, Dr Chris Uwaje, Mr. Sam Amuka and Mr. Ray Ekpu among others.

dence on the activities of the Christopher Koladeled Programme, however stressed that the agency was nothing, but a duplication of activities already carried out by existing Ministries, Department and Agencies, MDAs in the country.

The legislators while also criticising the SURE-P, stressed that SURE-P, saying that it has not helped the youths in the area of employment as the claim of provision of jobs for 360,000 youths cannot be justified.

MUAHIA—GOV ERNOR Theodore Orji of Abia State, yesterday, advised Igbo not to play into the hands of some activists whose antecedents were clearly detrimental to the collective aspirations of the Igbo, noting that the democratic dispensation of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan had shown responsiveness and responsibility towards the plight of the igboman more than ever before.

In a statement by the Governor ’s Special Adviser on Public Communication, Mr. Ben Onyechere, Orji said: “We must be careful not to play ourselves out of contention particularly through the incoherent activities of some Igbo activists whose antecedents are clearly detrimental to the collective aspirations of the Igbo who were known to be foremost nationalists that assume leadership positions of this country such that cannot be controverted.”

Abducted Azikiwe varsity V-C regains freedom

A

WKA—PROFES SOR Ilochi Okafor, the former Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Anambra State, who was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen from his home last Sunday as he prepared to leave for a church service, has been released.

The Professor of Law, a two-time Attorney-General of the old Anambra State and a candidate in the 2011 governorship election in

the state, was reportedly dropped off blindfolded in the vicinity of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Emene, Enugu.

Following the kidnap, Enugu State Police Command vowed to ensure Prof.

Okafor’s return, and immediately embarked on an intensive search.

Unconfirmed report said he regained his freedom after his abductors were able to collect substantial ransom from his family.

How to strengthen LGs —Atiku, Nnamani, Govs others ciation of Local Govern- Nwabueze Okafor and

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE & TONY EDIKE

E

NUGU—TO deepen democracy, provide needed services and improve the lot of the citizenry, Nigeria’s local councils must be strengthened and made autonomous.

This was the consensus of eminent persons and stakeholders who converged on Nike Lake resort, Enugu, yesterday, for a three-day parley on how to rediscover the local councils organised by the Asso-

ments of Nigeria, ALGON. With theme: “National Conference on rediscovering the Nigerian Local Government System in the Emerging Constitution,” eminent persons, who spoke at the forum include former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani; Governors Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Raji Fashola (Lagos); Acting Governor of Enugu State, Sunday Onyebuchi; ALGON President, Ozo

leaders of the association from all parts of the country.

Although, speaker after speaker, at the forum agreed on the need to strengthen the councils financially and democratically, they however differed on the approach.

While some urged direct allocation to the councils and abrogation of the state-local government joint account, some opposed the idea, saying it might be counterproductive in the long

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012 — 55

Ubarama returnees jostle for food donated by the Salvation Army

POST FLOODING: When flood victims return home hungry and homeless Several flood IDPs return to disappeared homes, face hunger and mosquito scourge as the Salvation Army initiates palliatives in Rivers communities.

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI, PORT HARCOURT

A

SSISTANCE from Salvation Army: When the government announced its phased closure of relief camps penultimate week, it also demonstrated that its planned post-flooding assistance to IDPs, will not come quickly.

The State Commissioner for SocialWelfareandRehabilitation, Mr. Joe Philip Poroma and Rivers State House of Assembly Committee Chairman on Environment, Victoria Nyechie, inspected the camps slated for

closure. At the end of the exercise, both officials were quoted as saying they would get back to their various arms of government with a view to providing reliable information to enable government come up with effective post-floods assistance to IDPs. On another front, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Emma Chinda who heads a separate State/Federal Agriculture Intervention Committee to assist displaced farmers restore their farm investments lost to the flood, also

stressed that nothing would be released until a careful headcount of affected farmers and data determination of the extent of loss is ascertained.. Chinda also made it clear that “cash is deemphasised in the planned agricultural assistance. We are mainly interested in providing physicalfarminputsandmaterials towards helping the farmers to regenerate the farms they may have lost.”

While government’s intervention waits, hunger and mosquito attacks reign in the communities as majorityof homeless returnees sleep in the open while rebuilding their ruined homes. In response to this urgency, the Salvation Army, the

church group known for global charities and emergency response, has distributed food items and mosquito nets to residents of Ubarama and Abwunukpogor.

Major Joseph Mbagwu, Commander, Rivers/Bayelsa Division of the Salvation Army who supervised the distribution of the items told Vanguard Features, VF, that the gesture was part of the Christian voluntary group’s efforts to assist the teeming flood victims to get back on their feet as they return home from the various relief camps.

“At the height of the flood, we navigated to these communities on boats to distribute food and relocate some victims. With the water gone, we are back to share food and mosquito nets to help them resettle in their homes.

Government, we heard, is planning post-flood assistance for victims. But there is need for urgent intervention since the government could be slow in its response,” Mbagwu said.

The food items which were distributed to a crowd of men and women who queued at the both Ahoada West communities’ branches of the Salvation Army, include rice and beans.

Commander Mbagwu who was joined by other corps subordinates declared: “The little we are able to provide certainly makes little sense because several affected persons in over 180 affected

communities are now in abject lack and despair. We just hope that our early move would spur other well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies to respond promptly as government cannot do it alone.”

