Wednesday, December 12, 2012 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

2013: States propose N5.3trn budgets TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

here are strong indications that the 36 states in the coun-

Amaechi

Vol. 2 N0. 511

try may have a cumulative budgetary profile of about N5.3trn in the 2013 fiscal year if the appropriation bills now in their Houses of Assembly are passed

LUTH doctors begin indefinite strike over tax deduction CJ releases 47 inmates at Ikoyi prison

into law. Giving the hint on the potential budgetary outlay of the states for next year at the 4th Economic Policy CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

P.8

Chukwu

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

GEORGE OJI, EMMANUEL ONANI AND OMEIZA AJAYI

he Senate yesterday uncovered another N195bn pension funds yet to be accounted for. The Co-Chairman of the Senate Joint Committees on Establishment and Public Service, States and Local Governments, Senator Kabir Gaya, who made the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

N150

Senate uncovers fresh N195bn pension scam

...summons comptrollers-general of customs, prisons, others Presidency not serious about power sector reform –Tambuwal P.31

I’m not worried by opposition’s challenge –Mahama

Prof. Okonjo

Uncertainty over OkonjoIweala mother’s fate

Mandela has lung infection, say officials P.53

Again, gunmen abduct General’s wife in Ibadan L-R: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Gbenga Ashiru; promoter, City of Lagos Edition of Monopoly, Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, at the inauguration of City of Lagos Monopoly, in Lagos, yesterday.

P.4,9

36 govs drag FG, NASS to court over fuel subsidy ...demand $1bn from excess crude account N4bn fraud: EFCC declares ex-gov Audu wanted

P.2,7 P.12

L-R: An official of the organisers; widow of former Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University and the posthumous KARIS 2012 award winner, Prof. Ishaya Audu, Victoria; representative of Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Amb. Moses Ihonde and Rev. Chris Okotie of the Household of God at the award presentation ceremony in Lagos.

News

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

36 govs drag FG, NASS to court over fuel subsidy ISE-OLUWA IGE AND GEORGE OJI

he governors of 36 states of the federation yesterday approached the Supreme Court, requesting for an order stopping the Federal Government from going ahead with its plans to further fund the controversial fuel subsidy programme. The governors, who hired a consortium of tested constitutional lawyers, including the immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association,

NBA, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN) and Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) are contending that the present arrangement by the Federal Government to make unilateral deductions from revenues that should statutorily accrue to the Federation Account to fund the fuel subsidy programme is not only illegal but also unconstitutional and must be stopped forthwith. The governors are also seeking an order of the apex court compelling the Federal Government to make public its expenditure on fuel subsidy from

2007 till date with a view to determining how much they would have benefitted with an order directing such monies to be paid to them. The lawsuit is the third in the last five years by the state governors to whip the Federal Government into line with regards to its compliance with Section 162 (1) of the 1999 Constitution. The section reads: “The federation shall maintain a special account to be called ‘the Federation Account’ into which shall be paid all revenues collected by the Government of the Federa-

tion, except the proceeds from the personal income tax of the personnel of the Armed Forces of the federation, the Nigeria Police Force, the ministry or department of government charge with responsibility for foreign affairs and the residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The first suit was brought by 32 states challenging the Federal Government on the maintenance of the Excess Crude Account based on deductions unilaterally made by the Federal Government from revenues that should accrue to the Federation

L-R: Minister of State for Defence, Chief Olusola Obada; Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim; Commander, US Africa Command, Gen. Carter Ham; President Goodluck Jonathan and the Charge d’affaires, US Embassy, Mr. James Mcanulty, after a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Account by virtue of provision of section 162(1) of the 1999 Constitution. The second suit was filed when the Federal Government indicated its intention to maintain a Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF, with monies that ought to have been paid into the Federation Account. The latest suit, which is yet to be heard may scuttle the ongoing arrangement by the Federal Government to maintain the official pump price of petrol at N97 if the Supreme Court grants the various injunctive reliefs in favour of the state governments. In the civil summons of 12 pages filed on behalf of the Attorney-General of Abia State and his counterparts from the 35 other states by a team of six lawyers, the plaintiffs contended that the Federal Government has no statutory authority to make deductions from the nation’s revenue unilaterally. The Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and the National Assembly were named as defendants in the case. The 36 states argued that the unilateral deductions by the Federal Government from revenues that should accrue to the Federation Account to fund

fuel subsidy programme amounted to an usurpation of the powers of Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, by giving the agency “illegal directive which made PPPRA to honour unverified vouchers from importers of petroleum products to the detriment of all the plaintiffs.” The states (Plaintiffs) averred that “rather than ensure that all revenue is centrally transferred from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to the Federation Account, which is the distributable Pool, the 1st defendant through her agency, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, deducts without approval for the so-called fuel subsidy from source as if same is a first line charge.” The governors, therefore, want the Supreme Court to declare that “the act of the Federal Government of Nigeria in charging on the Federation Account, deductions and expenses incurred by it on or to service the activities and or functions of its agencies or bodies exempted by Section 162 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 before distributing the revenue among the federal, state and local governCONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

Senate uncovers fresh N195bn pension scam CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

disclosure at a public hearing at the National Assembly, said the amount was derived from unpaid pension funds covering the period between 2005 and 2011. Gaya said the amount was for outstanding payment from the Police Pensions Office, Military Pensions Board, Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pensions Office, CIPPO, the Department of State Security Service and the Head of Service of the Federation’s Office. The lawmaker said the missing pension funds include that from the Police Pension Office which, according to a report from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, AGF, showed the release of N131.48bn while N58.27bn was spent during the period, leaving out an unaccounted balance of

N44.21bn. On the Military Pension Board, he said the records from the AGF’s office showed the release of N317.6bn during the period, while the actual amount spent was N294bn, leaving an unaccounted balance of N23.5bn. In the case of CIPPO, the lawmaker said the AGF’s records showed a release of N85.24bn, with N27.45bn spent, leaving an unspent balance of N27.79bn Gaya also noted that records obtained from the Office of the AGF in the case of the Department of State Security Service Pension showed a release of N34.69bn, with N9.4bn actually spent leaving a balance of N26.1bn. As regards the Office of the Head of Service, the lawmaker noted that records from the Office of the Accountant-General of

the Federation showed actual release of N139bn and amount spent as N100.6bn and an unaccounted balance of N39.78bn. Gaya said: “This money belongs to the masses and it is expected that it should be accounted for. If everybody is allowed to grab as much as he could get, what are we going to bequeath our children? “Some people feel that because they have godfathers, that no one can bring them to judgement, they should realise that God is watching.” The Senate joint committee had earlier in the year concluded the investigation of N270bn pension fund fraud in which colossal amount of government funds were alleged to have been siphoned by a group of Nigerians and syndicates from the pension office of the Head of Service and the

police pension office over a period of six years. The committee reopened the probe two months ago. The Chairman of the joint probe committee, Senator Aloysius Etok, offered fresh opportunities for those who complained that they were not given fair chance of hearing during the first public hearing. Yesterday’s public hearing could, however, not go ahead because of the absence of the Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team and the Acting Director of CIPPO, Mr. Abdulraheed Maina. Senator Etok said: “After the submission of the report, the chairman of Pension Reform Task Team organised several media fora, where he claimed that he, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina, was not given fair hearing during the investi-

gation of the management of the pension fund. “The issue is that we gave him opportunity for fair hearing but he refused to appear before the committee until we issued a warrant of arrest. There is no law that states that if one is sued to court and he refuses to appear, the court will not go ahead to deliver judgement. “We went out of our way to issue a warrant of arrest before he could appear before the committee. It was as a result of all these that we now decided to invite him again so that he could have fair hearing. “We want to give Maina the last chance and this Committee, which represents the Senate of the Federal Republic and which is saying that whosoever is behind Maina’s arrogance should know that his time is up and the masses want him to account for his

stewardship. “He should appear before this committee tomorrow at 11a.m. without fail. If he doesn’t come tomorrow, the committee will proceed to hold the public hearing and we will take presentations from Prison Service, Police and other agencies. We will get all the presentations and make up our case and tell the public what we have discovered in the course of our investigations.” Meanwhile, the committee has summoned the Comptroller-General of Customs, Comptroller-General of Prisons, Comptroller- General of the Immigration Service, Chairman of ICPC, Chairman of EFCC, Head of Service, Director of Pension and Director, Police Pension Office, Shaibu Tedi, to appear before it today during the re-scheduled public hearCONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

PhotoNews

Wednesday December 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: United States Consul General, Mr. Jeffrey Hawkins; Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi; his wife, Erelu Bisi; Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Mr. Segun Ologunleko and a member of the consul’s entourage, Miss Deanne Collins, during a visit by the US delegation to the governor in Ado-Ekiti, recently.

L-R: Niger State Governor, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu and Prof. Wole Soyinka, at the commissioning of the Cyprian Ekwensi Library in Minna, yesterday.

L-R: Students in Free Enterprise Country Director, Mrs. Adesuwa Ifedi; Executive Director, Institutional Banking, First City Monument Bank, Mr. Olufemi Bakre; Public Diplomacy Officer, US Embassy, Deborah Maclean and Group Head, Corporate Communications, FCMB, Mr. Ikechukwu Kalu, at a press briefing in Abuja, yesterday.

L-R: Guest Speaker, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN); Assistant Director, Programmes Operation, Voice of Nigeria, Mrs. Edith Udo-Ubo; Deputy Managing Director, The Sun, Mr. Femi Adesina and Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State chapter, Mr. Deji Elumoye, during NUJ’s public lecture tagged “Nigeria’s Democracy and Insecurity: The Way Forward,” in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: OLUFEMI AJASA

National News

Uncertainty over Okonjo-Iweala’s mother’s fate Again, gunmen kill soldier, abduct expatriate in Delta

SOLA ADEBAYO WARRI

here was uncertainty yesterday over the fate of Prof. Kemene Okonjo, who was abducted in Ogwashi-Uku, the headquarters of Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, on Sunday. It was learnt that massive security networks initiated by all arms of security agencies to free the octogenarian mother of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, failed to yield results. It was gathered that the abductors had not established contacts or opened up negotiation with the family and authorities at the federal and state levels on the conditions for the release of Prof. Okonjo, who was abducted by 10 gunmen at the palace of her husband and the paramount ruler of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, Obi Chukwuka Okonjo. Family sources told our correspondent that the kidnappers had not called to demand ransom, a development which fuelled

fears yesterday. Concerns heightened within and outside Delta State yesterday over the failure of the security agencies to achieve results, over 48 hours after the retired professor of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Nigeria, Nzuka, was abducted. The Senate President, David Mark, yesterday called on the abductors of Prof. Okonjo to release her unconditionally. He said: “The abduction of any Nigerian is condemnable. The abduction of the mother of a notable Nigerian like Dr. OkonjoIweala is an attack on the international reputation of our dear country.” However, despite heavy presence of security agencies deployed in the nook and cranny of the state to free the 82-year-old Queen Mother of Ogwashi-Uku, the state suffered fresh security breach yesterday when four gunmen invaded the site of the construction giant, Setraco Nigeria Limited, in Ekuigbo near Ughelli, the headquarters of Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state. The gunmen, who oper-

ated in a rickety 190 Mercedes Benz car, killed a soldier, who was assigned to protect a Lebanese, Mr. Harry Fadi, at the site along the East/West Highway. Fadi, an engineer, was abducted after his orderly was disarmed and murdered. Two other persons, a man and a woman, sustained gunshot wounds in the shootings by the gunmen. They were on danger list at a medical centre in Ughelli at press time. Yesterday’s development marked the second invasion of the site of the construction firm by gunmen, within two weeks.

Two of the company’s expatriates, working on a coastal road awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, who were abducted at Gbarigolor community in Ughelli South council two weeks ago, were yet to regain their freedom, yesterday night. One person was also killed while another was injured in the first incident. However, security agents appeared helpless yesterday over the fate of the minister’s mother. A reliable source in the state police command told our correspondent that the leaders of the security agencies handling the assignment were in a di-

lemma over their failure to produce results. It was gathered that some security top brass met with state government senior officials yesterday in Asaba, the state capital, apparently to review and map out fresh strategies to locate and ensure the release of the octogenarian. Meanwhile, security was tight in OgwashiUku yesterday as the law enforcement agents continued to comb the area. Security was watertight at the palace of the monarch, who is the father of the finance minister. It was learnt that the minister was yet to visit

the community. She was reported to be coordinating security efforts for the release of her mother from Abuja. The Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Adaba, did not respond to his calls yesterday. One of his aides, who answered persistent calls from National Mirror, said the commissioner was not available for comment. Also, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Charles Muka, refused to pick his calls. But reliable sources in their offices said efforts were being intensified to end the nightmare of the octogenarian.

NGF, NASS to meet over external borrowing plan

he Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, will meet with Finance Ministry and National Assembly over the revised proposed pipeline projects under the Medium Term External Borrowing Plan of 2012 to 2014. This is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the forum’s meeting in Abuja yesterday. The NGF Chairman and Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who read the communiqué,

said the decision was to enable the forum deliberate further with the ministry and the legislature. The forum, which comprised the 36 governors, also carried out an end of year review of its polio eradication initiative across the country. It noted changes in the demography of incidences and resolved that states should put necessary incentives to motivate vaccinators for better performance and better information

sharing mechanism of good practices across states. The forum also emphasised the centrality of routine immunisation as a sustainable means of eradicating polio in the country. It also stressed the need to engage stakeholders from local communities in the campaign against the dreaded virus. The Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama, and some state Commissioners for Finance, according to the News

Agency of Nigeria, NAN, had defended their request for external loan of $7.9 billion before the Senate. The loan, named Medium-Term External Borrowing Plan (Revised), which spans 2012 to 2014, is expected to be used for the execution of specific development projects. President Goodluck Jonathan had recently sent a letter to the Senate, seeking its approval to borrow $7.9 billion for the 2012-2014 pipeline projects.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

2013: States propose N5.3trn budgets CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

and Fiscal Strategy Seminar of the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) yesterday in Abuja, the National Coordinator, State Peer Review Mechanism of the Governors’ Forum, Dr. Afeikhena Jerome, said arrangements by the forum to get states’

yearly budgets captured in one fiscal document were almost getting completed for improved fiscal policy planning in the country. He explained that what had been captured so far in the budget proposals of the 36 states indicated that about N5.3trn had been proposed but that the final

Senate uncovers fresh N195bn pension scam CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

ing at the National Assembly. In a related development, the Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Maina, said that his team had stopped the monthly theft of about N4.175bn from the nation’s coffers. Maina, who spoke at the maiden annual lecture of the League of Interior Correspondents of Nigeria, LINCON in Abuja said his team was able to achieve the feat by embarking on a biometric data capture of about 170, 000 civil servants. Of the figure, he said, “73,000 ghost pensioners were discovered from the office of the Head of Service of the Federation.” He added that the PRTT has saved the nation about N221.88bn which would have gone into private pockets and that part of the figure is being used to now

fund the 2012 budget. Maina, who had recently come under vicious threats for daring to challenge the status quo, also sought the cooperation of journalists in the fight against corruption, explaining that the PRTT cannot do the job alone. Also speaking at the event, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS, Mrs. Rose Uzoma, said the Service had been able to stop the influx of uncertified aliens into the country, urging the media to partner with the NIS to ensure the realisation of a well-secured nation. She said the service had evolved measures to boost its fight against terrorism in the country and that the Federal Government had developed partnerships with other countries to reduce the incidences of trans-border crimes.

budgetary outlay for the sub-national governments would be determined at the end of the deliberations by the legislative chambers. Jerome, who spoke in reaction to some discussants’ allegations of fiscal rascality at the states’ level, debunked the claim, saying that “fiscal rascality is more pronounced at the federal level than at the subnational levels.” He added: “Let me say that the impression that state budgets are not always known is not true. “We have the figures and I can say that the proposals for the

2013 fiscal years for the 36 states were about N5.3trn as against the N4.3trn proposed by the Federal Government. “We have the figures and they are available for those who need them and we have circulated the figures of past budgets to those who requested for them. “The discussions on the various states’ budgets are ongoing and we hope to get the final profile of the budgets captured and made available for the purposes of improved fiscal federalism and economic planning for the country.” Some of the budgets

figures recently released by states include: Lagos, N497.2bn; Delta, N398.31bn; Akwa Ibom, N397.1bn; Ekiti, N93.6bn; Imo, N195.7bn; Bauchi, N137.3bn; Niger, N83.4bn; Oyo, N160.6bn; Kaduna, N176.4bn; Oyo, N211.86bn; Kogi, N130.9bn and Adamawa, N95bn. Jerome noted that at least three states had a nearbalance of 50-50 per cent capital and recurrent expenditures in the 2012 fiscal year and that other states were working to improve their capital budgets to impact more positively development at the grassroots.

On the vexatious Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF, which has pitched the states against the Federal Government over the months, the Governors’ Forum representative said the states were not opposed to savings for national development but were uncomfortable with the modalities for putting the SWF in place. He added that “even if you consider the way the Board of the Sovereign Wealth Investment Authority was constituted, you will see that there was no consultation with the state governors and that is one of the flaws in the process.”

L-R: Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim; Minister of National Planning Commission, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman; Vice-President Namadi Sambo and Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, during the National Economic Council meeting in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

36 govs drag FG, NASS to court over fuel subsidy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

ments is inconsistent with Section 162 of the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, illegal, unconstitutional, unlawful, null and void.” The plaintiffs also want the apex court to declare “that the Federal Government of Nigeria lacks constitutional or statutory power to make deductions from revenue accruing to the nation as a whole, whether generated from petroleum taxes or any other form of revenue without such revenue being paid first and foremost into the Federation Account for appropriate sharing among the three tiers of government (federal, state and local) and any deduction so made in the guise of fuel subsidy deduction by the

Federal Government of Nigeria or any of her agencies such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, from such revenue between the year 2007 till date before being paid into the Federation Account is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.” Determined to put an end to this considered aberration and constitutional infraction, they have prayed the apex court for “a perpetual order of injunction restraining the Federal Government by itself, servants, agents, privies and those taking instruction from it from making any further deductions from the amount standing to the credit of the Federation Account for the purpose of funding the payment of the fuel

subsidy claims or any other purpose whatsoever, except those authorized by Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” They have also prayed for “a restitutionary order of the honourable court directing the Federal Government to pay to the plaintiffs their 24 per cent share of the total amount of money wrongly deducted by the Federal Government from the Federation Account from 2007 till date.” They have also urged the court to direct the Federal Government to give account of all subsidy claims deducted from the Federation Account from 2007 till date and also “pay back into the Fed-

eration Account all in the name of fuel subsidy.” In the alternative, they prayed for an order directing the Federal Government to grant them or a firm of accountants engaged by the plaintiffs, “full and unconditional access to all accounts, books, records or other documents relating to accruals to and disbursement from the Federation Account for the period of 2007 till date.” According to the plaintiffs: “There are inaccuracies in the crude oil and gas revenues remitted to the Federation Account by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, caused by wrongful deductions at source by NNPC to fund her operations.” They pointed out that whereas the practice ought

to be that subsidy claims are remitted to NNPC from the Petroleum Support Fund, PSF, by the Federal Ministry of Finance based on claims of oil marketers approved by PPPRA, “NNPC’s practice is to remit to the Federation Account, amount payable for domestic crude less subsidy claim only for it (NNPC) to request the Federal Ministry of Finance to pay the amounts due on subsidy claim back into the Federation Account being the balance cost of domestic crude. No date has been fixed for hearing. Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has sent a supplementary budget appropriation bill to the National Assembly seeking an additional N161.67 to

finance fuel subsidy payments. According to the president’s letter, which was addressed to Senate President, David Mark and read during yesterday’s plenary session, the request for the additional funds was to cover subsidy payment for the remaining part of this year. As part of the 2012 budget framework, a provision of N888.1bn was made for payment of fuel subsidy for the nation. The president noted that following the forensic audit carried out, it was discovered that the N888.1bn provision for fuel subsidy in the 2012 budget was underestimated. He revealed that as at now the sum of N880.26bn has been paid out, leaving a balance of N7.73bn.

National News

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Alleged terrorism: Court admits evidence against Ndume EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday, admitted in evidence call-logs establishing conversation between a serving Senator, Ali Ndume and a convicted member of the Boko Haram sect, Ali Konduga. Details of the call-logs, according to a Prosecution Witness (PW 3)and forensic examiner attached to the Special Investigation Panel (SIP) of the State Security Service (SSS), Aliyu Usman, revealed calls and

Short Message Service (SMS) between Ndume and Konduga. Prosecution counsel, Thompson Olatigbe, had sought the leave of the court to tender the documents, which he said contained reports and findings of “forensic exploitation” of Nokia E7, “uniquely identified” by an International Mobile Electronic Identity (IMEI) that ends with 3050, and Nokia 27100 with an IMEI that ends with 9226. In persuading the court on the compelling need to admit the document in evi-

dence, the SSS argued that the document is a “primary evidence,” and a “statement by the witness to the panel of inquiry.” Furthermore, the prosecution said the fact that PW 3 signed the document and also told the court on oath that he was a forensic expert attached to the Department of State Service, is sufficient ground for the admissibility of the document. However, defence counsel, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN) objected to the admissibility of the said evidence on the basis of non-compliance with the Evidence Act, par-

ticularly Sections 84 (1) and 102, which provide for the certification of public documents made by public officials. Tarfa further contended that, for computer-generated statements to be admissible, it must show evidence of compliance with provisions stated in subsection 2 of section 84. He urged the court to reject the document, more so that the prosecution witness, Usman, did not tender before the court facts to substantiate his qualification as a forensic expert. In his ruling, the trial

judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, held among others that, “It is not every document sought to be tendered by a public officer that is qualified to be called a public document. “The document is not the kind that any member of the public can access, upon the payment of a prescribed fee. “In conclusion, I found no merit in the objection and same is dismissed. The document produced by PW 3 and tendered shall be admitted in evidence and shall be marked as exhibit P7.” When he was being led in

evidence, PW3 had provided detailed account of how the “exploitation” of Ndume and Konduga’s phones were carried out, leading to the findings and report. According to the SSS witness, “On the November 21, 2011, I was handed two mobile phones by the Chairman and Chief Investigator of the Special Investigation Panel, Department of State Service, James Ene Izi, for forensic exploitation. The phones, Nokia E7, uniquely identified by an International Mobile Electronic Identity (IMEI), identifies the device in a network.

Subsidy scam: Nadabo Energy boss remanded in EFCC custody

Former workers of the National Identity Management Commission protesting their disengagement without benefit at the gate of the National Assembly in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

House report on subsidy not dead –Tambuwal TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

he Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday said the House was still at work on the subsidy report. He assured that the petroleum subsidy regime probe report would not be buried by the House. Tambuwal gave the assurance at a courtesy visit on him by the Anti- Corruption Network (ACN), led by a former member of the House, Hon. Dino Melaye and Hon. Independence Ogunewe. “We have not abandoned the subsidy report,” he said. According to him, “Anyone who thinks we have abandoned it is wasting his time.”

He assured that the house would make sure that anybody involved in the oil subsidy is prosecuted. Tambuwal lamented that corruption was one of the biggest problems with Nigeria as a country. “We are doing our best as a house to address the issue of corruption,” he said. He lamented that efforts made by the house to fight corruption in the country were not supported by some government agencies, but assured the ACN that all issues raised by them were receiving attention at the House. “All the issues you have raised are receiving attention in the House of Representatives. The house is ready to partner with your network and other organisations working in same way,” he said. He commended them on their efforts to

have a graft-free country. Tambuwal said that the house would conduct its oversight on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) quarterly to check issues of poor implementation of budgets. Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Network, Dino Melaye, urged the house to expunge the immunity clause from the 1999 Constitution in the ongoing constitution review, arguing that the removal of the clause would make public office holders live above board. He also called for the reduction of the powers of the President on the appointment of INEC and ICPC chairmen. Melaye equally advocated that the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation should be separated from that of the Minister of Justice.

He said the network would continue to support good governance and fight corruption that had become the bane of the country’s development.

Lagos High Court in Igbosere, hearing an oil subsidy fraud case against Abubakar Peters yesterday ordered his continued remand in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Justice C. A. Balogun ordered that Peters, the managing director, Nadabo Energy Limited be remanded in the commission’s custody till December 18, when his bail application would be determined. The EFCC had on December 10, arraigned the defendant and his company on a two-count charge of fraudulently obtaining N1.5 billion from the Federal Government through the Petroleum Support Fund. In a bail application, Mr. Taiwo Taiwo, counsel to the defendant, had urged the court to grant the defendant bail on self recognition, as his client’s father was a former commissioner of police.

Taiwo also disclosed that Peters was also suffering from an undisclosed ailment which required him to travel to the USA for treatment. He said that the defendant’s father was ready to stand as surety for him. “The defendant was not invited or arrested by the commission but he came to the court when he knew that there was a case instituted against him. “The offence is a bailable one and I urge the court to admit my client to bail,” he added. However, EFCC counsel, Mr. Ben Ubi, opposed the application, claiming that the defendant had earlier jumped bail when granted administrative bail by the EFFC. Ubi’s words: “If the court admits the defendant to bail, he will jump bail just as he has done before. We urge the court to commence accelerated hearing as we are fully ready to commence the trial of the case.”

$15m bribe: Court adjourns till Jan 10 EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

ustice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, adjourned till January 10, 2013, hearing in the suit instituted by the Delta State government, in respect of the $15 million bribe allegedly offered by former Governor James Ibori, to compromise money laundering investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The adjournment fol-

lowed a further counteraffidavit filed on December 10, by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), as well as a motion on notice to file same out of time. Justice Kolawole granted the adjournment when the Attorney-General of Delta State, Chief Charles Ajuyah (SAN) and counsel to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) did not raise any objection. Whereas the Federal Government wants the court to make a final order forfeiture of the $15 million in its favour, Delta

State government thinks the huge amount belongs to it, hence it should naturally be the beneficiary. Interestingly, a twist was added to the ‘drama,’ when a refrigerator repairer, Mr. Olalekan Bayode, approached the court to seek a joinder as well as urge the court to award him the controversial sum. Bayode had, through his counsel, Mr. Femi Aina, a United Kingdombased lawyer, prayed the court to rule in his favour, pledging to set up a Trust Fund with it.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Wednesday December 12, 2012

FG to ban rice importation Ohakim tackles Okorocha over soon, says Minister N13bn Oguta Wonder Lake project M CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

ormer Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim yesterday tackled his successor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, over the abandoned Oguta Wonder Lake project. The controversial Oguta Wonder Lake was one of the abandoned projects the administration of Okorocha is probing. Ohakim said in Owerri, the state capital, that he left N13 billion for the completion of the proj-

ect, which he alleged was abandoned by the current administration. The former governor, who spoke at the launch of the books written by his former aide, Ethelbert Okere, titled: “Democracy by Military Tank and No Trace of Zakki” said he conceived the Oguta project to harness the potential of the area and create jobs youths. He said: “We embarked on the project to develop that area so that Imo will become a tourist state. We were able to raise N18

billion from the Nigeria Stock Exchange. We were one of the first states in Nigeria to go to the Stock Exchange and raise that kind of money. “After renovating the Oguta Motel, we left N13.3 billion so that the project can go on, it is sad that I went there a few days ago the whole place has been covered by weed. The N13.3 billion I do not know what has happened to it”. Reviewing one of the books, Democracy by Military Tank, Chairman of Editorial Board, The

Nation Newspapers, Sam Omatseye, represented by Bolaji Onajimo, described the book as a story of how Ohakim allowed Okorocha to take the victory of the 2011 election even though Ohakim knew that he won and Okorocha knew that he did not win. He said: “It is a story of how Ohakim won the governorship election in 2011 and how he conceded with his own signature that Rochas Okorocha won even though Ohakim knew that he won and Rochas knows that he did not win.”

inister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, yesterday in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, said the Federal Government would soon ban importation of rice. Adesina spoke at the opening of a three -day summit and exhibition organised by Africa Farming Project (AFP) for Northern Nigeria. He said the ban would be enforced within the next four years because Nigerian farmers would be producing more than enough rice that could effectively cater for the needs of Nigerians. The minister, who was represented bythe Regional Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, North Central Region, Dr Sunday Edibo, said the surplus would be sold to other countries. He stated that importing food stuff into the country did not speak well of a country like Nigeria.

Adesina said this was because Nigeria had been featuring prominently in the world market as a result of agriculture boom in the 1960s and early ‘70s. He urged Nigerians not to believe the speculation that there would be severe famine in 2013 as a result of the recent flood. Adesina said the Federal Government had made adequate preparations to tackle food crisis of whatever magnitude. The minister said there would be enough food in 2013 as food items were stored in silos across the country. Adesina said the flood only affected small portions of farm lands with marginal effect on food production in the country.

Adesina

‘Public officers reluctant to implement FOI Act’ CHIDI UGWU AND BLESSING OKWORI ABUJA L-R: Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Ms Olajumoke Akinjide; Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Bola Ogunsola, Team Leader, Department for International Development, Mr. Paul Weijers and Lead, Finance and Private Sector, World Bank, Mr. Micheal Wong, at the stakeholders’ forum on housing for the urban poor in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

WAEC to stop registration of external candidates

he West African Examination Council (WAEC) said yesterday that it would soon stop the registration of external students by schools. WAEC Coordinator in Plateau State , Mr. Basil Inyang, spoke at a stakeholders’ forum on “Eradication of Examination Malpractice’’ organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Jos.

The coordinator also said that once a student failed the examination, the student would not be availed the opportunity to register in the following year. He said: “We shall soon cancel the registration of external candidates by secondary schools. “This is because most students look for miracle centres to register for the examination, constituting

the bulk of examination malpractices. “If a student fails the examination in the first sitting and wants to sit for the second time, the students must go back to their former school and register again.’’ Inyang said that there were a lot of reforms that WAEC was undertaking at the moment in its quest to curb examination mal-

Dana drugs firm lifts flood victims

ana Drugs Limited has donated items comprising pharmaceutical products as aid to victims of the recent flood in Nigeria, in support of the relief efforts of the Federal Government in the affected states. Speaking during the presentation of the items at the Abuja Headquarters of the National Emergency Management Agency

(NEMA), Mr. Godwin Ediagbonya, Superintendent Pharmacist at Dana Drugs Limited, said: “Disasters, though no one prays for them, do happen. And when they do, it is the collective responsibility of everyone, not just the government to rally around and support those affected. “Dana Drug’s gesture of donating pharmaceutical products to the victims

of the recent flood across some states of the federation is in fulfillment of this responsibility, and we hope that it will complement the efforts of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) towards the rehabilitation and wellbeing of those affected. Our hearts go out to them and it is our prayer that God will strengthen them in this critical period and

practices. He asked teachers to impact on students, the virtue of effective knowledge, as most of them looked up to their teachers as role models. Inyang also called on parents to instill in their children good moral standards, advising them to stop encouraging their children to partake in examination fraud.

grant them full recovery.” Receiving the items on behalf of the agency, Dr. Zanna Muhammad, NEMA’s Director of Administration and Supplies, expressed appreciation to the management of Dana Drugs for the donation. He said: “The drugs provided will contribute in no small way in catering to the health needs of the displaced persons.”

igerian public servants have been accused of reluctance to implement the Freedom of Information Act which was signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan in May, 2011. President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mallam Mohammed Garba, spoke yesterday at a workshop on the Freedom of Information Act 2011 in Abuja. The workshop, which has the theme: “Openness in governance: The FOI Act, 2011 in perspective” was organised by the Federal Ministry of Information to prepare stakeholders on the implementation of the FOI Act. Garba specifically accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for refusing to make available on request the procedures adopted in the employment of 150 workers. He said: “Some of the challenges for the implementation of FOI Act are the reluctance of some public officers to release information, cases in point

are the NNPC’s refusal to disclose the procedures adopted in the employment of 150 workers, and the Katsina State Government to disclose certain vital information.” Garba said though NUJ had approached the court to seek further clarifications on the issue, civil society organisations as well as the leadership of the NUJ are watching to see the outcome of the proceedings which he said would determine the success or otherwise of the Act. Minister of Information Mr. Labran Maku noted that if FOI is to gain strength in the country, there must be a process of defining principles and ethnics of journalism, including a profession-driven ombudsman that can bring violators to sanctions. He said: “We must, therefore, look inward, otherwise in our partisan environment, the media will lose public trust in the face of the new freedom. Let me assure you of the readiness of the Federal Ministry of Information to work with other stakeholders in animating the Freedom of Information Act.

South West

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

LUTH doctors begin indefinite strike over tax deduction

ssential medical activities were yesterday brought to a halt as resident doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, embarked on an indefinite strike. The doctors, under the aegis of Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), commenced the indefinite strike over the implementation of a new tax law which they described as exorbitant and lacking uniform application. The doctors alleged that the Management of LUTH had been deducting huge amounts from their monthly salaries as tax. A check carried out by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the hospital revealed that the Outpatient Ward was deserted by patients because the doctors were no longer attending to them. NAN reports that some patients on admission were seen leaving the hospital premises. Mr Ayoola Ogunrombi, the husband of a patient on admission, told NAN that he had to get a referral letter to another hospital because the doctors had stopped attending to his

wife. An executive officer of the ARD, who sought anonymity, said the strike was meant to compel the management of the institution to revert to the old tax system. “All is not well with LUTH; we feel cheated with the tax deduction imposed on us. “We do not understand how our income tax is higher and differs greatly from

that of our colleagues in similar institutions. “The management has over-applied the Federal Government’s new tax law, without bothering to consult with us,” the ARD official told NAN. NAN recalls that the striking doctors had on Dec. 4 embarked on a threeday warning strike to seek a review of the tax by the LUTH management. Prof. Akin Osibogun, the hospi-

tal’s Chief Medical Director, had confirmed that the tax deduction was as a result of the new income tax law. LUTH’s Chief Medical Director, Osibogun told reporters last week during the three-day warning strike by the ARD that: ``People need to be properly educated on tax payment and adapt to it, as obtainable in the Western countries. “Tax is an annual pay-

ment and the institution must complete payment before the end of the year to avoid penalty.” He said that the tax deductions were usually made in January and if not deducted in full, it would be deducted in full before the end of December. “As an institution, we cannot afford to breach the law. If there is a tax law, we have to implement the law,’’ Osibogun added.

L-R: Wife of Olugbo of Ugboland, Olori Iyabode Akinruntan; Aina, widow of the late retired Supreme Court judge, Justice Kayode Eso, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan and Mrs. Olufunmilayo Eso-Williams, during a condolence visit to the Eso family in Ibadan, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Why kidnapping thrives in Nigeria –AIG FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

he Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in Charge of Zone II, Ibrahim Mamman Tsafe, yesterday explained why kidnapping thrives. Tsafe blamed the incident on victims’ relations who paid ransom to kidnappers at the expense of police investigation. The AIG spoke with journalists yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when he visited the state as part of efforts aimed at assuring residents of peaceful Christmas and New Year celebrations. Tsafe said kidnapping would persist across the country because perpetrators had seen it as a very lucrative business, as victims’ relations often subjected themselves to kidnappers’ intimidation to pay ransom demanded. Stressing that the police are aware of the psychological trauma victims and their families may undergo,

he urged the family members to be courageous to sustain the trauma while they cooperate with the police in carrying out the rescue operation. Tsafe said: “Ransom is being paid and criminal are making more money. Families of relatives ignore the police and subject themselves to intimidation by the kidnappers. “We understand the psychological trauma undergone by the victims and the family, but we should also be courageous to sustain the trauma and co-operate with the police while the rescue operation lasts. “We have not been getting the full support of the relatives and with that, the criminals have seen the work as a lucrative business, but we are determined to deal with the situation in this zone.” He debunked the claim that Ogun State was becoming a kidnappers den because of the recent incident in which the wife of a lawmaker was kidnapped.

Lagos CJ releases 47 inmates at Ikoyi prison MURITALA AYINLA

agos State Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, yesterday released of 47 inmates at the Ikoyi Prison. The freed inmates have been in prison custody for a long period without trial. Speaking at the Freedom Chapel of the prison, Justice Philips said the release was aimed at decongesting the prisons and alleviate the plight of inmates. She said some of the inmates were remanded in prison custody for minor offences and could not meet the bail conditions. She asked the freed inmates to “go and sin no more” and make themselves responsible citizens in the society. The Deputy-ComptrollerGeneral of Ikoyi Prison, Mr. Emmanuel Bamidele, commended the Chief Judge for her kind gesture. He noted that the inmates of the prison are team mates and have undergone reformation by engaging in various skills acquisition programmes, like soap making, musical performances, adding that one inmate recently released an album.

