Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Nigeria’s telecoms density hits 78.8% KUNLE AZEEZ

Johnson

Vol. 31 N0. 550 115 K AYODE KETEFE

ASST JUDICIARY EDITOR

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suit instituted by persons claiming to represent the interest of the minority shareholders of the Newswatch Communications Limited, publisher of the Newswatch magazine, suffered a major setback yesCONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

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eledensity in the Nigeria’s telecoms industry has reached a 78.8 per cent mark, ac-

cording to latest industry statistics from the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC. Growth in teledensity in Nigeria has been phenomenal, growing

2015: Orubebe, Alison-Madueke, others absent at Ijaw peace talks

rapidly in the last 12 years of telecoms liberalisation and culminating in a growth of 78.8 per cent at the end of November 2012.

...ex-militant leaders too

CONTINUED ON PAGE 21>>

P.2

Tuesday, Tuesday,June February 7, 2011 5, 2013

N150 N150

Minority shareholders lose bid to stop Newswatch ... Jimoh Ibrahim, staff jubilate over ruling

Crisis in PDP: More troubles for Tukur P.8 SWEET VICTORY: Publisher of Newswatch newspapers, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, OFR, (middle) with staff of the organisation jubilating over the court’s verdict at their Broad Street, Lagos office, yesterday.

Scramble for fuel importation heightens PPPRA targets 4.22 billion litres for second quarter

UDEME AKPAN ENERGY EDITOR

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any local and foreign companies have intensified

lobbying for inclusion in the list of oil firms that will participate in the sec-

ond quarter fuel importation.

The programme will see

the importation of 4.22 billion litres of fuel.

Court remands Lamido’s son in prison

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

P.12

Abubakar

We got N13m on Gen Rotimi’s wife, says kidnapper P.8

News

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Tuesday, February 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

2015: Orubebe, Alison-Madueke, others absent at Ijaw peace talks SOLA ADEBAYO WARRI

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inisters of Ijaw origin in President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet on Sunday shunned a reconciliatory meeting convened in Lagos by the leaders of their ethnic nationality over the reelection bid of their boss in 2015.

The meeting, held at Eko Hotel and Suites, was initiated by a group of Ijaw elders led by the South-South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark; former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and former Minister of Aviation, Chief Alabo Graham-Douglas, to unite notable Ijaw people, apparently to support the second term bid of President Jonathan.

It was gathered yesterday that cabinet members, including the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe; his counterparts in Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke and Housing and Urban Development Ms. Ama Pepple, who were duly invited by the Ijaw elders, shunned the forum.

Findings by National Mirror also revealed that the Special Adviser to the President on Millennium Development Goals, Dr. Precious Kalamba Gbeneol, also did not honour the invitation to the meeting.

Investigation by National Mirror yesterday showed that only the Presidential Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku; Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Mr. Ziakede Akpobolokemi and Special Adviser to the President on Research and Documentation, Mr. Oronto Douglas, appeared at the meeting.

Our correspondent learnt that only Alison-Madueke excused herself from the meeting, saying that her role in the visit of the Indonesian President, Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, prevented her intention to honour the invitation.

However, her colleagues did not offer any reason for their failure to attend the strategic meeting.

Similarly, some notable ex-militant commanders in the Niger Delta, including Chief Ateke Tom, Mr. Ebikabowei Victor Ben, alias Boyloaf and Chief Government Ekpemukpolo, alias Tompolo, did not attend the meeting.

Reliable sources at the meeting told our correspondent yesterday that the absence of the top government officials frustrated the vision and mission envisaged for the forum.

It was gathered that the meeting was eventually adjourned till a later date to enable all stakeholders, including the key government

functionaries to be part of the initiative.

It will be recalled that the meeting was initiated to bring all well-meaning Ijaw people, including elders, top government functionaries, ex-militant leaders and other relevant stakeholders together to decisively support the second term bid of Jonathan in 2015.

Investigations revealed that the Ijaw elders were uncomfortable about the opposition being mounted against President Jonathan from his home base in the Niger Delta.

The Ijaw leaders were convinced that the trend was sending negative signals to the other parts of the country and that it should

be stopped in the interest of the political advancement of the region.

The meeting was convened to unite all feuding Ijaw groups, especially the ex-militants, who have been polarised into two groups, identified as Oporoza House, led by Tompolo and Izon Ikemi, led by Tom and Boyloaf.

The Leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, NDPVF, Alhaji Mujarhedeen Asari Dokubo, past and present leaders of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, and leaders of other groups, stated their grievances, which bordered on the neglect and underdevelopment in their areas under the present administration.

A former IYC leader, Chief T.K. Ogoriba, spoke for the Oporoza House.

The interim leader of Izon-Ikemi, Mr. Tony Uranta, who led the delegates of the group to the forum as a mark of respect to the conveners, said that Izon Ikemi would not make any presentation due to the absence of the Ijaw cabinet members.

One of our sources at the meeting said: “Clark, Alamieyeseigha and GrahamDouglas pleaded with every stakeholders to unite and speak with one voice behind President Jonathan and that the problems arising over his second term ambition should not be traced or connected to his Ijaw people, either directly or remotely.

“The elders urged all stakeholders to bury their differences and push ahead in the collective interest of the Ijaw ethnic nationality.

“But the meeting could not make any serious headway because the political functionaries of Ijaw stock in the government failed to turn up at the meeting despite that they were duly invited. Only the Minister of Petroleum Resources gave her excuse.

“The absence of the ministers frustrated meaningful discussion as some stakeholders insisted that they would not make any contribution because the Ijaw top government officials were not around. But other atCONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

Prof. Chinedu Nebo (right) with Alhaji Kabiru Turaki taking oath of office as ministers before President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Minority shareholders lose bid to stop Newswatch CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

terday as a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos dismissed their application seeking to stop the operations of the company.

Ruling that the application to stop Newswatch was without merit, the court, presided over by Justice Ibrahim Buba, ordered an accelerated hearing of the matter, saying that he would schedule the case to be completed “within one month.”

The two minority shareholders of the company, Mr. Nuhu Wada Aruda and Prof. Jibril Aminu, had filed the substantive petition accusing the new management team led by Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim OFR, of assuming control of the company “illegally” even though they admitted that

there was a Share Purchase Agreement, which transferred the majority of the shareholding to Ibrahim.

The petitioners were, therefore, praying the court to quash the powers of the current management of the company elected by the majority of the shareholders.

In their petition No.FHC/L/CP/1367/2012 brought pursuant to sections 310 (a), (b) and (c) and 311(1), (2) (a) and (b) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, the applicants also prayed the court to, among others, set aside the Share Purchase Agreement on the basis of which Dr. Ibrahim assumed majority shareholding in the company.

Joined as the defendants in the matter are: Newswatch Communications Ltd, Global Media Mirror

Ltd, Dr. Ibrahim, Newswatch Newspapers Ltd and the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC. The petitioners also filed an interlocutory injunction seeking to stop the operations of the Newswatch Newspapers Limited and to prevent the company from selling any of its fledgling titles (Daily Newswatch, Saturday Newswatch and Sunday Newswatch) to the public.

But the interlocutory application was apparently dead on arrival, as it was dismissed by Justice Buba, after thoroughly assessing it on its merit.

The judge held that the interlocutory prayers being sought by the petitioners would not be granted because the petitioners had failed to show special

grounds that made them entitled to the prayers they were asking for.

Justice Buba said: “I have no doubt that the applicants will be adequately compensated by damages if they eventually win their substantive case. I therefore turn down the interlocutory prayers of the applicants.

“Instead, I will accord the case an accelerated hearing. Accordingly, this matter must be heard and determined within one month. There is no order as to cost.”

The judge, therefore, adjourned the matter till February 11 and 12, 2013 for continuation of hearing of the substantive matter.

At the proceedings yesterday, the minority shareholders were represented

by Mr. Adekunle Oyesanya, SAN, while Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, represented the respondents.

It will be recalled that there is a pending suit instituted by Newswatch Communications Ltd, Dr. Ibrahim and Global Media Mirror Limited against four other former directors.

The suit, which has now been slated for judgement next month, is seeking for an order restraining the four former directors of the Newswatch magazineMessrs Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese, Yakubu Mohammed and Soji Akinrinade and their agents from further acting on behalf of Newswatch Communications Limited.

The former directors had also opposed the suit on purported grounds that the

suit disclosed no reasonable cause of action against them.

Reacting to the yesterday’s ruling, Newswatch staff, about 250 journalists in all, jubilated in their Broad Street, Lagos, head office and commended the judge for being steadfast on the path of justice.

The staff wondered why an investor who paid a whopping N510m for the shares of a moribund company would be restrained for turning around the company.

Dr. Ibrahim, on his part, quoted Justice Holens in his reaction to the ruling.

He said: “The prophecy of what the court will do is nothing pretentious, is what I mean by justice.”

He said Justice Buba is CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

LATEEFAH IBRAHIM-ANIMASHAUN

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ne in every 20 Nigerian new born infants (neonates) would be deformed or killed by neonatal jaundice, a medical condition characterized by yellow discoloration of the covering of the skin (sclera) or the eyes which usually occurs in a baby less than 28 days of life.

In an exclusive interview with Good Health, a Pediatrician, Dr. Ogoo Elumelu says no fewer than 60 to 70 percent of full term babies born in the hospital in the country would develop the condition which may result in irreversible brain damage or death if not properly managed.

Also, 80 percent of pre-term babies, would come down with neonatal jaundice as prematurity has now become a major risk factor for the dreaded condition.

Dr. Elumelu who is a Senior Registrar at the Department of Pediatrics, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, (LUTH), says neonatal jaundice occurs as a result of accumulation of unconjugated bilirubin, a pigment produced by the liver following a breakdown of the hemoglobin in red blood cells. According to him, the condition occurs in two different types – physiological jaundice which occurs and disappears within a short period and the pathological jaundice which comes up about the second or third day of life and is often more severe, requiring adequate monitoring by specialists to save the child.

Common causes of neonatal jaundice in Nigeria, according to the pediatrician, include blood incompatibility between mother and child, infections and deficiency of an enzyme called “Glucose six phosphates dehydrogenate” or (G6PD).

“The basic thing that causes jaundice is when the blood cells or a component of the blood known as the red blood cell break down, it causes a release of a particular substance called billirubin. This bilirubin is what stains the covering of the eyes and skin and makes it appear yellow. The bilirubin is produced all the time in everybody but it is taken care of and mopped up by the

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Good Health Why more newborn infants develop jaundice … Pediatrician blames it on use of dusting powder, mentholatum and sulphur-containing drugs

Jaundiced baby undergoing treatment

liver. So, if there is increase production of this bilirubin, and it’s too much for the liver to mop up, it then stains the eyes and the skin” Dr. Elumelu warned mothers against taking sulphur-containing drugs as it could predispose babies to jaundice when taken late in pregnancy. Also, using dusting powders and mentholatum for new born could incite the breakdown of the red blood cells when there is G6PD deficiency.

“It is not only dusting powder, it could include mentholatum. Those are the things that stimulate the breakdown of the blood

cells when there is deficiency of the G6PD.” According to her, neonatal jaundice is not a condition to be treated at home as this could be dangerous.

“Once you notice that the child has jaundice; you must go to the hospital because what you are seeing on the eyes is just like yellow but the most objective means is by measurement of the bilirubin concentration in the blood and that is done by a laboratory test.

When it strikes and not properly managed, she further disclosed, the condition could result in the staining of the brain

making the baby to be weak and unable to eat. It could also result in convulsion and death or where the baby survives, he may end up with deformities like mental retardation.

“They end up not being able to go to school. They might not be able to understand, have arithmetic abilities like other children. They might not even be able to spell. In some, the mental retardation might be so profound that they are not even able to communicate. Some might not be able to do anything unsupervised. It can also cause deafness. Some of them come up with hearing defects”.

Dr Elumelu said jaundice could be prevented if prolonged labour is avoided as much as possible and by avoiding too frequent virginal examination during labour process as this exposes mothers to infection.

“For example, if the membrane breaks for a long period before a child is finally delivered, it can predispose the child to infections because the membrane is there to protect the child and once the membrane breaks, the baby becomes exposed to the atmosphere. Meanwhile, infections in children goes to the blood quickly and such infections could be the bacteria from the genital tract of the mother.

Dr. Elumelu emphasized the need to reduce premature birth in the country, saying this would reduce the incidence of neonatal jaundice.

“Everything that can be done to prevent premature birth will prevent neonatal jaundice,” she stated.

YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW

Cancer researchers reveal mechanism to halt cancer cell growth

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niversity of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) researchers has uncovered a technique to halt the growth of cancer cells, a discovery that led them to a potential new anticancer therapy.

When deprived of a key protein, some cancer cells are unable to properly divide, a finding described in the cover story of the February issue of the Journal of Cell Science.

This research is supported in part by a grant from the National Institutes of Health.

“This is the first time anyone has explained how altering this protein at a key stage in cell reproduction can stop cancer growth,” said Bennett Van Houten, Ph.D., the Richard M. Cyert Professor of Molecular Pharmacology at UPCI and senior author of the research paper. “Our hope is that this discovery will spur the development of a new type of cancer drug that targets this process and could work synergistically with existing drugs.”

All cells have a network of mitochondria,

which are tiny structures inside cells that are essential for energy production and metabolism.

Tuberculosis: WHO-endorsed test offers rapid detection

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diagnostic test for tuberculosis (TB) can accurately and quickly detect both TB and drugresistant strains, according to a new study. The authors of a new systematic review assessing the diagnostic accuracy of the Xpert® MTB/RIF test published in The Cochrane Library say their study can provide timely advice for clinicians and policymakers in countries where TB is a major public health problem.

Millions of people develop TB every year. Around 13% of cases occur in people living with HIV and more than a quarter of these people die as a result.

Drug resistance is a major public health problem that further complicates efforts to control TB. Multidrug-resistant TB is defined as resistance to rifampi-

cin and isoniazid, which are two of the most effective and widely used anti-TB drugs. Xpert® (Cepheid Inc, California) is a diagnostic test endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) that simultaneously detects TB and resistance to rifampicin, as an indicator of multidrug resistance. The test takes around two hours, with minimal hands-on technical time required.

Like sputum smear microscopy, which relies on detecting TB with a microscope in a laboratory, Xpert requires a sample of sputum. However, while thousands of bacteria must be present in each millilitre of sample for TB to be detected under the microscope, Xpert can detect TB bacteria at much lower concentrations.

–Science Daily

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Photo News

Monday, February 5, 2013

L-R: General Counsel, Newswatch, Ibilola Adesope; Publisher, Newswatch/Group Managing Director, Energy Group, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, OFR and Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, National Mirror, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, celebrating the court verdict in favour of Newswatch, yesterday.

L-R: General Manager, Global Fleet Industries Limited, Mr. Fidelis Owoamanam; Legal Officer, Global Fleet Oil and Gas, Barr. Mololuwa Adebiyi; Editor, Sunday Newswatch, Mr. Lanre Oyetade and Regional Manager Abuja, National Mirror, Mr. David Adeagbo.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim (right) and Managing Director, Daily Newswatch, Mr. Moses Jolayemi.

L-R: Mrs. Ada Dike; Editor, Saturday Mirror, Gbemi Olujobi; Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim; Mr. Steve Ayorinde and Editor, National Mirror, Mr. Seyi Fasugba.

PHOTOS: FEMI AKINTOBI, BIODUN OMOTOSHO AND BANKOLE DAMILARE.

National News

FG can’t leave housing provision to market forces –NLC

•Firm invests $650m on Abuja housing estate OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

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he Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday said that government would not be able to address the housing deficit gap put at 17 million by merely relying on market forces.

The NLC Deputy President, Comrade Isa Aremu, who disclosed this, said rather than leaving the provision of housing in the hands of private developers who relied on loans from the commercial banks to build houses, the best way to make housing affordable to the millions of working class people was to recapitalise the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN. This is even as Good Earth Power International, a foreign consortium with interests in construction, energy, communications and land develop-

ment, is investing $650 million for the provision of 1,000 units of housing at Kaba District, Abuja.

According to the design of the project, which is being conceived on PublicPrivate Partnership with the FMBN, the 30-hectare land would be used to build varieties of houses raging between two to four-storey buildings with the completion period of 16 months.

However, speaking with our correspondent at the sideline of the groundbreaking ceremony of the estate christened: Goodluck Jonathan Legacy City, Abuja, Aremu explained that as laudable as the intent was, it would not result to housing for all.

The NLC deputy president said for government to display its seriousness in addressing the huge housing deficit in the country, it must recapi-

talise FMBN to enable it perform its roles in the housing delivery sector effectively.

He said: “For me, building 1,000 units of housing in a country with 17 million housing deficit is a mere token. That is the more reason I raised the issue of recapitalisation of the FMBN. “If the bank is well capitalised, it can engage in long time funding at a relatively lower single digit interest rate. It would make the cost of the houses to become cheaper and affordable for the working class.

“To demonstrate its commitment to the issue of housing in the country, our government needs to put its foot on the ground to recapitalise the bank.

The idea of sourcing for loans from commercial banks, in this case EcoBank, will further raise the cost of housing provi-

sions with the people bearing the cost.

“Government cannot leave housing provision to market forces. It has to make a bold attempt to eliminate 17 million housing deficit. We need bold marshal plans. We need close to N56 trillion to clear the deficit. That is not much if there is a political will.

“The big houses we have for the big people in Maitama and Asokoro are in trillion of naira. Many of them are built with looted funds and are not being occupied.”

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Amal Pepple, restated the commitment of government in addressing the huge housing deficit gap even as she said that the focus of her ministry in the sector would continue to be private sector-driven.

Bomb scare causes panic in Abuja OMEIZA AJAYI AND JOEL AJAYI

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here was confusion yesterday morning at the Area 10 Garki District of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, following the alleged discovery of an Improvised Explosive Device, IED, around the NIPOST Office on Moshood Abiola Road.

The bomb scare, which occurred about 10am, caused gridlock on the road, even as residents fled the area.

A traffic warden in the area, Jibah John, said the parcel had been there since Saturday and was addressed to the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, with a N50 postage stamp affixed to it.

He said: “When the NIPOST authority discovered that it was suspicious, they alert the police.”

According to him, after the arrival of some policemen from the Area One Division, they immediately signalled the Anti-bomb

Squad which cordoned the area for some minutes to clear the parcel and a cylinder.

One of the policemen, who did not want his name in print, dismissed the scare, saying the parcel only appeared suspicious.

Victor Paul, a vendor beside the NIPOST office, said from the items “we saw here, they looked like one of those things that they used to show on TV whenever they (security agents) caught people with explosives.

“Items like wire, sand, clay and so on were actually there. Only if police can show you the video you could have seen the items but I cannot say it is bomb because we were watching from a far distance.”

The FCT Commissioner of Police, Adenrele Shinaba, however, dismissed rumours of any bomb scare in the area, saying there was no evidence to suggest that.

The commissioner could not, however, say what the parcel was or disclose the motive of those who dropped it there.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

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Scramble for fuel importation heightens CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The firms, some of which are experienced in petroleum products trading around the world, have already sent written applications to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, for consideration.

Investigations, however, showed that the PPPRA might be favourably inclined to considering the fresh applications which would increase the number of participating oil firms in excess of 32 previously listed by the agency.

PPPRA Executive Secretary, Mr. Reginald Stanley, who confirmed the development said: “We have a list of 32 firms, but more oil firms have come forward to

submit their papers for consideration.”

The 32 companies include: The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Alteo, Ascon Oil, Avidor Oil & Gas, A-Z Petroleum, Bovas Limited, Conoil Plc, Dee Jones Petroleum and Gas, Dozzy Oil and Gas, Folawiyo Energy, Fresh Synergy Limited, Forte Oil Plc and First Deepwater Discovery Limited.

Others are: Gulf Treasure Ltd, Heyden Petroleum, Ibafon Oil Ltd, Integrated Oil and Gas Industries, IPMAN Refining and Marketing Ltd, Mobil Oil Plc, MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, NIPCO Plc, Northwest Petroleum & Gas Ltd, Oando Plc, Obat Petroleum Ltd,

RainOil Ltd, Rahamaniyya Oil & Gas, Sahara Energy Ltd, Shorelink Oil, Swift Oil Ltd, Techno Oil Ltd and Total Nigeria Plc. The list is, however, exclusive of international oil traders, including Trafigura, Glencore and Vitol, which have traditionally supplied large volumes of refined fuel to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. Stanley said PPPRA would review all papers submitted with the intension of engaging those qualified to participate in the second quarter programme.

“We would examine all submissions and engage those that meet the requirements set for the importa-

tion during the period.”

The PPPRA boss said stringent conditions had been set to regulate fuel importation which witnessed some sharp practices in the past.

The conditions include the possession of huge assets to sustain operations and ability to meet set targets would be enforced to sanitise the entire process of fuel importation.

The executive secretary said the era of delayed payments was over as adequate provision had been made for settlement of claims in the 2013 budget.

He said: “With the allocation of N971bn for fuel imports this year, we are hopeful that it would be possible to achieve improved stabil-

Chairman, National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria and Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga (left) and Vice-Chairman, NCCN and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu, after the council was inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja , yesterday.

ity in the supply of fuel during the period.”

Stanley added that the PPPRA would take steps toward ensuring that marketers provide adequate access to inspectors nominated by the agency to monitor their operations in order to eliminate sharp practices.

“The practice of discharging and trucking simultaneously is against established industry practice and henceforth shall attract appropriate sanctions except where such is required to create haulage in which case conditions for floating operations are met,” he said.

The executive secretary said the agency would conduct periodic checks on active tank farms to ensure that facilities used for backloading were demobilised always, in addition to ensuring that marketers comply to set guidelines.

He called on inspectors to ensure that marketers did not hoard products in their tank farms by refusing to truck-out while those who violated the policy should be reported to the agency for appropriate sanctions.

Some of the international oil traders, National Mirror learnt, had renewed interest in fuel import contract following the decision of the NNPC to secure a $1.5bn loan from a consortium of local and international financial institutions to clear some of the backlog

of debts owed traders estimated at between $3.5bn and $4.5bn.

Some local banks that had hitherto shut down credit line to fuel traders due to uncertainties in the payment of subsidy were said to be discussing with the marketers to reopen the credit lines. Investigations showed that major and independent marketers who were owed in the past looked forward to participating in the programme following increased commitment of government to pay them.

The Executive Secretary, Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, Mr. Timothy Olawore, said: “The government has been paying and our members are now encouraged to import the product.”

Olawore had said there were presently commercial stocks of fuel at many locations, including jetties, depots and filling stations, (meaning that the era of shortage is over in the nation.)

The spokesman of NIPCo Plc, Mr. Taofeek Lawal, had also confirmed that there was sufficient fuel in the market to meet demand.

He said the expected new imports would boost the current level of supplies in many parts of the nation.

Lawal called for improved monitoring to ensure that existing infrastructure, especially pipelines were not destroyed.

Minority shareholders lose Buhari, Obasanjo, other former leaders at Centenary dinner bid to stop Newswatch

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ormer Head of State and Presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, was among five former leaders that attended the flag off of the nation’s centenary celebrations at the State House yesterday.

Also present were former heads of state, Gen-

erals Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalami Abubakar as well as former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Alhaji Shehu Shagari Buhari had been very critical of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan with whom he contested the 2011 presidential election and went to the Supreme Court to challenge the victory of

President Jonathan at the poll.

He, however, lost the legal battle at the apex court, which declared that the President won the election.

Similarly, ex-President Obasanjo who has also been very critical of Jonathan’s administration made a surprise appearance at the Aso Villa

Chapel on Sunday where he worshipped with the President, prayed for the nation and also had lunch with him before he left the villa.

The colouful ceremony witnessed songs and documentary on the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates to become one Nigeria.

2015: Orubebe, Alison-Madueke, others absent at Ijaw peace talks CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

tendees made meaningful contributions on the way forward and the second term aspiration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“The meeting subsequently adjourned till a later date to enable all relevant stakeholders, including the ministers to

part of the idea to move the Niger Delta forward,” added the source, who pleaded that his name should not be mentioned in print.

National Mirror gathered that the meeting ended without a communiqué.

The Ijaw elders kept

mute over the outcome of the meeting yesterday.

Clark unusually refused to speak to our correspondent. But one of his aides said the meeting was private, adding that its outcome was not meant for public consumption.

“The chief (Clark) is not prepared to talk on the

Sunday meeting in Lagos because it was a private meeting of members of the same family. The outcome is not meant for the public and it was decided at the meeting that it should not be celebrated in the media,” added the aide, who craved anonymity.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

the Justice Mohammed Bello of our time who will not run away from the justice of the case.

Dr. Ibrahim commended the judge by the spirit of the trial, particularly his refusal in granting both the ex parte and interlocutory injunctions.

He said: “The justice of the matter like this cannot be hanged on probability for the seller of Newswatch knows what they are selling and the implication of signing a letter of retirement after collecting their full benefits.”

Ibrahim noted that it was not appropriate for a general who has retired from the Army after collecting his entitlements and benefits to come back

to the Armed Forces just because he is concerned about the way the Army is being run.

He added: “No one says the minority does not have a right, but not to the extent that a less than one per cent right, as in Aruwa and Aminu, will overrule over 50 per cent rights of the majority.

“It will be strange in our jurisprudence, for those individuals are not parties to the contract, as stated in the House of the Lords case of Pains vs Cave; and Force vs Abbot”.

With judges like Buba, Ibrahim said, there is hope for the judiciary, business and the common man. He advises judges to take a cue from him.

6

News

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

President inaugurates National Competitive Council ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

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resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said that for Nigeria to have its share of the global wealth, it must make effort to improve the business environment and enhance the competitiveness of firms operating in the country.

According to him, it is only when the country has a competitive business environment that it would attract foreign direct investment.

Speaking while inaugurating the 18-member board of the National Competitive Council of Nigeria (NCCN) at the State House in Abuja, the President said that when the business environment witnesses improvement, the firms operating in the country would expand their operations and create more jobs and wealth for Nigerians.

Jonathan said the inau-

guration of the board was to further demonstrate his determination to improve Nigeria’s global competitiveness ranking and revitalise the Nigerian economy.

According to him, the inauguration of the board was a manifestation of his administration’s commitment to the development of business.

He said: “It also marks a turning point in our quest to accelerate our country’s economic competitiveness and transformation.”

The President noted that the objective of the NCCN is to enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness by proposing recommendation that would create an economy which would attract both domestic and foreign investment, saying that the policies should be developed with evidence based analysis and should align with his administration’s transformation agenda.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Jonathan tasks new ministers on performance ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

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resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday swore-in two new ministers and asked them to contribute meaningfully to his administration’s transformation agenda.

Speaking at the swearing in ceremony held at the State House in Ikeja, Jonathan told the new ministers that Nigerians were expecting the best from them particularly as his administration would soon be halfway

into the four-year term.

The two ministers sworn in yesterday were former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Prof. Chinebu Nebo from Enugu State and a lawyer, Mr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN) from Kebbi State.

They are to be inaugurated tomorrow at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting while their portfolios would be assigned to them by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the

Federation (SGF).

The new ministers are expected to fill the vacancies in ministries of Defence and Power following the exit of Haliru Bello Mohammed who was removed as Defence Minister on June 22 last year and Professor Barth Nnaji who resigned his appointment in August 28, last year as Minister of Power.

At the swearing in yesterday, Jonathan said that though the two ministers are eminently qualified to serve the

country at all levels, he noted that the qualification is one thing, but serving as ministers would be a different terrain since the challenges involved are not the same.

Jonathan said: “From the synopsis we have heard about them, they are eminently qualified to serve this country at all levels. But then background qualification is one thing, but serving as a minister is another thing because the challenges are different.”

Ubah , Access Bank seek peaceful settlement of loan dispute

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he dispute between Capital Oil and Gas Limited, its promoter, Ifeanyi Ubah and Access Bank Plc over an outstanding loans may be settled outof court.

Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), lawyer to Capital Oil and Ubah, Paul Usoro (lawyer to Access Bank) and

Osita Mbamalu (representing Coscharis Limited, one of the defendants) made this known yesterday.

They spoke at the resumed hearing of the suit brought against Access Bank and Coscharis by Ubah and his company before the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

Group wants Section 137 EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

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he Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has called on the National Assembly to amend Section 137 of the Electoral Act so as to enlarge the category of people that can file election petitions before tribunals.

CSJ made the call at the public presentation of a book entitled: “The Judiciary and Nigeria’s 2011 Election.”

According to the Director of the Centre, Eze Onyekpere, voters should be empowered to approach the court for purposes of protecting their votes during elec-

tions.

This development, he added, will further help voters who see election results as not reflecting what really obtained to seek redress in court.

Onyekpere said: “It is imperative to expand the category of persons who can file election petitions to include all registered voters. This will involve an amendment of section 137(1) of the Electoral Act.” The Centre also frowned at the three-weeks stipulated in the Act for aggrieved parties in an election to file petitions as well as the 180 period within which petitions are disposed of.

Workers of Solpia Nigeria Limited protesting the company’s refusal to implement the agreement on benefit structure in Lagos, PHOTO: ADEMOLA AKINLABI yesterday.

Subsidy: FG seeks time to file response to suit E MMANUEL O NANI ABUJA

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he Federal Government has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to grant it more time to file its response to a suit instituted by a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State, Chief Stanley Okeke.

Okeke is seeking an order of court compelling President Goodluck Jonathan to remove subsidy on fuel.

Though Justice Adeniyi Ademola was billed to hear the matter yesterday, a lawyer from the Ministry of Justice, Mr Nasir Habib, pleaded with the court for extension of time to enable

the Federal Government file its response.

Consequently, Justice Ademola adjourned the matter till February 19 to enable the counsel file relevant processes.

The plaintiff is urging the court to compel Jonathan to return to the Federation Account “such money earlier appropriated and or approved for the payment of fuel subsidy.”

Listed as the defendants are Jonathan, the Minister of Petroleum, Diezeni Allison-Madueke; and the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The plaintiff wants the court to answer the following questions: “Whether in view of the

official corruption and abuse of office inherent in the fuel subsidy regime as evidenced by the in-going trial of certain individuals in the Federal High Court Lagos, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is validly competent to order the removal and or abolish the fuel subsidy scheme; whether consequent upon the perennial fuel shortages and the attendant long queues on our roads, it would be proper and lawful for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to completely remove and abolish the fuel subsidy regime; whether having regards to the near infrastructural collapse

in our country, it would be proper to re-channel funds meant fuel subsidy scheme into the building of infrastructural facilities and whether the 2nd and 3rd defendants being appointees of the President by not ensuring a corrupt free subsidy regime has not failed in their principal duty to Nigerians.”

Minister of Justice, M. Adoke

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

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Tuesday, February 5, 2013

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We got N13m for Gen. Rotimi’s Crisis in PDP: More troubles for Tukur wife, says kidnapper OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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ife of the former governor of the defunct Western State, Brig.-General Oluwole Rotimi, Titilayo, who was kidnapped in Ibadan last December and released four days to Christmas, was released after the family paid N13 million as ransom.

One of the kidnap suspects, Godwin Mfom, who was paraded yesterday alongside two others by the Oyo State Police Command at its headquarters in Eleyele, made the disclosure while speaking with journalists.

He said the abduction was masterminded by one Daniel Effiong, a former staff of the woman, after he had told him of his (Godwin’s) desperate need to get money to pay the debt he incurred after his involvement in politics in Akwa Ibom State, where he contested as a councillor and lost.

According to him, the woman was kept in a house in Ala-Ijebu, Ogun State, for which they paid N50, 000 for one year, as they told the caretaker of the unused building that they intend using it as a residential place with their businesses in Lagos.

He said his own share of the ransom was N5 million,

out of which he bought a Honda Saloon car with N1.2 million for transportation, and after paying his debt he was left with N2 .5 million.

Godwin, who was paraded alongside Akaniyere Sunday and Kingsley Johnson, said Effiong, the ring leader, was mobbed to death in Ilasamaja area of Lagos last month as he was accused of insanity.

The 38-year-old suspect said the kidnapping of the woman was his third act, stating that in his first attempt, he got N1.5 million and the second one N700, 000.

He explained further that

the family of the woman agreed to pay the ransom after they threatened to kill her, noting that it was Effiong that went to pick the ransom at J4 area also in Ogun State, where they were told to drop it.

The businesswoman, who was kidnapped by gunmen while driving out of her Ibadan office, was released by her captors in a village along Ijebu-Ode-Ikorodu Road.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ayodele Lanade, while confirming her release, said she came back unhurt.

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he leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, seems not to be abating as the 37 states’ chairmen and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have joined forces with the 23 governors, insisting that Mijinjiwa Kaugama, is still the state chairman of the party in Adamawa State.

Also, the national secretariat of PDP has described the party’s sweeping victory in last Saturday’s Kano State House of Assembly bye-election as a sign that the people still strongly believe in the PDP despite the much-talked

about alliance by opposition parties.

Twenty three governors of the party had, two weeks ago, at a meeting presided over by Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, recognised the Kaugama-led PDP in the state. The PDP governors also said that they are supporting the resolution of the 10-member National Working Committee, NWC, that dissolved the Caretaker Committee in the state led by Ambassador Umar Damagum.

The PDP governors at the meeting said that the only solution to the crisis is the convocation of a National Executive Committee, NEC,

to resolve the Adamawa State PDP crisis.

At a meeting held on Thursday, January 31, in Utako, Abuja, the 36 states and FCT chairmen under the chairmanship of the Benue State Chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Agboh, said that the Kaugama-led PDP in Adamawa State is the state executive organ acceptable to the forum of PDP chairman.

According to a communiqué signed by the PDP States’ Chairmen Forum, Dr. Emmanuel Agboh and the Secretary, Makunjuola Ogundipe said; “That the conference expressed delight about the development in Adamawa State.”

Oduah, Aviation Minister named Champion Man of the Year 2012

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L-R: National President, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; National President, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Peter Esele and Acting National Secretary, TUC, Mr. Musa Lawal, during a working visit by the TUC executives to the governor in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday.

inister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah has been named the Champion newspapers Man of the Year for 2012.

According to a statement by the Group Managing Director and Editor-in-chief of Champion Newspapers Limited, Mrs. Nwadiuto Iheakanwa, Oduah was picked by the top echelon of the media organisation after a careful consideration of her achievements in the last 18 months while steering the aviation industry.

The aviation minister is the third recipient of the award after Governor Baba-

tunde Fashola of Lagos State and the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole. Like the previous two awardees before her; she went through a thorough process against stiff competition.

The event, billed to hold in Lagos on February 19, will have the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Ndufe-Alike, Ebonyi State, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe, as the guest lecturer.

Prof. Ibidapo-Obe, who was the former vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos, will deliver the lecture with the theme: “Value-Driven Leadership as the Key to National Development.”

Fine option abolition bill: Senior lawyers caution FG K AYODE K ETEFE AND K ENNY O DUNUK AN

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wo notable lawyers, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and Mr. Fred Agbaje, yesterday cautioned the Federal Gover nment over the proposed plan to introduce a bill seeking the abolition of fine for very important persons and corrupt persons adjudged to have looted the nation’s treasury in one for m or the other.

While Ozekhome said such a bill was desirable but it would involve an amendment of a le gion of laws, Agbaje, insisted that it would amount to tampering unduly with the powers of the judiciary.

Ozekhome hailed the move, describing

it as a good development if well-thought out and implemented, arguing that there was the need to overhaul the country’s weak criminal system.

His words: “Well, such a bill must lead to amendment of so many laws including but not limited to the Criminal Code and the Penal Code. There are options of fine in so many criminal le gislations. The reason being that the framers of the law intended to decongest our prisons by making provisions for option for fine where the crime is not so serious.”

According to him, in recent developments the option of fine has been subjected to abuse. However, let me state that I don’t

blame the judge in the Yusuf ’s case because the judge cannot manufacture the law. The judge can only apply the law. It is our weak criminal system that we need to overhaul.

But Agbaje said “The Federal Gover nment cannot make the Nigeria Court le gislative robot, in as much as I commend the effort of National Assembly in showing concer n in combating cor ruption in country.

His words: “I am of the position that no le gislative power can withdraw the power of the cour t from option of fine, the move is beyond the constitutional powers of Federal Gover nment and the National Assembly.

The exercise will only amount to constitutional futility.”

This Day in African American History

February 5: On this day in 1884—African American Inventor Patented the Mechanical Egg Beater!

Willis Johnson of Cincinnati, Ohio, patented an improved mechanical egg beater (U.S. pat# 292,821) on February 5,

1884. In fact, what Willis Johnson had really invented was an early mixing machine and not just an egg beater. Johnson’s device was not intended for eggs alone. He had designed his egg beater and mixer for eggs, batter, and other baker’s ingre-

dients. It was a double acting machine with two chambers. Batter could be beaten in one section and eggs could be beaten in another section, or one section could be cleaned while the other section could continue beating.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

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I got threat text messages over Ekiti TUC crisis –Esele ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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he President General of Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Peter Esele, disclosed yesterday that he received several threat text messages warning him against mediating in the leadership crisis rocking the Ekiti State chapter of the congress.

Esele said that such threats coming on the ba-

sis of labour leadership crisis attested to the ridiculous dimension that union elections had assumed in the country.

The TUC leader, who spoke in Ado Ekiti yesterday, warned that union matters should not degenerate to that extent “if truly unionism is for service and not wealth creation”.

Esele added that the leadership crisis rocking the union in the state should not have got to the

extent of litigation.

He said: “It would be wrong for anybody to resort to abracadabra to win election, because we will not tolerate this in TUC.” The factional Chairman of TUC in the state, Comrade Kolawole Olaiya, had immediately after last year’s congress election, where Comrade Odunayo Adesoye, leader of another faction emerged chairman, sued the union leaders for allegedly rigging the election.

Olaiya consequently got an injunction restraining the rival chairman and others from acting personally or by proxy as TUC chairman in Ekiti State.