Chief Jegbu and his unsettled kinsmen want the government to act fast. “In spite of the challenges during our camping, we are grateful for all the care we received. The closure of camps have opened a new chapter of suffering as we return to hopelessness in our own communities. There is much hunger and challenge of shelter and the invasion of mosquitoes.

While government takes its time to fashion supportive restoration assistance, there is the need to deal with immediate challenges,” he said.

S

tay put victims: VF asked

Chief Zebu why he and a few other victims were still residing in the camp. He defended their continued stay in the relief camp thus: “We heard that the government is closing the camps, but we have not been told officially. The problem is that over 80 percent of Ubarama people returned to homelessness.

Most of us owned mud houses.

When the flood came, it washed away our houses and property.

We therefore want to remain here a little longer. From here, I visit my ruined house to rebuild it as far as my pocket can carry me.”

Residents of the flood ravaged town who were fortunate, only carried out the general cleaning and clearing of debris. Some of the early returnees had to battle dangerous snakes which had taken over their homes while they were away.

...A returnee’s agony

••Ubarama Community leader recounts ordeal

H

E stood staring obviously at no tangible object of interest. His thoughts must be running wild; hopelessness and frustration have taken a toll on him. Chief Kingdom Jegbu (JP), as he identified himself, is one of the 830,000 (by government official count) victims internally displaced in Rivers State by the floods which brought pains and misery to coastal Nigeria.

“IamfromUbaramacommunity.

Apart from the top floor of the late Chief Ele’s storey building which stayed above the water when the floods came, virtually every house in Ubarama was submerged and we were all sacked. There is no community in the entire Ahoada West that was not displaced,” Chief Jegbu told VF. The Rivers State Government penultimate week, gave a hint of a phased demobilisation of relief

camps beginning last weekend.

This prompted VF to embark on an assessment of the situation in Ahoada town which hosted the highest number of camps. For three months, these camps had been swarmed by thousands of IDPs living off care provided by

Chief Kingdom Jegbu

government and the compassion of responsive individuals and corporate donors.

With the flood receding in the same swift manner it came, IDPs have been deserting relief camps in droves to their villages which are now dry and safe for habitation again. The urge to return home, it was gathered, was accentuated by a mix of nostalgia, discomfort with the crowded camps and inadequacies of supplies.

At the Ola-Ahoada Camp, the once crowded emergency home to several IDPs has been reduced to Chief Jegbu’s household and a few other folks.

The presence of an emergency response van belonging to the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, indicates that the government is still taking care of the few unmoved IDPs.

What is left of Mrs. Bernard’s house after the flood

W

HEN VF visited Ubarama, a 15 minutes journey from Ahoada, returnees were preoccupied with rebuilding or mending their houses which were badly affected by the flood.

A middle-aged woman who identified herself as Mrs. Cecelia Bernard was in the same boat as Chief Jegbu. All the houses in her stretch of mud houses were destroyed by the rampaging flood. Both her living and bedrooms have disappeared into an empty space, leaving only the stakes which had held the mud together. “It is difficult to believe that this is where I lived for years before this evil floods came. We

Mrs.Cecilia Bernard : Returning to double trouble

returned from the camps hoping to contend with only restoring our lost farms. Now we have double trouble; no place to stay and that means increased hunger. We are just putting all our energy on rebuilding our homes when we should be trying to recover our lost farms,” a dejected Mrs. Bernard lamented.

56—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

2015:

Jonathan is wasting his time — Shuluwa

BY PETER DURU

O

N Boko Haram’s choice of Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to lead the dialogue.

Anybody’s name could have been mentioned. The people (Boko Haram) are the ones who said this is the person we want.

And if they said this is the man we want, perhaps, they discovered that of all the people in Nigeria, he is in-between; he is not for them, he is not for the Federal Government. So, they are probably looking for a neutral person. Another issue is that a lot of people believe that Boko Haram is the making of the PDP which I belong.

There is no way Obasanjo and Modu Sheriff will not have a hand in what is called Boko Haram insurgency today. It was an organization that was formed to make sure that Ali Modu Sheriff became a governor against the PDP candidate.

Eventually, either they may have been hijacked by another organization or they metamorphosed into what is today called Boko Haram.

What do you think the sectarian agitations by such groups like Bakassi, MASSOB portend for the unity of the country?

I am not a prophet but I have talked about the amalgamation which brought this country to being in 1914. And I said that by 2014, if we are not careful, Nigeria will not be the same. And from the statements coming from the South-South particularly the Niger-Delta region, one can deduce that this country will no longer be the same again as from 2014. For instance, there was a time that Chief Edwin Clark said

ELDER statesman and one of the founding fathers of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Abu King Shuluwa in this interview spoke on nagging national issues and gave reasons why the government should negotiate with the Islamic Boko Haram group, why Nigeria could break up after 2014 even as he expressed opposition to any bid by President Jonathan to sustain his presidency beyond 2015. Excerpts:

*Shuluwa: Any part of the country can break away from 2014

Jonathan will be President but not the President of Nigeria. Sadly, people don’t understand some of these statements. There is a clause in the amalgamation of 1914 which says that after 100 years of existence, any part may decide to go. Therefore, because of the oil that we have in the

EDO PDP:

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

F

OLLOWING the election the sobered PDP and its leadership decided not to challenge the results.

Though the candidate has gone ahead to contest the result of the election, he has, however, been denied by the party and the mainstream of the party in the state.