We plan to eradicate touting at motor parks soon –Lagos CP FRANCIS SUBERU

he next phase in the enforcement of the Lagos State Traffic Law is the eradication of touting at motor parks. The first phase of traffic law enforcement has reduced crimes in the state, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko, said yesterday. He, however, said that he preferred outright ban on the activities of commercial motorcyclists popularly known as Oka-

da riders, rather than the restriction the traffic law placed on them. He spoke after a parley with protesting Okada riders at the state Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos. It will be recalled that Okada riders were on Monday persuaded to shun their planned mass protest against the Lagos Traffic Law by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, Mr. Tunde Sobulo, who led other police officers to quell the protest at Yaba, Lagos, to pave

the way for a peaceful dialogue with the Lagos State Commissioner of Police yesterday. The meeting, which was held at the Lagos State Police Command, was presided over by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration, Mr. Isaac Eke, and attended by a lawyer, Mr Odeh Abba from Bamidele Aturu’s chamber, Vice-President of Joint Action Forum (JAF), Mr. Achike and some selected leaders of Okada riders. At the meeting, the Okada riders were told that the

planned rally was illegal as the matter for which they were protesting is still in court. Isaac also said the protest, if allowed, could easily be hijacked by hoodlums, saying since the matter is in court, all aggrieved parties must sheath their swards and await court’s decision. After the meeting, the Okada riders vowed to continue with their protest as they were not satisfied with the police plea to shelve their public protest until the determination of the matter in court.

riage way from Osogbo to Ila Odo boundary of Kwara State. In a statement issued yesterday in Osogbo by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy Office of the Governor, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, the state government described the call as a display of ignorance by the PDP. The statement reads in

part: “The PDP’s reason for the request is no other than its claim that the company that is handling the project, SAMIYA Construction Limited, had its accounts garnished by a Federal High Court over a dispute the company had with one of its bankers, Wema Bank Plc, in 2011. “The PDP, determined to confuse unsuspecting mem-

bers of the public, presented the garnishing of the accounts of SAMIYYA in the most sensational manner as if garnishing of accounts of any company represents a criminal matter that also makes such a corporate entity ineligible to undertake business again. “In plain language, garnishing means seizure of assets to settle a debt or claim.

Osun flays PDP over call on EFCC to probe Aregbesola WALE FOLARIN OSOGBO

he Osun State Government has flayed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe Governor Rauf Aregbesola over award of N17.8 billion contract for the construction of a dual car-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

PDP accuses Fayemi’s govt of contracts’ inflation ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

he Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Governor Kayode Fayemi administration of inflating contracts’ prices with a view to siphoning the resources of the state into private purses. PDP State Publicity Secretary, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, who described the alleged contracts’ inflation as “systemic collective looting of the treasury,” also accused the administration of plunging the state into

penury with its debt burden of N31billion. Oluwawole, who said at a press conference in Ado Ekiti yesterday that the “administration has seen governance as opportunity to steal, amass wealth and grease palms of its masters,” lamented that the contracts were even awarded to non-Ekiti indigenes, thus bringing about capital flight and impoverishing the people. But state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Funminiyi Afuye, who described the PDP as “a gang of liars,” said the state government has nothing to hide in its

• Go to EFCC – Govt says award of contracts and procurements, which he said followed due process. Afuye, who said the administration’s stance on transparency had informed the Freedom of Information (FoI) Law in the state, urged the PDP to approach the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) if they have facts they could substantiate rather than rais-

ing unnecessary dusts. The commissioner, who said the contracts were awarded and executed in the people’s interest, said the N20 billion bonds raised from the capital market last year “is being managed for the various ongoing development projects in the state. The PDP, while alleging that the government was planning to borrow

N13 billion to finance the 2013 Budget, urged the Fayemi administration to refund the excesses on the alleged inflation of the prices of the various road contracts. Oluwawole’s words: “The 900 metres Atikankan-Baptist Church Road, the 0.8km Old GarageOjumose Road and the 4.9 km Ojumose-Police Headquarters, which are single carriageways to be expanded to dual car-

riageways, were awarded at N891million, N866million and N1.4billion respectively. “Other roads in the state capital rehabilitated by the Fayemi administration like the 1.6km FajuyiState Hospital Road; the 3.6km Ijigbo-Baptist-Ilawe Road, which are dual carriageways and the 23km Ikole-Ijesa-Iluomoba Road cost as much as N477.5 million, N788m and N1.1 billion respectively.”

Ajimobi lauded for restoring sanity on highways

ormer SecretaryGeneral of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Dr. Kunle Olajide, has commended the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, for his efforts at restoring sanity on major highways in Ibadan, the state capital. Olajide, in a letter of commendation he personally wrote to the governor, specifically mentioned the Iwo Road interchange, which used to be travellers’ nightmare, but which has now been made free of the usual gridlock. It will be recalled that the state government had recently embarked on the removal of illegal structures that has constituted environmental nuisance and that has earned the state the tag of being the dirtiest state in the country. The government has also carried out massive beautification of the Ibadan metropolis and other towns and cities as well as the construction of neighbourhood markets in some areas within the state capital. The former YCE scribe said that the governor deserved the accolade for his efforts at sanitising the environment and changing the face of the state. “Nigerians are usually very quick to criticise

leadership when things go wrong, but they never commend government when they perform,” he said, adding that Ajimobi’s brilliant performance had further confirmed the confidence he had earlier expressed about his administration. “I expressed confidence that your success in the election would bring a breath of fresh air to Oyo State and that you definitely will bring style, polish and panache to the government of Oyo State. I thank you for not disappointing me,” he remarked.

L-R: Chairman, Tenant Rights Project, Comrade Toyin Raheem; President, Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin and Coordinator, Research and Programmes, Women Arise, Mr. Gbenga Ganzallo, at a civic education on improving Legislature Constituency Relations through Theatre, organised by Women Arise at Alagba Round About, Iyanaipaja, Lagos, yesterday.

Gunmen kidnap retired general’s wife in Ibadan

itilayo, the wife of retired Brig-Gen. Oluwole Rotimi, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Ibadan. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the victim was kidnapped around 6:30p.m. on Monday in front of her company, AOK Logistics Limited, located on Old Ife Road in Ibadan. She was said to have been abducted by four armed men while she was leaving her office at the close of work. NAN gathered that the incident, which was reported at Egbeda Police Sta-

tion, had been transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, Ibadan. The spokesman of the Oyo State Police Command, DSP Ayodele Lanade, who confirmed the incident, said the victim was driving away in her black Mercedes Benz car when she was accosted. “According to the reports we gathered, two security men attached to her company removed the barricade on the gate for her car to drive out of the office complex. “In the process, two armed men approached and ordered the driver to

Pensioners protest non-payment of their entitlements FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

cores of federal civil service pensioners yesterday trooped into the streets of Abeokuta, the Ogun

State capital, protesting the non-payment of their entitlements which runs into several years. The protesters, who were mostly between 65 and 95 years, took to the major streets in the metropolis,

carrying placards which bore different inscriptions like: “President Jonathan, no gratuity since 1996, not to talk of pension,” “We served our country at our youthful age,” among others.

stop the car at gun point. “A green Nissan Primera suddenly reversed and blocked her car while she was ordered to get into the Nissan car. “The manner of abduc-

tion was strange when compared to similar cases of kidnapping. “We found out that there is a rift between the woman and her workers over three months salary which led to

agitation by the aggrieved workers,” he said. The police spokesman, however, said that no ransom demand had been presented while no arrest had been made.

Libel: Auditing firm ordered to pay N10m damages KAYODE FALADE

he Lagos High Court, Ikeja, has fined an auditing firm, Kunle Ladejobi & Co, N10 million for defaming the character and person of the Lagos State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Hakim Akinlade. The trial judge, Justice Yetunde Idowu, also found the auditing firm represented by Messrs Kunle Ladejobi, M.A. Abdullahi and Mrs. Tola Gbogboade, guilty of a libellous publication against Akinlade.

The judge also ordered the defendants; Ladejobi, Abdullahi and Gbogboade, to do a retraction of the said publication, circulate and publicise it in the same manner the earlier offensive publication was publicised. Akinlade, who was elected chairman in 2006, but was purportedly removed had gone to court to challenge his removal and obtained an injunction restraining his removal. Kunle Ladejobi & Co, the auditing firm to the Lagos State chapter of the NMA had on February 14, 2008 disowned the audited account (report) of the state

NMA and further alleged that the report was forged by the then NMA Chairman, Dr. Akinlade. The denial and forgery allegations, according to Akinlade in a statement presented to the court, were contained in a letter written by the second and thirrd defendants, Abdullahi and Gbogboade respectively and circulated among members of the association. Dissatisfied with the action of the firm, Akinlade through his counsel, Deji Sasegbon (SAN), on October 10, 2008 instituted the suit.

South East

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Abduction: Victim petitions AGF, IGP, Gov Obi, others

NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

kidnapped victim, Chief G. U. Okeke, has petitioned the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Mohammed Adoke alleging that some suspected kidnappers, who shot and abducted him from the premises of the All Saints Anglican Church Cathedral, Onitsha, Anambra State on Sunday, August 23, 2009, have been released from prison custody without trial or due process. The petition, which was also copied to the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, the state Governor, Mr. Peter Obi and others, was entitled: “Re: Kidnap suspect released

from prison custody without trial in suit No. A/30c/2012; the State vs Emeka Eze and six others.” Okeke, through his legal counsel, Barrister Chris Ajugwe, lamented that it was obvious that certain prison officials are bent on frustrating his efforts at bringing to justice the kidnap suspects, so as to cover up their evil deeds by assiduously working for the release of the defendants from custody. In the petition, which was also copied to the Comptroller-General of Prisons, Okeke recalled that sometime in August, 2009, he was violently kidnapped and shot, adding that between October and November, 2009, the criminals involved in the kidnap saga were appre-

hended. The petitioner further recalled that shortly after their arrest, the police recovered nine AK-47 riffles, three machine guns, five rocket launchers, over 10, 000 pieces of different ammunition and about 48 loaded magazines from them, adding that some of the 13 arrested suspects even made confessional statements implicating their various roles in the kidnap during their interrogation by the police. He said his family members equally paid about N50 million to the kidnappers as ransom before he was released only for the Nigerian Prison officials to assist the suspects to escape justice. To buttress his point, Okeke alleged that it was iron-

ic that the first defendant in the case, one Emeka Eze, who was one of the ring leaders of the murderous and notorious kidnap gang that shot him in his leg and who also took the police and vigilante teams to his home to uncover their weapons’ dump, was the same person the prison officials released without trial. Shedding more light on the issue, Okeke alleged that one Mr. George Kay Njoku, falsely acting on behalf of the deputy comptroller of prisons, deployed meaningless medical jargons in a letter dated September 20, 2011 and confused the trial judge of Nnewi High Court, Justice M. I. Onochie, that Emeka Eze was about to die in prison custody, except he be granted bail immediately, which the judge granted. The following day after his release from prison custody, Emeka Eze held a lavish party at Asaba to celebrate his release without trial and due process.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Enugu Assembly moves to rehabilitate former Okada riders DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

he Enugu State House of Assembly has commenced moves to rehabilitate former Okada riders that were displaced following the ban on commercial motorcyclists in the state early this year. The house has therefore directed the Clerk of the House to summon the Commissioner for Human Resources and Poverty Reduction, Mr. Godwin Ogenyi, to appear before the house on Tuesday, December18, 2012 to explain the efforts of the ministry to alleviate the suffering of the displaced Okada riders. The commissioner is expected to brief the house

FIRS generates N659bn in 2011

Wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs. Mercy Orji (third left) with others during an awareness walk to raise consciousness on HIVAIDS in the state, yesterday.

Detained pro-Biafra members regain freedom

DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

ver 100 members of a pro-Biafran movement, the Biafran Zionist Movement (BZM), who were hounded into Enugu prison 36 days ago, were yesterday set free by the Enugu State high court. Justice L. Okeke of the state high court sitting in Enugu granted the Biafran activists bail. According to the presiding judge, they were to provide sureties who would provide N1million each and must be civil servants above Grade Level 14 or a member of the

National Assembly from the South-East or a member of the state House of Assembly or a reputable traditional ruler. The accused persons were granted bail based on the court’s discretion as the defence counsel for the accused persons, Barrister Okologu Njoku, could not convince the court that what warranted the action of the defendants was occasioned by peculiar or coercive circumstances. Justice Okeke while granting the bail application stated that the prosecution had failed to intimate the court with evidences not to

grant the accused bail. The respondent was not even represented during the court proceeding. Before granting the bail application, the defence counsel to the BZM, Njoku, argued that his clients did not commit any crime against the state as they were not caught with any weapon of destruction like gun, axe, club, machete, etc and for this reason, their action did not constitute insurrection neither were they angling for war. Speaking shortly after the court ruling, the secondin-command of the group, Charles Edeson, expressed

joy that his members would breath fresh air again after being in detention for so long a time.

on the ministry’s plan to rehabilitate some displaced Okader riders who were rendered jobless following the ban on the use of motorcycles in the state metropolis last July. The house also, yesterday, directed the House Committee on Commerce and Industry to find out to what extent state-owned companies and industries were privatised. Speaker of the house, Hon. Eugune Odo, said the directive became imperative following series of petitions his office has received on the methodology adopted by the committee setup by the state government to privatise those companies and ordered the committee to report back to the house in two weeks.

he Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has said that it collected N659.1bn as Value Added Tax (VAT) in 2011, representing 400 per cent increase from the N163.3 billion collected in 2004. FIRS’s Acting Executive Chairman, Mr. Kabir Mashi, made this known on Monday during its nationwide VAT enlightenment campaign in Aba, Abia State. He said VAT was the third highest contributor to tax revenues in the past eight years behind Petroleum Profits Tax and Company Income Tax. Represented by the FIRS South Zonal Coordinator, Government Business Tax Office (GBTO), Mr. Jombo Olasehinde, Mashi said revenue from VAT could still be improved upon. He said a review of the country’s VAT Act would cater for any loophole in its current form. “FIRS is aware of the challenges faced by taxpayers in complying with our VAT laws and this realisa-

tion is what is compelling a review of our current VAT Act,” he said. Acting executive chairman said more educative platforms would be provided for taxpayers on the nation’s VAT laws, adding that interactive meetings would be held to proffer suggestions on the best possible way to improve tax administration and compliance in the country. The FIRS Aba Tax Controller, Dr Joe Udo-Inyang, who represented Mr. Onyedikachi Ihedioha, the FIRS Coordinating Director, Direct Report Group, said more advocacies about paying one’s taxes were still necessary. He said in spite of FIRS’s core drive for revenue, the agency still owed the public a duty to educate them on their rights, obligations and about the enabling national tax laws. “It is in line with this desire that FIRS in 2010 created a Taxpayers Service Policies, Processes and Programmes Department (TSPPPD),” he said.

Tension as govt demolishes 1, 000 shops at Obitsha market

NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

here was tension yesterday at the Bridgehead drugs market, Onitsha, Anambra State, following the demolition of two whole blocks in the market containing over 1, 000 shops, by agents of the state. The drug dealers had come to the market yesterday morning to carry out their normal business, only

to discover to their chagrin that their shops had been pulled down at about 4.00am and they went into rampage. National Mirror gathered that the state government has identified the demolished portion as a service lane and consequently directed the local government authorities within Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Ogbaru and Oyi to carry out the demolition exercise with immediate effect.

Speaking on behalf of the local government authorities, the Chairman of Oyi Local Government Area Transition Committee, Chief Charles Okafor, said the demolished block fell into the service lane of the Bridge-head-Upper Iweka end of the EnuguOnitsha dual carriageway, adding that efforts are being made by the state government to beautify the city.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South South

Wednesday December 12, 2012

Edo guber: Classmate testifies for Oshiomhole As tribunal adjourns to Jan 10

SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

do State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal yesterday adjourned to January 10, 2013 for the adoption of addresses by the four contending legal parties. However, before the adjournment, the tribunal heard the testimony of another star witness listed by Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. At the resumed hearing of the petition filed by Ma-

jor-General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, a university lecturer, Prof. Phillip Agbebaku, told Justice Mu’azu Pindiga and other members of the tribunal that Oshiomhole was his classmate at the Blessed Martins Secondary Model School in Jattu, Uzairue, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State from 1963 to 1965. Agbebaku also told the tribunal that the governor was known as Adams Aliu when he was in school then. He, however, said he was

not surprised that he is now known as Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole because, according to him, people add to or subtract from their names as they grow older. Citing his own case, he said he was formerly known as Sunday Phillip Agbebaku but later dropped Sunday from his credentials. He added that the dropped name did not detract from his credentials and quality of education. Under cross-examination by the petitioner’s counsel, Chief Efe Akpofure (SAN) on whether the results obtained by Osh-

iomhole from Ruskin College, Oxford, the United Kingdom was equivalent to a secondary school certificate, Agbebaku said the courses listed in the certificate were higher than secondary school subjects and were university courses. He said: “My Lord, Industrial Relations, Industrial Sociology and Industrial Economics are all university courses and are far, far higher than Senior Secondary School certificate subjects and cannot be taught in a school lower than the equivalent of a university.” Speaking further, Agbebaku, an expert in Inter-

national Relations, said the power to evaluate the equivalents of results or certificates was appropriately vested in a section of the Federal Ministry of Education, adding that as a professor, he had the knowledge to rate the equivalents of certificates. He concluded that the petitioner, Airhiavbere, was entitled to hold his opinion about Oshiomhole’s certificate after maintaining that the governor was the same person as the Adams Aliu, who was his classmate at the Blessed Martins Secondary Model School at Jattu in Uzairue.

NUJ demands SSS men’s prosecution for assaulting journalist TONY ANICHEBE UYO

igeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Akwa Ibom State chapter, has demanded the immediate prosecution of the State Security Service, SSS, operatives who reportedly assaulted the state correspondent of The Nation newspapers, Mr. Kazeem Ibrahim. The chapter Chairman, Comrade Joe Effiong, made the demand when he led journalists on a protest march to the Government House, Willington Bassey Way, Uyo, yesterday. Effiong named the two SSS operatives as Mr. Shola Aguda and Mr. Charles Anyanwu. He said the continuous manhandling of journalists in the state by security operatives during state government functions led to the protest. Effiong, who presented a letter of protest to Governor Godswill Akpabio through the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umana, said: “The state government should intervene in the current anomalous situation by calling security operatives to order. “The press community in the state will resort to a total boycott of all government events if it continues to suffer such indignities. “We consider the latest incident as one too many and seriously frown on the over-zealousness exhibited by some security operatives at state events. “The press is not a security threat but has a sacred duty of purveying information for the public good.”

Journalists in Akwa Ibom State protesting assaults on newsmen by the State Security Service operatives at the entrance to the Government House in Uyo, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Delta approves N1.2bn for pension arrears –Uduaghan

elta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has approved N1.2 billion for the payment of pension arrears in the state. He also directed that the payment of the arrears begins this month. Uduaghan, who disclosed this yesterday in Asaba when the executive of the State Union of Pensioners paid him a courtesy visit, said the money approved would cover the 6 per cent and 15 per cent increases in the pensioners’ emoluments. The governor attributed the delay in the payment of arrears to the discrepancies in the actual number of pensioners and assured them that everything would be done to make them comfortable. Uduaghan explained that the arrears were not paid before now because the government had to conduct a screening exercise to ascertain the ac-

tual figure of pensioners, adding that it was already working out modalities for the payment. He said: “We will pay you the arrears; we are working out the modalities for the payment. The N1.2 billion has been approved since August 2011, we will begin the payment this month.” The governor also charged the pensioners to help government sort out the fake names that were

responsible for the bloated and bogus figures. He said: “We have conducted screening exercises in the state. In the first exercise, about 5,000 pensioners were captured while in the second exercise, we got about 9,700 pensioners but only 7,000 were physically sighted.” Uduaghan said the total number of pensioners in the state was yet to be ascertained, adding that the

capturing exercise was a continuous process. The governor assured pensioners that his administration would regularly pay their monthly pensions without delay. In a brief remark, the Chairman of the union, Comrade Mathias Ubiebi, said they visited the governor to appeal for the payment of the 6 per cent and 15 per cent increases by the state government.

Dickson considers 35% of public office for women EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

head the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, council primaries in Bayelsa State, Governor Seriake Dickson is mulling the 35 per cent affirmative action for women in elective and appointive positions. Calling for gender parity among public office holders in the state, Dickson said this became imperative considering the contributory roles played by women in nation building. It was learnt that the party has postponed the local government primaries. A statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel IworisoMarkson, in Yenagoa, said the postponement of the council primaries was in the interest of the state. The governor appealed to participants in the election to abide by the rules of the game to ensure hitch-free elections. The statement reads in part: “Government wholly identifies with the move by the party to postpone both the councillorship and chairmanship primaries by two days interval from the earlier scheduled dates to the new dates as announced by the party. “Government equally wishes to align with the reasons given by the party for the postponement.”

Dickson

Scrap deputy governor’s office, Ekpenyong tells NASS TONY ANICHEBE UYO

ormer Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chris Ekpenyong, has called on the National Assembly to scrap the office of deputy governor. According to him, this is to eliminate the acrimony, bitterness and crisis associated characterising the relationship between

governors and their deputies across the country. Ekpenyong, who served as a deputy governor during the administration of Ubong Victor Attah between 1999 and 2004, made the call in an interview with journalists in Uyo yesterday. He said: “The governors are power-drunk and do not want to share their office with their deputies. “The drafters and those who pre-consummated the

1999 Constitution never thought it will be a problem. “They never knew that the principals would be power-drunk, but they believed that the office should be shared and that is why the constitution says you cannot be elected governor or president, unless you have somebody as an appendage as deputy or vice as the case may be.” The former deputy said a situation where a deputy

had to wait for his principal to assign responsibilities to his office was the major cause of the problem between the two offices, noting that responsibilities should be spelt out for the office in the constitution, or it should be scrapped. He said: “I think it suggests that the office would be a shared office; vision should be shared and responsibilities must be delegated.

North

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

N4bn fraud: EFCC declares Audu wanted for evading arrest ISE-OLUWA IGE AND OLUFEMI ADEOSUN

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday declared former Governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, wanted. Audu was said to have fled his palatial mansion in Asokoro, Abuja to evade arrest by operatives of the commission. The anti-graft agency said its decision was the last option to bring Audu to justice for allegedly stealing about N4 billion public fund, while he held sway as the governor between 1999 and 2003. Although it was gathered that one of his aides, whose name was not disclosed, was arrested yesterday. However, Audu lashed out at the EFCC over its claim that he fled his Abuja home to evade arrest, saying he was not in Nigeria yesterday in the first instance and that the story being circulated by the commission about him was unfortunate. Audu, who explained that he was in the United Kingdom receiving treatment over an injury he sustained in an accident, said the “cock and bull” story by the EFCC could only be believed if it

•I’m not on the run, says ex-gov were possible for him to be in Nigeria and the United Kingdom at the same time. The former governor, who spoke through his counsel, Chief Mike Abu Ozekhome (SAN), also lampooned the EFCC for claiming that he was wanted for a fresh arraignment in view of the recent ruling of the Supreme Court which cleared the coast for his trial. He said EFCC must not talk about his arrest because the matter the commission claimed he was needed for was a subject of litigation before a competent law court in Lokoja and the Abuja Court of Appeal. The former governor added that any attempt by the anti-graft agency to take any step against him would amount to subjudice. “If they wanted Prince Audu, EFCC does not need to stress itself. Only a phone call to him will do the magic. He is presently in London. He had an accident. EFCC is just a busy-body pretending to work in order to earn the unmerited accolades of Nigerians when, in fact, its men are not doing anything,” Ozekhome said. But the EFCC claimed that it was not aware of any pending case in the alleged

N4 billion fraud against Audu and that he must be arrested anytime, anywhere, he was seen to bring him to justice. The commission said in a statement that “following the escape from arrest of the former Kogi State governor, Abubakar Audu, by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on December 11, 2012, the commission has concluded plans to declare him wanted. “The former governor, alleged to have fraudulently enriched himself to the tune of over N4 billion while he was governor of Kogi State

between 1999 and 2003, fled when operatives of the commission stormed his 32 Suleiman Barau Street, Aso Villa, Asokoro Abuja residence in the early hours of today. “The latest effort to arrest the ex-governor followed a Supreme Court ruling of November 23, 2012, which dismissed the ex-governor’s appeal to continue to protract his corruption trial by EFCC. The Supreme Court ruling therefore clears the way for his fresh arraignment.” “It would be recalled that Audu was arrested in Jos in 2006 after a sixmonth manhunt by opera-

tives of the commission, before his earlier arraignment at the Kogi State High Court on December 1, 2006, on an 80-criminal count charge of conspiracy, fraud, criminal breach of trust and embezzlement of public fund. “The EFCC had, while the case lasted at the High Court, caused issuance of nolle prosequi by the former Attorney-General of Kogi State, Dr. John Alewo Agbonika and the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN) on February 8, 2007 for the case to be discontinued at the Kogi State High Court as the commission claimed to have lost faith in the handling of

the matter by the state High Court.” The statement also quoted the former Kogi State Attorney-General, John Alewo Agbonika, as saying that: “In my capacity as the AG of Kogi State in collaboration with the AGF and by virtue of the power vested in me by Section 211 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and Section 253 of the CPC and all the powers enabling me in that behalf, I, Dr. John Alewo Agbonika hereby inform this honourable court that I no longer intend to continue the prosecution of this case in collaboration with the AGF to whom I had given a fiat to prosecute this case.”

Gunmen kill car dealer in Maiduguri INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

unmen yesterday shot and killed a renowned vehicle dealer, Alhaji Magaji Mai, the owner of Magaji Motors, in Customs area of Maiduguri metropolis. The incident occurred barely 24 hours after the District Head of Dusuman Ward of Jere Local Government Area of Borno State, Zanna Kazala Ali, and his son were shot dead. Mai was the major supplier of Tokumbo cars to the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, government of former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff and the incumbent Governor Kashim Shettima. The assailants trailed the deceased to his office about 11am on the busy Customs Road. It was gathered that the

three gunmen came in a tricycle otherwise known as Keke NAPEP and pretended to be customers. But suddenly, one of them brought out AK47 rifle and opened fire on their victim. A witness, who did not want his name in the print, told journalists that after the gunmen shot the dealer, they fled, leaving him in a pool of blood. The witness said a few minutes after the incident, men of the Joint Task Force, JTF, arrived the scene and took the remains of the deceased to an undisclosed hospital’s mortuary. The JTF spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, could not be reached for confirmation because his phone was switched off, while the Police Commissioner, Mr. Abdullahi Yuguda’s orderly who picked the call said he was in a meeting.

L-R: Obaro of Kabba, Oba Michae l Olobayo; Hon. Yusuf Tajudeen; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal and Kogi State Deputy Governor, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi, at the commissioning and presentation of empowerment equipment, donated by Hon. Tajudeen to his constituents in Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency in Kogi State, recently.

Corruption stunting Nigeria’s growth –Soyinka, Babangida Aliyu of civil ser•Gov seeks reduction in recurrent expenditure emolument vants is unacceptable. PRISCILLA D ENNIS MINNA

oble Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, and Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State have identified corruption as a major hindrance to Nigeria’s development. Both men spoke yesterday at the second Annual MBA National Literary Colloquium in Minna, Niger State. Soyinka, who was the keynote speaker, observed that corruption had assumed a ‘status symbol’ in Nigeria, thereby hampering the country’s growth.

He said abduction, bombing and other vices confronting Nigeria were not sufficient raison d’être to allege marginalisation by any section of the country. Aon his part, Aliyu said the high level of corruption in the country was breeding intergenerational transfer of poverty, hindering development in various spheres of human endeavours. The governor also called for cut in the recurrent expenditure by the federal, state and local governments for the country to experience meaningful. He spoke on the heels

of calls by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor Sanusi Lmido Sanusi and the Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomole for the reduction of the recurrent expenditure by Federal Government as part of measures to end the country’s’ economic woes and stimulate sustainable industrial development. Aliyu said 80 per cent of the Nigeria’s’ income was spent on the payment of the salaries of public sector servants that made up a mere 20 per cent of the over 168 million Nigerians. He said: “The situation where the nation’s revenue is spent on

Under such condition, no meaningful progress will be achieved and we cannot continue to encourage this dependence syndrome where many people depend on government alone to survive.” According to the governor, owing to lack of efficient institutions and legislations to deal with corrupt officials, offenders easily get away with offenses. He said: “We must all become whistleblowers to expose corruption and corrupt officials anywhere they may be found in this nation because the issue is becoming so worrisome.”

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

ABUJA

he Secretary of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Walid Jubrin yesterday revealed that 20 candidates have applied for the post of the chairman of the BoT of the party. Jibrin stated this at the National Secretariat of the PDP when he briefed journalists on the progress made so far for the election. The election of the PDP BoT has been slated for January 8 with former Senate President, Dr. Ken

Politics 16

PDP’s BoT: Twenty candidates apply for chairmanship post … Amaechi leads PDP governors to party headquarters

Nnamani, former BoT chairman, Chief Tony Anenih and former National Chairman of the party, Senator Ahmadu Ali on the frontline. On the PDP BoT chairmanship candidates, Jubrin refused to disclose the names of those that applied for the post, stating that he had not presented

applications and the list to the Board. He, however, stated that not all all applicants were qualified as some of them are not BoT members. Asked if the chairmanship of the PDP BoT would be zoned or if it would be free for all, Jubrin said he does not know the criteria that would be applied.

Much ado about Edo property law

2015: Can PDM swing the pendulum?

OBIORA IFOH

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

He, however, maintained that 98 members of the Board would be expected to decide the fate of who would lead the Trustees. He stated that the list of applicants would be made public after he had presented the list to the Board members individually or collectively and the screening carried out.

According to him, the briefing was necessitated to clear all rumours and speculations concerning who will emerge as the chairman. Since former President Olusegun Obasanjo resigned as the PDP BoT chairman in April this year, the party has not been able to replace him. Also yesterday at the PDP national secretariat, 12 governors visited the secretariat to appeal to the leadership of the National Working Committee

(NWC) to reconsider its decision on Adamawa PDP chapter. The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, who briefed journalists after the meeting stated that the governors have also made commitment to the completion of the party’s national secretariat. Metuh said: “Twelve governors’ representatives came to visit the NWC. They were led by the chairman of the governors’ forum; they expressed their appreciation to the NWC on its reconciliation programme; they informed the NWC of their commitment to the completion of the National Secretariat of the party; and they requested the NWC to revisit the Adamawa PDP crisis.”

Rep seeks foreign intervention to tackle Boko Haram AROWOSOLA TOSIN

D L-R: Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Edmund Allison-Oguru and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Francis Egele in a discussion during the Inauguration ceremony of the Niger Delta University (NDU) Governing Council at Government House in Yenagoa.

Culture of impunity, cause of insecurity – Falana SINA FADARE

uman rights activist and legal luminary, Femi Falana (SAN), has called on the Federal Government to urgently address the culture of impunity which has made the rule of law to be replaced with the rule of the mind in order to address the security challenges in the country. Falana, who said this yesterday in Lagos during the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) 2012 press week lecture, titled “Nigeria’s Democracy and Insecurity: The way forward,” regretted that if the mother of the Minister for Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonj-Iweala, could be kidnapped with

impunity and the military community of Jaji could be bombed by terrorists, it is an indication that the country is at a crossroads. According to him, if all who have been accused of fraud in one form or the other have been brought to book by government, the country would not be witnessing the type of insecurity that have pervaded the land. “It is sad that those who scandalously looted our collective wealth are not prosecuted and the few ones that passed through resemblance of justice was a mockery of the judiciary. It is obvious that the people have no faith in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, therefore insecurity becomes inevi-

table,” Falana noted. Pointing out that successive governments have used religion as political tool to create unending crisis in the country, he said that none of the 36 states of the federation complied with section 10 of the con-

stitution. “If a governor in one of the Northern states could spend N7 billion to send about 2,000 people to Mecca in a year, that shows the level of spending the taxpayers’ money with impunity.”

eputy Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Human Rights, Hon. Rotimi Makinde, has called on world leaders and international organisations to help tackle the growing insecurity in Nigeria occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgency. He made the call at the recnt two-day event on the draft recommendation of the fifth forum on minority issues held at the United Nations office in Geneva, Switzerland. He said: “Nigeria is currently going through security challenges that have

Ihedioha seeks partnership with Canada TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

eputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha yesterday pledged parliamentary co-operation between the House and the Canadian Parliamentary Centre. Ihedioha made the pledge while receiving a Canadian delegation led by the Canadian High

Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Chris Scooter and the President of the Canadian Parliamentary Centre, Mr. Jean-Paul Ruszkowski. The deputy speaker said that a strong partnership with the Canadian Parliament would impact significantly on the growth of the Nigeria parliament. He identified Legislative Compliance, Public Accounts, Appropriation, Finance and Foreign Affairs

Committees as critical committees requiring advancement through Nigeria-Canadian parliamentary ties. “We need to improve on what we are doing currently; partnering with Canadian Parliamentary Centre would provide us the desirable support to advance the performance of our parliament particularly our key committees. We will have a lot to benefit from the partnership,” he said.

as an underlying cause, the alleged marginalisation of certain minorities. What is perceived, as religious violence is often agitation structured around competing identity claims based on ethnicity and the competition for land and other natural resources. “It may interest you to know now that the National Assembly of Nigeria is working on the review of our current constitution, and one of the areas the exercise is resolving is indigeneship of an area, this is expected to address persons who have resided in an area for a continuous long period, and therefore entitle him/her to accruing rights, duties and privileges among other things.” Makinde also called for the help of international organisations in the fight against corruption. “The fight against terrorism in the Northern axis of our country calls for international intervention/immediate rescue. Nigeria should not be left alone in this traumatic period, the responsibility to enhance sustainable peace in our land should be collective and all involving,” he said.

Politics

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

2015: Can PDM swing the pendulum? When associates of the late Gen.Musa Yar’Adua under the auspices of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) converged on Abuja last week, they issued a statement which sounded more like a warning to the political class; that the group will decide the leadership of this nation in 2015. OBIORA IFOH writes on this warning and its implication to the power struggle.

olitical associates and disciples of late Shehu Yar’Adua under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) met in Abuja last week in one of its efforts to ensure that the group is attuned to political dynamics of the nation and it resolved among other things to work together irrespective of party affiliations to enthrone good leadership in Nigeria as a testimony of the philosophy of Yar’Adua for which he paid the supreme sacrifice. The last time this group met was three months ago where a protem National Steering Committee was put in place with Chief Bode Ajewole as chairman, while Engr. Godie Ikechi became the secretary. The meeting tagged ‘A Reunion/Rejuvenation Meeting’ of the PDM was to provide a forum for the reunion of old members of the movement and also bring on board new members. The group also presented a roadmap for its immediate future activities, among which is a proposed National Summit on “The State of the Nation”. The PDM resolved to rekindle among its members the spirit of national unity, promotion of peace and good governance. The meeting set the tone for last weekend’s gathering tagged ‘Consolidation Meeting’ which witnessed an amazing overflow of the disciples of the late sage, where Ajewole proclaimed that the political association will decide the leadership of this country in 2015 and shall not be used as a mere rubber stamp. He said: “At the appropriate time, both the leadership and members shall have the opportunity of coming together to decide our collective political direction. One thing certain is that we are nobody’s surrogates. We are focused to carry everybody along when it is time to take decision on political direction.” Ajewole said that the gathering was intended to showcase the PDM’s strength and capacity and to convince Nigerians that they are truly back on the political landscape of this country and that it remains as potent as ever. He said: “It is our obligation to endeavour to continue with the task of completing the bridge of Nigerian unity. The Yar’Adua political movement is primarily concerned with the well-being of ordinary Nigerians based on absolute resolve to serve as the conscience of the Nigerian masses, without regard for ethnicity, religion or tribal divides, we cannot afford to be docile or

Jonthan

Atiku

ONE CERTAIN THING IS THAT WE ARE NOBODY’S

SURROGATES.

WE ARE

FOCUSED TO CARRY EVERYBODY ALONG WHEN IT IS TIME TO TAKE DECISION ON POLITICAL DIRECTION show indifference to the prevailing ravaging waves of terrorism, poverty, kidnapping and armed robbery in our land.” Former Vice-President Atiku Abubarkar also admonished members not to allow the vision of the founder to die as PDM remains the greatest and largest political movement in Africa and formed the bedrock of the largest political party in Africa, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He equates PDM to the Tea Party in the Republican Party which influences most of the thinking and vision of the Republican Party in United States, saying the movement should revive and bring to bear the ideology and philosophy of PDM on the party! To achieve this, he suggested that all the leaders of PDM present should go back to their states and ensure that PDM establishes branches all over the local government areas to the ward levels and that the Steering Committee should scout and work with those that have political relevance in their various areas to bring this philosophy to bear on PDP. This action, according to Abubakar, becomes imperative considering the fact that PDP has lost ground in the South-West and South-East and that “we must do our best to reclaim these areas by 2015.” He further stated that apart from PDP, PDM members form the bedrock of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and other political parties in Nigeria. Also Prince Tonye Princewill, who is

the chairman of the Media committee, described the PDM Consolidation Meeting as timely and decisive and as a means of bringing PDP back to the people and making those who founded PDP to revive and bring to bear the vision of the founding fathers on the party.