Esele, who said TUC in Ekiti State was being run without an account since inception, said: “It is sad that I asked about the union’s account, they said they have none.

“I learnt money came to the union to celebrate last year’s May Day,

where is the money? Also, money is being allocated to the union on a monthly basis for its day-to-day running of its activities, so where is it?”

But Olaiya told journalists on phone yesterday that TUC in Ekiti State had not received any monthly subvention from the national headquarters since 2003, saying it only depended on the paltry sum being released to it by the state government.

He added that the money received for May Day was spent for that purpose by the committee for the celebration.

Although Olaiya denied sending any text message to Esele or was aware of his visit to the state, he said the process of reconciliation being initiated by the union leaders could be sub judicial since the case was pending at the Industrial Court in Akure, Ondo State.

Lagos, NSCDC partner on disaster management Ajimobi’s critics are misguided elements –Ex-PFN chair MURITALA AYINLA

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etermined to improve on the emergency response time and save more lives and property, the Lagos State Government yesterday partnered with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, on disaster management.

The government also said that it was planning to respond to emergency situation in less than 10 minutes.

It also urged all residents to inform emergency authorities whenever there is disaster.

Speaking when he led officials of his agency on a courtesy visit to the NSCDC headquarters, Alausa, the General Manager of Lagos State Emergency Agency, LASEMA, Dr. Femi OkeOsanyintolu, said the growing population of the state called for periodic fine-

tuning of the emergency response strategies.

Osanyintolu, who was also visited the team of Lagos Ambulance Service, LASAMBUS, said the state was exposed to a lot of threats, adding that there was urgent need to be pro-active in dealing with unforeseen circumstances.

He said: “We need to finetune our emergency management strategies and that is what necessitated our meeting with emergency stakeholders.

“We want to improve our response time. Despite the fact that the Third Mainland Bridge accident where a jeep plunged into the lagoon occurred during weekend, we were still able to save life courtesy of swift emergency response.”

The GM added that LASEMA was more ready to sustain the tempo of swift disaster management.

Osanyintolu promised

that the state government would continue to improve the welfare of the NSCDC officers attached to the state emergency.

Commending the NSCDC for providing the necessary security at Agbowa Relief Camp where victims of the Oko-Baba fire disaster were taken to, Osanyintolu appealed to the NSCDC to provide more officers to the state emergency command and control.

He said: “Our plan is to respond to emergency in less than 10 minutes. Despite the fact that the Saturday accident occurred during the weekend, LASAMBUS was able to provide the life support ambulance to rescue the victim.”

Responding, the state Commandant of NSCDC, Obafaiye Shem, assured that the corps would intensify efforts in collaborating with LASEMA to manage disaster.

Osun moves to reduce crash fatalities, launches ‘O-Ambulance’

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he administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has procured 19 ambulances equipped with modern gadgets to give first aid at accident sites and in transit to hospitals.

Aregbesola, who bemoaned the carnage on Nigerian roads, promised that government would procure more ambulances to cover all accident flash points in the state.

The governor disclosed this at the flag-off of the Special Ambulance Services System and Emergency Response Team codenamed: O-Ambulance.

He said the programme was another turning point in healthcare delivery in the state.

The governor decried the lack of prompt response

to emergencies like road accidents, natural disasters like flood, fire incidents and medical emergencies by health personnel.

The governor argued that many victims of road accidents and other disasters could have been saved if responses to accidents and emergencies had been prompt and health workers provided with the necessary tools to function efficiently and effectively.

He said: “The health sector has suffered neglect by past administrations. As a responsive and responsible government, whose first priority is the well being of the people, we cannot fold our hands and see our people die unnecessarily through road traffic accidents and other emergen-

cies.

“Our panacea to redress this ugly trend is the establishment of the Osun Special Ambulance Services System and Emergency Response Team (OAmbulance) and improved healthcare services, which our administration has strived to provide since we came on board.”

According to him, some roads have been identified in the state on which fatal accidents frequently occur, which include: Ibadan - Ife - Ilesa - Owena Expressway, Ibadan - Iwo - Osogbo Expressway and the Gbongan - Osogbo - Ikirun - Konta Ijabe Expressway.

He, however, told the gathering that the ‘dualisation’ of the Ikirun - Konta - Ijabe Expressway was ongoing.

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ormer Chairman of the Oyo State chapter of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Apostle Sunday Popoola, has called on Governor Abiola Ajimobi not to be deterred by those criticising his administration’s urban renewal programme.

In a letter addressed to the governor and entitled: “A Word of Encouragement,” Popoola described those criticising the project as misguided and ignorant.

The cleric expressed delight over what he called

the transformation efforts of the Ajimobi administration, which he said had succeeded in changing the face of the state.

He said: “I salute your courage, vision and determination. It takes guts to leave the ruts. I am so delighted that we have found in you a leader with guts to get us out of the ruts we have found ourselves in the land.

“Ibadan has been a huge slum and a disgraceful sight to behold in the state called the Pacesetter. Now, the change we need is ongoing.

I also appreciate the speed at which the work is being done.”

Popoola, who is the General Superintendent of Word Communication Ministries, Ibadan, said he was aware of the fact that a lot of “misguided and ignorant fellows” were criticising “the good work” the governor was doing.

He added: “Please, do not be deterred. The same people will praise you when they see the outcome. Objective and well-meaning people all over are happy.

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South East

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Flood: Our relief fund intact –Anambra CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

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hairman of the Anambra State Flood Disaster Relief Coordinating Committee, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, has said that the money given to the state government following last year’s flood disaster

is intact.

Obaze said that the money consists of donations from the Federal Government and other stakeholders.

Addressing journalists yesterday, Obaze, who is the Secretary to Anambra State Government, said all resources spent so far in tackling

the flood disaster, totaling about N128 million were drawn from the government’s coffers.

He said that the disbursement of the money would begin before the end of this month, after the Board of Trustees reviews the target sectors and determines those requiring the most

critical intervention.

Obaze explained that the state government planned to finalize the preparation of the strategic multi-sectoral plan to ensure that the implementation commences as soon as possible so as to reduce the hardship being experienced by the affected communi-

ties.

He said the plan would also recommend measures to be put in place to prevent flooding in future.

The committee chairman recalled that the assessment of the state flood response programme had been adjudged successful, in

spite of the fact that the disaster was a complex emergency of the kind never experience in Nigeria.

He said that necessary measures had been put in place to ensure that funds meant to ameliorate the hardship of flood victims do not fall into wrong hands.

Youths petition Obi over community union election CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

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Anambra State Governor Peter Obi addressing pupils of Girl’s Secondary School at Agulu when he visited the school, at the weekend.

Onitsha traders deny selling guns to criminals NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

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raders in the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State, yesterday denied selling guns to criminals as is being speculated in some quarters.

In a press statement issued yesterday in Onitsha by the leader of the Onitsha Main Market Amalgamated Traders’ Union (OMMATU), Chief Innocent Agudiegwu, the traders also denied that Onitsha markets are centres of arms and ammunition distribution.

Apparently reacting to an allegation that gun running business is booming in all markets in Onitsha and its environs, Agudiegwu described such allegation as baseless, insisting that the traders did not sell arms and ammunition to criminals.

The traders’ statement reads: “We received the news of the

false allegation that this market is the centre of illicit gun running business with utmost embarrassment and I stand here to say that it is unfortunate that such a frivolous allegation could be peddled by enemies of progress.

“I wish to state it categorically clear that Onitsha does not sell arms and ammunition to criminals as alleged.

“This Main Market only deals with articles like clothing, bags, baby wears, men wears and other provisions like cream and has never been involved in any illicit gun running business.”

Agudiegwu said that the Onitsha Main Market had no record of illegal business for over 100 years and called on members of the public to disregard the allegation.

He said: “This market has been in existence for more than 100 years now and has sustained the old Eastern Region and to tarnish this mar-

ket’s image by false publication of alleged gun running was aimed at destroying this market which is our collective property and we shall intensify investigations to root out every bad egg and rumour monger off the market”.

The market leader also attributed the proliferation of arms in Anambra State to inability of security agencies to man the country’s borders.

He, however, called for

proper synergy among all the nation’s security agencies to tackle the challenges.

“The increasing proliferation of arms and ammunition was not perpetrated by traders in Onitsha Main Market as alleged. Nigeria’s borders with neighbouring countries are very porous and until that is addressed, the country will continue to grapple with illegal proliferation of arms and ammunition.”

he crisis rocking the Enugwu-Ukwu Town Union in Anambra State is far from being over.

The crisis, which has lingered for years, deepened yesterday as youths petitioned the state governor, Mr. Peter Obi, over the alleged attempt by Sir Pat Nwosu-led Caretaker Committee of Enugwu-Ukwu Community Development Union (ECDU) to conduct the town union election on February 9, 2013 with what they described as contentious guidelines.

In the petition dated February 4, 2013, which was entitled: “Protest against the February 9 town union elections in Enugwu-Ukwu,” copies of which were given to journalists, the youth wing of Enugwu-Ukwu Community Development Union, led by Francis Chidozie Okoye and Ben Agafana Onubeze, accused the caretaker committee of violating the constitution of the town by planning to use unapproved guidelines for the conduct of the town union election scheduled for February 9.

The youths urged Governor Obi to intervene in the crisis by prevailing on members of the caretaker

committee to cancel the contentious election guidelines.

They also expressed disappointment over the failure by the caretaker committee to conduct the town union election on December 31, 2012, which they described as the right date for the conduct of the election.

Displaying their disappointment over the way the town union election is being handled by the caretaker committee, the youths said: “The people of Enugwu-Ukwu waited throughout 2012, but could not witness any preparation for the conduct of the election by the caretaker committee, only for us to hear again that the committee’s tenure has been extended till March 31.

“The people of Enugwu-Ukwu also woke up to see an undemocratic electoral guidelines signed by the chairman of the caretaker committee in circulation”.

This latest development comes against the backdrop of the fact that since the death of the former traditional ruler of the town, Igwe Osita Agwuna, the Enugwu-Ukwu town has witnessed one crisis or the other with several court cases filed by groups and individuals, who are fighting for supremacy.

Imo, firm sign $20m deal to revive Concorde Hotel CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

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he Imo Concorde Hotel, an establishment owned by the Imo State Government, is to be leased as the administration of Governor Rochas Okorocha signed a 20-year agreement with ABM Group of Companies at the cost of $20 million.

The agreement is expected to pump life into

the ailing hotel built by the administration of the late Sam Mbakwe.

The Managing Director of ABM Group of Companies, Prince Alex Mbata, said the firm, which has taken over the management of the hotel, would renovate the hotel and bring it at par with other five star hotels within and outside the country.

He said the deal, which was sealed at the cost of $1 million per-annum, would

revive the hotel and make it a tourist attraction, adding that it would impact on the socio-economic life of Imo State.

Mbata said: “We will overhaul the hotel within the first six months.

Already, we have started reorganising the security network to meet with modern challenges”.

He, however, said the management of the hotel would create jobs for youths in the state as

part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, adding that the current staff strength of 297 of the hotel would be doubled within the first one year of its operation.

Mbata disclosed that the hotel had been operating below capacity since inception, saying: “It is obvious that the hotel is operating below capacity and that is why we have taken over the hotel to revive it.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South South

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

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Edo lawmaker kidnapped, PFN charged to pray for peace, development A House declares recess SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

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member representing Esan Central Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Edoror, was on Sunday night kidnapped by gunmen.

Breaking the news yesterday morning, the Speaker, Hon. Uyi Igbe, said the lawmaker was kidnapped in his constituency, which he had visited on Sunday evening for some urgent meeting and business in the company of

his driver.

Igbe said that Edoror, a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lawmaker, was kidnapped in Irrua, the administrative headquarters of Esan Central Local Government Area of the state.

He said the house was informed of the abduction by the wife of the lawmaker and added that as at that material time, no contact has been established between the abductors and the family. He also appealed to his abductors not to hurt or harm him even as he urged the police to ensure

it works to free the lawmaker as soon as possible.

He added that the house has suspended plenary till further notice in protest against their kidnapped colleague, who is considered a very vibrant member of the house.

Contacted for what the police were doing to trace his abductors, the Edo State Acting Public Relations Officer, Ejiroro Awahra, said the police were on top of the situation.

kwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, has called on the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, to pray for the peace and development of the country.

Governor Akpabio, who made the call yesterday when members of the Akwa Ibom Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria led by its Chairman, Dr. Sylvanus Ukafia, paid him a courtesy visit at the Governor’s Office, Uyo, attributed the development of the state to its peaceful disposition.

“I must say that my administration was divinely

ordained. That is why we partner the church always for the success of the state. I can state here that money alone cannot bring in development rather development comes with a good vision and that is why Akwa Ibom State is successful today,” he stated.

The governor reiterated the commitment of his administration to partner with the PFN on the hosting of the 12th National Biennial Conference in Uyo, to ensure the success of the conference.

He said: “I congratulate you all today for attracting the con-

ference to the state.

“With this conference in the state, we promise to partner you for the success of the conference. With the conference here in the state, it indeed shows that Akwa Ibom is the Biblical Gilgal, where all stakeholders in the Nigerian nation converge to discuss pressing national issues and seek solutions them.”

He thanked the PFN members for their prayers always and asked God to give them the strength, guidance and protection in their endeavors throughout the conference.

Abductors of lawmaker’s mother demand N80m ransom E MMA G BEMUDU YENAGOA

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ndications emerged yesterday that the kidnappers of the mother of Bayelsa State lawmaker, Mrs. Esther Akpe, are demanding a ransom of N80 million to effect the release of the victim.

Investigations by National Mirror revealed that the Akpe family is still negotiating with the kidnappers to enable them come to a compromise.

The victim, a 59-yearold woman, was abducted on January 30 from her home at Ebedebiri in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.

Renewed incidence of kidnapping is generating fear among top government functionaries and politicians in the state.

It was still unknown whether the proposed death sentence on kidnapping would stem the ugly development causing insecurity in the state.

Son of the kidnapped woman and Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly, Peter Akpe, has been distraught over the continued “detention” of his mother by the gunmen.

Madam Akpe was whisked off by boat to an unknown destination thereby creating fears among her family members.

It was learnt that se-

curity agencies are busy combing the creeks of the state in search of the lawmaker’s mother.

Just last Saturday, the kidnapped parents of the Chairman of Ogbia Local Government Council, Mr. and Mrs. Festus Ibegu, were released by their kidnappers after allegedly paying a ransom.

But, the council Chairman, Richard Ibegu, denied paying ransom to the kidnappers.

Incoming Commander, 2 Brigade, Port Harcourt, Brig.-Gen. Osasogie Uzamere (left), receiving handover notes from his predecessor, Maj.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Monarch leads protest over relocation of flow station AMOUR UDEMUDE ASABA

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or trying to relocate a flow station sited in their kingdom, the people of Abavo Kingdom in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, led by their monarch, Obi Uche Irenuma,

have staged a peaceful protest round Asaba, the state capital.

The protesters numbering over five hundred led

by Obi Irenuma, yesterday stormed major offices in Asaba, condemning the planned relocation of the flow station to be sited by Pan Ocean Oil Corpora-

tion in Obianyima Abavo to Owa Alidimma in Ika North Local Government Area of the state.

In a protest letter, Obi Irenuma said his community had before now reached an agreement with Pan Ocean oil Corporation as regards sitting the flow station in Obiany-

Bayelsa to disburse N1bn loan to cooperatives EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

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ayelsa State government has concluded arrangements to disburse N1billion loan to qualified cooperative bodies in the state.

In a bid to create wealth and employment in the state, the Bank of Industry, BOI, would also release N1billion as loan to cooperative unions in view of the partnership with the state government.

State Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Ayakeme Massa, who spoke with

journalists yesterday in Yenagoa, said stringent measures would be applied to ensure the loans were recovered from would-be beneficiaries.

Massa warned that the state government would not entertain “ghost” or fictitious organisations as beneficiaries of the loans.

His words: “There are also plans to construct one additional mechanic village as well as ensure that the moribund Bayelsa State Plastic Industry was reinvigorated to create employment and increase Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, and enhance income.

“The restoration government of Governor Seriake Dickson, has not relented in creating enabling environment capable of attracting investors and investments from inside and outside the state. With the growing population and influx of people into Bayelsa State, the Swali ultra-modern market has become inadequate.”

Massa said government was planning to expand the weekly markets at Opolo, Akenfa, Okaka, Agudama-Epie, Zarama, including the plantain and banana market at Igbogene.

ima Abavo, which granted permission to the oil company to freely enter the community and drill oil.

The monarch while stating that the earlier agreement with the oil company which dated back to year 2010 when it prepared its Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA, no mention of Owa Kingdom nor Owa Alidimma was made, saying

that the sudden inclusion of Owa Alidimma was to disrupt Pan Ocean’s original plan.

According to Obi Irenuma; “The Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Mofe Pirah, had, on several occasions, advised Pan Ocean to properly site the oil flow station so as not to cause communal crisis in the state but all efforts had proved abortive.”

Amaechi to employ 13, 000 teachers CHRIS NEWMAN PORT HARCOURT

T

he Rivers State Governor, Rorimi Chibuike Amaechi, have restated his commitment to arrest the deplorable condition of education in the state through the employment of another 13, 000 teachers to assist in the improvement of academic works in all government primary and post-primary schools in the state.

This was made know to journalists yesterday by the Permanent Secretary

in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Richard Ofuru, who said that the Governor Amaechi has directed the ministry to round off its interview process that was conducted for thousands of applicants who applied for teaching jobs in the state last September.

He said the selection of qualified candidates has been handed over to a consultancy, Price Waters House Coppers, which he said was a multinational professional recruiting firm with its headquarters in London, England.

12

North

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Money laundering: Court remands Lamido’s son in prison AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO

J

ustice Fatu Riman of the Federal High Court, Kano yesterday remanded the eldest son of Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, Aminu, in prison custody.

Ritman also adjourned hearing till today.

Aminu was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for a money laundering charge.

The accused was apprehended by EFCC operatives

•Hearing begins today at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano on December 11, 2012 on his way to Cairo, Egypt during screening at the departure hall of the airport.

He was caught with $50,000 found concealed in his luggage, while he officially declared $10,000 to officials of the Nigerian Customs Service, NSC, attached to the airport.

The act constitutes an offence under Section 12 of the Foreign Exchange

(Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Cap F34 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 2(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.

The offence is punishable under Section 2(5) of

the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.

Aminu pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him, following which the prosecution counsel, S. H. Sa’ad, applied for a date for commencement of hearing.

The defence counsel, O. E. D. Offiong (SAN), plead-

ed with the judge to grant bail to his client, who is already on administrative bail but Sa’ad opposed the bail application.

He also opposed the demand by Offiong for the accused to be remanded in EFCC custody, saying he might tamper with the cause of investigation.

Sa’ad added Aminu declined to appear for the first hearing and refused to get served when EFCC approached him with the service.

The judge agreed with the prosecution counsel and ordered the accused be remanded in prison custody.

You must stabilise northern politics, Jonathan tells Yero ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday told Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero to stabilise the politics of the North, because the state was the heart of northern politics.

Speaking when the governor led a delegation of top government functionaries to the State House on a condolence visit, Jonathan observed that governing Kaduna State comes with a lot of responsibilities.

Yero was in the State House to condole with Jonathan on the death of former Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State and former National Security Adviser, NSA, General Andrew Owoye Azazi, in a helicopter crash on December 15 last year.

The governor also commiserated with the President on the death of his younger brother, Meni Jonathan, on November 20 last year.

In accordance with the provisions of the constitution, Yero, who was former deputy governor of Kaduna State, became governor following Yakowa’s death.

Thanking Yero and his delegation for the visit, Jonathan observed that governing Kaduna State was beyond making food available on the table of the people, adding that the governor had a duty to stabilise the politics of northern Nigeria.

The President recalled that the death of Yakowa,

Azazi and their aides in the crash was a calamity that both Kaduna and Bayelsa states would continue to feel for a very long time.

Jonathan promised to give all the necessary support to Yero to ensure his success in governing the state while urging him to be strong to be able to cope with the challenges of governance.

He said: “On my own part, I promise that the relationship between me and Kaduna State have been further cemented by the incident that had happened that we have to lose Yakowa and Azazi the same day in my own state.

“It is something that cannot be erased that has brought a permanent bond between me as a person with my good brothers and sisters from Kaduna State.

I will continue to work with you.”

Vice-President Namadi Sambo, who was also a former governor of Kaduna State, thanked Yero for the visit.

He urged Nigerians to continue to pray for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives in the helicopter crash.

Earlier, Yero thanked the President for attending Yakowa’s burial, saying that it showed a mark of great leadership as well as display of love and concern for the people of Kaduna State.

The governor pledged his loyalty to the President as well as his support for the transformation agenda of the present administration.

President Goodluck Jonathan (right) welcoming visiting traditional rulers from Kaduna State to the Presidential Villa In Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

Procure fake number plate, go to jail –FRSC A ZA MSUE KADUNA

T

he Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, in collaboration with the Kaduna State Board of Internal Revenue have begun clampdown on motorists using fake number plates and driver’s licence.

Speaking at the presentation of certificates to the

proprietors of all Certified Driving Schools on the theme: “Rid Kaduna State of Fake Driver’s Licence and Number Plates,” the state Sector Commander of the FRSC, Olumide Michael Olagunju, warned motorists to desist from obtaining fake driver’s licence and number plates.

He said violators would be jailed in line with the provisions of National Road Traffic Regulation,

2004.

Olagunju described driving school proprietors as strategic stakeholders in ensuring quality drivers and safety management.

The sector commander urged the proprietors to justify their certificates by ensuring that their students were well-trained and must maintain high integrity so as not to abuse the policy on Driving School Standardisation

Programme, DSSP. He said: “The general public is also enjoined to patronise only the certified driving schools for drivers training in compliance with the provision of the National Traffic Regulations which stipulate that proprietors of certified driving schools must present pupil drivers to the Vehicle Inspection Officers, VIO, for test before a licence is issued.”

Kano by-election: PDP still Nigerians’ favourite –Metuh OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

T

he Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s victory in last Saturday’s by-election into Kano State House of Assembly has been described as a sign that the people still strongly believe in the party.

Its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said in a statement in Abuja yesterday that the victory was a clear indication that PDP was still the party to beat

and a sign of weakness on the part of the opposition despite the alliance and much talked about mega party.

The PDP had won over 80 per cent of the votes cast in Gaya and Garko local government areas of the state.

Metuh said the victory clearly indicated that the PDP was still very popular among Nigerians including the people at the grassroots despite the unnecessary attacks against it by the opposition.

He said: “The sweeping victory in the two by-

elections is a clear indication that the people still have faith in the PDP. It shows that the PDP is still the most popular party among Nigerians despite the much touted alliance and mega party.

“The results of the byelections show that the PDP won over 80 per cent of the total votes in the two areas respectively leaving the other parties to collectively scramble for the remaining 20 per cent. It shows that the PDP is still the party to beat.”

Metuh also congratu-

lated Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso, the PDP leadership in the state as well as entire people of Kano State for the outcome of the elections.

He urged the people to continue to show support for the PDP at all levels.

In Gaya, the PDP candidate scored 42,696, candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, polled 2,379 while that of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, scored 970.

In Garko, the PDP candidate polled 53,895 while ANPP scored 2,168 and CPC (1,331).

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

SUPER TUESDAY

14&15

Southern leaders set to correct imbalances in Nigerian polity DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

W

Ekwueme

Clark

TOP STORY A NATIONAL CONFERENCE IS IMPERATIVE TO CORRECTING THE PRESENT NATIONAL STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE WHICH HAS FOISTED INEQUALITY,

Gbonigi

tion and this time, more measures on how the country could be moved forward were articulated.

It held under the coordinating chairmanship of Second Republic Vice-President, Alex Ekwueme, Edwin Clark of the Ijaw Peoples Forum and leader of the Yoruba Unity Forum, Rev. Emmanuel Bolanle Gbonigi.

Others in attendance included the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) leader, Gani Adams, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Senator Adolphus Wabara, Walter Ofonagoro, former Finance Minister, Chief Olu Falae, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (rtd), Felix Ibru, Frank Ogbuewu, former Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, Senator James Sekibo, Ohanaeze President-General Gary Igariwey, Alabo Tonye Graham Douglas and Senator Femi Okunronmu.

Also present were former governors Sam Egwu, Gbenga Daniel, Okwesilieze Nwodo, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Com-

Politics

INEC funds: Reps and politics of bench warrants

Merger: ACN, CPC, ANPP, others on mission to rescue Nigeria, says Prince Momoh

hen the idea of Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA) was muted, it was among other, aimed at forging closer ties among the 17 states in the southern part of Nigeria. The initiators had in mind that there are benefits of a stronger union of the southerners than the fragmented three geopolitical zones.

The assembly is intended to form a stronger union of all peoples in the southern region as a parallel to the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF). It is believed that if the South speaks with one voice, the country will quake, particularly at a time when the North is agitated for having lost political power (Presidency) since 1999, although they had the presidency for 38 years.

The Southern leaders, therefore met at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on July 12, 2012 and after two days’ of deliberations, asked President Goodluck Jonathan not to hesitate to rid his government and the nation’s security forces of all persons of dubious loyalty and to treat the activities of the Boko Haram sect as treason and to apply the relevant laws on the culprits and their sponsors.

The Assembly was worried about the security situation in the country that it said that until the security situation in the volatile areas of the country improves, no Southern youth should be posted for the compulsory one year national service in any crisis rocked states of the North. The Assembly also asked President Jonathan and all other organs of government, especially the judiciary, to firmly prosecute the war against corruption without fear or favour.

One position that the Assembly made obvious pronouncement on, was the convocation of a national dialogue which it said would produce a truly peoples’ federal constitution to guarantee a unified and stable Nigerian nation.

It also urged leaders and elders of Northern Nigeria to take a more proactive responsibility to manage their restive youths with a view to bringing the Boko Haram menace to an end, while maintaining that the six geo-political zones structure should be formalised and reflected in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as federating units.

The views of the Southern leaders were later presented to President Jonathan at Aso Rock Villa in Abuja On January 29, the Assembly met again for the second time in Enugu with even a greater response and participation of different leaders in the Southern Nigeria. It was yet again to discuss the state of the na-

13

MARGINALISATION AND GIVEN UNDUE ADVANTAGE TO THE

NORTH

modore Anthony Ogugua, Prof. Anya O.Anya, Simeon Okeke, Maxi Okwu, Slyvanus Ngene, Ihechukwu Madubuike, Offia Nwali, Prof. Adenike Grange, Silas Ilo among others.

Some speakers at the forum drew the attention of the participants to the fact that both the North and South were apart until 1914 when the two protectorates were amalgamated by the British colonialists to form what is today known as Nigeria.

With over 120 delegates in attendance, Ekwueme set the tone of the meeting by enumerating the gains of the assembly to include collective bargain and speaking with one voice in the nation’s polity, just like the monolithic North does.

Ekuweme recalled that after the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern

43

protectorates on January 1, 1914, Northern Nigeria continued to be administered as one unit whereas Southern Nigeria was fragmented to the colony of Lagos, the Western and Eastern provinces, respectively.

The second republic Vice President, going down memory lane, narrated that part of the reasons why he was denied the presidential candidacy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999, was because of his “hard-line posture” in securing power shift and the 13 per cent derivation for the Southern states during the General Sani Abacha’s constituted Constitutional Conference of 1994-1995.

He revealed that during the conference, the Northern delegates summoned a meeting amongst themselves, where they resolved to maintain the status quo of retaining power in the North, a development which made him, to take a proactive step to ensure that the Southern delegates, sojourn at the conference was not a sheer waste of time, hence he summoned a counter Southern delegates meeting.

Ekwueme said he took the immediate step to organise a Southern delegates’ caucus, an initiative that had the support of late Tunji Otegbeye and Emmanuel Nsan.

His words: “The immediate task of the Southern delegates’ caucus then was to devise a strategy that would prevent continuation of the status quo, that is, continue retention of power by the Northern elements on return to civilian rule. We mounted a proposal for constitutional provision for alternating or oscillating the presidency of Nigeria between the North and the South after each five-year single term, a provision more popularly referred to as rotational presidency.”

He said the proposal was strongly resisted by many Northern delegates, who eventually accepted it, provided it was entrenched in the political parties’ constitutions rather than in the national constitution.

The former Vice President pointed out that the caucus was of the opinion that if the purpose of the 1914 amalgamation was to ensure that the South was always under the leadership of the North, then it might become necessary to consider the option of de-amalgamation. With such show of brinkmanship, both sides opted to retreat in the interest of Nigeria’s continued existence and unity and rotational presidency was endorsed by consensus and it became part of the draft 1995 constitution.

Ekwueme further traced the history of power rotation, saying that the first hiccup was which zone, North or South, would first produce the president, adding that since the idea of rotation was muted to check the prolonged Northern rule, it made sense to start with the South.

He disclosed: “At that point we changed our sloganeering from rotational presidency to power shift so as to put the question beyond doubt. It was this power shift that the subsequent leading party, the CONTINUED ON PAGE 41

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Tuesday, February 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Merger: ACN, CPC, ANPP, others on mission Prince Tony Momoh is the National Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). The former Minister of Information and erudite journalist shares his views on the planned merger of his party with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) with OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU in this interview, among other sundry national issues. Excerpts: How far has the merger plan among the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) gone?

You know the plans have been on even before the 2011 general elections and we did say we would continue from where we stopped before the elections, because when we went to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), we discovered that the statutory requirement would not be met and that was why there was no merger then. So, the talks continued informally until recently when we packaged and announced the names of the members of the merger committee headed by Garuba Gadi, the former Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, who was impeached for refusing to decamp with the governor to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The team has been announced and they have started meeting and we have communicated this development to the other parties in the merger plan and of course the other parties have announced the names of members of their own merger committees. Tom Ikimi heads the ACN team while the former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau heads the ANPP team.

Each party to the merger plan is meeting to focus on their own area of interest in the proposed merger, which they may bring to the table and I am aware that our own team has its own terms of reference which they will take to the larger table, just like the ACN and the ANPP. But one common theme running through the minds of the parties to the merger is to rescue Nigeria.

Rescuing Nigeria means to rescue Nigeria from the indiscipline that everybody knows now, rescue Nigeria from the corruption that pervades everywhere now, rescue Nigeria from the fraud that governance has been reduced to, and rescue Nigeria from the lack of concern for the welfare and security of the ordinary Nigerian which is why government is in existence in the first place. Section 14 of the constitution is very clear that sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria and government derives all its powers and authorities from the constitution; which means the constitution is a document of delegated power and these people who were given the mandate, because you cannot delegate sovereignty, by the people to cater for their welfare and security, they are there, sitting down and sharing the national patrimony.

Nigeria needs to be rescued and that is why the parties in the merger plan are coming together. Obviously, the parties are coming together to wrestle power from the PDP, that would be the end, but the reason for the merger is not to replace PDP and continue with fraud, indiscipline and corruption, the reason is to replace PDP and rescue Nigeria through restoring democracy to what democracy is supposed to be. We have chosen democracy and social justice. We will rescue Nigeria so that we can fight for what democracy is supposed to be: registration of qualified voters; accreditation of voters, when it is time for election; voting, counting the votes and ensuring that the votes count.

In Nigeria today, votes don’t count and everybody knows that, people just document and announce results and say if you are not satisfied, go to court and the courts are heavily compromised. I am saying this with all sense of responsibility; I am a lawyer and anybody in the legal profession today who denies that the courts are heavily compromised does not know what is happening in Nigeria.

The judiciary is the last bastion of the common man and as such, it should be above board; but when it is believed that there is so much compromise of the last bas-

Momoh

tion, then there is a problem. These are the issues and the parties to the merger are already meeting and I can assure you that before the middle of the year, the people would be able to see a clear picture of the merger. But what I foresee is the progressives and the conservatives. The collection of the progressives would even include many people in the PDP today, the door is not going to be shut against anybody.

You are so sure of this merger plan, but stakeholders have always come up with the argument that merger has never worked in Nigeria, How sure are you that it will work this time around?

You are a political correspondent/analyst, tell me any occasion there have been merger in this country. There has never been any merger in the history of this country.

Never! There have been alliances. The fact is since 1849, when the partition of Nigeria started through to 1914, when Lord Fredrick Lugard started ruling with a central government following the amalgamation, up to the 1922 Clifford Constitution era, to the Richards Constitution of 1946, when diversification or packaging into region started, up to 1951, when the Macpherson Constitution came on stream, up to 1957 when we really had true federalism, then in 1960 at independence up to the Republican Constitution of 1963 before the military came in 1966 and there was nothing like politics.

Before 1966, we had alliances – UPGA/NNA, then the Action Group crisis gave birth to Ladoke Akintola’s party

THE REASON FOR THE MERGER IS NOT TO REPLACE

PDP AND CONTINUE WITH FRAUD, INDISCIPLINE AND CORRUPTION, THE REASON IS TO REPLACE PDP AND RESCUE NIGERIA THROUGH RESTORING DEMOCRACY TO WHAT DEMOCRACY IS SUPPOSED TO BE

which aligned with the NPC and the Midwest democratic Front aligning with NPC and the NCNC and the Action Group aligning, there were no merger.

In 1979, there was attempt by the late Obafemi Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikiwe to come together to bring the UPN and the NPP together, but it was no merger. In fact since 1999, there has never been any talk of merger, there have been alliances. The only thing close to merger gave birth to the SDP and the NRC of the Ibrahim Babangida military era and these were partiers that the government decreed into existence. They were not political parties as such, but political associations.

So, Nigeria has never had any history of political parties merging. This is the first attempt at merger and every participating party would lose its name, flag, identity, logo, and then we will come out with one flag, one logo, one manifesto, one constitution and one name. So, anybody who says merger has never worked in this country doesn’t know what merger is. However, I can assure you that this will work because Nigeria needs a salvage programme that has become imperative and inevitable. I am very confident that our traducers would be disappointed at the end of the day.

Analysts have said that the federalism practiced in Nigeria is a warped federalism. What is your take on this opinion?

The national leader of the CPC, Muhammadu Buhari at the inauguration speech of the merger committee of the CPC said that the Nigerian state needs to be restructured, because the 36-state structure of the federation cannot work. In other words, we have to sit down and look at what would work. There are lots of different opinions but I don’t have the opinion of the party, because we are yet to formulate an opinion, but I am quite sure that the parties that are coming together will form a single entity, accept the need for the restructuring of the the Nigerian state

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Politics

15

to rescue Nigeria, says Prince Momoh so that we can have a workable confederation. They will come out with a package and if and when they do, it would go down to the ward level, promoted and accepted.

And that is the essence of what I am saying. We are not just particular about PDP leaving the stage, but to sell a programme and Nigerians would be persuaded to buy into that programme.

Corruption is one big problem in Nigeria today and looking at it from the backdrop of the recent judgement of a Federal High Court last Monday in the case of a director in the Police Pension board who allegedly stole N32 billion and was handed a two-year jail term or option of fine of N750,000, do you think this present government has been tackling corruption the way it should?

Let me illustrate the problems we have in Nigeria and you can draw your conclusions. The president of Nigeria is a young man, President Goodluck Jonathan. Yes, he has been deputy governor, he has been governor, vice president, acting president and finally the president since 2010 and was elected president in 2011 for a first term in office, so one cannot say that he lacks the experience in governance and educationally, he is the first Nigerian president with a PhD and so, one cannot say he is not academically qualified. In terms of age, people have been talking of generational change, so one cannot say that he does not belong to the generation of young people. So, if he has all these to his credit and we still have corruption of this magnitude, then it means that corruption has no age, no religion, no tribe, no qualification, and it has no race. Corruption is simply corruption.

Corruption is the name given to the law of taking illegally. Instead of giving, you are taking, what does not belong to you and it is symbolised by satan; satan is always taking, he has never given anything.

Service is the ultimate in the law of giving, which is symbolised by the Almighty God, the creator of heaven and earth; He is always giving.

So, you can clearly see that anything that has to do with taking is evil and evil is learnt, man was not created to be evil. What we have today with the PDP at the helms of affairs, however good Jonathan may be, he is in the midst of crocodiles, the takers, the vampires, then how can he be helped? The help he needs, he cannot get, because those who are supposed to give it are themselves useless.

Now look at the fuel subsidy scam, the amount was so overwhelming that Jonathan himself was apparently unsettled. Instead of looking at the problem and confronting it frontally, he was helpless, so what he did was to now transfer the burden to those who are equally helpless, because he could not deal with those who are guilty.

Because he was helpless, he decided that he would stop the money from coming to the oil thieves and so he jacked up fuel price to N141 per litre and because there was so much noise, he brought it down to N97, thereby adding to the subsidy the people was already paying, because the cost of refining a litre is N34. So, instead of dealing with the looters, he transferred the burden to the poor common masses of this country. He is now punishing the poor because he cannot deal with the rich. That was why I said Jonathan is closeted in a room where he cannot escape.

I am not saying he is corrupt, but he is helpless in the fight against corruption. We need a strong person to tackle the corruption in Nigeria and we should not be talking of whether someone is old or young, whether he is a Muslim or a Christian, whether someone is a man or a woman. I can assure you that with this merger, because we are talking of service to the country, we will rescue Nigeria from corruption.

When you serve, obviously you are not a master, you are a servant. But what we have today now is that everybody in government is a master. What we have are full time councilor, chairman, governor, state lawmakers, federal lawmakers, ministers and even president. Everything is full time and we pay through the nose to sustain them all.

The fiscal report handed in the other day showed that the salary that the Revenue Mobilisation and Allocation and Fiscal Commission programmed for public officers, their allowances are about five times the salary. About 0.13 per cent of the Nigerian population takes over half of our to-

THERE IS NO WAY JONATHAN CAN LEAD A RESCUE TEAM. THE TRANSFORMATION AGENDA OF THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION CANNOT WORK, BECAUSE IT IS NOT

STRONG ENOUGH... TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS ON GROUND tal earnings.