The division between the party leadership and the candidate was not the only immediate fall out of the election. A group of party stakeholders including one of the former gubernatorial aspirants

South-South, the Niger-Delta people believe that they can go on their own. And all the arrangements they are making is to make sure that by 2014 they will write a memorandum to the United Nations saying they want to become a nation separate from what is today known as Nigeria

and they will draw a map, they will compose their national anthem. It’s just like what happened in Sudan. And that is the reason they insisted on Jonathan being the President this time because if you allow a northerner to be president, it will not be as easy to break away as when Jonathan is President.

But do you think the North can sustain itself if the South pulls out?

We can. Before we discovered oil what were we doing? We will now go back to agriculture. We will lock up ourselves. We can discover oil in the North also. If you can discover oil in Niger Republic or even Chad, why can’t we discover oil in the North?

Mind you, there is now oil in Kogi State which Anambra and Enugu are now fighting to take.

Who says we cannot discover oil on River Benue? It is a matter of exploring and discovering. If you can discover oil in the far desert why can’t we discover oil here?

Even if we don’t discover oil, tell me, there are a lot of countries that don’t have oil and yet they exist. Who ever knew that there would be oil in Ghana?

Oil from Niger Republic Niger Republic can sell oil to us while we sell food to them.

Today, if you go to Katsina State, the fuel they are using comes from Niger. They don’t care about what is happening here any longer because Niger must sell

Inner struggles

GIVEN the bruising defeat the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and its flag bearer, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole gave the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and its candidate, Major Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) in the July gubernatorial elections, it is not surprising that the PDP would veer into a period of introspection. had on their part sought to dethrone the leadership of the party in the state as presently led

by Chief Dan Orbih.

That agitation which also included some former executives of the state chapter of the party soon petered off as the agitation could not be sustained.

Now, another set of party activists are championing a more

cautious reform of the party with the intent of boosting the fortunes of the party in the state.

Perhaps realizing the fallacy of uprooting the Orbih leadership or overcoming the suzerainty of the party leader in the state in the person of Chief Anthony Anenih, the group consisting of stakeholders from Edo South Senatorial zone is proposing a

reformation of the party in the district. The significance of the group’s action in Edo South lies in the fact that Edo South commands more than half of the voting population of the state.

The group which styles itself “Concerned Members” are nevertheless of the opinion that the current leadership of the party in the Senatorial Zone should be overhauled to make way for the professionals within its rank to have a say in its running. One of the leaders of the group is Mr. Larry Ogieva, former Chairman of the Edo State

its fuel. And if that happens, we will now either say Niger-Delta should go which also gives Biafra the opportunity to take over.

Remember it was the North that prevented Biafra from existing then.

The Niger-Delta alone cannot stand the force of Biafra. They can’t but if they think they can, that country will be destroyed because I know that America will back them up and there will be fighting for a long time and we will be watching them fighting.

So, it then means that in the South, you are going to have more than five nations.

Everybody that has oil will not want the other person to be part of it.

So, how will the Middle-Belt in the North fare given that he Core North almost always ta es everythi g?

I believe in one thing, that whoever is competent should be allowed to run. Unfortunately when a minority is occupying a seat, he looks for the majority for support. He doesn’t look for the minority and that is what President Jonathan is doing now.

When Jonathan comes to the North, he doesn’t give a better job to the minorities of the North.

You people were just supporting him for nothing. I did not support Jonathan and I will never support him.

But he is planning to go for second term….

He is wasting his time. By the time Jonathan goes for second term, some of us will become like old trailers without brakes and we will be descending a slope.

So, anything on the road we will be crushed. 2015 is the last time I will be in active politics. So, does it mean that I will lose out again?

No way. I am not prepared to lose out.

Oil and Gas Producing Development Commission (EDSOPADEC).

“We are fighting a cause that would ensure that our party moves forward to the next level in our senatorial district. We are not fighting to destroy the present structure of the party in place because they were constitutionally put in place by the party, but we are fighting from within to ensure that the professionals and other groups were appointed into party positions,” he said during a recent press parley.

Remarkably, a steering Continues on page 57

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012—57

APGA. We are focused and promising a stronger , united party capable of wining election any day ,any time and the best we could do to the name of our political leader is to immortalise him."

Genesis It is no secret that both men were at loggerhead over the choice of the party’s flagbearer for the 2014 governorship election.

The governor, it is claimed, was and remains seriously opposed to the alleged plan by some in the party to conscript Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah, the owner of Capital Oil and Gas as his successor. It is variously claimed that Umeh had given his approval to the plan to draft Ubah into the gubernatorial election on the platform of APGA. ith the party torn between the two tendencies, it is not surprising that both sides hurled mutual accusations and thus deepened the crisis that had in reality festered for some time.

It is not as if crisis is new to APGA. The party originally formed by Chief Chekwas Okorie became enmeshed in crisis in December, 2004 when Chief Chekwas Okorie and Umeh fought for the soul of the party.

The crisis took another dimension on November 6, 2012 when Obi organised the APGA South East Stakeholders meeting in Awka, the Anambra State capital where party leaders from the zone were invited.

However, Umeh and Governor Rochas Okorocha, the only other governor in the party, were absent at the parley.

Since he was inaugurated as governor of Imo State in May last year, there has been great suspicion that Okorocha has been able to dwindle the once commanding influence of Obi over Umeh in the affairs of the party.