Can PDM live their threat? Two prominent figures in the group are obviously Atiku and Chief Tony Anenih. Both men are known to have different political interests. The former Vice President is said to be interested in contesting the 2015 presidential election whereas Anenih is also one of those supporting the second term presidential ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan. But a member of the Steering Committee who spoke to National Mirror on the condition of anonymity said that a new PDM is evolving where both men will have very little role to play as both men will not be allowed to financially hijack the group. He said that part of the plans of the group to achieve its political goals was to deemphasise on the past and push forward towards mobilising for new membership through their three ‘R’ agenda of Rejuvenation, Reconciliation and Recruitment. According to him, “PDM played a role in the formation of the PDP and after that it was seen as a threat to the PDP. You will recall what transpired between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Atiku which caused the group its relevance. “Presently some people see PDM as Atiku platform for 2015, others see it as Northern agenda while some people see it as Anenih empire but the evolving PDM does not support all those supposition as all those we see as our first 11 have been reduced to advisory role.” In other to put things in their proper perspective, the PDM will by January next year constitute the elders’ council with Anenih tipped to be the chairman; there will also be the management committee which will be in charge of daily activities of the group. Anenih had, however, denied being considered for the position. Princewill told National Mirror that the

personality crisis within the rank of their leaders are being handled in-house as every member is committed to ensuring the success of the PDM agenda. He stated that the PDM last outing was in 1999 after it succeeded to enthrone former President Obasanjo. “When Atiku contested in 2007, PDM was not united and I can tell you that members are not happy with all the leaders. “PDM is existing in every state, every local government and every ward in Nigeria but there has not been any regrouping. PDM is not a threat to anybody but a solution to the threat. Its main agenda presently is to reconcile the present and the past as well as reconcile whatever misgivings or impression that the group is supporting one individual against the other.” He, however, noted that in the past there were much rancour, division and suspicion amongst the members but presently these ills have been subjected to the superior motives of the group and that “there is need for PDM to start mending fences.”

PDM and Northern Agenda It is still not clear whether the group will file behind the incumbent president if he decides to run in 2015 but flicks from some of its members appear to suggests that President Jonathan may not get its blessing after all. Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Switzerland and founding member of the PDP, Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, a few days ago said that PDM is regrouping to checkmate the 2015 ambition of President Jonathan because he reneged on his promise to run for one tenure. He accused President Jonathan of taking the North for granted, adding that he became the president of the country on the basis of give and take and on the agreement that he would not contest the 2015 election on the ticket of the PDP. He added further that it would be morally wrong for Jonathan to offer himself for another tenure on the ticket of the same political party. Kwande, who also accused Obasanjo of rewarding good for evil, said the PDM was a political pressure group that stabilised the government of the former president and gave it a lifeline, adding that most members of the group in his cabinet were sacked at the inception of his second term in office, as a result of his political difference with Abubakar, a PDM leader. In spite of Kwande’s position, Princewill still thinks that PDP has not made up its mind on which course to take. He said: “PDM as currently constituted is neither pro-Jonathan or pro-Atiku or has nobody in mind to support or promote for 2015 but is ready to work with any candidate that will have a programme that will take this country to another level. In other words, its principal mission is to make PDP more acceptable, accessible, visionary, egalitarian and focussed party.” As the march to 2015 commences, the various interests on who occupies the presidency are expected to begin to manifest and it is certain that the political associations like PDM known in the past for its feat in successfully enthroning leadership will take a centre-stage and such group can only be ignored at one’s peril.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Politics

One issue currently generating concern in Edo State is the Land Use Charge (property tax). SAMUEL EGUAIKHIDE, a public affairs analyst based in Ekpoma, in this piece, canvasses support for the legislation.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Much ado about Edo property law

hen Governor Adams Oshiomhole mounted the saddle as governor of Edo State in November 2008, he met Edo in a sorry state. Infrastructure was in shambles. The roads were impassable; the schools were not even fit for chickens; the state-owned hospitals and health centres were at best death centres; industries were shut and non-functional; unemployment was at its highest level as previous governments had imposed a freeze on fresh employment; workers and pensioners were owed months of arrears of salaries and pension; water was a scarce resource in parts of the state, especially, Edo Central and the state was bleeding from corrupt practices from those who were at the helm. What the governor did was to first plug the loophole of corruption and reversed the trend when recurrent votes outweighed capital votes. In his first four years in office, Oshiomhole has lived up to his promise to the people of the state that the decay in which the previous government left the state would be reversed. Today, the people have seen that government can really work for them. The success story of the Oshiomhole administration is felt in all parts of the state, from Benin City, the state capital to Ososo in Akoko Edo; from Uromi in Esan NorthEast to Ozalla in Owan West. The report is the same: Oshiomhole is working. Roads are being constructed across the three senatorial districts, which has made some to say that Edo is now a giant construction site; schools are being rebuilt with red aluminium roofs, PVC ceilings, tiled floors, aluminium windows and white boards, making public schools in the state comparable to anyone anywhere in the world; flood which used to be a perennial problem in Benin City, is now being tackled through a comprehensive storm water master plan; water problem in parts of the state, especially Edo Central, where the water level is low and the topography difficult, is now being tackled, as water now flows in Ekpoma, Iruekpen and other parts of Edo Central, which had no water for upwards of 35 years. The water problem is being tackled by the high-tech dando water drilling rigs which can drill for up to 1,500 metres. In the area of health care, the mother and child hospitals at Ewohinmi, Auchi, Otuo stand out as standard general hospitals which can be compared with anyone anywhere in the country, and work on the five-star 120-bed hospital complex at the Central Hospital would have been completed but for an unfortunate setback. The work the governor is doing across the state has no doubt attracted comments from far and wide, from the clergy to the experts; from the trader to the ordinary man on the street. To the Chief Imam of Benin, Alhaji Abdul-Fattah Enabulele, “the new Edo State is working and in all directions, there are landmark changes taking place.”

L-R: Secretary to the Edo State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere; Governor Adams Oshiomhole; his Deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu and Chairman, Edo State Board of Internal Revenue,Oseni Elamah during a Town Hall meeting with taxpayers in the state in Benin City, yesterday.

The World Bank in its assessment of Oshiomhole’s government through its Country Director, Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly said: “I have done my homework before coming and I have noticed that Edo State’s social indicators are above the national average. I would like to commend you on your performance and to encourage you to continue, because you can certainly do even more.” The traders at the New Lagos street area of the state capital, led by their president, David Ohenhen, had this to say as well: “We appreciate what the governor is doing in the state and we will give him full support.” A respected Benin Chief, Chief Nosakhare Isekhure, the Isekhure of Benin on his part said that “there is no person in the history of Bendel and Edo states that has performed so well as Oshiomhole. For the first time in the history of Edo State, market women pray every day that God will help Oshiomhole sustain the level of development.” Now, to meet the expectation of the people by sustaining the development and even propel the state to a higher level, the governor must have the financial resources at his disposal. The monthly handout from the federation account from Abuja will not do the magic the people want in the transformation of the state. What is required of a right-thinking government is to look at ways of generating revenue internally to fund projects in the state. This, the governor has done. The governor has signed into law the Land Use Charge or the Property Law, which is already applicable in many countries of the world and some states in the country. According to Wikipedia, “a property tax (or millage tax) is a levy on property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it

may be paid to a national government, a federated state, a county/region, or a municipality.” Advanced economies are run on taxes, and for any economy to develop, the people cannot shy away from taxes. This is what Governor Oshiomhole, in his deep commitment to develop the state, has done, by introducing the Land Use Charge (property tax) which is generating different reactions from people in the state. For the avoidance of doubt, the tax law in the state is not targeted at the middle class or the poor. It is only targeted at those who use land in excess of 100 feet by 100 feet. According to the provisions, of the tax law, Section 9 sub-section 1(a)(i) deals with exemption from property tax. The exemptions, places of worship as well as public cemeteries and burial grounds are exempted from the tax law. Also exempted are public libraries, official palaces of recognised traditional rulers; any property specifically exempted by the governor and published in the state government’s official gazette; owner-occupier residential property of 100 feet by 100 feet maximum in a non-choice area of an urban area and 100 feet by 100 feet in a nonchoice area in a rural setting. Community property, solely for community meetings; owner-occupier pensioner property and owner-occupier over 60 years old and family compounds are also exempted. From the exemptions listed in the Land Use Charge, more than 95 per cent of people in the state will not be affected by the law. In fact, only a negligible percentage of super-rich persons in the state, who own mansions and chalets from street to street, from village to village and have nearly turned into tax masters by collecting land rents from farmers and super landlords through the collection of rents from their various buildings will be affected by the

NIGERIANS DON’T LIKE TO PAY TAX. IT IS

THEREFORE NOT SURPRISING THAT THE SUPERRICH, AFFECTED BY THE NEW TAX LAW, HAVE MOBILISED FORCES AGAINST THE LAW

new law. It is matter of fact that Nigerians don’t like to pay tax. It is therefore not surprising that the super-rich, affected by the new tax law, have mobilised forces against the law. However, rather than take the law into their hands, the law itself made provisions for a property-owner to appeal against the assessment of his property. The aggrieved property owner, if dissatisfied with the classification, valuation or even calculation of the amount to be paid, has a right to appeal to the Land Use Tribunal, which shall sit on the case. And if the property owner is again dissatisfied with the tribunal ruling, he may appeal to the state High Court. Since the properties to be assessed and taxed are based in the local governments, which make up the state, each local government, according to the law, will have its agreed share of the tax collected from its area. What the Land Use Charge Law seeks to do is consolidate all land-based rates and charges into a single charge. What this means therefore, and which the law explains at Section 22 is that “the provisions of the tenement rates law and any amendments made pursuant thereto shall cease to apply.” The charges provided by the Land Use Charge Law is so negligible that one wonders why someone would even kick against a law meant to fast-track the development of the state. According to the law, the charge on a commercial property is 0.422 per cent; on a residential property (commercial) 0.20 per cent; industrial premises of manufacturing concern 0.25 per cent and ownersoccupied residential property in excess of 100 feet by 100 feet 0.04 per cent. What this means is that an industrial premises of manufacturing concern, for instance, which is evaluated at N45 million will only pay, at 0.25 per cent tax, a negligible N112, 500 per annum as land use charge, while a residential property in excess of 100 feet by 100 feet if evaluated at N5 million will only pay N2,000 per annum. These charges are too negligible to cause the brouhaha which has greeted the law since its passage.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Views

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

INEC and deregistration of political parties PUBLIC DOMAIN

DELE

SETEOLU

deleseteolu@nationalmirroronline.net (08033137577 SMS only)

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has deregistered 28 political parties. This act has provoked a fresh debate on party registration, democracy and the rule of law in the country. INEC had relied on section 78(7) (2) of the Electoral Act 2011 (as amended) to de-register minor parties, which it considered unable to secure at least a seat in the National Assembly or state House of Assembly. The INEC decision contradicts the 2002 Supreme Court judgment on the expansion of the political space. We should recall that the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), represented by the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, got a favourable judgement debarring INEC from deregistering or delisting certain political parties, saying it had no such powers. It ruled that INEC had the power to register the flag, logo, constitution of a political party that seeks registration. Coincidentally, the National Conscience Party (NCP) has filed a suit at the Federal High Court on the alleged plan of INEC to deregister

it. I would have preferred the NCP sought interpretation of the 2002 Supreme Court judgement rather than file a new case at the high court. INCE decision is retrogressive, ahistoric, undemocratic, authoritarian and should be contested by democrats in this country. The Electoral Act, which INEC relies on, is not superior to the 1999 Constitution as amended. The Nigerian 1999 Constitution provides the right to associate. In other words, individuals and groups could coalesce into a political association or party when certain interests are shared. The constitution supersedes the Electoral Act to the extent of its inconsistency. I appreciate the fact that minor parties are docile and barely active at general elections. More so, the nation, through INEC, gives annual grant to the parties. These are not sufficient to deregister the parties. The electorate, through election, ought to determine which party survives or dissolves. The argument in the public domain on a long list of parties’ symbols on ballot paper and its cost implication is not sustainable. It is not an adequate premise to compromise the democratic process. I will prefer that INEC discontinue the funding of parties (if it is still doing so) in preference for self funding. This should foster commitment of the membership, challenge the organizational capacity of the parties to mobilize and prudently manage funds. This arrangement will

THE DEMOCRATIC SPACE OUGHT NOT TO BE CONTRIVED OR EMASCULATED

THROUGH THE DEREGISTRATION PROCESS likely reduce money politics and the hijack of party structures by godfathers and money bags. I will recall that the political parties in the Second Republic relied on internal funding sources. The defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), for instance, had fee paying members. It fostered discipline, sense of ownership and commitment to the party’s world view. It is significant to provide historical backdrops to vitiate INEC’S decision to deregister 28 political parties. The United States has 37 political parties, though the Democratic and Republican parties are dominant. Britain, with 64 million people, has 417 political parties. Nigeria’s First Republic had unrestrained number of minor parties on the bases of the 1960 and 1963 constitutions. The minor parties included the United Middle Belt Congress, Northern Elements Progressive Union and the Dynamic Party. The fore going suggests that political parties evolve and not decreed by a ‘leviathan’. The parties’ existence is guaranteed by the grundnorm of the country and not

tied to electoral successes. The democratic space ought not to be contrived or emasculated through the deregistration process. A political party is equally not obliged to contest national elections. It may choose to pre-occupy itself with local elections or specific local issues. For instance, the Green party in Britain, is largely engaged with environmental issues. INEC should shift its emphasis to improving the list of registered voters, secure e-voting, reduce violence at elections and improve on logistics, especially in coastal areas and semi arid regions. It should expose and deal with corrupt electoral officers, who connive with parties to subvert the electoral process. The autonomy of INEC will be enhanced when the appointment of its chairman is conferred on the National Assembly as against the Presidency. The parties and civil society organizations should be represented in INEC with a view to achieving transparency, accountability and de-politicization. The INEC decision has raised fear of democratic reversal or de-democratization among certain scholars. There are few questions raised by this development. First, is the country into democratic consolidation? Second, is Nigeria democratizing or a real democracy? The resultant debates cannot be exhausted in this edition. We would engage these issues sometimes in the future. We insist that INEC decision is a setback to democracy and should be reversed without delay.

Aregbesola and his silent revolution YOMI OBADITAN

he average American would lift up his/her head high, whenever an uncommon feat is achieved and shout, “you aren’t seen nothing yet”. So it is in the State of Osun, where the action governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s performance is currently both creating waves and troubling the main opposition party that was unseated in 2007 but held on for another three years before shown the way out via a court verdict. The Aregbesola government has since resumed action in bring about a total transformation of the state while the losers are busy telling the world that there is nothing to show for the two years of having him on the saddle. Ironically, only the PDP has refused to see roads that were being constructed here and there in all the local government areas of the state. Even if they cannot or refuse to look at those good roads they can feel the smooth rides that are different from the past bumping and dusting that characterized their administration. The Aregbesola’s achievements are beyond rhetoric; they are the reality of a man who has been tested and trusted in Lagos. Interestingly, Chief Ebenezer Babatope aka Ebinotopsy, a member of PDP Board of Trustees, had warned his party about this man coming from Lagos, concluding that he would replicate the Lagos magic in State of Osun for all to see. Prophetically, the man Aregbesola came, he saw and conquered.

WHILE THE OYINLOLA OLAGUNSOYE ADMINISTRATION SPENT

N64 MILLION

IN CLOSE TO EIGHT

YEARS, THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT SPENT

N224 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR The Ogbeni I know is a tireless man, a man who can work round the clock yet still be bobbling with life. Let the opposition ask the 20,000 youths he employed under the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (O’YES) whom they PDP accused of being paid a paltry sum of N10, 000 per month. Let our friends on the opposition ask the 3,000 bees farmers who are employers of labour now. They may need to ask the 376,000 pupils that are fed and still being fed by the Aregbesola government daily at the primary schools; the opposition will need to investigate the truth behind the increase in the fund expended on primary schools. While the Oyinlola Olagunsoye administration spent N64 million in close to eight years, the present government spent N224 million in the first year. The leap in the quality of primary school education in the state is overwhelming.

The best Commissioner for Education award has just been given to the dynamic Deputy Governor, who doubles as the state Education Commissioner. Yet friends on the other side said they have not seen any good work done by the Aregbesola government. What about the drastic reduction in school fees and levies in tertiary institutions, and the prompt payment of bursary awards? The government’s intervention in agriculture, through Rural Empowerment Agricultural Programmes (O’REAP), has not only transformed the rural areas but is also producing young farmer millionaires in the state. The opposition will have to call these young men and women that have benefitted from this farm projects to believe the revolution. The social engineering being done by the Ogbeni Aregbesola Administration will tell it all how people now undergo behavioral change that makes for what is socially permissible in the land of ‘Omoluabi’. No one can claim that he is being witchunt today. Freedom to criticize the government is without limit. The state is moving along the path of progress and transformation. How about security of life and properties? The governor inaugurated the state’s security squad called Swift Action Squad (SAS) and made it a highly mobile force provided with the latest in security technology. The Osun people can now sleep with their two eyes closed. There is another aspect of security (social security) that is receiving the attention of the government. The vulnerable aged among the

people of the state are placed on a monthly stipend of N10, 000, while some others receiving other forms of assistance from the state government. His commendable battle to rid the state of the menace of flood has earned the government the Federal Ministry of Environment award of the Best Government in Environmental Sanitation. Ogbeni Aregbesola’s proactive intervention won for the state a deserving reprieve from nature-induced flooding this year. Before this intervention the state was perennially at the mercy of flooding. The day of reckoning is fast approaching and the people will put the Aregbesola regime on the peoples’ court and those of us that have eyes to see will be in a better position to determine whether this government has done what is worth doing or not, only then are we going to know those who have eyes but could not see. We do not expect people whose minds are beclouded by the defeat of the 2007 election and the guilt of stolen mandate that was retrieved by the court for the rightful owner to see and feel the impact of Aregbesola revolution. Friends on the other side, I say once again that you aren’t seen nothing yet. Obaditan, wrote from Lagos Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

Editorial

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

All the Facts, All the Sides A PUBLICATION OF GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LTD BARRISTER JIMOH IBRAHIM, OFR PUBLISHER

STEVE AYORINDE

MD/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

YELE AKINROLABU

ED OPERATIONS

SEYI FASUGBA

DAILY EDITOR

BOLAJI TUNJI

SUNDAY EDITOR

GBEMI OLUJOBI

SATURDAY EDITOR

DOZIE OKEBALAMA

COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD

ADESOYE ADEKOYA

CONTROLLER, PRODUCTION

CALLISTUS OKE

EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR

ISE-OLUWA IGE

ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF

KAYODE BALOGUN JNR

SM, STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT

FRANK OBOH

HEAD, GRAPHICS

FG’s review of Ribadu Committee report

he tell-tale stories dogging the report of the Nuhu Ribadu–led Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force (PRSTF) on alleged frauds and under-hand dealings in the nation’s oil sector has been of concern to many Nigerians. The thinking in many quarters is that the Federal Government which raised the PRSTF is not quite at ease with the damning content of the report. Following intense public criticisms on perceived FG’s prevarication in dealing with the meat of the report, the government, according to reports, set up another committee recently, headed by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu to review the original report. Unsurprisingly, not only has the curious move to review the report added to public apprehension that the government is up to something fishy, but also the headship of the committee charged with the assignment. A civil society group, the Anti Corruption Network (ACN), for example, had kicked against the FG’s choice of Wogu as the chairman of the review panel and urged President Goodluck Jonathan to remove the labour minister as the committee’s chairperson. The ACN premised its suspicion of Wogu on the minister’s deep interest in Pinnacles Nigeria Limited, a downstream oil firm alleged to have benefitted N2.7 billion in fuel subsidy

WE IMPLORE THE FG TO URGENTLY DO THE NEEDFUL, WHICH IS

REVIEWING WOGU’S HEADSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE frauds. Indeed, ACN wanted Wogu stripped of his exalted position as minister over his purported link with a company that allegedly perpetrated subsidy fraud against the government and Nigerian people. In his response, however, Wogu denied the ownership of Pinnacles Nigeria Limited and claimed the company was sold to Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited in March 2010. According to him, the ownership of the company (Pinnacles Nigeria Limited) had exchanged hands and the owners of Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited had since taken the full responsibility of running the business without recourse to him (Wogu). The management of Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited also corroborated Wogu’s position. It is on record, however, that in response to public protests and cries against the regime of fraud in the downstream oil sector and the removal of so-called fuel subsidy last January, the Jona-

than administration set up some committees, one of which was the PRSTF headed by Ribadu, a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to examine transactions in the sector. The committee submitted its report under contrived, controversial circumstances, which the public suspected were meant to diminish the authenticity of the truths as were laid bare by the Ribadu committee. And now, another committee has been set up to review the original report. And curiously, the review committee is headed by a serving minister whose company once had something to do with the dubious regime of fuel subsidy, even if it is remotely. But despite the unjustified and objectionable headship of the review committee, the President ‘s Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, insisted his boss had no ulterior motive about the Ribadu Committee report. Okupe claimed lately that the discrepancy in the original report submitted by Ribadu to the president was responsible for the delay in addressing the issues raised in the report. Not yet forgotten, however, was how a member of the Ribadu Committee, in fact the Deputy Chairman, Steve Oronsaye, who was allegedly absent from the committee’s meetings most times, fought spiritedly to rub-

bish the report before President Jonathan on the very day Ribadu presented it. Mr. Oronsaye is on the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), a prime subject of the PRSTF investigation. This appears the major reason Jonathan’s choice of Wogu as the right candidate to head the panel constituted to review the report is quite unsettling. If the government is not trifling with the report, the least it should have done is to appoint a neutral body to head the review committee, certainly not the labour minister whose former company’s role in subsidy frauds is still contentious. We implore the FG to urgently do the needful, which is reviewing Wogu’s headship of the committee if the product of the latter is expected to enjoy any semblance of credibility and integrity. Those seeking equity should approach it with clean hands. We reject the Presidency’s choice of literally allowing Wogu to be a judge in his own cause. Many Nigerians are deeply pained by the massive frauds and general rot in the oil sector. They view the Ribadu report as farreaching and truthful. The widely-held belief is that if firmly and fully implemented, the large scale stealing and waste in the oil sector will be minimized. The FG should do nothing to harm this public expectation.

ON THIS DAY December 12, 2000 The United States’ Supreme Court released its decision in the Bush v. Gore legal battle. The court decision effectively resolved the dispute surrounding the 2000 presidential election in favor of George W. Bush. Only eight days earlier, the US Supreme Court had unanimously decided the closely related case of Bush v. Palm Beach County Canvassing Board, 531 U.S. 70 (2000), and only three days earlier, had preliminarily halted the vote recount in Florida.

December 12, 1964 Prime Minister Jomo Kenyatta became the first President of the Republic of Kenya. Kenyatta (1894 – 1978) served as the first Prime Minister (1963–1964) and President (1964–1978) of Kenya. An African socialist, he is considered the founding father of the Kenyan nation. In Kenya, Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi’s main street and main streets in many Kenyan cities and towns, etc., are named after him.

December 12, 1098 First Crusade: Massacre of Ma’arrat al-Numan – Crusaders breached the town’s walls and massacred about 20,000 inhabitants. After finding themselves with insufficient food, they resorted to cannibalism. The First Crusade (1096–1099) was a military expedition by Roman Catholic Europe to regain the Holy Lands taken in the Muslim conquests of the Levant (632–661), ultimately resulting in the recapture of Jerusalem in 1099.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Health & Wellbeing Nigerian emerges 100 millionth person to receive meningitis vaccine

We are inviting deafness –ENT Surgeon

NIGERIAN PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED CRY OUT

We are being humiliated! L ATEEFAH IBRAHIM-ANIMASHAUN

ight complexioned Ogunronmbi Omodele is a vibrant young woman. With a dazzling radiant smile playing on her lips as she interacts with people around her, it’s not difficult to see why people are so easily attracted to her. Only a closer look will reveal her pains. She is confined to the wheel chair, having lost the use of her two legs. It’s obvious however that Omodele, being as lively person, would ordinarily have put her disability behind her if the society would just give a little thought to her plight. Like every physically challenged persons in Nigeria, she has to, on a daily basis, contend with the frustration of living in a society that has little or no consideration for her needs. And that is a major problem she is determined to end. Omodele is the Coordinator of the Centre for Citizens with Disability (CCD). She is one out of millions of Nigerians with one form of disability or the other who have to rely on their wit, ingenuity and sometimes physical struggle to carry out some daily activities often taken for granted by able bodied individuals in the society. She was at the Osun hall, Lagos Airport Hotel venue of this year’s World Disability Day marked recently by the National Handicap Carers Association of Nigeria (NAHCAN). Entering the venue was a struggle for her and other members of the association. In fact, the plethora of complaints began from there. Speakers after speakers disclosed that even as Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark the day, most physically challenged people have been deprived entry into public buildings like banks, media houses, schools and all other buildings due to the way the structures are built with little or no consideration for the physically challenged – and these are just a tip of the numerous forms of discrimination and inhuman treatments that physically challenged people in Nigeria have to face every day. “Our needs are not being catered for in the country and both the federal and state governments do not want to be associated with us,” Meshack Solomon, the Social Coordinator of NAHCAN lamented. “Majority of us cannot use the Lagos roads without needing help from people. Even pedestrian bridges are not suitable for us. We can’t move freely without guidance from friends and family. It makes

Mr. Adeyanju, President NAHCAN

Disabled Nigerian athletes lifting Nigeria high at the London Paralympic Games 2012

you feel sad all the time.” Solomon also cited government’s high rise buildings in different parts of the country built without lifts and ramps to facilitate the movement of the disabled and declared: “We are being marginalized and humiliated most times“ NAHCAN President Adeyanju Adewale agreed with him. For instance, he said, the government at all levels in the country, never deem it necessary to attend any event organised by the association whenever they are invited. He therefore called on the government to stop paying lip service to the yearnings of the disabled, especially at a time when there is insecurity in the country and anyone could become disabled at any time. “We have no jobs and this is turning more people to beggars. The Government’s insensitivity could actually make such people turn to crime if care is not taken. This is why NAHCAN is striving to empower the handicapped masses through creation of Information Communication Technology Centre for the physically challenged but then, our government is not giving the expected support”. He commended Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola for giving the association an Office. He would however love to see more assistance from government at all levels. “They must come to the rescue of the disabled as they are being neglected in the country,” he lamented. Adeyanju further disclosed that there had been reported cases of landlords refusing to rent their properties to dis-

abled persons. He cited an instance where a family was ejected because a disabled relation came to live with them. “The psychological trauma this disabled man went through is better imagined. This has led many disabled persons to take refuge under bridges without being thugs or criminals. “There should be a legislation that ensures that all vehicles imported for the purpose of public transportation are made accessible to the disabled which will help them make a great impact on the competitive world. “The transportation system in Nigeria is inaccessible to us. The public transport in Lagos for example, never stops for commuters to board and disembark. You have to be able to run, jump and trample on others if you have to go in, except the BRT

which now sometimes waits for handicapped persons on rare occasions, depending on the mood of the driver.” The NAHCAN president however believes that the marginalisation of the disabled in Nigeria is due mainly to ignorance and not out of wickedness. According to him, members of the public need to know what to do for their disabled brothers and sisters so as not to jeopardise their right to life. More so, he added, disabled people working in some organizations today have been found to be very efficient and performing maximally in their duties. This, he said, should make both the people and government of Nigeria have a rethink about the plight of the disabled. It’s also one of the many reasons the government should start implementing past legislations made in favour of disabled persons in the country, He reasoned.

MARGINALISED: Some physically challenged Nigerians

Health & Wellbeing

As an ENT surgeon, what do you think of the level of noise in our environment? In Nigeria things are not going the way they should be. When we talk about noise and hearing, it’s all about the ear which is the organ with which we hear. The ear has three parts – the outer ear, middle ear, and the inner ear. The noise, as it were, where it does have more effect is in the inner ear where we have the sensory organ or the main organ of hearing. There are minute hairs there that actually link the neural pathways to the brain as noise as the case may be. Noise may be in various forms – like generators, aircrafts, machines and of course, the people that sell records. All these things generate forms of noise, but noise becomes injurious when it becomes sustained and greater than 80 decibels so, when somebody is exposed continuously for about 8 hours at decibels above 80, the noise really become injurious. Take for instance, we are supposed to have electricity in this country for twenty-four hours but what we have are just ‘I pass my neighbour’ type of generators in some areas. Assuming that you have this household or in a flat where we have maybe about six tenants each one with his own kind of generating set and NEPA goes off, you know the kind of thing that is generated there. So all these impact on the ear and eventually, because these things are sustained over time, it becomes chronic and damages the hearing organ. You may ask, is their some amount of noise that might not damage the ear? Yes. I’ve said that when we have noise above 80 decibels sustained over a period of eight hours it becomes harmful. Assuming that even the 80 decibels – maybe the person is exposed to it for about an hour and the person goes away from that very environment, there’s what we call temporary thresholds shift, it means that the so called damage produced within this one hour period, if the person goes away from that very environment, the ear can recover. But if the thing persist over a period of time and does not give room for recovery, it becomes permanent so we now begin to say that the person has now gotten noise-induced hearing loss. When you say it becomes permanent what is the consequence? Are you saying the person is deaf? I will not use the word ‘deaf.’ I will say he has a hearing loss. But if it is so prolonged that the normal level of hearing is now so compromised that when you do a pure tone audiometry, the individual pick - even when you give a sound at 100 decibels the person does not even hear it, it then means the person is deaf. Nigerians subject themselves to a loud level of noise every day. Does it mean we are gradually working ourselves to deafness? Definitely. They are beckoning to deafness without knowing it. There’s no way a layman like me can measure the noise level as you have mentioned. How then can we know when the noise level is becoming dangerous?

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

We are inviting deafness –ENT Surgeon In most towns and cities of Nigeria, people are daily being subjected to a cacophony of noise at different levels from record shops, worship places, generators etc. In this interview with SAM EFERARO, Ear, Nose, and throat (ENT) surgeon, Dr. O.G.B Nwaogwu of the ENT Department, University College Hospital (UCH), says such high level of noise is not only injurious to health, but could, over a long period, result in deafness. Excerpts: Dr Nwaogwu

We are supposed to have monitoring and evaluation team from the ministry of health. And we have measuring instruments – sound level meters – that they are supposed to use to check environmental noise. In fact, we are supposed to have an environmental agency... We do have... Yes. These are supposed to be part of their job, but they don’t do these things or even if they do they just look away. There are minimum permissible sound levels. When the thing is more than 30 decibels you shouldn’t allow that not to talk of when the thing now goes to 80. That is one side of it. Have you gone to the production companies – the breweries, mineral producing companies, or the weaving industries? These people use heavy machines but what are the regulatory bodies doing? The workers don’t even use protective devices like ear plugs. Which of the companies provide the devices to their workers? They (regulatory bodies) are supposed to visit these companies and make sure they enforce the regulations but they don’t. Maybe if they go they are compromised. So what can an individual do? It is when the individual is aware that such regulations exist that you will talk of what they can do. People have rights. There’s the Company Protection Act, for instance but are the people working in these companies aware that such an act exist and be able to seek redress? Even where they try to seek redress, these things are covered so it’s a hell of a problem. I don’t know if there are studies to show this but have you observed that Nigerians are generally loud? Yes. If you look at such people, the environment in which they grew up is a noisy environment, and because that has been built into their sub-conscious, that people are not hearing them they tend to talk louder. Talking louder or

TALKING LOUDER OR TRYING TO SHOUT COULD AS WELL BE A POINTER TO THE FACT THAT THE HEARING IS DEFECTIVE trying to shout could as well be a pointer to the fact that the hearing is defective. So, there has been no study on that? Oh there are studies and publications – by Ologe, Lasisi, Showole – to show that we have varieties of hearing loss in various populations. Ours is not an environment where doctors refer patients to specialists so who exactly should manage ear problems. If I notice that my hearing capacity is declining, who do I see? It’s the ENT surgeon. It is the ENT surgeon who will evaluate the patient and determine what the likely cause of hearing loss is. He will then move him (the patient) to the audiologist. The audiologist now assesses the hearing, using special equipment. But do we have enough ENT surgeons and other specialists involved in the management of ear problems in this country? In Nigeria, we have approximately 140 ENT surgeons serving a population of well over 160 million and these people are even based in the urban areas. When you come to the audiologists, we don’t have more than ten real audiologists in this country. Now, there are some people who are learning on the job who have increased the number in this category to about 40 or thereabout. In this kind of situation, what advise will you give to the man on the street

on what to do concerning problems affecting his ears? There is a speciality that is known as ear, nose, throat surgery. When somebody notices that there’s problem with the ear he should ask for appropriate referral to the few that are present. We are trying as much as possible to make sure that we produce more ENT surgeons but we have to ensure that we produce people who, when they go out of the shores of this country, they are able to compete with their colleagues. Given the ratio of these specialists to our population, are they not too busy? They are really busy and some are not too busy because only few people have come to appreciate that there are such ear problems that the doctor (general practitioner) can’t treat. Is there a way we can prevent hearing problems? The problem is from the community up to the Federal level. For the communities where the hospitals are based, Nigeria being what it is, the chemists goes to treat ear problems, the laboratory technologist and the pharmacist treat ear problems not to talk of the general medical practitioner. These people should know their limit and try to refer appropriately. Then the other problem with us in Nigeria is that when somebody has been to a doctor and has been given a particular prescription, the other person that may be having a similar complaint, sometimes long standing, may think that the same drug that was given to his neighbour will also work for him and then may decide to apply and before you know it, things begin to go wrong. Then we need the political class to recognise that such a speciality exist. They should try and encourage people who are in it, give the hospitals the political will to really do something, train people appropriately and provide the equipment with which to work.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Preventing children from injuries (3) C

hildren often fall as they learn to walk, run and jump. Many of these falls cause small scrapes and bruises. Sometimes falls can cause broken bones, head injuries or other serious injuries, even death. Infants left unattended may fall from beds, cots or hammocks. Young children may fall down stairs or from windows or balconies. Children like to climb. They can be seriously injured if they fall from a high place or try to climb up on top of heavy furniture that might fall on them. In addition to supervision, some steps to prevent children from serious falls include: discourage and prevent children from climbing onto unsafe places do not allow children to play on stairs and balconies, and, if they do, watch them closely use railings of appropriate width and height with vertical bars on stairs, windows or balconies keep the home clean, well lit and free of sharp objects and rough edges properly secure babies in high chairs do not leave infants unattended on beds, cots, hammocks or in walkers or other baby equipment keep furniture such as beds, chairs and cribs away from windows do not put toys or other items on high shelves that may attract small children, and fasten heavy furniture such as cabi-

SCIENCE

he use of technology in the classroom is nothing new, but Topcliffe Primary School in Birmingham is breaking new ground by using technology to help pupils with autism communicate more effectively. The school, which teaches around 30 children with various levels of autism, was one of four schools across UK, which participated in the ECHOES research project, jointly funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)

ore than a million people die each year of malaria caused by different strains of the Plasmodium parasite transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito. The medical world has yet to find an effective vaccine against the deadly parasite, which mainly affects pregnant women and children under the age of five. By figuring out how the most dangerous strain evades the watchful eye of the immune system, researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have now paved the way for the development of new approaches to cure this acute infection. Upon entering the bloodstream, the Plasmodium parasite reproduces in the red blood cells and transports its pro-

nets or shelves to the wall. 6. Medicines, poisons, insecticides, bleach, acids and liquid fertilizers and fuels, such as paraffin (kerosene), should be stored carefully out of children’s sight and reach. Dangerous substances should be stored in clearly marked containers and never in drinking bottles. Child-resistant closures, where available, should be used on the containers of poisonous products. Poisoning is a serious danger to small children. Bleach, insect and rat poison, paraffin (kerosene) and household detergents can kill or permanently injure a child. Many poisons can kill, cause brain damage, blind or permanently injure if they: are swallowed are inhaled get onto the skin get into the eyes. The key to preventing poisoning is to keep harmful substances out of children’s reach. Poisons should never be put in soft drink or beer bottles, jars or cups, as children may drink them by mistake. All medicines, chemicals and poisons should be stored in their original containers, tightly sealed and out of children’s reach. Detergents, bleaches, chemicals and

Children can be seriously injured if left unattended

medicines should never be left where children can reach them. They should be tightly sealed and labelled. They should also be locked in a cupboard or trunk or put on a high shelf where children cannot see or reach them. Medicines meant for adults can kill or injure small children. Medicine should only be given to a child if it is prescribed for that child. It should never be given to a child if it is prescribed for an adult or some other child. A child should never take medication on his or her own. The parent or other caregiver should give the medication to the child each time it is needed. Medication should be stored out of reach and sight of children. Child-resistant closures, where available, should be used on containers storing poisonous substances. 7. Knives, scissors, sharp or pointed objects and broken glass can cause serious injuries. These objects should be

Technology use in the classroom helps autistic children communicate from universities across the UK to explore how technology can make a difference in the classroom. The researchers used the Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) programme ECHOES which allows children to engage with virtual characters and interactive technologies. “Children interact with echoes through a large multi-touch screen,” says Dr Kaska Porayska-Pomsta, the leader of the project and a senior lec-

turer in Technology-Enhanced Learning at the Institute of Education, London Knowledge Lab. “Through the screen they can manipulate objects, explore the environment and they can also interact with the semi autonomous agent called Andy. Andy acts as a social partner to children and tries to actively engage children in specific activities.” Teachers at the school have found that the ECHOES program has greatly

kept out of children’s reach. Plastic bags, which can cause suffocation, should be kept away from young children. Broken glass can cause serious cuts, loss of blood and infected wounds. Sharp metal objects, machinery and rusty cans can cause wounds that can become badly infected. Families can reduce the risk of children’s injuries from glass and sharp objects if they: keep glass bottles out of reach of young children and keep the house and play area free of broken glass and refuse place knives, razors and scissors in drawers or locked cabinets well out of reach of young children safely dispose of household refuse, including broken bottles and old cans. Other injuries around the home can be prevented by teaching children about the dangers of throwing stones or other sharp objects and of playing with knives or scissors. helped the children improve their social and communication skills. In fact teachers were surprised at the extent to which the children engaged with the technology. “We never realised that the children had these skills because some of them are so locked in.” Says Sarah Quickendon, a Spectrum Disorders Teacher at Topcliffe School. “We watched children with autism playing with the images on the screen in ways in which none of the typically developing children had done. The normal curriculum that we were offering just wasn’t allowing them to demonstrate these skills to us.”