We have problems on our hands and Nigeria must be rescued. As it is, there is no way Jonathan can lead a rescue team. The transformation agenda of the present administration cannot work, because it is not strong enough through political association to solve the problems on ground.

How then would you assess the performance of President Jonathan since he assumed the presidency?

He cannot do more than he is equipped to do. That is all I can say. For instance, if you look around and at what is on ground, he has done nothing; it is a simple question of perception. In 1998, Sani Abacha was generating over 8,00 megawatts of electricity, today it is almost at half of that, what has he done? And they have sunk billions of dollars which would have produced more than 20,000 megawatts of electricity. Is it roads? All the roads in the country are chaotic. Is it schools?

Look at the greatest opportunity that Jonathan lost in my view. When Channels television exposed the rot in the Police College, Ikeja, it was not Jonathan’s fault; the Police College is 73 years old. It was a great plus for him as the first president to visit the Police College, he went there and saw what happened, but ego took over and he asked how Channels got in and filmed the rot.

Rather, he should have congratulated Channels and give the owner national honours for exposing that rot.

That is the type of thing that happens when you chose ego over service.

Jonathan is the ‘today’ person. In 1960, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was the ‘today’ person; between 1999 and 2007, Olusegun Obasanjo was the ‘today’ person. The buck stops on Jonathan’s table today. The Police College is the metaphor that has permeated the public institutions in Nigeria today.

We only have integrated space, we are more unintegrated today than we have ever been in the history of this country from 1849 and next year we would be celebrating 100 years of amalgamation. The country is a country be-

Momoh

cause of human beings, when are we going to integrate the people? We are divided on ethnic lines, divided on religious lines, we are divided on social lines and we have the haves and the have nots. Nothing is there to unite us. The only thing that holds some people together from the different tribes in this country is the sharing of our patrimony.

There are so many things to really address in this country to salvage Nigeria, because Nigeria would not collapse. Nigeria was packaged politically together as an integrated space and the space has always been there. There can be failure of government and not failure of governance, governments come and go, but governance continues.

Are you an advocate of a national conference, whether sovereign or not?

Dialogue is the answer to the myriads of the problems of the country. Today, the powers of our president are too enormous. Although we claimed to run a federation, but when you look at the power the centre, you will realise that we are practicing a unitary government, where everybody go cap in hand to the central government to beg for money.

More than half of the national income goes to the central government and what does it do with it?

You find the Federal Government doing roads, building houses and so on, the Federal Government has no business in all of these. It should simply concentrate on defence, currency, foreign affairs, internal affairs, Customs, immigration, aviation, currency and so on. Why should the federal government be providing bore holes?

In fact we should have a local government police. We can’t have just one central police force doing everything. There must be state police and even local government police. Sixty per cent of the Nigerian populace is under the control of traditional institution. Vigilante groups working with the police would wipe out armed robbery in Nigeria.

I was a foundation member of the PDP and one of the reasons I left was that there was no room for ideas, nobody sits down to discuss ideas.

The constitution amendment process is on and one contentious issue is the autonomy for local government.

The governors are kicking against this while a vast majority of Nigerians are agitating for it. Do you think the local government system deserve autonomy?

When we talk of restructuring, the local government system is one of the areas that need restructuring. I am talking now as a public analyst and not as chairman of a political party. I advocate for a central government with heavily reduced powers and jurisdiction, from 93 now to about 15; all others should move down to the regional level, turn the geo-political zones to regions and from there to states. Thus the SouthWest would have its own programme of development and the states would be the level where the development programmes are executed, because each zone has something in common. The only disadvantaged zone is the South-South, other zones are more homogeneous. Then the local governments were donated.

How can you have 44 local governments in Kano State and 27 in Jigawa State? Both of them have more local governments that the whole of South-South. And then we have Lagos State with 20 local governments in the constitution. Let local government be wiped out, but any region that wants local government can create them and fund them rather than fund them from the central purse. And if they should be retained, then work at the councils should be part time. And a situation where a councilor collects salary and allowances higher than that of a professor should be eradicated.

If you are retaining them, have them elected and pay N3,000 per sitting and let them not sit more than seven times a quarter. When you discover that you don’t get up to N60,000 a year, you won’t go and sell your house because you want to contest councillorship election.

We would end up begging people who have retired to come and serve and they would be more useful, because they have the experience. So, if we sit down and restructure, we would decongest the political space, CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

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Politics

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Jonathan and $1 billion oil money for governors

ASO ROCK FILE with

Rotimi FADEYI

When marginalisation claim overrides merit

T

he claim of marginalisation by many geo-political zones in the country has become one of the ways to get the attention of the government at the centre as all the zones want to be represented at the federal level.

The marginalisation theory rather than merit is always employed by the states, local governments, towns, villages and even ethnic groups in order to get favours and appointments into key federal agencies and parastatals in the country.

This issue came to the fore at the State House last week when President Goodluck Jonathan swore in seven members of the Federal Character Commission, two Permanent Secretaries and a member of the Civil Service Commission.

Jonathan said the claim of marginalisation by the six geo-political zones has stalled the early appointments to fill vacant posts in boards of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)of government.

Jonathan, however, said that in order to be fair to the zones, he has already directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, to do proper analysis to ensure that two people from each of the geo-political zones are appointed into federal agencies.

The President said: “We are in an era where every geo-political zone complains about marginalisation. Initially, I thought that only some parts of the country are marginalised, but when I got here, all the geo-political zones complain that they are marginalised.

“All the geo-political zones are complaining that they are not given appointments. In fact, we have some pending appointments and because of that, I have told the SGF to do proper analysis and probably to wait and accumulate the number, probably if we accumulate them up to 12, when we want to make the appointments, we will make sure that all the geo-political zones get two each.”

The President further said, “in that case, your conscience will be clear. That is why some appointments are pending which I hope we will deal with this week. I think they are about 12 or so. We will make sure that all the geo-political zones are accommodated.”

Specifically, Jonathan told the members of the Federal Character Commission to relate with other colleagues, saying that

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one of the greatest problems in the service was that people fight over nothing.

He further told the members that since the Commission is a very critical government agency, they must establish cordial relationship between one officer and the other, adding that they must see the country as one and treat everybody the same way.

While speaking to the members of the Civil Service Commission, the President told them to be fair to all Nigerians, saying that in employing Nigerians, they must ensure that all the states have what is due to them with the understanding that some states are more than others.

Presidential Villa’s visitors 1. President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono 2. Chairman, General Electric, Jeff Immelt 3. Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihediora 4. Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola 5. Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswan 6. Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko 7. Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosu 8. Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Valerie Ebe 9. Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Bisi Fayemi 10. Chairperson, Rainbow Book Club, Koko Kalango

J

ust before the end of last year, the 36 state governors were unanimous in their demand for the release of $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account which they are also contesting at the Supreme Court to be an illegal account operated by the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Despite the pendency of the legal action at the apex court, the governors insisted that the money should be released to them to meet their financial responsibilities as they have on-going projects that are important to the people of their various states.

They were emphatic that many projects in their different states would be in jeopardy as contractors would be forced to abandon the projects if they are not paid on time.

Last week Tuesday when Jonathan was in far away Davos in Switzerland for the World Economic Summit, the governors, at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo, had their way when they announced that the President had released $1 billion to the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to enable them execute people oriented projects in line with the Federal Government’s Transformation Agenda.

Vice President Sambo presides over NEC meetings though the governors of all the 36 states of the Federation have the largest membership of the council while other members include the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of National Planning, Samsudeen Us-

L-R: Vice Chairman, General Electric, Keith Sherrin; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, General Electric, Jeff Immelt and Vice President Namadi Sambo during a courtesy visit to the State House.

man and the governor of the Central Bank, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Rotimi Amaechi said the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama, briefed the council on the state of the Excess Crude Account which he said has a balance of $9.24 billion after $1 billion was spent on subsidy payments.

“The minister also informed the Council that the President has approved the distribution of $1 billion among the 36 states and the FCT to enable them execute more people oriented projects in line with the government’s Transformation Agenda and the need to deliver more democracy dividends,” Amaechi said.

At the council meeting, National Planning Minister, Usman, presented a memo to the Council on the status of the on-going implementation of the states’ Growth Domestic Product (GDP) computation programme embarked upon by the National Bureau of Statistics, the NGF and the states.

Usman told the council members that following the successful completion of the flag-off of the states GDP computation in the six pilot states, the National Bureau of Statistics was now working closely with the states’ statistical bureaux/agencies to conduct the survey and publication of data on the GDP computation for six states, namely: Niger, Rivers, Gombe, Anambra, Kano and Lagos.

The minister noted that the states’ GDP computation programme was being implemented in two phases with the first phase covering the six pilot states in each of the six geopolitical zones due to be completed in April, adding that the second phase of the programme would cover other states between April and December, this year.

The council considered a report where far reaching recommendations were made towards combating human trafficking through the activities of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

The recommendations include development and effective implementation of state level Trafficking in Persons Plans of Action (TPPA), development and strengthening of the states’ Social Welfare System for Child Protection as well as provision of basic needs, including medical care, educational, vocational and recreational facilities for victims of trafficking.

Sambo commends GE investment in power sector

W

ith about two years to the 2015 date for the provision of stable power supply in the country through the private sector, the chairman and top management staff of United States’ leading electric company, General Electric (GE), has invested multi billion naira power projects in the country.

Already, the company has secured a N158 billion power deal with the Federal Government in the on-going privatisation process to boost the power sector in the next five years.

Sambo, at a meeting at the State House with a delegation of GE, led by its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Immelt and members of his management

team expressed delight as well as the assurance for necessary support for the company with the plan to establish a manufacturing/assembly and training facilities in Calabar, Cross River State.

The multi million naira power deal also included additional investment in the service workshops in Port Harcourt and Onne in Rivers State, an investment which demonstrates the confidence of the company in the Nigerian economy.

The deal, which comprises $250 million capital expenditure and over $800 million incremental spending on local sourcing of goods and services, is expected to create 2,300 jobs and make Nigeria the regional hub for GE’s manufacturing, service and

innovation in Africa.

Sambo stated that the Federal Government was happy with the extent of GE’s programmes in the oil & gas sector, especially in Rivers State, railway infrastructure, health and power; and concluded that the programmes of the company are directly related to the Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan-led administration.

He used the occasion to solicit for greater co-operation between the company and state governments whose agenda falls in line with GE’s programmes in the country.

Earlier, Immelt informed the Vice President on the programmes they were embarking upon in Nigeria, saying that the company has invested US$250 million in

Calabar to develop new plants and a cybershop where 250 people are expected to grow.

The GE chair said that the company acquired 38 acres of land with 14,000 square metres facility, gas turbine, power generation equipment, sub-seeds and Christmas trees, fabrication and assembly equipment and also invested in people to develop their vocational skills and machining.

Other programme of the company include signing agreement for 200 locomotives assembly plant, rehabilitation and modernisation of locomotives that have been sitting idle in the Nigerian Railways Corporation.

MORE POLITICS STORIES ON PAGES 41-43

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Tuesday, February 5, 2013

17

Delusions of today’s men of power FEMI FANI-K AYODE Continued from yesterday

A

bati also asserted that I closed down ”other major airports” whilst I was Minister of Aviation ”for the purposes of renovation”. Again this is not true. Not one of the four major airports in the country was closed down for renovation works or for any other reason whilst I was Minister of Aviation. And neither, to the best of my recollection, did I close or suspend the operations of any of the smaller airports except perhaps for safety reasons. As a matter of fact, the opposite was the case. I actually installed and completed the sophisticated Safe Tower Project in three of the four major airports in the country, resurrected and funded the Tracon Radar System, which is operational in our country today and which gives us full radar coverage in our airspace, upgraded the facilities in many of the old smaller airports and granted permission for the establishment of new airports in places like Gombe.

Quite apart from that we stopped the terrible cycle of plane crashes that was prevalent at that time. There was not one aircraft that crashed under my watch. I am the only Minister of Aviation in the last 10 years of our country that can boast

ONLY GOD KNOWS WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US of that record and yet Abati seeks to rubbish my efforts with his lies. All this and far more, Abati accuses me of ”running the aviation sector down to a state of near collapse”. It is obvious that he is just being malicious and dishonest.

Let me end this contribution by pointing out the fact that being ”yesterday’s men” does not mean that some of us cannot be ”tomorrows men” as well. Only God knows what lies ahead for each and every one of us. So when Abati glibly writes people off as if they will never be in power again it is a sad reflection of his naivety. It is God that determines our tomorrow. It is He that lifts men up, that pulls them down and, sometimes if it be His will, lifts them up again. There are countless examples of that in our history.

Finally I have a few questions for President Jonathan and his ”today’s men”.

When will they take President Obasanjo’s advice and finally do something concrete about Boko Haram and our security situation? Does the fact that at least 4000 Nigerians have been killed by these terrorists in the last two years under their watch not

bother them?

How can they sleep well at night with all that innocent blood that has flowed and precious lives cut short whilst they were at the helm of affairs of our nation? More innocent souls have been killed in the last two years by terrorists than at any time in the history of Nigeria outside the civil war. How does President Jonathan and his ”today’s men” feel about winning such a dubious and dishonorable title? Does he still regard Boko Haram as ”his siblings” who he ”cannot hurt”? Why has the President refused to visit the good people of the North East despite the fact that dozens of people are still being slaughtered there by Boko Haram every day?

Will our President and ”today’s men” answer the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron’s question and tell him what they did with the $100 billion they made from oil sales in the last two years? When will they answer Obi Ezekwesili’s question about how they squandered $67 billion of our foreign reserves?

When will they answer the question that Nasir El Rufai asked sometime back about how they spent over N350 billion on security vote in one year alone?

When will they answer the many questions that Dr. Pat Utomi and many other distinguished and courageous leaders and ”yesterday’s men” have raised about the trillions of naira that have been suppos-

edly spent on oil subsidy payments in the last two years? When will they implement the findings and recommendations of the Nuhu Ribadu report on the thievery that has gone on in the oil sector? When will they cultivate the guts and find the courage to respond to a call for a public debate to defend their abysmal record? When will these ”today’s men” stop being so reckless with our money?

Why would our ”today’s man” FCT Minister budget N5 billion for the ”rehabilitation of prostitutes in the Abuja”? Why would he budget N7.5 billion for a new ”FCT city gate”? Why would he budget N4 billion for a house for the First Lady?

Why would the Federal Government of ”today’s men” budget N1 billion for food in the Villa?

And all this when Nigeria is back in foreign debt to the tune of $9 billion and is still borrowing, when local debt has hit almost $50 billion, when graduate unemployment has hit 80 percent, when 40 per cent of Nigerians ”are hungry” and when 70 percent of Nigerians are living below the poverty line? Is this the vision of ”today’s men and women”? If so, may God deliver Nigeria.

Concluded Fani-Kayode is a former Presidential spokesperson and Aviation Minister during the Obasanjo administration

Of change and accountability in Nigeria AL-AMIN ABBA DABO

OUR SYSTEM OF

T

GOVERNANCE IS

he concept of change has no outright definition. Change is affiliated and arguably inseparable with factors like subjectivity and intellectual capacity. The nebulous categorization of change into positive change and negative change is still subject to what one considers positivity and negativity. Like many things in this world, change is basically opinion. However, for Nigerians, the nondescript characteristics of change are attenuating. A debate that is guaranteed to spring up consensus agreement among Nigerians is that of ‘Change in Nigeria’.

Among us, we have developed a unique emotional understanding, which ensures that even without speaking to one another about the type of change needed in our country, we intuitively agree that we are all seeking the same thing. We are ultimately seeking changes that would create a peaceful, fair and just nation that will awaken our sense of pride and being.

The issues arise when we start thinking about how to bring about these changes or in common Nigerian parlance, ‘who would be the messiah’ to bring about these changes? This is where our aforementioned emotional covenant breaks down. This is where various opinions and sentiments come into play and we totally forget/ignore that we are all seeking the same changes. We completely overlook our individual and collective selves as those who need to push for change, instead, we meddle and drown

SO ROTTEN AND MALFORMED THAT IT MAKES THE IDEA OF ONE MAN CHANGING

NIGERIA OVERLY OPTIMISTIC

ourselves in political muss.

Some get under the umbrella of the ‘Pointed agendas’ or the more recent ‘Transformation Agenda’ (PDP); others adopt the ‘broom’ as a symbol of ‘sweeping change’ (ACN). Others still symbolize and believe the ‘pen’ is the solution to ‘write off ’ our past (CPC), while for some others the ‘corn’ is necessary to ‘feed the nation’ in its conquest for the revolution for real change (ANPP). And for the APGA, the cockerel’s crow would ‘wake us all up from our slumber, and so on. Regardless of what political party or leader we believe has the answers, there are certain critical success-factors that we need to take into consideration.

We seem to believe, rather stalwartly that our problems lie solely in our leaders and not so much in the system of governance. Therefore, a good, honest, change-driven intellectual should be able to row us through the rivers of corruption and reeking misgovernance and take us to the Promised Land. Sadly enough, the case is not that trivial. Hav-

ing a strong, change-driven leader is certainly a good step to start off with, but realistically speaking, our system of governance is so rotten and malformed that it makes the idea of one man changing Nigeria overly optimistic and to a great degree, fictitious.

Well, at the moment we remain victims of boorish politicking. We are tugged into political warfare, armed with nothing but ethnic and religious sentimentalities and ready to pounce on one another.

Even though it is painstakingly obvious that those handling the reins of power exploit our lack of togetherness and our tendency to be ethno-religiously biased, we still choose to do nothing about it.

We do not have to look far beyond our thresholds to see how much our minds have been sullied, how besmirching our supposed oneness. The seriousness of this off-putting reality is reflected in our everyday affairs.

It is evident in the disheartening comments that follow online newspaper stories. Regardless of the content of the story or how unrelated it is to ethnicity or religion, the comments would signify otherwise.

It is evident in our media coverage where stories (mainly tragic ones) are given a direct religious or ethnic inclination. Journalists seem to ignore ethics and their responsibilities towards non-incitement and opt to twaddle instead.

It is evident in the mutterings of prominent religious and political leaders, which often ignore any form of political correctness and regionalize issues of national concern. For example,

the insurgency problem has so often been regarded as a northern problem (not just geographically), and it’s therefore, up to the North to “put its house in order”.

These are just few instances that signify the gravity to which we have been disillusioned and how dirty politics is molding our society towards ethnic and religious bigotry. For us to even have a chance to push for better governance, we would have to reverse this ugly trend.

Another cardinal issue affecting the Nigerian polity and one that needs to be imperatively tackled is the lack of accountability. This is perhaps, the greatest limiting factor to our positive development as a nation.

Accountability is the only way we can ensure actions and decisions taken by public officials are subject to oversight, so as to guarantee that government initiatives meet their stated objectives and respond to the needs of the community they are meant to be benefiting. In Nigeria, transparency and accountability are jinxed and execrable words, and to mention them is considered a taboo and absolute balderdash.

To be continued Abba Dabo, daboalamin@yahoo.com, wrote from Preston, United Kingdom 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.

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Editorial

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

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Nigeria’s public finance management crisis I N igeria’s depressing public finance management crisis once again came to the fore recently when former education minister under the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo administration and immediate past Vice President (Africa), the World Bank, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, accused the governments of the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan of squandering $67 billion dollars (N10.6trn) foreign exchange reserves bequeathed to them by her former boss. In a lecture she delivered at the recent 42nd convocation of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Dr. Ezekwesili stated that $45 billion of the money was placed in the foreign reserve while the balance of $22 billion was in Excess Crude Account (ECA).

Expectedly, the Federal Government, through the Information Minister, Labaran Maku, has roundly denied the allegation.

He stated that Obasanjo only handed over to his successor $43.13 billion in foreign exchange, comprising of $31.5 billion in external reserves, $9.43 billion in ECA and $2.18 billion in savings. Maku admitted that though the nation’s foreign reserves had peaked at $62 billion in September 2008, the global financial meltdown, which began around 2008 and the attendant vagaries in the international oil market, caused a dip of the foreign reserves to $31.7 in September 2011.

Common to Dr. Ezekwesili and the Federal Government is the shared acknowledgement of healthy foreign reserves left by ex-President Obasanjo. The bone of contention, however, is how the funds were deployed. The FG has not denied the alleged depletion, defending the withdrawals on the grounds of compelling socioeconomic and political imperatives in the larger interest of the nation. We feel it has also become imperative to authenticate the funds deployment to ensure that due diligence, need and accountability principles were observed. More importantly, there is need to settle, once and for all, the issue of how much was actually left in foreign exchange in May 2007. Is it $67 billion quoted by the former World Bank chief or the $43.13 billion admitted by the FG? This is where the resolution of the House of Representatives directing its committees on Finance and Appropriation to jointly investigate the allegation and report back within six weeks, is elating. We prod the Senate to tow the same line. The issue is weighty enough to command the attention of the two chambers of the NASS. That the Senator David Mark-led Senate has maintained undignified silence since the controversy erupted is very unfortunate.

The crisis associated with the management of the nation’s

T IS A TESTED

ECONOMIC TRUISM

THAT THE SIZE OF A NATION’S FOREIGN RESERVES IS A PROJECTION OF THE STRENGTH OF ITS ECONOMY public finances has been with us for long. We recall the unsettled issue of the $12.4 billion Gulf War oil windfall under the General Ibrahim Babangida administration. In this current democratic dispensation, we have witnessed spending by the executive of funds not appropriated by the National Assembly and unwholesome fiddling with oil revenues by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) before crediting the Federation Account. That this happens in a democracy does no credit to the quality of governance we get from our leaders. This is why there must be a concerted national effort to put a stop to this financial recklessness.

It is a tested economic truism that the size of a nation’s foreign reserves is a projection of the strength of its economy.

China, Indian, Brazil, Rus-

sia and South Africa (BRICS countries), all having $3,285bn, $294.5bn, $378.6bn, $537.6bn and $50.8bn (2012 figures) in their foreign reserves respectively, have caught the attention of the world as emerging economies partly on account of this fact. They are also destinations for direct foreign investments. Nigeria has the potentials to be a member of this club if only our leaders become more financially responsible.

We, as a nation, may be posting cheering economic growth figures, but there is no visible development around; and despite the heavy cost of shoring up the Naira, its weakness is still very obvious. We are still reeling from pervasive poverty, balance of payment crisis, chronic mass unemployment, appalling living standards, and deficit infrastructure provisioning, among others, because we have been unable to rein in our proclivity for squandermania.

We cannot continue this culture of impunity.

President Jonathan must give specifics of how the $67 billion was spent. The NASS must ensure this. The impunity of the military era should not be allowed to continue. The civil society groups and discerning Nigerians should work concertedly to force the Federal Government to give account of this $67 billion.

ON THIS DAY February 5, 2007 In a BBC interview, Boris Berezovsky, a close friend of for mer Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, who died of polonium-210-induced acute radiation syndrome in London in November 2006, named for mer K.G.B. agent, Andrei Lugovoi as responsible.

February 5, 1989 The last Russian troops withdraw from the capital city of Kabul, Afghanistan. In the war with the USA suppor ted Afghans, which be g an in 1979, about 13,000 Russian soldiers were dead and over 22,000 wounded by the time the pull was completed.

February 5, 1922 The first edition of Readers Digest came out. Designed to provide abridged articles on a wide variety of subjects for easy reading, DeWitt Wallace and his wife Lila Wallace, the publisher, did direct marketing of the magazine themselves.

Stakeholders appraise FAAN, AIC Hotel’s land dispute

Pension funds can’t be left idle 37

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Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Telecoms: New interconnection rate regime may offer lower tariffs As Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) seeks stakeholders’ inputs in the soon-to-be-introduced interconnection rate regime, telecoms operators have expressed divided views over what should be an appropriate model for the industry to ensure fair play and competitiveness, even as it is envisaged that the new regime may result in lower tariffs for subscribers, reports KUNLE AZEEZ.

F

ollowing the expiration of the existing interconnection rate regime being used in the telecoms industry, the Nigerian Communications has initiated moves towards reviewing the existing rates to introduce a new regime; however, operators have expressed varied reactions on the model being proposed by the regulator.

Also referred to as termination rates, interconnection rates are the charges which one telecoms operator charges to another for terminating calls on its network and one of the key premises for open and fair competition in a telecoms market is an effective interconnection regime.

In Nigeria, interconnection rates are subject to review every three years from 2003 to date, following the liberalisation of the nation’s telecoms industry in 2011.

The interconnection rates determination of 2003 was based on international benchmark, with adjustments for the Nigerian operating environment, due to dearth of industry statistical data.

Further in 2006, which coincidentally was when the five year exclusivity period granted to the Global System for Mobile operators expired, the Commis-

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IRS

Telecommunication mast

sion reviewed the interconnections rates by applying multiple rates for asymmetric rates for the industry, having been using systematic hitherto.

National Mirror learnt that the adoption of asymmetric rates was in recognition of late entrants and the commencement of the Unified Service Licensing Regime in order to create an enabling environment for healthy competition in the telecoms markets among the active players.

However, with the expiration of the 2009 interconnect rate regime last year, the NCC commenced the process for the review of the subsisting 2009 Glide

Telecoms: Nigeria’s teledensity hits 78.8%

21

Path interconnection rates for voices services with an initial industry stakeholders forum in July 2012.

This was in recognition of the fact that since 2009, there have been changes in the Nigerian market in terms of technologies that are used, services that are offered and demand as well as changes in global financial markets which have an impact over inputs such as the cost of capital.

PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC) of London was subsequently appointed as consultants to review the subsisting asymmetric model of 2009, which provides differential in-

terconnect rates between Global System for Mobile communications operator and the Code Division Multiple Access as well as for fixed line operators.

Commenting after a presentation by the PwC of final draft report of new interconnection rates determination for voice services to operators and other stakeholders in Lagos at an event recently the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, said, the presentation has been deemed necessary, “having gone through the rigorous process for industry statistical data collections, analysis

Lagos-Abuja 7.30 8.30 7.45 8.45 09.30 10.30 10.30 11.30 12.30 13.30 14.30 15.30 16.30 17.30 Lagos-Kano 08.00 09.15 10.30 11.45 14.30 15.40 18.15 19.30 Los-Maid&Yola (Mon-Thur) 09.30 11.30 Fri- Sun 10.30 12.30 Kano-Lagos 07.30 08.45 14.00 15.15 17.30 18.45 Kano-Abj 10.45 11.30 Abj-Lagos 09.00 10.30 11.00 12.00 12.00 13.00

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

O-YES: Why other states must emulate Osun’s example on job creation

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Mass housing: Stakeholders push for dry construction option

25

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Business & Finance

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Telecoms: New interconnection rate regime may offer lower tariffs

Juwah

Evans

CONTINUED FROM 19 and population into the cost model.”

According to him, the final report of the interconnection cost model was the outcome of the in-depth cost study of the data input received from the operators by PwC, while expressing displeasure at the apathy demonstrated by some operators in the data collection process.

He said such operators’ reluctance has led to PwC applying international benchmark figures to populate the cost models, in those instances.

Presenting the preliminary results of PwC’s ‘Interconnect Costing Model Study’ to the operators and stakeholders, the company‘s Quality Assurance Partner of PriceWaterHouseCooper, Mr. Alastair Macpherson, said the NCC, in July 2012, had commissioned PwC to advise it on the update of the existing model which takes into account changes and produces an interconnection cost more in line with the current situation in the Nigerian telecoms market.

Macpherson, who presented details data on the various models of interconnection rates and compared Nigeria’s rate to trends internationally, noted that at present in Nigeria, one-net tariffs are around N12 per minute while the interconnection rate is N8.2, noting that Nigeria’s current rate of N8.2 is between the lower rates of Kenya and Ghana and the rates of Tanzania and South Africa.

He, however, stressed that a sound functional interconnection regime is an essential step in the process of fine-tuning the regulatory regime and leading the Nigerian market towards full competition and effective regulation.

Meanwhile, the NCC was of the view that current state of the telecoms market in Nigeria justifies the continuation of the degree of asymmetry into the next control period which will apply to new entrants and small operators.

Explaining features of an asymmetry interconnection rate regime, Macpherson said different operators will differ in terms of their maturity, scale, licence obligations, frequency allocations and technologies; regulators typically seek to set termination rates which replicate competitive outcomes, noting that in a competitive market one would expect a single termination price to prevail on the costs of the first or second most efficient

CEO, MTN Nigeria, Brett Goschen

WHAT INDUSTRY IS WAITING FOR IS WHAT THE NEW INTERCONNECTION RATES WOULD BE AND WHICH OPERATORS WILL BENEFIT FROM THE HIGHER OR LOWER TERMINATION RATES.

ALSO, THE LONG TERM OF THE REVIEW IS TO SEE IF TARIFF CAN DROP FOR EVERYBODY IN THE INDUSTRY, ESPECIALLY THE SUBSCRIBERS operator in the market.

“However, from a policy perspective, differential rates may be applied to stimulate investment, competition and entry o a temporary basis. Also, criteria for eligibility for differential termination rates include maturity or date of entry into service and scale.

“Both maturity and scale imply that an operator will be exposed to higher unit costs as it builds its customer base and network utilisation towards levels enjoyed by more mature operators,” he said.

In the meantime, operators have expressed divisive opinions on the expression of the NCC to continue with the asymmetric regime.

Ostensibly speaking the minds of many players in the Code Division Multiple Access segment of the sector, director with Visafone Communications Limited, Mr. Uche Ojo, said, “We did say that the hypothetical network will not represent Visafone considering the internal and external realities. The final cost as presented in the study doesn’t represent the cost structure of Visafone.

“This is because the parameters used in arriving at the final interconnection rate were bigger than what Visafone has and what any CDMA operator in Nigeria has. We don’t think a hypothetical operator represent our cost structure.”

He urged the NCC, while considering quantitative analysis, on the need to factor in qualitative dimension in the scale because of the different sizes of companies operating in the industry. “We are urging the NCC, as a matter of policy, to come up with a regime that encourages asymmetry.”

The Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat, Mr. Steven Evans, said asymmetry is a critical element to maintain a fair and

open competition in the telecoms industry.

According to him, “We clearly believe that asymmetry approach should be used in the next three years for a fair competition.”

He, however, noted that the hypothetical operator used in arriving at the final interconnection rate in the PwC study was smaller than MTN, the biggest operator in the country. “This shows that smaller operators are competing at a significant disadvantaged with bigger operator.”

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer, Interconnect Clearing House, Mr. Uche Onwudiwe, said, “We are not sure there was any consideration for learing houses in arriving at the new interconnection rate.”

According o him, “We know we participated in the survey carried out before arriving at the 2009 interconnect rate but we are looking to see whether you people are living room for consideration of clearing house in the current review.”

In his submission, Director Regulatory Affairs, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Osondu Nwokoro, said Airtel did not support asymmetry, the model being adopted for the country’s interconnection rates, suggesting “It will be more appropriate to have more times to study the model.”

Osondu also argued that certain data requested from network operators by PwC was not supplied and yet, the consultant embarked on certain benchmarks to arrive at certain results. “It may be appropriate for us to review those benchmarks after,” he said In her comment, the Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs, MTN, Mrs. Oyeronke Oyetunde, said, “Asymmetry or not, it’s easy to say that there should be a segregation for the big operator but the main

issue is the cost,” cautioning that “We need to be very careful how we segregate because the cost of operation and equipment is the same for all GSM operator.”

A top official from Globacom, Mr. Aremu OlaJide, said the dynamism of the industry should be properly considered in determining whether or not to continue with the subsisting rate.

The ultimate goal of the review, it was learnt is, is to see how if a rate is set for interconnect termination and, for whatever reason the final determination is that it would be a lower rate what is currently is, the regulator is o[hopping that such an arrangement would help drive down traffic even on the retail side because if operators are paying less for interconnection, chances that they would pass some of those benefits to subscribers.

Hitherto, the CDMA operators were getting higher money when calls terminate on their networks than the GSM operators get. While a GSM network pays N10.12 to CDMA for terminating its calls on CDMA network, the CDMA operator pays a GSM network N8.12 for the same termination.

In his comments, Chairman of Medallion Communications Limited, a Nigeria’s interconnect clearing house, Mr. Ike Nnamani, “With asymmetric, what this means is that the NCC want to create multiple rates may be a minimum of two, depending on the type of operator.

What we had before was the three major GSM operators initially - MTN, Glo and Airtel - had a higher rate than the rest of the industry. That expires by the end of last year, which is why they are trying to do a new determination to know if they can still take it that way or to now harmonise it.

He, however, noted that, “From the look of things, the suggestion from the consultants is that the rate should still remain the same thing: there should be separate rates. However, what industry is waiting for is what the new interconnection rates would be and which operators will benefit from the higher or lower termination rates. Also, the long term of the review is to see if tariff can drop for everybody in the industry, especially subscribers.”

Meanwhile, the NCC boss has acknowledged the varied opinions expressed by stakeholders, saying it would serve as valuable input in reviewing their contributions in line with the proposed asymmetric mode.

He said: “We do not expect to reach a consensus yet on the model being adopted but the different views will shape our determination.

The model will be made available to all stakeholders and responses will be expected within the next seven days after. NCC will collate and take decision afterwards. Additional factors affecting services will be recognised. In decision making, local content will not be neglected.”

He added that the Commission would choose an approach to the interconnection rate which will have great impact on fair competition in the telecoms market and general growth of the telecoms industry.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business & Finance

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

21

Telecoms: Nigeria’s teledensity hits 78.8% KUNLE A ZEEZ

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eledensity in the Nigeria’s telecoms industry has reached a 78.8 per cent mark, according to latest industry statistics from the Nigerian Communications Commission.

Growth in teledensity in Nigeria has been phenomenal, growing rapidly in the last 12 years of telecoms liberalisation culminating in a growth of 78.8 per cent at the end of November, 2012, which is the latest government official data.

Teledensity is the percentage of the number of phone users per population at a given period of time and its growth is proportional to the growth in the subscriber base.

Teledensity growth has direct relationship in growth with the number telephone lines in the country.

According to the NCC data, in February, March, April and May 2012, when active tele-

L-R: Manufacturing Maintenance Manager, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Mr. Folabi Awojobi; Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr. Kufre Ekanem and Legal Officer, Lagos Lottery Board, Miss. Mayowa Okuyiga, during the Yummy Bournvital promo in Lagos at the weekend.

coms subscribers in the country stood at 96.6 million; 99.1 million; 101 million and 101.8 million, teledensity increased

CBN, Bankers’ Committee strategise on financing power projects UDO ONYEKA

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n order to provide the needed fund in financing projects in the expanding power sector of the economy, Nigerian banks have started a collaborative effort to develop amenable financing framework that would serve as financial industry’s master template for lending and funding of the Nigerian power sector.

The strategic funding plan is being developed under the auspices of the Bankers’ Committee with active participation of top management of all banks, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other key stakeholders.

The funding strategy is a linchpin in the Bankers’ Committee’s programme for 2013, which largely focused on aligning the Nigerian banking system to provide adequate financing to meet the peculiarities of the power sector.

Banks’ chief executives, Governor and top officials of the CBN and several experts had brainstormed extensively on the power sector at the recently concluded 4th annual retreat of the Bankers’ Committee.

Sources in the know said the development of an industry-wide funding strategy was part of the outcomes of the

discussions at the retreat.

Sources in the know of the funding strategy and banks’ collective initiatives indicated the funding strategy would provide the banking industry with a kind of master agreement or template that would foster best practices, remove inconsistency, ease access to funding and encourage regulator-operator understanding as banks move into the stillevolving power sector.

While individual bank may adapt the funding strategy to suit its internal structure and terms, the template would provide overall guidelines, structures, terms and concepts among others for the entire industry.

The CBN would sign on the banking industry funding strategy for power sector, which would give the template a quasi-regulatory status.

Banks are also expected to consider inputs of key nonbank stakeholders such as the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Ministry of Power, Energy Commission of Nigeria (Encon) and NBET among others in the overall draft of the funding strategy to give the plan a higher level of general acceptance beyond the banking industry.

to 69.0 per cent; 70.82 per cent; 72.20 per cent and 72.72 per cent respectively.

In June and July 2012, when the country recorded 102.3 million and 103.4 million active telecoms subscriber bases, teledensity grew to 73.12 per cent and 73.88 per cent in that order.

The figure also increased

in August, September and October 2012, when active subscribers rose to 105.2 million, 107.3 million and 109. 4 million and correspondingly, the teledensity also increased to75.17 per cent; 76.69 per cent and 78.21 per cent respectively.

In November, 2012, when the industry recorded 110.3 million active telephone users

on telecoms networks, teledensity increased by 0.6 per cent to hit 78.81.

According to industry analysts, the geometric growth in telecoms subscriber base, leading to proportional growth in teledensity, is an indication of increased access to telephony services.

On annual teledensity growth trend, teledensity increased from 0.73 per cent in 2011 to 1.89 per cent in 2002 and in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006; it increased to 3.35 per cent; 8.5 per cent; 16.27 per cent and 24.18 per cent respectively.

In 2007, teledensity increased to 29.93 per cent and in 2008, it hit a record 45.93 per cent. Also, with the growth in active subscriber base hitting 74.52 million by the end of 2009, teledensity also reached 53.23 per cent, while the figure rose to 63.11 per cent in December, 2010 and to 68.49 per cent as the end of December, 2011.

Some industry analysts have predicted that by the time the NCC releases the December, 2012 subscriber base for telecoms industry, the country’s teledensity may be found to have surpassed 80 per cent.

Minister assures of good harvest this year STANLEY IHEDIGBO

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inister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has said that farmers would have good harvest this year inspite of last year flood disaster, as many measures have been put in place by Federal Government to support produced .

He disclosed this in an interview with Agribusiness correspondents in Lagos, recently.