It was even speculated in some sections of the party that Okorocha who is known to have

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*Obi: I didn't create the crisis

*Umeh: I will do my party job

APGA CRISIS:

The Obi/Umeh tango

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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T was the first time in recent times that the duo of Governor Peter Obi and All Progressive Grand, APGA national chairman, Chief Victor Umeh would meet in recent times. The only man who could have brought the two warring politicians together, Dim Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu died exactly a year ago.

But even in death the Ojuwkwu spirit seemed to be working wonders. The two men who with their proxies had been at war, at the first memorial service for Ojuwkwu in Enugu pledged to reconcile with one another .

But given the collateral damages that have already been suffered, few believe that the reconcilliation would last.

Indeed, the Ojukwu memorial afforded the two gladiators an opportunity to sheathe their swords as they pledged to work for the interest of the party.

The Southeast Zone of the Christian Association of NIgeria, CAN was largely central to the peace move.

Umeh, at the occasion said "I want all those who survived our late leader, Dim Ojukwu in the party and in the family to give peace a chance and remember that Ojukwu stood for peace and love. They should know that Ojukwu hated persecution and intimidation and lies being told against anybody. He encouraged people to work hard and reap from where they worked, when we show love, there would be no room for bickering, rancour, acrimony and face off."

"What I want in APGA is peace, truth and fairness because we are

THE first year memorial service of Dim Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu was an opportunity for the embittered and embattled factions in the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA to make peace with one another. But many are wondering now whether the peace on Ojukwu's grave would last? human beings and we have chances of error." He traced the problem in the party to selfish quests ahead of the 2014 governorship election. He insisted that APGA has the chance of retaining the seat if due process is followed. He reassured that there would be no imposition of candidates as the people's choice at the primaries would be selected to fly the flag of the party in 2014.

EDO PDP:

While insinuating that he knew the sponsors of the crisis that has stoked the party for about one year now, the APGA boss, nevertheless, pledged to bury all issues for the progress of the party. According to him he would not want to undermine the peace moves of CAN. Governor Obi, on his part, insisted that the crisis in APGA was a family affair saying "there is no problem in the family of

for long had the ambition of attaining the presidency could have begun to corner Umeh to his side for the purpose of taking over the national party structure, and by that, keeping his presidential dreams in safe hands.

But Umeh before the Ojukwu memorial had given the impression that Obi did not want peace, and maybe that was why he was not invited to the peace meeting.

"Governor Obi did not want me to attend the meeting so that they would continue to launch this propaganda against me as being difficult," Umeh had said.

However, insinuations by Umeh's associates that the national chairman was not invited for the meeting were proved to the contrary as it was subsequently revealed that Umeh was abroad on the day of stakeholders' meeting hosted by Obi. Governor Obi also denied the allegation asserting that he would not relent in working hard for the sustenance of the party.

"I have a job to do for the party and that is to ensure that APGA is sustained,” he said CAN’s intervention It was thus a welcome development when the South East zone of the Christian Association of Nigeria, intervened in the crisis towards making peace between the warring parties.

While the Christian body bemoaned the crisis rocking the APGA, it enjoined combatants to cease fire as the continuation of the crisis was a bad signal for the presidential aspiration of the people of the Southeast in 2015.

In his appeal, Southeast chairman of CAN and Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rt Revd Emmanuel Chukwuma said peace was essential for the much needed development of the zone. With that truce in place, it is expected that the APGA crisis may now be finally laid to rest.

Inner struggles

Continues from page 56 committee has been set up by the group to woo professionals that are interested in moving into the PDP and contribute their quotas to its development.

The Committee is made up of Mr. Chris Nehikhare, Larry Ogieva, Dr. Elvis Omoregie, Raymond Enogieru, Victor Imansuen Osazuwa and Samuel Osazuwa and others.

However, one point where the group may clash with the state executive is the support its champions are giving Airhiavbere in his case in the court.

As Nehikhare said with obviously a high dose of

hyperbole, the people are “over 100 percent behind the party’s governorship candidate in the election, Major Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) who is challenging the outcome of the gubernatorial election at the Election Petition Tribunal.”

Dr. Elvis Omoregie on his part said the concerned group has come to the point to let the people know the need for a change and can look back to the glorious days of the party in the state, adding that, “it is important for us to reposition ourselves as the new crops of leaders and faithful members who have seen the need for us to embrace a change and chart a new way forward for the party. We appreciate the roles

played by our elders”.

While Osazuwa Samuel also stressed the need for a drastic change within the leadership of the party in the senatorial zone, he said vibrant young men and women who can effect changes within the party should be encouraged to come in.

They however commended the leadership of the State Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Osi Orbih what he has done for the p[arty.

He is the first state party chairman to tour the 192 Wards in the state and campaign vigorously for the party in the last election.

He has offered a dispassionate leadership to the party and we commend him, the group said.

*Anenih: PDP leader

58—Vanguard, THURSD AY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012 THURSDA

World AIDS Day: Bill to stop HIV stigma and discrimination underway in Ogun

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE S the world mark this year ’s World AIDS Day come this Saturday, December 1, 2012, Ogun State Agency for the Control of AIDS,

A

OGUNSACA, is working on a draft Antistigma Bill to “ensure that stigma and discrimination against People Living With HIV in the state is eradicated.

Director of the Agency, Dr. Kehinde Fatungase who dropped the hint in

Abeokuta at a capacity enhancement training, said the epidemiological survey on HIV revealed that the stigma rate in Ogun State is 96.4 percent, but said all interventions would be used to bring it down.