Malaria parasite’s ‘masquerade ball’ could come to an end

teins to their surface. These cells become sticky and cling to the walls of blood vessels, blocking them and damaging the human body. The immune system typically identifies these proteins as foreign and

creates antibodies to fight the disease. The deadliest of the five Plasmodium strains is Plasmodium falciparum, which causes more than 90% of deaths associated with malaria. This sophisticated strain deceives the immune system by revealing only one protein encoded by one of the sixty genes at its disposal. While the immune system is busy fighting that protein, the parasite switches to another protein not recognized by the immune system, thus avoiding the antibody response and re-establishing infection. In research conducted at the Department of Microbiology and Molecular

Genetics at the Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, and the Kuvin Center for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases at the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Dr. Ron Dzikowski and research student Inbar Avraham revealed for the first time the genetic mechanism that enables a parasite to selectively express one protein while hiding other proteins from the immune system. By combining bioinformatic and genetic methods, the researchers identified a unique DNA sequence found in the regulatory regions of the gene family that encode for these surface proteins.

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FG to peg hospitals’ non-clinical staff to 45% MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

s part of measures to improve service delivery in all health facilities across Nigeria, the Federal Government has announced plans to peg non-clinical staff in all hospitals in the country to 45 per cent. This was contained in a message delivered by Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu at the 2012 Biennial Guest Lecture of the Institute of Child Health, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, recently. The Minister said the action be-

came necessary to help achieve the health component of the nation’s vision 20-2020. According to him, “A situation where the ratio of clinical to non-clinical staff is skewed overwhelmingly to the non-clinical staff is not good. We will take a decision to ensure that non-clinical staff of any hospital should not be more than 45 per cent. The Federal Ministry of Health has in the last few years introduced a deliberate policy of extending services to the state hospitals. This is to ensure maximum use of resources in the interest of our people.” The Minister expressed concern

over the state of health care services across Nigeria. He noted that “Quality health care is not affordable to majority of Nigerians. With 68 per cent out of pocket expenditure, the current state of health care financing is neither efficient nor sustainable. If we are to harness and pool all the risks through a health insurance that is mandatory, we will be able to achieve quality and affordable health care, enhance our facilities and remuneration for our workers. Health financing is the way go.” While stressing the need for health insurance, he listed the

benefits of health insurance to include improved financial access especially for the poor and vulnerable and pooling of huge resources for infrastructural and manpower development. The Minister listed the current challenges militating against the sector to include dearth of human resources, inefficiency in health management, funding, brain drain and incessant strike by health workers. Others, according to the Minister are: unrestricted and unethical advertisement of medical products, medical tourism among others.

Hypo firm partners LASG on maternal, child health

EU signs N5bn pact with UNICEF for water, sanitation

SEKINAH L AWAL

MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

n line with its vision to promote the health and wellbeing of Nigerian families, MultiPro Enterprises Limited, makers of HYPO Super Bleach, Nigeria’s leading bleach brand continued its loyal partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Health on the Grand Finale of the second round of the 2012 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week which took place at the Adeyemi Bero Hall, Alausa, Ikeja. The event emphasized the importance of non-governmental organisation’s involvement in accelerating the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals 4 & 5. Speaking at the event, the Senior Sales Manager, MultiPro Enterprises Limited, makers of Hypo Super Bleach, Mr. Jude Nzeata, expressed the company’s pleasure to continue to collaborate with the State Health Ministry and the World Health Organization thereby rendering its support towards attaining the UN Millennium Development Goals, especially regarding the goal of having 70% of our people living with basic sanitation and hygiene by 2015. “We have been able to reach out to 2 million mothers at various health care centers across the state - this is in addition to the 2 million house visits we made in Lagos in the past year preaching about hygienic practices and promoting germ-free home environments and the awareness activities on World Toilet Day on 19th November.” Nzeata explained that beyond the several millions of naira involved in the partnership through the production of information and enlightenment campaign materials like flyers and banners for the week, the company gave out free products at all 444 health centres visited during the program.

Most of these challenges, he said, are systemic and require strong commitment and leadership to ensure that every tier of government is actively engaged to achieve the necessary results. He lamented that many local government areas and wards did not have functional health facilities. “In places where structures are built, there are inappropriate personnel to run the facilities. Health is on the concurrent list such as every tier of government should contribute their quota in providing quality health care to our people,” the Minister declared.

L-R: Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina, Senor Sales Manager, Multipro Enterprises Ltd., Mr. Jude Nzeata and the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, at the Grand Finale of the 2nd 2012 Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week organized by Lagos State Ministry of Health recently.

Nigerian emerges 100 millionth person to receive meningitis vaccine

Nigerian is expected to be the 100 millionth person to be vaccinated with a revolutionary meningitis vaccine this week as the nation conducts the second seasonal immunisation campaign against the dreaded disease in the north. The historic achievement comes two years after the MenAfriVac vaccine was first launched in Burkina Faso. Since then, nine other countries have held vaccination campaigns to protect people from ages 1 to 29 against meningitis A. Nigeria is expected to vaccinate 16 million people over the next two weeks and Cameroon and Chad are also conducting immunization campaigns this week targeting 5.5 million and 2.3 million people respectively. By the end of this year, the vaccine will have reached more than 112 million people, providing widespread and long-await-

ed protection. The achievement was recognized at the GAVI Alliance Partners’ Forum, which brought together developing countries, donors, civil society, technical and research institutes, health agencies and the vaccine industry last week in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. “When we began developing this vaccine, we knew how desperately it was needed, and we hoped it would quickly provide relief for the many people who dread sub-Saharan Africa’s meningitis season,” said Steve Davis, president and CEO of PATH, which partnered with WHO to create MenAfriVac®. “We are so proud to see African countries quickly embrace this vaccine and to see that deadly and debilitating meningitis cases have virtually disappeared in the regions that have been vaccinated.” “This milestone has been

achieved thanks to the commitment of national governments and support from WHO and other partners,” said Dr Flavia Bustreo, WHO Assistant Director-General for Family, Women and Children’s Health. “We must continue our efforts to implement vaccination campaigns in the remaining meningitis belt countries and ensure widespread uptake of the MenAfriVac vaccine.” “Meningitis is a terrible disease which kills young people, creates severe neurological damage in many survivors, and devastates communities,” said Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of the GAVI Alliance, which is providing funding for the vaccines being used in the campaigns. “It is nothing short of remarkable that exactly two years after the first GAVI-funded meningitis vaccination campaign in the meningitis belt, the 100 millionth will have their life protected.”

ural water and sanitation in Nigeria received a boost on Monday with the signing of N5billion agreement between European Union (EU) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). According to a release by UNICEF, the five-year agreement would cover rural communities in five states in the Niger Delta, namely: Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Rivers. “The rural water supply and sanitation project is a part of a wider Niger Delta Support Programme (NDSP) aimed at addressing causes of unrest in the region through improvement in governance, job creation and provision of basic social services. The NDSP is funded by EU with a total budget of about N450 billion. “The Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project, to be implemented by UNICEF in collaboration with the benefitting states, will cost about N 5 billion. EU will contribute a total of N4 billion; UNICEF, N12 million; the five state governments and benefitting LGAs, N700 million and the benefitting rural communities, N81 million. “At the signing ceremony in Abuja, Ambassador David Macrae, EU head of delegation to Nigeria, said that the EU would work closely with UNICEF and other partners to help Nigeria achieve the water and sanitation MDGs in Nigeria UNICEF water and sanitation programme in particular. “It is expected that the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project (RWSSP) will provide safe drinking water supply, improved basic facilities for human waste disposal and promotion of proper hygiene practices to about 1.4 million direct beneficiaries in the five States,” the statement quoted Macrae saying.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arts Lounge

Nigerians do not show passion for their culture –Latifat

Literary evening with Swedes

25 TERH AGBEDEH

ver the years, there has been hue and cry on the need to move Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, away from the heavy dependent on oil that is the norm to other sectors of the economy. One sector that stakeholders have consistently pointed to as being viable is arts and culture. Figures released last year by the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, put the country’s contribution of the non-oil exports to GDP at just 4.5 per cent which many will agree with him is dismal. But how to change that? Managing Director, Nigerian Export-Import Bank, NEXIM, Mr. Robert Orya, recently unveiled a way to boost the contribution of other sectors to GDP. “We are looking at the creative arts and entertainment industry because we believe that it’s an industry that has a high growth, employment and foreign exchange earning potential. It is essentially an area where you can generate a lot of employment for the youth”, he had told the National Assembly Committee on Banking. Orya also said NEXIM Bank, established by the Act of Parliament 38 of 1991 as an export credit agency, under his leadership was pursuing a vigorous policy of growing the manufacturing, agriculture, solid mineral, services and other non-oil sectors to ensure the robust growth of the economy. But present reality does not point to this and the thousands of jobs that Orya promised may well be a mirage in the desert of Nigeria’s policy inconsistency. Yahaya Maikori, a lawyer and founder of Chocolate City Group, a music and entertainment company, while delivering the keynote address at a recent European Union National Institutes of Culture Cluster (EUNIC) event at Goethe-Institut in Lagos pointed out that the estimated 167 million population of Nigeria with 70 percent under ages 30 has youth unemployment of between 25 to 40 percent. There is no gainsaying that a good number of these Nigerians could have been gainfully employed if the government had focused its attention on the non-oil sector, especially art, culture and tourism. In that same address, Maikori had said that the Nigerian movie industry, otherwise known as Nollywood, employs about one million people directly and indirectly, while the creative industry accounts for five percent of GDP out of the 11 percent from non-oil exports. But because of the poor structure on the ground, it is estimated that the creative industry is losing about $200million in North America and Europe each year from entertainment, he had explained. Responding to Professor Bruce Ono-

Making culture count for Nigeria’s GDP NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO INVEST IN THE ARTS... ARTISTS,

WHICH ARE AMONG SOME OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD

Duke

Silva

Shyllon

Baash

brakpeya’s keynote address at the ninth edition of the Ben Enwonwu Annual Lecture series, Yemisi Shyllon, an engineer and ardent art collector, had expressed his worry over the fact that no one is taking art and culture seriously in Nigeria. He explained that he recently stumbled on information that in another 23 years, America, the biggest consumer of oil and gas in the world will be totally independent because it would have surpassed even Saudi Arabia in the production of the commodity that is the sole product the Nigerian economy boasts of. “That brings to mind the fact that we need to begin to look at other means of generating revenue for this country, other means of generating employment. This is where I think the only way we have comparative advantage is in the art. We don’t have that in science and technology, but we do have it in the art, that is why we should encourage institutions like the

Bruce Onobrakpeya Foundation for what he is doing to promote art. To facilitate the production of art works that will attract tourists to this country. It is very important that each and every one of us should try and do something in this light with a view to generating employment, attracting tourism to this country and all its attendant effects”, he said. He mentioned Senegal, France, Egypt and South Africa as being among the countries that have exploited the gains of art and tourism to enhance their GDP, while saying that Nigeria must move in that direction. “I don’t want us to begin to talk about what government should do because Bruce Onobrakpeya did not wait for government to get this thing done. So, we should all see how we can help this country”, he had concluded. Indeed, from World Bank reports, it may be true that Nigeria’s economic growth has averaged about 7.4 percent annually

over the past decade and remained robust in 2011 at 6.9 percent, driven by the non-oil sector particularly telecommunications, construction, wholesale and retail trade, hotel and restaurant services, manufacturing and agriculture. But for the projected 6.9 percent and 6.6 percent growth in 2012 and 2013 respectively to make sense, there is need for a serious investment in arts and culture by individuals and government alike. Curator and founder of the Centre for Contemporary Art, CCA, Lagos, Bisi Silva, said it was embarrassing that her organisation gets the bulk of its funding for activities abroad. She was speaking at a press conference to declare open the fifth anniversary of CCA, Lagos. She, however, credited Shyllon and another collector, Sam Olagbaju, as being among the very few Nigerians that fund projects at the Yaba, Lagos-located resources centre for artists. Martin Baash, a Berlin-based curator, who, with his Nigerian counterpart, Oyinda Fakeye, curated the just concluded Lagos Live Art Festival, said the Nigerian government needs to invest in the arts, “to put the structures in place so that her artists, which are among some of the best in the world, can do what they know how to do best”. Government, no doubt, as well as individuals have to join hands in a concerted effort to bring art and culture to the front burner of contribution to the GDP. Perhaps, this is the time for the country to revisit the National Endowment for the Arts, which the current Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Edem Duke, so gleefully talked about shortly after he assumed office. Duke has also been quoted to have said he sees “a new prospect for our industry and I want to reassure our artists that the best is yet to come”, while saying that Nigeria will continue to play a leading role in art in the whole world.

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

VOICES

Nigerian creative economy: History and current trends YAHAYA MAIKORI

usic: Nigerian music has traditionally comprised of such genres as highlife, afrobeats, apala, juju, fuji etc. but the music consumed and enjoyed by Nigerians then were predominantly imported music i.e. R’n’B, pop, reggae, which were promoted by such international record companies as Sony music, EMI, and Polygram until piracy drove them away. Suffice to say that between the 60s and late 80s, Nigeria had a thriving music industry. During that period, Nigeria produced its biggest indigenous export –Fela Anikulapo Kuti (known for Afro beats), Sunny Ade during that period garnered two Grammy nominations until Femi Kuti’s recent nominations. For another decade the industry lay fallow with the disappearance of these record companies, until a company called Kennis Music signed a group of artists called The Remedies in 1999. This group basically fused as well as experimented with various indigenous Nigerian, African and popular foreign genres like hip hop while singing and rapping in Pidgin English and other local languages. This along with the availability of cheap CD duplicating plants signalled the emergence of Nigeria’s contemporary music. This music over a period of time has now come to be known as “Afro pop” and it is widely available all over Africa and Europe but unlike Nollywood it is known for its high quality production values and its commercial appeal. As more of Nigerian music finds its way to such global platforms such as iTunes, lots of Nigerian artists are snatching up international recording deals with companies like the Universal Music Group as well as getting the deserved recognition with such international awards like the BET, MTV Europe, MOBOs, etc. In terms of volume, Nigeria contributes about 50% of the African music content on such cable channels as Trace TV, Channel O and MTV Base Africa. Fashion: The early Nigeria fashion industry was characterised by tailors who simply used available local fabrics and materials like batik, tie and die, adire, aso-oke, to make traditional attires like caftan, iro, babanriga etc., sometimes with or without embroidery. Eventually that graduated to what was referred to as fashion designers, who took their designs further while doubling as training schools for aspiring tailors. It was not till sometime in the 80s when we started witnessing a bold departure with the likes of the House of Labanella and Olujimi King who pioneered the use of Ankara, aso-oke etc., to interpret contemporary designs for the international market .

Fast-forward 2012 In the last eight years, the industry has

LET’S

T AL K FAD with

Fidelis Duker

CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

WE CONTRIBUTE ABOUT

50% OF THE

AFRICAN MUSIC

CONTENT ON CABLE CHANNELS radically transformed with a structure that can be broken into the following: prêt a porter, fashion institutes, haute couture and the rest, though high street fashion is yet to catch on. It is, however, worth mentioning that a lot of the top Nigeria designers have in recent times exhibited their products from New York to the London Fashion shows. While these three sectors do not represent the whole industry they are key drivers of the Nigerian creative industry, they do not only symbolise the trends in each of the other sub-sectors but they are the pillars around which the rest of the sectors revolve. It is pertinent to also highlight some of the other developments in the industry. These include; copyright, finance, distribution, monetisation of content Though the last time the Copyright Act was reviewed was about 10 years ago, it is, however, a potent piece of legislation that is capable of providing the protection and enforcement tools required by IP owners. For those who think that the Nigeria Copyrights Commission, NCC, is weak and ineffective, it is pertinent to mention that in the last one year alone, the Commission has secured 27 convictions against pirates. Now, this is a positive development when juxtaposed with the three convictions recorded previously by the Commission. Furthermore, NCC has already commenced the process, which will lead to the review of the copyright regime and it intends to formally launch “The Copyright Reforms Roadmap” next month. Recently, the Nigerian government in recognition of the potential benefits of the industry set up the $200,000 entertainment intervention fund to help drive the industry and in spite of the difficulty with using Intellectual Property as collateral there are already some who have benefitted. Also note that there are alternative digital distribution platforms which are emerging and being spearheaded by Nigerian indigenous entrepreneurs. We have Afrinolly, Iroking and Spinlet. Google/ YouTube has also been at the forefront of providing support in this respect. In spite of these amazing feats, the industry is plagued with problems of piracy, lack of access to finance and distribution. Some have even argued that there is no Nigeria Creative Industry largely because of its fragmented and unstructured format.

Concluded Keynote address by Yahaya Maikori, Founder, Chocolate City Group, at the European Union National Institutes of Culture’s Cluster Regional Meeting

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

fidelisduker@yahoo.com

Nollywood @20 (part 2)

ast week, I stopped with giving an insight into the origin and historical facts associated with the Nollywood phenomenon. It must be emphasised that before Nollywood came into existence in the 1990s, there was a cinema industry that preceded it and it was the collapse of social infrastructures and devaluation of the naira by successive military regimes in the early 80s to 90s that led to the dearth of the cinema and exhibition culture. Nigeria is a culturally rich entity which has, for decades, produced very beautiful and even world-acclaimed theatre productions; this is where the cinema industry of the 70s to late 80s took its root. Nollywood can be generally ascribed to the buoyant television industry of the 80s to early 90s which produced the likes of Zeb Ejiro, Amaka Igwe, Tunde Kelani, Lola Fani Kayode, Tade Ogidan, Okey Ogunjiofor, Kanayo Kanayo, Adebayo Salami, Jide Kosoko, Lanre Hassan, Sunday Omobolanle, Yinka Quadri, Taiwo Hassan, Chico Ejiro, Babara Soky, Clarion Chukwurah, Keppy Ekpenyong, Tunji Bamishigbin, Ralph Nwadike, Zik Zulu, late Francis Agu, Edith Jane Azu, Liz Benson, late Matt Dadzie, Jimoh Aliu, Alex Osifo, Madu Chikwendu, Kunle Bamtefa, late Toun Oni, late George Mentie, Usman Petegi and late Enebeli Elebuwa amongst several others. These and several other distinguished crop of TV personalities now metamorphosed into what is today called Nollywood. Before Nollywood’s advent, credit must go to the likes of the doyen, Herbert Ogunde, Eddie Ugbomah, Ade Afolayan, Ola Balogun, Adamu Halilu, Sadiq Balewa, Jab Adu, Francis Oladele and Brendan Shehu, amongst others who made movies that were shown in the few theatres that existed during the 70s and 80s. These films include Jaiyesimi, Aiye, Taxi Driver, Maitaseni and She Umar, done in Yoruba or Hausa languages. The movies done in English prior to Nollywood include Bisi Daughter of the River and Prof. Wole Soyinka’s Blues for a Prodigal, amongst a few others. As we all celebrate Nollywood at 20, it is important to mention some individuals and organisations who conceptualised landmark initiatives or contributed to this globally accepted new style of film production. At the early years of Nollywood, we had the following acting names holding sway: Liz Benson, Ameze Imariagbe, Dolly Nnachukwu, Ramsey Noah, Kenneth Okonkwo, Hilda Dokubo, Ejike Asiegbu, Regina Askia, RMD, Genevieve, Omotola, Obazele, Kate Henshaw, Ego Boyo, Tunde Kuboye, Sonny McDon, Eddie Ugbomah, Justus Esiri, Lari Williams, Emeka Ossai, Late Xtie Essien Igbokwe, Buki Ajai, The Amatas, Ali Nuhu, Sani Daja, Sani Muazu, Saidi Balogun, Adeoye, Wale Adenuga, Yemi

NOLLYWOOD HAS A WORKFORCE

50,000 INDIVIDUALS –FROM OF OVER

THE BOYS WHO PASTE POSTERS TO THE FINANCIERS Blaq, Funke Akindele, Fathia Balogun, Odun Adekola, Iyabo Ojo, Mercy Aigbe, amongst the several others have become household names in Nollywood. Producers and directors like Emem Isong, Ojiofor Ezeanyeche, Obi Madubogwu, Ahmad Alkanawy, Vivian Ejike, Opa Williams, Andy Amenechi, Lancelot Imaseun, Tunde Kelani, Kunle Afolayan, Mattais Obiahagbon, Gabosky, Charles Owoyemi, Obi Emelonye amongst several others. Nollywood has also produced landmark events that have either taken centre stage nationally or internationally like the annual Abuja Film Festival in its 10th year and the AMAA’s that is in its 8th edition, these and other events have given Nigeria presence and respect globally for the quality of the events. Others include BON Awards, BOBTV, LEAP Film Festival, REEL and Thema Awards by the duo of FAJ and Kunle Bakare. Also iRep Film Fest, Gospel Film Fest and In-SHORT amongst others, I cannot celebrate Nollywood without the mention of the marketers and distributors from Idumota in Lagos to Iweka Road in Onitsha or Pound Road in Aba or the popular Dugbe Market in Ibadan and Sabongari market in Kano. My emphasis on adding all sectors from west, east, north, south is simply to correct the erroneous notion that Nollywood belongs to a section or an ethnic group; rather Nollywood represents the entire motion picture industry in Nigeria. Kudos also to our friends in the media who have created pages, pullouts and magazines to celebrate Nollywood. I will like to say the names mentioned are not the only contributors to the development of Nollywood, but were randomly selected as some of the major players in the sector. To me, all stakeholders or practitioners living or dead have, in one way or the other, contributed to the development, growth and sustenance of Nollywood. This is an industry that has a workforce of over 50,000 individuals from the boys who paste the posters to the financiers. So, I say a big congratulation to everybody that has contributed in one way or the other to this revolutionary phenomenon called Nollywood.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

ARTISTE UNCENSORED

MIDWEEK JUMP

Cry for Change for launch in Lagos

Iwa Troupe performing

Nigerians do not show passion for their culture –Latifat

At the Lagos-based Ravissant Fashion and Culture House where Princess Latifat holds sway, fashion is successfully marrying culture, so much that one cannot define this company without an innovative cultural group called the ‘Iwa Troupe’. NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

t will be difficult to define Princess Latifat Momodu without traversing two thinly-divided areas of endeavour –fashion and dance. Her relative success in making use of one to promote the other is deeply rooted in her arty nature right from childhood. “It is not surprising that I ended up doing what I am today”, she says. “When I was younger, people thought I was going to end up being an actress. That is because I was passionate about cultural issues and literature; I could sing and act. But along the line, I was doing fashion as well. I would do sketches for people to help me sew and after I had travelled and mixed up in Europe, I thought it would be good to give back to the society, doing the things I really enjoy”. Today, while promoting her designs which have been showcased in countries like Spain, U.S.A, France, South Africa and Benin Republic, Princess Latifat makes use of a group of 35 people who have one thing in common: ability to do African dance steps. That group is called Iwa Troupe. “People who have watched my fashion shows will tell you that I do not do fashion only; I combine it with culture. Most of my shows are seen as fashion and cultural shows. Iwa Troupe, which I formed, has been part of all our cultural and fashion shows. The idea is to showcase my designs with African dance steps. The Troupe does dance steps from every part of Africa. There are about 35 members in the group and I train them”. Of course, managing a troupe with this number of members would pose a huge challenge for someone managing a fashion outfit, but Latifat says she

I SHOWED A FIREEATER TO A WHITE AUDIENCE AND THEY WERE THRILLED...I TOLD THEM IT IS PART OF

AFRICAN

MAGIC takes the challenges as they come. “For you to become a member, you have to be good-looking and you also need to know how to dance well. In Africa, the dance requires the ability to use the hips and buttocks. In terms of the challenges, I take them as they come. Honestly, with the exposure I got overseas before returning, I have discovered that people in Nigeria are not always telling the truth. Apart from that, some Nigerians do not want to show passion for their culture. The white people are excited about what we are doing, but the Africans, especially Nigerians will look at it and just move on. That is also affecting sponsorship. I remember the day I showed a fire-eater to a white audience and they were thrilled and wondered how someone could eat fire, But I told them it is part of African magic”, she recalled. Since 2003, Ravissant has been staging a yearly show that culminates in an award ceremony at the classy Eko Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos. Previous shows attracted musicians like Victor Uwaifo, Sweet Banana and Ayo Balogun, amongst others. For this year’s event, which comes up on December 16, Latifat says it would avail as much fun as the previous shows. “The 2012 show will even be bigger than the previous ones. Iwa Troupe

Latifat

will be there to do their thing. There will be comedy and fashion. It is going to be a star-studded event because people will come from the movie, music, fashion and culture sectors. For this event, we have promises of sponsorship, but I do not usually base my plans on sponsorship because I am passionate about what I am doing. But Mrs. Yomi Soleye has been wonderful for us”, she enthused. Latifat also made known that aside the fashion, comedy dance and drama, the event would provide the platform to recognise some corporate and private individuals who have rubbed off positively on the society. “The categories include music, business, media, fashion, comedy, enterprise and philanthropy. The idea is to tell these people that they are trying and that people are seeing them; this will spur others to give back to the society”. Latifat, who hails from Auchi in Edo State has also backed her talent with formal education. After studying Foreign Languages at the University of Lagos, she moved on to the University Standard Grenoble, France where she studied French Literature and holds a Masters in International Law.

he book, Cry for Change, a work on sociopolitical and ethnoreligious crises in Nigeria will be launched this Friday when academics, political administrators, opinion leaders and captains of industry discuss the threat to national security. Author of the book, Biodun-Thomas Davids, a journalist and crusader, disclosed that: The Interior Minister, Comrade Aba Moro; Convener, Save Nige-

ria Group (SGN), Dr. Tunde Bakare; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire and Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji are being expected at the event. The topic for the day is: ‘Treating the Threats to National Security: Socio-political Cum Ethno-religious Perspectives’. The event will hold at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Victoria Island, Lagos, by 9.00 a.m.

Stage lights up for Duro Oni@60

sus Orisaremi from the University of Ibadan; Dr. John Iwuh from Redeemers University, Ogun State and Prof. Charles Nwadigwe from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Prof. Jenks Okwori of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria is also expected to share experience of technical theatre practice in the northern part of the country. An evening of drama, dance, poetry, chants and music skits will also be staged on the same day in the Unilag auditorium, starting at 5.00 p.m. Performing artistes include Helen Paul, Edaoto, Awoko, Adunni and Nefertiti, Cornerstone, Kakaaki and others. The major highlight is the presentation of an excerpt from a play; Harlem Remembered, which was premiered at the 1st Atlanta Black Theatre Festival in Georgia, USA in October 2012. Written and directed by Lekan Balogun, actors include Osagie Okedigun, among others.

o mark the 60th birthday of eminent theatre artiste, Professor Duro Oni on Saturday, December 15, series of celebratory activities are being put in place. Amongst others, it will feature a book presentation on Saturday followed by a reception in the evening of the same day. The milestone event for the Dean of Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos, is packaged by Legendaire Theatre and produced by Lekan Balogun and Sumbo Bello Saheed. Tomorrow, a seminar tailored around Prof. Oni’s expertise in Technical Theatre practice in Africa comes up at the boardroom of the Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos, starting at 12.00 noon. Prof. Molinta Enendu of the University of Calabar, himself an astute Technical Theatre scholar and practitioner, will be delivering the Keynote address on the theme: ‘”Technical Theatre Practice in Nigeria: The Intervention of Duro Oni”. Additionally, four discussants will talk on Changing Trends in Technical Theatre Practice in Nigeria. They are: Mrs. Toyin Ogundeji from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife; Dr. Alphon-

Oni

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FAR AND NEAR

Afrinolly Masterclass hosts Odugbemi, Selane NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

Performance by Oyewale Oluwatoba at the event

Literary evening with Swedes IZUCHUKWU OKEKE

t did not start as an evening to remember, but it ended as one: an evening of creative storytelling at the Swedish Ambassador’s residence in Abuja. The event, titled “Creative Storytelling”, was organised by the Royal Sweden Embassy, Abuja to bring together elite minds who love the creative word. The evening opened with a speech by the Ambassador of Sweden to Nigeria, His Excellency, Svante Kilander who spoke on the importance of literature to every society, especially Nigeria’s and Sweden’s. He stated the fact that the art of storytelling is a strong tradition in Nigeria and Swedish culture. “Nigerian literature is renowned all over the world and Nigeria is famous for its master drummers who recite stories through the talking drum”, he said.

He also noted that Sweden has its own share of celebrated storytellers, many who created characters that are respected across the globe. Of note is the Swedish author, Astrid Lindgren, famous for writing children books whose “strong characters encouraged generations of young readers to believe in themselves and stand up for justice”, Kilander said. Reiterating the power of literature to change societies in unprecedented ways, he explained this was one of the reasons why the Swedish Academy awards the most prestigious prize for literature in the world –the Nobel Prize for Literature. Performances for the evening started with Chief Muraina Oyelami and his retinue who came all the way from Iragbiji, Osun state. They performed with talking drums and masquerades. Afterwards, the audience went into a discourse session on children literature in Nigeria. The panel included

President of PEN Nigeria, Tade Ipadeola; Amb. Svante Kilander; writer and journalist, Jerry Adesewo; Editor, Cassava Republic Press, Chinelo Onwualu; Children’s book author, Fatima Akilu; writer and journalist, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim and Vice President, Association of Nigerian Authors, Alhaji Denja Abdullahi. The talk centred on moving the craft of children writing forward and the proceedings generated contributions from guests, many of whom were writers who have interest in writing for children. The last part of the event featured the performance of Track, a poem by Swedish Nobel Laureate, Tomas Transtromer, which was translated into Yoruba and performed with talking drum. Abuja-based theatre artiste, Oyewale Oluwatoba, did a five-minute enactment of the poem which ended with guests in a standing ovation and concluded a memorable evening.

Mother tongue’s panacea to advancement –Babawale SINA FADARE

he Director General of the Centre for Black African Arts and Civilisation, CBAAC, Prof. Tunde Babawale has said that deep knowledge in mother tongue is the only panacea that can help the country to break even in technological advancement. Prof. Babawale disclosed this during the 6th annual memorial lecture of D.O Fagunwa, noting that there is no way a country can grow well without deep knowledge of its local languages, norms and values which are prerequisite to technological breakthrough. He, therefore, called on all governors of the South-West states to, as a matter of urgency, make Yoruba language a compulsory subject that students must pass at credit level before

gaining admission to higher colleges. According to him, “by so doing, students would be forced to pay adequate attention to their indigenous language which would stimulate their intellectual abilities for greater explore in the field of technology and literature”. He lamented that nations like China, Germany, Japan and India have put this into practice “and that is why the whole world is celebrating their contribution in the area of technology”. Speaking in the same vein, the Chairman of the occasion, HRH, Orangun of Oke Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin (Aroyinkeye 1) said if foreigners could recently come from Europe to his domain to learn Yoruba language and culture, then “we have no choice than to encourage our children to develop interest in the language at their tender age”. Oba Abolarin, therefore, rebuked parents who speak English language to

their children at home, adding that they should desist from such practice and ensure that ‘charity begins at home’ in the area of teaching, speaking and telling Yoruba folklore to their children. In his lecture titled “The Zoologist in D. O Fagunwa”, Prof. ‘Tola Badejo noted that the widely celebrated Yoruba writer used 287 names of animals in his five books (Igbo Irunmale, Igbo Olodunmare, Aditu Olodumare, Ireke Onibudo and Irinkerindo Ninu Igbo Elegbeje) to show his literarily prowess and understanding of the animal habitat, “though he was not trained as a zoologist”. Badejo pointed out that the use of animals as imagery and the deep knowledge of Yoruba language, norms, values and folklore displayed in all of Fagunwa’s books makes him a living legend and will always remain a reference point to generations yet unborn.

frinolly, the premier Nigerian mobile application by MTN focused on promoting African entertainment has held the second edition of its masterclass. The session, which held on Saturday, December 8, featured renowned film and TV content producers, Femi Odugbemi and Bongiwe Selani, who shared their knowledge and experiences with filmmakers via ‘Google+ Hangout’. The Afrinolly MasterClass is an online knowledge-sharing and educative programme aimed at promoting the on-going Afrinolly Shortfilm Competition, a videobased competition which was launched on November 1 and targeted at budding filmmakers and documentary/animation content creators from across Africa. Chike Maduegbuna, the chief executive officer of FansConnectOnline, the developers of Afrinolly, said the session was designed to grant creative access to talented Africans. “The MasterClass aims at offering young and emerging filmmakers in Africa exceptionally creative access to opportunities and experiences of renowned leaders of the movie industry globally. It is designed to offer technical tips and career advice intended to give budding film makers insight into all aspects of film making from writing and directing to acting and producing.” Femi Odugbemi, famous for screen credits which include Nigeria’s popular game show, Who wants to be a Millionaire? and MNET soap-opera, Tinsel, is also a writer and photographer who was trained in Film and TV Production at Montana State University, USA. Bongiwe Selane started her career in the Film and TV industry 14 years ago. She is notable as a one-time Commissioning Editor for MNET drama series such as Doctor’s Quarters and the popular TV series Edge of Paradise. The first edition of the masterclass featured Franklin Leonard, a Hollywood filmmaker who inspired Hollywood hits like Pursuit of Happiness, The Social Network, Slumdog Millionaire, The King’s Speech, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps and Juno.

Odugbemi

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

How Okonkwo missed Inter Turku deal 30

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

We are ready to host Africa, we are leaving no stone unturned in our resolve to host well –SAFA President, Kirsten Nematandani

Eaglets will become golden again –Ugbade

CAF: Maigari campaigns to succeed Adamu Eaglets’ players celebrating after defeating their Malian counterparts 2 - 0 in Calabar, recently.

EVEREST ONYEWUCHI

resident of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Mohammed Maigari, has filed his papers to stand for election to replace his compatriot, Dr. Amos Adamu, as a member of the Executive Committee (EC) of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). In a statement sent to National Mirror yesterday, CAF said that Maigari’s candidature for the West B slot earlier occupied by Adamu was ratified at its EC meeting held on Monday in Cairo, Egypt. Nigeria, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Niger are

in the same zone represented by Adamu before his removal in October 2010 over allegation of trying to sell his vote for the hosting rights of the 2018 World Cup. Challenging Maigari for the CAF EC plum job are the Benin FA boss, Anjorin Moucharafou and the Niger FA chairman, Hima Souley. CAF said in the release that at the end of the deadline to declare interests for the various vacancies on its executive committee, its secretariat only received one submission for the post of president, which was filed by the incumbent Issa Hayatou of Cameroun. By this, Hayatou will be controversially returned unopposed as president at the CAF elections slated to hold on March 3,

2013 as part of the agenda for the confederation’s 35th Ordinary General Assembly in Marrakech, Morocco. Hayatou and his EC had last September amended the CAF Statute, making it impossible for non-executive committee members to aspire to become president, a move being challenged by the Liberian FA and Cote d’Ivoire’s ex-FA boss, Jacques Anouma, who wants to contest for the post next year in Morocco. Meanwhile, CAF has given its affiliate federations till January 31 next year to submit names of women to be considered to represent the continent on the executive committee of FIFA as the world soccer governing body tries to bring some women into its highest decision-making committee.

ssistant Coach of the Golden Eaglets, Nduka Ugbade, has said that the team’s technical crew will re-organise it for better performance. Ugbade told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos yesterday that the re-organisation would be carried out before the commencement of the 2013 African Youth Championship in Morocco. He said the team would play some friendly matches with local and foreign teams to get the right balance. “In fact, as part of the preparation and build up to the U-17 Championship, we are already playing friendly matches with local and foreign sides to build a strong team,” he said over the telephone. Ugbade added that 35 players had been penciled down for the task ahead, and that each player had to compete for a slot in the team. “Through the friendly matches we have lined up, we should be able to select our final set of players to represent the country in Morocco next year. “We want to use this championship to make up for the disappointment of not qualifying for the last three editions,” Ugbade said. Ugbade, who captained the 1985 Golden Eaglets squad that won the FIFA U-16 Championship in China, called on the Nigeria Football Federation to adequately support the team. Nigeria will play in Group B alongside Congo, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana in the April 13 to April 27 Championship.