He said last year’s flooding in some states would not affect

this year agricultural produce, “adding that the ministry has distributed 540 metric tons of sorghum to farmers which was planted over 37,000 hectares of land, and distributed over 9,000 metric tons of seeds that were planted all across the rice producing areas.

“Nigeria would have been short by 10.2 million metric tons of food and we would have had crises, but by adding the 8.1 metric tons of food and all the things we did in 2012, we were able to save this country from that crisis.”

Adesina said the ministry

distributed 67,000 metric tons of seeds of hybrid maize to farmers last year which were planted on 3.5 million hectares with a production of 7 million metric tons at the very least. “We distributed 30 million stem cuttings of cassava for farmers last year,” he added.

He informed that the Federal Government has put in place an agency called Flood Recovery Food Production Intervention (FRFPI) and is a robust plan that creates resilience in the system.

According to him, there is no need for any panic; Nigeria will not experience any food crisis.

Insurance expert calls for common standard of practice in industry

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resident, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Mr Wole Adetimehin on Monday advised practitioners to evolve common standard of practice to check excesses of some brokers.

Adetimehin told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that underwriters should know the kind of brokers they were dealing with.

“The brokers cannot generate rates. It is the responsibility of the underwriter to do that.

“So, it is ethically wrong for

the brokers not to comply with whatever rate the underwriter sets for its would-be clients,” he said.

Adetimehin said the issue of withholding premium by some brokers and refusal by some clients to pay their premium would stop if there was common standard of practice for all to follow.

“The fight against unwholesome acts of some brokers can only be won if insurance firms come together, discuss and form a standard principle for dealing

with erring brokers.

“Meanwhile, a comprehensive debtors list is necessary to reconcile accounts between brokers and underwriters,’’ he said.

Adetimehin also said that collective efforts among underwriters would address the problem of rates cutting of premium by brokers.

He said that local underwriters needed to cooperate to grow insurance business and expand the market beyond the nation’s shores.

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Business & Finance

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

‘Privatisation of labour services will worsen Nigeria’s security situation’ FRANCIS EZEM

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orkers of the Nigerian Ports Authority have said that the current moves by the Bureau of Public Enterprises to concession marine and harbour services currently handled by the Nigerian Ports Authority will further expose the country to security challenges.

The workers spoke against the background of fresh moves by the BPE to commence a fresh port privatisation programme, which will cover marine and harhour services, which it claims is designed to bring the Nigerian ports to international standards.

The proposed second phase of the port concession will cover berthing and un-berthing,

towage, dredging and channel maintenance, storage, stevedoring, cargo handling on quay, repair of ships, surveillance of cargo, tallying of goods and weighing, among several others, most of which are core functions of NPA. President of Senior Staff Association of NPA workers, Mr. Jimoh Umar, who spoke in Lagos, raised fears over what he described as handing over of a major segment of the nation’s security to private business men under the guise of making the nation’s seaports conform to international standards.

According to him, Nigeria in the last three years has been grappling with major security challenges occasioned by the insurgence of the Boko Haram Islamic sect, which has exposed the nation’s major na-

tional infrastructure like the air and seaports as well as offshore maritime and oil and gas installations to grave security danger.

“Nigeria has witnessed enough insecurity in the recent past. With her marine and harbours in the hands of private operators, one can imagine the chaos this will trigger in terms of security. Nigerians should not be in a haste to forget the Gideon Orka issue in a haste”, he warned.

Apart from the grave security issues the proposal would raise for the country, the NPA workers also noted that the exercise would lead to a mass sack of the authority’s workforce at a time the government is doing everything within its powers to create jobs for the teeming Nigerian youths.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ACCA introduces certification for SME reporting standard KUNLE A ZEEZ

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he Association of Chartered Certified Accountants launched a new certification to support finance professionals in understanding the new International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) for small and medium-sized entities (SMEs).

The CertIFR for SMEs will ensure finance professionals understand the details of the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) that has been introduced for SMEs. Director of Learning at ACCA, Alan Hatfield, said the IFRS for SMEs had been adopted in many countries and its use is spreading, stressing that it would be essential for many finance profession-

Mobile banking enhances services, says GTB MD JOHNSON OKANLAWON

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L-R: Proprietress of Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Home, Mrs. Bola Akinduro; Senior Executive PKF, Mrs. Lola Durowoju; Partner, Mr. Adebowale Seidu; Mr. Najeem Abdus-Salaam and Senior Executive, Olatunji Ogundeyin, during the presentation of gifts to the Child Care and Treatment Home as part of PKF’s 60th anniversary celebration in Lagos at the weekend.

Local investors urged to invest in retail bonds

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he immediate past president, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria, Alhaji Rasheed Yussuf, has urged investors to embrace retail bond trading launched last week by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Yussuf told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday that retail trading in bonds would aid portfolio diversification and transparency of transactions.

He said that the retail bond trading and fixed income market making would boost investors’ confidence as well as deepen the market.

Yussuf, who is also the Managing Director, Trust Yields Investment Limited said that the beauty of retail trading in bonds was that small investors could trade in bonds.

He said that the interest of local and institutional investors in the nation’s bourse had increased due to the prospect of better performance of the market.

Yussuf attributed the good prospect to improved macroeconomic data and the rise in foreign direct investments.

Meanwhile, the All-Share Index of the NSE appreciated by 828.37 points last week to close at 32,411.86 from the 31,582.49 recorded in the preceding week.

Also, the market capitalisation of listed equities appreciated by N267 billion to close at N10.37 trillion from the N10.10 trillion recorded in the preceding week.

The appreciation was due to price gains by some blue chips.

Nestle led the gainers’ chart

during the week, appreciating

by N66.99 to close at N819.99 per share.

It was trailed by Julius Berger with a gain of N14.48 to close at N66 per share, while Nigerian Breweries improved

by N11.40 to close at N165 per share.

On the other hand, UACN recorded the highest price loss of N4.90 to close at N47.10 per share.

CAP followed with a loss of N2.95 to close at N56.30 per share, while Dangote Cement declined by N2.13 to close at N144.87 per share.

In all, a turnover of 2.81 billion shares worth N22.19 billion was recorded in 33,123 deals against the 2.61 billion shares valued at N19.15 billion exchanged in 27,186 deals in the preceding week.

als, especially those working in, and for, the SME sector, to understand this standard that will be used by the millions of companies within its scope.

Hatfield said the IFRS has significant disclosure reductions to the full IFRS for larger companies, and different accounting treatments for some items such as goodwill.

“The aim of the certificate is to ensure finance professionals will understand how the IFRS for SMEs is used around the world and know how to use it in practice. It will also enable them to examine its fundamental requirements for the benefit of preparers, auditors and users of financial statements.

“The certificate is available on-demand so it fits around people’s jobs and lives.

he Managing Director of GTBank, Mr. Segun Agbaje has said that the mobile money initiative has gone a step further in bringing banking services closer to the population, especially the unbanked who are more likely to have a mobile phone than a bank account.

A statement from the bank quoted the managing director, as saying that the bank remained at the forefront of banking product innovations since its inception.

According to him, its most recent introductions include its SMS banking which allows customers to request for their account balances, and subscribe for transaction notification service

through their mobile phones.

He said, “The GTBank Mobile Money service is a convenient, secure and affordable way of sending money using a mobile phone. The service can be accessed by users of smart phones through the various app stores or by downloading the mobile money application.”

Agbaje explained hat distinctive feature of the GTBank Mobile Money service is its capacity to allow subscribers send cash to recipients that do not have bank accounts, and such recipients make card-less cash withdrawals from any GTBank ATM nationwide.

He added that the bank also launched the GTBank senior account which avails free banking services to Nigerians aged 65years and above.

ACBF commits over $500m in Nigeria, others STANELY IHEDIGBO

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development expert and representative of the Africa Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), based in Harare, Zimbabwe, Mr. Dickson Matwell, disclosed that Nigeria and other Africa countries have benefited over $500m grants for capacity building from his organisation.

The organisation was an initiative of African Finance Ministers to the World Bank, founded in 1991 with the purpose of supporting capacity building in the continent.

Speaking with National Mirror in an interview recently in Lagos, Matwell, said that the foundation has committed over $500m in capacity building, in almost all the countries in Africa

including Nigeria, after realising that the continent is in dear need of capacity building.

He said further that the creation of the organisation was in response to the severity of Africa’s capacity needs, and the challenge of investing in indigenous human capital and institutions in sub-Saharan Africa.

According to him,” We just signed a $3m grant to an institution that based in the country called West Africa Institution of Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), we have supported the Nigeria National Assembly with total of about $4m.”

He added that other beneficiary of the grant in Nigeria include; Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) with $250,000 and Centre for Management Training (CMT) in Lagos.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Jobs & Career

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

23

O-YES: Why other states must emulate Osun ’s example on job creation The quest to reduce or eliminate youth unemployment from the country can be achieved, if the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (O-YES), example is emulated by other states of the federation, writes MESHACK IDEHEN.

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ot favourably disposed to relocating to major towns and cities in Nigeria like many job seekers are wont to do in their search for employment, Mrs Adebola Omolara,s hope of being able to get a job got dimmer by the day, until she heard of the O-YES scheme initiated and currently being implemented in batches by the Osun state government.

Last week Monday when the (Osun) State Government celebrated the graduation of 20,000 youths from the O-YES empowerment scheme two years after the programme was conceptualised by the governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Omolara was one of the thousands of graduands that passed out in flying colours, having been trained, certified and empowered in the business of modern fish farming.

Standing proudly beside the lead trainer of the fish farming group,(one of tens of training and empowerment options provided by the state government), Omolara told National Mirror that she feels fulfilled and that she cannot wait to get started in her entrepreneurial pursuit.

According to her, “The days of jobs hunting all over the place is over. After this ceremony, I will delve fully into this business.

I will also employ others to work with me, because with the type of training I have received, the scale of fish farming I want to do may be too much for me alone. I pray that I get the grant I am hoping to get soon ”.

Omolara is not the only one that has been lifted from an unemployed job seeker to a budding entrepreneur by the OYES scheme.

Speaking at the cattle and sheep farming trainees stand at the event that was held at the National Youth Service Corp site at Ede, another graduating beneficiary of the O-YES scheme, Ms. Folasade Yusuf, who said she has received “world class training in cattle and sheep fattening, alongside other training related to making money from the animal business ”, said the specialised training she has received will take her out of the unemployment zone for life.

Taken together, and based on the testimonies of the two amongst thousands of other O-YES graduates with similar testimonies, experts in job creation, entrepreneurship and empowerment, said such initiatives like those made manifest by the O-YES scheme would solve the unemployment challenge in the country, if all the states in the country adopted and efficiently implemented it.

Speaking particularly in the light of the positive confessions of the over two thou-

A cross section of cadets of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (O-Yes), displaying thier products, during their passing out ceremony in Ede ... last week.

sand O-YES graduates that are now specialists in mobile money transfer business, following the months long training they received through the scheme, and the provision of the tools of the trade for the graduates by the state government, Recruiter, Employment Specialist and Managing Director of Prot International Limited, Mr. Sunny Agboju, said the training on mobile money operations was a “unique empowerment method ” employed by the Osun state government.

Agboju said it is to be recalled that the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, recently told Nigerians that more than 200,000 to 500,000 jobs will soon be available through the operations on mobile money.

He explained that it should not come as a surprise to the country if Osun State young men and women become the champions of the mobile money business in the country, considering moreso, the infinite nature of the segment in the financial sector.

On his part, Entrepreneur, Activist and President of Progressive Leadership Organisational International,(a youth empowerment NGO), Mr. Emmanuel Ezeume,said other state governors, particularly in the northern part of the country where unemployment is rife, can do well for themselves and the people of their state by adopting the scheme.

Ezeume explained that youth unemployment that has been said to be responsible for many of the challenges the nation is currently grappling with can be given a death blow, if measures like the O-YES scheme is implemented across all the northern states.

Basing his arguments on the testimony of yet another of the successful O-YES graduate that trained in utilising leather in producing everything from shoes to military and police boots, the PLOI president said the testimony of Mr. Abdulaziz Yusuf, has put paid to the opinion of some that high quality leather and allied products cannot be produced in Nigeria.

Abdulaziz Yusuf had told National Mirror during the passing out ceremony at Ede, that with a little support especially in term of machineries and tools, that himself and other graduates of the OYES leather training scheme can produce the highest quality

THE DAYS OF JOBS HUNTING ALL OVER THE PLACE IS OVER.

AFTER THIS CEREMONY, I WILL DELVE FULLY INTO THIS BUSINESS.

I WILL ALSO

EMPLOY OTHERS TO WORK WITH ME shoes, boots and all forms of leather products that can meet the market demands of a sizeable part of the country.

Encouraging other states and job seekers alike to take full advantage of these types of opportunities, Youth Coach and Mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, Mr. Moses Idahor, said the decision of Governor Aregbesola to expend his security votes on the scheme is another example that other state chief executives must emulate.

The governor however while making clear that the success of the scheme is attributable to the commitment of the state to cause positive change in the lives of the people, explained that the successful graduation of the cadets represented a culmination of the progressive effort and development policies that the state government has been implementing since inception about two years ago.

Admitting that one the greatest challenge that the state like others in the country was grappling is unemployment, the governor said his government swung into action and in less than 100 days in office, established OYES and engaged the 20,000 youths.

According to the Osun governor, the cadets, along the line, were also trained in entrepreneurship and various vocations, so as to be the masters of their destinies.

Additional skill training was incorporated, which involve partnerships and collaborations with the private sector and academic institutions, such as the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Osun State University, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Fountain University, Adeleke University and other private training organisations.

“The cadets were encouraged to form co-operative societies, through which soft loans were guaranteed by the government to facilitate the success of the volunteers in their chosen vocation or area of entrepreneurship.

“I am happy to announce that this administration ’s effort is already yielding positive fruit. About 18,000 of the cadets who passed out have found permanent jobs.

“At the newly established Oloba Farm, O-YES volunteers are engaged in cattle and ram fattening and in the broiler out-grower scheme. Besides, 74 cadets are undergoing training in modern agricultural practices in Leventis Foundation School and 610 others are being tutored in the Osun Rural Enterprise and Agriculture Programme (OREAP), where they are already cultivating farms under a profit-sharing arrangement.

“Another 500 in the O ’dua Farmers Academy are also being trained in modern farming techniques. Under a public-private partnership arrangement, 100 O-YES volunteers are engaged in fish farming in Okuku and other farms. Some are engaged in honey-bee production.

“In the OYESTECH, another initiative of our administration, 2,100 O-YES cadets were trained in mobile phone and computer assembly by an electronics company planning to set up a factory here. The cadets will provide after-sales support and services for these products.

“There are other areas of successes. For instance, 600 volunteers are currently engaged in the production of red bricks. One hundred and seventy-three of the paramedics trained under the O-YES programme have been deployed in the O-Ambulance scheme and two others are call-tracking personnel in the Ministry of Health.

“The State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has engaged 1,501 cadets with teaching qualifications, who will be posted to primary schools in a short time.

Over 600 cadets are to be trained and engaged as call operators by the State Emergency Call Service.

“More than 300 are being supported to set up Farmers ’ Input Supply Shops, which is also a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. Over 5,000 are also being prepared to provide mobile money, e-payment and allied services through various schemes. ” Recalling how the scheme was criticised by the opposition at its inception, the governor said: “When we set out, we only had hope and a grim determination to change our society for good. We were buffeted on every side by detractors who derided the scheme and predicted its failure within the shortest possible time. I am happy that they have been disappointed.

“When their prediction of failure failed, they started to fabricate lies against the scheme. They alleged we were training the cadets as political thugs to be used to rig elections. They derided the cadets in the most uncomplimentary terms, including calling them ‘agbale oja ’. I am most pleased that the cadets have imbibed, like true Omoluabi, the virtues of hard work, dignity in labour and the leadership spirit that comes with public service. ”

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NDE, NECA partner GradExchange on e-recruiting MESHACK IDEHEN

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he National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and the National Employers ’ Consultative Association (NECA), in the drive towards simplifying job seeking and recruitment process in the country have partnered Dragnet Solutions, owners of the GradExchange programme.

The three parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Corporate Headquarters of the NDE in Abuja recently, in an event that had the Director General of NDE, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed, and his counterpart from NECA, Dr. Olusegun Oshinowo in attendance, while GradExchange was represented by the Managing Director of Dragnet Solutions, Mr. Robert Ikazoboh.

According to the tripartite agreement, the NDE will open up its vocation and skills acquisition centres located all over the country to be used as centralized screening and assessment centres for graduates to sit for standardised psychometrically reliable employment aptitude tests administered and supervised by Dragnet Solutions ’ GradExchange.

DG-NECA Gbenga Oshinowo

Managing Director of Dragnet Solutions, Mr. Robert Ikazoboh, said the tests will be administered using Dragnet solution ’s computer based testing technology, adding the results of the tests and screenings will be collated into a central portal which will be easily accessible by organisations looking for suitable graduates to recruit.

He stated that the system will also deploy Dragnet solutions ’ biometrics technology expertise to profile graduates who

Mohmmed

use the portal, saying this move will ensure that incidences of mercenaries and ghost candidates are reduced to the barest minimum. He said incidences of job seekers impersonating others during the exams will be completely eliminated, explaining that in using unique biometrics technology that all needed are unique identification attributes of individuals like the finger prints, among others.

According to him, all of these come at virtually no cost to the

graduates, so, it can enhance their chances of getting jobs.

Ikazoboh added that the system would also be of benefit to employers who seek suitable graduates to recruit, because it is faster and less cumbersome.

“The process of screening graduates in Nigeria, as we all know is costly, cumbersome and time consuming. This portal will completely eliminate the laborious task of going through thousands of applications in search of the right person.

Since the applicants have already been screened electronically in the centres, all the potential employers need do is to log into the system and state the parameters they are looking for and the system will produce candidates who meet the required parameters. This way, the job search process is made easier for the job seekers and the recruiting process is made easier for recruiters, ” Ikazoboh stressed.

Speaking on the initiative, the Director General of NDE, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed, praised Dragnet Solutions for coming up with the initiative.

He said Dragnet Solutions coming up with the GradExchange initiative is a national service, adding that the initiative will go a long way in stamping out unemployment in Nigeria, as graduates seeking employment will no longer need to travel to major cities in the country to apply for jobs.

“All they need do is to walk into the nearest NDE Skills and Vocation Centre located all over the country to do the tests, and then, it is up to the employers to decide which candidate they want. It is far easier, cheaper and convenient for everyone.

That was why we bought into it immediately ”, he said.

Tips for a healthy work environment NRC to employ level crossing keepers

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ossip is a destructive force in the workplace. It ruins relationships, harms reputations and interferes with productivity. Most importantly, it damages employee morale and makes the office a place where people dread coming each morning. Here are some guidelines for creating an emotionally healthy work environment.

Define gossip- Quite simply; gossip is anything negative that ’s said out of the hearing range of the person being discussed. If you have negative feedback about someone ’s work performance, you should discuss it with him or her —not with anyone else. Positive comments are not considered gossip, and celebrity gossip is still safe territory.

Agree on a “no-gossip ” policy-After you define gossip, everyone in your organisation should agree to a “no-gossip zone ” policy. To create such a zone, everyone on your team must be on board, because gossip is a contagious and easily transmittable social malady.

People who aren ’t willing to work together as a team to create a better work environment are not the best employees, and

they may cause morale and productivity problems with other staff members.

Communicate authentically- In place of gossip, your employees need to learn how to communicate authentically with one another. This type of communication replaces the need for gossip, since people who are able to speak honestly and openly have no need to whisper behind each other ’s backs.

Authentic communication is based on one simple principle: If you have an issue or complaint concerning someone in the office, talk to that person about it.

Speak the truth- When communicating; avoid accusations, name-calling and other inauthentic tactics. Instead, say only what is true for you. You can do this by voicing an emotion, a physical sensation or a thought.

Make a no-gossip zone part of your office culture- After implementing a no-gossip zone in your office; it will become part of your culture and daily life. You can then make an effort to hire new employees who will fit into that culture, rather than candidates who might have a hard time acclimating to your workplace atmosphere.

MESHACK IDEHEN

T

he Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), said it is set to recruit more level crossing keepers to minimise rail accident, disclosed the corporation ’s Director of Administration and Human Resources, Mr Aminu Gusua.

He said the NRC hire new level crossing keepers in order to reduce the incidence of people being killed while crossing the rail line, saying also there was the need for public enlightenment on how to cross the rail line to mini-

mise accident and death.

Gusau said when the gate keepers are hired; they would be trained to meet the expectations of the reforms going on in the rail transport sector, and that rail tracks would not be left unused after undergoing repairs, to forestall further damage.

He explained that the corporation would begin the recruitment of new workers to enhance rail service, explaining the more people with new knowledge and approach are employed, the better the service they will render,.

He said with efficient service that the NRC would make more

profit, especially in freight services, while also appealing to private business operators to patronise the corporation in transporting their goods across the country.Gusua said law enforcement agents would ensure adequate security of the goods and other luggage.

According to him, it is of essence to ensure adequate security of the goods because that is where the money is coming from. “We charge very low tariff on passengers because it is for affordability and comfort, adding rail service would help to reduce the number of road accidents caused by articulated vehicles. ”

Job vacancies Opening job vacancies this week are positions of Teller/Cashier (www.jobs.vanguardngr. com) in a firm in Lagos Full-time Minimum qualification of an OND; required experience of 1 - 3 years is needed, with some of the responsibilities being keeping basic records of daily sales as well as preparation of daily, alongside weekly and monthly sales reports, acceptance of cash, checks, for payment; and completing check and transactions.

Good cash management and tellering skills, diligent with

high level of integrity in managing cash transactions and good knowledge in the sales mobile phone products are also required.

The positions of Management Trainee/Marketing Executive, (www.jobs.vanguardngr.com) in a firm in Lagos is also available in the banking and financial services requiring a minimum qualification of an HND and experience of 1 - 3 years.

Some of the responsibilities for the post are to create marketing plans geared toward promoting services to potential clients,

and to work with the in-house designer to produce materials of visual impact and within brand guidelines.

Others are to team up with the business innovations department to develop new ideas for reaching our clients and to communicate to the marketing team about new innovations and how they can be used to leverage marketing efforts.

The Nigeria Railways Corporation, NRC is set to recruit level crossing keepers to minimise rail accident. Visit (www.nrc-ng. org) for details.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Real Estate & Environment dayoayeyemi@yahoo.com 08033312578

Mass housing: Stakeholders push for dry construction option I

t is a known fact that Nigeria has 16 million housing shortfall and that it has to produce one million houses yearly in the next 20 years to bridge this gap. Also, it will require N56 trillion, according to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, to mop up the deficit.

Concerned by the huge housing deficit and the need to bridge the gap through production of mass housing in a fast, energy saving and sustainable way dominated the discursion construction experts who gathered, at Eko Hotels and Suite in Lagos at the weekend, canvassing a shift from the conventional method of building the nation is familiar with to dry construction option.

The seminar, “ Bridging the 16 million National Housing Deficit - the Dry Construction Solution, ” was organised by Nigerite Limited, in conjunction with Redwood Consulting to seek modern construction method to solve the housing shortage challenges Many stakeholders, who spoke about the housing situation in the country said the solution lies in the adoption of dry construction option, pointing out that many countries in the world had used it to solve their housing problem.

They listed some of the fundamentals that must be in place for easy adoption.

Presently, wet construction is in vogue in the country ’s building and construction industry. The system, which is capital intensive, according to experts, does not hold much prospects for resolving the 16 million-unit national housing deficit, hence the need for collective efforts towards a search for a better option.

Speaking at the event, Head of Department, Estate Surveying and Management, University of Lagos, Professor Timothy Nubi, described dry construction method as an innovative technique that aims at developing construction industry in general, which can potentially improve housing practice in particular.

He said it involved the application of factory made building parts and products, as opposed to raw materials, and is designed to be assembled in site.

He said the use of basic elements of dry construction method would lead the building towards less dead load compared to the conventional construction methods, which subsequently would result in slimmer structural component, and eventually, reduction of building costs.

He said, “Reduction in building waste and debris from construction process, offers design freedom combined with comprehensive technological performance, while building products and processed materials are transferred directly to the building site, which means less techni-

Many countries have put considerable efforts into the optimisation of the construction industry.

These efforts range from reduction of energy consumption to the cuts in materials and labour requirements. To this end, experts in the Nigerian construction sector, at the weekend, canvassed for dry construction option to accelerate mass production of housing units in the country. DAYO AYEYEMI, reports.

Mass housing in Singapore.

DRY CONSTRUCTION ENHANCES SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION, LOWER CARBON FOOT PRINT, SIGNIFICANTLY FASTER AND LESS MESSY SITE,

EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE IN FIRE PROTECTION, SUPERIOR ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE AND LONG LIFE MATERIAL cal, logistical and infrastructural costs; less energy consumption in buildings, the freedom in design of spaces and form with a variety of products; well-acceptance of these materials by architects and engineers. ” Chairman of Lagos Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Mr. Ladipo Lewis, said housing has remained a social problem, adding that the provision of shelter is an essential of basic human existence.

He explained that dry construction has

the benefit of speed, mass production, light structures, ease of transportation and accessibility to remote locations.

Besides, he said it has the benefit of flexibility, sustainability, low waste and healthier, recyclable materials, while manufacturing is done indoors.

He listed some of modern dry constructions to include steel frames, modular structures; factory built kit homes, container houses, self-built housing and robotic housing He noted that high rise structures and

skyscrapers in other climes were built with advanced dry construction.

According to him, Chinese skyscraper was built in 15 days, using prefabricated modules, adding that 200 workers constructed 30-storey building in China ’s Hunan province, saying that the world ’s tallest skyscraper which is 220 storeys was built in three months.

Dry construction technology, he said was used in Singapore for mass housing production.

To really bridge the housing deficit, Lewis said it would require robust financing, mortgage and subsidies on building materials, adding that it also required financial assistance and appropriate allocation.

To dry construction in Nigeria , he said it would require social context allocation, appropriate technology and materials, minimum standards, cost effective schemes, adding that high density initiaCONTINUED ON PAGE 26

26

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mass housing: Stakeholders push for dry construction option CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25 tives required overhauling of planning regulations, and infrastructure.

In his paper, President of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) , Mr Chucks Omeife, noted that the construction of mass housing has gone beyond the on-site fabrication to off-site fabrication which encourages assembling on site within a short time.

Dry construction, he said was similar to industrialisation as it generates continuous flow of line production, standardised production, planned production and mechanised of production processes He stated that dry construction required quality control that involves a system of enhancing quality using modular approach free of errors and misrepresentation.

At tendering stage, he said emphasis should be placed on the evaluation of production information for adequacy of scope, dimensional coordination and consistency.

He explained that quality control is required at the construction stage as the materials and components must be inspected and tested to ensure that the entire project conforms to designed specifications and the set expectations.

Omeife said, “Concrete slab or underfloor inspection, shall be made after all in slab or under slab or under-floor building services are in place but certainly before any concrete is placed.

“Frame inspection shall be made after the structural frame at each floor level, fire blocking and tracing are in place and all pipes, chimneys and vents are complete and the first fix. ” The NIOB boss identified challenges such as education, training/capacity building, mechanisation, power, lack of standardisation for systems and com-

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Kenning Homes Limited, Mr. David Majekodunmi, Marketing Director, Nigerite Limited , Mr. Toyin Gbede, Managing Partner, Redwood Consulting, Mr. Femi Olaiya, and Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Project Implementation and Monitoring, Mr. Yusuf Sulaimon, during Stakeholders ’ parley on national housing deficit at the weekend.

ponents to the adoption of dry construction in the country.

He expressed hope that the country can overcome the challenges, pointing out that some actions required to industrialise the building process for dry construction included government policy, the enacting of statutory and regulatory vehicles for enforcing technical and quality criteria for building components, professional support and retraining, and stakeholders ’ enlightenment.

He said, ” In these times of high environmental awareness, the inclusion of clauses which would enforce sustainability of the environment, as given in the developing green building principles is advisable and must be part of the regulatory framework for dry construction. ” He traced the concept of dry building to the Second World War, in Great Britain, saying increasing demand for housing and other products of the building industry after the war triggered off the

search for new method of construction .

He explained that the call for the new method was to reduce the amount of site workers involved in building construction, to reduce cost and to increase the industry productivity. This, he said gave rise to organisation and production methods which were characteristic of other highly mechanised industry in which productivity was high and products were relatively cheap.

Marketing Director, Nigerite, Mr. Toyin Gbede, explained that characteristics of dry construction encompassed pre fabrication and off site production of major components, adding that the method encouraged fast assembling, mass production, better quality, and cost less on economic of large scale.

He stated that dry construction remained the best option for mass housing considering cost, time and quality.

With components already fabricated to design specifications, he said hous-

FG begins data gathering on housing stock OLUFEMI ADEOSUN

T

he Federal Government has initiated moves to collect data which would enable it identify the actual housing deficit in the country and the number of houses being added to the country ’s housing stock.

In order to achieve this, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Amal Pepple, said she had written letters to the 36 state governors, including the Federal Capital Territory, to furnish her with accurate data on the number of houses built in their domains from 2011 till date.

Pepple, who spoke at the weekend in Abuja while inspecting progress of work at Phase 2 Brick City Housing Estate, located along Deidei-Zuba Expressway, Abuja, lamented that while there had been various housing deficit figures in the country, little was known about the efforts being made to bridge the gap.

She linked the lack of accurate information on the number of housing units being added to the country ’s housing stock to the absence of proper data in the sector.

It will be recalled the 17million housing

One of the housing estates in Lagos.

deficit figure Nigeria relies upon till-date, was produced by UN-Habitat.

She said, “First of all, we need to get our data together. I have just written to our state governors to help in collecting data on houses that are built since 2011 when we came on board. We don ’t have data in the sector. They keep telling us there are sixteen to seventeen million deficits; no-

body tells us about how many we are adding to housing stock. We need that first. ” The minister, who attributed the sprouting number of homeless people across the country to high cost of building, also explained that her ministry had entered into partnership with some private investor with a view to bringing the cost down.

“Particularly at the FCT, you have hous-

ing projects would be delivered faster, cheaper and to required standard if the process of industrialisation is applied.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Lange and Grant limited, Mr. Tunde Okoya, a modula shelter expert, said it is not possible to bridge the 16 million housing deficit with the conventional way ootherwise known as wet method of building.

He pointed out that the best way to bridge the housing gap is by adopting prefabricated housing system or dry construction technique, describing it as building construction without moisture retaining materials such as plaster or mortar.

Instead, he said materials such as galvanised steel, fibre cement, precast concrete, gypsum board are majorly used for construction.

He noted that N59 trillion is needed according to World Bank to bridge Nigerian ’s 16 million housing deficit, while the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria ’s estimate is about N56 trillion.

Types of dry construction, according to him, included light guage steel plus fibre cement, insulated panel plus steel in South America, pre engineered building, External Thermal Insulation Composite System popular in South Africa, and Log Building in North America.

He stated that dry construction enhances sustainable construction, lower carbon foot print, significantly faster and less messy site, excellent performance in fire protection, superior acoustic performance and strong material.

According to him, dry construction buildings are on the average, 30 per cent lighter through the efficient use of steel and that the design is quick and efficient. ing estates everywhere that are not being inhabited. It is so partly because some of these buildings are not within the reach of average Nigerians who desire quality shelters. In our ministry, what we are doing is to see how much we can bring down the cost. Everytwhing we do now is private sector-driven, she said.

Given her verdict after inspecting the estate, she commended the developer for the quality of job done, while also particularly praising it for sourcing most of the materials used locally.

According to her, relying predominantly on home-made materials would not help in bringing the cost down, as the cost of importation would have been eliminated, it would also help in employment generation.

She said, ” I am happy that they are using mainly locally made materials.

This is what we want to see. Only the doors are being imported. The chairman told he got virtually all its materials from the country and I have also seen it. Sourcing for the materials locally does two things. First it reduces the cost of the building because you will not be paying for the cost of importation of most of the building materials. Secondly it is also provides jobs for our people. When the factories are working a lot of jobs will be provided. ”

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Omaka opts out of season 30

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Sport

The match with Cote d’Ivoire was the best of my career. I will look back at February 3 with pride - Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo

Why we fell Elephants –Ideye

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uper Eagles striker, Brown Ideye, has told MTNFootball.com that the Eagles were motivated to beat Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire after the latter underrated them ahead of the game.

“We prepared very hard for the game and targeted victory because we were criticised and written off as no match for the Ivoriens,” Ideye said yesterday.

“It did the magic and made us put everything in the game,” the Dynamo Kiev forward added.

“I am very proud of our attitude and approach to the game.

We showed great potentials that we can conquer and rule Africa.

“We also showed we can improve on this going forward.

“It was a determined victory by us and we will keep pushing for the big one which is the trophy.”

‘Stallions can dim Black Stars’

B

urkina Faso Coach, Paul Put, has said that his side can defeat Ghana when both teams meet in tomorrow’s semi final game at the Mbombela Stadium, Neslpruit.

Burkina Faso beat Togo 1-0 in a gruelling quarter final that went into extra-time on Sunday to book a semi final date against four-time champions Ghana.

Put said the Burkinabes had advantage over the Ghanaians.

“We have nothing to lose, we are playing on our home pitch.

It is not a very good pitch, but it is at least our home stadium, but we are happy we can still play here,” Put said, adding, “Our meetings with Zambia and Nigeria have helped us to prepare for Ghana.”

Paul Put

Emmanuel Emenike (9) racing forward, chased by team mates after he opened scoring against Cote d’Ivoire in their quarter final clash on Sunday

Eagles off to Durban, set for Mali AFOLABI GAMBARI

T

he Super Eagles departed Rustenburg yesterday for Durban as preparation kicked off for the semi final clash with the Eagles of Mali at the Moses Mabhida Stadium tomorrow.

Spokesman for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ademola Olajire, told National Mirror that the Durban game would

provide Nigeria an opportunity to appease the local fans after failing to defeat South Korea in a crucial World Cup 2010 group game at the venue.

“Interestingly, the setting is different this time as the South African fans have switched support for the Eagles after the Nigerians knocked Cote d’Ivoire out of AFCON 2013 on Sunday,” Olajire said.

“It is a huge pleasure that the Super Eagles have returned to

their winning ways and have demonstrated that they can go all the way to the final. Reports from the players’ camp suggest that they are ready for this match.”

Asked if the NFF has resolved to upgrade the bonus for the national team ahead of the crucial game, Olajire said: “Whatever remuneration that the players and coaches will get is an internal arrangement but let everyone be assured that they will be adequately motivated. I think the

most important thing at this moment is that we are all resolved to ensuring the ultimate success for Nigeria, that is, qualifying for the final on Sunday and winning the trophy.”

National Mirror gathered yesterday that suspended midfielder, Fegor Ogude, will return to the starting line-up with a view to the Super Eagles’ coaching crew’s determination to dominate the midfield considered to be the Malians’ fortress.

Go for trophy, Guinness charges Eagles IKENWA N NABUOGOR

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uinness Nigeria has tasked the upper Eagles to overcome the odds on their way to conquering Africa when the curtain is drawn on the 29th Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.

The brewing company gave the charge in in Lagos yesterday while congratulating the Eagles for qualifying for the AFCON quarter final after defeating the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 in the crucial

match.

Marketing and Innovations Director of the company, Mr. Austin Ufomba, said the time had come for the Eagles to exert their influence on the continent by winning the cup after 19 years of waiting since 1994.

“We have proved that the belief of the 160 million fans in the Eagles made all the difference and it supported Guinness’ resolve to galvanise the team across all its fan engagement activities,” Ufomba said, adding that the Guinness Fly

with the Eagles Campaign would reinforce the company’s support for the national team.

“From the 200 fans that are currently cheering the Eagles to victory in South Africa to putting Nigeria on the map by setting a new World Record for the largest jersey, we justified our support the team.”

Marketing Manager, Obinna Anyalebechi, has described the victory as a great gift while promising the company’s continuous support for the Eagles.

“We have always believed in this team even when others

failed to associate with them,” Anyalebechi said.

The largest jersey was unveiled at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere just before the AFCON kicked off on January 19. The event drew dignitaries including representatives of the Lagos State governor and the Nigeria Football Federation.

“We’re planning to get as many fans as possible all over the country to sign the giant jersey signifying support for the Super Eagles,” Ufomba said at the occasion.

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Aminu tips Keita harps Eagles for final

Self-belief lifted Eagles–Laloko

on success secret

A FOLABI GAMBARI

F

ormer Technical Director of Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Dr. Kashimawo Laloko, has described Nigeria’s quarter final win over Cote d’Ivoire yesterday as the result of self motivation by the Super Eagles.

Laloko, who spoke with National Mirror shortly after the encounter that ended 2-1 at Rustenburg in South Africa, said the fact that the Eagles were underrated on all fronts drove the Nigerians to success.

“The magnitude of the game suggested that the Eagles would prevail as the players realized that a lot was at stake and were determined not to let Nigerians down,” he said.

“Personally, I was excited that the team could rise to the occasion in such manner after the uncertain steps of the initial games in the competition,” he added.

Laloko, however, cautioned the Eagles’ handlers on the need to remain focused ahead of the semi final with Mali on Wednesday.

“At this stage, I am sure the coaches will be professional enough to know that the real battle has just begun and we cannot afford not to at least put ourselves within a touching distance of the cup on February 10,” he further said.

M

ali captain, Seydou Keita, yesterday said that the ongoing conflict in his country has motivated his desire to help the Eagles to win the Nations Cup as the Malians prepare to meet Nigeria in tomorrow’s semi final in Durban.

The former Barcelona midfielder turned in yet another inspiring performance to edge hosts South Africa in a penalty shootout on Saturday.

“For me, every victory we have achieved here has sent a message of peace to our people back home,” 33-year-old Keita, who has scored three goals in the ongoing tournament, said.

French troops are leading an assault on al Qaeda-linked Islamist rebels and taken back territory in the north in a three-weekold intervention.