He said when the bill is passed into law,

FMC Lagos subsidises treatment for sickle cell disease

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O reduce financial burden of treatment of Sickle Cell Disorder, SCD, the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta Lagos, is distributing free drugs monthly to registered patients. The hospital is also offering a 50 per cent discount on all non-surgical cases and 10 per cent discount on surgical cases of the disease.

The Centre is one of the selected centres in the South West for management of SCD and a project was inaugurated mid last year to provide facilities manpower, logistic support and possibly funds.

SCD is an inherited blood disorder in which red blood cells contain defective red blood cells that can block small blood vessels, causing severe complications from internal organ damage to stroke. About 200,000 people are living with sickle cell anaemia in Africa. Nigeria accounts for 150,000 cases annually and at least 30 per cent of Nigerians are carriers of the mutant gene, with the prevalence rate at 20 per 1,000 births.

Averagely, a minor surgery for SCD patients would cost a minimum of N200.000 drugs inclusive. Some of the drugs cost up to N1, 000 or more per tablet and patients may be required to take these drugs for upwards of 14-30 days.

Announcing the benefits during a community mobilisation and sensitisation programme for sickle cell control programme,

Medical Director of the Hospital and Chairperson, Sickle Cell Disorder Committee, Dr. Yewande Jinadu, said the drug distribution exercise and discounted charges will take place during the monthly stakeholders meeting every second Friday of the month.

“In spite of the fact that health is a personal responsibility it is pertinent to note that it is a major public health concern that requires the involvement of every social fabric which includes the individual, community and the state to protect and promote health,” Jinadu said.

the stigma against PLWA would be brought down drastically and the people will be free to disclose their status openly. Programmes Manager, Enhancing Nigeria’s Response to HIV and AIDS (ENR) in the state, Mr. Adegoke Oyekoya added that the bill will address other allied issues relating to stigma, including guiding the standard of procedures of health workers, social workers, the media and other agencies working with or engaging people living with the virus Apart from building capacity of participants on the anti-stigma bill, the workshop would also develop an advocacy work-plan which will help accelerate its passage into law.

The Policy, Advocacy and Gender Technical Advisor for the State, Mrs. Damilola Obinna, described the proposed bill as a necessary weapon needed to put a stop to workplace and other discrimination within the society.

Residents of Alakuko benefits from Nutricima Yo! Health check

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HOUSANDS of residents of Home Science Estate, Alakuko in the Alagbado area of Lagos State, last weekend troupe out enmasse to benefit from the on going Nutricima Limited’s Yo! Community Health Check.

For these residents, it was a weekend of fun as they not only benefited from various free health checks but also exercise their bodies through the music provided by a dance-troupe that went round the estate to reinforce announcements earlier made to arouse residents to come for free health checks. The programme was part

of the ongoing Yo! Community Health Check that has been going round several communities in the state.

An elated Ayowande Smith, Assistant Brand Manager, Yo! Yoghurt who joined in the conviviality provided by the occasion expressed joy at being able to touch the people positively.

A teacher, Adekunle Oluwatosin who also benefited from the programme, said: “The Company did not only entertain those that turned out for free health checks, each person that turned up went home with Yo! Yoghurt drinks which they

testified has natural taste and a feel of quality.”

According to her; “I got the information through an announcement in the church so I had to take the opportunity that has presented itself since it has been long that I went for health checks. Big thanks to Nutricima for this wonderful initiative” Another resident that turned out for the thrill of music, dance and free health checks, Omobolanle Obe said: “It’s been over 10 years that I checked my health status. Thanks to Nutricima for this rare opportunity.”

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012—59

BITS Wogu thumps up stakeholders’ employment summit

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MINILS labour relations summit holds today STAKEHOLDERS in the Nigerian Industrial Relations System will converge at Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, MINILS, Ilorin, Kwara State, today for the 8th edition of its Annual National Labour Relations Summit and Fellowship Award.

A statement by MINILS said “This year ’s Labour Relations Summit with the main theme: “Social Policy, Labour Relations and the Transformation Agenda: Extending Social Protection in Nigeria” and focusing on the contribution of critical stakeholders in the Nigerian Industrial Relations towards the attainment of social protection standards and national transformation, is aimed at providing a platform for exchange of ideas by government, labour employers, academia, civil society and the international community on the emerging international best practices in extending social protection.”

President, Nigeria Employer Consultative Asssociation, NECA, Chief Richard Uche; President, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar; Director General, NECA, Mr. Segun Oshinowo and OHS expert from International Organization of Employers, Janet Asherson during NSITF-NECA National Workplace Safety Awareness in Lagos.

NSITF reads riot act to employers over employee's compensation scheme

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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HERE was no better op portunity than the inaugural Nigeria Social Insurance Trustfund, NSITF/ Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA,organised national workplace safety awareness day/ award ceremony, in Lagos, for NSITF to inform recalcitrant employers that they will hence forth face sanction if they fail to comply with Employee’s Compensation Scheme, ECS, a fall-out of Employee’s Compensation Act, ECA, 2010.

ECA requires employers to contribute one per cent of employee’s monthly pay (gross) into sustainable pool of fund managed by NSITF for payment of compensation to employees who suffer from occupational diseases or sustain injuries including death, arising from accident at the work place or in the course of employment Addressing employers, leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, leaders of NECA, and other stakeholders, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of NSITF, Alhaji Munir Abubakar, said the time of grace had passed and that the fund was ready to use the rod.