... Baribote finally thrown out

he Seventh Annual Congress of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) held in Abuja yesterday, at which the NPL Board chaired by Victor Baribote was eventually thrown out. Club representatives had rejected an earlier congress called by Baribote for Kano last Thursday and instead held a meeting in Abuja a day before, at which they announced the dissolution of the Baribote-led board and set up a six-man interim committee headed by Mike Idoko of the Sunshine Stars. An embarassed Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), which had endorsed the congress for Kano had to call for calm

among the feuding parties and consequently held its own emergency meeting last Friday, at which it nullified the NPL dissolution for not following laid down rules and also directed the league body to hold another congress in Abuja yesterday. At yesterday’s congress held at the Prixair Hotel in Wuse, Abuja, and observed by NFF board members – Chief Emeka Inyama, Alhaji Shehu Adamu and Yayaha Kwande – the members unanimously sacked the NPL Board chaired by Baribote and directed the acting executive secretary, Tunji Babalola, to take charge of the activities pending

further directives from the NFF. Chief Inyama told National Mirror, “The decision to sack the NPL Board was overwhelming, it was unanimous. All the 20 club representatives voted the board out. They used their power as enshrined in their statute.” The congress proposed 16th of February 2013 as kickoff date for the 2012/2013 NPL season which is subject to ratification by the NFF Annual General Assembly holding in Port Harcourt on Thursday. They also decided that the draw for the coming NPL season will be held in Kano on a date yet to be fixed.

Victor Baribote

Sport

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Mancini warns suitors off Balotelli M anchester City Manager, Roberto Mancini, insists he has no plans to sell maverick forward Mario Balotelli. The striker was substituted in the early stages of the second half in City’s 3-2 derby defeat to Manchester United on Sunday, sparking criticism from his manager. Mancini accused Balotelli of wasting his talent and stressed that these performances could not continue, leading to reports that the former Inter Milan man’s time in Manchester was up. “Balotelli is not for sale,” Mancini insisted yesterday. “Mario is a City player loved by the

Busquets enters Chelsea’s radar

helsea has launched an audacious bid for Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets.

According to reports yesterday, the Blues are still keen on a swoop for Barcelona star Busquets– but they will have to wait until next season to prise him away from the Camp Nou. Barca will not do business in January, but could allow him to go when the season is over for a fee believed to be around £30m– only if he indicates that he wants to quit the Catalan giants.

Balotelli and Mancini

fans and the management and has been an important player for us. “A player of his quality should think exclusively to his work

and his family, he has talent and he cannot blow it as he is doing. “Our paths may separate if I change team, but he will remain at City.”

Barry faces FA hammer

anchester City midfielder, Gareth Barry, faces an FA charge for using abusive language towards a match official after Sunday’s derby defeat by Manchester United. Robin van Persie’s last gasp free-kick snatched a 3-2 win for United over its close neighbour and Barry’s frustrations appear to have boiled over following the final whistle. The England midfielder could now receive a possible ban or a fine and has until 4pm on Thursday to respond to the charge. “Manchester City’s Gareth Barry has been charged by The FA for a breach of its Rule E3 in that he used abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official following the Manchester City versus Manchester United game on December 9,” an FA statement read yesterday. The match had already been marred by ugly scenes with United defender Rio Ferdinand being struck by a coin as he celebrated Van Persie’s winner. City has also removed a season ticket from supporter Matthew Stott, who was restrained by the hosts’ goalkeeper Joe Hart after he ran onto the pitch to confront Ferdinand. Police charged eight other people, including five fans, for a racially aggravated public order offence, pitch encroachment, breach of football banning orders and other public offences.

Gareth Barry

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ba shuns Toon offer

ewcastle striker, Demba Ba, has rejected a new contract offer.

Reports said Newcastle is ready to smash its wage structure for Ba, but the Senegal striker is turning his nose up at the latest £70,000-a-week offer. The Toon hierarchy has told Ba it will make him Newcastle’s highest paid player on £5,000 more than influential captain Fabricio Coloccini. But the deal has been turned down by Ba and his army of advisers who want £90,000 a week.

FIFA Tokyo

helsea a warm of sup showing at FI will generate widen the clu While the joys great po the media cov United, who this season, defender Ma Japanese Oly in London. Teruhito K crossed that club event w pions grab m member of t of Japan, Ko and the Stam by former B During the 20 a football fan saw Zola on t The Italian skills astonis interest in fo game so exte university st programme o ticket to the 2 final in Mosc chester Unite “It was all t is now one o that jointly s Bridge pitch, This year, time at his o win its maid when the Blu a penalty sh a football me university, bu saving up to l “I really w there,” he sai Before tha tion when th terrey in a Yokohama tom

Rodgers woos Michu

iverpool Manager, Brendan Rodgers, is keen on Swansea City striker Michu. Indication suggested that Swansea Manager, Michael Laudrup, does not want to lose Michu and claimed it would take a £30m bid to change his mind. But even a more realistic bid of around £10m would represent a fine piece of business for a player who cost £2m just six months ago. The former Rayo Vallecano star was on Rodgers’ radar while he was Swansea manager and the way the player has slotted in at the Liberty suggests he would have no problems fitting into the Irishman’s Anfield blueprint.

Falcao

Falcao nears Madrid switch

L Michu

atest reports suggest that a move to Real Madrid is on the card for Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao. Despite their ‘non-aggression’ pact, which has seen both Madrid clubs agree not to sign each other’s players, Falcao says he is ready to join Madrid. The reports said Madrid’s president Florentino Perez has been urged by directors and influential fans to buy the Colombian. Perez attended the Castilla’s win over Racing Santander on Sunday and was constantly urged to sign Falcao throughout the day.

Chelsea star Fr

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

A Club Cup: Blues land in o, swarmed by fans

arrived in Japan yesterday to m welcome from a loyal band pporters hoping that a strong IFA Club World Cup Japan 2012 e a wave of “blue fever” and ub’s fan base in the Far East. English Premier League enopularity in Japan, much of verage focuses on Manchester signed striker Shinji Kagawa and Southampton, home to aya Yoshida, who guided the ympic team to the semi-finals

Komatsu, 24, has his fingers Chelsea’s debut at the global will help the European chammore of the media spotlight. A the Chelsea Supporters Club omatsu’s passion for footballmford Bridge club-was sparked lues legend Gianfranco Zola. 002-3 season, Komatsu was not n but all that changed when he he television. n attacking midfielder’s silky shed Komatsu and piqued his ootball. Komatsu studied the ensively that when he was a tudent he won a football quiz on television. His prize was a 2008 UEFA Champions League ow, which Chelsea lost to Maned. thanks to Zola,” Komatsu, who of the Chelsea Pitch Owners share control of the Stamford told FIFA.com yesterday. Komatsu was in Munich-this own expense-to watch Chelsea den Champions League crown ues edged Bayern Munich in oot-out. Komatsu was offered edia job after graduating from ut instead has set his heart on live in England. want to watch football over id. at, he will see the Blues in achey take on Mexico’s CF Monmouth-watering match-up in morrow.

According to Komatsu, lifting this trophy would go a long way to making Chelsea a household name in Japan. “I hope Chelsea will win a title that will go down in their history,” he said. “Compared with the Manchester United fan club in Japan, we are vastly outnumbered. When Luiz Felipe Scolari became the coach, the English media raved about ‘super Chelsea,’ but in Japan they were seen as ‘nothing special.’ This tournament is a fantastic chance for Chelsea to make up some ground in this respect.” His sentiment is shared by Ryota Matsumoto, a 23-year-old living in Tokyo who works in football media and has been a Chelsea supporter for about ten years. He is a member of the Chelsea Supporters Club of Tokyo, which has about 100 members and organises game-watching events and futsal five-a-side tournaments against other supporters clubs in Japan. “My fondest memory was when Chelsea TV did on a story on the Tokyo supporters club while we were watching a game. We even got some space in the club’s official magazine. I’ll watch them play in Yokohama, although it’s a shame John Terry won’t be there,” Matsumoto said of the Chelsea captain who was ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury. Matsumoto, who said the first replica Chelsea shirt he bought was that of Argentinian midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, is hopeful the London club’s visit will not be their last. “Chelsea is still considered somewhat of a minor club here. The sports news here always leads with Barcelona or Manchester United, because Kagawa plays for them. But thanks to this tournament, Chelsea is getting more coverage,” Matsumoto said. About 200 Chelsea supporters from around the world are expected to attend a party in Tokyo on Saturday, the day before the club showpiece final and third-place play-off. Like other Chelsea fans, they are counting on Fernando Torres, Frank Lampard, Peter Cech and their team-mates to put on a performance that will give “blue fever” a boost.

rank Lampard (l) signing autograph yesterday

Sport

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Eko 2012 fallout: FG gave us no kobo –LOC AFOLABI GAMBARI

ontrary to suggestions that the National Sports Commission (NSC) had mobilised the organisers of the recent 18th National Sports Festival with funds, indication has emerged that the Local Organising Committee did not receive any money from the apex sports body. Chairman of the LOC and Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who made this disclosure yesterday in Lagos, said funds spent for the festival were raised through a public-private initiative launched by the state government. “Let me state categorically that we received no money from the NSC and we didn’t ask for any money either,” the LOC head said. “Perhaps, the NSC would still offer us some money after they have hailed our organisation as the best in recent years but at the moment, nothing has been re-

ceived,” she added. Orelope-Adefulire, however, said that Lagos was gratified by the support received from stakeholders that include students, schools officials, traders, as well as athletes and officials. “This support cannot be quantified, but suffices it to say that it appropriated the

success we recorded,” she remarked. While declaring that the host state broke new ground in fair officiating in the sports festival’s history, Orelope-Adefulire also hailed the LOC for accommodating over 40, 000 participants that include athletes, coaches, administrators and supporters

Orelope-Adefulire

...It was another show of mediocrity – PDP OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

he just-concluded National Sports Festival hosted by Lagos State has been described as falling short of expectation as it “it did not measure up near the standard of the last sports festival hosted by Rivers State.” This was the conclusion of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which noted that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) government had again failed Lagosians, because

the over N10 billion believed to have been realised from government and non-governmental sources for the games did not reflect in the opening ceremony, accommodation and welfare of athletes, the closing ceremony and medals won by the state athletes. The PDP, speaking through its Publicity Secretary, Taofeek Gani said, “It is indeed so embarrassing that with the available resources, enough to adequately organise the sports festival, athletes were deprived meals, accommodation, fair officiat-

ing and standard sports facilities to perform at their best. Funnily and in a very lazy man’s approach, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) blamed the inadequacies on alleged over accreditation of athletes! This is indeed was an admission of failure and inability to properly run a state’s affair” The PDP lamented that Lagos athletes were not well motivated and thus could not have “sacrificed” in order to win enough medals, thereby placing in a distant third position.

T/tennis medallist eyes Europe YEMI OLUS

agos State table tennis player, Ahmed Adeyinka, who won three gold medals at the recent National Sports Festival says he dreams to pursue a professional career in Europe next year. The Spring Fresh Table Tennis Club player won gold in the men’s singles after beating team mate and favourite, Mojeed Olayiwola 4-2 in the final. He also won the men’s doubles alongside Olayiwola and the men’s

team event. Adeyinka told National Mirror yesterday that his

Ahmed Adeyinka

performance at Eko 2012 had raised his confidence level. “I am very happy to have won the men singles at the NSF and I think the sky will be my limit now,” Adeyinka said. “I didn’t expect to be in the final but I knew that anyone who would beat me would be a tough person. I believe in my God and myself.” Adeyinka, who made his second appearance at the festival having gotten to the semis last year in Port Harcourt, revealed that beating his friend, Olayiwola, was no mean feat.

Sport

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Nigeria N ig Premier League with

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Cricket

IIKENWA NNABUOGOR ikenwa.nnabuogor@gmail.com

How Okonkwo missed Inter Turku deal Elvis nears Gombe United switch

ut for indecision and dilly-dallying former NPL Player of the Year Chibuzo Okonkwo would have been getting set to start a pro career with Finnish top side, Inter Turku. National Mirror can authoritatively report that Inter Turku pulled out of the deal due to the player’s seeming lack of interest in signing the dotted lines for them. Okonkwo did eventually sign the two-year contract after several weeks of persuasion from the agent that brokered the deal and the club’s officials who were waiting patiently to land the talented defender. The former Bayelsa United ace was not impressed with the financial terms in the two-year contract tabled by Inter Turku and made it clear that he would not sign a contract that would not be financially-rewarding. Patient Inter were not discouraged as they continued their frantic chase for the Olympic silver medallist. They upped the financial terms by some fractions which was still not impressive for the young defender. The contract papers, which had been sent to the player several weeks after they agreed to amend the terms, were still waiting for Okonkwo to pen. The former Eagles defender would eventually

ormer Enyimba midfielder Kingsley Elvis is set to sign for Gombe United following his departure from 3SC this past season. Elvis could be joining his former Enyimba boss Maurice Cooremans, who was recently unveiled as the new Desert Scorpions’ handler, should they agree personal terms. Elvis told National Mirror he arrived in Gombe on Sunday to begin negotiation with the team but would have to wait for the chairman who was away for the NPL Congress which held in Abuja, to return. The lanky midfielder says he’s eyeing a loan move because his agent is arranging a deal for him outside the country. Gombe had been on the trial of the player who was holidaying in Makurdi for the season’s break. “When Cooremans contacted me for a possible switch to Gombe, I was glad because I had a very good working relationship with him at Enyimba,” he added. “But I would not settle for a permanent deal because of some openings I have abroad. I’m still negotiating with them and in no distant time, I will sign. “It will be good to work with Cooremans again because he knows how to get the best in me. I look forward to sorting this transfer issue out soon.” Elvis is one of the veterans of the NPL having played for the top teams in his career that has spanned over a decade. He won titles with Enyimba during their glory era

Wolves back from pre-season tour

Chibuzor Okonkwo (left) with a colleague in a match.

sign the contract but the Finnish sensationally pulled out of the deal after they found out that the Jos-born star wouldn’t be available in early January when his

resident permit would be sorted at the Finnish Embassy in Abuja because, according to him, he would be off to Asia for a trial at an unnamed club.

Mangut begins coaching career at Heartland

ormer Heartland midfielder Mangut Mbwas has joined the coaching ranks at the club on industrial attachment after bagging NIS coaching certificate, National Mirror can exclusively report. Mangut, who is the first and only Nigerian to play in the Colombian Premier League, was welcomed with open arms last week by the Fan Ndubuoke-led Heartland management who gladly agreed to have their former star in the coaching ranks. Heartland coach Ndubuisi Nduka, who coached the Jos-born star at Mighty Jets and Heartland, personally requested him to join him for the mandatory coaching attachment. Mangut says he has since settled down at Heartland and anxiously waiting for the league to begin. “It’s been great since I arrived here and I must thank the management led by Ndubuoke because they have really accepted me,” Mangut said. “I’m really looking forward to penning a contract with Heartland after my attachment. I know my capabilities and I hope the management will give

me a contract. “It’s really great working with Coach Nduka again and I can’t wait to get on board on permanent basis.” Mangut had his career cut short due to injury which also led to his cancelling his contract with Indian team Vasco Da Gama last year. Meanwhile, Heartland new signing Ezenwa Otorogu has rubbished media reports credited to Enugu Rangers that he was dropped due to fitness concerns and high wage demands. Otorogu, who crossed over to Heartland, lamented that there was no truth in the report, saying that he played lots of games and scored important goals. He argued that Rangers were not fair in their claims and wondered why they would resort to negative claims because he didn’t eventually sign a contract. “It’s very unfair and unprofessional for Rangers to tell the press that I was injured ,” he queried. “How would an injured player play a lot of games and score some goals? Could that have been possible if I was injured?

“We negotiated for my personal terms which they couldn’t come up witrh and I decided to leave. So, why would they want to paint me in a bad light because of that? “I dare the Rangers management to come and show me a medical report that proved I was injured. It’s really bad and I’m not happy about that.

Ezenwa Otorogu (left)

arri Wolves have returned to base from their pre-season tour of Benin to continue their build-up ahead of the new season that is reported to start on February 16. Wolves camped in the ancient city for close to two weeks where they played several of friendly games. Defender Ojo Mine told National Mirror that the Benin camping was good, saying it was good for the players who seemed to have hit perfect understanding good enough for the new season. “We have also begun training again since we returned on Sunday,” he said. “The players are in good form and waiting for the league to start. The spirit in the camp is also high and that will be good for us. “The new players have settled in well. We didn’t lose a lot of players in the transfer market which is also good for our bonding. “I can tell you that we’re in top shape and ready to go.”

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business & Finance ITF strategic plan will eradicate unemployment, manpower shortage Director-General, Industrial Training Fund, Longmas Sambo

Power sector paradigm shift will spur industrial growth

COMMISSIONER FOR INFORMATION, DELTA STATE, CHIKE OGEAH

42-43

FG not serious about power reforms – Tambuwal Jan 31 deadline set for Afam, Kaduna bids TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

peaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has regretted the rot in the power sector and the seeming lackadaisical attitude of the Presidency towards it. The Speaker expressed his disappointment at the “insignificant” progress recorded in the sector in the past over 18 months, during a courtesy call on him in his office yesterday, by the Presidential Committee on Power. Tambuwal lamented that six years after power turbines were installed in states across the country and about 20 years after power dams were built in Nigeria, they were yet to be “working optimally”, and the Executive, according to him, appears to be negligent of the sorry situation. “We passed a bill

to amend the Power Act in 2005, and it was signed into law. Before we passed the bill, we were told that if that bill was passed, there will be an end to power outages, and we invested billions of naira into the sector and up till

now, there is nothing to show for it. “I think that it is time that we stop deceiving ourselves; we need to look at ourselves and talk truth to ourselves about this issue of power. “If there are people who are preventing the

power sector from working, they should be identified and removed from the system so that the power sector can work. We should be more serious as a people in addressing this issue of power”, he said. He recalled that the

overnments and aid agencies fail to tackle urban poverty because they fail to understand it, according to a new book that

ADVERT HOTLINES: For advert bookings and information, please contact the following:

LAGOS: 01-8446073, 08094331171, 08023133084, 08034019884 ABUJA: 08033020395, 08036321014

FLIGHT SCHEDULE Arik Air Los-Abj: 07:15, 09:15, 10:20, 15:20, 16:20, 16:50, 18:45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) Abj-Los: 07:15, 09:40, 10:20, 12:15, 15:15, 16:15, 17:10, (Mon-Fri/Sat); 12:15, 15:15, 16:15 (Sun) Los-PH: 07:15, 11:40, 14:00, 16:10, 17:15, (Mon-Fri) 07:30, 11:40, 15:50 (Sat) 11:50, 3:50, 17:05 (Sun) Abj-PH: 07:15, 11:20, 15:30 (Mon-Fri) 07:15, 16:00 (Sat) 13:10, 16:00, (Sun) PH-Abj: 08:45, 12:50, 17:00 (Mon-Fri) 08:45, 17:30 (Sat) 14:40, 17:30 (Sun) Abj-Ben: 08:00, 12:10 (Mon-Fri/Sat) 08:55, 12:10 (Sun) Ben-Abj: 09:55, 13:30 (Mon-Fri/Sat) 10:50, 13:30 (Sun)

Aero Contractors

L-R: Managing Director, LAWMA, Mr. Ola Oresanya; Group Head, Collections, Mr. Jide Sonoiki; Sterling Bank Executive Director, South, Mr. Lanre Adesanya and Head, Financial/Regulatory Reporting, Bimpe Olambiwonnu, during a courtesy visit to Sterling Bank Plc by LAWMA

Policymakers berated for failing to tackle urban poverty DAYO AYEYEMI

House also enacted a bill that seeks to encourage investors to go to localities in the country to generate power and sell to those localities, as opposed to the idea of ‘distribution companies’ that emerged from the “unbundling” of the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) playing that role. The Speaker, who expressed disappointment at the unbundling exercise in the power sector, said the House was yet to believe that the reforms in the power sector would yield results.

paints the most detailed picture to date of how a billion-plus poor people live in towns and cities worldwide. Urban Poverty in the Global South published yesterday drew on more than 20 years of research. The book showed how policymakers and development organisations underestimate urban poverty, and why

this can lead to poor policies that fail to address injustice and inequality. The book also challenged the idea that economic growth alone can eliminate that poverty, as many successful economies show little sign of decreasing poverty in their urban centres. “If we want to build a better world we have to understand better what

HSBC to pay $1.9bn in US money laundering penalties

the urban poor experience,” says co-author Professor Diana Mitlin of the International Institute for Environment and Development and the University of Manchester. “We have to understand what it means to have little income and face income, spatial, social and political inequalities. Only then can

governments, development agencies and community organisations work with the urban poor to improve their options,” he said. One in seven people worldwide live in poverty in urban areas, and most of these live in the global South – mostly in overcrowded informal settlements that lack adequate water, sanitation, security, health care and schools.

IOD warns FG over policy somersaults

Los-Abj: 06:50, 13:30, 16:30, 19:45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) 12:30 (Sun) 16:45 (Sat). Abj-Los: 07:30, 13:00, 19:00 (Mon-Fri/ Sat) 10:30, 14:30, 19:30 (Sun) 18.30 (Sat) Los-Ben: 07:45, 11:00, 15:30, (Mon-Fri/Sat/ Sun) 12:30 (Sun) 15:30 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) Ben-Los: 09:15, 12:30, 17:00 (Mon-Fri/ Sat/Sun) 17:00 (Sat), 14:00 (Sun)

EXCHANGE RATES WAUA

234.6271

USD

155.84

CHF

159.2642

SDR

235.0535

CFA

0.2924

GBP

244.1701

EURO

191.3715

OIL / GAS FUTURES ICE BRENT

$123.39

-0.78

NYMEX

$108.45

-0.11

OPEC BASKET

$122.86

+1.16

NATURAL GAS

$2.83

-0.03

Why operators continue to flare gas in petroleum industry

Business Finance

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

HSBC to pay $1.9bn in US money laundering penalties

SBC has confirmed it is to pay United States authorities $1.9billion in a settlement over money laundering, the largest paid in such a case. A US Senate investigation said the UK-based bank had been a conduit for “drug kingpins and rogue nations”. Money laundering is the process of disguising the proceeds of crime so that the money cannot be linked to the wrongdoing. HSBC admitted having poor money laundering controls and apologised. “We accept responsibility for our past mistakes,” said HSBC Group Chief Executive Stuart Gulliver in a statement. “We have said we are profoundly sorry for them, and we do so again.” The bank said it had spent $290million on improving its systems to prevent money laundering and clawed back some bonuses paid to senior executives in the past. It also said it expected to reach an agreement with the UK’s Financial Services Authority shortly. Last month, it announced it had set aside $1.5billion to cover the costs of any settlement or fines.

L-R: Marketing Manager, Food Drinks, Mrs. Chioma Afe; winner of N1 Million grand prize in the ongoing Cadbury Bournvita’ Yummy Life’ promotion, Mrs. Tomori Oladejo and Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Akomen Omijeh, during the presentation of prizes to winners in Lagos, yesterday.

The news followed the announcement of a similar but much smaller settlement with UK-based Standard Chartered bank, which will pay $300m in fines for violating US sanctions. The cases are seen as part of a crackdown on money laundering and sanctions violations be-

Why capital budgets are underperforming - CSEA, others TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

igeria’s efforts to fasttrack growth in key sectors of the economy, particularly to create a strong infrastructure platform to drive the sundry initiatives will continue to fail unless concerted efforts are committed to monitoring and evaluation of major projects at all tiers of government. Making the submission while delivering his paper on the ‘Role of Fiscal Policy in Promoting Growth at the 4th Economic Policy and Fiscal Strategy Seminar organized by the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) yesterday in Abuja, Dr Menachem Katz, an Executive Director of the centre canvassed a more rigorous approach to scrutinising capital budgets and effective monitoring of the projects to ensure value for such funding in yearly budgets. He said despite substantial policy frameworks to instil transparency in capital budget implementation such as the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) Act to block leakages in budget component, evidences continued to show that substantial part of the invested funds do

not add much value to existing infrastructure in the country. According to him, “There is a pressing need to improve the efficiency of infrastructure projects: but sadly, current execution remains weak due to capacity constraints and also abuse. “Raising Nigeria’s infrastructure endowment to that of the region’s middle-income countries could boost annual growth by around four per centage points”. Katz said while the Federal Government may exercise prudence, it had limited say on the fiscal stance of states and local governments and hence on the overall fiscal position of the consolidated government. “There is data on the budget of the federal government but sadly, there are no data on budgets of all states and local governments, hence there is no easy way to analyse the fiscal stance of the consolidated budget. Earlier in his paper, Professor Ricardo Hausmann, Director, Centre for International Development, Harvard University said the prospect for Nigeria’s sustainable development in future appears slim except there is renewed and real commitment to the development of the nonoil sector.

ing led by Federal Government agencies and New York state authorities. The settlement had been widely expected following a report by the US Senate, published earlier this year, that was heavily critical of HSBC’s money

laundering controls. The report alleged that HSBC in the US had not treated its Mexican affiliate as high risk, despite the country’s money laundering and drug trafficking challenges. It siad the Mexican bank had

transported $7billion in US bank notes to HSBC in the US, more than any other Mexican bank, but had not considered that to be suspicious The report also found that HSBC circumvented US safeguards designed to block transactions involving terrorists drug lords and rogue states, including allowing 25,000 transactions over seven years without disclosing their links to Iran. It was also accused of providing US dollars and banking services to some banks in Saudi Arabia despite their links to terrorist financing and that in less than four years, it had cleared $290m in “obviously suspicious” US travellers’ cheques for a Japanese bank, benefiting Russians who claimed to be in the used car business Speaking in July, UK Trade Minister and former HSBC boss Lord Green said he knew about wrongdoing. The report suggested HSBC accounts in Mexico and the US were being used by drug barons to launder money.

IATA predicts 3.6 billion air passengers in 2016 OLUSEGUN KOIKI

he International Air Transport Association (IATA), released an industry traffic forecast showing that airlines expect to welcome some 3.6 billion passengers in 2016, which is about 800 million more than the 2.8 billion passengers carried by airlines in 2011. These figures are revealed in the IATA airline industry Forecast 2012-2016. This industry consensus outlook for systemwide passenger growth sees passenger numbers expanding by an average of 5.3 pr cent per annum between 2012 and 2016. The 28.5 per cent increase in passenger numbers over the forecast period will see almost

500 million new passengers travelling on domestic routes and 331 million new passengers on international services. International freight volumes according to IATA will grow at 3 per cent per annum to total 34.5 million tonnes in 2016. That is 4.8 million more tonnes of air cargo than the 29.6 million tonnes carried in 2011. The emerging economies of Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East will see the strongest passenger growth. This will be led by routes within or connected to China, which are expected to account for 193 million of the 831 million new passengers over the forecast period (159 million on domestic routes and 34 million traveling internationally). Pas-

senger growth within the AsiaPacific region (domestic and international) is expected to add around 380 million passengers over the forecast period. Through 2016, the United States will continue to be the largest single market for domestic passengers (710.2 million). In the same year, passengers on international routes connected to the United States will total 223 million, making it the largest single market for international travel as well. Reflecting the maturity of the United States market, growth rates (2.6 per cent for domestic and 4.3 per cent for international) will be well below the international average (5.3 per cent for international travel and 5.2 per cent for domestic traffic).

Alcatel-Lucent to build Airtel’s network backbone KUNLE A ZEEZ

lcatel-Lucent is to help Bharti Airtel meet rapidly growing demand for mobile broadband services in its African operations by supplying advanced new IP (Internet Protocol)-based networking technology to support the delivery of new mobile broadband data and video services. Rising smartphone ownership in Africa is driving demand for high-bandwidth mobile data services such as video calling and online gaming. To satisfy this demand and meet continued expansion, Alca-

tel-Lucent will evolve Airtel Africa’s data transport and mobile backhaul1 networks using its IP/ MPLS (IP/Multiprotocol Label Switching) technology. This new backbone network will support all mobile broadband services to Airtel’s 17 affiliates across Africa, serving 60 million customers - as well as a much more robust interconnection to global networks including the UK. The single international network will offer a more simple structure to improve performance, reliability, capacity convergence and interoperable mechanisms for faster service recovery. The Airtel investment in-

cludes a common platform for Layer 2 and Layer 3 service provisioning to reduce the time of delivering the variety of service types. The result being faster internet speeds for mobile and Airtel business solutions, toll quality voice and extension of services from Airtel, ultimately leading to better customer experience and reduction in the cost of operations. Chief Technical Officer, Airtel Africa, Mr. Eben Albertyn, said, “Alcatel-Lucent is helping us to fully utilise the advantages of IP/ MPLS technology to economically and effectively handle high volumes of a variety of mobile broadband data and video services.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Business Finance

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

IOD warns FG over policy somersaults MESHACK IDEHEN

he Institute of Directors (IoD) Nigeria, said it has concluded plans and put arrangements in place to enable it engage government and its officials on economic development beginning from 2013. IOD said also that the proposed engagement which will be an interactive business forum is aimed at forming and sustaining an effective synergy between policy makers and business owners in the country. President and Chairman of Council of the institute, Architect Thomas Awagu, told journalists yesterday that the forum would assist in developing policies to tackle the myriad of challenges facing the economy.

According to him, IoD Nigeria had on behalf of Nigerian businesses, set machinery in motion to make case for less burdensome regulations in the economic sphere, and also at the same time, explain to the government why taxes and the cost of land must be lowered if housing would be affordable to low income earners in the country. Awagu said the institute of director is warning of the consequences of policy somersaults, and for government to deliver on its promise of enhanced infrastructure, which all in the business sector need to improve productivity, get the right staff and serve our customers more efficiently. “We will fight hard for the creation of a Nigeria where all of us can get on with what we do best and that is getting the job done,” he said.

He disclosed that as part of the institute’s efforts towards achieving the objectives, a lot of attention would be focused on safeguarding the interest of directors through training on corporate governance, seminars and conferences in the years ahead. The IOD president added that Nigeria should be collaborating with organisations of like interest such to enhance its efforts towards achieving these objectives and increasing its impact and horizon. “In the New Year, we shall commence interactive business fora between government officials and the executive council members of IOD on what the government should do to improve the economy”, Awagu added.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FirstBank, Bestman games promote financial literacy through Lagos Monopoly

nculcating financial literacy in youths through the Lagos Monopoly game will give them a head start in the quest for a fulfilled future and facilitate the emergence astute managers of Nigeria’s economy in future, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, First Bank of Nigeria Limited has said. Speaking at the formal launch of the City of Lagos Edition of the Monopoly Board Game, Ani-Mumuney said the Bank believes in the project as a vital platform for instilling financial literacy and personal finance discipline in youths. “FirstBank supports the Lagos Monopoly project which Lagos State Government has adopted as a tool to teach financial literacy to

Pensioners demand payment of recovered funds STENLEY IHEDIGBO

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mrs. Sola David-Borha, Head, eBusiness , Mr. Thabo Makoko and Head, Retail Business Total Nigeria Plc, Mr. Zo Andriamampianina, during the first anniversary celebrations of Stanbic IBTC Mobile Money in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: BAYOOR EWUOSO

Agro-inputs dealers reassure govt on GES success TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

he Nigeria Agro-Inputs Dealers Association (NAIDA), has re-assured the Federal Government of its members’ commitment to transparent management and effective distribution of agricultural inputs to farmers across the country in order to ensure effective implementation of the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) programme. Giving the assurance during the commissioning of the maiden One-Stop Shop Agro-inputs centre by the Federal Government at Wushishi, Niger State, the President of the Association, Alhaji Raufu Lawal, explained that the current moves to allow the private sector to play leading roles in agricultural inputs’ distribution to farmers would help in addressing the age-long problem of

parasitic middle men that had denied farmers of past initiatives targeted at delivering affordable inputs to them. Lawal, who noted that the GES programme remained a vital anchor for pushing the national economic diversification agenda ahead, said the establishment of the Centres in the geo-political zones was a healthy development that would fast-track the delivery of good quality inputs and services to farmers in more timely, cost efficient ways. The NAIDA President assured government of the judicious use of the centres in the areas of sales and services of quality agro inputs; agricultural mechanisation activities; extension services delivery to farmers; creating market linkage for farmers; and collaborative activities with other relevant development partners and stakeholders.

Lawal, who commended the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) with the technical support of the IFDC, an international Centre for Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development, through the Nigeria Agro Dealer Support (NADS) project, for supporting agro-dealers in their extension services provision to farmers in the country to complement those of agricultural extension officers in the public sector. He said:”Today, we are witnessing another turning point in the history of agriculture in our dear country Nigeria. The official commissioning of a one-stop shop agro-input facility which is the reason why we are here is a welcome development, which will afford farmers the opportunity to buy improved and certified agroinputs at a go, thereby saving them rigour and stress of visiting different places to source for inputs.

students in all public secondary schools. We believe that it presents a huge platform for exposing our youths to the rudiments of financial education thereby laying a sound foundation for economic prosperity in Nigeria,” she said. She said the Bank was happy to work with Bestman Games on the initiative that also promises to be a powerful tool for promoting family values and enhancing the nation’s cultural heritage as youths can relate to the familiar streets, neighbourhoods and leading brands captured on the board game. As Lead Partner with Bestman Games, purveyors of the first ever customized African Monopoly game, the City of Lagos edition.

he Association of Federal Pensioners (AFP), Ondo State Chapter, has asked the Federal Government to pay the recovered monies by the Pension Task Team to the owners. According to the association a status report submitted to the Federal Government confirmed that the Pension task force has so far recovered N151.6 billion pension funds from various accounts in the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and the Police Pension. In a statement made available to National Mirror, signed by an executive member of the group, Mr. Abiodun Oladapo said it is strange that all the

monies so recovered, which legally and rightly belong to the retirees who made claims at the biometric exercise which took place in June 2010 was kept. He added that the recovered substantial amount of the stolen monies was only kept in a pension arrears settlement account on the orders of the Minister of Finance, without being paid to their legitimate owners. He further added that pensioners of Ondo state origin are owed and months arrears are not yet to be paid. Also the pensioner of Ekiti state origin receiving federal share of monthly pensions in Akure Ondo State are owed 17 months arrears out of an accumulated arrears of 25 months with only 8 months paid .

Prima Corporation bags ISO 22000:2005 certification

rima Corporation Limited, the leading manufacturers of plastic Performs and Caps for Carbonated Soft Drink manufacturers in West Africa has been conferred with the ISO 22000:2005 certification by the Standard 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” 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” Presenting the certification to his team at the quarterly reward

and recognition ceremony, the General Manager of Prima Corporation Limited Mr. Rajiv Khanna stated that the company continuously strives to exceed the expectations of their customers, focusing on the best products and services benchmarked with the best in the world. “The achievement of the ISO 22000: 2005 accreditation is a feather in our cap and justifies our claim to be the best in class, both locally and internationally. The Company’s policies on safety and quality highlight its strong commitment to the spirit of ISO 22000”. “Each of us at Prima Corporation has a moral obligation to safeguard each other, our customers and our environment by aspiring to operate in a safe, injury free and healthy workplace, consistently producing safe packaging.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Energy Week

udemea@rocketmail.com 07031546994

Why operators continue to flare gas in petroleum industry The Federal Government has indicated that gas flaring would end this December. CHIDI UGWU reports that it would likely continue, as not much has been done to meet the target, barely a few weeks to the end of 2012.

he hearts of many concerned parties, especially oil and gas bearing communities, leapt for joy early this year when it became obvious that the Federal Government was bent on stripping gas flaring in the country. The new draft of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), presently before the National Assembly stated that: “Natural gas shall not be flared or vented after 31st December 2012, in any oil and gas production operation, block or field, onshore or offshore, or gas facility,” except under exceptional and temporary circumstances and that, “Any licensee who flares or vents gas without the permission of the minister in (special) circumstances ... shall be liable to pay a fine which shall not be less than the value of the gas.” But this may not be as a recent survey showed that gas flaring remains a convention in the region. In other words, operators continue to flare the important product despite several government pronouncements. For instance, an indigene of Iko, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. John Okon, stated that: “Gas flaring remains a major source of worry in this community. As you can see the roofs are leaking because of acid rain. The flares had also affected the quality of our land which we depend for farming.” Okon recalled that many concerned local and foreign institutions have visited Iko, promising to assist to end the menace in the past few years. He seemed not to be too optimistic anymore because of what he referred to as, “non commitment of the government as other parties.” Iko is not alone. Other communities are not spared. Take the case of Ikoso, Delta State as an example. Like Iko, the community experienced severe gas flaring because of commercial oil production that takes place in the area. The crude is produced along with associated gas which the oil firms have not been able to completely harness for positive applications. In fact, they prefer to flare and then pay a little penalty to the government that depends on such penalty to generate additional revenue. But what it generates from imposing the penalty cannot be compared with losses. The Group Executive Director, Gas and Power, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. David Ige who made a presentation at the 2012 Oloibiri lecture in Lagos puts

Fuel tanker

GAS FLARING REMAINS A MAJOR SOURCE OF WORRY IN THIS COMMUNITY. AS YOU CAN SEE THE ROOFS ARE LEAKING BECAUSE OF ACID RAIN the nation’s yearly losses at $1billion (N157bn). Consequently, Ige explained that the Corporation was considering some options, including creating projects with gas utilisation schemes; introducing regulation to force supply growth and imposing severe penalties to reduce gas flaring. However, the Department of Petroleum Resources, thinks differently. The Director, DPR, Mr. Osten Olorunsola, believes that there is a compelling need to emerge with severe measures, including the shut down of oil fields. He is said to have stated that: “One of the things we are doing is to do some analyses for government, to such an extent that it will mean a proposal to shut down fields to avert huge gas flaring.”