“Our win ensures that Mali can hold their heads high and they will all be celebrating with us,” he added.

Keita wore a Mali flag draped over his shoulder to the post match press conference after knocking out Bafana Bafana.

“I’m wearing the flag that is flying in the north now as proudly as it is flying in the south,” he said in a reference to towns recaptured in recent days.

“It has been as important for us to win for the people as it has been for ourselves.”

Seydou Keita has inspired Mali in South Africa

AFOLABI GAMBARI

F

ormer Nigeria Football Association (NFA) Chairman, Col. Abdulmumuni Aminu (rtd), has said that the Super Eagles will play in the final of the AFCON 2013 scheduled for the Soccer City in Johannesburg on February 10.

Aminu told National Mirror yesterday that the Eagles had restored Nigeria to the indomitable days after knocking out the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in the quarter final on Sunday.

“I have a strong faith in this team and I believe my faith is not misplaced,” the former FA boss said.

According to the football administrator, it is wrong for Nigerians to dismiss the Eagles in view of their consistent rise back to the old days when they were formidable.

“In a way, though, this loss of faith by many fans has helped the Eagles to steady their march in South Africa.

“Let me, therefore, call on Nigerians to support the team with prayers as they confront Mali in the semi final on Wednesday.”

Aminu, who predicted a Nigeria versus Ghana final, however, expressed worry on Eagles’ capability in handling their West African rivals.

“It means the Eagles’ crew must sustain the present strength to get the ultimate goal because it will be a difficult task,” he submitted.

Mark, Tambuwal congratulate Eagles

Minister hails team’s resolve

GEORGE O RJI SALAM

AND

TORDUE

ABUJA

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ports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has praised the Super Eagles for displaying unusual grit, determination and brilliance in the defeat of the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in the quarter final of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

An elated Abdullahi, who returned to Nigeria from South Africa last week after he had stayed with the national team for about one week and promised to return if the team reached the final, said the Super Eagles rose to the occasion and displayed the true Nigerian spirit. “With the victory, Nigeria has shown that it is still a force to reckon with in African football,” the minis-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

S Abdullahi

ter said.

He, however, urged the team to maintain the focus that saw them reach the semis where they will meet Eagles of Mali on Wednesday.

“I have no doubt that the Eagles have the capacity to get to the final and even win the cup and I urge the technical crew to sustain their effort,” Abdullahi concluded.

enate President David Mark has congratulated the Super Eagles of Nigeria on their 2-1 victory over the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in their AFCON 2013 quarter final yesterday.

Mark, who said the victory brought smiles to millions of Nigerians at home and abroad, urged the players to sustain the momentum by winning their semi final game on Wednesday and eventually winning the trophy.

“Football remains the greatest ingredient for the nation’s unity,” Mark remarked, while thanking Nigerians for supporting the team.

“The National Assembly will reward the players’ hard work at the appropriate time,” the

Senate President, Mark

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tambuwal.

Senate President assured.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has also greeted the national team for its feat.

A statement signed by the Speaker’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mallam Imam Imam, said the Eagles’ fighting spirit would see

them lifting the trophy on February 10.

“They won the match convincingly by controlling the play and neutralising the Ivorien team,” Tambuwal said, while urging Nigerians to intensify prayers for the team until the trophy is brought to Abuja.

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Sport

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

29

Carroll faces bleak future

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est Ham Manager, Sam Allardyce, says he will wait until the end of the season before making a decision on the future of striker Andy Carroll.

Carroll scored just the second goal of his season-long loan from Liverpool, which has been badly disrupted by injury, in Saturday’s 1-0 win against Swansea.

Hammers co-owner David Sullivan confirmed on Friday that an agreement had already been reached with Liverpool to sign Carroll on a permanent basis, although they were yet to agree terms with the player.

But despite praising Carroll’s ability, Allardyce admits he is uncertain whether the club will be able to secure the 24-year-old’s signature permanently.

“You always want a top class centre forward,” Allardyce said, adding, “I know he’s been short on goals and he’s had a disrupted season, but he’ll only get better if he’s got a settled future whether with or without us.”

Reina hands in Reds’ surrender Pepe Reina

L

iverpool goalkeeper, Pepe Reina, has admitted the Anfield outfit can’t compete in the Premier League title race with Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea.

The Reds are currently 26 points adrift of leaders United in the Premier League table and remain 17 behind champions City following Sunday’s thrilling 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium.

Liverpool held a 2-1 lead against City going into the closing stages, before Reina’s ill-advised rush from his line allowed Sergio Aguero to score a

spectacular equaliser.

“Right now we can’t compete with the big guns. They have a big edge over us at the moment, both financially and squad-wise,” Reina said yesterday.

“There’s a reason they are so many points ahead of us, and it’s not because of one or two better players.”

The Spain international has come under the spotlight personally this term, with his standards having slipped from previous seasons.

“This has been the most unsettled season, both personally and as a team, since I joined the club,” he submitted.

Match-fixing: Agency probes ‘suspicious games’

T

Platini

he European Police Agency has revealed that a wide-ranging investigation into match fixing has uncovered more than 380 suspicious matches.

These games include World Cup and European Championship qualifiers and two UEFA Champions League games, one of which was in England.

Europol’s chief, Rob Wainwright, said the investigation found “match fixing activity on a scale we have not seen before”.

Wainwright revealed the probe uncovered around £7million in betting profits and £1.27m in bribes to players and officials and has already led to several prosecutions.

The investigation identified about 425 corrupt officials, players and serious criminals in 15 countries and 50 arrests have been made so far.

Wainwright also stated that the involvement of organised crime “highlights a big problem for the integrity of football in Europe” with Asian gambling cartels identified as part of the match fixing operation.

Wainwright would not reveal the identity of the Champions League match staged in England under suspicion due to “ongoing judicial proceedings” but confirmed it had taken place in the last three to four years and admitted England was not a country under particular scrutiny.

A UEFA spokesman confirmed the body would co-operate with the investigation.

“We will be liaising with Europol in relation to any reports of match fixing in European competition,” the spokesman said yesterday.

Sturridge

Friendly: England loses Sturridge

E

ngland striker, Daniel Sturridge, has been ruled out of tomorrow’s friendly international against Brazil at Wembley due to a thigh injury.

Sturridge reported for duty at St George’s Park on Sunday evening with the remainder of the squad but was unable to take part in training yesterday before returning to his club Liverpool for further treatment.

The 23-year-old was injured during the first half of Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at Manchester City, shortly after scoring the Reds’ opening goal, but was not substituted until the closing stages of the game.

Sturridge’s withdrawal leaves England boss Roy Hodgson with only Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck after Tottenham’s Jermain Defoe pulled out with an ankle problem, although Hodgson has the option of playing Theo Walcott up front.

Only 12 England players trained normally yesterday as the remainder who were in action on Sunday only warmed down.

Tit bits...

Emenalo Chelsea’s Technical Director, Michael Emenalo, is coming under enormous pressure at Stamford Bridge.

Reports said after a series of poor results, popping eyes have been directed at the former Nigeria international who must provide succour to grieving fans.

Emenalo had recommended former Liverpool and Inter Milan coach Rafa Benitez for the Blues job in November, after Roberto Di Matteo was sacked.

Kaka

AC Milan Vice President, Adriano Galliani, has blamed Real Madrid for the failure of signing the club’s out-of-favour midfielder, Kaka.

According to reports yesterday, Galliani branded Madrid’s asking price as “impossible”.

“The story with Kaka is definitively over,” Galliani insisted with vehemence.

“Taking into account his age and the cost of his salary, it was frankly impossible.”

Owen Stoke City striker, Michael Owen, has escaped a ban after FA bosses confirmed he was in the clear over his fracas with Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta at the weekend.

Owen appeared in danger of a threematch suspension after seeming to aim a punch at Arteta in a rare show of temper in his side’s 1-0 defeat.

It was seen by the match officials, so that is the end of the matter”, an FA spokesman said yesterday.

Simpson

Newcastle defender, Danny Simpson, was left bleeding and unconscious in the street after a bloody 4am brawl outside a takeaway in Manchester.

Simpson, who is expected to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season, was out celebrating his side’s last-gasp 3-2 win over Chelsea on Saturday evening.

His argument was said to have kicked off outside the Rice Flamebar and Grill with former Manchester United team mates Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley.

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On the track with

YEMI OLUS danyella172003@yahoo.com

Omaka opts out of season

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igerian sprinter, Ogho-Oghene Egwero, commenced the 2013 season with a second place finish in the 60m at the Gugl Indoor Meet in Austria last week.

Mike Rodgers of the United States won the A Final in 6.60secs while the former national champion followed in 6.67secs; Greg Cackett of Great Britain was third with 6.72secs. Another Nigerian, Tobi Ogunmola, placed seventh in the B Final in a time of 7.20secs.

Egwero earlier led his heat with 6.67 and would be hoping to compete in a number of meets in Europe before returning to the country at the end of February or next month.

The former National Sports festival champion is hoping to put up an impressive show this year following his below par performance last year where he failed to go beyond the heats of the 100m at the London 2012 Games.

The Delta State athlete, who has represented Nigeria at the 2009 and 2011 World Championships in Berlin and Daegu respectively, will hope to make a meaningful appearance at the 2013 championships holding in Moscow, Russia in August.

He achieved his personal best time in the 60m is 6.60secs in February 2011 in Dusseldorf, Germany while he has a time of 10.06 in the 100m and 21.72 in the 200m.

Ogho-Oghene Egwero (in front) during a recent race

Egwero shines in Austria meet

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igerian sprinter, Ogho-Oghene Egwero, commenced the 2013 season with a second place finish in the 60m at the Gugl Indoor Meet in Austria last week.

Mike Rodgers of the United States won the A Final in 6.60secs while the former national champion followed in 6.67secs; Greg Cackett of Great Britain was third with 6.72secs. Another Nigerian, Tobi Ogunmola, placed seventh in the B Final in a time of

Adeoye takes huge leap

I

n Britain’s second city of Birmingham on Sunday, Margaret Adeoye produced a worldleading 200m in 22.98, the first woman this year to go under 23 seconds for one lap of a conventional indoor track.

Her compatriot, Nigel Levine, won the men’s 200m in an indoor personal best of 20.93.

Andrew Pozzi, fourth in the 2012 World Indoor Championships 60m Hurdles, clocked a fast 7.58 in his heat, the second fastest time in the world this year, his first race since injury at Olympic Games. In the final he lost his rhythm but still won in 7.91.

In the Finnish city of Tampere, South Africa’s

2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships Long Jump winner Godfrey Khotso Mokoena leaped to 8.01m, to just beat the new Finnish record holder Eero Haapala, who was second with 7.99m.

Finland’s 2011 European Athletics junior Championships 100m Hurdles gold medallist Nooralotta Neziri improved her 60m Hurdles best to 8.14 and Russian horizontal jumps star Tatyana Lebedeva won the Triple Jump with 13.82m.

In Asia on Sunday, during the Japan-Taiwan indoor meeting in Osaka, Seito Yamamoto cleared new Japanese indoor Pole Vault record of 5.71m.

7.20secs.

Egwero earlier led his heat with 6.67 and would be hoping to compete in a number of meets in Europe before returning to the country at the end of February or next month.

The former National Sports festival champion is hoping to put up an impressive show this year following his below par performance last year where he failed to go beyond the heats of the 100m at the London 2012 Games.

The Delta State athlete, who has represented Nigeria at the 2009 and 2011 World Championships in Berlin and Daegu respectively, will hope to make a meaningful appearance at the 2013 championships holding in Moscow, Russia in August.

He achieved his personal best time in the 60m is 6.60secs in February 2011 in Dusseldorf, Germany while he has a time of 10.06 in the 100m and 21.72 in the 200m.

Thiam breaks Pentathlon record

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Nafissatou Thiam

elgium’s Nafissatou Thiam, who only turns 19 in August, put together a World indoor Junior Record (pending ratification) for the Pentathlon with a total of 4558 points in Gent on Sunday.

Thiam achieved 8.65 over the 60m Hurdles, 1.84m in High Jump, 14.00m in the Shot Put, 6.30m in the Long Jump and finally 2:21.18 in the 800m.

She added 23 points to the former record

by Sweden’s Carolina Kluft, who scored 4535 points at the 2002 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Vienna. World Junior Indoor Records were approved

by the IAAF Council in November 2011.

Thiam, fourth in the 2011 World Youth Championships heptathlon, got four personal bests, only missing out in the High Jump in where she can boast of a best of 1.88m.

The occupational therapy student from Liege told local media that she is hoping now to get invited to the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, which will be held from March 1 to 3 and has as her main goal for the summer, a gold medal at the European Athletics junior Championships in the Italian town of Rieti.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Real Estate & Environment

31

‘Govt must fast-track Local Content implementation in infrastructure ’ Mr. Mustafa Shehu is the President, Nigerian Society of Engineers. In this interview with OLUFEMI ADEOSUN and ADAOYICHE GOODNESS, he spoke on the country ’s drive to expand its infrastructure base and other issues pertaining to the growth of the construction industry.

What are your expectations from government in this New Year?

Well, what the society expects from the Federal Government this year is not at variance from what the generality of Nigerians expect from the government. Our interest is just to expand the economy; to make sure that a lot of infrastructural projects take off and the ongoing ones speedily completed. There has to also be the deliberate policy of involvement of Nigerians in all the infrastructural development of the country because, you cannot develop infrastructure sustainably without making sure that your own citizens partake in the development of those infrastructures.

What I am saying is, today, we have found ourselves in what is called globalised economy in the sense that any company can come and compete with Nigerian companies in Nigeria. Sometimes, if we are not careful, we tend to give all the jobs to foreign companies, thereby making our own people idle. By doing that, we are just increasing the level of unemployment in the country and providing employment for other people. I am not saying that Nigeria can be completely independent in terms of human resources and all that the country needs for its development. My point is that there are certain categories of labour and skills that do not need to come from other countries. But today, there are many countries that are bringing unskilled manpower into this country thereby making our own citizens idle.

Apart from engineers, architects, quantity surveyors or builders, they bring into the country artisans, labourers, technicians, technologists despite the fact that we have them in abundance.

In Nigeria today, there are so many engineers, architects, accountants, quantity surveyors and builders roaming the streets looking for jobs. That is not in the good interest of our economy.

The argument has always been that some of the engineers in the country either do not match up with the needed competency for handling certain jobs or they have this deliberate policy of not doing the right thing. How do you react to this? It is not impossible to have found any professional in the country who has failed in one way or the other in the discharge of his responsibility. However, what we are saying is that, if any Nigerian engineer falter in the discharge of his duties, bring him to the professional institution and also replace him with another Nigerian engineer who can do the job, rather than bringing in a foreign professional.

There are good Nigerian professionals and of course there are the bad ones.

The bad ones, we deal with them. For instance, if today we have any problem with any member of the executive, local government chairman, governor or even President, do you go and replace him with any foreigner? Also would you shop for another senator outside the country, should any senator at the Na-

they can merge. Nobody wants to have it small because a small percentage in a very big company is more than a large percentage in a small company. The government has to be fair to the professionals. If that deliberate policy is made, definitely, people will want to merge with others.

Shehu

THE N5BILLION PROJECT RESERVED FOR INDIGENOUS CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES, TO MY MIND, IS VERY SMALL. ALL THE MAJOR JOBS ARE FROM 10BILLION, 30BILLION, 50BILLION AND ABOVE. SO, THIS POLICY SHOULD ALSO SHOOT UP TO 30BN IF GOVERNMENT WANTS TO SEE NIGERIAN COMPANIES GROW BIG tional Assembly fails in the discharge of his responsibility to the people or the nation? So why Nigerian engineers must be made the “whipping boys? ” My humble submission on this is that, if he cannot do the job as you want it, replace him with somebody that is better because that is the only way the country can grow. Anybody who does wrong, you deal with him. We are also ready to deal with any engineer who errs in the discharge of his responsibilities. We have the COREN Tribunal. Like we often tell the general public, if an engineer does anything wrong, report him to us; we have disciplinary actions that we can take against him and we will publicise it so that people will know. That is what is hampering our progress in this country. People do things wrongly and they are not being penalised.

Apart from this issue of incompetence, it has also been discovered that some of the indigenous engineering firms are too weak to bid for certain category of projects. Why are you not encouraging your members to form a consortium as it is being done in other climes?

There are so many problems inherent in us as individuals and there is also a system problem. First, there is no deliberate policy from the government for consistent patronage of Nigerian professionals. If one engineering firm knows it would have consistent patronage by merging with firm A, B, C, D to form a big consortium in Nigeria, it will. The problem is that, in Nigeria patronage has been politicised. If the current government gives you a job, there may not be any guarantee that the preceding government will keep up the patronage. So, you find that you have grown big with a lot of people under you but the sustenance of your company becomes threatened if you are not in the good book of the successive governments. That is the fear of so many professionals, which is why they are sceptical to merge. If they have confidence in the system and government, that there is a deliberate policy to patronise Nigerian professionals and that they will not be victimised because they are friends with the previous government, then

Toward extent have your members leverage on the N5bn project peg for the country ’s indigenous companies?

The N5bn project reserved for indigenous construction companies, to my mind is very small. All the major jobs are from 10billion, 30billion, 50billion and above. So, this policy should also shoot up to 30bn if government wants to see Nigerian companies grow big.

Another factor militating against leveraging on the policy is the country ’s the financial system does not encourage entrepreneurship. The banking sector as it is being constituted at present is not amenable to the growth of any construction industry .Today is you approach banks for a loan facility to finance your project, you may not be able to meet their terms Even when you meet those terms, you will not make any profit because the interest rate is extremely high. So there has to be deliberate government policy to make sure that sourcing of funds is very encouraging because if I have to give 20% interest rate on whatever money I get from them, how much profit do I expect from the project that I am embarking upon? There is no project that you will embark upon in this country that you will get more than 25%, and the bank is giving out loans at either 22 or 23%. If you add VAT to it, you find out you are running at a loss at the end of the day.

Added to this is that fact that you cannot be sure if you would be paid for the project at the record time. If you go into any project, sometimes, you won ’t even get your money till after five, six or even seven years. By then, what kind of interest rate are you going to give the bankers?

Do you think that Federal Government has the political will to even implement the N5bn local content policy in the construction industry?

Yes, I believe it does. The last time we had the conference in Ilorin, the minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen said that. I know there are some jobs being given to Nigerian professionals within those limits. In addition to that, I also believe, Nigerian constructions companies can handle bigger projects in partnership with foreign companies but then, the Nigerian should be the lead partner or principal. If such policy is there as it is being done in other countries, you will see us growing. It is important that the Federal Government enact a law that will enable Nigerian companies to partner with foreign companies so that they can grow and expand. That is how all other countries have grown.

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Real Estate & Environment

How to install porcelain oor tile There are different types of porcelain floor tiles. Natural porcelain tiles are in their natural form--smooth and dense. According to expert at www.ehow.com, polished porcelain tiles have been polished to achieve a high-shine, yet still retain a granite-like finish, saying these are great for creating a clean and bright effect in a room.

R

emove the floor trim using your hammer and flat bar. Do it carefully if you want to reuse the same trim at the end instead of installing new trim.

• Lay cement board over the whole floor, starting in one corner and cutting pieces as needed by scoring them with your razor knife and snapping them. Affix them to the floor with carpenter ’s glue and screws sunk every square foot. Spread thin set mortar over the seams between the boards with your drywall knife, getting it as smooth as you can.

• Use your chalk snap line to divide the floor into four equal sections. Use your notched trowel to spread thin set mortar in the corner of one of the sections, where the lines intersect in the middle of the room. Press your first few porcelain tiles into place, using the snap lines as guides and separating them with tile spacers.

• Continue laying tiles, working in sections across the floor and building off the previous tiles. Lay all the full tiles, then measure and cut the partial tiles for the edges of the floor, using your wet saw. Remove the tile spacers and let the floor set for a day.

• Add water to your powdered grout and mix it in the bucket until it ’s the consistency of cake frosting. Let it “slake ’ ’ in the bucket for 10 minutes.

U SE

YOUR CHALK

SNAP LINE TO DIVIDE THE FLOOR INTO FOUR EQUAL SECTIONS Spread it onto the floor using your grout float, pressing it into the spaces. Wipe off the excess grout from the floor with a damp sponge. Let the grout set for two days.

• Seal the grout with grout sealer, using the sponge applicator on the bottle.

Re-install the floor trim.

Culled lled from: www www.divinecaroline.com w div iv ivinecaroline com

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Game up for quack estate agents ....ESVRBON inducts 124 new members DAYO AYEYEMI

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f information from the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), is anything to go by, the nefarious activities of tout parading themselves as estate agents will soon be a thing of the past.

According to the Registrar of the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria, the regulatory body of NIESV, Mr. Thomas Audu, government has empowered the institution to register all agents under the umbrella body of National Association of Agents for proper monitoring.

Audu, while fielding questions from journalists after the induction of new members to the fold of NIESV

by ESVRBON in Lagos at the weekend, stated that the Corporate Affairs Commision has registered the association, saying what remains is the sensitisation of stakeholders.

Once this is done, he said the general public will begin to witness sanity in the estate agents ’activities in the country.

He stated that the institution is also collaborating with government to see if it can look at some of the institution ’s laws on registration and practice of estate agency law, noting that all over

L-R: Registrar of ESVARBON, Mr. Thomas Audu; Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Mr. Peter Nwanko; Chairman of the Board, Mr. Ayodele Sangosanya and NIESV President, Mr Emeka Eleh during the induction of new members at the weekend in Lagos.

the world, “estate agency is giving people headache, so we seek control of estate agency under our law. ” Meanwhile, the number of registered estate surveyors in Nigeria was further swollen by the induction of 124 persons to the fold of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV. The 124 persons were inducted by the Estate Survey-

ors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVRBON) to practice the profession in Nigeria.

With this addition, the number of registered estate surveyors and valuers in Nigeria is now 3012.

Despite this rising numbers of practising estate surveyors, Chairman of ESVRBON, Mr Ayodele Sangosanya, said it was still a far cry from be-

ing adequate when compared to the population of over 160 million.

Because of this shortfall he said the management of ESVRBON would continue to find ways and means of producing more registered estate surveyors as soon as possible without lowering the standards.

He warned the inductees that the stamps, seals and

33

certificates awarded them remained the properties of ESVRBON and it reserved the right to withdraw the items at any time if abused.

He urged them to guide the rules of the practice, warning that their violations would not be tolerated.

He said, “Therefore, the ethics and ethos of the profession should be carefully guarded by all and sundry. ” He explained that integrity is the hallmark of success in every professional, urging the inductees to consciously protect this with the fear of God. He stated that the focus of the board was to substantially reduce the nefarious activities of quacks by registering more qualified estate surveyors and valuers in the country.

Sangosanya hinted that the board has put in place requisite machinery in place, in collaboration with relevant law enforcement agencies, to check the spread of pseudo practice and bring to book culprits found guilty of the offence.

He added that the board has instituted actions in courts against quacks who would not heed its warning.

He admonished the inductees to give good account of themselves and be good ambassadors of NIESV. One of the inductees who spoke to National Mirror, Mr Oldu Richard, said he was happy to be registered after years of waiting He described the induction as the height of professional practice, saying it was worth waiting for as it gives professional the opportunity to express himself.

Nigeria ’s nancial system stiing growth in construction sector O LUFEMI A DEOSUN

ABUJA

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he President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Mustafa Shehu has hit hard on the country ’s financial system, stressing that the financial system as it is being presently constituted, does not encourage the growth of the construction industry.

This is even as the NSE boss said that the Federal Government should in addition to N5bn contract reserved for the indigenous construction company, come up with a policy which would mandate foreign companies handling bigger jobs to compulsorily have local companies as partners.

The NSE President who

spoke National Mirror in Abuja explained that the Federal Government could further encourage the growth of the country ’s construction companies by simplifying sources of funding.

He said, ” One of the major factors slowing down the construction industry is the unhealthy competitions from foreign companies. Another factor is that the financial system of the country does not support any entrepreneurship. It doesn ’t support the growth of any construction industry because whatever project that you want to embark on and you go to any financial institution to get any facility, the kind of terms they will tell you, you cannot meet those terms.

“Even if you meet those

terms, you will not make any profit because the interest rate is extremely high. So, there has to be deliberate government policy to make sure that sourcing of funds is very encouraging because if I have to give 20 per cent interest rate on whatever money I get from them, how much profit do I expect from the project that I am embarking upon?

“There is no project that you will embark upon in this country that you will get more than 25 per cent profit, and the bank is looking for either 22 or 23 per cent; you remove tax, VAT and so on. ” Apart from that, he said that government could also come up with a policy which would make it compulsory for any foreign construction company handling govern-

ment projects to have local firm as a lead partner.

“To further demonstrate government ’s commitment to the growth of the sector, bigger jobs to Nigerians in partnership with foreign companies but then, the Nigerian should be the lead partner or principal. If such policy is there as it is been done in other countries, you will see us growing. Most of the Nigerian companies have the capacity to do these mega projects, ” he stated.

Shehu, who explained that the society would not condone any misconduct from its members, however, urged Nigerians to report anyone found to have run foe of the ethics of the profession for necessary disciplinary action.

Shehu

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Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Fashola restates commitment to infrastructure development ....Promises to invest borrowed funds in future assets

On-going construction at Vlekete Slave Market

DAYO AYEYEMI

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agos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has restated that his administration would invest borrowed funds in assets that would determine the quality of life of today and tomorrow ’s generations.

Fashola, along with members of his cabinet, reassured Lagosians while embarking on on-going statewide inspection of projects in Badagry axis at the weekend.

He explained that state government is ready to take on bigger challenges while being audacious and forward thinking.

The tour took him to several places, including the on-going construction of the

combined High Court/Magistrate Courts, the on-going Market Road Phase II, development of tourism sites including Vlekete Slave Market at the Posukoh Quarters, the reclamation of the Marina shoreline and the first District Officers ’ Office which is being rehabilitated.

He said those criticising his government on the issue are voodoo economists.

He said, “We are seeing a rehash of an old plan. They are voodoo economists.

This was the same plan during the tenure of my predecessor, saying Lagos has mortgaged its future for 50 years when we the first Bond was taken. That Bond has been repaid. The other that we took is due for repayment, the amount in the consolidated debt service account is about N62 billion as

Pending home sales fall in US

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ending home sales in the United States declined in December but have stayed above year ago levels for 20 consecutive months, according to the latest figures from the National Association of Realtors.

Its latest Pending Home Sales Index, a forward looking indicator based on contract signings, fell 4.3 per cent to 101.7 in December from 106.3 in November but is 6.9 percent higher than December 2011.

According to reports from Property Wire, Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said there is an underlying upward trend but it is uneven. ‘The supply limitation appears to be the main factor holding back contract signings in the past month. Still, contract activity has risen for 20 straight months on a year on year basis, ’ he pointed out.

‘Buyer interest remains solid, as evidenced by a separate realtor survey

which shows that buyer foot traffic is easily outpacing seller traffic, ’ he added.

Yun also pointed out that shortages of available inventory are limiting sales in some areas.

‘Supplies of homes costing less than $100,000 are tight in much of the country, especially in the West, so first-time buyers have fewer options. We expect a seasonal rise of inventory in the spring to help, but a seller ’s market may be developing. Much of the West is already a seller ’s market for homes priced under a million dollars, but conditions are much more balanced in the Northeast, ’ he explained.

Even with tighter inventory, a pent up demand and favourable affordability conditions bode well for the market and Yun added that he expects existing home sales to increase another 9 per cent in 2013, following a 9 per cent rise in 2012.

at December last year and the liability that we have is N50billion and is not due until next year, by which time the amount in the debt service account will grow. The debt service account shows clearly that we can pay back. ” Giving an insight into the components that made up the state ’s budget, the governor explained that the demands which the state government got before its budget from various communities, roads, schools amounted to about N700billion but because the administration knew that it could not generate N700billion, it had to scale the budget down to around N497billion which was over and above what it could reasonably foresee.

While noting that some uninformed

critics could find it easy to postulate that the state ’s Internally Generated Revenue and Federal Allocation Committee funds should be all that should be budgeted for, the governor explained that both would account for just a little over N300 billion annually, an amount totally inadequate for the needs of a state of over 20 million people.

He said, “We are aspirational and ready to take on bigger challenges than our realities show because that for me must be part of what governance entails. It is about being audacious and forward thinking ”.

“The only reason why we are working hard is how to bridge that deficit in a sustainable way, raise the money, collect the taxes from those who are hiding, who don ’t want to contribute and also prepare for the generation that is coming behind. ” Responding to a question from a journalist who wanted a clarification on whether courier companies need to obtain fresh clearance before plying the roads with 200cc motorcycles, the governor said no such clearance is needed.

The governor while speaking about the on-going Vlekete Slave Market and other tourism development projects in Badagry, said it was all about tourism as it represents one of the historical sites that Nigerians pay money to go and visit in other parts of the world.

He explained that the state is building all of the road networks around the historical sites as part of the development of tourism projects in Badagry like the shoreline for the point of no return area aimed at providing the infrastructure that brings people to the place in a comfortable way and takes them back comfortably.

Overseas investment to boost private residential rental sector in London

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verseas investment has become a more prominent feature of London ’s new build housing market in recent years, especially investment from Asia, and this is set to have a knock on effect on the city ’s rental market.

This is because the demand and supply dynamics of housing in London, especially in central areas, is being boosted by the private rented sector (PRS) and as more foreign investors buy more of them want to rent out their investment.

According to report from Property Wire, Knight Frank ’s London Development Report shows that supply for property across London is set to be far outstripped by demand in the coming years, further exacerbating a shortage of housing already affecting the capital.

Add to this demand the current constraints in the UK mortgage market, which has become a major challenge for first time buyers trying to buy their first home, and it is clear how the PRS has grown in importance.

The recently published new census data shows that London has seen the biggest rise in the number of households, which range from people living

alone to large families, in the PRS over the last 20 years compared to every other region in the UK. Since 1991 the number of households in the PRS in the 13 inner London boroughs has more than doubled, climbing by nearly 190,000 to 372,000. There are more than 100,000 households in the PRS in the four boroughs of central London, up 50% from 1991.

Knight Frank says that the rising demand for rented property has pushed up average rents in recent years. This coupled with strong cap-

London property

ital growth, has resulted in enviable returns on London investments.

However the consolidation in the financial sector had a knock on effect on rents in prime central London in 2012, with modest declines in average rents which ended the year down 3.2%. Yet the picture is much more localised than this. Some areas saw rents rise last year,including Kensington, up 0.6%, the City up 3.2%, Canary Wharf up 1.3% and Notting Hill up 1.5%, while Belgravia saw rents climb by 0.9% in the last three months of 2012 alone.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

AIC Hotel Company Limited and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), are at loggerheads over a parcel of land meant for the construction of a five-star hotel at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. Aviation stakeholders appraise the tussle between the two parties.

OLUSEGUN KOIKI writes.

Aviation

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

FAAN, AIC Hotel ’s land dispute: Matters arising

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he Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos environment has been under intense pressure in the last three weeks, no thanks to the raging controversy between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and its supposed concessionaire, AIC Hotel Limited.

Both parties are laying claims to 11.654-hectare parcel of land. While the concessionaire through its promoter, Chief Harry Akande claims that the land has been concessioned to it since 1998 by the agency for the construction of a five-star hotel for 50 years, FAAN on the other hand through its General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr. Yakubu Dati insists the land ’s right has been revoked due to its closeness to the terminal.

Personal Assistant to Akande, Mr. Gbenga Akinyemi said the company has committed about $15 million to the work. He explained that in April, AIC submitted an application for a building permit to FAAN as the next stage of the plan, while the foundation laying ceremony was performed on May 13, 1999.

Akande explained that in its prototype, the land is expected to house international hotels, a shopping mall, and a light rail that would connect travellers from the hotel to the terminal as the case in London Heathrow Airport, Atlanta Airport and other big airports around the world.

However, after the change of power in 1999, the approval for the permit he said was held back while FAAN in May 2000, wrote the company to vacate the land stating that though there were no disputes on the 50-year lease, there were concerns about the proposed height of the hotel and the site.

The company maintained that the issue of the hotel ’s height and some other related matters had earlier been resolved with FAAN ’s previous management in a letter to the company conveying approval for the site plan, the structure and architectural designs.

FAAN speaking through Dati, justified the withdrawal of the concession, saying it did so for security reasons. Dati said in an interview with National Mirror that the threat posed to aviation security had informed the stoppage of work at the proposed site of the hotel.

He maintained that, “there is no country in the world where a hotel is built near a sensitive site of any airport. ” He further said that although an error was made by granting the concession ab initio, “it is not late to correct it for national interest, safety of passengers and other airport users. One man ’s interest cannot override that of the nation. ” On payment of damages that the arbitration panel awarded to AIC, Dati said FAAN considered the cost outrageous and challenged it in court.

35

Ekanem

Uriesi

THE CONCESSIONAIRE MAY BE RELOCATED TO THE LAND SIDE OF THE AIRPORT WHERE THREAT IS

MINIMAL. THIS IS AN OPTION I THINK IS BETTER TO BOTH PARTIES “FAAN appealed the ruling. We are talking of $47 million for a company that did not put any structure at the site of the proposed hotel. It is a huge sum; we are not talking of N47 million. The matter is pending in court, ” he said.

Since the controversy began, aviation stakeholders and professionals have been commenting on the issue. While most applauded the proposed construction of a hotel within the airport environment, others cautioned against its closeness to the airport terminal having in mind the current security challenge that has engulfed the entire nation in recent time.

The President, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), FAAN branch, Comrade Ekanem Ekanem in an interview with National Mirror observed that governments all over the world embrace private participation in the management of facilities they hitherto managed with success, but noted that the reverse has always been the case in Nigeria.

On the crisis between FAAN and the concessionaire, Ekanem insisted that FAAN was right with its current position on the concessionaire. He said the proposed site for the hotel was too close to the terminal and unscrupulous elements in the society may attack the airport through the hotel.

He also described as ridiculous the 50 years concession agreement between the two parties and decried that most people who sign for government in such agreements usually work against the general interest.

He emphasised that most concession agreements in the country especially in the sector are not transparent and did not follow due process, noting that if they did, most of the crises in the sector with conces-

sionaires would have been avoided.

He said, “Take a look at some of the concessions we have had in the past, how many of them has really favoured us? Look at Maevis that came in and left with lots of millions of dollars. I ’m not contesting the number of years that the hotel was proposed to be concessioned in the contract inasmuch as FAAN itself is not contesting it, but again I want to say it is really ridiculous that we can have such an agreement for 50 years.

“However, let us take a look at the security implication of the hotel being there, a good mark man can hit any airline on the runway with its sophisticated weapons that are everywhere today. So, the porosity of the security apparatus in the country can give room for that. The site personally, is too close to the runway and the operational areas of the military. So, I do not in anyway consent to that arrangement. ” On the way out of the imbroglio, he advised FAAN to reach an agreement with the concessionaire and relocate the hotel to a better place with less security concern.

“The concessionaire maybe relocated to the land side of the airport where such threat is minimal to be on a safe side. This is an option I think is better to both parties. ” Also, a member of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Engr. Adebayo Williams stated that there was nothing wrong with concessioning a part of government properties to private investors for development, but insisted that security issue overrides any concession agreements.

He said that it would be wrong for the concessionaire to insist on that particular site for the construction of its five-star hotel and urged both parties to reach an agree-

ment on the possible provision of new site to the company.

However, the Head, Research, Zenith Travels, Mr. Olumide Ohunayo, put the problem between concessionaires and FAAN at the door steps of the agency.

He recalled the concession between both parties was celebrated with fanfare just like other concessions in the sector, but regretted that not long after the signing, they are enmeshed in controversies.

He emphasised that rather than concession technical and commercial issues to competent law firms, the management chose to increase operational cost by expanding the legal dept to a directorate with a political appointee as the head.

He added, “Its time to stop this concurrent embarrassments. It is FAAN that is the problem not the concessionaires. ” In March 2012, the contractual tussle between FAAN and one of its concessionaires, Maevis Nigeria Limited finally came to an abrupt end, but not without controversies and accusations from both parties.

FAAN and Maevis had signed a five-year contractual agreement on aeronautic and non-aeronautic revenues in 2008, but less than two years into the half a decade agreement, which was renewable according to the contract had crisis began between the two parties. At present, the termination of the contract is still being determined in the law court.

Also, the first major Public, Private Partnership (PPP) in the Nigerian aviation industry, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the Murtala Mohammed Airport Two (MMA2), Lagos under the Built Operate and Transfer (BOT), has been under debates especially the contractual years and the agreement entered into by both parties.

While the Federal Government through FAAN is insisting that the contractual agreement with BASL was 12 years and does not include the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), Lagos, BASL management is laying claim to GAT and is insisting that the contractual agreement with government was 36 years.

Besides, the proposed infrastructural development of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, by some foreign investors ran into a hitch as the Abuja Gateway Consortium filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, praying it to declare that it has a valid and subsisting contract with the Federal Government of Nigeria on the airport.

The Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja authorities washed their hands off the alleged deal in which $10 million was said to have been paid by the consortium as initial concession fee since 2006.

It was gathered that the consortium was stopped from executing the project on the excuse by the Federal Government, through the BPE, that it has changed its policy regarding the deal in 2009. The job has been given to a Chinese firm with a dollardenominated loan by the same Federal Government which experts described as policy somersault.

36

Aviation

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

NAHCo modernises Kano warehouse for better performance

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Airside shegzzy4live2000@yahoo.co.uk 08186007273

FAAN and untidy NAHCo environment

A

The interior view of airport cargo shed

T

he Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCo aviance) said it has begun the modernisation and expansion of its Kano warehouse to meet international standard and enhance service delivery to its numerous clients.