According to him, “there is today, a global acceptance and a global trend on safety awareness and prevention of accidents at workplace. The occasion we are to witnessing today has therefore come in quite handy and I want to assure this gathering that it is the beginning of better thing to come.

While we are grateful to those

employers who are complying with the Scheme, I want to use this opportunity to inform recalcitrant employers that our grace period for tolerating non-compliance is now over. We expect full cooperation and compliance on the Scheme, in the absence of which we shall have no other alternative than to apply the big stick, something we very

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INISTER of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, has resolved to partner with the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation on the upcoming Stakeholders Employment Summit. He said the summit would be of great benefit to both organizations.

The Minister who was represented by his Permanent Secretary, Dr. Tunji Olaopa spoke when he received in audience the Special Assistant to the President on job Creation, Mrs. Josephine Washima during her familiarization visits to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity. Chief Wogu said that the issue of job creation has been one of the cardinal responsibilities of the Ministry of Labour and Productivity hence its resolve to develop a National Employment Policy which was approved by Federal Executive Council in 2002.

“The National Employment Policy (NEP) provides for a National Employment Council (NEC) which is chaired by the Honourable Minister of Labour and Productivity” Wogu said.

gboyega, Dr. Olejeme said “Government is working very hard towards ensuring the promotion of safety at workplace.

Already, the Occupational Safety Bill before the National Assembly has undergone the 3rd Readings in both Chambers of the Senate and House of representatives. We are hopeful that very soon, the two Committees will harmonize their positions on the Bill and that it will soon be signed into Law. We look forward to this Law as it will assist us in strengthening the collaborative efforts we are making along with the Ministry of Labour, NECA, NLC, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, as well as Federal and State Governments towards ensuring that we enshrine the culture of safety at workplace.”

“The importance of prevention

dations are made to the full Board. We have also concluded plans to start reaching out to a larger number of employers. This is distinct from the usual NECA-NSITF forum held at the geo-political zones.”

He added that NSITF had also “perfected plans to reach out to our employers not yet covered, especially the State and Local

We hope to devote enough energy and attention at the beginning of the New Year to enable us capture all the States and Local Governments as well as other private sector employers not yet captured

much want to avoid. On our part, we are working day in day out to ensure that we serve employers to the best of our ability.”

“We have set up a Task Force Team made up of key personnel and highly qualified professionals to address and review a number of factors that are militating against smooth compliance. We are already addressing the issue of Statutory Forms which many employers criticized as being cumbersome. We have received a recommendation that will make these Forms employer-friendly and reduce their number from 18 to just about 9. Very soon, we shall get back to employers on that. Similarly, we were able to produce a comprehensive Benefits Manual that will ease the task of paying benefits and furthermore reduce all avoidable delays in such payment. The new Benefits Manual is being studied by the relevant Board Committee before final recommen-

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Governments. We hope to devote enough energy and attention at the beginning of the New Year to enable us capture all the States and Local Governments as well as other private sector employers not yet captured. All these, we will be able to achieve, as our computerization policy is solidly on ground and should be able to accommodate the new task with ease.”

Essential features of ECS

Reiterating the salient features of the ECS, Chairman, Board of Directors, NSITF, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme noted that ECS essentially focused on the prevention of accidents at workplace, medical treatment in case of accident involving disability, compensation for disabilities and death due to work related injuries and rehabilitation for the injured employees who suffer disability.

Represented by a member of NSITF’s board, Mr. Remi Ade-

of occupational risks and promoting workers’ health as a dynamic social security issue has further been emphasized by the International Social Security Association, lSSA, where through various studies and researches it has shown that prevention is more profitable than administering compensation and rehabilitation for the injured employees. The employee will be healthy when there is a good prevention method.”

Employers to be law abiding

Speaking, President of NECA, Chief Richard Uche, said “as employers, we will continue to be law abiding by complying with the provisions of the employees compensation Act,2010 (ECA,2010), but more importantly, we will continue to show interest in the health and safety of our employees, which is why we are calling on the NSITF to expand the scope of this project in the years to come.

We are also counting on the management of NSITF to demonstrate efficiency and effectiveness in the administration of this scheme, as that is the only way to promote sustainability and voluntary compliance with the law.”

NLC lauds NSITF, NECA On his part, President of NLC, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, thanked NSITF and NECA members for taking the health of workers very serious.

He noted that the Nigerian worker was the sole beneficiary of the scheme and the investment on workplace safety.

60 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

NFF dissolv es TTec ec hnical Committ ee, dissolves echnical Committee, …AGM hold Dec. 13 in Port Harcourt others 1st Vice President, Chief Mike Umeh is Chairman of the committee.

“Committee resolved to invite Board Members of the Nigeria Premier League to a meeting at the NFF Secretariat on Thursday, 29th November

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

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HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday approved the reconstitution of the standing committees, two years after their inauguration.

Disclosing this after the meeting of the Executive Committee held in Abuja, Chairman of the Communique Drafting Committee, Emeka Inyama, said that the body also approved that the 2012 Annual General Assembly of the NFF would hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on December 13.

Inyama added that “the Committee set up an ad-hoc committee to organize fund-raising

Amosun announces instant cash reward for Ogun athletes •Maigari dinners for the sole purpose of the Senior National Team, Super Eagles’ participation at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals to be hosted by South Africa.