Olorunsola who noted that the nation flared between 1.3 and 1.4 billion cubic feet of gas a day, down from roughly 2.5 bcf about one-and-a-half years ago added that: “We will probably make that position known to government very soon.” However, some oil firms have attempted to explain the situation. One of these is Shell which stated in its report that: “When the Shell Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), first built many of its production facilities in the 1950s, there was little demand or market for gas in many parts of the world, including Nigeria. So, associated gas (AG) was usually burned off safely – a process called flaring.” Like others, the leading producer agreed that there is a need to tackle

flaring, particularly because of some factors, including increased demand for gas, availability of technology to harness, liquefy and export natural gas to foreign markets as well as increased concerns for climate change in the world. The firm stated that: “In 2000, the SPDC Joint Venture (JV) began an ongoing multiyear programme to install equipment to capture gas from its facilities. This programme has been delayed by events outside SPDC’s control, such as funding shortfalls from NNPC (the government-owned majority shareholder of the JV); security concerns which meant it was not safe for staff to work in large parts of the delta for long periods of time; and delays in NNPC contract approval processes. Despite the delays, between 2000 and 2009, SPDC installed associated gas gathering (AGG) infrastructure at 33 sites, covering over 60% of its associated gas production.” Sadly, it reported that 18 of these CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

Energy Week

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Why operators continue to flare gas in petroleum industry

Yakubu

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35 facilities were either vandalised or not commissioned because of the crisis in the region. This notwithstanding, the firm stated that SPDC flaring dropped by more than half between 2002 and 2010 from over 0.6 billion cubic feet a day (bcf/d) to less than 0.3 bcf/d. Shell stated that: “By mid January 2011, three of these additional sites had been completed (bringing the total number of SPDC sites with AGG facilities to 36) and work was underway at a further 17. When complete, these projects will extend AGG coverage to more than 90per cent of the associated gas produced in our operations. SPDC estimates the entire AGG programme will cost around six billion dollars when complete. Associated Gas Development Scheme SPDC is working to find alternative solutions for the remaining facilities which represent less than 10per cent of SPDC associated gas production potential.” However, the firm stated that where it continues to flare, it complies with the law. As SPDC puts it: “The Minister for Petroleum has the power to permit companies to flare on agreed terms and conditions. The only way to end flaring at flare sites without AGG equipment would be to stop oil production. This decision cannot be made by SPDC without direct support from other JV partners, including the government-owned majority partner NNPC.” This has been widely criticised. For instance, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), stated that the whole development points the clear lack of commitment to the protection of the lives and the environment by the Nigerian government. The Executive Director of CISLAC, Mr. Rafsanjani Awal said the coalition of civil society groups has started canvassing inclusion of sanctions for gas flaring in the

Sunmonu

Olorunshola

I THINK NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT HAS OBLIGATION TO PROTECT LIVES, THE ENVIRONMENT AND PROPERTIES OF THE NIGERIAN PEOPLE PIB which is currently before the National Assembly. Awal, who described the situation as unacceptable urged both oil companies and the Nigerian government to ensure that gas flaring is stopped in order the save Nigerians from the dangerous effects emanating from the practice, adding it is the practice in all other developed world and Nigeria would not continue to suffer from what could be managed. He said that: “This shows lack of commitment towards protecting the lives and the environment of the Nigerian people by the Nigerian government. Because if government is com-

mitted to the protection of human rights and the environment as it were, clearly this is unacceptable situation, government should not allow this to continue to happen, it can afford to play a lead in arresting the situation, Society has canvassed the inclusion of sanctions against the practice of gas flaring in the PIB that is currently before the National Assembly.” Awal added: “Unfortunately, it is included in a draft bill, and we are pleading with National Assembly members to ensure that there should a provision for sanctions for gas flaring. I think Nigerian government has obligation to protect lives, the environment and

properties of the Nigerian people. This is an unacceptable situation, whatever oil companies, and whatever Nigerian government should do to ensure that they deal with this matter as urgent as possible they must do otherwise we will consider this as part the deliberate efforts to hurt the Nigerian people.” For the Friends of the Earth International, the practice of gas flaring in Nigeria cannot stop until the nation’s oil wells run dry because stakeholders, including the government and operators have not demonstrated enough commitment to eliminate it. This seems true; especially as ending gas flaring has suffered several postponements in the past. Indeed, all stakeholders, particularly the government and legislators should use the PIB as an instrument to finding a lasting solution to the nation’s endless gas flaring.

Exxon Mobil lifts force majeure on Qua Iboe Crude

xxon Mobil has lifted its force majeure on Qua Iboe crude exports from Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, a company official said. The force majeure, a legal step that protects a company from liability when it can’t fulfill a contract for reasons beyond its control, has been removed, Paul Arinze, general manager in charge of public and government affairs, said in a statement released yesterday in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital. The loading halt had been in place since November 20 after a November 9 pipeline leak from an Exxon Mobil offshore facility in the southern Akwa Ibom state spilled crude into the sea. The facility was shut a day after the incident. Force majeure on Royal Dutch Shell Plc’s Forcados grade was lifted on Nov. 29, while a similar halt by Total SA on gas shipments to Nigeria LNG Ltd. was also ended on the same day and normal production resumed from onshore block OML

58 that pumps 90,000 barrels a day of oil. Qua Iboe blend increased 14 cents to $2.72 a barrel more than Dated Brent, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That’s the highest since March 28. Also, Chevron sold one million barrels of Angolan Nemba grade for loading in January to Bharat Petroleum Corporation, India’s second-largest state refiner, said two traders who asked not to be identified because the information is confiden-

An oil vessel on the high sea

tial. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, India’s third-largest state refiner, is seeking to buy as much as 1 million barrels of crude for loading from January1 to Jan. uary 20, said two traders who asked not to be identified because the information is confidential. The company’s tender closes on Dec. 12 and offers will remain valid until the following day, they said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

OPEC commits $1bn to modern energy development STORIES: UDEME AKPAN

he members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), including Nigeria have committed $1billion to stimulate modern energy services in poor nations. The project to be executed through OPEC Fund for International Development is targeted at ensuring that the nations are rescued from energy poverty that has threatened socio-economic development in some economies. The Secretary General of OPEC, Mr. Abdalla Salem El-Badri who confirmed the development said: “OPEC Member Countries are making huge efforts to protect the environment, such as through gas flaring reduction, supplying cleaner petroleum products, investing in carbon capture and storage, developing hybrid solar-natural gas power stations and solar desalination units. They also invest in research and development for cleaner energy.” He said: “OPEC member countries are also very active in alleviating energy poverty. In this regard, the OPEC Fund for International Development committed $1 billion to facilitate access to modern energy services in poor countries.” El-Badri said: “Our member countries are committed to reaching a comprehensive, balanced outcome to the negotiations based on a full consensus. This outcome should be ‘win-win’ in nature and recognize the diverse interests of all Parties to the Convention.” He said the cartel is not only committed to energy development but also climate change. El-Badri said the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is

Solar energy panels

the foundation of global efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The Secretary General said: “Its principles and provisions should remain the cornerstone of climate change negotiations, in particular the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities and of equity, and with economic development and poverty eradication the overriding priorities of developing countries.” He said important progress has been made in the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action negotiations since their establishment at COP13 in Bali. El-Badri stated that: “They are now being terminated here in Qatar. However, we need to ensure that all the issues under the Bali Action Plan are completely resolved. It is also crucial that the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol begins in 2013 in an effective manner, with ambitious limitation or reduction objectives

for emissions. Developed countries, given their historical responsibility, should take the lead in mitigation and adaptation efforts. This includes using their extensive financial and technological capabilities to help developing countries with their nationally-appropriate mitigation actions and adaptation activities.” He said important negotiations have begun under the Ad-Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform (ADP) for Enhanced Action. Accoring to him “These negotiations should be transparent, countryled and inclusive, and based upon the principles and provisions of the UNFCCC. OPEC Members Countries are developing countries, whose economies are heavily dependent on petroleum export revenue. They contribute to satisfying world energy needs and, thus, to the health of the global economy.”

...Daily basket price falls to $104.75 per barrel

he price of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC basket of 12 crudes stood at $104.75 per barrel on over the weekend, compared with $105.64 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The new OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Iran Heavy (Is-

lamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela). Crude oil futures fell for the fourth day running as investors worried about a glut in supplies and the weak demand outlook. Crude for January delivery fell 33 cents to settle at $85.93 a barrel on the New York Mer-

cantile Exchange. However, many oil producing nations, including Nigeria are not worried as the situation has not yet gone of hand. This is based on the realisation that at the current price the nations would still be in a position to generate adequate foreign exchange for the execution of their budgets. For instance, Nigeria’s 2012 budget was based on the reference price of $72 per bar-

Energy & Oil Prices

Source: Bloomberg

OIL ($/bbl) Nymex Crude Future Dated Brent Spot WTI Cushing Spot

PRICE*

CHANGE

% CHANGE

TIME

85.95 111.01 85.54

0.41 0.90 -0.74

0.48% 0.82% -0.86%

07:42 07:52 10/29

PRICE*

CHANGE

% CHANGE

TIME

310.55 275.30

-0.97 -0.38

-0.31% -0.14%

07:37 07:41

OIL (¢/gal) Nymex Heating Oil Future Nymex RBOB Gasoline Future

NATURAL GAS ($/MMBtu)

PRICE*

CHANGE

% CHANGE

11:19

New York City Gate Spot

3.77 3.43 3.57

-0.03 0.09 0.11

-0.84% 2.69% 3.18%

07:43 10/29 10/29

ELECTRICITY ($/megawatt hour)

PRICE*

CHANGE

% CHANGE

TIME

% CHANGE

09/24

Nymex Henry Hub Future Henry Hub Spot

Mid-Columbia, firm on-peak, spot Palo Verde, firm on-peak, spot

32.95 35.23

-0.40 -0.76

-1.20% -2.11%

10/26 10/29

BLOOMBERG, FIRM ON-PEAK, DAY AHEAD SPOT/ERCOT HOUSTON

30.25

2.04

7.23%

10/26

Source: Oilprice.com

rel, showing an excess of about $32 per barrel. Market watchers said crude oil prices would likely remain firm throughout this year, particularly as OPEC has concluded plans to meet, review and adopt actions targeted at achieving more stability at the volatile market. The oil market uncertainty may drag into next year. President Goodluck Jonathan. had while presenting his 2013 budget address stated that: “The uncertainty surrounding the global economy, which could have adverse effects on commodity prices, highlights the downside risks for our economy. The oil market is well known for its volatility.” He said: “We recall the 2008 experience at the height of the global economic downturn when oil prices fell almost overnight from $147 per barrel to $38 per barrel. This threat of oil price volatility remains constant and underscores the need to rely on a robust and prudent methodology to estimate the benchmark price.” Jonathan said the global economic slowdown can also have far-reaching implications for the demand for our export commodities, given that the Euro zone and the USA account for over 50% of the nation’s crude oil exports.

Energy Week

World oil demand in 2013

orld oil demand forecast to continue growing in 2013, by 0.8 mb/d to 89.6 mb/d. Expected challenges in the global economy next year is creating much uncertainty about world oil demand. Hence the forecast oil demand growth has a notable downside risk, especially in the first half of the year. Much of this risk is attributed to not only the OECD, but also China and India. A spill over from the troubled European economy will affect other regions of the world. Some factors affecting next year’s oil demand forecast are the current ambiguity in the world GDP assessment, retail petroleum prices and abnormal weather conditions, and these could lead to a reassessment of world oil demand later in the year. Such variables could reduce the world oil demand growth forecast by 20% next year. The outlook for US oil consumption in 2013 remains rather pessimistic, especially when taking into consideration economic developments and fuel switching. Furthermore, oil demand in the US and China, which are expected to be the main players in next year’s world demand growth profile, can change the overall rhythm of the demand pattern. World demand is forecast to continue its growth during 2013 to reach 0.8 mb/d y-o-y and average 89.6 mb/d for the year. North America’s oil consumption during 2013 will remain weak, although it should be in better shape than this year. In OECD Europe, the continent’s consumption is projected to decrease again, by 0.24 mb/d, thus showing hardly any improvement. As a result of the weaker US economy, the country’s auto sales for 2013 are forecast to grow at a slower rate of around 3%. This is expected to affect all auto sectors and mainly the larger types of vehicle. As for the Canadian auto market, the level of growth is forecast to be around 7% during 2013. The negative spillover from the US market is expected to hit the Canadian auto market hard next year. The Mexican auto market is expected to grow next year at the same pace as in 2012. The 2013 European auto market will almost certainly be dominated by economic concerns, stronger austerity measures and high unemployment in several countries, further influencing current trends. There are expectations of a further shrinking in the market by as much as 10% y-o-y, depending on the magnitude of the sovereign debt crisis in the region. This decline in some markets could be down to 20-year lows. The shrinking European auto market will affect the Pacific auto market as well. This will create a big challenge for the industry, as the excess production capacity will lead to an inability to compete with foreign autos. Inevitably, automobile production in Europe would need to be adjusted towards future lower demand, with all the implied consequences of this. During 2013, minor growth of 5% is expected, whereas projections will depend strongly on the evolution of the Japanese economy. This is basically the consequence of a troubled economy and the lack of government incentives. South Korea’s auto sales are expected to shrink to only 1% in 2013. This is due to a slowdown in the economy, the lack of plans for new car releases and the fading out of tax reduction benefits. The South Korean government cut special consumption taxes on vehicles temporarily last month in a bid to boost domestic demand; however, the tax-cut plan is scheduled to be over at the end of the year. The outlook for the South Korean market during 2013 is dependent largely upon developments in the US and Euro-zone economies and the level of the country’s currency exchange rate. Non-OPEC oil production is expected to increase by 0.90 mb/d to average 53.85 mb/d in 2013. The absolute level was revised down by 40 tb/d, due mainly to historical revisions undertaken in 2010, 2011 and 2012, while expected growth was revised up by 20 tb/d. The overall outlook for non-OPEC supply in 2013 sees little change, with strong growth expected in North America, driven mainly by the US and Canada. OECD Western Europe is expected to see the largest decline in 2013. The FSU is projected to have the second-largest regional growth after North America, followed by Africa and Latin America. Africa’s supply is forecast to increase strongly on the return of the halted South Sudan production in 2013. The US, Canada, South Sudan and Sudan, Brazil, Australia, Kazakhstan, Russia and Colombia are expected to drive growth in 2013, while Mexico, Norway, the UK and Indonesia are seen to decline. On a quarterly basis, non-OPEC supply is projected to average 53.48 mb/d, 53.49 mb/d, 53.83 mb/d and 54.58 mb/d respectively. Source: OPEC

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FG should not fund DISCOs –NERC STORIES: UDEME AKPAN

ontrary to calls and justification for the Federal Government to fund the electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) beyond 2012, there is indisputable proof that this will not be necessary as the tariff methodology in use has provided for these companies to be self sustaining. Proponents for additional funding for these electricity companies have argued that despite the privatisation process which will usher in new owners by mid 2013, there is a need to fund these companies in order for them to meet their capital spending obligations. Investigations have revealed that the tariff methodology, also referred to as MYTO2 was computed in a manner to allow the DISCOs pay for the energy delivered to them, meet their staff costs (OPEX) as well as fund capital expenditure (CAPEX). Statistics made available from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) show that since the introduction of the MYTO2 in June this year, Eko DISCO was in November 2012, finally able to meet all its OPEX and CAPEX obligations, as well as settle its energy bill – all without subsidy intervention. The Chairman/CEO of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi said: “What this shows is that with more diligence on the side of the CEOs, these companies can meet up with their OPEX and CAPEX, as well as pay for the energy they receive. This will achieve NERC’s objective of a financially viable electricity market”.

Contrary to the impression created in certain quarters, the MYTO2 appears to have been crafted to enable these companies adequately settle all their financial obligations. The case of Eko DISCO is concrete proof of this. Hot on the heels of Eko DISCO is Ikeja, with a 76percent ability to meet its financial obligations to the industry. The steady progress for DISCOs to meet their obligations is however not widespread as there has been dismal performance recorded by a considerable number of companies. More than 70per cent stand at below 45percent ability to meet financial obligations. However, following the deluge of customer complaints on excessive estimated billing, the NERC has directed electricity distribution companies to organise sensitisation workshops for their staff. This sensitisation exercise will in no small measure bridge the gap between regulations and their effective implementation. This initiative became necessary in light of the fact that the DISCOs have neglected to rigorously apply the methodology on the estimation of electricity bills. The methodology on estimated billing was enacted by NERC to regulate the practice of arriving at electricity bills for customers who do not have prepaid meters. DISCOs are required to scientifically calculate electricity consumption, ensuring that customers pay for only what they use. Investigations by NERC revealed that the staff of the DISCOs does not understand how to apply this methodology, and this has a significant linkage to many of the complaints lodged by customers. It is believed that the sensitisation will equip those respon-

CSR: NDDC plans new youth empowerment schemes

he Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), is designing new programmes that would help in building the capacity of youths with a view to engaging them in meaningful activities. The Managing Director, Dr. Christian Oboh disclosed this when he received the Speaker and other executive members of the Nigerian Youth Parliament at the commission’s Headquarters in Port Harcourt. The NDDC boss underscored the importance of youths in the socio-economic and political development of any country, assuring that the Commission would continue to initiate programmes that would equip the youths for future challenges. He said: “We have programmes designed for the youths running into millions of naira but we need to fine-tune them for better results. We are, therefore, focusing on areas that will give us maximum benefit and impact positively on our youths”. While advising the Youth Parliament to remain focused on their goals, Oboh charged youths of Niger Delta to direct their energies to productive ventures rather than militancy. Speaker of the Youth Parliament, Hon. Abdullahi Maibasira commended the Board and Management of the NDDC for embarking on people-oriented projects in its quest for a developed Niger Delta region. He said the number of programmes being undertaken by the Commission showed clearly that it believed in the youths as leaders of tomorrow.

utse Muko, a rural community in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, was thrown into a carnival atmosphere on Friday, October 26, 2012 as 61 persons from the settlement benefitted from a Skill Acquisition Programme sponsored by Total. The people expressed their delight with dancing and singing at the passing out ceremony. Beneficiaries were presented with certificates and empowerment kits in the areas they were trained. The programme was carried out through a nongovernmental Organisation (NGO), Life International Foundation INC (LIFI). The participants also exhibited some of their products while some of their baked products were

Maibasira expressed the group’s desire to collaborate with the NDDC in building the capacity of youths to ensure adherence to positive activities. Chairman, Youth Parliament Committee on the Niger Delta, Moses Uvie-Odeghe, commended the NDDC for its several youth’s empowerment and human capacity development initiatives.

Oboh

Firm provides skills acquisition served as part of refreshments for the guests at the event which included members of the media. The chief of the community, Ibrahim Yahaya Dangana led various speakers in commending Total for enabling the NGO to improve the lives of members of the community. He noted that while he was aware of skills acquisition programmes conducted by government agencies like the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), such programmes had been difficult for them to access. He also conferred a traditional title of Sarauniya (Queen of Muko village or viable woman among men) on

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

NNPC considers Arepo pipeline maintenance in 2013 UDEME AKPAN

Amadi

sible for billing with the necessary information and skills needed to estimate electricity bills in a scientific, fair and transparent manner. Amadi said: “We have mandated the DISCOs to organise a sensitisation workshop for the business managers in the DISCOs to ensure compliance with the regulation. The workshops must take place before the end of November, 2012”. Other areas to be dealt with during the sensitisation exercise will include metering plans and targets, and the regulation on connection charges.

Total donates equipment to UNIPORT

he University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), has become the latest beneficiary of Total’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives with the commissioning and handover of a modern emergency room equipment by the company on Friday, November 23, 2012. The state of the art equipment donated are: 2 Defibrillators, 1 Ultrasound Scanner, 1 Mobile X-ray machine, 5 Ventilators, 1 EGC machine, 10 Electronics Vital Sign monitors, 5 Laryugo Scopes,24 Ambu bags, 10 Electronic thermometers, 10 Oxygen Cylinders, 10 Sphygmometers, 5 Suction machines and 1 Perkins 100KVA Generator. They were received on behalf of the institution by the Chief Medical Director, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Professor Aaron Ojule, who commended Total and its partners for the laudable gesture. “This is something that speaks eloquently for your company. Our hospital is in the heart of the Niger Delta; the hub of oil company activities in the region. We are open to everybody, and everybody is our client. That gives us a lot of challenge trying to meet up the needs of everybody. The equipment you have donated gladdens our heart, because these are the equipment a modern emergency department should have. It is true we have some equipment, but a big hospital like ours cannot be said to have too many equipment. We are grateful, but hopeful that you will continue to partner with us”, Ojule remarked.

programme in FCT the president of LIFI, Dr Olubunmi Usim-Wilson. Dr. Usim-Wilson thanked Total “for giving all of us the opportunity to not only gain experience by working with this blessed people of Muko and also the people opportunity to grow. We can now walk out of this place with our heads held high, that we have been able to empower this community to transform and gain control of their lives.” The Corporate CSR delegation to the event included the Manager Corporate CSR, Mr. Emmanuel Ikomi and Corporate CSR officer Miss Sotonye Bristol.

the pipeline is repaired. We have to ensure that we do not jeopardise the lives of our staff again.” The nonfunctioning of the pipeline has affected the nation in many negative ways. For instance, it has stalled the movement of fuel from Atlas Cove to depots in the South West, and by extension, other parts of the nation. Second, it has culminated in a situation where tanker drivers come from all parts of the nation to Apapa, Lagos to lift fuel. The National President of the Oil and Gas Service Providers Association of Nigeria (OGSPAN), Mr. Colman Obasi said: “We in OGSPAN do not understand why it should take too long a time to rehabilitate a pipeline as important as Arepo. There is a need for authorities to give priority to this facility because of its importance to the industry and economy of the nation.” The President of Lagos Chapter of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Mr. Bose Adelaja Korodu said that the closure of Capital Oil and Gas has impacted very negatively on fuel supply as the company has the installed capacity to store and dispense 35 per cent of the nation’s demand.

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), may rehabilitate the Arepo pipeline as part of measures aimed at enhancing fuel distribution in the nation next year. A reliable source in the organisation who confirmed the development said: “We have been working with security agencies to fix the problem in the past few months. From all indications, that cannot be this year.” He said the rehabilitation would be in 2013 as arrangements that would culminate in revisiting Arepo have not yet been completed, though security officials have since mobilized to protect the pipeline from further damage. The General Manager in the Public Affairs Division of the corporation, Dr. Omar Farouk who expressed the commitment of NNPC to rehabilitating the pipeline said: “The NNPC is waiting for security agencies to give clearance and backup for the maintenance.” Farouk said the corporation would certainly return to Arepo once the clearance is provided as the pipeline is very strategic for the distribution of fuel in the nation. The pipeline was vandalised on August 30, this year. The NNPC engineers who went to carry out maintenance were also killed at the same location by people suspected to be vandals. Since then the NNPC management has vowed not to return immediately because of the importance it attaches to the safety and security of personnel. The pipeline which has since been shut play important role as it facilitates the distribution of fuel to some depots, including Mosimi and Ibadan where marketers usually go to lift the product for their retail outlets. The Managing Director, National Engineering and Technical Company, Mr. Isiaku Abdulahi explained at the just concluded conference of the National Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), that the security situation has not improved. Abdulahi remarked that it would take a while before it would be repaired. As he puts it: “We are working to see that Lamorde

Firm to present energy outlook in Lagos

xxonMobil is set to present energy outlook in Lagos this week. The outlook is a report which analyses the trends that will shape global energy supply and demand over the coming decades. Nigeria is a key player in the Energy sector in Africa. The oil and gas industry contributes the largest part of Nigeria’s income. In line with the commitment of ExxonMobil to align its corporate goals with Nigeria’s aspiration, the company has arranged to share this information with Nigeria. The Outlook for Energy is ExxonMobil’s long-term view of our shared energy future. We develop the Outlook annually to assess future trends in energy supply, demand and technology to help guide the long-term investments that underpin our business strategy. The firm stated that: “This year’s report reveals a number of key findings about how we use energy, how much we will need in the future and what types of fuels will meet demand.” It maintained that key findings of this year’s Outlook include: Efficiency will continue to play a key role in solving our energy challenges. The firm stated that energy demand in developing nations (Non OECD) will rise 65 percent by 2040 compared to 2010, reflecting growing prosperity and expanding economies. It stated that: “With this growth comes a greater demand for electricity. Growth in transportation sector demand will be led by expanding commercial activity as our economies grow. Technology is enabling the safe development of once hard-to-produce energy resources, significantly expanding available supplies to meet the world’s changing energy needs. Oil will remain the No. 1 global fuel, while natural gas will overtake coal for the No. 2 spot.” The company whose personnel believes that evolving demand and supply patterns will open the door for increased global trade opportunities stated that the outlook provides a window to the future, a view that we use to help guide our own strategies and investments. It maintained that over the next five years, ExxonMobil expects to invest approximately $185 billion in energy

projects. Given the magnitude of our investments, it’s critical that we take an objective and data-driven approach to ensure that we have the most accurate picture of energy trends. The firm stated that: “The information contained in the Outlook regarding energy markets is also crucial for individuals, businesses and policymakers. We hope that by sharing this Outlook, we can enhance understanding of energy issues so that we can all make informed decisions about our energy future.”

States move to meet NERC target on electricity assets valuation

tate governments have started making efforts to meet the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, (NERC), target on assets valuation. The Commission had given state governments up to the 31st of December 2012 to submit a detailed valuation of their investments in electricity distribution assets. Investigations showed that the governments have intensified efforts toward meeting the target. A Commissioner in Akw Ibom State who preferred not to be named said: “We know the importance of the subject and are working to ensuring that we comply.” The Chairman /CEO of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi said that a framework for the valuation had already been adopted by parties involved. He said: “In December, a universal valuation was done, we need to know now is what asset belongs to who”. The National Economic Council had earlier directed NERC to undertake an inventory of all electricity distribution assets associated with local distribution networks. The study was concluded this month. This was done to ascertain the post privatisation structure of the PHCN successor companies. The Federal Government had allocated 40per cent of the shares of these legacy companies to States within the distribution zones and workers of the companies. These shares will be based on the value of the assets as determined by NERC. Concerns about assets acquired post 2010 were raised. Amadi explained that there will be a framework for investors to pay for these subsequent assets. He added that he appreciated that the process was a painstaking one, and that if areas of dispute were thrown up, a tripartite meeting with NERC will be convened to resolve the issues.

Energy Week

OPEC ministers and officials say the market is balanced

Signaling little desire to alter output targets when they meet next month in Vienna. The following is a compilation of recent comments from officials in the 12 nations of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which supplies about 40 percent of the world’s oil. The group is due to elect a new secretarygeneral at a meeting and may renew or change its output ceiling of 30 million barrels a day, which was reaffirmed in June without individual country quotas. OPEC has pumped above that target all year, with total crude output falling to 30.95 million barrels a day in October, according to a Nov. 9 report by its secretariat that cited secondary sources for the data. That’s still 1.25 million a day more than the average amount that OPEC estimates is required of it in 2013. ALGERIA The country is unlikely to ask for a cut in OPEC oil output limits, Ali Hached, adviser to the energy and mines minister, said October 23. The oil minister will decide on the production policy at the meeting, he said. “In any case the market is very well supplied,” Hached said. ANGOLA The market is adequately supplied, Angola’s national representative to OPEC said November 27. “If prices will be as they are at the moment, around $110 a barrel, something like that, I think the situation will keep unchanged,” Luis Neves said in an interview in Cape Town. “The idea is to achieve prices that are fair not only for us, OPEC, as exporters but also” the buyers, he said. “At the moment it does seem like the market is well balanced, so there is no need for cuts.” ECUADOR Ecuador doesn’t see any need to change current output levels at the Vienna meeting, Non-Renewable Natural Resources Minister Wilson Pastor told reporters November 28 in Quito. The country is OPEC’s smallest producer. IRAN Iran hopes the average price of OPEC crudes will increase “in next days,” Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi told the state-run Fars news agency Nov. 19. He said global demand will increase as winter approaches in the northern hemisphere. IRAQ OPEC doesn’t need to discuss its output quota now, but will possibly need to in coming years, Iraqi Oil Minister Abdul Kareem al-Luaibi said in an interview in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 11. The country’s production rose to 3.35 million barrels a day in September, from 2.73 million one year earlier, and maintained the same rate last month, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. KUWAIT A stable price for Brent crude of $100 to $110 a barrel is comfortable for producers and consumers, Sami Rushaid, the chairman of Kuwait Oil Co., said Sept. 18. “The danger for oil markets is fluctuations and volatility,” Rushaid said in an interview in Dubai. “The oil market needs stability.” Kuwait will keep production at about 3 million barrels a day for the next year or so, he said. Output at this level would make Kuwait the second-biggest producer in OPEC after Saudi Arabia, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. LIBYA Libya’s parliament approved a new cabinet at the end of October that includes Oil Minister Abdulbari al-Arusi, who has made few public statements since then. Output from the holder of Africa’s biggest crude reserves has returned to just under the pre-conflict level of 1.6 million barrels a day, the former oil minister, Abdul-Rahman Ben Yezza, said on Sept. 24 at a conference in Tripoli.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

WAPCo moves to complete pipeline UDEME AKPAN

he management of West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo), has intensified efforts to complete the maintenance of the West African pipeline to enable it begin gas export to consumers in Ghana, Togo and Benin. A top official who confirmed the development in a telephone interview said: “The rehabilitation work has gone very far. We are intensifying efforts to ensuring that it is completed on or before December, this year.” The official who declined to state the extent of work so far executed said: “It is difficult to say in terms of percentage. But I can assure you that it would be completed on set target.” The pipeline established to facilitate the export of Nigeria’s gas to the nations was destroyed by a vessel suspected to be involved in oil bunkering offshore Lome. Since then, consumers of many organisations are said to have taken to close substitutes in order to generate electricity in the affected nations. The substitutes included fuel oil and petrol which many consumers, including households and industries utilise to generate power. The Managing Director of the company, Mr. Charles Adeniji who confirmed the development in Lagos said: “The consumers have options and have actually taken to those options in order to generate electricity which they need for different purposes.” He raised hope that the pipeline which delivers Nigeria’s gas to the nations for power generation is set to restart operations in December this year. The pipeline that was damaged by a vessel is presently undergoing maintenance. Adeniji said divers have removed the damaged pipe joints for disposal while the remaining pipe ends have been aligned back to their original positions. He said construction barge was hired on September 24, 2012 while a team was mobilised 28 September 2012, equipped with crane, welders, pipe and machines. 6 Pipe joints loaded on the barge. He said: “Line scraper, called “pigs”

will be inserted into and launched at one end of the line to remove water which will be received at the other end. Adeniji said: “Compressed gas or Nitrogen will be used to push the pig- Main line/ Laterals. As the pig travels, water in line will be pushed out, while the compressed gas or Nitrogen will dry the internal surface of the line.” The managing director said: “The amount of moisture in the gas/ nitrogen will indicate when the line is dried and when pigging can stop. After drying / inerting, the operating valves will be opened to flow, and gas will be introduced into the line and will commence gas transportation operations.” Already, a construction barge has been hired to fabricate the replacement 6-pipe joint spools. Adeniji said: “Concurrently, action plans are being developed for removing water and drying the main and the lateral lines after which gas will be introduced. We expect to commence operations before December 25, 2012. Shareholders have been responsive and supporting.” The Managing Director of the Company explained that current works on the pipeline was about 10 per cent completed and that by December it would be over 90 per cent complete after which the pipes would be dried through the removal of water and debris in the lines.

The company shut down its operations after the facility was damaged by an unidentified vessel which came under fire from Togolese naval authorities and subsequently stopped all gas deliveries to its onshore stations. The stoppage of gas deliveries to power stations has adversely affected service delivery at the generation, supply and distribution units of electricity services in Ghana leading to the current load shedding exercise in some parts of the country. He asked governments in the sub-region to work to ensure a secured business environment devoid of criminality, vandalism, kidnapping and other vices to sustain business growth and to attract and sustain investors in the region. Mrs. Harriet Wereko-Brobby, General Manager, Corporate Affairs-West African Gas Pipeline Company, said the company had its headquarters in Accra-Ghana, with field offices in Badagry-Nigeria, Cotonou - Benin, Lome-Togo, Tema and Takoradi, both in Ghana. WAPCo transports processed natural gas, free of heavy hydrocarbons, liquids and water and it is ideally suited as a fuel for power plant and industrial applications. WAPCo’s gas is for power generation and is not LPG for cooking.

Pipeline

Power generation stabilises at 4, 500 megawatts UDEME AKPAN

lectricity generation in the nation has hit a peak capacity of 4,500 megawatts (mw), one of the highest in recent times. The feat recorded on Monday, this week showed an increase of 100 mw against an average of 4, 400 mw recorded in the past. The supply, excluding spinning reserves has culminated in improved supply to consumers nationwide. Authoritative data of the Ministry of Power showed that 4,250 mw are dedicated to transmission while 250 mw constituted the nation’s reserves which are not always for transmission and distribution. A breakdown showed that while the older stations of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), including Egbin, apparently the biggest in the nation accounted for over 3,000 mw, the newly constructed plants under the Integrated Power Scheme accounted for 1,000 mw. The Head of Press in the Ministry of Power, Mr. Greyne Anosike who confirmed the development said the feat was achieved as a result increased investment in generat-

ing plants and other infrastructure, located in different parts of the nation. He said the improvement was not accidental as the government has in the past few years made enormous investments in the sector. These, he said have gone a long way to building the nation’s capacity to generate substantial mw of electricity. Anosike said there has also been improvement in transmission and distribution facilities nationwide. These are targeted at ensuring that electricity gets to every part of the nation, including the rural areas. He said’ “The former Minister of Power, Prof. Bart Nnaji and others assisted in many ways to put in place the right structures. Consequently, power supply will continue to improve not withstanding who occupies one office or another.” Spokesman of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Mr. Yakubu Lawal who confirmed such increased investments in the sector said the firm has commissioned 11 power injector sub-stations in Lagos alone. He said each of the 11 sub-stations is 1x15 MVA with the capacity of generating power for about 10,000 residents in Ag-

bowa-Ikosi, Ipakodo, Ijede, Agbara, Ajangbadi, Orile-Coker, Fowler, Alagbon, Bekley, Apapa Raod and Tincan. Lawal said the firm also commissioned 500 transformers of 50KVA each to boost power supply. Lawal assured Lagosians and residents in other parts of the nation that the projects would boost the electricity supply, promising that supply would continue to improve as new plants and facilities come on stream. Incidentally, many consumers have started feeling the impact of improved supply. For instance, the spokesman of Union Bank, Mr. Francis Barde said in a telephone interview that: “We can confirm that there has been an improvement in power supply in recent times. In the past we used to have about two hours of public power supply which compelled us to overdepend on our plants, located in every branch to run our operations. But in the past few weeks, we hae about 10 hours of public power supply” He said: “This improvement has enabled us to depend more on PHCN for supply. We only switch over to our plants whenever PHCN fails to deliver. This has enabled us to reduce high cost of operations.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

GLOBAL FLEET OIL & GAS GETS NEW CEO

Henry-Iyasere, new CEO, Global Fleet Oil & Gas

Energy Group consolidates position with new appointments, promotions MESHACK IDEHEN

I Dr. Ibrahim making the promotion announcements at the end of year party

Jinadu, new CEO, Global Fleet Industries

Busari

n line with its commitment to remain a leading player in the Nigerian and global economies, Energy Group Limited, a business conglomerate headquartered in Lagos with interests across a range of sectors have made several promotions within the group in order to consolidate on its position. he Group, with interests in the oil and gas, aviation, publishing, insurance and hospitality, real estate, manufacturing and banking, said the new promotions, which are based entirely on merit will take the group to the next level. In the new promotions announced by the Group Managing Director of Energy Group, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim OFR, at the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s end of year party in Lagos at the weekend, former General Manager, Accounts and Finance of Air Nigeria, Mrs. Bridget HenryIyasere, is now the Chief Executive Officer of its oil downstream subsidiary, Global Fleet Oil and Gas Limited, while the former Assistant General Manager, Projects and Branding at Global Fleet Oil and Gas Limited, Mrs. Abosede Jinadu, is now Chief Executive Officer of Global Fleet Industries Limited.

Afolayan

In the same vein, Ibrahim also announced the promotion to Assistant General Managers of Mrs. Uchenna Ososanya, Mrs. Bukola Ogundare, Mrs. Bimbo Busari and Ms Yemisi Ajayi, while Mr. Ushie Ugal was promoted from his former position of a Business Development Manager to Acting General Manager, Nicon Luxury Hotel and Apartments, Port Harcourt. Also, Mr. Fidelis Lemchi, formerlyBusiness Development Manager, Global Fleet Industries Limited, is now Assistant General Manager and Head of Operation at Global Fleet Oil and Gas Limited, while Timothy Afolayan Johnson, is the new Head of Operations and Finance, Nicon Luxury Hotel. Since it was established in 2003 by billionaire business mogul, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, Global Fleet Oil and Gas Limited has continued to maintain its position as a leading player in the oil and gas sector, with huge investments continually being made in human and material resources in a manner that is geared towards sustainable economic development of the country. The company, which in the few years of its operation has succeeded in carving a niche for itself as a one stop shop for oil and gas business, has also been able to markedly register its presence in all parts of the country and beyond.