An online statement signed by the Head, Corporate Communications, NAHCo aviance, Mr. Sanya Onayoade stated that the company, a leading aviation handling service provider currently owns and operates the largest cargo warehouse in subSahara Africa.

He said that the warehouse, which is currently situated at the company ’s corporate headquarters within the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA),

Lagos, is 17,068.5m² in size and has the capacity to handle 230, 000 tonnes of import cargo and 60,000 tonnes of export cargo per annum. It also has other highly automated facilities for effective operations.

Onayoade explained that the Kano warehouse project was in line with the ongoing Federal Government ’s airports modernisation and expansion programmes and promised to continue to partner all relevant government agencies towards a better aviation industry.

The statement reads in part, “In the light of the current realities, the Kano warehouse, which was commissioned in the 80 ’s and occupies about 4000 square metres requires an upliftment

to meet the expected challenge.

Therefore, the current programme will contribute significantly to a better and efficient cargo business in the northern part of the country.

“The resultant effect will be an increase in cargo capacity and a boost in trade; especially considering the geographical location of Mallam Aminu International Airport, Kano as a possible cargo hub in Northern Nigeria. ” NAHCo aviance is the first aviation handling company in West Africa to be certified by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for IATA Safety Audit for Ground operations (ISAGO). The certification, which was initially awarded in 2011, has also been renewed till 2014.

Delta, Virgin sign joint venture agreement

D

elta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic Airways last week announced an agreement to form a joint venture partnership that will create an expanded trans-Atlantic network offering greater benefits for customers travelling between the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA).

Delta recently invested $360 m illion to acquire a 49 per cent stake in the UK carrier.

An online statement sent by the Delta ’s media consultant in Nigeria stated that the two airlines will file an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) for anti-trust immunity, which would allow for closer coordination on schedules and operations. The transaction also will be reviewed by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Europeans Union ’s competition regulator.

The statement added that the agreement will allow the two carriers to operate a total of 31 peakday round-trip flights between the U.K and North America, 23 of which operate at London Heathrow.

Delta ’s customers will benefit from co-operation on service between London and New York, re-

ciprocal frequent flyer benefits and shared access to Delta Sky Club and Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse airport lounges.

Meanwhile, Delta said its 2013 wine selection will appear in its BusinessElite cabin from this month. The wines selected represent four continents and will provide Delta customers the opportunity to experience unique flavour profiles to pair with the BusinessElite menu that is currently in development by Chef Michelle Bernstein.

The new selections include wines from Italy, Chile, Spain, France, California, Australia,

Portugal and South Africa and will be available on Delta flights in the spring. The BusinessElite selections undergo an annual evaluation by Delta ’s Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson, who evaluates and samples more than 1,600 wines from submissions worldwide.

Robinson considers the complexity and intensity of the wine, aesthetic details of the wine presentation and logistics such as the amount of production necessary to fulfill Delta ’s needs in her evaluation. A total of 22 labels were selected and will be profiled throughout the year.

Commercial Manager, Delta Air, Mr. Bobby Bryan.

irports globally are supposed to be tourist sites to visitors both nationals and foreigners, but it is obvious the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has a different agenda with the persistent untidiness of most Nigerian airports especially the Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.

Some few months back, FAAN attempted to displace the Customs Agents operating at the Hajj and Cargo terminal of the airport, although without much success, but the parking space was barricaded while canopies were either destroyed or removed by the agency in conjunction with the military.

However, the dislodged agents relocated to the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCo) area for the continuation of their business,

but rather than improve the sordid situation, it has gone from bad to worse.

Most of the agents now make use of the car park space beside NAHCo Aviance Company Plc for their daily business transactions.

Airside was at the area last week and observed that makeshift buildings occupied by food sellers and other petty traders have taken over the environment with little space for car park. In fact, food is cooked in the open in the untidy environment.

Any person who visits the area may contact disease within a twinkle of an eye. It is sad that the management of FAAN which is aware of this unfriendly environment appears to cares less about the security situation of the airport in particular and the country at large.

Why FG should not sacrice Demuren

A

irside is sure that there is intense pressure on President Goodlcuk Jonathan to sack the DirectorGeneral of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Dr. Harold Demuren because of the June 3, 2012 Dana Air accident at the IjuIshaga area of Lagos.

Apart from the National Assembly members who for the past six months have been calling for the removal and prosecution of the DG, there are some professionals and stakeholders backed by some ‘powerful ’ people in the sector who are work-

ing behind the scenes to ensure that Demuren is disgraced out of office.

Demuren in the course of his job has stepped on many toes for the benefit of the country ’s aviation sector and these set of people who hitherto determined where the pendulum would swing in the sector, but have been relegated because of their unprofessional conducts are bent on returning the sector to the 2005 and 2006 era. They are using the Dana Air crash to drive home their personal agenda.

Arik Air introduces new payment option for clients

venience and flexibility of paying for the ticket later.

Once a ticket is booked online using the Book-on-Hold option, a special ticketing time limit he said will be advised, allowing the customer time to choose a preferred payment option, which he said can then be made via Internet Banking website, by visiting any Nigerian Bank Branch, by making payment on Quick Teller enabled ATMs, via www. quickteller.com or at any Arik Air Ticketing Office.

Banji explained that once payment is received, an electronic ticket will be issued to the client.

Speaking on the new device, the airline ’s Managing Directo, Mr. Chris Ndulue said, “We believe this Book-on-Hold option offers greater flexibility and control, especially for guests on the move. This is part of Arik Air ’s strategy of providing more convenient services to our esteem guests. ”

T

he largest carrier in Nigeria, Arik Air has introduced a new payment option that allows customers to book a ticket online at the airline ’s website and pay later using a number of different payment platforms.

A statement signed by its spokesman, Mr. Ola Banji stated that the new Book-on-Hold service is part of a raft of changes, which are being rolled out to enhance Arik ’s online offering and customer experience.

The special booking process he said has been developed for customers buying tickets in the Nigerian market for flights originating from Nigeria. It allows flight tickets to be booked on the website and held in the system, whilst giving travellers the con-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Insurance

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

37

Pension funds can ’t be left idle, says DG The Director-General, Lagos State Pension Commission, Mr. Adekunle Hussain, in this interview with MESHACK IDEHEN, said the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), is a good development and that the pension funds must not be allowed to lie fallow. they are forming a fairly strong pressure group in the industry, all towards improving the operations of pension in the industry as a whole.

My submission is that the industry is improving at a rate that has to be satisfactory, but of course, there is always room for improvement. You can still improve a great deal on service delivery to pensioners; you can reduce the time for pensioners to receive their dues than what they are doing now. There is nothing to stop any pensioner from getting his dues on his last day in office; but again, the work is in progress.

How would you assess the Contributory Pension Scheme since inception over eight years ago?

The National Pension Commission after the first eight years of operations has done very well considering it was an upstart commission; it wasn ’t as if there was anything on ground for them to do the work. They came up with the law and implemented it almost to the letter. They have been able to establish a presence in many states now, and the number of states subscribing to it continues to improve.

Of course, there are a number of states yet to come onboard but you can see that many are at the level of development, either already drafting their laws, or setting up their structures. What we have done in the industry is that we have set standards through the implementation of the CPS spearheaded by PenCom, trying to establish best practices.

Hussain

What is the impact on the private and public sectors?

With respect to the private sector, the rate of uptake is still not as encouraging as it should be. But PenCom has introduced inspectors who are trying to find out and inspect some companies in the private sector; I think in the New Year, the compliance level will improve. In eight years, they have amassed assets, which is around N3 trillion. That is a huge chunk of money in the pension industry. We can only go forward from there.

Again, in the eight years of implementation, there has not been a case of fraud anywhere, either at the federal or state level, which is a good one. It shows that there is hope that the industry will continue to grow to the ultimate satisfaction of retirees in the country. Particularly, with the public sector, it is difficult to find operations that involve a huge amount of funds all over the nation and no single case of fraud has been reported anywhere.

It shows that the people that thought about this scheme had done a good job right from the Assembly where the law was passed. I think they have done very well and it is important that they continue to improve on the operations of the scheme across the country so that ultimately, we will find an industry where one can readily say retirees are being treated right.

Are you satisfied with the management of the growing pension funds?

In the area of investment of the pension funds, it is true that we are at the elementary stage really, given that what we have done is to try to move away a little bit from traditional areas of accepted classes of investment in the pension industry to introducing infrastructure, for example. But the implementation is another thing. We all go through this learning process. What is desirable is to ensure that investment in the pension industry impacts positively on the economy of the nation as a whole. For instance, creation of jobs and wealth is important in ensuring that you maintain value at all times. In spite of investors ’ activities, you should have sufficient liquid-

THERE MUST BE NO TIME PEOPLE RETIRE THAT FUNDS ARE TIED UP WITH LONG TERM

INVESTMENT AND YOU DON ’T HAVE MONEY TO

PAY THE RETIREE AS AND WHEN DUE. ARE ABLE TO DO THAT,

ONCE YOU

I AM SURE THAT THE

INDUSTRY WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE ity to meet up with the pension obligations.

There must be no time people retire that funds are tied up with long term investment and you don ’t have money to pay the retiree as and when due. Once you are able to do that, I am sure that the industry will continue to improve. And we can actually attract investment across the border, but you need experienced and tested hands to handle such investment.

To investment managers, what I will advise is that we should continue to improve, get deeper in applying a wide range of knowledge towards investment decisions, such that we don ’t run down the value of the investment that we have amassed. It is not advisable for us to have large funds

that are idle, therefore, investment managers will roll up their sleeves and get to work on this pension assets.

How has the regulation of the PFAs fared in the period?

Again, one finds that the Pension Funds Administrators have done quite well, because of the oversight that we have. We keep ensuring that we are on top of what they are doing. We have guidelines set for them that they are strictly adhering to and I must say that you can see spirited efforts on the part of the PFAs in improving the administration of the pension funds. They have an association where they meet regularly to discuss issues affecting them, and

How has the Lagos State Pension commission developed over the years?

LASPEC has been in operation for about three years. We spent the first year trying to set up the commission effectively.

We started operations early 2010 and we have gone through operations up to 2012.

Really, we have been able to establish our redemption bond in recognising the past liabilities of workers under the old scheme, as accrued pension rights.

And we have paid about N14.4 billion as at the end of 2012 to a total of 2,604 workers in Lagos State. This year, we are projecting that that number will almost double because all the hiccups that we found in processing pension files and applications are now being treated faster than before. What that means is that the processing time is going to reduce, and most of the pensioners will be getting their pension rights faster than before. And, everybody that retires from Lagos, we still assure that no service is lost, there is regular payment into their RSAs for every worker regardless of where they are working in the state; be it in state parastatals or local government, the funds are promptly remitted to the PFAs without fail. All we are trying to do is to ensure that we continue to improve on service delivery to workers of Lagos so that people can look forward to retirement with their full benefits paid and their post retirements life is assured.

Military exit from contributory pension scheme worries union MESHACK IDEHEN

T

he Trade Union Congress (TUC), said the rank and file in the nation ’s armed forces will suffer in the long run from the exit of the military from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

President of TUC Comrade Peter Esele, also blamed the military hierarchy for the exit from the scheme, arguing that though senior officers may not find it difficult to get their pension and gratuities at retirement, the junior officials may not be so lucky.

Speaking to journalists on the development, Esele said the TUC went to the National Assembly and tried to appeal to them not to allow the military pull out but to no avail, adding that the military hierarchy at the top said at a time they would not be getting as much as they expect, and that they

had reformed their pension board.

Esele explained that if there is any irregularity in the military pension board, which it would be difficult for a “corporal to go and demand for his pension as a Brigade General would do ”? because the military structure is autocratic and such action would not be allowed.

The TUC president said the congress found out that junior workers like the corporals and sergeants and other rank and file, prefer to be in the Contributing Pension Scheme, a demand to which the military hierarchy said no.

According to him, “TUC must not fail to warn that sooner or later, they (military) will find out that they have made a grievous mistake. If because you have a good man or woman at the helm of the military pension board today, it does not mean that tomorrow, you will continue to have a good

man or woman there ”.

Esele

38

Insurance

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Regulator reiterates 2017 N1trn target for insurance operators MESHACK IDEHEN

T

he Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel has said insurance operators have up to 2017 to realise the N1 trillion target set for them.

Speaking at a briefing in Lagos, Daniel said people don ’t trust insurance companies in Nigeria, and that the commission has done a considerable amount of housekeeping to make sure the companies respect the rules.

According to him, the value of insurance contracts would rise from N300billion to about N1 trillion ($6.4 billion) in four years, saying also the industry would contribute about three per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while insurance penetration would increase to 22.5 per cent from 10 per cent.

He said compulsory motor-vehicle insurance, which makes up most contracts, would hit about 10 per cent by 2017; life insurance would constitute seven per cent, general business insurance, three per cent and petroleum companies ’ insurance, 2.5 per cent.

Daniel said oil and gas business would continue to contract international companies to insure their Nigerian operations as the capacity of local insurers is still limited.

However, an insurance operator and Managing Director, Riskguard Africa Nigeria Limited, Mr. Yemi Soladoye, said the industry failed to realise the target because of its inability to start the implementation of the Market De-

Daniel

velopment and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI) in 2009; a project that was designed to prop up the projection.

He said the projection was part of the industry ’s four-year strategic plan, adding that there was no way the target would have been achieved with the take-off of the implementation.

On the expectation from the insurance industry in the new financial year, Soladoye said Nigerians need protection from insurers, because that it is the duty of insurance companies.

According to him, insurance companies are not living up to expectations as they have not been able to provide adequate protection for the public, explaining it is a national duty that insurance companies should give financial protection in the

Chairman NSITF, Ngozi Olejeme

country.

“We do not have what I would call real insurance companies in Nigeria. What we have are small firms. What the industry writes as annual premium income is not up to a premium that a branch or agency of a company writes in a normal insurance setting. ‘ ’For example, look out the results of Fortune 500, American Insurance Group (AIG) and more. These are companies that are generating about $250 billion premium each year. Convert that to naira, it is about N4 trillion.

“Two years ago, an analysis was done on the 500 biggest companies in Africa; looking at the insurance companies on the report, there were 20, and none is from Nigeria. So, we are not there.

Lack of insurance cover worsens telecoms operators ’ plight KUNLE A ZEEZ

D

earth of insurance cover for terrorism attack on telecoms infrastructures has worsened the myriad of challenges facing telecoms companies operating in Nigeria.

National Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, disclosed this to National Mirror while commenting on the insurance implication of the colossal damage to telecoms infrastructures in the third quarter of 2012.

In the attack suffered by telecoms operators on their infrastructures in some parts of the country, no fewer than 30 base stations were blown up by suspected terrorists.

According to Adebayo, “It is unfortunate that in the wake of the attacks, operators had incurred damage to their infrastructures which run into several millions of dollars. ” He said the development compounded the challenges operators were facing in the country ranging from fibre cuts, prohibits cost of right of way approval, multiple taxation and multiple regulations.

“While telecoms operators also have their facilities insured in various ways, in case of terrorist attack on their facilities, there are no insurance covers. Terrorist attack on our facilities is one of classified situations under insurance scheme in the sector. The only thing we can do is to declare force ma jure.

“Following the last year attack on telecoms facilities, which alongside other factors had contributed to the dampening of quality telecoms services in the country, I am not aware of any of the telecoms firm with an insurance cover on such a colossal damage on their facilities. ”

NCRIB craves more insurance awareness MESHACK IDEHEN

T

he Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers has urged various online media to utilise their platforms to enhance awareness of insurance in Nigeria through effective reportage of the industry.

The President, NCRIB, Mrs. Laide Osijo, gave the advice during the presentation of the 2012 Insurance Person of the Year Award to her by Inspenonline Media in Lagos.

Osijo said the extensiveness of the Internet platform used by online media had positioned them to reach out to greater segments of the population, an advantage they could utilise to promote insurance growth, especially in Nigeria.

She dedicated the award to all registered insurance brokers in the country for their support, dedication to ethics and professionalism.

Osijo said, “I reckon that this award could not have been attained through my effort alone. The NCRIB has been the platform for expression

of my burning desire for professionalism and leadership gift, while the members are my motivators. ’ ’ The NCRIB president listed the achievements recorded in the past one year to include effective training and exposure of members to the changing dynamics of the insurance broking practice; promotion of institutional relationship with reputable bodies, including the National Insurance Commission; as well as entrenched sound ethical standards for insurance broking practice.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tips to lower your car insurance bill Apart from zeroing down on the best car loan deal, it is equally important to choose an appropriate auto insurance policy. Everyone knows that auto insurance is a mandatory legal requirement when you purchase your car. And there have been instances where you, as an insured, have been charged high premiums. Here are several ways by which you can lower the premium rates offered to your by your insurers.

Provide correct information: By providing your insurer the correct information, you can reduce your premiums by 10-30 per cent.

Model and make of your car: The decision regarding how much premium needs to be charged depends upon the make and model of your car. If your car ’s make/model is more prone to accidents, as in the books of the insurer, you are likely to be entitled to higher discounts than those make/models of cars which are less prone to accidents.

Gender and profession of the driver: The practice of dividing premium considerations on the basis of gender is commonly followed in the West, which is yet to catch up in India. However, some insurers consider female drivers better than male drivers, making the female drivers entitled to higher discounts than their counterparts. The driver ’s profession too affects the insurance premium. If an office goer uses a car, it is obvious he uses it to commute between his home and office, rather than a sales person, who will use to commute in various cities on a wider basis.

Locality where the vehicle will be driven: Apart from the locality, the place where the vehicle is piled or registered is taken into consideration these days. Insurance companies calculate the claims depending upon the location. In congested cities, where bumper to bumper traffic is observed, claims for scratches and dents are more, whereas location highways carry a huge claim amount because they are prone to major accidents.

No claim bonus: No claim bonus is a discount allowed as a percentage on the ‘own damage premium ’ and the same is increased every year to the next slab if a claim for damage to the vehicle is not preferred and it is discounted if there was no claim preferred during the currency of the expiring policy. The discount may go up to 50 per cent and it is up to the insured to decide if he wants to transfer the same on another vehicle. If the customer sells his old vehicle, he can also be kept in abeyance and utilise it on a car bought at a later date.

Voluntary deductibles: A voluntary deductible discount is offered and the discounts can go up to 35 per cent of the premium for vehicle damage, an option that can be considered by a customer if he wants to opt out of small claims for minor damages and the insurance company will pay a claim only for the damages in excess of this limit of voluntary deductible. Your premium can be way reduced by this move.

Safety features: In order to attract 2-5 per cent discount on your premiums, it is necessary to install anti-theft or other safety features from an approved make by your insurer. Therefore, you should provide full and exact details about your vehicle along with safety measures adopted by you in order to avail discounts.

Automobile association member: If you are a member of any designated automobile association, then you can avail discounts on own damage premium, which is applicable for private car and motorised two-wheeler policies. A discount of 5 per cent is given on the own damage premium.

Source: profit.ndtv.com

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

39

Banking, insurance stocks rally lift equities by 0.8% JOHNSON OKANLAWON

T

he benchmark index of equities rose further on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, over the rally recorded mostly by banking and insurance stocks.

The All Share Index gained 0.84 per cent to close at 32,685.03 points, compared to the increase of 1.75 per cent recorded on Friday to close at 32,411.86 points.

Market capitalisation rose by N8bn to close at N10.5trn, lower than the rise of N18bn recorded on Friday to close at

10.4trn.

The banking stock led sectorial by 3.35per cent to close at 413.21 points, followed by the Insurance Index with 2.72 per cent to close at 144.27 points.

The NSE 30-Index appreciated by 1.06 per cent to close at 1,573.04 points, while the Oil and Gas Index increased by 0.46 per cent to close at 180.29 points.

The Consumer Goods Index closed at 957.39 points, up by 0.41 per cent, while the Lotus Islamic Index added 0.07 per cent to close at 2,026.88 points.

International Breweries Plc led the gainers’

table with 2.27 per cent or 10 per cent to close at N24.98 per share, followed by PZ Cussons Plc with 3.56 per cent or 9.99 per cent to close at N39.19 per share.

Transcorp Plc gained 14 kobo or 9.79 per cent to close at N1.57 per share, while Wema Bank Plc appreciated by nine kobo or 9.78 per cent to close at N1.01 per share.

AIICO Insurance Plc added eight kobo or 9.52 per cent to close at 92 kobo per share.

Flour Mills Plc led the loser’s table with N8.09 or 10 per cent to close at N72.82 per share, while DN Meyer Plc lost 11 kobo or 8.73

per cent to close at N1.15 per share.

Mc Nicholas Construction Plc shed four kobo or 4.94 per cent to close at 77 kobo per share, while UTC Plc depreciated by four kobo or 4.88 per cent to close at 78 kobo per share.

Livestock Plc declined by 12 kobo or 4.80 per cent to close at N2.38 per share.

Transaction volume in equities rose by 40.7 per cent, as a total of 578.03 million shares valued at N4.38bn were exchanged in 7,740 deals, compared to 410.74 million shares worth N3.50bn traded in 6,704 deals on Friday.

Transcorp rallies to 21-month high on GE deal JOHNSON OKANLAWON WITH AGENCY REPORT

T

ransnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc, which invests in hotels, agriculture and energy, rose to the highest in 21 months after signing a deal with General Electric Company (GE) for equity investment and technical support.

The stock gained 10 per cent to close at N1.43, per share the highest since April 2011.

More than 50 million shares were on full bid yesterday David Adonri, the Chief Executive Officer of Lambeth Trust and Investment Company said.

According to him, investors believe the global

pedigree of GE will enable Transcorp to maximize revenue from the huge potential of the power sector.

GE will invest $1bn in Nigeria over the next five years by building a manufacturing plant to support power generation and oil production, the Chairman, Jeffrey Immelt said on Friday.

Transcorp and GE had on January 30 signed a framework agreement to collaborate in addressing the infrastructural needs of Nigeria, with emphasis on the power and transportation sectors.

The framework agreement, which was signed following a closed door meeting will enable GE and Transcorp to explore

a partnership for the refurbishment and expansion of the Ughelli power plant in Delta State.

The wide ranging agreement allows for the provision of technical support and equity investment in the power plant.

Other areas of collaboration include projects in the transport sector, specifically in the area of rail.

Commenting on the partnership agreement, the Transcorp chairman, Mr. Tony Elumelu, said, “Heirs Holdings recently hosted Dr. Rajiv Shah, the USAID Administrator in Lagos to discuss how the US government can partner with the Nigerian private sector to

boost power generation in Nigeria. The agreement we have just signed with GE is a positive step toward the realization of this goal.

“As an Africapitalist, I believe in long term investments that create economic prosperity and social wealth. Our partnership with GE comes on the heels of last week’s launch of the East Africa Exchange by Heirs Holdings and Berggruen Holdings, and further signifies our commitment to sustainable economic development, for Africa, by Africans.”

Elumelu added that power and transport are two major areas we know can turn economies and drive development.

Global shares, euro, oil fall as caution returns

W

orld equity markets and commodities fell yesterday after last week’s strong gains, with a rise in political uncertainty in southern Europe worrying some investors and sending the euro lower.

United States shares were poised to join the slide when Wall Street reopens as the market retreats from the five-year highs hit on Friday.

The global economic outlook brightened substantially last week when data showed US factory activity quickened in January and hiring increased, while a euro zone business

activity survey suggested the worst of the region’s downturn may be over.

On Sunday, China added to the optimism by reporting that its services sector had grown for a fourth straight month in January, although the slim gain also signalled that the global recovery underway is a modest one.

In Europe, political developments in Spain and Italy reminded investors that there were still many risks ahead, dampening the positive mood and encouraging some sellers.

Over the weekend Spain’s opposition Socialist Party called on Prime

Minister Mariano Rajoy to resign over a corruption scandal, as an opinion poll showed the lowest support on record for his centreright People’s Party.

“If Rajoy were really forced to resign, if we were to have new elections in Spain, that would not help the improvement we’ve seen in financial markets,” Tobias Blattner, European economist at Daiwa Capital Markets, said.

In Italy, former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, one of the top candidates in this month’s general election, is seeing a resurgence in popular-

ity which threatens the reforms implemented by the outgoing technocrat government.

Spanish 10-year government bond yields rose 16 basis points to 5.38 per cent on Monday, while equivalent Italian yields were 8 bps higher at 4.41 per cent.

The yield gains reversed the strong start to the year on all Europe’s peripheral debt markets helped by the easy supply of cash from central banks and the promise that the European Central Bank will buy bonds of struggling states if necessary.

Source: NSE

NIBOR QUOTES 01 FEBRUARY 2013 & 04 FEBRUARY 2013 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

2 -Ap r-1 3

4 -Fe b -1 3

Source: FMDA

Market indicators Market indicators

All-Share Index 7,853,874,916 points All-Share Index 22,191.14 points Market capitalisation 24,671.47 trillion Market capitalisation 7,084 trillion

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

INTBREW

22.71

24.98

2.27

10.00

PZ

35.63

39.19

3.56

9.99

TRANSCORP

1.43

1.57

0.14

9.79

WEMABANK

0.92

1.01

0.09

9.78

AIICO

0.84

0.92

0.08

9.52

UNITYBNK

0.66

0.72

0.06

9.09

PRESTIGE

0.72

0.78

0.06

8.33

AIRSERVICE

4.62

4.99

0.37

8.01

DIAMONDBNK

7.00

7.47

0.47

6.71

SKYEBANK

5.90

6.29

0.39

6.61

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

FLOURMILL

80.91

72.82

8.09

-10.00

DNMEYER

1.26

1.15

0.11

-8.73

MCNICHOLS

0.81

0.77

0.04

-4.94

UTC

0.82

0.78

0.04

-4.88

LIVESTOCK

2.50

2.38

0.12

-4.80

MAYBAKER

1.97

1.88

0.09

-4.57

MULTITREX

0.95

0.91

0.04

-4.21

RTBRISCOE

1.75

1.69

0.06

-3.43

DANGCEM

144.87

140.00

4.87

-3.36

CUTIX

1.46

1.42

0.04

-2.74

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91-Day

39,057.21

12.70

7-FEB-13

182-Day

50,000.00

15.30

7-FEB-13

364 -Day

67,219.06

16.90

7-FEB-13

Open Market Operations TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

73-Days

112,862.21

13.46

7-FEB-13

344- Day

16,905.50

15.55

7-FEB-13

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$150m

N/A

$150m

4-FEB-13

$120m

N/A

$120m

30-JAN-13

40

Capital Market

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at February 4, 2013 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)

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

CONTINUED FROM 13 PDP, entrenched as one of its cardinal objective principles and which ensured that Northern aspirants sought the presidential nomination of the party at the return to civilian governance in 1999; and which made it possible for General Olusegun Obasanjo to become the presidential candidate of the party in 1999.”

He further narrated that with the problem of power shift settled, the next major issue was the percentage to be ascribed to derivation. Again, the North was said to have insisted on three per cent but with the agitation and doggedness of the Southern delegates, 13 per cent minimum was finally settled for even after the group wanted 50 per cent as was the case in the 1963 constitution.

“It was suggested to me that my so called hard-line posture in successfully securing power shift and 13 per cent minimum for derivation were contributory factors to my inability to obtain the presidential nomination of the party I co-founded and nurtured to success. Be that as it may, I have no regrets as long as my guiding principles were search for justice, equity and fair play,” said Ekwueme.

Co-chairman and leader of the Ijaw Peoples Forum from the South-South, Clark said that every attempt to blackmail the Southern Nigeria will fail, if the South remains united.

He said: “All we are saying is let’s come together as one, country and build bridges. We are 17 states and they are 19 states, when your opponents know you are strong, they will respect you the more.”

He added: “This is our second meeting and the most important thing is that we have agreed to come together. We are not here to campaign for anybody and Nigeria belongs to all of us. We are not fighting anybody but we want to be recognised” Leader of the Yoruba Unity Forum, Gbonigi, in his speech said that for the South to remain as one there must be certain steps to be taken. These according to the cleric are understanding, love, cooperation, respect and knowledge. He regretted that Southern leaders such as the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikwe made unsuccessful efforts to keep the region united, stating however that this time around, the unity will not only be achieved but will be kept, nurtured and maintained.

Rev. Gbonigi said that at the first meeting of SNPA in Akwa Ibom State, issues of insecurity among others were addressed.

“That event has not had impact in governance and things have deteriorated instead. Corruption is today worshipped by the youths, believed to be future leaders. We are rearing corruption for future leaders. Kidnapping, Boko Haram have become consistent, there is no clear cut agenda of the government. Instead of having dialogue with Boko Haram alone, why can’t we have national dialogue or do we wait till every aggrieved group mounts insurgence? The problems are traceable to bad leadership,” said Gbonigi.

In his good will massage, the former governor of Anambra State, Ezeife, urged for forward movement, noting that if the Igbo and Yoruba keep moving in parallel lines, they will keep being in parallel status.

His words: “We must force our governors to start having Southern Governors’ Forum meeting as the 19 governors of the North do,” insisting that there must be na-

41

Southern leaders set to correct imbalances in Nigerian polity THE TRANSFORMATION GOAL GOVERNMENT

HAS SET FOR ITSELF...

CAN ONLY BECOME FEASIBLE IF THERE IS UNDILUTED COMMITMENT AND PROACTIVENESS TO DELIVER CORE DEMOCRATIC DIVIDENDS Ukiwe

Ezeife

tional dialogue.

Falae said it is not difficult for the South to come together. “It is because we have PhDs which they don’t have and play only politics. We must make a fresh start and if we don’t, we will remain slaves,” he stated.

Graham Douglas from Rivers State reminded the assembly that from independence, the country was divided into three regions until the mid western region was created to correct an imbalance. He reminded the North that the entire South supported them for 38 years while they held power, adding that whenever power shifted to the South, the North always staged a coup, “but now this association cannot be dissolved and we will rule the country for 38 years. It will go round before we begin to talk.”

Chairman of South-East Governors’ Forum and governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, preached the gospel of arresting the drift in the country where moneybags and kidnappers are worshipped than the academia, noting that it is possible for the entire South to work together in one destiny.

At the end of its closed door meeting, the SNPA threw up issues of national importance, calling for the convocation of a national conference and urged the National Assembly to create additional two states from the South to strike a balance between the North and Southern Nigeria. It also asked for autonomy to be granted to the local government councils in the country.

It stressed that whereas it recognises the powers of the National Assembly to amend provisions of the Constitution, the

right and power to review and give to Nigerians a constitution is vested in the people of Nigeria, who they say remain the sovereign authority to do so. It added that the constitutional right to amend the Constitution bestowed on the National Assembly by the 1999 constitution does not amount to and confer on it the right and authority to review wholesomely the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, insisting that the present exercise by the National Assembly amounts to usurping the sovereign power and authority of the people to give to themselves a truly peoples constitution.

The conference which was held in continuation of the resolve of the people of Southern Nigeria to build solidarity and common understanding in strengthening the bonds of national unity and cohesion reviewed the state of the nation, particularly the issues of corruption, national security, infrastructure development, ecological disaster and the on-going efforts of the National Assembly to undertake a wholesome review of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Part of the communiqué read: “That the challenges of inequitable states distribution, skewed federalism which has continually exposed the structural imbalance of our country, the basis of the federating units for our federation and the place of local governments in a truly federal state are critical issues that Nigerians must and can only truly and genuinely address in a national conference.

“That despite the hues and cries of Nigerians, corruption and greed in the country are not only endemic and cancerous, the effrontery with which they are perpetrated stems directly from the absence of executive will and commitment to fight it. It will be necessary for government to exercise stronger political will to fight this malaise.

“That the unrelenting activities of the Boko Haram insurgency, particularly the recent attack on the Emir of Kano, have further reinforced our earlier stand that government must take extraordinary steps to secure lives and property to sustain our continued existence as a country.

“Whilst we note the modest improvement in electricity power generation and stability as well as the improved state of some of the highways in the country, it should be realised that the transformation goal government has set for itself, which certainly stands to carve a peculiar niche of enduring legacy for this administration, can only become feasible if there is undiluted commitment and proactiveness to deliver core democratic dividends to the people in such critical sectors as electric-

ity, road infrastructure, employment and poverty reduction.

“That a national conference is imperative to correcting the present national structural imbalance which has foisted inequality, marginalisation and given undue advantage to the North.

“That to bring parity between the North and the South there should be created two additional states one of which must come from the South East; that accordingly, the SNPA supports the demand of the South East zone for one extra state based on equity, justice and fairness.

“That without prejudice to the issues aforesaid, the recognition of the present six zonal arrangements by the Constitution as the federating units of Nigeria is fundamental to the sustenance of the corporate existence and survival of our country. Accordingly, thereafter the creation of states and local governments should be the responsibility of the zonal federating units.

“That the local government councils in Nigeria should be autonomous in terms of management, funding and governance.

“That whereas the endemic corruption, greed and their cancerous virus should make every Nigerian a combatant, it is the primary responsibility of government to muster the courage and will to decisively fight the scourge of corruption in the country.

“That we commend the efforts of the present administration in the areas of providing Nigerians with improved transport infrastructure as witnessed in the rehabilitation of rail transportation, the on-going efforts of Julius Berger/RCC on the Lagos – Ibadan road, the improved state of the Benin - Ore road and the Enugu – Port Harcourt road as well as Onitsha – Enugu road. However, we decry the very deplorable state of other major arterial roads of economic importance such as the East - West road.

“That our quest for true federalism which encompasses fiscal federalism can only become meaningful if people, as practiced in advanced democracies and economies, are allowed to exploit the benefits of resources in their domain. This, in our consideration, is one of the objectives of the Petroleum Industry Bill. We therefore urge the National Assembly to consider the necessity to pass this very important bill in the spirit of equity, fairness and justice.

“That the prevailing height of hypocrisy and sycophancy in our polity has often given hope to falsehood and derailed many in leadership. It is of significance essence that the government and the led must be courageous and resolute to stand for and by truth, to serve as a barometer to measure performance and good governance.

“That given the present challenges inherent in land ownership and administration as a source of economic empowerment, it has become very necessary for the Land Use Act to be removed from the 1999 Constitution to facilitate the process of its review; that also the National Youth Service Corps Act should be removed from the Constitution to enable its review from time to time as circumstances warrant.

“Finally, the Assembly expressed its appreciation to the Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Governor Obi and the government and people of Anambra State as well as the government and people of Enugu State for their hospitality.”

42

Politics

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

PDP’ll reclaim Nasarawa State –Deputy Speaker Elisha Jatau Agwadu is the deputy speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assemby. In this interview with IGBAWASE UKUMBA, he speaks on the preparedness of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to reclaim the governorship seat of the state and other issues. Excerpts: How do you assess the Nasarawa State fourth Assembly?

Happily, I was in the third Assembly and here again in the fourth Assembly.

I want to assure you that the Nasarawa State fourth Assembly is far better than the previous assemblies. This is because a child that is born today cannot crawl, walk and become a man that same particular day. Proceedings in the Assembly have continued with time. It is not that the past assemblies didn’t perform, but because of the system prevailing today, the fourth Assembly is on the right path. I want to commend the members of the Assembly for their pragmatic efforts since we came on board by delivering the services as demanded by the electorate. Hitherto, I am of the opinion that, for now, the fourth Assembly is the best.

What about the lawmakers’ relationship with the executive arm of the government?

The relationship between the lawmakers and the executive is very cordial. If that is not true, members of the state Assembly who are from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are enough for the executive to have it hot. But because of the cordialities, the executive had nothing to fear. So, for me I will say that there is a cordial relationship between the two arms of government in the state.

If you are to assess your performance, have you done well?

You can go out there and find from members of my constituency of what I am telling you, whether it is true or not. I have been able to pay the registration fees for secondary school final year students, especially for the West African Examination Council (WAEC) Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE), I have distributed more than enough exercise books free to all primary schools within my constituency. Equally, I constructed bridges and culverts at places like Agwede, Ume, Atabala, Akpangwa and Duduguru town; drilled boreholes at Akaba, Ichichene, Idevi and graded the road that links Agyaragu town with Kpangwa and Dazogwa with six culverts. I was able to roof the examination hall of Government Secondary School, Gwadenye and construct a two-classroom block at LGEA Primary School, Chakale.

I have also empowered youths in my constituency by employing 43 constituency staff, who I pay N520,000 per month.

I have donated vehicles and motorcycles, funded a skills’ acquisition programme, provided 300 bags of fertilizers to farmers yearly, given free medical service at my clinic to all victims of the Agyaragu crisis among others.

THE

PARLIAMENT What do you think led to the loss of your party, the PDP, in the 2011 governorship election in Nasarawa State?

Sometimes, an individual can lose grip, just like our former governor, Aliyu Akwe Doma. I don’t just believe that the PDP lost, because PDP members in the state Assembly are 19 out of 24 and that will tell you that those who voted for us in the 2011 polls equally voted for the former governor. So we as a party did not lose, but an individual lost. The success of a politician is exhibited by bringing people closer every day, by leaving your door open so that they will be seeing you and always be telling them the truth. Also as a politician, don’t tell someone that you can do and undo. Doing and undoing is with the grassroots. Don’t look at what is up there, but go back to the people who voted you and ask them if they have seen what you have done for them. If they say no, do more and open your doors for them to come in and advise you. That I think happened and an individual lost an election and not the PDP. How prepared is the PDP for the forth coming local government election in the state?

As you can see, the PDP has 19 seats out of the 24 in the state Assembly and that tells us that we are on top of the situation, especially at the grassroots. We take the lion share and we would use that opportunity to re-affirm our superiority in the forthcoming local government election.

We are already educating our people, telling them why we lost the governorship race and it must not happen again.

And more so, I have not seen what someone has done that has measured up to that which the PDP did in the past.

Are you comfortable with Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura’s administration?

We cannot be comfortable until we see that we bring our own person back on that seat. The present governor was not a Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) member. He was a PDP member. It was due to lack of internal democracy in the party that led to his exit. Internal democracy in Nasarawa State PDP was poorly managed. There was no CPC structure then on ground that voted CPC. It was PDP members who overnight, for one reason or the other, staged a palace coup.