Funds raised at these dinners will complement the expected grant from the Federal Government for the prosecution of the Super Eagles’ campaign.

Oshodi Continues from B/P in Lagos yesterday.

He revealed that the state way back in February hired six foreign coaches including American Lee Evans to help transform Lagos sports from the grassroots. The coaches are handling the states’ track & field, Swimming, Weightlifting, Boxing and Rowing at the ongoing games.

The commissioner stressed that the youth development focus of the Fashola Administration informed why the opening ceremony was largely dominated by youths.

“The colourful opening ceremony we presented to Nigerians and the global audience was deliberately focused to be youths dominated.

We planned it to be a celebration of the youths since the focus is to discover talents. We did not want the controversies of the past editions where states were at each other ’s throats on who is overall winner. For us in Lagos, the slogan is: Free and fair games,” he noted.

On whether the

2012, to deliberate on all outstanding issues around the NPL, with a view to facilitating the holding of the NPL Congress and the commencement of the 2012/2013 League Season within the shortest possible time.

festival be thrown open to every Nigerian irrespective of where they are based, EnitanOshodi insisted that Lagos has no quarrel with that.

“What that however means is that only the richest state will continue to win the National Sports Festival,” he cautioned The Lagos Sports Commissioner pleaded with other states to concentrate of developing their school sports if Nigeria is to truly make head way now and in the future.

“We in Lagos have instituted measures to revamp our school sports. We have top grade facilities in place for use by the youths.

There are now quarterly competitions, funded by the state. There is the monthly boxing Hall of Fame drawing attention to the sport once again.

These and many others are been used to refocus attention to the grassroots. Even the Lagos Principals’ Cup that has been revamped has not reached the position of glamour we planned for it yet,” stressed Enitan-Oshodi

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S a way of encouraging its athletes to do well at the on-going 18th National Sports Festival “Eko2012” the Ogun state government has announced instant cash reward for its athletes that win medals at the festival.

A statement from the Press officer to the Ogun State Governor, Rotimi Oduniyi said Governor Amosun has promised that any athlete that wins a gold medal will receive N40, 000, N30,000 for silver medalist and N20, 000 for bronze medalist. This is not part of what they will get at the end of the festival.

Let’s immortalize our heroes — Hart

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HE President of Goldashe United Football Club of Port Harcourt, Mr. Fubara Kingsley Hart has charged Nigerians to imbibe the culture of caring and nurturing sportsmen and women who made the country proud in their heydays.

Speaking during the End-Of-MonthFriendly-Contest of the club which held at their training pitch in Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt last weekend, the President said it was imperative to celebrate our sports heroes who used their

God-given talents for the benefit of society.

The event which was staged in honour of Mr. Cyril Levi, a former captain of Iwuanyanwu Nationale Fooball Club of Owerri and a member of the Eagles team that featured at the 1988 Pre Olympic Tournament in Seoul, South Korea featured a friendly match against the Bonny All Stars FC. Mr. Fubara Kingsley Hart frowned at the situation where sportsmen used the most active moments of their lives for the service of humanity only to retire in penury.

Protesting Continues from B/P technical officials had protested the over the quality of accommodation by deciding to shun the place and refusing to take the food served at the camp.

Initial please from the Local Organising Committee to the dissenting technical officials fell on deaf ears as they stuck to their guns, insisting that they should be given an option of deciding where they would stay.

“At Rivers and Kaduna, were given an option to decide whether we wanted to stay and the accommodation

provided by the LOC. Money was made available for those who chose to stay on their own,” one of the protesting officials told our reporter.

However, the LOC for Eko 2012 did not have such provision and it insisted that the officials either stayed where they were given or forfeit everything. “It is a win win or lose all situations,” our source said.

“They have now agreed to come to the camp and take the food as well because they are afraid they will lose everything.”

Eko 2012: Imo Spikers warn their host

BY SOLOMON NWOKE

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MO State Volleyball Male and Female teams showed yesterday that their missions to the 18 th National Sports Festival ( NSF), tagged Eko2012 were to finish tops after they demolished their Kebbi (male) and Anambra (female) counterparts by 3-0 apiece in the event’s opening matches.

From the blast of the referee’s whistle, they mounted pressure on their opponents with their fire brand style of play, thus picking up all three segments of the game.

Their conquests yesterday resulted in

wild jubilation as they chanted and danced to victory songs around the car park of the Teslim Balogun Stadium Speaking shortly after the match, team Captain of the Imo Spikers male Volleyball team, Nkwopara Francis said they were on a mission to win the available gold medal in the game and boasted that this morning, they are going to unleash their arsenals on the hosting state, Lagos.We came all out today (yesterday) and leaving no stone unturned and shone like a galaxy of stars. We are playing the host state, Lagos tomorrow ( today) We have to beat Lagos to top the group.

Many Rivers Continues from B/P fluke. ‘’We’re the team to beat here. We’ve prepared so well and have the best welfare for our athletes’’, h a r d - w o r k i n g I n f o r m a t i o n Commissioner, Ibim Semenitari said.

Also, Sports Commissioner Fred Igwe explained that Governor Amaechi made it clear that we must come back as Champions. ‘’We’re here to win but we have respect for all teams in the festival. But we have the competitive edge.

We’ve have a strong team of 701 athletes who are buoyed by our hardwork and welfare package which is second to none to win again. We’ve a Governor who loves sports and demonstrates his love on their welfare.