Lemchi

Ajayi

Ososanya

Ugal

Executive Discourse

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has proposed a strategic plan to establish industrial and advanced skill training centre at zonal and state levels. The plan, which has been lauded by many has also been described as capable of eradicating quality manpower shortage and unemployment from the country. In this interview with MESHACK IDEHEN, the Director General of the Fund, Professor Longmas Sambo Wapmuk talks about how the Fund intends to eliminate unemployment amongst youths in Nigeria, alongside other issues. Excerpts: How has it been trying to implement the vision of the ITF? We came with the right frame of mind and so far by the grace of God, there are visible indications to observers and other stakeholders that the ITF’s vision which is geared towards being the foremost skills training and manpower development organisation in Nigeria and among the best in the world is kept. Our vision is focused in that direction. At every point in time, the Fund remains focused on setting and regulating training standards, while at the same time offering direct training intervention in industrial and commercial skills training and development, using a crop of very highly competent professional staff, modern techniques and technology. Having said that, it is important to state clearly that the socio-economic development of Nigeria particularly in the industrial and economic sectors would have been a lot faster and sustainable had the opportunities that abound in vocational and technical training been fully tapped into in times past. It is those limitless opportunities that middle and high level technical and vocational training avails a nation that we at the ITF are trying to recreate, and so far, the vision is on course. When fully implemented, the ITF’s vision will completely eradicate unemployment, especially from amongst the youth population of the country. The phenomenon of youth unemployment, it also must be said is a challenge that many countries of the world including Nigeria are grappling with. Youth unemployment is also capable of breaching a nation’s security in the immediate and long term. Furthermore the ITF vision is committed to tackling the issue of lack of skill, capacity and adequate manpower in the industrial sector of the country’s economy, a situation that has brought about problems, like low and dwindling productivity in the country’s economy. It is a situation that countless companies in particular, the oil and gas sector have been struggling with. It is our objective at the ITF that very soon; Nigeria will not face any industrial or developmental challenges because of lack of adequate or skilled manpower. In the not too distant future, graduates and other products of the ITF,s skill training centres, and those that will be produced from the zonal and advanced training centres that the Fund will soon establish will be more than capable and skilled enough to meet that requirements. In that regards, we have our parent ministry to thank regarding all the support and assistance that have been provided. To cite the example of some of the Asian tigers countries including developed nations like China and Brazil, it is important to say that the place of technical and vocational education and training cannot be emphasised. Technical and vocational training, the model the ITF is trying to implement is what forms the backbone of the economies and industrial development of those nations. It is our earnest expectation that we can bring our experience in that aspect to bear, having interfaced with the tech-

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘ITF strategic plan will eradicate

Wapmuk

AT EVERY POINT IN TIME, THE FUND REMAINS FOCUSED ON SETTING AND REGULATING TRAINING STANDARDS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME OFFERING DIRECT TRAINING INTERVENTION IN INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL SKILLS TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT, USING A CROP OF HIGHLY COMPETENT PROFESSIONAL STAFF, MODERN TECHNIQUES AND TECHNOLOGY nical and vocational skill development initiatives of those countries, in order to replicate those models here and by doing that, surpass how far Nigeria can go in terms of development that vocational and technical training have taken those countries. The Federal Government recently amended the ITF Act. What would you say is the implication of that amendment on the activities of the Fund and its stakeholders? The amended ITF Act 2011 is one of the many bold steps so far taken by the Federal Government to strengthen the Fund; its activities and also ensure compliance by stakeholder with the provisions of the amended Act in a manner that is within the provision of the constitution of the country. Having said that let me say that in 2013, the ITF will commence the enforcement of the amended Act. What the Fund is doing at present is to embark on a massive sensitisation of stakeholders across the country so that ignorance of the Act will not be used as an excuse to flout the government policy on training, development and production of skilled manpower that will meet the nation’s need, as indicated and reflected in the Act. Moreso, one other major implication of the amended Act 2011 is that the quest and commitment by the Fund leadership based on its mandate of providing, promoting and encouraging the acquisition of skills in industry and commerce with a view to generating pools of indigenous manpower sufficient

to meet the needs of the private and public sectors of the economy will receive more zest. For example, based on the amended Act, employers having either 5 or more employees in its employment, or having less than 5 employees but with a turnover of N50million and above per anum,shall in respect of each calendar year and the prescribed date, contribute to the Fund, one percent of its total annual payroll. That same policy in the amended Act applies to suppliers, contractor or consultants bidding or soliciting contracts,businesses,goods and services from any Federal Government ministry, departments or agencies, including commercial, industrial and private entities that be required to fulfil the statutory obligation of its employees with respect to payments of training contributions to the Fund. However, while the Act states clearly that employers who pay their annual training contribution shall at all times provide training for their indigenous staff with a view to improving on the skills related to their jobs, the Fund’s council do make refunds of up to 50 percent of the amount paid by an employer’s if the council is satisfied that the training programme of the employer is in accordance with the Fund’s reimbursement scheme. Clearly, these statutory responsibilities all have implications on various stakeholders, hence the compelling reason the ITF will embark on a sensitisation awareness campaign to inform stakeholders of developments.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Executive Discourse

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

unemployment, manpower shortage’ Many employers, particularly those in the real sector consider graduates and products of the ITF’s Industrial Skill Training Centres (ISTC) as very well trained. What is the Fund doing in order to establish more of such centres in other parts of the country? Working in tandem with the support and vision of our parent ministry, the ministry of trade and investment, those at the management and decision making level in the Fund, have prepared all the essentials, documentation and processes that will lead to the establishment of an industrial skill training centres in all the states of the federation. Futhermore,there will be the establishment of an advanced skills training centres at zonal levels across the country, where young graduates and non graduates will be provided the highest quality training in various fields of vocational and technical education. With the projection of the Fund in mind, the industrial and advanced skills training centres should on the average be able to provide these training for more than 50 thousand youths on an annual basis. The areas that these people will be trained, it must be emphasised, are areas where there are acute manpower shortages in the economy, including vital for sectors like oil and gas, power, the real sector agricultural sector and so on. Meanwhile, the curriculum for this project is ready and fully developed. When this is fully implemented, thousands of jobs will be created, opportunities will be provided in its thousands through the multiplier effects of these projects, while the majority of the jobs that are currently be executed by some expatriates on the excuse that our people lack adequate skills will return home to Nigerians, as such occurrences will also become a thing of the past. Alongside the positive developments, These training centres will also empower people particularly youths with world class skills to become employers themselves, many of them will become entrepreneurs after their training, others will follow up on the trainings received to further their studies and become experts in their fields. The multiplier effect of the establishment of these industrial and advanced skill training is monumental as virtually every aspect of the economy will be affected positively. Commendable as these initiatives are, how will the ITF get the massive funding that will be required for the establishment of these centres, and also be able to carry out its so many other developmental programmes around the country? Despite the support that we are hoping to receive from the government, the ITF is not resting on its oars. With adequate support and cooperation from stakeholders, the Fund can generate substantial funding that can support its vision of eradicating unemployment through training and fulfilment of its mandate. There are various areas of funding that exists particularly with the new Act in place that the Fund can look at. Nevertheless, The Fund has also set up a department that will be looking at how the ITF can look inward for revenue; most revenue avenues available are yet to be fully tapped into. How would you describe the place and importance of vocational and technical training in a nation’s development? No nation can develop without vocational and technical education and training. In the past, Nigeria used to have a lot of trade and craft schools and colleges. There were institutions that were focused mainly on the training and development of technical education, and they were abundant then, and the nation was the better for it. Productivity was high

DESPITE THE SUPPORT THAT WE ARE HOPING TO RECEIVE FROM THE GOVERNMENT, THE ITF

IS NOT RESTING ON ITS OARS.

WITH ADEQUATE SUPPORT AND

COOPERATION FROM STAKEHOLDERS, THE FUND CAN GENERATE

SUBSTANTIAL FUNDING THAT CAN SUPPORT ITS VISION OF ERADICATING UNEMPLOYMENT THROUGH TRAINING AND FULFILMENT OF ITS MANDATE and unemployment was virtually unheard of. Things however took a different direction suddenly with the death or disappearance of many of the trade and craft schools, a situation that brought with it some of the many challenges that the country and its economy is still grappling with. Nigerians with talents for technical expertise were not encouraged and we lost many of these blessed and talented individuals to other countries.

The place and importance of technical education and training cannot be over emphasised. For Nigeria to effectively grapple with the unemployment challenge ravaging the country and some other parts of the continent, adequate and well intentioned and thought out policies must be effected. Nigeria, through the Fund has the capacity to meet and overtake the Asian tigers both in terms of quality manpower production, and also in term of powering economic growth and output. What urgent step do you think the government should take to tackle the menace that youth unemployment in the country? Government must move to de-emphasise certifications that are not backed by hands on skill. With adequate attention paid to the development of technical education, Nigeria can also become an exporter of skilled and adequate manpower to other parts of the world. Government need to be serious about it. No nation has developed or will develop without commitment to technical education. The examples of Malaysia, Bangladesh and Singapore are all too easy to recall, and these are countries that are not even as blessed as Nigeria in terms of human resource alone.

Global Business

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South African GDP growth quickens as mining rebounds

outh Africa’s economy, the largest on the continent, expanded at a faster pace in the second quarter as mining output rebounded after 11 months of contracting. Growth in gross domestic product accelerated to an annualized 3.2 percent from 2.7 percent in the first three months, Pretoria-based Statistics South Africa said today on its website. The median estimate of 18 economists polled by Bloomberg was 3.3 percent. Mining expanded an annualized 31.2 percent in the second quarter after contracting 16.8 percent in the previous three months. “It was all on this rebound in the mining production,” Kevin Lings, an economist at Stanlib Asset Management, said in an interview from Johannesburg today. “Unfortunately, of course, it’s likely to reverse in the third quarter with the platinum industry now back under pressure.” Mining output, which accounts for 8.8 percent of the economy, expanded in May and June as platinum mines resumed production after strikes. The boost to growth may be short-lived after workers

Gordhan

started a strike at Lonmin Plc (LMI)’s Marikana complex on August 10 and the European debt crisis erodes demand for exports. Manufacturing expanded less than forecast in June and business confidence fell to the lowest level in 12 years in July. The rand was little changed at 8.4004 a dollar yesterday. in Johannesburg

HSBC to pay $1.92 billion to settle money-laundering probes

Gulliver

SBC Holdings Plc (HSBA), Europe’s largest bank, agreed to pay $1.92 billion to settle U.S. probes of money laundering in the largest such accord ever. The settlement includes a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, the London-based bank said in an e-mailed statement yesterday. HSBC also said it expects to complete an undertaking with the U.K. Financial

Services Authority soon, without giving details. Chief Executive Officer Stuart Gulliver’s attempts to reduce costs and improve profitability have been hurt by the U.S. probes and by compensation claims from U.K. clients. A Senate committee said in July that lax oversight by top HSBC executives gave terrorists and drug cartels access to the U.S. financial system. The settlement is the biggest reached in the U.S. over such allegations, topping the $619 million in penalties paid in June by the Netherlands’ ING Groep NV. “This has removed an uncertainty, though it doesn’t clear the path completely for HSBC,” said Lewis Wan, Hong Kongbased chief investment officer at Pride Investments Group Ltd., which doesn’t hold HSBC shares. “Regulators have been tightening oversight of banks. Lenders like HSBC will have to continue to strengthen their compliance.” HSBC fell 0.3 percent to 639.40 pence yesterday. in London. The shares have gained 30 percent this year, giving the company a market value of 117.4 billion pounds ($188.8 billion).

Spanish recession deepens as austerity damps outlook

pain’s recession worsened in the second quarter as the government’s austerity push to reduce the euro area’s third-biggest budget deficit and a slump in consumer spending offset growth in exports. Gross domestic product fell 0.4 percent from the previous quarter, when it declined 0.3 percent, the Madrid-based National Statistics Institute said yesterday. That’s in line with an estimate published July 30. Separately, Spain’s borrowing costs fell to the lowest in three months at an auction yesterday after the nation’s bonds rallied this month on optimism the European Central Bank will agree on a plan to help peripheral nations. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy last month gave up on his forecast for a return to growth in 2013 as he unveiled budget cuts

that will expand austerity measures to a total of 15 percent of annual GDP by 2014. He hosted European Union President Herman Van Rompuy yesterday for the first in a series of meetings aimed at solving the nation’s funding issues. “We fear that things are likely to get worse before they get better,” said Martin van Vliet, an economist at ING Bank in Amsterdam, who expects Spain will seek additional financial aid as early as next month. “With much more fiscal austerity in the pipeline and unemployment at astronomic highs, the risks are clearly tilted toward a more protracted recession.” Separate data today from the ECB showed that private-sector deposits at Spanish banks fell by a record in July, dropping 74.2 billion euros ($93 billion), or 4.7 percent, to 1.51 trillion euros.

from 8.3935 before the data was released. The yield on the 6.75 percent bond due 2021 was down 1 basis point to 6.82 percent. The Reserve Bank cut the repurchase rate by 50 basis points to 5 percent on July 19, the first move in 20 months, to bolster the economy. The National Treasury will probably

lower its 2.7 percent growth forecast for this year, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said this month. The economy needs to expand 7 percent annually through 2020 to create 5 million new jobs and cut the jobless rate to 14 percent from 24.9 percent in the second quarter, according to the government’s estimates. The strike at Lonmin’s Marikana that has led to 44 deaths this month will probably cut into output again, Lings and Nedbank Group Ltd.’s (NED) chief economist Dennis Dykes said. Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. (IMP)’s Rustenburg mine was shut for six weeks in the first quarter. South Africa produces about 75 percent of the world’s platinum. While the overall economic growth figure is “not too bad,” South Africa’s economy is still likely to perform worse in the second half of the year, Dykes said in a phone interview. “The underlying growth rate is not that great,” he said. Manufacturing, which makes up 15 percent of the economy, contracted an annualised 1 percent in the second quarter compared with a 7.7 percent gain in the previous three months.

Hungary to avoid rate cut on inflation, bailout concern

ungary’s central bank will probably refrain from cutting the European Union’s highest benchmark interest rate because of accelerating inflation and possible delays in obtaining a bailout. The Magyar Nemzeti Bank will leave the two-week deposit rate at 7 percent for an eighth month, according to 17 of 18 economists in a Bloomberg survey. One expects a cut to 6.75 percent. Policy makers last month voted five to two to keep rates unchanged, rejecting arguments that easing policy would prop up the economy that entered its second recession in four years, minutes of the July 24 meeting show. The majority argued that the central bank should wait for the outcome of bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund and the European Union before lowering borrowing costs. “We think the National Bank of Hungary will resist pressures and keep its 7 percent base rate on hold, however, this is a close call,” Daniel Hewitt, an economist at Barclays Plc (BARC) in London, said in an e-mailed note. Forward-rate agreements used to wager on interest rates in one month fell 7 basis points to 6.87 percent yesterday, the lowest since November. The FRAs traded 28 basis points below the Budapest Interbank Offered Rate, the biggest spread in more than two years and signaling expectations for a quarter-point rate cut. A basis point is 0.01 percentage point. The European Central Bank this month kept its main interest rate unchanged at a record-low 0.75 percent and the deposit rate at zero. Czech policy makers left their two-week repurchase at a record-low 0.5 percent on August 2, while their Polish colleagues, who surprised the market with a quarter-point increase in May, also kept the benchmark rate at 4.75 percent on October 28.

Hungarian President, Pal Schmitt

A rate cut may add momentum to the economy and would be accepted by investors, Ferenc Gerhardt, a monetary-policy maker said in an Aug. 10 interview. Meanwhile, Simor, speaking after last month’s rate decision, argued for a “cautious policy stance” until the outcome of bailout talks is known. Hungary is set to resume talks with the international lenders on a credit line of about 15 billion euros ($18.8 billion) to protect the economy from euro-area contagion and to lower financing costs. IMF and EU officials are focusing on untangling policies that contributed to an economic contraction in the first two quarters and the downgrade of Hungary’s credit to junk. “Weak second-quarter GDP data further boost the chance of monetary easing, however, we only expect this at the end of September due to accelerating inflation and pending IMF-EU negotiations,”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Global Business

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

he European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ordered Russia last month to pay Yuriy Lobanov, a septuagenarian from the Ivanovo region near Moscow, 37,150 euros ($46,497) in compensation for the 1982 notes he held, or about 140 times the average monthly pension. Mariya Andreyeva, a 95-year-old survivor of the Nazi blockade of Leningrad, won a preliminary 4,300 euros on the bonds, which doubled as lottery tickets. The securities are part of the 25 trillion rubles ($785 billion), equal to almost half of Russian economic output, the government says it still owes the public from lost Soviet savings. Putin is stalling, most recently signing an order in April to halt payments on the notes until at least 2015. Now, armed with court rulings, veteran speculators are joining pensioners in seeking to cash in. “This all should have been settled back in the 1990s,” said Boris Kheyfets, a Soviet debt specialist at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Economics in Moscow. “How do you assume a debt that huge? It would collapse everything immediately.” Soviet authorities began selling the 20-year certificates in 1982 for 25, 50 or 100

Brezhnev bonds haunt Putin as investors hunt $785 billion

Putin

rubles, partly to redeem earlier bonds and partly to sop up cash from a command economy with few consumer goods. The State Domestic Lottery Bonds offered a token 3

Fed pumps assets to $4 trillion in new buying

he Federal Reserve will amplify record accommodation tomorrow by announcing $45 billion in monthly Treasury buying that will push its balance sheet almost to $4 trillion, according to a Bloomberg survey of economists. Forty-eight of 49 economists predict the Federal Open Market Committee will purchase Treasuries to bolster an existing program to buy $40 billion in mortgage bonds each month. The panel pledged in October to continue that plan until the labor market improves “substantially.” “It’s going to be massive and openended in size,” said Joseph LaVorgna, chief U.S. economist at Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. in New York and a former New York Fed economist. Chairman Ben S. Bernanke and his FOMC colleagues will press on with purchases at least through the first quarter of 2014, according to the median estimate in the Dec. 7-10 survey. They are expanding the balance sheet beyond $2.86 trillion in a bid to spur growth and lower an unemployment rate of 7.7 percent. “They view this stimulus as what’s needed to sustain the economy” and reinforce improvements in industries such as autos and housing, said John Silvia, chief economist at Wells Fargo & Co., the biggest U.S. home lender. The FOMC gathers today for a two-day meeting in Washington and plans to release a statement on policy today. That will be followed by forecasts for growth, unemployment and inflation. Bernanke is scheduled to hold a press conference after release of the forecasts. The central bank this month is scheduled to end Operation Twist, in which it swaps $45 billion of shortterm Treasuries each month for longer-term government debt. That program kept the total size of the balance sheet unchanged, while new

percent interest and a chance at payouts of as much as 10,000 rubles, Kheyfets said. The top winners were entitled to a “chic” Volga sedan, while second prize was a Zhiguli.

Connecticut homes biggest losers as Wall Street cuts jobs

Bernanke

Treasury purchases would expand it. The Fed’s latest round of quantitative easing will total $1.1 trillion, with about $620 billion in mortgagebacked securities and $500 billion in Treasuries, according to the median estimate in the survey.

Unlike other former Soviet republics that settled similar debts in the 1990s at a fraction of what was lost, Russia pledged to cover the whole amount. President Boris Yeltsin signed a law in 1995 ordering the government to restore savings via bank deposits and Soviet bonds based on what those holdings could have purchased in 1990. Payments started in earnest during Putin’s first term, when surging oil prices pushed the budget into surplus. Now Putin is back in the Kremlin for a third term and the budget is barely breaking even. “Clearly, implementing this plan to restore the public’s savings would impose exorbitant obligations on the federal budget,” the Finance Ministry said in its most recent debt strategy report, released a year ago. “Were that actually to happen, the state would be deprived of the ability to pay for other expenses for an extended period of time.”

onnecticut, for 25 years the state with the highest per capita income in the United States, is now leading the nation in home-price declines as Wall Street trims jobs and bonuses that had driven multimillion-dollar property sales. Prices in the Fairfield County area, home of the banker bedroom communities of Greenwich and New Canaan, tumbled 12.9 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, the biggest decline of the 147 U.S. metropolitan areas measured by the National Association of Realtors. While the number of home purchased within the state financed with conventional mortgages rose 8.4 percent in the first half, deals using jumbo loans for pricier properties slid 9.4 percent, according to Warren Group, a real estate tracker. “We’re in a tough slog here relative to everybody else, which is surprising given where we’re located, near New York and Boston,” said Terence Beatty, director of the new homes and land division of Prudential Connecticut Realty in Wallingford. The state, which hosts the world’s two largest bank trading floors within UBS

AG (UBSN) and Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc (RBS)’s Stamford offices, is falling behind a U.S. housing recovery after losing 3,900 financial-services jobs since July 2011, the most of any industry. Connecticut also is struggling with rising foreclosures, posting the nation’s secondbiggest jump in notices of default and repossession last month.

Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy

Hollande loses bond market as growth stalls

rench President Francois Hollande’s honeymoon with bond investors may be ending as economic reality

bites. Hollande, who returned from a 15-day summer break last week, faces an economy that hasn’t grown in three quarters, rising joblessness, a ballooning trade deficit and the task of coming up with a plan in the next few weeks to plug a budget hole of more than 30 billion euros ($37 billion) for next year. The challenges ahead may undermine the rally in French bonds that has allowed the country to sell bills at negative yields for the first time. During Hollande’s first 100 days in office, the premium demanded

to hold French 10-year debt rather than comparable German securities fell to the lowest in more than a year. That trend may be reversing. “France’s fundamentals -- rising unemployment, widening current account deficit and budget deficit -- would not support its bonds,” said Jamie Stuttard, head of international bond investments at Fidelity Investments in London, which has $1.6 trillion under management. “The more expensive French bonds go, the harder the case becomes for French government debt.” The French 10-year yield is at 2.06 percent, near the record-low of 2 percent reached on August. 3 and down from 2.89 percent on the last trading day before Hol-

lande’s election on May 6. While the premium France pays over Germany to borrow for a decade fell below 60 basis points for the first time in more than a year on August 15, it’s rising again. It was 73 basis points yesterday. French government securities returned 0.34 percent this month after earning investors 3.98 percent in July, trailing bonds from Belgium, Ireland and Portugal, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch data. Sovereign debt from France, which was stripped of its AAA rating by Standard & Poor’s in January, got more expensive throughout 2012 -- notably since Hollande’s victory.

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

ASI rises 0.9% as bulls sustains hold JOHNSON OKANLAWON

he benchmark indices of equities rose further on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as more investors took positions in companies with good corporate actions. Specifically, the AllShare Index gained 0.85 per cent to close at 27,050.20 points, compared to the increase of 0.56 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 26,822.09 points. Market capitalisation appreciated by N72.9bn to close at N8.64trn, higher than the rise of N48.04bn

recorded the preceding day to close at N8.57trn. All sectoral indices closed positive, as the NSE 30-Index gained1.00 per cent to close at 1,287.44 points, while the Oil and Gas rose by 0.07 per cent to close at 152.76 points. The Consumer Goods Index appreciated by 1.42 per cent to close at 825.64 points, while the Insurance Index increased by 1.28 per cent to close 118.20 points. The Banking Index appreciated by 0.94 per cent to close at 316.98 points, while Lotus Islamic Index closed at 1,723.57 points, up by 0.96 per cent. 7UP Plc led the gain-

ers’ table with N4.00 or 10 per cent to close at N44.00 per share, followed by Air Service Plc with 27 kobo or 9.96 per cent to close at N2.98 per share. Custodian Insurance Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc and Cement Company of Northern Nigerian Plc rose by 11 kobo or 8.53 per cent, 11 kobo or 5.14 per cent and 24 kobo or 4.88 per cent to close at N1.40 per share, N2.25 per share and N5.16 per share respectively. On the flip side, DN Meyer Plc dipped by 25 kobo or 9.92 per cent to close at N2.27 per share, while IHS Plc lost 11 kobo or 4.89 per cent to close at

N2.14 per share. Portland Paints Plc shed 21 kobo or 4.79 per cent to close at N4.17 per share, while Fidson Healthcare Plc depreciated by five kobo or 4.76 per cent to close at N1.00 per share. Nigeria Police Microfinance Bank Plc declined by five kobo or 4.76 per cent to close at N1.10 per share. Transaction volume in equities dropped by 14.6 per cent, as a total of 378.87 million shares valued at N2.60bn were exchanged in 4,601 deals, compared to 443.83 million shares worth N2.20bn traded in 4,042 deals the preceding day.

GIABA tasks ECOWAS to combat money laundering “The influence and power of organised criminal groups therefore increases, while the control and integrity of the government and major public and private institutions are correspondingly diminished,” he added. Shehu explained that Al-Qaeda has sleeper cells in several West African countries including Senegal and Guinea-Bissau and representatives of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, which has its roots in Mali and were working in silence, recruiting and doing field work. The Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria, Dr. Hans-Rudolf Hodel, said that his country is committed to assisting regional stakeholders to become

aware of and to apply solid best practices to strengthen regional capacity and cooperation in dealing with the financing of terrorist groups. He stressed that the country is financing a regional school of excellence in anti-money laundering/ countering the financing of terrorism in South Africa. “Additionally, Switzerland is financially supporting a new initiative led by the United Nations Security Council to freeze terrorist assets more effectively and efficiently. He added that the country has developed a financial centre to ensure that financial hubs are not misused to launder money and to finance terrorism.

Global shares, euro climb on stronger German data

The US central bank is expected to announce a new round of Treasury securities purchases at the end of its meeting on Wednesday, according to a Reuter’s poll. The programme would replace its Operation Twist stimulus, which expires at the end of the year. Many economists believe the Fed will announce monthly bond purchases of $45bn, although some think it could be more. “We anticipate the Fed will announce Treasury purchases and as that depresses yields it will have a negative impact on the dollar and that supports the euro,” said Jane Foley, senior currency strategist at Rabobank.

JOHNSON OKANLAWON

he Director General of Inter Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), Dr. Abdullahi Shehu, has reiterated the need to place close attention to border control and intensify efforts on international cooperation both within and outside the region. Shehu, who spoke on the topic, “The Challenge of Implementing Counter the Financing of Terrorism Regimes in West Africa” in Abuja yesterday, noted that menaces of money laundering can lead to the breakdown of the orderliness of legiti-

nited States stocks advanced and European shares rallied to an 18-month high yesterday after German investor sentiment rose sharply in December and on expectations the Federal Reserve will keep pumping money into the US economy. The euro gained versus the dollar, as investors steered clear of the US currency ahead of the Fed’s meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, while US government bond prices fell. Morale among German analysts and investors improved sharply in December, jumping to 6.9 against expectations of

mate businesses, interfere with economic and other state policies. He said that if the laundering left unchecked, it will undermine the integrity of economic, political and judicial systems and the stability and prosperity of nation states. According to him, where financial institutions are involved in or tolerate money laundering, the result has been distress and collapse, as it can distort market conditions and ultimately create serious systemic risks. He pointed out that despite the absence of precise estimates, one could imagine that sizeable proceeds of crime enter economies of states one way or another.

-12.0, fanning hopes that Europe’s largest economy will avoid recession this winter. “We’ve been getting a lot of the beginning of our day from seeing what Europe has been doing and I think that’s going to hold true today,” said Kim Forrest, senior equity research analyst at Fort Pitt Capital Group in Pittsburgh. The lack of progress in negotiations about the US fiscal cliff has kept investors from making aggressive bets in recent weeks, though most expect a deal will eventually be reached. While the pace of talks in Washington to avert impending US tax hikes and

spending cuts quickened, senior politicians on both sides cautioned that an agreement on all the outstanding issues remained uncertain. The Dow Jones industrial average finance/markets/index gained 61.56 points, or 0.47 per cent, to 13,231.44, while the Standard and Poor’s 500 Index rose 7.13 points, or 0.50 per cent, to 1,425.68. The Nasdaq Composite Index added 23.71 points, or 0.79 per cent, to 3,010.67. The FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 0.3 per cent to 1,138.14 points, having hit its strongest since June 2011. The MSCI global stock index edged up 0.5 per cent to 336.51 points.

Source: NSE

NIBOR QUOTES 10 DECEMBER & 11 DECEMBER 2012 20.00 19.00 18.00 17.00 16.00 15.00 14.00 13.00 12.00 11.00 10.00 9.00 8.00 7.00 6.00 5.00

1 0 -De c -1 2

1 1 -De c -1 2

Market indicators Market indicators

All-Share Index 7,490,286 points All-Share Index 22,191.14 points Market capitalisation 23,531.63 trillion Market capitalisation 7,084 trillion

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

7UP

40.00

44.00

4.00

% CHANGE 10.00

AIRSERVICE

2.71

2.98

0.27

9.96

CUSTODYINS

1.29

1.40

0.11

8.53

FIDELITYBK

2.14

2.25

0.11

5.14

CCNN

4.92

5.16

0.24

4.88

ETERNA

1.65

1.73

0.08

4.85

RTBRISCOE

1.36

1.42

0.06

4.41

FCMB

3.20

3.34

0.14

4.37

CONTINSURE

0.71

0.74

0.03

4.23

STERLNBANK

1.55

1.61

0.06

3.87

CHANGE

% CHANGE -9.92

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

DNMEYER

2.52

2.27

0.25

IHS

2.25

2.14

0.11

-4.89

PORTPAINT

4.38

4.17

0.21

-4.79

FIDSON

1.05

1.00

0.05

-4.76

NPFMCRFBK

1.15

1.10

0.05

-4.35

IKEJAHOTEL

0.94

0.90

0.04

-4.26

UTC

0.56

0.54

0.02

-3.57

AIICO

0.60

0.58

0.02

-3.33

TRANSCORP

0.91

0.89

0.02

-2.20

NEM

0.56

0.55

0.01

-1.79

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91-Day

30,647.81

14.00

13-Dec-12

182-Day

20,000

14.05

13-Dec-12

364 -Day

56,823.61

14.00

13-Dec-12

Open Market Operations TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

178Days

34,470.71

14.08

20-Dec-12

118-Day

50,282.86

14.08

20-Dec-12

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$200m

N/A

$126m

20-Dec-12

$180m

N/A

$147m

20-Dec-12

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at December 11, 2012 1st Tier Securities

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Cocktail

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

FOR YOUR SUCCESS

WITH DR. DEJI FOLUTILE

Today's Tonic (61) “Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.” –Benjamin Disraeli *** NO ACTION; NO PROGRESS No matter what we know, if we do not act, we do not know. Ideas are useless if we will not brave up and act on them. King Solomon wrote that in all labour there is profit but mere talk will only lead to poverty. Action is the link between theories and manifestation. It is better to act and fail than not to act at all. The beauty of action is that the more you act on what you know, the more you tend to know more. Until we are committed to relentless action on our dreams, progress is impossible. TEL 08104942999 E-MAIL deji.folutile@gmail.com Follow me @TwitterOWOTIDE

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

Scientists name extinct lizard after President Obama

he scientific community has come up with an unusual way of honouring President Barack Obama after his re-election-by naming an extinct lizard after him. “I was seriously thinking, if the election had gone the other way, I would have yanked it,” Yale paleontologist Nicholas Longrich told the Boston Globe. “It might have seemed like we were mocking it, naming a lizard

that goes extinct after that, seemed kind of cruel.” The newly named Obamadon gracilis was a small lizard that fed off of insects and was about a foot long before going extinct about 65 million years ago. But Longrich and his peers say no one should read any political commentary into the choice. “We’re just having fun with taxonomy,” he said. And as NBC’s Cosmic Log

points out, this is actually the third organism named after Obama, including a fish (Etheostoma obama) and lichen (Caloplaca obamae). Researchers from Yale and Harvard have been reexamining fossil collections in an ongoing effort to better understand what happened to species during the extinction level event that led to the downfall of the dinosaurs. In a paper published Mon-

day in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Longrich and his colleagues argue that Obamadon gracilis shows that small lizards did not survive the mass extinctions of the era, as was previously believed. “The lizards that dominate today get their start after the extinction—they radiate in the aftermath,” Longrich said. “But that said, the radiation takes a long time.”

Man auctions off last name to companies

Florida entrepreneur says he is raising money for his business by auctioning off the rights to give him a new last name. Jason Sadler, 30, of Jacksonville said he is auctioning the rights to companies online and will adopt the winning company’s moniker as his last name for all of 2013, CNN Money reported Monday. Sadler said he wants to raise money for his company, IWearYourShirt, which allows companies to buy adver-

tising space on his torso for up to a week. The auction began November 1 and ends Wednesday. Sadler said he had 19 bids in the first 24 hours of the auction. The current high bidder, headphone company JLabAudio, is promising $34,500 for the naming rights. “Sadler presented a unique opportunity to us that we felt could also generate a lot of buzz for our brand,” JLabAudio General Manager Win Cramer said.

The Obamadon watching as a larger lizard hunts its prey.

PHOTO: CARL BUELL

Wednesday, November 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror Imams apologize over Boko Haram allegation

“Even the most charitable defenders of the force cannot deny that some dishonourable officers indeed have taken the law into their hands in the most barbaric fashion by killing suspects and innocent citizens.”

ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE, MOHAMMED ADOKE

Man seeks divorce over sex deprivation

… As woman is docked for abandoning baby FRANCIS SUBERU

WITH AGENCY REPORT

71-year-old technician has asked an Igando Customary Court to dissolve his 15-year-old marriage, alleging that his wife was denying him sex. The petitioner, Salmon Kassin, told the court that his wife, Mariam, was starving him of sex. “Anytime I want to make love to her, she refuses and gives me conditions; if I want to force myself to do it; she threatens to stab me with a knife. How can my wife be denying me sex? I am not a stick or a stone, I need this thing, but she is not giving it to me,” he said. Salmon also accused his wife of lack of respect and of going out and coming back at will without informing him of her movements. “She does not respect me and talks as if she is talking to a younger person,” he said. Salmon said that he no longer loved his wife and was tired of the marriage, urging the court to put an end to it. The respondent, Mariam, 58, a business woman, told the court that she denied her husband sex because he refused to give her the documents of her property. “He should give me the documents, I want to claim my property back from him,’’ she said. Mariam, claimed she gave her husband money to buy land for her, but she did not set her eyes on the documents covering it, even as she discovered that it was his name that was on the documents. The respondent said that she had the contacts of workers who built a one storey building on the land and they could serve as witnesses. She said; “Salmon wants to cheat me by divorcing me to claim my property because I do not have any child for him.” She also said that her husband owed her N1.8 million and should pay up before the divorce. The court president, Mr. Adewale Eko, blamed the respondent for not having any document with her to prove ownership. He said the area in which the house is located would be visited, to make inquiries before adjourning the case to March 28, 2013 for further hearing. In a related development, a

Yaba Magistrate’s Court in Lagos has remanded a single parent, Aderoju Ojelabi, at the Kirikiri Prisons for allegedly causing the death of a day old baby she abandoned in the bush. The Magistrate, Mrs. M.O. Tanimola ordered that the mother of four children be remanded pending the advice from office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The 32-year-old unemployed

woman is standing trial on the charge of willful abandonment. The prosecutor, Insp. Chris Takim, told the court that the accused allegedly committed the offence on November 24, 2012 at Monicas Saliu St. Egan Igando, Lagos. According to him, the accused delivered herself of the baby on the fateful day. “She took delivery of the child, cleaned herself and took the baby

and placenta to a nearby bush. A good Samaritan, who heard the baby’s cry, was drawn to the bush where she was found,” he said. Takim explained that it was the good citizen that alerted neighbours of the development and a search was launched to trace the baby’s mother. He said that the accused was finally traced and confessed to abandoning the baby. “The baby, who was alive when she was found, was rushed to Igan-

do General Hospital, from where she was referred to the Ikeja General Hospital. She finally started receiving medical attention at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), where she later died,’’ the prosecutor said. Takim said that the offence contravened Section 247 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State. The magistrate adjourned the case to February 4, 2013 for the legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Police arrest four kidnap suspects in Ekiti ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

An overflowing refuse bin obstructing traffic on a street in Ilorin metropolis, Kwara State. PHOTO: NAN

Ogun inaugurates taskforce on road safety FEMI O YEWESO ABEOKUTA

he Ogun State Government has said it would soon inaugurate a taskforce to complement efforts of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) towards ensuring sanity and safety of lives on all roads in the state. The inauguration will be held on December 17, 2012 and 3rd January 2013. The Corps Commander of TRACE, Commander Ayo Sangofadeji, who disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting on transportation in Abeokuta, also said the taskforce would

comprise two representatives of each transport union in the state to collaborate with TRACE to ease traffic jam and ensure drivers comply with the laid down transport rules. Sangofadeji, who was represented by the Corps Director of Operations,Commander Seni Ogunyemi, also said inauguration of the taskforce was primarily for advocacy and corrective purposes to create awareness against over-speeding, overloading, as well as enlightenment on the need to always do it right while driving. Sangofadeji, also warned that recalcitrant drivers would be arrested and be

fined without any waiver. The representative of Association of Granite Truck Owners, Mr. Dele Soremekun commended the corps for the initiative, adding that the idea of having union representatives as taskforce members, would enable them have first-hand knowledge on the behaviours and antics of any erring driver and afford them opportunity to contribute to road safety. While decrying the recklessness of truck drivers in the state, he advocated for a law that would specify age limit for truck drivers as most owners employ underage drivers.

our suspected kidnappers have been detained by the Ekiti State Police Command for allegedly kidnapping a 42-year–old herbalist, Mr Asanu Adegoke, in Ikere Ekiti, the state capital. The suspects, who were said to have kidnapped the victim at the College of Education Guest House, Ikere Ekiti, were nabbed at a bush where they were hiding. Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Victor Babayemi Olu, said the manager of the guest house alerted the police that one of the guests had been kidnapped by some unknown persons. This, and the vivid description given by the manager, prompted the police search which culminated in the arrest of some of the suspects. The police spokesperson said: “When the police saw the vehicle, they traced the people into the bush at the location where the vehicle was parked. They discovered their hideout and found the victim who was lying face-down”. Babayemi, said two of the six suspected kidnappers escaped during a gun battle, while the other four were arrested and moved to the state police headquarters. The kidnapped herbalist said he came to Ikere Ekiti to prepare some charms for a man and lodged in a guest house, where four men came in a bus and and took him to an unknown destination in a forest at a neighbouring town.