You can now see them decamping back to the PDP every day. So they should prepare for a good war.

Are you in agreement with those agitating for local government autonomy?

I am of the opinion that local government areas in the country should be autonomous and operate under the ambit of the law as prescribed by the 1999 Constitution. By the way, the states Assemblies are there to monitor them and see how they are using their monies through oversight functions. The governors are autonomous;

Agwadu

INTERNAL DEMOCRACY IN NASARAWA STATE PDP WAS POORLY MANAGED. THERE WAS NO CPC STRUCTURE THEN ON GROUND... IT WAS PDP MEMBERS WHO OVERNIGHT, FOR ONE REASON OR THE OTHER, STAGED A PALACE COUP what happens? And they are human beings just like the local government chairmen.

What is your take on the incessant violence in Nasarawa State?

The crises have affected me directly.

I think I will be selfish if I say I have the pains more than anybody. It was based on the magnitude of the violence that the state Assembly sometime ago threatened to impeach the governor if he failed to halt the violence, as it was taking a dimension which could consume half of the electorate that elected the present people in gov-

ernment. We came to represent them and as we are their eyes and ears, we must protect them and this suggested why we threatened to impeach the governor if he did not nip the violence in the bud. Thank God, His Excellency was able to comply with the Assembly’s resolution.

But recently, we had reports of similar renewed attacks in Kokono, Ekye and other areas. I am very sad about it and we prayed that God in His infinite mercy will take care of these crises. As regards to reasons behind the crises, I have long being looking for answer to that effect.

If the CPC said it is political, then what happened to Gwadenye, Duduguru and Baba people who woke up in a day and saw in some areas 25 people dead, seven people dead. People invaded their villages and killed several members of their communities just like that. What is political there? If you say it is religion, those people killing and maiming their victims are not even seen. I don’t even know the origin of these people fighting our indigenous people. I tried to ask, have security men never been able to sight one these attackers since the killings began? So, how do you now blame it on religion? Therefore, the question is now left with the security agencies to at least apprehend some of the invaders; which of course will let the cat out of the bag.

Ex-Ekiti Commissioner urges OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

F

ormer Commissioner for Environment in Ekiti State, Segun Olanrewaju has urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state not to relent in their support for the party’s National Vice Chairman (South-West) and former governor of the state, Segun Oni in his bid to right the judicial wrongs done to him and the entire state.

Olanrewaju, who was speaking during a meeting in Ado-Ekiti yesterday said he was totally committed to the case instituted at the Supreme Court

by Oni against the October 15, 2010 Appeal Court judgment that removed him

from office, adding: “What we all need at this time is prayers and continuous support for our leader and man of integrity, Oni.” Olanrewaju said that contrary to the impression created by his posters that were pasted in Ado-Ekiti and other towns in the state a few days ago, he had not declared his intention to vie for any elective position in the state.

His words; “To the best of my knowledge, the posters emanated from some friends, who must be of the opinion that I posses what it takes to vie for elective position in Ekiti State and I thank them for their show of love and public demonstration of their confidence in me.

“As of now, my total commitment is

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

TORDUE SALEM writes on the threat of bench warrant from the House of Representatives on the Independent National Electoral Commission chairman, Attahiru Jega over his refusal to appear before the lawmakers over funds allocated to the commission.

INEC funds: Reps and politics of bench warrants

T

he Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House of Representatives, last Wednesday threatened to issue a bench warrant of arrest on the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, if he did not honour the committee’s invitation to explain a query raised by the Auditor General of the Federation (AGF) on its expenditures.

Both chambers of the National Assembly have the quasi-judicial powers under section 88(1) of the 1999 Constitution to issue bench warrants on any government official.

Section 85(2) of the constitution also authorises the National Assembly to look into the accounts of any government or public office with a view to holding them accountable to the people.

The section states in part: “The public accounts of the federation and all offices and courts of the federation shall be audited and reported on by the Auditor-General who shall submit his reports to the National Assembly.”

The PAC threatened to exercise its powers on Jega over his refusal to appear before it to explain an alleged misapplication of the commission’s funds. The Auditor General of the Federation (AGF) had raised queries on the audited account of the commission before the House Committee on Public Accounts.

The AGF queries were raised on the expenditures of INEC from the audited accounts of the commission for year 2003 up to 2011.

The chairman of the PAC, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (ACN-Lagos) got the authority of his colleagues to issue the warrant on behalf of the committee if Jega failed to appear this week.

Olamilekan rebuked the top staff of INEC for habitually ignoring the invitations of the committee, adding that Jega had turned down the committee’s invita-

support for Oni

Oni

to the case instituted at the Supreme Court by our leader, Oni against the October 15, 2010 Appeal Court judgment

Jega

Adeola

INEC WILL SOON BE MAKING BUDGET FOR

2015 ELECTIONS, BUT IT MUST FIRST CLEAR ALL DOUBTS RAISED ON ITS AWARD OF CONTRACTS FOR 2003 AND 2007 ELECTIONS tion for five times in the past.

He therefore sought the permission of his members to issue a warrant on the affected officials for their contempt of the committee. The committee in a voice vote granted him permission to do so.

He lashed at the leadership of INEC for refusing to turn up as invited, accusing it of undermining the transparency and accountability efforts of the committee.

The bench warrant on Jega was supposed that removed him from office.

“I also remained committed to the PDP and its quest to wrestle power from the present crop of locusts that are ravaging the state.”

He therefore appealed to those behind the posters to respect his stand on the issues in Ekiti for now, adding that as for him, “the time is not ripe for the expression of any political aspiration. When the time comes and I am convinced that I should contest any elective position, it will definitely be under the platform of the PDP and our well-known political family will be adequately consulted.”

While challenging PDP members to remain united, he said: “When we walk together, no one can destabilise us and when we are united as one family, victory is certain any time election is held in Ekiti State.”

THE

PARLIAMENT to be issued last Thursday to compel the Inspector General of Police, to bring both of them to the committee sittings tomorrow.

Olamilekan, who lashed Jega for refusing to show up despite several invitations extended to him, admonished that “anyone who occupies public office must show due diligence and accountability and this, the parliament will demand of them whether they like it or not.

“When INEC looked for power to be on first line charge, it ran to parliament and its problem was solved, why is it now afraid of showing up to give account of what it has spent?

“We insist the head of these organisations must show up to give proper account of what they used monies allocated to them for.

“Nobody will be allowed to behave as if they are bigger than Nigeria as a country.

INEC will soon be making budget for 2015 elections, but it must first clear all doubts raised on its award of contracts for 2003 and 2007 elections.

According to him, “this we expect the commission to do, but since it has refused to turn up willingly, we will issue a warrant asking the police to bring them down here to clear all doubts raised by the AuditorGeneral against their audited accounts.”

INEC, alone has since 2011, gulped over N100 billion for voter registration, conduct of general elections and sundry, with another huge proposal in the 2013 budget.

But the INEC chairman, Jega, in a quick response last week, wrote the PAC begging it not to issue an arrest warrant to bring him to the public hearing on Wednesday.

In a letter titled: “Re: Threat of Arrest Warrant” and addressed to the chairman,

43

Committee on Public Accounts in the House of Representatives, the electoral umpire regretted that his failure to respond to earlier summons was “wholly unintended and regrettable.”

Jega acknowledged that the members were right to be piqued “over my unfortunate absence at the Wednesday sitting.

It is, thus, perfectly understandable.” The letter which was personally signed by Prof.

Jega was also copied to both the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The letter reads in part: “I learnt from the media this morning that your honourable committee has resolved to issue an arrest warrant on me, following my failure to appear before it at its scheduled sitting on Wednesday, January 30, 2013.

“Permit me to say, however, that my failure to respond to your committee’s invitation was wholly unintended and regrettable. I had travelled out of the country for a while and only returned to office early this week; and there was apparently a communication gap that made me unaware of the invitation to appear before the honourable committee on Wednesday.

“Rest assured, sir, that there is no reason or intention to be disrespectful to the Committee, or to shun its summons. God permitting, I shall be readily available at the next scheduled sitting.

“Once again, be assured of my highest esteem for your good self and all members of the committee.”

The Committee also threatened to arrest the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Festus Odimegwu for the same reasons. He is to answer questions on the accounts of the NPC from 2003 to 2009.

But unlike Jega, Odimegwu is yet to respond to the threat of the Green Chamber.

Besides accounts, Odimegwu is under the heat from the House over an alleged recruitment scam.

Apart from his summons by the PAC, the NPC chairman, has questions to answer before the Committee on National Planning.

Even though the National Assembly and the House in particular has been vested with this power to compel public officials to account to the people, a quick look at the House since 1999 shows that threats of arrests fell to nought.

A rare case was in 2005, when Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in her first coming as Minister of Finance, was brought to the House at 9:40 pm by the police to explain a lastminute spending by the then government without appropriation.

The then Gabriel Suswam-led committee on Appropriations and the Farouk Lawan-led Committee on Finance brought the minister to tears in a marathon session that lasted for hours.

But a few years after, the threats to arrest from the hallowed chambers are beginning to ring shallow and pass as mere hot air.

The PAC has in the past month alone issued three threats of arrest with no consequence, but it is hoped that the Committee means business this time around.

44

Politics

Centenary celebration:

PPA berates FG over exclusion of parties OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

T

he National Chairman of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Sam Nkire, has criticised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government for excluding some political parties from the arrangements leading to Nigeria’s centenary celebration.

Nkire said in a statement that by not involving other political parties the PDP is giving the impression that the country belonged to only PDP members and government officials.

The PPA National Chairman reminded the PDP-led government that the planning of the celebration of Nigeria’s 100years of existence should not be left in the hands of PDP members and their agents alone, but should include contributions from other political parties.

Nkire said he had for some time noticed an unfortunate tendency for the PDP to carry on as though the country was a one-party state, adding that some greedy people in the PDP were making it impossible for President Goodluck Jonathan to reach out to non-PDP members and Nigerians who had something to offer for better governance.

Saying that government was neither a matter of “winner take all” nor a sole administratorship, Nkire therefore advised those in government to always pursue all inclusive policies instead of policies of exclusion, for greater achievement of governmental goals.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

C

orruption has been identified as the major constraint militating against the timely completion of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex.

This was the contention of the Senate Leader and three-term senator representing the Akwa Ibom Central senatorial district, Victor Ndoma-Egba, who while speaking in Abuja maintained that if not for corruption, the project which was commenced almost 40 years ago should have been completed.

Worried by the pitiable condition of the steel company, believed to have the capacity of creating over two million jobs for Nigerians, Ndoma-Egba said: “I feel diminished as a Nigerian each time I remember the story of Ajaokuta Steel. That project started when I was still an undergraduate. And in a few years, I would have been a graduate for 40 years. Yet, the project is still going on. So, there are a number of issues. That it hasn’t worked certainly has been as a result of corruption. For heaven’s sake, even for the pride of the nation, I think that project has dragged on for too long, that we should as a nation be embarrassed that almost 40 years later, we are still talking about an uncompleted Ajaokuta Steel.”

However, the Senate Leader could not substantiate the claim that external forces working with some selfish individuals in the country are responsible for the non-completion of the project, saying: “I don’t have evidence. I don’t have any fact. So, I can’t draw a

CONTINUED FROM 15 then economic deregulation would be automatic.

What is your assessment of the National Assembly so far?

As far as I am concerned, the National Assembly has no business amending our constitution. This is because they would not give us the constitution that Nigerians want.

What Nigeria needs today is part time legislating and the National Assembly as presently constituted would never initiate part time legislating.

I am aware that some people suggested part time legislating as part of the template, but they threw it out, so they won’t discuss what would be disadvantageous to them. We need part time legislating. I don’t see why members of the House of Representatives should not move to their regions in a restructured Nigeria. Let the members of the House of Representatives move to their zones as regional House of Assembly and the Senate remains the law making body at the centre.

In a restructured Nigeria, the area of law making would be reduced when you reduce the powers and functions of the central government, then we would have a president who will sit down and think for Nigeria. But with the present structure, our president can’t cope. Obasanjo was one of the most hard working president in this country, working 18 hours a day, but he was not even coping with the job.

Why should we give heavy political loads to someone who cannot even carry it? What would happen is that by and large, he would abandon the load.

In recent past, the CPC has been burdened by factionalisation. Have those issues that factionalised the party been resolved?

There has never been factionalisation in the CPC. Factionalisation means faction ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ and so on and then a division, with two parallel national executives. There was never factionalisation in the party. It was the media that started talking of factionalisation in the CPC. The fact is my executive was elected in January 2011. I was invited to stand for election by the protem chairman, Senator Hanga. He was the protem founding chairman of the CPC. He left as he has to in December 2010 and went to Kano to contest the governorship. He did not win the primary and went to court. After my election and having been in office

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Corruption stalls completion of Ajaokuta Steel –Ndoma-Egba

Ndoma-Egba

conclusion. But one thing I can say with certainty is, if we as Nigerians are determined to complete Ajaokuta Steel, we will complete it, external forces notwithstanding. I mean, no amount of external forces should stop the completion of a project that is capable of bringing total transformation and advancement to our economy.”

The senator representing Kogi Central senatorial district and Vice Chairman of

the Senate Committee on the Niger Delta Affairs, Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, had in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Michael Jegede, asserted that some people within the government circle are collaborating with outsiders to discourage President Goodluck Jonathan from completing the project, even though he (Jonathan) is seen to be highly passionate about Ajaokuta Steel.

There is no faction in CPC, says Prince Momoh for seven months, he came back claiming to be the chairman of the party. How do you reconcile that? He went to court, because obviously, there were people to pay the bills of the litigation.

People who cannot ordinarily afford transport fare found themselves in Abuja, staying In hotels for two weeks, given N200,000 each. Who foot that bill? It was Akanya who called me in October 2010 that they wanted to make me the national chairman of the party. He was then the protem National publicity Secretary of the CPC. Up till now, I don’t know him. Later he was suspended by the party, for whatever he did before I came in. He had written a letter of apology, wanting to be reinstated, then all of a sudden, he made a u-turn. Even Hanga himself came to this office four times, when they have problems in Kano, because there were lots of problems, especially with substitution of names here and there, just like in other parties.

And when you have your members coming to complain about the administration of the party, that does not mean that the party is factionalised. I can assure you, it is in the nature of politics. I don’t agree that I am a professional politician, I say I am in professional politics. For these people, it is 24 hours of politicking. I am here because there is work to be done, I am a manager and I bring all my expertise in management into the job. You can also go to INEC to confirm whether CPC is factionalised or not. You can talk of factionalisation in All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and Alliance for Democracy (AD), but here there is nothing like factionalisation.

You talked about corruption in the judiciary, what is the way out, in your opinion?

Well we have a new Chief Justice who is trying her best to bring discipline to the judiciary. The only way out is the restructuring of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the strengthening of the disciplinary instrument in the judiciary to deal decisively with any erring judges. The judicial oath is there and anyone who abuses the oath should be punished to serve as deterrent to others.

Look at Katsina now, the Supreme Court said that the primary conducted by the party on January 13, 2011 is the

Momoh

valid one and that the one organised by the state chapter of the party on January 16, 2011 was not binding and that the people who emerged from the January 13, 2011 primary and won the election are the bona fide winners of the election, they were sworn in into the House of Representatives; now those who occupied those position illegally before the Supreme Court judgement now went to a High Court, which now said that INEC was wrong to have given those validly recognised by the Supreme Court Certificates of Return, that is an example of the indiscipline in the judiciary.

Or you see a situation where someone is charged to court for stealing or misappropriating billions of naira and a judge says the person should go and pay less than a million naira, what type of mockery of the judiciary is that? In other climes, such an accused person would face the firing squad! These days, people no longer think of their names anymore.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

45

Community Mirror Flood neutralises charms to catch 46 criminals

“The judiciary has ceased to be the last hope of the common man; it has become the last refuge of crooks” PASTOR TUNDE BAKARE

Sons kill UNICAL lecturer over gratuity T he University of Calabar has been plunged into mourning after a 25-year-old man, Ekenimi Bassey Nathaniel and his younger brother Odiong Bassey Nathaniel allegedly murdered their father; a retired lecturer, Professor Nathaniel Bassey.

It was learnt the suspects allegedly murdered their father in order to take possession of his retirement

benefits and gratuity.

Impeccable sources at the University of Calabar Staff Quarters told Community Mirror that after killing their father, the accused planted a knife in his hand to give the impression that he committed suicide by stabbing himself.

The deceased professor was a lecturer in Economics Department of the university. He was found dead in a

pool of his own blood, in his bedroom over the weekend, causing uproar in the university community.

Upon intelligence gathering, Ekenimi was arrested and he later confessed to the crime. However, his brother, Odiong is still at large.

According to police sources, Ekenimi confessed during interrogations that he and his brother stabbed their father three times on

the face, neck and back, even as they gagged him with newspapers to prevent him from shouting for help.

According to sources, the boys got clues that their father, who was teaching on contract basis after his retirement was about to be paid his retirement benefits and gratuity worth N40 million and decided to kill him so the money would be paid to one of them as the next of

kin.

He said: “My father had nine children from two women and I felt that if I should wait for his property to be shared after death, not much will be given to me.

I told my brother, Odiong, that our father’s death will change our fortune, so we should kill him to collect his gratuity, which is N40 million.

“Odiong quickly accepted. So he went and brought two of his friends to assist us. I saw my father that morning, he was not sick, nothing was wrong with him. Odiong brought his friends and one of them stood guard outside, watching the environment while the rest of us went in and attacked him.

“He was killed around 7:30am but before that, the two of us agreed on 50/50 sharing formula should we succeed in getting his N40 million gratuity.”

Ekemini said he started venturing into criminality

after he gained admission to CALEB University, Lagos to study Economics and became initiated into a cult group called Vikings Confraternity, while his brother, Odiong, allegedly joined Eiye Confraternity.

He said he abandoned his academic pursuits at 200 levels due to his cult activities and his late father’s financial crisis shortly after retirement.

Meanwhile, the Officerin-Charge of Homicide unit of the State CID, Mr. Joseph Inuyashi and the state Police Public Relations, Mr. John Imoh said efforts are on to apprehend the fleeing Odiong.

It was gathered that Ekemini and his brother carted way some useful documents and thereafter chartered an ambulance to convey the deceased body to his home town at Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of AkwaIbom State before the police were alerted and eventually arrested the suspect.

Police inspectoroutshot dead a pistol and shot InspecHAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

A Some of the confiscated Jerry cans of PMS from pipeline vandals at Ijedodo, Ijegun area of Lagos by the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps recently.

SSS arrest fraudster, recover 1.5m fake dollars FRANCIS SUBERU

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he Lagos State Command of the State Security Service (SSS), has arrested two suspected fraudsters, Uche Onwuka and Azeez Bello for attempting to defraud one Livinus Yakubu to the tune of $7 million and impersonating an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) director respectively.

Onwuka had lured Livinus, a Nigerian based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to Nigeria on the pretense of investing $7 million in real estate belonging to business mogul, Mike Ad-

enuga.

However, rather than proceeding with the business negotiation, Uche was said to have introduced the issue of having $3.5 million stamped dollars claiming he needed only $30, 000 to purchase chemical to wash it.

Confirming the arrests, the Director, SSS, Mr. Ben Achu-Olayi, said the victim’s suspicion was aroused and he reported to the service.

He said they encouraged him to play along and, on January 7, 2013, the operatives of the command placed the suspect under close surveillance around Camelot Hotel, Victoria Island, where

he was scheduled to come and collect part of the $30, 000.

Olayi said during the search conducted at the suspect’s accommodation at Travel House Hotel, in Ajah, many incriminating items including 12 fake internet super-imposed pictures of suspect in the midst of very important Nigerians and documents purportedly signed

by President Goodluck Jonathan, were discovered.

He said, “The suspect had several fake internet superimposed pictures with different highly placed personalities like the late president, Umar Musa Yar’Adua; the

former president, Olusegun Obasanjo and business mogul, Aliko Dangote amongst others.

“The worst is that the suspect super-imposed several pictures where he was with President Goodluck Jonathan in the presidential office. He portrayed himself as a member of the innercaucus or kitchen cabinet of the president and close ally of prominent business moguls in the country. He has used such gimmicks to lure his victims.”

The Director said the suspect has made confessional statement and will soon be arraigned in court.

police officer, Inspector Adelakun Lawal attached to Yaba Police Division in Ondo town; Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State has allegedly been shot dead over the weekend by one of his colleagues.

It was gathered that the suspect, Kazeem Shehu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), presently serving at Ajagba Police Division in Irele Local Government Area of the state, shot the deceased.

Community Mirror learnt that late Lawal and his friend were at a drinking joint in Okerowo area of the town before an argument ensued between them, leading to serious altercation.

According to an eye witness, all efforts at cautioning the duo proved abortive.

He said the altercation took a tragic dimension after the suspect allegedly brought

tor Lawal at a close range; leaving him in his own pool of blood.

Thereafter, Kazeem attempted fleeing the scene but was promptly apprehended by people around, even as the victim was rushed to a nearby specialist hospital where he was confirmed dead. A police officer at Yaba Police Division confirmed the incident.

All efforts at speaking with the Area Commander in Charge of Ondo Area Command, Mr Hamzat Ameyi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) was not successful as he was said to have travelled out of town on official duty.

However, a senior police officer at the station who spoke on condition of anonymity said the remains of the deceased officer has been deposited at the mortuary; saying the incident has been reported at the Ondo State Police Command Headquarters in Akure for further investigation.

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Community Mirror

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Flood neutralises charms to catch criminals PRECIOUS –WERNER AHIAKWO PORT HARCOURT

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ollowing an upsurge of violent crimes in Omoku town ,headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, the traditional ruler, Oba of Ogbaland, Chukwumela-Nnam Obi 11, Council of Traditional rulers and Chiefs brought together some Juju priests to place curses on those engaged in criminal activities, even as the traditional ruler

claimed it would bring lasting peace to the community.

A week later, two daring criminals were reportedly killed when they broke into shops and homes and stole goods worth thousands of naira.

After the incident and concerted efforts by security agents, men of the underworld were said to have ceased their activities, thereby reviving the once moribund salons, restaurants, night clubs and other business activities.

However, following an unprecedented flood, the

criminals are said to have resumed their activities with an upsurge in murder, abduction, armed robbery, burglary, amongst others, as the residents are wondering if potency of the voodoo by so-called powerful juju priests have waned.

A trader, Nze Maduabuchuku, told Community Mirror, that criminals have resumed their activities because flood swept away the curse invoked on the land. A resident, Cletus Nwokocha, also explained that most of the criminals are from neighboring towns and vil-

lages, even as he blamed the flood for reducing the potency of the charms.

An elder, Elder Chukwumela Ozuroke, also maintained that powers of the juju priests were not strong enough to withstand the effects of the flood.

On the contrary, Chairman of Omoku City Council of Traditional rulers and Chiefs, Eze G.E Ogidi, refuted the claims that the flood was responsible for the impotence of the charms.

Eze Ogidi said, the powers are intact. “Anyone say-

ing the flood neutralised them is being economical with the truth. The things we did are still active. We used 10 different “Juju” to invoke curses and they cost a lot of money. When we heard the rumour, we contacted the priests and they reaffirmed, that what they did is still intact and since, then we have been meeting with them” he said.

He also confirmed that cult activities, which was becoming a menace is now a thing of the past, even as he explained that the charms do not kill instantly,

they usually hunt down offenders in due course.

Also speaking, Chairman of Omoku Community Development Committee, Barrister Chris Amadike, explained that “Juju” cannot be washed away by flood, as he called on youths of the town to engage in meaningful activities.

However, while some criminals are still inflicting harm on the community, the law-abiding residents are still hopeful for retributive justice from the much discussed powerful charms of the juju priests.

Katsina LG to get 160 boreholes JAMES DANJUM KATSINA

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ankia Local Government Area of Katsina State is to get 160 new boreholes to complement existing water sources.

The council area is to rehabilitate its old boreholes for N150 million for continued operation.

Speaking, the caretaker committee chairman, Abubakar Kankia said a total of 265 boreholes have so far been rehabilitated in six of the 10 area wards.

Kankia, said 20 new boreholes were recently constructed in to selected communities, while 22 solar powered ones had the various parts replaced to enable water availability.

He said there have been

several requests from communities wanting boreholes in their areas but the council was working to ensure the requests were met.

Kankia said the council’s which produces 50,000 gallons of water is being supplemented by boreholes, which are often located in areas that do not easily have access to the main source of water supply.

The caretaker chairman said the government was also building a larger water source that would complement existing ones, and same is expected to double what the council’s main water source is producing.

He said the council has water bodies that were being harnessed to promote irrigation and ensure availability of potable drinking water for the people.

President of the Professional Carpenters and Furniture Makers Association of Lagos State, (PCFA), Comrade Anthony Aluko, right, presenting key to a car won by a member of the association from Ikorodu, Sadiq Sodiq, at the Carpenters’ Day held recently in Lagos.

FRSC commander flays Okada riders

Governor’s wife fetes elderly citizens

FRANCIS SUBERU

FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

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he wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun has feted more than 1,000 needy, aged men and women from the 20 local government areas in the state. The senior citizens were brought together under the programme called UPLIFTing the Aged, an initiative of the governor’s wife. Many analysts have described the initiative as one of the most important steps to give the elderly a sense of belonging. With the increasing number of the needy senior citizens, many believe that such forum would afford them the opportunity to contribute to the development of the society.

Mrs. Amosun had invited the senior citizens to join her husband in the celebration of his 55th birthday anniversary.

As many of these senior citizens recounted their wonderful experiences, the governor’s wife exchanged greetings and assured them, that they were not forgotten.

According to her, “Every one has the desire to grow older. Ageing is a gift from God and our elderly deserve to be taken care of. Our desire is to fill in the gap of fulfilling the social needs of vulnerable elderly people who are lonely, and who struggle hard in their daily activities, who are downhearted and who need daily basic health care.”

Mrs. Amosun, explained that ageing is not a big is-

sue, but “we should make it a point of duty to take care of the vulnerable older persons, this informed our decision to embark on the initiative called UPLIFTing the Aged.”

Indeed, this is one area the wife of the governor has recorded a major feat by offering a helping hand to the elderly. Thus, she advocated for better welfare package for them, describing the aged as very important people who should be catered for.

“The aged people in our midst deserve to be revered and taken care of to ensure their longevity. We have responsibility to take care of our ageds who have contributed their quotas to the development of our society,” she said.

The Governor also used

the occasion to reiterate support to boost the standard of living of the citizenry by providing modern infrastructure facilities in the three senatorial districts in the state.

He noted that the achievements recorded in the state were due to benevolence of God and support of the people, who have been patient and cooperative with his government.

According to him, “There could not have been any better gift for my birthday than the support l got from people of Ogun State, especially the one during the commissioning of the Ibara/Sokori overhead bridge. By the help of God and patience of our people, we would continue to touch every facet of our economy.”

T

he Unit Commander, FRSC RS 2.27, Agbado, Ogun State, Assistant Corps Commander, ACC John Alhassan, has described the activities of Okada and tricycle operators in Agbado Ijaye, as irritating, saying they have penchant for breaking traffic rules and regulations.

According to him, most Okada riders in the area constitute nuisance to the neighbourhood.

“Most of the Okada riders are nuisance to this environment. They do not obey traffic rules and regulations. Can you imagine that in Agbado, an Okada rider can carry up to five passengers at a time and they don’t like wearing crash helmets?

Most of them are hemp smokers and so, are not prepared to listen or obey traf-

fic rules.

“The tricycle operators too, are no better as they are a menace on the roads.

If you caution any of them, they report you to the Oba or their political godfather.”

Speaking to Community Mirror, Alhassan said one of his major challenges was discouraging drivers and Okada riders in the area from overloading. He said despite the fact that most vehicles plying AgbadoIjaye axis are rickety with bad tyres, they still overload them with persons and goods.

“We have been warning them, but they won’t listen. However, we will keep advising them because we don’t want to record any accidents. It should be noted that it is not only human factor that is responsible for road accidents, mechanical factor and the environment also contribute.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

47

Communal clash: Ahmed sacks Offa, Oyun council chairmen SINA FADARE AND WOLE ADEDEJI

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he Kwara State government yesterday dissolved the Offa and Oyun Local Government Councils, sending home the chairmen, councillors and all other political office holders in the two council areas.

The development was sequel to the bloody communal clash that engulfed Offa and Erin Ile towns last week in which three people were officially announced to have been killed.

Addressing a press conference on the matter, Sec-

retary to the State Government, SSG, Alhaji Isiaka Gold, said the two councils, particularly their chairmen as the chief security officers in their respective areas, had failed to arrest the state of insecurity in the two councils.

The SSG said there was an earlier problem between the two communities occasioned by a disagreement between members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, which prompted the government to order a relocation of their loading parks to the heart of their respective towns.

In addition, Gold said a delegation of the state government led by him and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs held meetings with the council chairmen to find a lasting solution to the matter.

Not only that, the SSG said Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, also personally held meetings with the officials of the union, the Oloffa of Offa, Oba Muftau Esuwoye and the Elerin of Erin Ile, Oba Abdulgaiyu Olusokun, to maintain peace as well as involve the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Sulu Gambari, to end the dispute to no avail.

He said despite all the peace overtures by the government, “further hostilities broke out between the two communities on Monday, January 28, 2013 resulting in the loss of three lives and the destruction of property worth millions of naira.”

The state government, according to Alhaji Gold, could not fold its arms and watch the situation degenerate into acts of criminality and lawlessness as the council bosses apparently have failed to secure their areas as the chief security officers and the state government had to step in and stem the tide.

Consequently, the governor was said to have approve the appointments of Alhaji Ishaq Abubakar and Alhaji G. B. O. Bello as Sole Administrators for Offa and Oyun council areas to replace Alhaji Saheed Popoola and Alhaji Ibrahim Omoniyi, the sacked chairmen respectively.

Meanwhile, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, yesterday condemned the state government for dissolving the Oyun and Offa local government councils in the state, saying such an action was uncalled for.

The party said this yesterday in Lagos in a statement

issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. The party noted that the action also risks aggravating the crisis, as the people of Offa may read political undertone to it since the affected community is one of the strongholds of the ACN. The party said the state government acted in haste in dissolving the councils and decided to cash in on the crisis to whittle the influence and popularity of ACN in the area.

The party urged the government to immediately rescind its decision on the issue.

‘Train women, youths to fight poverty, insecurity’

Legal Aid Council to partner with Kogi judiciary

INUSA NDAHI

OYEWALE IBRAHIM

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LOKOJA

MAIDUGURI

call has been made for a concerted effort at women and youths training as the only weapon out of the present poverty and insecurity pervading the country.

Making this call yesterday at the presentation of training tools and equipment to the Borno State Agency for Mass Literacy, the wife of the Borno State Governor, Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima, said the country cannot shy away from the empowerment of the needy.

The governor’s wife, who donated the items through her foundation, Support for Widows, Orphans and Tsangaya, SWOT, said she will always stand for women and youths, adding that any assistance given to them, is assistance given to all, and peace and development of the nation.

Her words: “We believe that training of our youths and women is the only weapon we have to destroy the circle of poverty in our society today.” Nana stated.

She explained that it was her belief that her foundation and the agency for mass literacy are commencing the training of 41persons in tailoring, knitting and computer engineering.

She said the foundation has procured sewing machines, knitting machines and computer sets with their accessories as well as other training items and materials to ensure the success of the training programme.

L-R: District Head of Ganjuwa Local Government Area, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu; Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda and Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Alhaji Mohammed Wabu, during the inspection of the skill acquisition centre in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of Bauchi, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Group flays ACF over states creation •Says forum can’t speak for southern Kaduna A ZA MSUE KADUNA

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socio-political group, the Southern Kaduna Progressive Youths Movement, SKPYM, yesterday condemned the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, over its stand against states creation for the South-East and Gurara state in the north.

In an e-mailed statement signed by its National President, Caleb Samuel Abbott, SKPYM also berated ACF for dabbling into the ongoing constitutional amendment before the National

Assembly, saying that the forum’s continued opposition to state creation was targeted against the Southern Kaduna agitation.

The statement while describing ACF’s position as unwarranted and misleading, called for the merger of non-viable core northern states, adding that Southern Kaduna people would never be distracted in their desire for a new state.

The group further urged legislators and agitators of state creation to ignore negative comments by enemies of progress who are bent on creating division among

people for their selfish interest.

The statement reads in part: “ACF is as well rejecting the one Nigeria slogan by placing a blanket ban on creation of new states; after all, it is a known fact that for justice to be seen to be done, the South-East merits a new state to have a semblance of equity in Nigeria’s political structure.

“If economic viability is the consideration as the Arewa Consultative Forum wants us to believe as the criteria for states creation, then those mostly “non-viable states” in the core north must not be and must be

merged now.

“The Arewa Consultative Forum is simply against the creation of Gurara state from the present Kaduna State and are hiding mischievously under the banner of setting criteria’s that must be met before the creation of new states.

“We the people of Southern Kaduna totally reject and condemn the statement of the ACF and urge the National Assembly to carry on with its constitutional duties without listening to any socio-cultural organisation as the ACF in the discharge of their legislative duties.”

he Kogi State office of the Legal Aid Council, LAC, has solicited the collaboration of the state judiciary to enable it carry out its mediation and arbitration services to indigent litigants.

State Coordinator of the council, Mr. Helmon Kosto, made the call when he paid a courtesy call on the Kogi State Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah, at weekend in Lokoja, the state capital.

Koston said without the cooperation of the judiciary, it would be difficult for the LAC to discharge its statutory obligations, which according to him, is basically aimed at enabling the poor to access justice.

He said the council was empowered to handle all criminal and civil cases and had the mandate to visit police stations and prisons, get compensation for victims and pay fines for convicted persons.

The coordinator added that the state office from inception in 1993 to date had handled 1, 374 cases in court and settled 84 others out of court.

He said the office was facing office accommodation and logistic challenges and solicited the assistance of the chief judge in that respect.

While responding, Justice Ajanah commended the Federal Government for establishing the Legal Aid Council to render legal services to the poor “without taking a kobo.”

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South West

Ladipo auto market leader arraigned for murder, granted bail KENNY IDUNUKAN

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eader of the Ladipo Auto Market in Lagos State, Jonathan Chibuzor Okoli, was yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja High Court for attempted murder.

Okoli was arraigned before Justice Lateefat Okunnu alongside other defendants, who are still at large, on a 12-count charge of attempting to kill five members of the market association during a protest last year.

Justice Okunnu, however, granted Okoli bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties.

The sureties, the court ruled, must have verifiable landed property in Lagos State.

The prosecution alleged that Okoli and others on March 5, 2012, armed with guns and machetes, attempted to kill Maduchukwu Ejike, Solomon Eze, Cyril Nwenu, and Joseph Nnaji at Ladipo market by inflicting grievous harms on them.

The prosecution also alleged that Okoli and some of his associates unlawfully assembled at the market to disturb the public peace.

He was also charged for extortion and unlawful display of arms.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In his application for bail, Okoli’s counsel, Nnorom Quickers, told the court that his client had been detained since October last year, adding that the offence for which the defendant was being tried is bailable.

Nnorom also told the court that the defendant had earlier been exonerated of the crime by the office of Attorney-General of the Federation.

He said that Okoli was just being unjustly persecuted for refusing to sign a memorandum of understanding to step down as the leader of the market.

Opposing the application for bail, Principal State Counsel, Mr. Femi Adamson, said that granting the defendant’s bail might further cause mayhem in the market.

He prayed the court that since the victims of the crime for which Okoli was being charged were still members of the market, granting him bail could obstruct the cause of justice.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ondo election tribunal dismisses PDP, AP, CPC petitions HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

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he petitions filed by the Accord Party (AP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) against the election of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Labour Party (LP) were yesterday dismissed by the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Akure, the state capital.

Also the three man panel struck out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the petition filed by its governorship candidate in the last October election, Chief Olusola Oke. The Justice Andovar Kaka’an-led Tribunal said the AP and CPC petitions lacked merit, saying it was “incompetent abuse of court process and incurably defective”.

Justice Kaka’an said the petition was faulty, pointing out that the deputy governorship candidate in an affidavit in support of the petition claimed that the party had no candidate for the election.

He said the deputy governorship candidate claimed in

the affidavit that the election was free and fair and also admitted that the party did not file the necessary papers.

The tribunal, however, ruled that the petition lacked the basic requirements as contained in the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, saying basic information needed for the petition to hold were not available.

Justice Kaka’an said the petition failed to identify whether the petitioner is a Nigerian while his age, his membership of a political party were not stated in the affidavit, adding that it did not state the scores of those that participated in the election.

The tribunal said since the petitioner had filed an action before the Federal High Court sitting in Akure with the same parties and reliefs, the petition before the tribunal amounted to an abuse of court processes.

Justice Kaka’an said: “We hold that this petition is a complete abuse of court process. The petition is incurably defective”.

The tribunal also faulted the petition filed by the CPC

petition, pointing out that the party candidate, Soji Ehinlanwo, failed to give necessary information that qualified him to contest in the October 20, 2012 governorship election and that since the petitioner agreed that he scored less than one per cent of the total vote cast in the election, it would be difficult for his petition to stand.

The tribunal said: “The petitioner is a day dreamer and the petition is a huge joke since he has no petition against other political parties that participated in the election. How does he realise his dream of becoming the governor?”

It equally struck out substantive paragraphs of the PDP’s candidate because they were vague and speculative and 20 paragraphs of the petition of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for non joinder on necessary parties affected by the paragraphs.

Ruling on the application brought by counsel to Mimiko, Chief Wole Olanipekun, that the PDP had

resolved not to challenge the result of the election and that the person who signed the petition on behalf of the party was not recognised, the tribunal held that Chris Omosuyi that signed the petition lacked the power to do so.