We’re Rivers. Those who want to topple us have many rivers to cross’’, the youthful Commissioner said.

The Director of Sports of Rivers State, Daobu Harry also said that they were well prepared to win and came with many buses to ferry their athletes to their competition venues. ‘’Since we came, we have been playing big brother to many states who did not come with vehicles.

We convey their athletes and officials to the venues. We’re not selfish.

If we are, we’ll not help them. We know our strength and like fair

comeptition. We’ll win’’, he emphasised. When the Sports Commissioner, Hon Fred Igwe was asked to compare the opening ceremony of Lagos with that of Rivers, he bluntly refused and said that the public were in a better position to judge. ‘’Lagos did well. Their opening ceremony was impressive. But it is left for the public to judge’’, Igwe said.

Meanwhile, Rivers State continued its gold medal chase at the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival with its cyclists winning two yesterday in the 500 meters race held at the Eric Moore Road, Surulere.

In the men’s 500 metres race, Goodnews Edet, representing Rivers State won the contest in a time of 35.82 seconds to win Gold.

Garba Aliyu, representing Oyo won the silver medal in a time of 36.29 secs while the losers final was won by Oyenobo Doe from Delta State.

In the women’s race, Tombrada Girikda representing Rivers State breasted the tape ahead of Adejoke Durogbade of Oyo State who placed second.

The bronze medal was won by Esther Ginikanwa of Lagos State.

I n c i d e n t a l l y, Ganikanwa’s bronze thus became the first medal won by the host state.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012 — 61

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62— Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012 — 63

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VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

Oshodi explains why Lagos is best

H

OST of the 18 th National Sports Festival, Lagos, has said that developing her athletes to global standards rather than winning at all costs, remains a top priority for the state.

National Sports Festival:

Lagos State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Wahid Enitan-Oshodi insisted yesterday that nothing was going to distract the Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola from derailing from that policy thrust.

Enitan-Oshodi however observed that that did not preclude the state from picking the

top spot from the ongoing EKO 2012, having put so much effort into preparing Lagos athletes to excel.

“Gov. Fashola has not said that Lagos is not interested in winning Eko 2012. What he said is that developing our athletes from the grassroots will remain the focal point of his administration rather than dissipating energies on how to win with poached athletes,” observed Enitan-Oshodi at an interactive session

Page 52

Many Rivers to cross

Continues on Page 60

•Defending Champs ahead MEDALS TABLE

BY TONY UBANI, JACOB AJOM

D

EFENDING Champions of the National Sports Festival, Rivers State yesterday sent out warning signals to other states insisting that it would be difficult for them to be toppled from making a successful defence.

Sports-loving Governor, Honourable Rotimi Amaechi who witnessed the opening ceremony of Eko 2012 has ordered that Rivers State should win the Sports Festival back-toback to show that their hosting and winning in Port Harcourt was not a Continues on Page 60 TODAY'S

States

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Rivers

3

1

0

Oyo

1

2

0

Delta

0

0

2

Lagos

0

0

1

Kaduna

0

0

1

Others

0

0

0

Lagos thrash Abia 5-0

L

AGOS male football team were really at home when they defeated Abia 5-0 in a Group A match played at the Onikan Waterfront, Tuesday.

In the same vain, Delta

PUZZLE

defeated Oyo State 5-1 while Kaduna walked over Adamawa to bag maximum points.

Lagos 5 Abia 0 Delta 5 Oyo 1 Kad WO Adamawa YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

SMOOTH CONTROL: The hockey match between Rivers State and Ekiti State in continuation of the 18th National Sports Festival held yestersday at Legacy pitch, National Stadium, Surulere,Lagos. The match ended 0-0.

PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi

Protesting technical officials cease fire

S

OME technical officials who were protesting the quality of accommodation and

ACROSS 1 Happy (6) 5 Threaten (6) 8 Undressed (8) 9 Side (4) 10 Summit (3) 12 Wire (5) 15 Serpent (3) 17 Tune (3) 18 Horse (3) 19 Tavern (3) 20 Inquired (5) 21 Regret (3) 22 Newt (3) 23 Watch (3) 24 Solidify (3) 26 Strayed (5) 29 Consume (3) 33 Career (4) 34 Bold (8)

food given them by organizers have called off their protest.

A source at the

UNILAG camp of the officials had told our reporter that the Continues on Page 60

DOWN 2 Surpass (5) 3 Exclude (4) 4 Cuttlefish (5) 5 Decoration (5) 6 Observe (4) 7 Form (5) 10 Object (5) 11 Sheet (5) 12 Hamper (5) 13 Bread-maker (5) 14 Finished (5) 15 Tally (5) 16 Fold (5) 25 Equivalent (5) 27 Circular (5) 28 Precise (5) 30 Similar (5) 31 Fashionable (4) 32 Press (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Spur 4, Bad 6, Ramp 8, Margin 9, Ripe 10, Gap 12, Death 14, Admit 15, Tamed 18, Please 20, Impede 24, Tiger 26, Rival 28, Noted 30, Sly 32, August 33, Alight 34, Cede 35, Run 36, Earn.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 2, Place 3, Regatta 4, Bung 5, Damp 6, Rated 7, Married 11, Awe 12, Dip 13, Has 16, Met 17, Dig 19, Leisure 21, Men 22, Provide 23, End 25, Ill 27, Amuse 29, Ether 30, Stir 31, Yarn.

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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