Community Mirror

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Imams apologize over Boko Haram allegation SINA FADARE

he League of Imams of Epe in Lagos State, have tendered apology to an Epe High Chief, Balogun Lanre Razak over the al-

legation of him being a Boko Haram leader. While dissociating the members from the said “malicious letter”, president of the group, Chief Imam Kolawole Sanni, expressed dismay at “how a great financier could be

linked with the dreaded sect.” The league therefore urged the relevant authorities to overlook the false alarm because of Razak’s impeccable records and immense contribution to the progress of the com-

munity and the state in general. He said “Based on this assertion, we unanimously tender our unreserved apology to you on behalf of all the names appearing as signatories to the fake letter,” just as they solicited for his as-

sistance to ensure peace continues to reign in the division. It would be recalled that recently, a group of people, claiming to be members of the League of Imams and Alfas in Epe Division, petitioned all

relevant authorities that Chief Lanre Razak, who is the Balogun-General of Epe Division, was training some hoodlums suspected to be members of Boko Haram with the aim of unleashing mayhem on the people.

Shelve tolling on Lekki 2nd gate –ARP OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

he Lagos State chapter of the African Renaissance Party (ARP) has called on the Lagos State Government and the Lekki Concession Company, to shelve plans for tolling at the second toll gate on the Lekki Expressway, saying the alternative routes for commuters are too dangerous and prone to attacks by miscreants, especially at the wee hours of the day. Speaking through its state chairman, Charles Udoka Udeogaranya, the ARP said: “After a tour of the 2nd Lekki tollgate and the alternative route, the ARP Lagos demands the postponement of tolling at

the Lekki tollgate, scheduled to commence from December 16. We are also calling for a drastic 50 per cent reduction on toll fees.” Udeogaranya, said the calls were premised on the fact that the state economy is debilitating, while the alternative routes are in the similitude of the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, where even a Good Samaritan can be ambushed from the nearby bush, particularly in the wee hours, thereby forcing high patronage of the tollgate.” He added that the burden of movement within the Eti-Osa Local Government Area axis should be a huge concern for any government and political party that cares for the people.

Court strikes out bail for fraud suspect DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

ustice Mohamed Shiuabu of Enugu Federal High Court 1 has struck out the bail application of a suspect one Daramola Olawale, for defrauding one Rev. Jeffrey Ramsey of N.5million. The court while ruling on application for bail said the applicant counsel has not shown any evidence to move the court to exercise its discretional power in granting bail to the accused and consequently struck out the application. The court also ordered for accelerated hearing and adjourned to January, 10 for trail. Daramola Olawale was arraigned on four count charge by Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, in a suit No: FHC/EN/CR/41/2012 for fraud and false pretence. The charges reads: “that you Daramola Olawale on or about the 12th day of May, 2012 at Enugu within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of

Nigeria with intent to defraud, had in your possession (e-mail) pmaxwell43@ yahoo.com a scam document titled “Re: These are the pictures and mileage” which was addressed to Rev. Jeffrey Ramsey and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act. “That you Daramola Olawale on or about the 12th day of May, 2012 at Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, with intent to defraud, attempted to obtain the sum of N200,000.00 from one Rev. Jeffrey Ramsey when you purportedly represented yourself as a custom agent and that you have cars for sale, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”

Fire fighters trying to extinguish fire that gutted a section of the old State Secretariat Complex at Oke-Ilewo in Abeokuta, Ogun State. PHOTO: NAN

Government empowers enterprises in Cross River OKAY OSUJI

he Cross River State Government is to disburse N330 million to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in the state. Speaking during the disbursement ceremony in Calabar, the Acting Governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham, contended that since assumption of office in 2007, the administration made a commitment to create access to services through a well thought out, realistic and robust development agenda to enhance the socio-economic development of the citizenry for self-reliance. He maintained that 230 yam farmers in Yakurr and Ogoja local government areas, were recently empowered through its Agricultural Enterprise Development Programme,

adding that the MSME would not only provide the largest means of livelihood for the self-employed, but it is the sector with the highest potential for employment creation and socio-economic development. The Acting Governor said it was in recognition of the important role of MSME that prompted the establishment of Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (MEDA)’s to drive the vision and enhance quick access to fund to grow business and create jobs for youths. Mr. Cobham stated that the agency’s mandate, among other things, is to facilitate access to cheap and reliable finance to mitigate some of the challenges of MSME in the state.. He promised to sustain and strengthen the

effort by ensuring that the agency becomes more proactive and rewarding, by adopting best practices and ensuring that investment in the sector is participatory with adaptable government’s strategy, to develop strong private sector economy. Special Adviser, Investment Promotion, Mr. Gerald Adah, disclosed that 162 of 200 micro enterprises and cooperative groups that met set criteria and underwent various training programmes, were selected to access loan ranging from N100, 000 to N200, 000 on an all-inclusive interest rate of 8 percent per annum with collateral requirements. Mr. Adah stated that in a concerted effort to address the issue of mind change, MEDA has conducted workshops for 600 youths in and out of school and also estab-

lished enterprise club in 20 secondary schools, adding that one of the schools, Unical Secondary School recently came out tops in an international competition in Ukraine. He further disclosed that the Federal Government through the Youth Empowerment Social Support Operations (YESSO) programme, has adopted the entire MEDA programme for support in the skills for jobs creation programmes in 2013. Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Mr. Patrick Ugbe, averred that over the years, the ministry has helped hundreds of young people acquire skills through vocational skills and Youth in Agriculture Programmes and described the disbursement exercise as one of the success story of the state government.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

rotesters in Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau State yesterday burnt the houses of a commissioner, a legislator and the council chairman. The victims included Youths Development Commissioner, Mr Bako Famak; the lawmaker, Mrs Joyce Ramnap, and the chairman, Mr Nanman Darko. An eyewitness said in Langtang yesterday that the mob allegedly took advantage of the strike declared by the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NCL) in solidarity

North

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Strike: Protesters burn houses of Plateau commissioner, LG boss, lawmaker with teachers and other local government workers to go haywire. The local government workers, including primary school teachers, have been at home for eight months to protest the non-implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage. An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, told the News Agency of Nigeria

(NAN) that the reason for the attack on the houses was not clear. He said: ``The rioters had, however, accused the victims of conspiring with Governor Jonah Jang to sustain the strike and subject the workers to untold hardship. “They also claimed that many people had died following the non-implemen-

tation of the minimum wage.” NAN reports that while the houses of Ramnap and Darko were completely burnt down, Famak’s resident was partially burnt. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Abuh Emmanuel, confirmed the incident, which he described as very sad.

“We have already deployed policemen to restore normalcy to the affected area,’’ he said. Emmanuel described the action of the mob as criminal and uncalled for since the strike was itself illegal. “There is a court injunction, yet the workers have chosen to embark on strike; we shall not tolerate any act of indiscipline from any individual or group,’’ he said. Also commenting, the Plateau State Government, through its Information Commissioner, Mr Abraham Yiljap, confirmed that government had received reports of arson. Yiljap also said that government had received reports of bloody physical attacks on law abiding citizens of Plateau by some labour leaders. He said: “As a government, we find this incident tragic, especially coming at a time when Labour leaders

should have invested their creative energies on focused negotiations toward ending the disagreement. “We also note that the strike itself was a flagrant disregard for the order restraining the strike action given by the National Industrial Court in Abuja. “The labour leaders have presented themselves as being above the law since they were only expected to wait for when they will present their position on the matter before the Industrial Court. “The labour leaders should have explored ways toward an amicable solution of the feud. “That is instead of encouraging, supporting and sponsoring their members and some unidentified people to engage in willful damage of private and public property as well as violence against the people.’’

Gombe women urged to support road safety campaign DANJUMA WILLIAMS Plateau State workers protesting non-payment of their salary at the Joseph Gomwalk Secretariat in Jos, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Tanker drivers protest member’s killing by soldier

he Kaduna branch of Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association has announced indefinite suspension of its operations in protest against the alleged killing of one of its members by soldiers. Its Chairman, Gambo Tuge, who announced the suspension yesterday in an interview with journalists in Kaduna, said the victim was shot by the soldier at the NNPC junction in the city. He alleged that the victim, Muhammed Isah, 37, was shot by a member of the Joint Task Force (JTF) stationed along the Kaduna Refining Petrochemical Company Road while offloading fuel from a tanker marked Kebbi AA 352 BRK belonging to A A Maiahu Company Limited. Tuge said the deceased, who hailed from Kamba Local Government Area in Kebbi State, was shot following an argument with the soldiers while off-load-

ing the product at AP filling station on Sunday night. The chairman said one of the soldiers had asked the driver and his assistant to frog-jump for an undisclosed offence. “He later enquired to know who the tanker driver was, and when the driver identified himself the soldier asked him to walk towards him and in the process opened fire and shot him twice on the abdomen,`` Tuge said. He said the deceased was rushed to St. Gerard’s Hospital where he died. Tuge said the association had informed its national headquarters on the incident and was awaiting its response. He said the suspension of its services would continue pending the response of the national body and the army. According to him, soldiers had in similar circumstances killed two tanker drivers in Plateau and Enugu states.

Meanwhile, a medical report issued by St. Gerard’s Hospital and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday, indicated that the driver died as result of gunshot wounds on December 10 at about 5:05 a.m. In its response, the 1 Division Headquarters of the Nigerian Army said it had begun investigation into the incident. Its spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, assured that any soldier found culpable would be dealt with according to the law. “I wish to state that the Headquarters, 1 Div. is aware of the incident and has since commenced investigation with a view to ascertaining culpability of the soldier involved, to ensure that justice is done. “I wish to appeal to the deceased family, friends and members of the tanker drivers association that the Army will not condone any breach of the rule of engagement by any officer or

soldier. “1 Div. has gone an extra mile in dialoguing with the union officials with a view to reaching a possible and amicable solution. “We are appealing to them to remain calm,`` Usman said in a telephone interview with NAN. He assured that the Army would assist the family in the burial of the victim.

GOMBE

he Gombe Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare has taken its road safety campaign to women. According to the zonal commanding officer of the FRSC, Mr. Ahmed Kagori Hassan, the campaign was taken to women because they have the capacity to contribute to the effort

FG lauded on hydro power bill passage PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

embers of the Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) have expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for the passage of the HYPPADEC Bill to enable it take off to as well as according recognition to all states concerned. The states are Niger, Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Plateau and Benue. They expressed the gratitude in a communiqué

signed by the Secretary to the Government of Niger State (SSG), Mr. Daniel Clifford Shashere, after their meeting in Minna. The HYPPADEC member states also commended the National Assembly and other stakeholders for the passage of the bill. However, some of the issues the HYPPADEC member states discussed at the meeting included HYPPADEC Act Amendment, its governing council, management committee, advisory council and the establishment of area offices.

aimed at minimizing the rate of auto crashes on Nigerian highways. He said as women, they have the privilege to start the campaign at home through their husbands and children, adding that the approach had the potential to yield result. Hassan said usage of roads was not restricted to men alone as women have cars and plies the roads as well. The wife of Gombe State governor, Hajiya Adama Hassan Dankwambo, reminded women that as wives and mothers, they have a major role to play in the efforts targeted at reducing carnage on the highways. Hajiya Adama, who spoke through her Special Assistant, Hauwa Musa, said that as wives, even if they had no car, they are in a good position to advise their husbands to drive carefully and avoid recklessness on the highways. She noted that in most cases, children have access to cars and, therefore, advised mothers to check the driving habits of their children.

For The Record

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Unity in Diversity: Building shared and inclusive societies for peace and prosperity A keynote speech by former President of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Badaranaike Kumaratunga, at the 13th session of the Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation annual Lecture series held recently.

wish to express my gratitude to the Osigwe AnyiamOsigwe Foundation for giving me the privilege of being with you today, to deliver the Thirteenth Emmanuel Onyechere Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Lecture. I am also glad, this has given me the opportunity to visit Nigeria for the first time. I must hasten to add, I am not a stranger to Nigeria. I have read much about Nigeria, its people, its politics and I am also familiar with some of your great writers. Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation has been created to fulfill the noble philosophy expressed by Emmanuel Onyechere Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe. His vision was to work for the good of humanity. His philosophy envisioned a holistic view of the world and the place occupied by Man in this world. He believed in a Truth and Ultimate Reality which was a higher knowledge and understanding of human existence and its purpose, at a level that is higher than the mundane. He did not only expound his philosophy but his quest also led him to action. He created the West African Academy of Science to continue in his search to understand the spirituality of Man. At the same time he has created an organization for the purpose of spreading the message of democracy in Africa. This was called the Mission for Democracy in Africa. He has also undertaken various enterprises for rural development, as well as other philanthropic initiatives. His family and followers have undertaken the laudable initiative of creating the Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation to progress the great philosopher’s thinking and objectives. This is a rare occurrence in the third world. I wish the Foundation good luck and much strength to continue along its inspired path. I wish to talk to you today, of the need to build inclusive and integrated societies in our countries. I shall attempt to demonstrate the relationship between inclusion of all groups of citizens in the process of governance and achieving sustainable progress and prosperity, or in the inverse case, the relationship between exclusion or marginalization and conflict. Poverty and conflict are two issues that have caused many setbacks for developing Nations. Poverty is considered to be the greatest challenge facing all countries. Governments have formulated and implemented thousands of programmes to alleviate or end poverty and deprivation. However, rarely do governments recognize the importance of searching out the causes of conflict and resolving them. Unresolved conflict invariably leads to violence and civil war. This in turn compounds the problems of poverty. Traditional societies are composed of diverse groups of peoples, of different ethnicities, religions, caste, etc. In ancient, pre-colonial Societies, diversity did not inevitably generate conflict. Ancient philosophies recognized and accepted the existence of separate social groups with different beliefs and social structures. Yet, they were all believed to be knit together by a common humanity, in search of an ultimate reality. The colonial rulers transformed diversity into sources of friction, employing diversities “to divide and rule”. From being a cultural strength, diversity was transformed into a political and social weakness. With the advent of colonialism, diversity was no more celebrated and accepted as part of an existential necessity, but was seen as something to be opposed. Of course it was greatly advantageous to the invading rulers to divide us in order to rule and dominate us better. Hence ethnic and tribal differences, religion differences and so on were exacerbated causing division and conflict.

Kumaratunga

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS, NO DOUBT, THE PRIORITY REQUIREMENT FOR ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES OF POVERTY AND DEPRIVATION Studies have amply demonstrated that exclusion and inequalitybetween different groups has been the major cause of intra-national conflicts. When inequality occurs among groups which have similar economic and social status – that is, horizontal inequalities, the disadvantaged group feels the discrimination more sharply. Perceived injustice as well as frustration and despair caused by continued social marginalization, economic deprivation and political defeat has been known to result in violence. It has been said that “young hope betrayed, transforms itself into bombs”. The continued existence of inequality gives rise to violence and even terrorism – that most dehumanizing phenomenon of our times. Economic regression and political instability follow: I wish to affirm here that marginalized groups have been found to perceive injustice not only as economic deprivation, but also through the prism of social and political inequality. The exclusion of some communities from an equitable share of the benefits of prosperity causes inequalities in every sphere. It has been affirmed that poverty, social and political injustice and their relationship to conflict may be measured by the difference in opportunity structures for the excluded groups. Economic development is, no doubt, the priority requirement for addressing the challenges of poverty and deprivation. Most developing economies have attained accelerated growth and development in the past few decades. However, hundreds of millions of our citizens have been left behind, continuing to live under conditions of extreme poverty and are even becoming poorer than before. They remain marginalized, while the benefits of economic growth are enjoyed by a relatively small number of the privileged classes. Lack of access to education and knowledge, jobs, land

and other public assets, by an ever increasing number of our peoples causes frustration and anger amongst the marginalized. They are no more willing to tolerate the inequalities. Economic Development happens to be only one part of the solution. We need to adopt a holistic plan of action which will encompass the socio-political aspects of the problem. All those communities which have been excluded historically or even in modern times must be included as equal partners, having equal rights in the economic, social and political spheres. In formulating policies for development, an inclusive approach is required so that the benefits of growth reach the disadvantaged and they are included in the implementation of the programmes. Studies have ascertained that when all communities living within a State are guaranteed equal opportunities – economically, socially, politically and their separate identities are respected and given free expression, they will become a productive, vibrant part of the State, celebrating the richness of its diversity, while building an united, strong and stable country. Such a society is called a Cohesive or Shared or Inclusive Society. It is a society where the political, governmental and societal structures are designed to allow the equitable distribution of and equal access to the benefits of development and prosperity for All, irrespective of the community to which they belong. The Constitution of the State, its political structures such as Parliament and other elected bodies, its government and administrative structures will all have to be constructed in a manner as to accommodate free and active participation of All, in political and governmental processes, as well as the guarantee of equal rights to all. The contrary instance is where differences among diverse communities living within a country have been exacerbated by rulers, to their advantage. They tend to conjure up “an enemy” from peoples who belong to different ethnic, religious, caste or political groups. History is replete with examples of States and Governments employing the concept of the “other”, represented as the “enemy”, as a tool of Government management. For a large part of human history the “enemy” has helped forge national unity, as well as entrench weak rulers and Governments in power. Governments whip up hatred against the “other” by maintaining the myth of the dichotomy between “us” and “them”. This requires the oppression of the other and the denial of their rights. Such exclusion takes place not only through outright hostility but also through neglect of minority groups. Sustainable development, prosperity and peace necessarily imply that the “other” be brought in and included fully and honestly into the processes of economic development, as full and equal partners of the process of government – to power sharing, for instance. To end poverty and hunger in a durable manner, we need inclusive and sustainable development. Here I wish to quote from the great Indian poet and philosopher – Rabindranath Tagore “Bigotry tries to keep Truth safe in its hands, with a grip that kills it”. Stewart and Brown in an Oxford University study affirm that cultural, economic, political inequalities occurring between specific groups cause deep resentment, resulting in violent struggles. Violence in multi-religious and multi-ethnic Nations is not caused by the presence of diversity or by the “clash of civilizations” as stated by Huntingdon, but is due to the exclusion of the less powerful groups. The marginalized groups then mobilize around their group identity – be it religious, ethnic, linguistic, ideological. The most potent source of violent conflict today is identity. The denial of rights to or the exclusion of certain groups with common identity becomes the bedrock of dissent and violent conflict. TO BE CONTINUED

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

Venezuela’s president undergoes cancer operation

PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

hana’s elected incumbent President John Dramani Mahama yesterday said he was not worried by the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) legal challenge and said he was confident supporters of the rival political camps would remain calm. “Ghana’s democracy is solid, and there are constitutional institutions to deal with situations like this,” he told Reuters in an interview at his residence in Accra. Ghana’s main opposition party said yesterday it will challenge in court the result of last week’s election that incumbent president Mahama won with 50.7 percent of the vote. The NPP, whose leader Nana Akufo-Addo lost to Mahama, said electoral workers tampered with the result of the December 7 vote - which was widely seen as a test for democracy in one of Africa’s most stable nations. “We are contesting the results, so we are going to court,” Nana Asante Bediatuo, the party’s legal adviser, told Reuters. “We believe we have enough evidence of malfeasance during the voting, and we are filing as soon as possible after putting (the evidence) together,” Bediatuo said. The United States, the United Nations, and the African Union have issued statements congratulating Mahama on his victory and praising the conduct of the election, which observers said was free and fair despite some lo-

“Monti followed policies that were too Germancentric. All the economic statistics have worsened.” – Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Former Prime Minister

I am not worried by opposition’s challenge – Mahama

Newly elected Ghanaian President, John Dramani Mahama attending a victory rally with his wife Lordina Mahama to thank the supporters of National Democratic Congress (NDC), in Accra, On Monday

Mahama

gistical glitches. Thousands of NPP supporters took to the streets in the capital Accra on Tuesday to protest against the results, though secu-

A ruling party supporter performing during a rally to celebrate the election victory of Mahama in Friday’s presidential elections, in Accra, Ghana, Monday. PHOTOS: REUTERS

rity sources said the rally was peaceful. The gold, oil and cocoa producing nation has managed more

than 30 years of successful democratic changes of power, making it an anomaly in West Africa’s socalled “coup belt”.

Mandela has lung infection – Officials

outh Africa’s former President Nelson Mandela is suffering from a recurring lung infection and is responding to medical treatments, the nation’s presidency said yesterday. The ailing Mandela, 94, has been hospitalized since Saturday for medical tests at 1 Military Hospital near South Africa’s capital, Pretoria. The announcement ended speculation about what was troubling the ailing anti-apartheid icon. Government officials had declined repeatedly to say what caused the nation’s military, responsible for Mandela’s care, to hospitalize the leader over the last few days. That caused growing concern in South Africa, a nation of 50 million people that

largely reveres Mandela for being the nation’s first democratically elected president who sought to bring the country together after centuries of racial division. The tests Mandela underwent at the hospital detected the lung infection, said presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj in a statement. “Madiba is receiving appropriate treatment and he is responding to the treatment,” Maharaj said, referring to Mandela by his clan name as many do in South Africa in a sign of affection. In January 2011, Mandela was admitted to a Johannesburg hospital for what officials initially described as tests but what turned out to be an acute respiratory infection. The chaos that fol-

lowed Mandela’s stay at that public hospital, with journalists and the curious surrounding it and entering wards, saw the South African military take charge of his care and the government control the information about his health. In recent days many in the press and public have complained about the lack of concrete details that the government has released about Mandela’s condition. Mandela has had a series of health problems in his life. He contracted tuberculosis during his years in prison and had surgery for an enlarged prostate gland in 1985. In 2001, Mandela underwent seven weeks of radiation therapy for prostate cancer, ultimately beating the disease.

Mandela

WORLD BULLETIN Army forces Mali’s PM to resign Soldiers arrested Mali’s prime minister and ordered him to resign because he “doesn’t get along” with the army captain who led a coup in March in the African nation, a spokesman for the military junta said Tuesday. Prime Minister Cheikh Modibo Diarra, dressed in a dark suit and his forehead glistening with sweat, went on TV at 4 a.m. to announce his resignation. “Our country is living through a period of crisis. Men and women who are worried about the future of our nation are hoping for peace,” he said. “It’s for this reason that I, Cheikh Modibo Diarra, am resigning along with my entire government on this day, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. I apologize before the entire population of Mali.” He was arrested by the military in his home hours earlier, forced into a car and driven to the Kati military camp, the sprawling military base where the March 21 coup was launched. The developments indicate the military is still the real power in Mali, whose northern half fell to Islamist insurgents in the wake of the coup, even though the soldiers made a show months ago of handing power back to civilians. The seizure of the arid north by Islamists provides a haven and training sites for groups linked to al-Qaida. European Union foreign ministers on Monday approved the concept of an EU training mission in Mali for an attempt by Malian and other African troops to wrest the north from the insurgents. But Germany is now indicating the arrest of Diarra may obstruct the plan.

14 killed as bridge collapses in South Africa Heavy rains in South Africa have caused a bridge to collapse, killing 14 people. The South African Press Association reported yesterday that the bridge collapsed in the nation’s Mpumalanga province. Joseph Mabuza, a spokesman for the province’s safety department, said that three vehicles drove onto the bridge in the dark after it had collapsed Monday night. Mabuza says the strong current pulled the vehicles away. A train carrying cargo also derailed Tuesday morning near Durban as rain had swept away its track. The train ended up plunging into the Amanzimtoti River. Local officials said four people were injured in that accident. South Africa is now experiencing seasonal rains as it enters its summer months.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Space for Sale

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Venezuela’s president undergoes cancer operation

enezuelan President Hugo Chavez underwent surgery in Cuba yesterday for a recurrence of cancer that has thrown his future into jeopardy and upended politics in the South American OPEC nation. “My dear friend and colleague, Comandante Hugo Chavez, is going through the toughest times of his life,” said Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa, a fellow leftist. “He’s being operated on right now. It’s a very delicate operation.” Venezuela’s 58-year-old socialist leader returned to politically allied Cuba for a fourth operation since mid-2011, after cancer was again discovered in the pelvic area soon after he won re-election in October. Chavez’s ministers have been parading on state TV to pledge loyalty to their boss but have given no details of his condition, which is treated virtually as a state secret. A Venezuelan government source confirmed Tuesday’s operation. Having declared himself “completely cured” twice in the past, the president has acknowledged he may be incapacitated, though he said he still hopes to recover in time to start his new, six-year term on January 10. Chavez has named vice president and foreign minister Nicolas Maduro as a potential successor to lead his self-styled revolution in the South American nation of 29 million people that has the

China gives plane hijackers death sentences

hree men were sentenced to death and another to life in prison yesterday after they were found guilty of attempting to hijack a Chinese aircraft. A court in the Xinjian Uygur Autonomous Region handed down the sentences for four of the six men arrested for the attempted hijacking in June, China’s official Xinhua news agency reported. Passengers and crew aboard Tianjin Airlines Flight GS 7554 stopped the attack, which took place about 10 minutes after the plane departed Hotan Airport for the regional capital of Urumqi, Crienglish.com reported. Two flight police officers, the head flight attendant and seven passengers suffered injuries during a fight with the six hijackers, police said. China’s aviation authorities rewarded those who thwarted the hijacking in July with money, honorary titles and orders of merit. Information about the other two hijackers was not reported.

world’s largest oil reserves. Maduro, 50, a former bus driver and union activist, lacks his boss’s charisma and political flair but would represent policy continuity should he formally take over. He has already taken control of dayto-day government operations. The naming of Maduro has irked some in Venezuela’s opposition, who say voters - not Chavez - will decide who follows him if an election is held within 30 days of his leaving office - as mandated by the constitution. “Venezuela is not a monarchy with a prince as heir,” said one opposition leader, Antonio Ledezma. Should an election be held, opposition flag bearer Henrique Capriles, who lost to Chavez in the October presidential vote but

scored a record 6.5 million votes for the opposition, could have a second crack at power. In a newspaper interview on Tuesday, Capriles declined to speculate on a possible new presidential bid and repeated his best wishes to Chavez for recovery. But he criticized the secrecy surrounding the president’s treatment. “Venezuelans have the right to know,” he said. Chavez was assumed to be a patient once more at Havana’s Cimeq hospital, though no official information on the situation was coming out of the communist-run Caribbean island. Friends around the region have sent messages of support. “He changed the history of

Venezuela and of a large part of Latin America,” said Correa, a central member of the Chavez-led Alba bloc of leftist nations in the region, after visiting him in Havana. “He’s in good spirits. You know what Hugo’s like, always ready for tough battles with optimism and faith ... I’m not going to lie, we’re very worried. It’s a serious matter.” Chavez’s health woes sparked a rally in Venezuela bonds, given many investors’ preference for a more business-friendly government in Caracas. And in London, veteran emerging market investor Mark Mobius said any change to a more market-friendly government in Venezuela would encourage him to invest there once more.

WORLD BULLETIN Iran arrests 28 over links to religious networks Tehran’s chief prosecutor says authorities have arrested 28 Iranians for alleged links to foreign-based TV networks advocating the Baha’i religion, which is banned in the Islamic Republic. A report yesterday by semiofficial Mehr news agency quotes Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi as saying intelligence officers arrested the members of “counterrevolutionary networks” in 10 buildings across the city of Tehran. The detainees were in close contact with TV networks that advocate the Baha’i faith, Dowlatabadi said. Baha’i practitioners are frequently prosecuted in Iran, prompting outcry among international human rights groups. The Iranian government banned the Baha’i religion after 1979, when Islamic clerics came to power. It was founded in the 1860s by Baha’u’llah, a Persian nobleman considered a prophet by the Baha’is. Islam considers Muhammad the final prophet.

UK arrests three in interbank rates probe

A follower of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez praying for his health at Plaza Bolivar in Caracas, on Monday. PHOTO: REUTERS

Strauss-Kahn settles suit with hotel maid

ominique Strauss-Kahn, the former International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief, and the hotel maid who accused him last year of attempting to rape her have agreed to a settlement in her civil lawsuit against him. In a court hearing in New York on Monday, Bronx Supreme Court Justice Douglas McKeon announced the two sides had reached a deal to end the litigation, but said details

of the settlement, including the amount of any damages to be paid to Nafissatou Diallo by Strauss-Kahn, will not be made public. The case stemmed from a May 2011 hotel suite encounter in which Diallo reported StraussKahn forced her to perform oral sex and tried to rape her after she went to clean his room. Strauss-Kahn, 63, said the encounter was consensual, calling her suit defamatory and launch-

Diallo during an appearance in New York State Supreme Court

PHOTO: REUTERS

ing a countersuit for $1m. After the announcement of the settlement, Diallo said: “I just want to say I thank everyone who supported me, all over the world. I thank everybody. I thank God, and God bless you all.” “Ms Diallo is a strong and courageous woman who never lost faith in our justice system,” said Kenneth Thompson, her lawyer. “With this resolution she can now move on with her life.” Originally, the case had spurred criminal charges, which prosecutors later dropped amid concerns about Diallo’s credibility. They said she had wavered in recounting her movements after the alleged attack and lied to them about her past, including a convincing but fictitious story of being gang-raped before. The incident led to StraussKahn’s resignation from the IMF and ultimately cut off his potential candidacy for the French presidency earlier this year.

Three British men were detained in London yesterday in the first arrests stemming from a global investigation into the manipulation of interbank lending rates. One of those arrested was former Citigroup and UBS trader Thomas Hayes, according to a source familiar with the situation. Hayes could not immediately be reached for comment and the identity of the others could not be determined by Reuters. Prosecutors and regulators across Europe, the United States, Canada and Japan have been investigating how traders attempted to rig key benchmark lending rates such as Libor (London interbank offered rate). Dozens of people have been fired or suspended and are now under investigation in the probe into the benchmarks, but the arrests were the first since the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission initiated an industry-wide probe in October 2008. Britain’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) said three men, aged 33, 41 and 47, had been taken to a London police station in the early morning after three properties were searched. “The men are all British nationals currently living in the United Kingdom,” the SFO said. A spokesman said interviews were continuing. Police can hold people for 24 hours without charge. Designed originally in the late 1960s to estimate the costs at which banks will lend to each other, Libor has become the key benchmark for around $550 trillion of loans and financial contracts. According to the Canadian Competition Bureau, Hayes and other traders are alleged to have manipulated yen Libor, the average interbank interest rate at which banks are prepared to lend one another unsecured funds denominated in Japanese yen. Hayes worked at Swiss bank UBS from 2006-09 and then at U.S. bank Citigroup until 2010.

WORLD RECORD

First virtual world mind controller

Vol. 02 No. 511

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

N150

The earliest virtual world mind controller was announced in October 2007 by Japanese researchers. The prototype mind-activated controller for Second Life consists of a headset containing electrodes that analyse brain waves, translating them into the movement of an avatar within the game.

The Reps-Oteh tango

n his seminal, “De I’Espirit de loix” (“The Spirit of Laws”), the 17th century French philosopher, Baron de Montesquieu, argued that the best way to secure liberty and prevent a government from becoming corrupted and despotic was to divide its powers among different actors who would check each other. He saw man as exhibiting a general tendency that manifested itself in selfishness, pride, envy and seeking after power. Montesquieu had observed that “constant experience shows that every man invested with power is apt to abuse it and to carry his authority so far as it will go”. Therefore, this tendency towards the abuse of power can be moderated by the constitution of the government and by the laws. Hence, his now famous theory of “Separation of Powers“ in which he delineated government into three arms, namely, the executive, legislature and judiciary, and invested each one with different

Okay Osuji (okayosuji@nationalmirroronline.net) 08034729256 (sms only)

functions and powers to act as check and balance on the activities of others. America’s founding fathers had relied on Montesquieu political philosophy to frame their constitution of which Nigeria purportedly claims to have copied in its entirety. For the avoidance of doubt, the constitution invests the power to implement the law, defend the country, conduct foreign affairs and administer internal policies on the executive branch of government. The duty of the legislature is to make laws, while the judiciary applies the law to determine disputes and punish criminals. It therefore, follows that the executive cannot make laws, neither can the legislature determine disputes or any of the three branches of government exercise the power of the other. To avoid this scenario, no individual can be a member of any of the two branches at the same time. Today, the separation of power in Nigeria is being turned on its head. And nothing best exemplifies this absurdity than the ongoing ruckus in the House of Representatives, where members are frantically calling for the sack of the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms. Arunma Oteh. To drive home this message, House members have sworn not to have any dealings with this important government agency till the lady is pushed out of office, no matter what. This sour note and vindictiveness is making the Reps not only look petty, but the continued action is trivializing the main reason of their being

THEIR BATTLE CRY HAS BECOME EVEN SHRILLER AND WOULD ONLY BE ASSUAGED IF SHE LEAVES

SEC

in the National Assembly, which is law making. Surprisingly, the House members are now turning themselves into trade unionists, in the habit of making frivolous and opportunistic demands on government in order to be seen to be relevant. Just last week, the House Committee on Finance walked out a three member delegation of SEC from defending the agency’s budget, on the laughable reason that it was not invited to appear before it. Even the rough language of the committee chairman, Mr. Abdulmumini Jibri, in justifying the action, showed that they were playing out a written script, which not only betrayed their emotions, but left no one in doubt as to their resolve to go after Ms. Oteh. But why are they after SEC’s DG? Everyone knows that Ms. Oteh was at centre of the massive fraud that rocked the House some months ago, when she openly accused the Chairman of the House Committee on Capital Market, Herman Hembe, of not only being corrupt but lacked any credibility. She ac-

cused Hembe of collecting estacode and other travel allowances for a trip to the Dominican Republic, which he never made. Matters were made worse by the fact that he did not return the money collected. Furthermore, Hembe demanded that SEC contribute N39 million towards a public hearing and another N5 million in cash, of which Arunma officially obliged. Following the revelation, Hembe and his deputy Ifeanyi Azubuogu, were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for misappropriation and converting N600, 000 public funds to private use. It therefore, did not come as surprise that after the exposure, Ms. Oteh became a marked person. Such public opprobrium that followed has left any vestige of respect the House had in tatters. So like any scorned lover, the fury of hell has been let loose, as House members have sworn to make life difficult for Securities Commission under her watch. In going all out to witch hunt her, the House has set on a course of confrontation with the executive branch of government on which the constitution vests the authority of supervising and disciplining any staff of the government. Curiously, those spoiling for a fight remain oblivious to the fact that Ms. oteh was investigated by a commission over accusations of impropriety and even vacated office to let investigators shine light in all nooks and corners of the agency’s activities. In the end no skeletons were found and she was humbly requested to go back to her job. But the House would have none of that. Their battle cry has become even shriller and would only be assuaged if she leaves SEC. But such shenanigan must be discouraged, especially as the country is under the rule of law and not the rule of the mob. The House should not usurp the functions of the executive. Their present action smacks of envy, vindictiveness and pettiness.

Sport Extra

orld number three, Rafael Nadal, has set his sights on victory when he makes his return from long-term injury at the Mubadala Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.

Tennis: Nadal itches for April return The Spaniard, who has not played competitively since his shock secondround loss to Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon in June due to a partial tear of the patellar tendon in his

left knee, has recently returned to the practice court. The 11-time Grand Slam champion said he had kept expectations in check ahead of his re-

turn, insisting that he expected to find his best form and fitness by April. “I can’t wait to get back on court in Abu Dhabi at the end of the month,” Nadal said yesterday.

Nadal’s latest comments however contrast with an interview he gave last week, when he spoke with caution. “I will only come back when I am fit. I won’t come back worrying about my knee,” he added.

Rafael Nadal

Printed and Published by Global Media Mirror Ltd: Head Office: Mirror House, 155/161 Broad Street, Lagos Tel: 07027107407, Abuja Office: NICON Insurance House, Second Floor, Central Business District Area, Abuja Tel: 08070428249, Advert hotline: 01-8446073, Email: mail@nationalmirroronline.net. Editor: SEYI FASUGBA. All correspondence to PMB 10001, Marina, Lagos. Printed simultaneously in Lagos, Abuja and Ondo State. ISSN 0794-232X.