The tribunal held that the constitution of the PDP failed to recognise the office of Director of Organisation being claimed by Omosuyi.

Justice Kaka’an said: “Omosuyi is an impostor in this matter, he is just an employee of the PDP and the constitution of the party does not recognise the office of Director of Organisation that he claims to be occupying”.

The tribunal also struck out substantive parts of the petition filed by Oke on the ground that they were vague, speculative, generic, in precise and pre-election matter, noting that the affected paragraphs made serious allegations against some people and security agencies without specific mentioning of the areas where the act took place.

L-R: Osun State House of Assembly Speaker, Hon. Najeem Salam; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Commissioner for Health, Mrs. Temitope Ilori, during the commissioning of the Osun Ambulance Services tagged: “O-Ambulance” in Osogbo, yesterday.

No polio case in Ekiti for 16 years – Govt MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

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o Polio case has been recorded in Ekiti State in the last 16 years, it was learnt yesterday.

The Ekiti State Director of Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Ileke Joshua, told National Mirror that the state would immunise about 590,453 children below the age of five

against polio this month. .

Joshua said: “Our people understand the imperative of immunisation.

No parent will be happy to have a child with polio.

The level of sensitisation has been high in Ekiti State and all we do is to remind the parents of the exercise when it is time for immunisation. You even see them bringing their children to health centres themselves for vaccination.”

He commended the state government for its commitment to improved health service delivery in the state.

Joshua said: “Health is number five on Governor Kayode Fayemi’s agenda.

The governor provides free health services for pregnant mothers and children under five; the physically challenged and the aged above 65.

“The governor has also

remained committed to every health policy we bring to him for approval.”

Meanwhile, 92 per cent of vaccines required for immunisation were available in the state at the time of filing this report yesterday.

Health officials said they were expecting the remaining vaccines from the Federal Government to allow comprehensive implementation of the exercise.

30 beggars jailed for constituting public nuisance MURITALA AYINLA

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eggars in Lagos State may now have to rethink or spend better part of their lives in jail, as a Special Offences Court sitting in Alausa, Ikeja, sent 30 of them to Kirikiri and Badagry prisons for constituting public nuisance.

Hundreds of blind beggars last year stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly to protest alleged inhuman tortures metted on them by prisons officials, accusing the officials of charging them over N60, 000 to secure their release, while those who lacked the resources to secure their release were left to languish in prison.

Thirty-nine beggars were charged to court by the Lagos State Government, accusing them of constituting public nuisance by begging for alms.

Begging, according to the state government, is criminal and punishable by the law.

The beggars were accused of conducting themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace and for receiving, demanding and or collecting dues or unauthorized levy from persons and thus committed offence punishable under the law on illegal collection of dues in public places.

Some of the count charges against the beggars included conducting themselves as disorderly persons without visible means of livelihood and thus committed an offence under the criminal law of Lagos State.

However, nine of them were rejected by prison officials due to their disabilities and were then taken to the Lagos State Rehabilitation Home in Majidun and Ikorodu.

Having pleaded guilty to the offences, 30 of them were consequently sent to Kirikiri and Badagry prisons for one month pending when the final judgment would be determined.

Meanwhile, another set of 13 beggars arraigned last week Friday were sentenced to 72 hours community service or pay a fine of N5,000, while 10 others were sentenced to three months imprisonment or pay fine of N10,000 each.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Lagos Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (left), receiving an award from the Founder, Habitation of Hope, Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye, at the annual Hope Day celebration and dedication of new vocational centre held at the Habitation of Hope Ground, Loboru, Ogun State, at the weekend.

Six killed in Ogun auto crash FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

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o fewer than six persons, including three children, have been confirmed dead in a lone accident that occurred a few kilometres away from Shagamu interchange on the LagosIbadan Expressway in the early hours of yesterday.

The accident, which involved a Toyota Hiace bus and marked (SOKOTO) GWD 20 XA, was said to have occurred due to the foggy weather, which impaired the visibility of the

driver.

The Shagamu Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Lanrewaju Ogundele, told journalists yesterday that the 18-seater passenger bus was on its way to Lagos from Sokoto State when the accident occurred.

According to him, the visibility of the driver was impaired by the early morning foggy weather when he over sped and rammed into a stationary empty container parked off the road.

Ogundele added that 19

persons were involved in the crash of which six had been confirmed dead.

The other passengers are in critical conditions and receiving treatment at Idera Private Hospital in Shagamu.

He also said that the bodies of the three children and those of the adults involved in the crash had been deposited at Fakoya Hospital Mortuary in Shagamu.

The FRSC Unit Commander, however, cautioned motorists to be careful when driving in foggy weather.

Bus conductor docked for stealing N18,000 •Granted N50,000 bail

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he police in Abuja yesterday arraigned one John Benson, 18, a bus conductor before the Wuse Zone 2, Senior Magistrate’s Court for theft.

Police Prosecutor, Mr Anigbo Paul, told the court that one Eucharia Igwe of Zone 7, Lugbe, Abuja, reported the matter to the Lugbe Police Station on January 30.

Anigbo told the court: “The accused and one Dick-

son, now at large, jointly snatched the bag containing a blackberry phone valued at N18,000, an ID card, a GT Bank ATM card and N650.’’

The prosecutor added that the accused was caught on the spot and confessed during police investigation that he and the other suspect at large stole the bag.

He said the offences contravened Sections 287 and 97 of the Penal Code.

Independent judiciary will promote vibrant democracy –Oshiomhole

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overnor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State yesterday said the nation’s judiciary must be free from external interference in order to ensure a vibrant democracy.

Oshiomhole stated this at the valedictory court

session held in honour of Justice Roland Amaize, who retired from the services of Edo Judiciary as High Court judge.

The governor said: “We have come to appreciate the contributions of Justice Amaize to the main-

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him in court.

The Magistrate, Mrs Binta Dogonyaro, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 and a surety in like sum.

She added that the surety must be a responsible citizen with a means of livelihood and must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court.

Dogonyaro adjourned the case to February 26 for hearing.

tenance of peace and the Edo judiciary is proud of him.

“Judges are no respecter of status and all men and women are equal and common before the law.”

According to Oshiomhole, Amaize has shown a lot of courage in the discharge of his duties and has made landmark judgments.

News

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Cocktail

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Tuesday, February 5, 2013

FOR YOUR SUCCESS

WITH DR. DEJI FOLUTILE

Today's Tonic (90)

If you feel angry with someone, reach out and take their hand, smile or give them a hug, and your anger will soon dissolve, allowing your inner self to become more disposed to feelings of friendship and love.

–Christian H. Godefroy * * * MY NOTE: Every act of love is powerful. It is easier to hate than to love our fellow beings, yet our lives cannot be truly enriched without a consistent decision to walk in love no matter our feelings and no matter the behaviour of the individuals around us.

You know what? Just love people no matter what they speak or do to you. Believe me, there is magic in it!

TEL 08104942999 E-MAIL deji.folutile@gmail.com Follow me @TwitterOWOTIDE

Russian sleeping judge resigns after video exposé

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Russian judge has resigned after a video apparently showed him asleep during a trial that ended with him sentencing the defendant to five years in a penal colony, Russian media reported on Friday.

Critics of the Russian justice system, which has a notoriously high conviction rate, were outraged when the video purporting to show judge Yevgeny Makhno sleeping through a defence

lawyer’s speech in court was posted online in January.

“The Judges Qualification Panel accepted Makhno’s resignation from his judge’s post,” regional judge and panel member Valentina Pozharskaya told state news agency RIA Novosti.

The film, allegedly shot during a fraud trial last July in the far-eastern town of Blagoveshchensk, seems to show Makhno slumped in his chair fast asleep with his head cocked to one side.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

Four arrested for defying San Francisco’s nudity ban

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our protesters were arrested entirely in the buff as they took to the steps of San Francisco City Hall in a brazen challenge of the city’s ban on public nudity on Friday, the first day it went into effect.

One woman and three men — one wearing just a mesh thong — were taken into custody as about a dozen other protesters in various states of undress paraded around with painted slogans on their bodies, holding up signs with messages such as “The Human Body is Beautiful.”

Police gave them a 15-minute warning to disperse or put pants on before officers arrested those who failed to cover themselves. The protesters said their arrest would advance the cause of “body freedom.”

“No matter what, we’re going to continue practicing body freedom,” said Gypsy Taub, a mother of two who hosts a local cable program devoted to the nudist cause.

“In a society that’s repressed and crazy, that glorifies war and at the same time

criminalizes the human body ... nudity is a political statement.”

In December, the Board of Supervisors voted 7-4 in favour of the ordinance, which prohibits exposed genitals in most public places, including streets, sidewalks and public transit. A federal judge ruled Tuesday that nudity was not protected free speech and upheld San Francisco’s ban on most

displays of public nudity.

Protesters vowed to appeal the judge’s decision.

Police spokesman Albie Esparza said the arrests were simply an attempt to enforce compliance with the law, which the city enacted after residents complained about people in various stages of undress.

“We’re not here to arrest and cite people if we don’t have to, but if we have to, we will enforce the law,” he

said. “We want to admonish as many people as possible and try to gain compliance.”

Activists challenging the measure also had argued that the ordinance was unfair because it grants exceptions for nudity at permitted public events such as the city’s gay pride parade. They complained that forcing people to cover up would undermine San Francisco’s reputation as a city without inhibitions.

San Francisco police nude protesters on Friday in front of City Hall in San Francisco.

PHOTO: AP

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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World News

Afghanistan, Pakistan aim for peace in six months

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“I have the impression that the whole Spanish government is working to drive down unemployment, to push through structural reforms” -German Chancellor, Angela Merkel

War in Mali: Top rebel leader arrested PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

...As French troops quit Timbuktu this week

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he number-three leader of the armed group that controlled Timbuktu in northern Mali until last week, Mohamed Moussa Ag Mouhamed, has been arrested near the Algerian border, sources say.

Mohamed Moussa, as he was known in Timbuktu, is being taken to the north-eastern city of Kidal, the last bastion of rebels who controlled northern Mali for 10 months before being ousted in a French-led military operation launched on January 11, a Malian security source said yesterday.

“The number three leader of Ansar al-Dine, the one who sowed terror, who ordered people’s hands cut off, who supported the strict application of sharia, was arrested by an armed group,” the source told AFP news agency.

The information was confirmed by a Kidal regional official, Abdoulaye Toure, though the two sources gave conflicting accounts on which of the area’s rival groups had arrested him.

The arrest was believed to have been carried out either by the Azawad National Liberation Movement (MNLA), a Tuareg separatist movement, or an Ansar al-Dine splinter group, the Islamic Movement of Azawad (MIA).

Azawad is the Tuareg name for northern Mali.

“He was the ideologue of Ansar Dine in Timbuktu,” Toure said.

“He was called Ansar Dine’s number three, but in reality he was the brain of the organisation, the doctrine in Timbuktu.

A convoy of Malian troops making a stop to test some of their weapons near Hambori, northern Mali, on the road to Gao, yesterday.

Photo: AP

He was arrested in Hallil near the Algerian border by a [formerly] allied armed group.”

Meanwhile, in a new phase in the Mali conflict, French airstrikes targeted the fuel depots and desert hideouts of Islamic extremists in northern Mali overnight yesterday, as a military spokeswoman said that French forces plan to hand control of Timbuktu to the Malian army this week.

After taking control of the key cities of northern Mali, forcing the Islamic rebels to retreat into the desert, the French military intervention is turning away from the cities and targeting the fighters’ remote outposts to prevent them bases from being used as Saharan launch pads for international terrorism.

The French plan to leave the city of Timbuktu on Thursday, Feb. 7, a spokeswoman for the armed forces in the city said Mon-

‘LRA rebel group losing men through defections’

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n online organization that tracks the crimes of the Lord’s Resistance Army says the rebel group is losing fighters through defections encouraged by United States military advisers.

The LRA Crisis Tracker said yesterday that at least 19 LRA fighters defected in the last nine months. In the same period a senior rebel commander was captured while another was killed.

The LRA is led by Joseph Kony, a brutal warlord who catapulted to global fame last year when the U.S. charity Invisible Children made a popular online video highlighting his crimes. About 100 U.S. special forces are helping African troops to hunt down Kony. Only about 200 LRA fighters are still active, according to Ugandan officials, but the rebels still abduct civilians in Congo and the Central African Republic.

day. French soldiers took the city last week after Islamic extremists withdrew. Now the French military said it intends to move out of Timbuktu in order to push farther northeast to the strategic city of Gao. “The 600 soldiers currently based in Timbuktu will be heading toward Gao in order to

pursue their mission,” said Capt. Nadia, the spokeswoman, who only provided her first name in keeping with French military protocol. She said that the force in Timbuktu will be replaced by a small contingent of French soldiers, though she declined to say when they would arrive.

Nigerian crowned Miss ECOWAS Peace Ambassador

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igeria’s Hyeladzirra “Zirra” Banu has been crowned Miss ECOWAS Peace Ambassador 2012, after beating 26 other contestants at the pageant held recently in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Miss Annelise Konaté of Cote d’Ivoire emerged the first runnerup in the annual competition, while Miss Keshia Ferguson of Ghana came third as the second runner-up.

Zirra, 23, and who holds honours degrees in International

Relations, Political Science and Communications, went into the competition as the reigning Miss ECOWAS Nigeria, demonstrated a brilliant show of intellect, elegance and eloquence at the regional pageant which also featured traditional dance and a peace forum.

The new Peace Ambassador, who succeeds Miss Fatoumata Diallo of Guinea Bissau, said her goal is to execute development projects working with ECOWAS and partners.

Miss ECOWAS 2012, Zirra Banu and her predecessor, Miss Fatoumata Diallo

WORLD BULLETIN

South Africa offers wage increase to farm workers South Africa’s labour minister has announced a new minimum wage for farm workers after violent strikes swept through portions of the country.

Minister Mildred Oliphant said in a prepared speech Monday that the new daily wage would be 105 rand (about $12) for manual labourers on the nation’s farms. The minimum wage now is 69 rand ($7.80) Oliphant said the wages would also be adjusted for inflation in coming years.

Farm workers had asked for 150 rand (nearly $17) a day. Last year, at least two people died in farm protests. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets during a January protest.

Vineyards in the Western Cape province, where protests hit hardest, are key to South Africa’s wine industry. Labourers also work on apple and other fruit farms.

UN court overturns Rwandan genocide suspects’ convictions A UN-backed court has overturned the genocide convictions of two Rwandan former ministers and ordered their immediate release.

Justin Mugenzi and Prosper Mugiraneza had been sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2011 for complicity, and incitement, to commit genocide.

Analysts say Rwanda’s government is likely to be angry at their acquittal.

About 800,000 people, mostly ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus, were killed in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Mr Mugenzi was the trade minister during the genocide and Mr Mugiraneza the minister in charge of civil servants.

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) convicted them on the grounds that they had attended a meeting where a decision was taken to dismiss the prefect of the Butare region in southern Rwanda for preventing massacres from taking place and for later being present when interim President Theodore Sindikubwabo urged people to kill Tutsis.

The appeal judges, however, found that Mr Mugenzi and Mr Mugiraneza did not know that Mr Sindikubwabo was going to make the speech, AFP news agency reports.

The judges also said the dismissal of the prefect, JeanBaptiste Habyarimana, could have been decided “for political and administrative reasons” and not necessarily in order to speed up the massacres.

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World News

Briefs

UK confirms finding King Richard III’s bones A skeleton found beneath a Leicester car park has been confirmed as that of English king Richard III. Experts from the University of Leicester said DNA from the bones matched that of descendants of the monarch’s family.

Lead archaeologist Richard Buckley, from the University of Leicester, told a press conference to applause: “Beyond reasonable doubt it’s Richard.”

Mr Buckley said the bones had been subjected to “rigorous academic study” and had been carbon dated to a period from 1455-1540.

Dr Jo Appleby, an osteo-archaeologist from the university’s School of Archaeology and Ancient History, revealed the bones were of a man in his late 20s or early 30s. Richard was 32 when he died.

Ahmadinejad wants to be Iran’s first astronaut

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said yesterday that he’s ready to take the risk of being the first Iranian astronaut sent into space as part of Iran’s goal of a manned space flight.

“I’m ready to be the first Iranian to sacrifice myself for our country’s scientists,” the official IRNA news agency quoted him as saying in an address to space scientists in Tehran.

Space tourist Anousheh Ansari was the first Iranian to make a journey into space aboard a Soyuz TMA-9 capsule from Baikonur, Kazakhastan, in September 2006.

The 40-year-old telecommunications entrepreneur paid a reported $20 million for a space station visit.

Her journey became an inspiration to women in male-dominated Iran.

Iran sent a monkey into space last Monday, describing the launch a successful step toward Tehran’s plan to send an astronaut into space within the next five to six years. The monkey named “Pishgam,” which means pioneer in Farsi, reportedly travelled 120 kilometres (72 miles) and safely returned to Earth.

S’Korea, US begin drills amid N’Korea nuke threat South Korean and U.S. troops began naval drills yesterday in a show of force partly directed at North Korea amid signs that Pyongyang will soon follow through on a threat to conduct its third atomic test.

The region has also seen a boost in diplomatic activity since last month, when North Korea announced it would conduct a nuclear test to protest U.N. Security Council sanctions toughened after a satellite launch in December that the U.S. and others say was a disguised test of banned missile technology.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Afghanistan, Pakistan aim for peace in six months C A

Cambodia mourns as former king’s cremated

fghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan’s Asif Ali Zardari have said they will work towards a peace deal for Afghanistan within six months.

Speaking in Britain, after talks with Prime Minister David Cameron, they said they would “take all necessary measures” to achieve such a goal.

They backed the opening of an Afghan office in Doha and urged the Taliban to do the same for talks to take place.

The two men reaffirmed their aim to work towards a strategic partnership.

They said they hoped to sign an agreement strengthening ties on economic and security issues, including trade and border management, later in the year.

The talks - held at the UK prime minister’s Chequers country retreat north of London - is the third round of discussions since Mr Cameron instigated the trilateral process last year.

It is worth noting that senior military and diplomatic chiefs are present at this meeting. They have not been at previous talks. On the Afghan side, everyone is admitting that Pakistan has taken positive steps.

Senior officials point to the release of key Taliban leaders from prison, including former ministers - freeing them up to take part in a nascent peace

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L-R: Afghan President, Hamid Karzai , British PM, David Cameron, and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, at a retreat near London.

Photo: Getty Images

process. But what they would really like to see is the release of Mullah Baradar - the Taliban’s former second-in-command.

Foreign ministers, military leaders and intelligence chiefs attended the talks for the first time.

Nato troops are scheduled to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

Ahead of Nato’s departure from Afghanistan, Pakistan does not want a repeat of the 1989 pullout by Soviet forces, which left Kabul in the hands of what it regarded as “unfriendly” forces. It fears this may extend Indian influence to its western border.

Pakistanis want a secure Afghan border, an end to the Balochistan insurgency (which they blame on Afghanistan, India, the US and others) and co-ordinated action against anti-Pakistan guerril-

las in both countries.

At a news conference with Mr Karzai and Mr Zardari, Mr Cameron said “an unprecedented level of co-operation” had been agreed between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The discussions had centred on both the Afghan-led peace process and on strengthening co-operation between Afghanistan and Pakistan, he said.

The joint statement said all sides had agreed on the urgency of the Afghan peace process and “committed themselves to take all necessary measures to achieve the goal of a peace settlement over the next six months”.

They called on the Taliban to open an office in Doha “to enter into dialogue” with the Afghan government, which has also set up a base in the Qatari city to conduct peace negotiations.

ambodians bade goodbye yesterday with tears, chanting and fireworks to former King Norodom Sihanouk, their revered “King-Father” who led them through half a century of political tumult that took them into the abyss of genocidal Khmer Rouge rule and back out again.

Hundreds of thousands of Cambodians thronged the capital for the elaborate royal cremation of the maddeningly mercurial leader whose charm often overshadowed missteps that to most of his countrymen have faded away in a fog of nostalgia for a simpler time.

Sihanouk’s elaborate funeral rites — mingling Hindu, Buddhist and animist traditions — were last seen 53 years ago with the death of his father, King Norodom Suramarit. And they may never be seen again in a rapidly modernizing country where the monarchy has lost much of its power and glamour.

After sunset, Sihanouk’s son King Norodom Sihamoni and widow, Queen Mother Norodom Monineath, both weeping, ignited the funeral pyre inside a temple-like, 15-story-high crematorium. Howitzers fired salvos and fireworks lit up the sky when they exited about half-an-hour later.

After the cremation, Sihamoni handed out gifts to some 400 prisoners he had earlier pardoned as part of the mourning for his father, who he said was “in heaven, near the Lord Buddha, forever.”

“May the much revered king support and protect the entire Kingdom of Cambodia and Cambodians forever,” he said.

The cremation took place within a walled compound where 90 Buddhist monks — one for each year of Sihanouk’s life as counted by Cambodians — chanted around the flower-decked, gilt coffin.

Only the country’s elite and foreign dignitaries were allowed inside the cremation ground, along with courtiers dressed in pantaloons and soldiers in 19th centurystyle uniforms with spiked helmets and swords.

Fidel Castro votes in Cuba’s election

iling Cuban revolutionary leader, Fidel Castro has made a surprise appearance in Havana to vote in parliamentary polls, expressing confidence in the revolution despite a decades-long US trade embargo.

Castro’s visit to the voting precinct in Havana’s El Vedado neighbourhood was the main event in Sunday’s elections, during which Cubans chose 612 members of the National Assembly as well as deputies of local legislatures.

The 86-year-old is said to have spent up to an hour talking to other voters and the media after casting his vote.

About 8.5 million Cubans took part in the polls that featured no opposition candidates.

Authorities billed the event as a celebration of Cuban democracy, “which is different” from those in other countries.

Castro casting his vote during Cuba’s parliamentary elections.

Cuban dissidents dismissed the vote as a farce, however.

“What strange elections, in which there is no choice and all the candidates think the same,” Yoani Sanchez, the dissident blogger, commented.

“It’s an electoral farce.”

Photo: RHC

Before Sunday’s appearance in Havana, Castro had not been seen in public since October 21, when he accompanied Elias Jaua, the current Venezuelan foreign minister, to the Hotel Nacional.

“I am convinced that Cubans

are really a revolutionary people,” Castro told reporters who surrounded him at the polling station.

“I don’t have to prove it. History has already proven it. And 50 years of the US blockade have not been - nor will it be - able to defeat us.”

The US issued a commercial, economic, and financial embargo against Cuba in October 1960 after Castro’s revolutionary government nationalised the properties of US citizens and corporations.

It was broadened to become a near-total embargo in 1962 as Cuba’s alliance with the Soviet block became apparent.

In his comments, Castro also praised the creation of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), whose presidency Cuba formally assumed last week at a summit in Santiago, Chile.

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Tuesday, February 5, 2013

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Suicide: A silent cancer eating For centuries the issue of suicide has been treated as taboo in many African societies, more so in a very conservative one such as Nigeria. But reality is that this phenomenon is fast becoming part of the country’s social landscape. Here, SINA FADARE and TOSIN AROWOSOLA, examine the increasing suicides among youths and reasons if any, why they do so.

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mong Africans, suicide is seen as a bad omen and sacrilege which is caused by unseen powers on the victim. Otherwise, how would someone commit suicide, even in the face of overwhelming frustration? But the rate at which our youths are committing suicide is becoming alarming and people are wondering what could have led to its rise, especially among students of tertiary institution with bright future?

In May 2012, Onyebuchi Okonkwo, a 300 level Physics/Astronomy student at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, committed suicide by hanging himself and leaving behind a suicide note “The controversy is over”. The incident rattled the university community that many of his classmates could not fathom why Onyebuchi in his early 20’s, studying under scholarship from MTN, Shell and his Oraukwu community in Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State, decided to end his life.

Okonkwo’s lifeless body was found suspended by a rope. Some blocks used as stepping stones were found beneath the deceased legs.

Similarly, in June 2012, Ayodeji Balogun, a student of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), also age said his last goodbye on face book before committing suicide, leaving a message that said “what they said about me is not true in school but God knows better, thanks we shall see at the end, l love you all.”

Some of his friends and classmates were astonished that Balogun, who encouraged others with his wise counselling could suddenly terminate his life.

In July 2012, Motunrayo Ogbara committed suicide because her fiancé left due to her medical condition, even when the family disputed this. Motunrayo, was said to have undergone an operation that affected her uterus (Cyst), and so the womb was removed. She went into depression and she initially tried to take her own life but was rescued.

Motunrayo, an economics graduate from the University of Lagos, and worked at Access Bank before her resignation. Incidentally, on the day she was to resume her new job at MTN, she committed suicide in her sister’s house on Allen Avenue in Lagos.

The case of Yusuff Ifawale from Ilobu in Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State was no different. Ifawale, played a fast one on his unsuspecting parents, as he had taken permission to go and buy bread in the neighbourhood.

When he did not return on time, they went in search of him, only to find his body dangling on a tree in the community’s primary school. He did not leave a suicide note, and his parents did not know why he took his life.

Also, a 27-year-old National Diploma graduate of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Muili Awolumate, was said to have

Elebuibon

committed suicide due to joblessness.

Friends and neighbours were able to trace cause of his death to poor confidence he had about his future which he thought could no longer be guaranteed.

Examples of suicides are many and the mystery continues among the few reported cases among teenagers who are too frustrated or unsure of their future committing suicide at random.

Worried by the alarming rate of suicide among teenagers, The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), called on the Federal Government to take urgent measures to arrest the ugly situation.

The party regretted that although suicide is regarded as a despicable act in our culture, many youths have been forced into the act as result of frustration, economic pressures and sense of hopelessness.

The party’s publicity secretary, Chief Emma Eneukwu, said the alarming increase in youth suicide, is traceable to the absence of a government-driven social security programme they could fall back on for succour.

“There have been many cases of suicide, both reported and unreported in recent times. Although we believe it is a despicable act which is alien to our inherent African culture and we strongly condemn it. Any individual contemplating to be part of this social malady is a threat to the future of our country,” he said.

The party challenged the, PDP to, act immediately before the situation goes out of control.

“We believe many Nigerians are living a secret life of torment because of deepening social-economic pressures and sense of hopelessness, traceable to the absence of a solid government-driven social security programme they could to

RATHER THAN YOUNG PEOPLE HANGING

THEMSELVES, THEY SHOULD GIVE THEIR LIVES TO LET

JESUS AND

HIM TAKE CARE

OF THEIR LIVES AS

RESTORER OF HOPE fall back on,” Eneukwu said.

It called on the National Assembly to make social security an enforceable right and include a vibrant youth-friendly social security framework in the ongoing constitution amendment.

Giving credence to the assertion, at the 2012 World Suicide Prevention Day, which took place on September 10,2012, with theme “Suicide Prevention across the Globe: Strengthening Protective Factors and Instilling Hope.” The issue of youths committing suicide was the point of discussion.

The Lagos State branch secretary, of the Nigeria Red Cross Society, Mrs. Ijeoma Nweke, noted that suicide was a major cause of premature death among youths in the society.

“Suicide has a lot of underlying factors such as feelings of pain, loss, depression, broken relationships and hopelessness and these have a lot to do with the youth and their orientation,” Nweke said.

She said that a lot of people quietly commit suicide in Nigeria without people noticing or recognizing it.

“In Nigeria, it is not as if there are no suicide cases, but only few are publicised. Some people take drug overdose,

Artist impression of a suicide victim

drink dangerous and poisonous chemicals and when they do not wake up; we take it as natural death.

Nweke, called on parents to observe their children closely, to prevent sudden behavioural changes that might lead to suicide. She said we should observe our environment and be watchful of people living around us,even as she challenged government and orientation agencies to develop orientation programmes and campaigns and counseling in schools, to advocate change and impact positive behaviour.

Speaking to National Mirror, on the causes of rampant suicide among Nigerian youths, a sociology lecturer at the University of Lagos, Dr John Lekan Oyefara, hinged causes of suicide on frustration due to disappointment, especially when there is deceit in love affairs.

Oyefara, pointed out that everyone is responsible, the parents, institutions, government and individuals in one way or the other.

“The government, family, institution and individuals can save the situation.

People should look up to God and seek his help instead of ending their lives.

Our leaders should meet the aspiration of the citizens, and if they take care of them, they would not be obliged to commit suicide. Parents should not be far from their children, they should know

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Features

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

55

into the social fabric of society

Aguda

their problems, and be able to help and assist them” Oyefara said.

Speaking in the same vein, Dr. Mrs E. Akinsola, a psychology lecturer at the University of Lagos, noted that for someone to end his or her life, the person must have psychological problem like feelings of helplessness, isolation, annihilation, hopelessness, acute depression, and fear of the unknown.

According to her, the moment someone thinks he cannot make it again due to disappointment, state of hopelessness will set in and before you know it, may want to end his life.” Unless there is somebody somewhere, who can intervene to let him know there is more to life than the way he was feeling at the moment. Unless there is something there to tell him that you love him and that the solution is not by taking his life but by looking realistically and positively that he can make it, that is when the situation could be averted.” she explained Akinsola, argued that knowing the state of mind of the person, goes a long way to determining his next line of action. Therefore, he does not see the role of a parent as influencing the cause of suicide. “My level of being toughened by situation, by trials, by calamity, is different from your own, and the way we accept situation is different, I think we also had one student, committing suicide

here as he left a note in front of the lecturer’s office. You cannot say his parents are responsible, it is the state of mind.”

She pointed out that most casualties of suicide are introvert who do not share their problems and feelings with others because “if they do, they would have come across someone to advise that will be succour.

The don noted that parents have a role to play by giving their adolescent children guidance.

Akinsola, said to minimise suicide, there is need to bridge the gap between adults and young people in terms of communication, interpersonal relationship and counselling, so they could realise that whatever tough time they are passing through, is for a short period.

However, Pastor Fola Aguda, viewed the issue from a spiritual perspective, noting that committing suicide has a lot of spiritual implication. He argued that though taking one’s life shows the account of people who have lost hope due to pressure in the society and the problem they found themselves in, pointing out that there is hope in Jesus. “The death on the Cross shows there is salvation and Jesus has paid the price for all what we could have faced”.

“Rather than young people hanging themselves, they should give their lives to Jesus and let Him take care of their lives as Restorer of hope. They cannot depend on themselves which can lead to frustration.”

Speaking, the Regional Vice President

IF CERTAIN PRECAUTIONARY STEPS ARE TAKEN THROUGH

APPEASING THE GODS, SUCH CALAMITY WILL NOT BEFALL SUCH A FELLOW of Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International, Pastor Niyi Ogunlusi, said that committing suicide is a manifestation of frustration. “Youth finish school, there is no job and the society does not give them any opportunity for survival. In some other clime, if you do not have a job, the government gives you token to live on, but here there is nothing like that here”,he said.

Ogunlusi, argued that the solution is not to take one’s life, adding that there is hope, despite the bad situation in the country. “The resources in the country are far more than anybody could capture, so why commit suicide? During the rule of late Gen. Sani Abacha, people thought he had stolen too much from the nation’s purse, but today, all that stolen money, Nigeria can make in one week” he explained.

He noted that committing suicide is not solution but to look to the future.

According to him, “you cannot see that future unless you put your life in the God’s hands. He knows then end from

the beginning. From what the country is putting up, the future is very bright and promising that one can look up to”.

His words:”For a man to take his life, it is spiritual. You did not create yourself; therefore you cannot end it without recourse to your creator who can bring water out of stone. Wherever you are born is not your making, God brought you here, knowing full well that your destiny will blossom; you cannot say because of a hiccup, you will end it on your own. Your life belong to God, you do not have the right to take it”.

Taking another dimension, an Ifa priest, Chief Fatoki Ogunlade, alluded it to an unseen spirit behind a man before he could commit suicide no matter the level of frustration.

“In this part of the country, do you believe you can hear a voice that will tell you to go and commit suicide and you obey? This is a strange world and anything can happen.

He however said to a greater extent frustration can also lead to suicide.

This line of thought was shared by another Ifa priest, Yemi Elebuibon, who said that witches and wizards can compel a man to commit suicide The Araba of Yoruba land, queried if this reporter was not aware of the recent case of a prominent politician who after listening to a strange voice, alighted from his car, took off his clothes and plunged into a lagoon?

According to him, if certain precautionary steps are taken through appeasing the gods, such calamity will not befall such a fellow.

A consultant psychiatrist at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Dr. Adeoye Oyewole, said that even when there is an increase in numbers of people committing suicide, cases of this nature have always occurred but people are hardly open about them.

He said, “Suicide is not just happening. It’s just that Africans have mechanisms in their culture and religion that hide it. It is often considered a taboo to divulge information on suicide, especially when it concerns royalty. In the past, we had many kings who committed suicide, with no one willing to discuss it.

“The implication is that, it is underreported and even the police do not get to hear about it because of stigma attached to it. So, under-reportage is a major issue here.”

Oyewole, further said that suicide was on the increase due to socio-economic pressure. “There is an erosion of traditional values and the family system. We have always had a fair share of economic pressure, but the presence of the Internet and mobile phones have increased it. Most families want to send their children abroad for holiday and when they come back, they pressurise their parents to give them what they saw during their visits. “Also, young ladies in urban areas want to give birth abroad, even when their husbands can ill afford it. That is why more suicides are recorded in urban areas.”

WORLD RECORD

Most people on one scale Vol. 03 No. 550

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

N150

The greatest number of people being weighed on a single scale was 130 and was achieved by Avery Weigh-Tronix (UK) at the Recycling and Waste Management Event at the Birmingham National Events Centre, Birmingham, UK, on 16 September 2010.

Between a goat thief and pension looter R

ecent developments have indeed put to test the very recent doctrine of plea bargaining in the country’s judicial system. Initially, it was taken to be the exclusive preserve of politicians caught for looting treasury while in government and who wanted to relinquish part of the loot to buy back their freedom. The politicians not only made the doctrine popular but they ended up abusing it to the extent of embarrassing everyone, including themselves.

The case of the accused and director of Police Pension who was found guilty of embezzling N23 billion meant for pensioners is a clear case

S

uper Middleweight fighter, Carl Froch, has revealed he still loses sleep over the defeat to rival Mikkel Kessler in Denmark three years ago.

Pundits tagged their 2010 clash in Herning, where Kessler earned a unanimous decision, “one of the best fights of the modern era” and more fireworks

TALKINGPOINT Seyi Fasugba

seyifasugba@yahoo.com 08053069514 (sms only)

of executive lawlessness and abuse of trust. With careful examination of the implications of this matter, the rogue ought to have been tried for a more serious offence than that of defrauding the pension scheme. From the position of morality, the penalty against the director is without any doubt ridiculous, given the way he was rewarded for handling money kept in his care.

Apart from the moral implication, the fact that the director mortgaged the future of a pensioners was enough for him to go for maximum prison term if only to ensure that such an act is not encouraged. If not, the treatment given to the accused is a clear case of different treatment for different classes of people. Going by recent developments, where commoners have been sentenced to imprisonment for crimes against the society and humanity, the case of highly connected thief should not be different.

A thief is a thief, no matter the status of such individual in the society or the value of the item stolen. What makes a thief is the act of stealing which in this case portrays covetousness, given that a director could not have been deprived of a comfortable living standard as a civil servant.

What he did was a case of stealing pub-

A THIEF IS A THIEF, NO MATTER THE STATUS OF SUCH INDIVIDUAL IN THE SOCIETY OR THE VALUE OF THE ITEM STOLEN lic funds to satisfy his expensive taste and lust at the expense of the poor masses that needed the fund to survive from hunger and a life of penury.

Some of the beneficiaries of the pension embezzled by Yusufu and leagues may have even died without enjoying the fruits of their labour in the service of their fatherland. The case of a man who stole a goat out of desperation to survive is somehow different even though the act cannot be justified. And if such a desperate thief could not be spared by law, then the high class ones deserve no special treatment. The essence of this is not only to punish the offender, but to also to set the standard for future offenders, and above all, to

prove that no one is immune from the effect of the law.

In this case, convicting the accused just as the man that stole a goat, cannot be compared to getting him to spend some time in prison, at least, for him to be thought a lesson in probity and integrity in public office. The doctrine of plea bargaining has proved that our legal system can be abused as it appears in this matter. Had the man who stole goat been given the option to do the same, he surely will have a reason to negotiate his freedom as well.

But will such opportunity ever come the way of the commoner?

Most importantly is the fact that the future generation should not be seen as onlookers in this whole episode of embezzling public funds by civil servants. What type of legacy do we expect them to imbibe with the unfolding drama of anti-social behaviour as exhibited by the convict and his cotravellers in crime? Indirectly, hard work and integrity which used to be the hallmark of honour in public service are being sacrificed on the altar of greed and avarice. And the society appears to be comfortable with it.

The last is yet to be heard of this matter, even as the anti-graft commission has decided to take over the case. May be the next phase of the trial will afford Nigerians the opportunity to know the personal record of these individuals before getting to this level in the police commission. A thorough screening of their past will, certainly, reveal many hitherto unknown claims which may may have them undeserved promotions and recognitions in service.

Without being told, time is ripe for a review of the law which negates the concept of equal access to justice in the land. What is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander.

Sport Extra

Boxing: Froch admits to Kessler ‘nightmare’ are predicted when the pair meet again at the O2 Arena on May 25.

Nottingham’s Froch, who at the age of 35 is two years his opponent’s senior, shrugged off a wide-margin points defeat to divisional stand-out Andre Ward

by seizing Lucian Bute’s IBF crown last year via fifth-round stoppage.

“It’s difficult to put into words, how much this fight means to me.

I’ve fought nine or 10 title fights back to back but Mikkel Kessler

has everything,” Froch said yesterday.

“I respect f this man but he inflicted my first professional defeat. It’s a bitter pill to swallow and I still think about that loss even at this moment.”

Bell

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